Ben and His Cousins

Over the last few months Ben has really gotten to know and love his cousins Amber, Johny and Samantha more and more. It's been so amazing to see how they've bonded:

Ben and his Proud Daddy

Ana has been away at school in Northern California for almost a week now and it has just been Ben and me at home. She comes home on Friday and we both can't wait to see her. But while she has been gone me and Ben have been ok. I remember when he was an infant that the thought of me being with him alone for even half a day was a scary proposition. Now, he really is easy to take care of and we get a chance for father/son bonding time. He actually behaves much better for me than he does for Ana. I have found in my many talks with the other parents at the park that it seems like this is a normal thing for kids. That they act much better for the dads than they do for the moms. It's almost like Ben doesn't even try to get away with doing things he shouldn't when he is with me where with his Mom, the sky is the limit. I was at the park tonight watching Ben play on the big slide with the other kids and every once in a while he would look over at me to see if I was watching and he would give me that big smile of his that just melts your heart. It made me think what an honor and a privelidge it really is for me to be his dad. And to make it even better is the fact I get to raise him with Ana. Yep, I'm a proud husband and papa.