Ben at 1-year (plus a couple weeks)

-Is both a mommy and daddy's boy. Sometimes he just can't make up his mind about which one of us he wants the most.

-Always reaches his arms out for other people to hold him, but once he is in their arms, he immediately reaches back for mom/dad.

-Gives the best and tightest hugs possible.

-Loves his brother and wants to do everything he does. I don't see this trend stopping anytime soon. Is also a clone of his brother.

-Is still a bit wary of his sister. With good reason. The girl just can't help herself from smothering babies. With lots of love, but still...it's smothering.

-Loves food, but you wouldn't know it. He's a tiny little guy, which is especially surprising given who his parents are. Two percent in weight, forty-first in height. The Dr./Auntie Sheryl has given orders to feed him more - an extra yolk in his eggs, extra butter on everything, powder in his milk, etc. We'll see if it works...

-Loves to be outside and cries until you take him out. We could use more spring-like weather.

-Once he is outside, cries "Daisy" (the dog's name) over and over until you get her out to play.

-Thinks it's funny when you spit or pretend to spit.

-Can say the following: Mama, Dada, no, ca-ca, again, cookie, Daisy, Annie, and more.

-Is a champion stair-climber and also pretty good at coming back down.

-Can walk, but prefers to crawl.

-People always comment on how many teeth he has (8) and how much hair he has. I don't think he has an unusual amount of either for a 1-year-old, I think they just think he is younger than he is so it seems like he has a lot.

I'll skip all the clichés about how fast this year has flown by and just say that it's been a great year. We love you oh so very much, Ben-a-boo-boo-boo.