Bennett Michael {12 months}

Dear Bennett,

Today you are ONE!!!! It has truly been the fastest, but most fun year ever. It is so bittersweet because I just LOVE Baby Bennett and how adorable you are, but I am so excited for all of the things that await you, like walking, talking, going to school, all of that fun stuff! That being said, I definitely cried putting you down last night, for the last time as a 0 year old!

Height: 
Weight: 

Head circumference: 
We go to the doctor on Tuesday for your checkup, so I'll update then! 

Clothes: You are wearing 9 month clothes and some 12 month things. A few 6 month things still fit, like these onesies and your swimsuits. You are in size 3 diapers. You wear size 1 shoes...bless it! Tiny feet. You don't wear shoes much though because you just rip them off!

Nicknames: Ben, Ben Ben, Little Bean, Bean Bag, Benny Ben, Benny Boo Boo, B, B Man, Benito, Big Guy, Sweetest Peach, Peanut, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Milestones: 
Well, if last month was the month of "almosts," I am happy to report that this month you made some major accomplishments! You started crawling with your tummy off the ground! No more army crawling for you, buddy! You say "Dada" on command 90% of the time and "Mama" and "Ella" on command maybe 50% of the time (I feel like I am writing an IEP right now, ha!). You have gotten 2 more teeth, to make 4 total (2 on the top, 2 on the bottom). You can climb up the stairs, but thankfully don't do it too much yet. And my favorite...last week after your birthday party, you started clapping!! You LOVE to clap and do it all of the time now! And it is pretty freaking adorable! Baby claps are my most favorite thing everrrrr so I am just soaking it up right now! You are pulling up easily and cruising along the furniture really well now, and you've even stood by yourself for a quick split second! You also started swimming lessons this month and are SO good at floating on your back, and rolling back to front and front to back! You are always the demonstrator for the instructor because you do such a good job!

Sleep: You are still sleeping 12 hours a night! So amazing. Naps are hit or miss. Sometimes, it takes you a long time to fall asleep at naptime and you don't fall asleep until naptime is almost over! Sometimes you don't nap at all. I'm hoping once the big kids go back to school and we get into more of a routine, naps will go a little bit better for you. Summer has been hard nap-wise, especially with that morning nap!

Best Moment: Having your "First Down" birthday party (post coming soon)! And seeing you clap!!!

Worst Moment: Daddy and I turned our heads for one second, and told Ella to watch you on the bed...well, guess what? She didn't and you fell off! My mom guilt was terrible! You were A-OK, but I felt so so so bad!!! I will never leave you on the bed with your sister again! 

Likes: Splashing in any kind of water (pool or bath), chewing on pacis, balloons (the football ones from your party were an especially big hit), putting anything and everything in your mouth, lights on the ceiling, "Baby Shark" song, "The Wheels on the Bus," big brother's tractors, cords/chargers, eating paper/books, when we give you "raspberries" on your tummy, playing Peek-a-Boo, clapping, pulling into our neighborhood (you seem to recognize the trees or something and go nuts in your carseat!), chasing the Roomba, pulling up on everything. 

Dislikes: When anyone besides me or Daddy hold you. You are so friendly and smile at everyone...but if they try to touch you? Nope, nope, nope. You cry lots!

Health: You have another random runny nose again this month. Maybe allergies? Teething? Who knows. It's not bothering you really and you have no other symptoms, so I am not concerned. 

Eating: You still love to eat lots! You are starting to get picky about the type of cheese we give you, and sometimes chicken can be hit or miss, but pretty much everything else you LOVE. You are obsessed with NutriGrain bars and try to grab them out of the pantry every chance you get. You also could never get sick of blueberries...you gobble them up in no time! Your first taste of cake was last weekend at your party and although we had to force you to eat it initially, you ate almost the entire smash cake by yourself! You are still nursing, but I think I'm going to wean you like I did with Lucas: switch one feeding per week to giving you a cup of milk. So next week (when we get our kitchen back...whole other story there, but I am finally getting my white kitchen cabinets!!!!), we will start by giving you milk during your late afternoon feed time. I'm a little sad to wean you, so we may hold onto one or two feedings for a few months! We will see...

Ben Ben, I just cannot believe it has been a whole year since we met you and found out you were a BOY!!! What a joy boy you are in our lives! You are such a perfect third child...you go with the flow, don't mind big people hugging you extra tight, and you are so chill and happy all the time! We can't imagine our family without you! I'm so glad God chose me to be your mom!! We can't wait to see what the next year of your life will bring! I know you will do great things and spread joy no matter what! We love you!!

{Ella at 12 months | Lucas at 12 months}