One year in my heart

My baby turned one.
Second children are funny.... you remember how nice it is when they are old enough to be a little more independent, but yet.... you want them to stay little so much longer too.

Owen has taught us all so much.
A lot about patience and giving up expectations.
A lot about sharing and loving.
A lot about "going with the flow'

I think one of the greatest gifts I have been given is to see the love between these 2 boys.
Our morning ritual is piling in our bed and snuggling. Sometimes wrestling, a lot of laughs, sometimes crying (usually when heads are bumped together), but a whole lot of LOVE.

(this was one of the first pictures of these 2... been this close ever since!)


Owen's stats at 1 year old:

weight: 20 lbs
height: 29 inches

Mobility: crawling... army crawling. Still haven't figured out you can straighten your arms :)
Cruising on the furniture, letting go a lot more.

Verbal:  You can say.... mama, dada, bubba, papa, gaga (which is your word for milk),dog-dog, duck, book.  Words you "say" but aren't clear are Amen, Getty-Up, dat (that), gock (look). You also sign for more and water.

Eat: You are eating bigger boy foods now and love to feed yourself. I think soon you will start to want it all like this.  Nursing still through the day, but will soon switch a few feedings to milk. Drinking water from a cup like a champ... although you have figured out you can spit it out!

Favorite things: Your most favorite thing in this world are books. Followed by animals and building blocks.  You will point at books for hours! You also love to be outside and take baths.

I have said this before... I'll say it again, Owen you are the sweetest little guy. So laid back and easy going... (unless you're tired and in your car seat :)  God knew what we needed and he gave us the most perfect little brother we could have ever dreamed of. I hope you know how loved completely that you are!!!!!

Here are some of my most favorite pictures of this sweet boy in this first year!

11 months

Some days I look at Owen and feel like he looks so big... other times he looks so little still!
It's a little  crazy to think he will be a year in a little more than 2 weeks. 

I remember thinking in the beginning how HARD  having 2 children was. Who am I fooling... it still is, but things are definitely getting easier.

We gave sleeping on our own a good run.... until his molars started coming in, AND separation anxiety.  After a few too many nights of LOTS of crying... he's back in bed with me.  I need sleep... whatever will get me there is what I must do.  I know looking back when he's older, I will NEVER feel guilty for those extra snuggles! That's what I tell myself when people like to judge.

Owen, some of my favorite things about you  have been:

 Saying "mama" and meaning it... although not when you were sleep training and reaching your hand through the crib slats while crying it.

Saying "night night" to "bub buh"

Giving sooo many kisses that may or may not be excuses to bit on someone's cheek

Elbow crawling.  Just can't seem to get those arms up, even though your back end is! It's too funny

Cruising a lot... in fact, I think that you have made a track on the insideof your crib.
You are also getting very brave and letting go a lot. Mainly to sit down... but you have your eye on getting to one thing from another.

Your. hair.  Sweet red curls in the back that are the softest and most awesome thing in this world. If ever I have a rough moment I just nestle my face in that sweet head, and all my problems disappear.  And oh.my.bedhead.  I still do this with brother too!

I'm looking forward to seeing more and more of your personality shine through.... you are typically a happy and laid back boy, BUT who's not afraid to speak your mind! I think you're a lot like this mama of yours. And I'm perfectly happy with that!

10 MONTHS

oOPS!  I have not been on the ball with these growing posts of my little guy.
Truth be told... I'm getting a little more nervous about posting much about my kids anymore.

I will continue until O is 1 and then probably not much about the kids....

That being said,

So much has changed in the last 2 months...

Owen is weighing about 19 lbs.... and 28 inches long.
We have had a hard time being sick since Christmas... we got a cold on top of a cold on top of a cold... which then turned into bronchitis/ear infections in O and pneumonia in A!
Were finally doing much better and hope to stay that way!!

He can say... Dada, Mama, Bubba, Dog, Quack, Nite Nite, No no, Bye Bye. You love to click your tongue and growl, and imitate all other kinds of sounds!

Officially mobile.... you "army crawl" everywhere you want to go... even though you are more than capable of doing it the right way... this is your preference. Standing and pulling up on everything... including your crib ( which makes nap-time CHALLENGING)

You give us all kisses... or "love" as we call it!

You have 7 teeth and are working on 8 and 9 on top... they have been off and on forever!

Eating a lot of different foods... usually gag on peas and still LOATHE bananas. You really dig being able to eat them yourself... you will eat and eat if you can pick it up!

A and You love to play much more now.... he's so good with you. Even once in a while he will let you wrestle him and you just cackle!!



You are still such a sweetheart... you are finding your assertiveness though, especially when Asher does something you don't like.
But most always full of smiles!