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! :)
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
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.*
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. :)
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. :)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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! :)
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! :)
Monday, November 30, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, November 16, 2009
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) :)
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) :)
Monday, November 2, 2009
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! :)
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