Some Weekend Highlights

A pretty slow weekend in the Swaggerty household. Not much going on at all. Lets see...Elizabeth graduated with her PhD, was surprised by a visit from her mom to see her graduate, and a party in her honor. Other than that, pretty slow indeed.

Happy Birthday Noni!!!!

Noni--

I've not seen you in a REALLY, REALLY long time, but Mommy told me today was your birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! I MISS YOU. I cannot wait to see you SOON!!!!!

Love,
Ben

PS I hope you want to hold me like this when I do see you. I like being held like this.

Our Athletic Little Man

Soon, way too soon I'm afraid, Ben will be climbing more than just his play gym. He'll be climbing the Christmas Tree, the stairs, the shelves, and anything else he thinks climbing would be fun. Boy, oh boy. In the meantime, our little athletic boy will practice his pull ups in his gym.

Watching Rudolph Helps Ben Learn a New Skill

More Fun Under the Tree

Quickly Changing

This is Ben's Very First Video. He was 3 days old. He's changed a bit since this was taken.

Messing Around Under the Christmas Tree

Get your mind out of the gutter!!!!!!!

Look What Ben has Learned How to Do!!!!!

While Elizabeth was gone, Ben got to eat from a bottle quite a bit--every meal in fact. For some reason, my milk has yet to come in. Anyway, I was sometimes way too busy doing way more important stuff like surfing the internet and watching the Young and the Restless to stop, get the bottle ready, feed him, hold the bottle for him, and then burp him.

So, I left it up to him to figure out how the get the bottle in his mouth once I got it ready for him. It's amazing how quickly you can learn a new skill when you get REALLY, REALLY hungry.

Clever Boy!!!!!!!

Big, big SMILE!!!!!

Not sure what's up with the quality of these videos, but you can still hear them fine. Mommy gets home tomorrow. YIPPIE!!!!!!!!!

Missing Mommy

Laughing, Laughing, Crying, Laughing

While this may sound a little like crying, it's not. Ben IS laughing. Sure, he needs to learn how to make his laugh sound a bit more like a laugh, but with time, I'm sure he will.

Elijah meets Ben and sleeps thru the introductions.

Elijah Holliman has become the first baby, other than Ben, to appear on Ben's Blog. As you can see, he was really impressed and in awe of the whole experience. At almost exactly one half of Ben's age, Elijah will realize in just a few short weeks how very special an honor his appearance is.

Congrats Holliman family!! You must be proud.

Rebecca Lobbys for Blog Post

In an unprecedented move, Rebecca has become the first lobbyist of Ben's Blog in an effort to secure her own Ben/Rebecca post. While Elizabeth and I have yet to receive any monies for blog spots, we are taking offers. Please make checks payable to Ben's College Fund.

Here you go Rebecca and don't forget to send the check.

A Few Highlights from Last Week

....more to come tomorrow.

When One Preacher is Just Not Enough

Ben had his baptism yesterday, and we were lucky enough to have three pastors handle the service. First, we have Preacher Newman, the older gentleman, who actually preformed my baptism when I was Ben's age in about this same location in the church. Also present was Preacher Larry, the bearded, robed pastor, who not only helped out, but who also incorporated Britney Spears, The Simpsons, My Name is Earl, and U2 into his sermon yesterday. Quite impressive. Finally, Brother Dave, yeah, he also married Elizabeth and I, was the third participant, and doesn't he look good in his robe?. Ben is truly a "blessed" little boy.

We also had a nice crowd at lunch as you can see.

Ta in the We-end

You may or may not get this movie reference from Nell, but as you will find out, it's not about Nell Carter from Gimme a Break with child star Joey Lawrence, formerly of Dancing with the Stars. Enjoy!!!!!!

Ben Helps with Yard Work

I wish I could say that we finished raking the leaves this past weekend, but as you can see from this video, there are plenty of leaves yet to fall. In fact, you cannot even tell that we raked Saturday. The yard is completely covered again. At least we have a third person to help with the work this year.

Mornin' Playtime

Finally...a Rocking Chair

We have been trying to get a rocking chair since before Ben was born. In fact, I had planned to go out and get one the day he was born, but his early arrival kept me from shopping that day. Also, about a week before Ben arrived, my parents actually gave us money to go buy a rocking chair as our house warming gift. Well, that money got spent responsibly, of course, but not on a rocking chair.

Needless to say, the chair has been needed, but only finally arrived yesterday thanks to a graduation present for Elizabeth from her mom and Julie and Rick. From the video, Dateline "Catch a Predator" style, you can see she likes it.

You can call her Dr. Mommy

As most of you know, Elizabeth successfully defended her dissertation on Friday, and she is now Dr. Elizabeth Anderson Swaggerty, but you can call her Dr. Mommy. These pictures are from Elizabeth's defense. Thanks to Rebecca since Dr. Mommy and I both forgot to take any pictures.

Sink Bath at Mamaw and Papaws

I thought I had a picture to prove it, but you'll have to take my word for it. In these pictures, Ben is taking a bath in the sink at my parents house. The good thing about my parents living in the same house I grew up in is that I get to see Ben doing some of the same thing I got to do when I was little. One of those things, taking a bath in THAT VERY SINK!!! As you know, that wouldn't be an option for me now, but Ben seemed to have fun.

We will also post Elizabeth's pictures after her dissertation defense is Rebecca will email them to me. Thanks Rebecca.

BIG SMILE!!!!!

Pumpkin Head and Mommy's new doo

We forgot about the hat. It really does pull the outfit together.

Also, look at mommy's new hairdoo. Ain't it purty?

REVEALED!!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!

What is this?

A Jack-o-lantern, yes? But what else?