It's been a year. A year from today I didn't know I was carrying our sweet Ben, I didn't know that he wouldn't come today, or that the next month was going to pull and twist and flatten straight our hearts in ways we would never have fathomed. We didn't know this year would feel more like the whiplash from a roller coaster than the detailed meandering first year of Henrys life. We didn't know life with Ben, the completeness of all of us tangled up in our everyday, we didn't know all this loving.

In as much I have no words to properly give summation to these past 12 months. I'm still catching my breath, still feeling the wind from the latest loop, still finding my legs. But what I do know is our son. Ben is, much like his brother, and really happy baby. He seems to have made most of his milestones earlier than any of us expected given his rough start (teeth at 4 months, table foods at 6 months, walking by 10 months) and he loves to busy himself with his books, or following his favorite person around, his brother. He is quick to laugh, loves the water and all matter of critters. He only shows his dragon side when he is hungry or if you take food from him…seriously, the ONLY time.

He is affectionate in ways that steal my breath. He is a face caresser, leg squeezer, head on your shoulder kinda kid and I hope he always stays this way. He is super friendly and loves to chatter with the elderly people we see at our market Monday mornings. Ben is so much like his brother in some ways and yet so insanely different, coloring our lives with all kinds of new adventures. We are blessed and cannot wait to see what this next year brings. Happy first birthday my sweet Benny Beans, you are treasure and we are beyond lucky to have you.

(Thank you Jill Thomas for these beautiful family photos)