Adoption Day!!!!!

Today it is finally, legally, 100% official-Benicio is ours forever!!!!!!!!!! We had our finalization hearing today in Indianapolis. It seemed a bit anticlimactic after a year of waiting for this day, but we sure are happy that it is official! The judge and clerk were very, very nice. The clerk commented a couple of times about how she could tell how much Ben is loved just by watching him with our nephews in the waiting area. I hope you enjoy the pictures from our big day!

Ben enjoying the view from the waiting area window.

Tony and Drew waiting (not all that patiently!) for our turn.
Us with the judge!

This is what a finalization hearing does to a baby...

Birthday Party Pictures!

Ben's birthday party was so much fun! Hope you enjoy all of the pictures below!

The cake-I thought she was going to put a picture of a soccer ball on top, but she put the whole soccer ball on top-and it's made entirely of the most delicious cake you could ask for!

Ben enjoying his empanada!
Digging into his smash cake-a mini soccer ball just for him!

Sharing his cake with Daddy!

Making a huge mess and loving it!

The "BEFORE" picture of Ben's pinata

The "AFTER" picture of his pinata-courtesy of Cousin Drew!Ben picking up pinata candy-or rather grass because that's what he was trying to eat!Sharing his candy with Mommy!Sneaking a piece for himself

Cheesy smile!

Opening giftsMommy's best gift ever!

Feliz Cumpleanos, mi hijo!

Benicio,

I can hardly believe that you are one year old today! Time flies by much too quickly watching you grow and change. From the tiny, helpless baby I first saw all bundled up in the NICU isolette to the big boy you are today crawling everywhere and constantly pulling up on my leg, I have loved every single moment of watching you grow. You bring so much to our family with your bright and sunny disposition. Your smiles melt my heart, your giggle makes me giggle too, and your tears always bring me running to your side to try to fix whatever is wrong. Every single, solitary day, I marvel at the miracle that is you.

I heard a song a long time ago when I was a kid, and as I was sitting here at the computer trying to figure out how to sum up my feelings for you, it came back to me:

What a difference you've made in my life!
What a difference you've made in my life!
You're my sunshine day and night.
What a difference you've made in my life.

What a change you have made in my heart!
What a change you have made in my heart!
You've repaired all the broken parts.
What a change you have made in my heart!"

That song is so very true of you. Last year, I was a sad and broken mommy with no baby to love. I expected to wait years before I finally became a mommy again after Ariana died. Then, out of the blue, and when I least expected it, you came along. I am forever thankful to God and to your birthmom Rosa for the miracle that arrived a year ago today-YOU!

I love you, sweet baby boy. You are my heart.

Always,
Mommy

FFF

I didn't have any pictures that matched the FFF theme from Sarah's blog so I decided to post a funny story and pictures of Ben from last night.

The latest thing Ben does is a very, very, very fake pout and cry. It cracks us up everytime. This new fake cry also mean that he has learned how to play what we call the "happy, sad game". If you smile at him and say happy, you get a big, giant smile in return. If you frown and say sad, you get the fake pout/cry. These pictures are from last night right after we had finished dinner. Ben's sitting in his high chair, and Daddy is doing the happy/sad. Too funny! (He is not actually sad or upset in ANY of these pictures!)

HAPPY

SAD
HAPPY

SAD

Isn't that the funniest fake sad face you've ever seen? It's even funnier in person because his bottom lip quivers and everything!

For more FFF, head over to Sarah's blog!

Spring and Birthday pictures!

Today we took Ben to Portrait Innovations for Spring Pictures and the first set of First Birthday Pictures. (He has an appointment elsewhere to get pics done with his smash cake next week!) The pictures turned out so great and we had a terrible time choosing which ones to buy! Here are a few of the more than 70 that she took!

This one was my idea-Ben follows me everywhere, pulls up on my pant leg, and says "Mama" every night while I'm trying to make dinner. Too cute and too sweet! This is the exact look he gives me, and I can't help but stop cooking to pick him up!

We weren't planning on getting our faces in any pictures, so this is my no-makeup face, but it was too sweet to pass up.

One of my favorites! If you're coming to his party, you're getting one of these! The photographer said she's never had a baby pose himself over the block like that-they're usually standing behind or sitting on it, but this is Ben's own pose.

Gotta love the big smile with his "fangs" (which soon won't be here because one of his middle teeth is on it's way through his gums now:-(

Another favorite of mine because you can see how mischievious he is here!

More Spring Break fun!

First, I apologize for the terrible picture quality! I'm making do with a cheap point and shoot while my Canon is being repaired, and it just doesn't do well in low-light settings at all. But, I guess bad pictures are better than no pictures, right??

Today we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. It was a lot of fun and there is so much to look at! We especially enjoyed the tour of U-505, a German U-boat from WWII. We got to take a tour of it, and the tour guide was FABULOUS! Ben was fascinated by all of the sounds and sights. Ben stared at the tour guide the entire time he was talking, just like he knew exactly what was being said. Too cute! Ben's favorite part was watching all of the model trains. He could have stayed there for an hour just staring at them. Every time one would come around the tracks, he'd get excited and start kicking his feet. I guess I know what we need for our house, huh? Hope you enjoy the pics!

Drew and Ben in their natural state-clowning around!

Daddy and Ben checking out the funhouse mirrors.

Mommy wearing a sleepy boy outside the U-boat. Luckily he woke up to enjoy the actual tour!

Silly boys posing for the camera

Daddy and Ben with the model trains-Ben is trying to turn back to look at the trains instead of the camera!

Spring Break

We're in Chicago on our Spring Break this week. I know, Chicago is a strange choice for Spring Break! We had to come here because Will needed to get his Brazilian work visa from the Brazilian Consulate here. So, since we're here, we decided to do some exploring.

Drew and Ben looking at some frogs at Shedd Aquarium

Mommy and Ben looking at the fish

Daddy, Ben, and Drew with Chicago and Lake Michigan in the background!

Ben in his swim trunks getting ready to head for the indoor pool. He LOVED swimming! He splashed all of us in the face, kicked his feet, and laughed the entire time.

And this is what a busy day does to a sweet baby boy! He was lying in the bed playing with Drew and suddenly his eyes were shut and he was sound asleep!