As they began to visit the OB/GYN to learn more and have checkups, their little BEN began to show more of itself in the form of ultrasound photos (and occassionally videos). At first, as in this picture on September 22nd, it was just a little dot adrift in its own environment. But it didn't take long for that little dot to grow and grow!

This little guy's story began sometime in mid-August of 2008 when his parents Annie and Brook had been married for only six or seven weeks!

Annie found out around mid-September that their little blue-eyed nugget was on its way. On a wonderful evening (September 20th, 2008), she sprung the news on Brook on their bridge (for that story you have to read a different blog) by giving him a little magic rock (once again, you must read their other blog) with a tiny little pearl embedded in it. Brook was so happy (nearly in shock) that at first Annie wasn't sure he was happy about the news (silly Annie doesn't know her hubby too well, does she?) but that moment had grabbed a permanent special place in his heart. Since they knew their children would all have blue eyes as they did, they nicknamed the little person-to-be "BEN", for "Blue-Eyed Nugget".