Make a joyful noise

Today is Christmas Eve and I am finally done. I had the idea that getting things ready for Christmas this year would be so easy since I wasn't 'working' and had 'time' on my hands. I had dreams of having my Christmas letter off well before Christmas and all my gifts purchased and wrapped weeks in advance. Well....it didn't happen! But, I did get my Christmas letter/card out yesterday, so I did better than years in the past! (most years the Christmas cards end up being New Year's cards :) ) I have a feeling that the reason I wasn't as 'on top of things' like I had planned is taking his morning nap right now! Even though Owen has made getting things done a bit trickier....he has made it SO much sweeter!

The other night we were attending a holiday open house at our pastor's home. Our friend and worship leader got out his guitar and began leading us in a few Christmas carols. As we began singing song after familiar song I noticed a voice that was very off-key. I first looked over at Mike (he is not always on-key....and he knows it!). But crazy enough it wasn't him. As I continued to look around and search for the noise I realized that it was my sweet Owen, who was sitting on the floor, 'singing' with us. He had his mouth wide open and his sweet eyes looking up at everyone else singing. He looked quite 'angelic'! :) Just melted my heart. I will remember that moment forever! Let's just hope he learns to put it in key or his mother is going to go crazy! :)

Also-Happy 8 months Owen.....wow....time sure flies when you are having fun! :)

Not yet!

I know, I know....2 posts in one day? Unheard of. But I have to just post my thoughts about my trip to Target today. I almost lost it. Right there in the clothing department. The baby section.

Why you may ask did the baby section bring me to 'near' tears? Because I say....Owen can't wear clothes from there anymore. :( I was trying to find a pair of cute PJs for Christmas morning and realized that all the 'baby' ones, the cute ones, the ones he should be wearing at this age, were all too small. I should have seen this day coming....from the moment he was born probably....he's no petite. But I just wasn't ready for it today. Good grief....he is not even 8 months old yet!

So I crossed the isle into the little boy section....where they sell actual t-shirts instead of the onesie type.....and began looking for big boy pajamas for my little Owen. He also needs warmer clothes so I browsed the long sleeve t-shirts, sweat shirts, & jackets. But I couldn't bring myself to buy anything from 'the other side' today....not yet. So we left empty handed and a bit teary eyed.

I did a bit more wandering in a different section and did happen to find some that were his size, cute, and not so 'manly'.....so much to my relief....Christmas morning is covered! :)

Owen is growing up. My mom warned me that it would be hard. I knew it was going to happen....just not yet. If I had my way, he would be wearing onesies until he left for college (now wouldn't that be a bit funny). Oh well.....I should have known.....he is half Hughes. :)

*Disclaimer.....Hughes is my maiden name for those who didn't know.....and my Dad and brothers are VERY tall/big (in the buff sense/they got muscles)....and I am not petite either.....I was doomed to birth a toddler.*

Who did it?

Seriously....who teaches kids to do the things they do? Of course I am talking about the naughty things because I teach him only nice things.....and smart things.....and sweet things.
Here's my theory. I am guessing there is some secret training camp that goes on right before conception where the angels teach babies how to skillfully arch their back in such a way that you are unable to snap them into their carseat without having to brace yourself against the side of the car and use your fore arm to 'fold' them in half while rushing to get those snaps done! Then I am sure they have a training course on how to artfully spit food so it reaches the far corners of the room, and how to distinguish what foods are best at staining. Owen's spittng food of choice right now is carrots.....always carrots. And I am sure that just before they are delicately placed in womb they are taught how to head butt their mothers without hurting themselves (how I will never know) and then laugh at their mother's distress.
Then again.....maybe that's what Mike and Owen are up to when I leave them home alone together? Training on how to do all things that drive mom batty? :)
But man that kid is cute. And man I sure do love him....carrot stains, head butts, & carseat 'folding' in all. :)

Big day!

Well, I am here to announce that we officially have a crawler & a stander! We had a VERY big day yesterday! I also did introduce him to his first bubble bath so maybe that was so wonderful that it inspired him to do great things!
The crawling started in the bathroom....I know, gross.....but mama had to 'go'. I laid him on the floor on his hands and knees and BAM!...he crawled....not army style, but the real way using his hands and knees and all. :) He has been army crawling for a couple weeks now & has been gradually getting faster. But now, Holy hannah....it's like his eyes have been opened to all the possibilities and he is a quick little booger. We are in trouble.
Now for the standing.
We got him a very cool toy for Christmas which we just gave to him now. We figured why go through the trouble of wrapping it and waiting when we will just be the one's unwrapping it for him and he needs a new distraction now! I know, 'Mother of the year' right here! But, he loves it and it is working like a charm at keeping him occupied. Well....it has a part on it that Owen has begun grabbing onto in an attempt to pull himself into a stand. Nevermind the cool music and fancy lights...the kid wants to stand! Well, last night he finally found success! You have never seen a prouder mother. But yet again....we are in trouble.
Now my house seems like a ticking time bomb of DANGER! I guess we will be baby proofing like mad this weekend. :) Oh well, I have heard it comes with the territory! :) Good-bye cute basket full of magazines, hello outlet covers.
On another note (from my last post), Owen WAS sick & he did have a temperature. I was right, the thermometer was lying! He is doing much better now, but it was a rough couple of weeks in the Botts house. We really think that he was experiencing the perfect storm-sick & teething at the same time. We are glad to have happy, healthy Owen back....the sick, cranky version was no fun at all, still cute....but no fun.

P.S. It was also a big day for Mike and I. We have been praying about what 'we can do' & yesterday we took another big step in the direction we believe God is leading us. Someday soon we hope to be able to proudly declare what God has done and what our future may hold, but for now we are still choosing to keep a bit quiet. We would love to have your prayers as we step out in faith. Thanks a bunch! :)

Drat :)

Well. This is it. Owen is officially sick for the first time. Ever. I know, he is only 7 months old but I figured we were on a good role. Oh well. And P.S. it is no fun at all.
It is currently 3:40 in the morning and I cannot sleep. Owen is. But I cannot. I have actually been awake now for over an hour. A simple (but oh so icky) cough from the cute room down the hall is what did it. The worrisome mother in me cannot allow my brain to relax, so I am out in the living room waiting for sleep to come. I am sure that Owen has just developed some sort of cough and the 'independent' mom in me just thinks we could 'ride it out', but Dr. Shah will be getting a call from me in the morning.
Owen sounds like he is going to cough up a lung, a sweet little 7 month old lung. And his breathing is so gurgled...you know what I mean? Makes me want to clear my own throat every time in a feeble attempt to clear his! :) And for the first time a truly think he has a bit of a fever. Don't worry, I took his temperature & it's okay, but I think it's lying.
It all started last week when he was just being down right cranky. I don't know how these things typically go, but I knew something was up. He just wasn't being himself and naps weren't fixing anything.....naps weren't even happening! :) Straight up refusal from the little guy, & we tried everything. And if you know Owen at all, you know that he LOVES his naps....especially those in his very own crib. Usually justs lets out a contented sigh when I lay him down, rolls over, & passes out. No crying at all.
Well, Thursday morning (Thanksgiving) we ventured up to the Botts family cabin and instantly Nana declared that she thought he was teething. Of course! That explained everything....or did it? He was drooling like a mad man, and was being fussy, and was chewing (or at least trying to chew) on EVERYTHING! But then BAM this darn cough settled in this weekend without much of a warning. It had us all fooled with the 'teething' bit. I don't know.....do coughing and teething go hand in hand? I am such a rookie! File that one away to ask Dr. Shah in the morning! Or could he be teething & sick at the same time? Oh wouldn't that be just a kick-in-the-pants! :) Oh well....gotta love that kid.....and I do.....TONS. That's why I am still up at 3:50am.

A change from the norm

When I began this blog I thought I would only post about my journey through parenthood with our first little baby. I have been hesitant to post anything other than the simple happenings with Owen and myself. However I am beginning to realize that this journey through life is so different now as I look into the world through 'mom' eyes. So, this post is a bit of a change from the norm. This summer & fall has been an amazing time of growth in my faith as I have witnessed God doing miracles in the lives of some of our friends....actual miracles.....the kind that you cannot just 'circumstance' away. I have begun to wonder what God can do in our lives as He has also reawakened a thought between Mike and I. I truly believe that God has put Mike and I together for a purpose.

To put it simply, my heart breaks at the thought of children without mothers around the world & here at home. It all began last Sunday morning when I was feeding Owen (selfishly a bit upset that he woke up so early to nurse). I looked down at him feeding so peacefully and suddenly my mind flashed to picture Owen, my dear boy Owen, alone in an orphanage. I pictured him alone in a crib without being able to eat when he wanted to and being cuddled when he was upset. The reality is that some children live this life, alone, unloved, in an orphanage. I was grateful at how easily I was able to meet his needs and physically make him feel loved & at peace. The thought brought me to tears and drove me to prayer. How sad those children must be. All I could do was cry, pray, and ask for God's help. Since then the Lord has been placing 'signs' in my life that are remarkable. He is making it VERY obvious. Daily I am reminded of His guidance for us. Some day I will post all the 'signs'-you would be amazed! What a good God we serve.

There is a beautiful song we sing sometimes at church that scares the pants off of me. It has a line in it that says "break my heart for what breaks yours...". That is my prayer most of the time, but oh how it hurts when you begin to see the world that the Lord sees and your heart begins to break ever so slightly as the Lord's would break.

It is so easy to become comfortable in our easy American life that we forget that others exist out there beyond our safe borders. If you have never witnessed true poverty in a 3rd world country, you may not know how blessed we truly are simply because we are 'American'. I think we are blessed in order to bless others, not to just simply reside in our 'blessing'. I was listening to the radio this morning and heard a stunning fact that made me feel ill and caused me to start sobbing at the wheel. 143 million children are orphaned around the world, 143 MILLION, 143,000,000. God has been taking Mike and I on a journey of faith and trust in discovering what 'we can do'. I am a strong believer in the fact that God calls us to a life of 'doing'. Even if what we can do is simple and may not change the world, we still must do what we can and we ALL can do something. Mike & I can no longer sit back and watch as the world hurts. We will do something. Rick Warren once said, "You may not be able to change the whole world, but you can change the world for one."

Now, I know that my blog is not followed my many, and I like it that way. If you do happen to stumble across this post, will you please remember Mike, Owen, & I in your prayers as we begin a journey of faith. Also, I hope that you will be encouraged to do what you can. God is a good God! Sorry for the ramblings of my heart, but it needed to come out!

P.S. Owen is now 6 and a half months old. At his last dr.s appointment he was almost 21 pounds and was about 30 inches long! Healthy and happy to boot! :) He is on the verge of beginning to crawl but cannot figure out how to go forward.....so backwards it is! Owen is eating a TON and wants to eat more! He is a kick in the pants and we are loving every minute of it! (even when he wakes up to eat too early in the morning) :)

Lobsters have teeth

So, I debated all October what kind of Halloween we were going to celebrate with Owen. It is not my favorite holiday at all....truth be told, I don't like it. I like Fall...picking apples, picking pumpkins, the cooler weather but not the ghosts, goblins, and all things spooky. I am sure that is going to change soon once Owen begins to realize all the fun Halloween holds, not to mention all the candy! I resisted getting a costume for him all season because 1. he wouldn't care or remember having a costume, 2. we weren't going to take him trick or treating & 3. my dad was here to spend time with Owen so we just planned on staying at home which meant no one would see him and know I hadn't bought him a costume! Well, I caved at the last minute. I didn't want to look back at this and feel like the rotten mother I was being because I didn't celebrate Owen's first Halloween plus I wanted the pictures.....I ended up picking up an adorable lobster costume at a consignment sale downtown Halloween morning. What a cute little lobster he was. :)

And to top it all off, Halloween morning we were greeted by 2 little teeth in Owen's sweet little mouth! He had been working on popping them out all week and out they came on Halloween. Too bad he couldn't enjoy using his teeth on any of that candy!

P.S. Sorry! You will just have to turn your head.....I don't know how to turn the picture! :)

just an update on life

Just looked at the calendar and realized that October is here and I should probably post something on my blog! Also, sounds like my mother has found my blog and may be checking in regularly so that adds a bit of pressure! "Hi, mom! Good job finding me! Very impressive....considering your extreme lack of internet knowledge! :) "
Owen is now about 5 and a half months old. Amazing how fast time flies and how slowly the baby weight dissolves. (Can I get an amen!) I have started running regularly again but have yet to see any real results! Luckily the weather has finally cooled down and Owen is growing to love rides in his fancy ride from grandma (thanks again Mom!). So...the running shall continue and hopefully my jeans will quit shrinking in the wash if you know what I mean! :)
Owen is getting SO fun. With each new month his personality evolves and his new skills dazzle us! He is eating so many yummy fruits and vegetables but tries to eat EVERYTHING! He is getting quite good at grabbing things off our plate, so we have to be pretty careful these days! Also, it is amazing how quickly he understood what opening the freezer/fridge and grabbing a spoon meant! His face lights up and he starts to wiggle in his high chair. I cannot move fast enough for him! He loves his food!
We are also on the verge of crawling. He attempts to scoot on the floor but the poor kid is at a serious disadvantage. We have 1 rug in the whole house and the rest of it is wood flooring or tile. Add that to the fact that it is now Fall and quite chilly so he is wearing pants now. Not exactly a 'crawl encouraging' combination. I am convinced however that he is able to crawl in his crib. Somehow he manages to shove his upper body into the far corner of his crib no matter where I lay him down! What a nut! :)
All in all, we are having a GREAT time. Owen is healthy and happy and still growing like a weed! We are officially in 12 month clothing on a regular basis.....I feel ike we skipped a whole size, or two. I had better have another boy because I have LOTS of unused clothing in let's say the 6-9 month size just lying around! Owen and I have gone apple picking a couple times and will head out to the pumpkin patch today with Mike to find some pumpkins for our front stairs. I love this time of year and that love has been amplified by having Owen to share it with. I am bracing myself for Christmas time....it is going to be so much fun I can hardly stand to think about it! :) Ahhhhh!

So Worth It!

To say that I love being a stay at home mom would be a serious understatement! This is what I was made for and have longed for my entire life (well maybe not my entire life....sure this wasn't on my register from birth until about somewhere in my early teenage years!) When Mike came home from work last night it felt just like a 'Leave it to Beaver' moment. The house had been cleaned (the floors were even swept which is HUGE!), Owen was freshly bathed, dogs were fed, laundry was done, and I was in the kitchen getting dinner ready. He came into the kitchen to find me, gave me a kiss and a hug and I was just so overwhelmed with it all. Of course I cried. I am a woman, and a hormonal-breast-feeding woman to boot.
This wonderful life hasn't come without sacrifices, but those 'huge' sacrifices seem so small in light of the blessing of Motherhood. I am SO thankful we did what we did to get to this point and thankful that God provided a path of blessing for us to follow! :) This is the first month that we have had to live with only Mike's paycheck, and you know...it hasn't been that bad. (And if you are current on our 'lovely' condo/rental story you know it could have been bad, really bad!) Sure we don't eat out nearly as much and I haven't bought a new outfit lately, but I'm home....clipping coupons, washing diapers, eating leftovers, and loving every minute of it! Thank you God, Thank you Mike!

P.S. Owen is doing wonderful! At his 4 month appointment (which really was at 4 1/2 months) he weighed in at 18 lbs 14 oz and was 27 inches long. Dr. Shah said he is more like a 6 month old than a 4 month old and that he is a very healthy, good looking boy. Well.....we could have told you that! :) Owen is currently eating rice cereal, avocados, and bananas. Bananas are his favorite but we ate too many last week....and well....let's just say we are slowing down on the bananas! He will start pears and sweet potatoes soon. Yum yum!

One of those days

Well, it's been one of those days. They say they will come but as a new mom you truly believe that you will be the first super mom to avoid them. This past week has been rough. Mike returned from a mission trip with incredible jet lag and Owen and I returned from a trip home to visit my family. To say that Owen is off his routine would be an understatement. The routine must have flown out the window of the 747 somewhere between here and Sea-Tac airport. I am beginning to believe that the perfect storm has occurred in little Owen's life and unfortunately he has an inexperienced captain in charge! :) Mike left, we left home, he hit a growth spurt, and could it be that teeth are coming in too? Lucky us! He won't nap, he isn't sleeping at night more than 3 hours at a time (I was getting at least 6), and is just generally unpredictable and cranky. He does still pull out that adorable smile for me as if to say, "Love you mom and this all will pass." We have tried to adjust his schedule, adding cereal feedings, and sooner naps with no luck.
Well, back to today. Today is Sunday. A day when Mike is home and able to help me out with him. Which honestly is almost worse than during the week when I am by myself. When Mike is around I tend to second guess myself which is such silliness! Well, last night I must have gotten woken up a few too many times and I know that I woke up too early (thank you Owen...who then put himself back to sleep!...but mama couldn't put herself back. :( ) Then the early morning nap started off well but ended way to early for all....then the later morning nap started off well yet again but then went to 'you know where in you know what' all while I was trying to sneak in a much needed nap. Mike happened to be out with the guys during this whole episode. He returned to find me crying on the couch with Owen screaming in his crib. It was one of those days.....

On a much lighter note! Owen is still adorable, still lovable, still kissable, still hugable, and most of all still mine. Love him to pieces and I know this too shall pass....all too soon I am sure. He is now rolling over and eating rice cereal and looking less and less like that 'little' bundle of joy we named Owen over 4 months ago. I wouldn't trade him for the world....however I would like to drop him off at Nana's for a little visit without mama...but that's a whole other story! :)

Confession

I have something I need to get off my chest. I am not keeping a baby book of all of Owen's firsts. I know this may seem as a shock to some and reason for some of you to think less of me, but I just can't do it. I don't want to be strapped with the commitment (and guilt) of needing to document and catch every little thing . I don't really care. There, I said it. I am really not one of those mushy, gushy, sentimental types and didn't think motherhood should change that. I catch myself every now and then feeling a twinge of guilt at not documenting and recording every moment of Owen's growth and development, but it is what it is. Guilt also springs up when I hear other moms gush with each other about how wonderful their babies are. Example...how they can't lay their baby down because they are "just so cute that they can't stand it." I think Owen is the cutest thing ever...the cutest thing ever that needs to get a good nap to stay healthy and happy. Am I a bad mother? No...just a realistic one I think. :)

I guess it would also be helpful to share that I don't like to videotape things either! We didn't even have our own wedding videotaped for goodness sak.! :) Plus who really sits down to watch all those endless videos? Now, in my defense I do take LOTS of pictures and have a fantastic memory! I really don't need a baby book or a video camera to remember the important things! Like today. I will never forget being overcome with emotion walking down the frozen food isle with Owen. I looked down into the cart where he was quietly sleeping in his carseat amid piles of groceries. He had a slight 'paci' mark around his mouth and a sweet expression on his face. I had to fight back the tears just looking at him. I will also never forget the sound of his baby chatter. The sweet ohs and squeals will forever replay in my mind and draw a smile on my face. The best being when he talks to himself in the bathroom mirror. The conversation is intense! Then there is the moment of his birth. As much as I might want to forget the craziness of that moment, it is forever etched in my memory. He was just so amazing and the sheer size of him shocked us all! After delivery (and all those procedures they just have to do), he just layed there in his basinet and quietly turned his head towards the window to look out at the sunrise. When he began to fuss a little, we called out to him and he calmed at the sound of our voices. Those are the moments I treasure.

It may come across to some that my actions show a lack of care. Quite the contrary. I care A LOT. Just not in the things that are documented in a baby book. I care that he becomes a healthy adult. I care that he learns that he is not the center of the universe. I care that he cares for others and learns to share. I care that he aquires a love for learning. And I care that he becomes a strong man of God. Those are the things that matter....and I don't think they make a baby book for that. Glad I got that off my chest.

Happy Birthday Mom

To say that my birthday was a rough day would be saying it about right! Don't get me wrong, Mike tried really hard to make it a good day and my brother and his wife were here which was very special, but Owen stole the show. It began the night before by Owen refusing to go to sleep. He was always wanting to nurse. At 11:00pm I guess he finally felt full enough to fall asleep. He then proceeded to wake up at 2am and at 5am and at 6:30am. He had been sleeping 7 hours a night faithfully before this so I was not used to waking up during the night like that! Well Michael sent me back to bed and told me that since it was my birthday he would take Owen and let me sleep in. I wanted to tell him that I would rather he take over breast feeding for my birthday! I did get to sleep in a bit which was absolutely wonderful!


Then the day began with us trying to do fun things at home and around town since my brother and his wife were here. Owen fussed here and there but refused to nap! And he began this ridiculous cycle of wanting to eat every hour/hour and a half! Talk about sore! :) He got in one good nap in the afternoon where I quickly jumped in the shower and got a few things cleaned up while everyone else napped. I tried to lay down...but my mind was racing, so my efforts were in vain. "What was wrong with Owen?, Did I put the laundry in the dryer?, Do I have everything I need for the BBQ tomorrow?, etc"

We did sneak in a good dinner out and a quick walk, but ended the evening with crazy feeding 45min to an hour apart. It meant rushing to open gifts and me cutting birthday cake for everyone but myself so I could comfort screaming Owen. Somehow ice cream cake didn't sound so yummy when my little one was so upset last night. We are hoping it is just a silly growth spurt coming on (like he needs one!) and nothing else.


But when he woke up this morning (way too early mind you) he greeted me with a smile and a bit of a chat. That made the sorrow of yesterday disappear. Owen is SO worth it.


So I a going to secretly steal another day next week and declare it my birthday 'again' and make that a special day (swedish pancakes for breakfast, lunch with a friend, a cool walk at the mall, a soak in the tub with a good book, coffee at night with Mike). But I am not going to let Owen in on the secret plan! shhhh

Treat for mom

Today was the day I have been dreading since writing it down on my calendar....Owen's 2 month checkup. Don't get me wrong! I love going to our doctor, getting Owen weighed and measured, asking all my questions, etc. But today my little guy had to get 4 shots. It amazes me what these poor little babies have to go through so early on in life! I am an adult and I hate getting shots but I have to say watching my little boy get them is far worse!

Well....like all good moms I had planned this appointment at the perfect time! Right after a nap and a feeding so Owen would be in good spirits. But....like all little babies...Owen had his own plan! He woke up early this morning throwing our perfect routine out the window! So much for that! Needless to say I had to wake him up in the middle of a stellar nap to get to the doctor, never a good idea! By the time we got around to the shots he was already crying before they poked him. Once they did, he screamed like I have never heard him scream before. With every shot the scream would reach greater heights! It sounded like a scream of pain and betrayal. It took everything within me not to cry, but even so a few tears snuck their way out! I felt so helpless....I couldn't even bribe him with anything! No suckers, no ice cream, no toys, just nursing....and he was too ticked to even do that! So on the way home I gave myself a treat (allowing him to sleep a bit longer!), coffee from the drive thru at the Filing Station. We weren't going through the trauma of shots without someone getting a treat!

By the way, Owen weighed in at 15 pounds this visit. :)

Uncommon tears

This morning I cried with my mother. I am not one to do that often. Not that I don't have a great relationship with her....just not that type where we weep and wail over everything/anything. Our most frequent tears occur while watching a sappy movie together but other than that? Becoming a mother has brought on a whole new range of emotions I never knew existed within me. I am SO sad that my family doesn't get to experience every moment with us as we raise Owen. I feel so selfish to have him way down here California but we know it is all part of God's plan for our lives. My wonderful parents and fun brother and sister came over to see Owen one last time this morning before they make the LONG trek home to Washington. We had so much fun spending time with them this week and look forward to the next time we all can get together....hopefully sooner than later! Happy birthday to me....my mom is paying for me to fly home for a visit....only request....I have to bring Owen!

OOppps

Well. I blame this on the pregnancy brain. It must have plagued me very early on! I started this blog on the day I took my first positive pregnancy test. It was a way for me to channel my excited energy. The plan had been to post secretly my pregnancy happenings until we announced it to everyone and then to continue on. Well...you all missed quite a chunk of time! I think we will just pick the blog up from where we are at now instead of trying to rehash the last 10 months or so.
So this is where our life is now! :)

Owen is now 2 months old and as big as ever. He was born on April 24th, 2009 at a shocking 11 lbs 4 oz. And the answer is-No, I did not have a C-section. Maybe in a later post I will post all the happenings of my delivery! :) Owen has hit the ground running. He is a very alert and active baby! He was not a typical newborn. He never just 'lays there' in my arms. He is constantly squirming trying to look around. Owen does LOVE HIS SLEEP! He is a great napper and is already beginning to sleep through the night some.

Right now my parents (Grandma & Grandpa) and my sister and brother are here visiting with Owen for the first time. It is so hard to be so far away from my family but thankfully they are willing to come down and visit us here in California from time to time. My brother Brian and his wife Rachel came a couple of weeks ago and we had a blast with them! Next week my brother Kevin and his wife Susan will be down! Lucky us..... :)