Benjamin was born on September 1, 1999, to two good people, and came home with us on September 21, 1999.

Photos after Benjamin's first birthday are over here and here!

Click on an image to see the big picture.

Our first days as a family

With his godparents, Uncle Albert and Aunt Becky.

With Papa and Gummy Ingraham

With his namesake! Andy, Gumpy Ingraham and I took Benjamin to see a one-man play, Legacy of Galileo, on October 5, 1999. The actor, Roy Henderson, was very impressed with little Benjamin Galileo (as were the rest of us with his performance - I mean both Mr. Henderson, who was excellent, and Benjamin, who was quiet!), and inscribed a program for him: "Benjamin -- Have a wonderful life - look for the truth in everything -- Galileo".

A family portrait taken by Aunt Becky's father Dick. Thanks so much!

With Ma and Grandad Dwyer

Benjamin's first Halloween. We assume he won't choose to dress up as a vegetable when he's big enough to decide for himself.

With his Uncle Steve, visiting from California and tricked into babysitting! Parents take note - he's a great babysitter.

With his Aunt Rose and Uncle Jeff, visiting from Milwaukee. Rose and Benjamin bonded instantly, as with Krazy Glue.

With his cousins Erin, Hannah, Julianne, and Luke O'Keefe. Benjamin flew to Omaha to meet his cousins, and slept through all the plane rides. Further proof that he is the best baby who ever lived.

Janet, Luke, Benjamin, and Baby Buck, an important gift from Luke to his new cousin. Now Luke is neither the youngest nor the only boy, and he's very satisfied about that!

Family Christmas portrait 1999, at Gummy & Gumpy Ingraham's house.

With Aunt Susy at Christmas.

With Gumpy & Gummy Ingraham at Christmas.

With his Uncle Del. Someday Benjamin will be an apprentice Bakerman to Del, like his friend Anderson is.

With Doctor Hackshaw, who calls him "perfect" and doesn't mind that we came in for our four-month checkup at nearly six months. That's our kind of pediatrician!

Adoption finalization day, March 27, 2000! Now we are an "official" forever family.

With the Loud Family, his favorite rock'n'roll band.

Baptism at the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Francis Church, April 22, 2000.

Benjamin's regular Monday afternoon playgroup with Josie and Ella. Ella's mom Jen took these shots!

Benjamin's first vacation was to Ocean City, NJ, where the water was too cold in May but the carousel was SO much fun.

We visited Aunt Rose and Uncle Jeff for July 4th. Benjamin loved the huge picnic, but crawled to Andy's lap and fell asleep a minute into the very loud fireworks.

With his Gummy at her home.

At eleven months old, August 1, 2000. This practically animated sequence intends to show his new-found skill at walking, or is it dancing? Think of it as a comic strip.

The big ONE YEAR OLD, September 1, 2000!

Back to the photo pages.