You're Off To Great Places...

Dear Bentley,

I am in shock!  I realized this week you will be SIX MONTHS OLD!  The same week I am turning 26!  Time waits for no one.  I don't feel this old.  And WHEN did you get this old???? 

You have accomplished a lot this month! 

We have been working on first words with you.  One in particular.  "Mama."  You started with, "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........"  Then worked up to, "MmmmmAH!"  Now we are working on the repeating second syllable.  You understand there are two syllables which is impressive!  But "Mama," sounds more like, "MAHbwuuhhhh."  Still impressive!! 

Now, onto crawling!
First, you got your belly off the ground.  Then you were in crawling position and would rock back and forth to gain balance.  Now you can lift your hand off the ground and put it in front of you.  You lunge forward and fall over.  Then...you get right back up!!!!  You taught yourself all of this.  How does a little bitty baby teach himself such big things??  I am very proud of you. 

You are sleeping next to me right now.  Tired and exhausted from all the crawling attempts.  You can wiggle your way across any floor and bed.  And you just wiggled yourself right to sleep.  So I thought I would take this time to write you a letter to let you know how amazing you are.  Every accomplishment no matter how big or small is a HUGE deal to your daddy and me.

I love you, Little Buddy!

Love,
Mommy

PS:  Daddy got a job!!!!

A Grandmother's Love

August 3, 2011

Hey Little Buddy,

Well, you sir, turned 5 months old on July 28th!  What a big boy!

We just took a weekend to Dallas.  While daddy is off work looking for a job, we thought this would be a great time to get away for 3 days together.  We went to visit your great grandparents and great uncle.  I have an outfit I bought you from before you were born.  It is a onesie with Charlie Brown on it.  And there's one thing you should know about your Great Grandma McGee:  She loooooves Charlie Brown and Snoopy!!  Well, ALL the Peanuts characters.  This outfit is size 3 months, so it fits you now.  I was waiting until you grew into it to take you down there to see her.  We took lots of pictures of the two of you together.  You, as always, were adorable.

As you know, you got your name from her.  She was Nancy Bentley.  Her father was a Southern Baptist Preacher in Illinois, Vivian Bentley.  Her family passed on their Christian legacy to my father, your Grandpa, and then on down to me.  In honor of them, I named you Bentley. 

Grandma McGee is so proud of you.  She is one of your greatest fans.  She has a photo album of you by her chair.  Everytime I upload a picture of you onto Facebook, Uncle Robin prints it off and adds it to her album.  This way she can watch you grow everyday even though she is over 200 miles away.  I try to make sure shes sees you as often as possible.  Grandpa McGee says everyday she wakes up ready to drive to Oklahoma to see her little grandson.

 A lesson I hope you learn in life is to always cherish time with your family.  Grandparents are golden.  You can learn so much from them and they love you like no other.  Make every effort to spend time with them. 




You are beautiful and you are growing everyday.  I love you, Bentley! 

Love,
Mommy

Mission: Possible

July 25, 2011

Dear Bentley,

As you know, your father is a very hard worker.  He puts his whole self into every job he does.  He has been working overtime this last month at his job to help us out financially.  Well, on Friday, he lost his job.  It broke his heart.  The main worry he had was how he was going to be able to take care of us. 

Well, baby, as I told him, "God will take care of us.  There is no need to worry."  We don't know what our future holds but one thing is for sure, God provides.  Just looking at our lives up to this point, even in our greatest time of need, we have always had food, clothes, and a roof over our head. 

Countless stories in the Bible show us how God takes impossible situations and uses them for His glory.  Could Gideon have defeated the Midianites with only 300 men, clay jars, torches, and horns without God?  No.  Could Daniel have lived in a den of hungry lions that thought he looked like the perfect snack without God?  No.  Could little David really have taken on Goliath with a stone and a slingshot without God?  No.  These were all impossible situations.  But God used each of these men and the FAITH they had and impossible things became possible. 

I don't want you to ever go through life worrying about how things will be taken care of.  When hard times come, pray.  Know that God has His plan and "ALL things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28, my favorite verse.

I love you, little boy.  Daddy will find a job again soon.  In the meantime, God is in control.  You will always be taken care of.

Love,
Mommy

A Little Photo Shoot

July 18, 2011

Dear Bentley,

Daddy accidentally took both sets of keys with him to work today.  So you and I got to stay home all day.  We played and played, cuddled and napped, and then I grabbed my camera.  I'm sure you notice that I take many pictures of you.  You are such a beautiful baby and I want to cherish every moment we have together.  So here are pictures of you today.  I love you!

Love,
Mommy

Moving Along

July 14, 2011

Mr. Wiggles,

You are always on the move!  You haven't mastered crawling yet but if we put you on the ground you somehow make it across the room!


You can't stand up by yourself yet.  But when we stand you up and support you, you stay up!






You don't like to be still.  Grabbing, pulling, climbing, travelling, WIGGLING!

You are quite the adventure!!

You just stay my happy Little Buddy forever.  I love you!
                                             
                                          Love,
                                          Mommy

First Foods

June 29 - July 4, 2011

Dear Bentley,

We went to the Pediatrician for your 4 month check up.  You now weigh 13 lbs and 6 oz and you are 24.5 inches long!  A little on the small side but you are right where you need to be!

We got to start you on baby foods also!  It was a difficult first feeding.  I mean, I could have taken the baby food and spilled it all over you, me, the floor, your chair, and our dog and came out with the same results, minus a crying Little Buddy.  I learned quickly to strip you down to just a diaper before feeding you!







It didn't take you long to master eating the baby food.  By the third attempt you were a pro!  From that point on we got to start on veggies!



Sweet Potatoes are your favorite!!!

One thing is for sure, you may like some veggies more than others, but no food gets turned away from you!  You remind me of your daddy in that way.

I love you, Growing Boy!

Love,
Mommy  

Super Baby!!

June 28, 2011

Dear 4 Month Old,

Over night you became a new baby!
You rolled over today, switched directions, and rolled back over!
You are sitting up with little-to-no support!

You are reaching for objects that you want and showing excitement when you see your bottle, a toy, or your mommy walk in the room (my personal favorite!).








What a baby!!  You continue to make me proud!

Love,
Mommy