Splish Splash

After I posted about the watermelon lemonade, I received a comment from a friend saying they made it and were freezing popsicles from the juice. I thought that was a great idea so I did one for BB.


I figured what better place to have one than in the pool with daddy.

He was so cute with Bailey (one of our dogs). He would let her have a few licks, then he would take a turn, then her, then him. Honestly, it was too cute I didn't stop him and stopped thinking about how unsanitary it was. Kids will be kids.
Love my boys
He loves water. When it is bath time, Ben will say to Benson, "Are you ready for a bath?" and he heads straight for the bathroom. It is so cute and he does it EVERY time.

Fun summer memories

What to feed the baby?

So I'm always trying to think of something new to feed Benson for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Somedays he's picky, and somedays he's not. Some meals he's hungry and some not. I feel like I'm in a rut on what to feed the little guy. He likes ham, scrabbled eggs and bread, and he still will eat his baby cereal and baby food. He likes other things too, but these main things he will eat every time.
I need some creative recipes to feed him. If you have anything that works for your little ones will you please please share.

Thanks in advance. Tonight we are having a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of refried beans and grapes. Lets keep our figures crossed he'll eat it.

Thank Heaven...

Nap times are changing and honestly this week has been very challenging, but nothing says it sweeter than this. I love our little boy so much. When Ben and I checked on him tonight, this is how we found him. Snuggling with his Polar Bear. Such sweetness.

Benson.15 months

This morning we went on a little adventure to the hair salon for Benson to get his first haircut. The lady that cuts Ben's hair lives around the corner, so we loaded our little boy up in his wagon and headed that way. He was such a good little boy. He sat very patiently in daddy's lap as she cut away his little baby hairs. (which we saved in an envelope for his baby book).

The paci and daddy kept him secure :)
Oh and you see how the flap on the paci is up? He like it like that. If you flip it down, he'll flip it right back up.
wook at that widdle baby hair
After the hair cut, we headed back to the house in his big boy wagon.
A little photo shoot of his new hair do.
We love everything about this boy--including those lovable lips :)
He will be 15 months old on Tuesday.
Our little baby is growing up into a sweet little boy.

The Cross Family lately

The past two weekends have been so enjoyable hanging out with Ben and Benson. We've groomed our yard, planted Zenia plants, and taken walks. Lots of home cooked meals, and good family time. Benson is a full time walker now and is 14 months old. Look out world, her comes lil' B!

Praise God for our sweet little boy and for our sweet little family.

Happy Easter

I hope everyone has a great time with family this weekend. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice! You are one in a billion cadrillion patillion million...oxoxoxox

Benson.One

My heart overflows with love for this little baby boy...

Happy Birthday Benson...and Abe Lincoln

So today was Benson's first birthday. I woke up at 7 am this morning and remembered that last year at this time I was sitting in the hospital waiting to be induced and for Benson to enter into this world. Around 12 noon, I then remembered they were getting ready to give me an epidural and start petocin. I was a little nervous and very excited for what the day had in store for me. As I keep having flashbacks to a year ago on this very day, I enjoyed every waking minute I had with Benson today. Watching him play with the dogs and Chevy licking his face for the millionth time and playing with his blocks and shapes launching them across the room. He received a few more bumps and bruises today as he explored more and more and continuously discovers new things. I loved watching him today and just realizing all the things he has accomplished in one year. He has been walking with the assistance of holding on to his radio flyer wagon, and holding on to the couch walking sideways. He loves to find small tight places to fit in and play peek-a-boo with me. He laughs so hard when I tickle his chubby legs and you can barely see his eyes when he smiles. A special moment I really loved today was him climbing on me and laying his head down next to mine and smiling so big and laughing like we were playing a game. I love the innocence of my sweet boy and I selfishly don't want him to grow up. These past two days he has been adament on not wanting to lay down while getting his diaper changed, and well today he stuck his foot in his poopy diaper while I was trying to change him. I eventually had to side hold him in one arm while cleaning him off hoping I wasn't making more of a mess. I little bit of me was frusturated, and then I just starting laughing. I mean I've never wiped his booty that way before. I'm learning you have to be creative to get something done with a squirmy child. The day goes on and finally 5:58 pm comes around, the exact time he was born and I had a little emotional cry. We are so blessed with Benson. Words can't describe how blessed we are . If he would let me, I would kiss him all day long on his sweet fluffy lips and chubby cheeks. Benson is a gift from God and every night we thank God for him.

My sweet baby boy and his blue eyes

Ya gotta love those sweet baby blue eyes...and his semi-mohawk

Benson is 11 months

Benson turned 11 months old yesterday...tear tear...sniff sniff
I really hoped he would like his little outfit I set out for his pictures, but you tell me... he fish hooked his own face

He obviously DIDN'T like his chief hat

Baby Santa

My cousin Debbie took this for us and I'm so glad she did. This is an image we will treasure forever with our baby Santa.

Benson is 9 months

Benson is 9 months old today. He has been in outside of my belly just as long as he was in my belly. Let me tell you some stats on this baby boy.
He has FIVE teeth. Yes, that's right. And he got three teeth in two weeks.
He rolls everywhere
He is working on crawling and just about has it down
He walks with mommies help and takes nice big steps
He laughs like crazy which makes us laugh like crazy
He wears 12 month clothes ( fit kinda big)
He chats with his girlfriend Pacyn every now in then in baby talk and she gives him kisses :)
He is learning how to say ball, mama, and baby
We will find out how much he weighs and how tall he is next week. Ben is guessing 24 lbs, and I say 22 lbs. If you've held our baby you know he is a big boy.
Ben and I are loving our little baby monkey. He is the best :D

Raarrrr

My little dinosaur
When we were thinking of what we wanted Benson to wear for halloween we thought a dinosaur would be cute. I bought the dinosaur costume first and then I found the monkey costume and instantly changed my mind. Don't you worry though, the dinosaur will be worn many times while running errands with mommy to the grocery store.

ummm, so he may be mad at me later in life for this one below, because he is showing is "going poopoo" face

I think Benson has the dinosaur beat on the teefers

I know you want to just squeeze those sweet cheeks, because I sure do

hey hey little guy

Holy moly guacamole aren't they cute...

All of our kids. Benson 8 months, Bailey 4 years, Chevy 3 3/4 years

The dogs really didn't want to sit for pictures. Soon after I took this one, Bailey was out of there.

Happy Halloween every body!

Ben, Benson and I are going to our church tomorrow night for Trunk or Treat, and Benson will be the cutest little monkey ever.

Gap Kids Casting Call

I entered Benson into the Gap casting call. What is Gap giving away:
20 Finalist prizes that include a trip to a babyGap/GapKids photo shoot in San Francisco, CA
4 Grand prizes that consist of a $3,000 Gap gift card; a Snapfish prize pack including a 12"x12" Signature photobook, a 12"x12" photo calendar, a sterling silver photo necklace, a 16"x20" photo canvas, and a $200 Snapfish.com gift certificate
16 runner up prizes that include a $300 Gap gift card; and a Snapfish prize pack including a 12"x12" Signature photobook, a 12"x12" photo calendar, a sterling silver photo necklace, and a 16"x20" photo canvas.

If Benson makes it through, I'll let you know and you can vote for him :)

Benson, the Monkey

Benson's halloween costume came in today...hehehe

Benson at 7 months old "Momma's Boy"

After my sessions two Saturdays ago, Ben brought Benson up for his 7 month old pictures at the "Underground Embassy." He was dressed in a white onsie and looked so cute, so we took a few in that, but then I couldn't wait to get him in his super star clothes. He looked more like a little boy when I pulled his army pants on and slid the baby blue shirt over his sweet baby head. And with excitement he began throwing his arms around.

Right now he loves to rock back and forth so he was a little more active this time around of taking pictures. He is such a happy baby 95% of the time. Seriously! We love our little guy.

We bought him this cute t-shirt that says "momma's boy" and I love him in it. The shirt is kind of like an American Apparels soft Tee.
He is rolling over a bunch now and sitting up well on his own. He LOVES the dogs and says dada now. Our little baby is growing up so fast :(
Thats my little boy.

Weekend in Lubbock

While we were in Lubbock for a session on Friday, Benson got to hang out with my parents. My mom gave him a bath and he had fun playing with all his bath toys.
Also, my hair was almost to my waist. Honestly, the last time I had a hair cut was last November. I know, I can't believe its been so long. Well, my mom has been thinking I need a hair cut and so I gave in. I let her cut my hair with her kitchen scissors-6 inches off! I can't believe I let her do that with kitchen scissors. Anyways, we used the hair as a toupee for Benson :D
such a good sport hehe