8 MONTHS

How babies change so fast in this first year!
I was sitting behind a newborn at church, only 3 weeks old! I had already forgotten the stretches and noises those teeny ones make.
Even at a short 8 months ago you forget all that. Now it's screaming and mama and dada... which, I tell you is equally adorable!



 We have battled many a cold this fall and I just took little O to the Dr today for a bunch of junk. Luckily, it's nothing but a cold at it's peak and it should subside soon.

 I have enjoyed some late night moments with Owen. He gets to coughing and, for anyone for that matter, it's hard to get back to sleep after that!  We go in the dim of the bathroom , turn on the hot water and sit in the steam. Just me and him... no brother distractions, no business. Just me and him playing Itsy Bitsy Spider a hundred times.

Boy, this one is a smart cookie.
He is a problem solver.. a toy out of reach? Just pull the blanket and viola, toy comes to him!
He's learning so much right now, it's incredible.
Weighs 18 lbs. 4 oz
Probably about 28 inches long
Not even close to wanting to crawl... he'll have you wait on him, thankyouverymuch!
Likes to eat bites of things now... burger bun, green beans, cracker... but no bananas, please!
Many people have said it... He talks with his eyes. Big and brown and the 1 of the 3 sweetest eyes I've ever seen. Whether he's shy or happy, the eyes say it all.
We took the boys to the Christmas lights at the park, and he was so quiet looking at all of them. Just soaking everything in.
He is definitely a little more reserved than my older mister social :)
He loves to look at books and point out eyes on everything.
Loves music and  think he wants to be a drummer :) 

I am SOOO looking forward to Christmas and getting to finally have you here with us than just a belly and a dream.
Owen... are more than we ever imagined. You are loved so much. Happy 8 months, Sweetie Sweet!

7 months

7 months old.... how can this be? 
There's so much to say about how we feel about you.  How God knew what a perfect little guy to send to us....
I watch your brother play with you and it's getting so much more fun now that you can really respond to him. You laugh and try to do the same noises and movements.
He tells me all the time how glad he is to be your big brother. And it shows in his eyes.
He wakes up every morning to sneak into my room where you are still sleeping :) and curls up next to you and breathes you in. He kisses your cheeks and holds your hand, waiting ever so IMpatiently for your eyes to open.
You're nickname is Sweet-Sweet... and that is so fitting for your personality.
Ever so sweet and even natured.
When we are in public you are oohed and ahhed over and you usually don't give a smile too easily to strangers. When you are around people you know and love you are always quick to show those sweet little pirate teeth! ( That's what I think they look like!)
Speaking of... you have 3 teeth on the bottom and you're working on the top 2. They are so swollen and I know any day I will see the little edges popping down.
I got you an amber teething necklace since you are cutting multiple teeth at once and it seems to be helping. Before you were very uncomfortable at night and I thought the drool would never stop. Now that you are wearing it you don't fuss as much, though you do still chew on everything... and you're drool is SIGNIFICANTLY less.  I feel much better about it than giving you Tylenol every night.
 Sitting on your own now.. and there's no turning back! You like to see the world and laying down will not do anymore!
Very curious about everything... some of your favorites are paper of any kind, but especially ones that crackle, balls, spoons to beat on the highchair, and books! You are so much like your brother in that, books will stop you from anything and be read to. How I love that time with you too.
Don't know about crawling -as now that you have mastered the art of sitting, you loathe tummy time! 
Still nursing well.. just a bit more distracted these days.
Sleeping good again, but you are getting a little spoiled by rocking and snuggling to sleep... however, I wouldn't change it for anything! You will eventually not need me so I'm getting them in while I still can!

Here are your stats for the month:
weight : 17 lbs 12 oz  (50th %)
height : 27 1/2  (75th %)
head : not sure the measurement, but remembered that its in the 90th %!
hair : still very little, but it's growing and looking more and more red! (Grandma Shelia is thrilled!)
eyes : very hazel.. can't tell if they will be dark brown or stay lighter and greener

We love you so much, Owen Mitchell, and can't imagine our lives without that sweet face!
I enjoy every minute with you!

I see the moon!

6 months ago our family changed forever......
It's so hard to believe that it's already been 6 months into this new family of 4!



These last few months have been full of changes and new things...
Owen has started eating solids... sweet potatoes are his favorite, apples are close in 2nd.
I feel he is going to be my messy boy... He loves to "help" feed himself and is quick to grab the spoon! Most of the time the result is splatter all over everyone!
I have been making his baby food and it has turned out to a be a very economical, gratifying and strangely easy process! I like knowing exactly what he's eating too... no worrying about "other" ingredients.

He has really started talking a lot... many sounds and is more intentional with them. He's a communicator just like the rest of us! I'm still pushing for "ma-ma" to be his first word :)
(Chances are it will be da-da or bub-ba)

For a little guy who has such an on-again off-again relationship with his pacifier, he is loving it right now... He's wanting  to go to sleep with it and it does help soothe those achy teeth... I guess he feels like if he can't have mama...  that's the next best thing!

When he laughs he gets his whole body involved.... He wiggles down deep and shakes his head from side to side... cutest thing ever! He also has started cocking his head to one side and looking at something or someone. At first, I was concerned he may have an ear infection but after a trip to the doc, they said he was just being cute. I've tried to get a picture of this... but he's too quick and unpredictable!

He loves music... surprise, surprise... I know! He loves to make noises with his toys and when there is music you better believe he's moving... even if it's just his little foot turning circles!

Recently a big milestone is that he is rolling both ways and also sitting up with a little support. He is no longer accustomed to lying down... he wants to see things!

There are so many reasons why I LOVE this stage of babyhood.... they are aware of so much, taking every sight and sound in and loving it! We love to be outside now that the weather is more permitting and he LOVES to watch the leaves on the tress, especially when they blow in the wind. I especially love watching him and seeing those eyes big with amazement and awe.

There is so much about this little guy that we love... He's the best little brother in the whole world and the song is so true...

The moon sees somebody Asher sees..
I often think that God above,
sent Owen down for Asher to love.
Picked him out above the rest,
Cause He knew he'd love him best!

So much Joy from such a little guy!

Fun times on South Avenue

I was awake last night with my sweet little boy who wanted a midnight snack. I got to thinking how much fun our house is gonna be with these 2 boys and how fun it would have been to have a sibling close in age.  That got me thinking about my childhood and how many wonderful friends I had and how much fun we would have, especially in the summer.
Here are just random things that I would do that I remember doing, and hopefully some of them read this and remember them too.  Made me chuckle a little at some...

I had a storage shed turned playhouse that we would pretend to be pioneers and dress up. We would make dirt pies and spend HOURS in that shed! It was usually loaded with wasps and hotter than all get out... but we played!!

I remember Nicki and I having Barbie extravaganzas... man we had a LOT of Barbie stuff and what we didn't we would make out of boxes and washcloths. We would set it up and play for a whole week without taking it down!
I remember her cat and her poodle.. one of which was named Tippy but I can't remember which.
We got tired of jumping the fence so her Dad built us a ladder over it. Cant tell you how many times I scratched my wrist up and down on the top of that fence! We had some fun times.

I remember our Bass twin boys that lived next door for a while. We would play Power Rangers and X-men and I was always "included" but totally left out. I imagine that I was a big pain most days when I would want to play, as I am sure they totally didn't want me to a lot of times. They are still near and dear to my heart!

The Popes...  We had so much fun. They had a tire swing that would swing soo high!
We would swim in their cow-tank and I remember making whirlpools.
We would put on plays under a sheet on their laundry line and make our own costumes. We made our parents come and watch. Specifically one about weather... I think.
(This one made me smile since I haven't thought about it in forever..) We would roller skate in her basement! They had a great concrete floor and we would turn on some tunes and skate away!
They had a dog named Charlie and a cat named Crackers.. both were the sweetest things!!

I remember the Durhams and some knock down drag out fights between Lindsey and I over whose feet were bigger! I remember when they moved and they had the sweetest Rottweiler ever, can't remember his name though.  I always remember what a great christian family they were and how babies were always a topic of conversation since her mom was a nurse and she had 2 younger sisters. Their house even smelled like babies.

I know that If I don't write this stuff down it will leave me forever...  It's already foggy and some I don't know if I dreamed or if it was real. But I do know this...
I feel so blessed to have had great friends that I could always call on to play when there was a snow day or summer vacation.

I hope my boys have good friends like I did. The house next to ours is for sale and I am so hoping and praying for a sweet, young family with boys to move in!

4 months

We had family pictures done at the beginning of July and they were so good. Little stinker Owen barely smiled until Lauren put her camera away! We got a good representation of our family though. That's all I wanted. I'm not a pose and click kinda gal... I like candids, even if they involved tongues sticking out of a certain 4 year old and a sober baby. ( Sober being serious... not involving alcohol)

Owen.....
Oh my... this month was so great. I feel that I say this every month. But I love to see you grow and change.. even though that means your growing :(
You are pure JOY rolled into a tiny chubby cheeked package.

You are so curious about your world now and everything goes into your mouth.
You love to roll around from side to side and play with your toes. Cutest thing!!!

Still cackling at your brother and are as ticklish as I have ever seen!!

You LOVE music... which is expected in this family, you have been hearing it as an embryo!
Your favorite songs for Mama to sing are twinkle twinkle and Jesus loves me .

You are napping MUCH better than you have been for a few weeks. I truly think that you were not feeling good that week you didn't want to be laid down, you needed some extra snuggles. 

Saying gooogooooo and talking up a storm. Just like your brother, I have a feeling that you will be talking very early on. (Your brother said 11 words at 9 months old!) Heaven help our dinner table!

You weigh 15 pounds and are 25 1/2 inches long. On the 75th percentile for both
In the next few weeks we will start you on some cereal... ( I think that I jumped the gun on Asher and could have turned him off to certain textures because of it. As with savoring this baby-ness I'm not rushing into it this time!) Though you sure study me when I am eating and Aunt Amy gave you a little suck of her apple and left you wanting more.

My favorite thing about you is your sweet brown eyes... Oh how they melt me!
When you smile your whole face lights up, you shrug your shoulders and you offer it so generously (unless there is a camera involved! :)
I love when you are nursing and stop to smile at me. I like to see that little tongue still hanging on, but all those gums are shining up.

Thank you for being you. You put up with a lot some days!
So glad that the Lord saw fit for us to raise you!
You are so loved!!!

Mindful Mothering

Mindful Mothering Mondays


One of my favorite blogs is Lydia's. She is 29, has 5 children and blesses me EVERY time I read her blog.
What devotion to the Lord this one has!! You know that her love for the Father is great when it bleeds from her words.
She has started a online community about Mindful Mothering Mondays. A day to link up and talk about your joys and struggles as a mother.
I doubt that I will link up each and every week, since this blog is more for me than I think for people to read... but in case you have happened by, read them. It will refresh you and let you know you're not alone!

My Monday played out like this....
Owen fought sleep for EVERY nap.
It was rainy, therefore made us all sleepy and, a hair, crabby.
Asher had to each lunch by himself... :(  Again, because little one didn't want to settle in.
Watched way too much tv



I remember at times when Owen was fussing and not settling down, my temper was getting riled. In that moment, I couldn't help but think about negative things from the day.. how I wish this or that would have happened instead of this plate I was dealt. 
I caught myself and prayed. Prayed for help, for reassurance, for patience. For joy.
Appreciation overwhelmed me
Appreciation for healthy baby boys.
For a home to protect me from the rain
A husband who works hard for me to rock this babe everyday and make brother lunch with octopus hot dogs.
THIS moment I will never get back.
He may be crying and he may be watching too much tv, but they are safe, they are loved.
They won't remember, but I will.
The sweet little kicks out of frustration, the way O wants to find his thumb so badly...
The way A makes castles out of the pillows on the couch and "fast-backwards" a show to watch again and again.
And those things I never want to forget.

I am choosing joy.
And sometimes that takes everything I have but is all that it takes.

4 years

It's incredible how I can look at your hands and how much they have grown and they have no dimples anymore. Every piece of baby-ness is creeping away.
I stumbled upon videos of you when you had silky long hair and how you said "Wadeh" for water. Those days seem like yesterday and a lifetime ago all at the same time.
You are so precious, my firstborn baby.

You are all about Superheros. And Turtleman :)
We pretend all day everyday.
We build "thorts" and caves to play in
I know that you are excited for Owen to be big enough to sleep in your room and be a playmate
You are very proud of being his big brother, and for the most part, you care for him very sweetly.
You are certainly proud that you are the one Owen laughs at the most!

You have a scientific mind like your mama and love to know the names of things and love to look at books on animals... especially snakes! Yuck!
You have really liked that Daddy is learning the guitar and you help him out with the whammy board! :)
You are becoming a Daddy's boy. You watch the door for him to come home and can't wait to wrestle him to the ground
I'm glad... because their is no other earthly man that I would rather you model yourself after than him.

You are going to be starting preschool in the fall and so you are very excited!
I know that you are going to make friends and have a ball, but it just reiterates how much your growing, and so it's bittersweet for this mama.

There are so many qualities that I see in you that make me so very proud. You have compassion for others and creatures, you love your family with all your heart, and simply the best.... is that you have a want for Godly things. You want to "share your heart", as you say, with the world.
You grow me and teach me new things everyday....
You keep me praying to our Lord for the little things as well as the big things.

Those blue eyes slay me still, and I do love you the last number!!!