What to do when girlfriends break up?

Am I the only one that when a friendship with a girlfriend really comes to an end that it is SUPER awkward and weird?  Its like when it is a guy and then you no longer have contact no one wonders what happened....they broke up PERIOD.  But if it is a girl there is all this "other" stuff.  Do you take down all the pictures of the 2 of you (and kids) on face.book what about when you see those photos in you computer when you are looking for something else, do you delete them?  The last thing I need it to be reminded of this person who was mean, rude and downright hateful to me and my family (that is a WHOLE different story, that isn't really mine to tell) .

What about the stuff that she still has of mine?  I got most of it back, but there are a few items that I would to have back....am I justified to ask for these items back or just let it go?  Is the drama worth those items....

What is the etiquette for when a friend who happens to be female says "I don't want to be your friend anymore"  are we in grade school again?  Here is my half of the heart necklace, you can have it back.  In this new digital age I found out this "friend" defriended me on face.book with no explanation.     We had 3 minute conversation when this said "friend" basically told me I was a negative person.....funny how my husband had to pick up so much stuff that the back of the minivan was full, he said to me "Ignore her, obviously you are a giving person."


I don't know why I care so much, I guess that is just me.  They (her and her husband) were not that great of friends anymore.  They were probably the worst of our friends to support us after loosing the twins and they should have been the best as we were supposed to be "best" friends.  There was only ONCE that she came over without her newborn.  Every other time we said please bring the baby..no matter how hard it was for us.  I wish I had let them go then...would have been such a better reason than this one.

I am sorry if you know me in real life and you know these people.  We have so many mutual friends and I hope this doesn't make anyone mad, but this is my space to write what I want and feel.  When I put these words on this blog I then let it go.   I am not trying to talk badly about these people. Actually, everything I have written is facts or my feelings.  I am probably down playing the whole thing more than building it up.  I hate that I wasted so many years on this friendship that apparently didn't mean much to them.  I wish they had just let the friendship fade into the background as it was headed there anyway.  Then when we see them around town or at parties it wouldn't have to be awkward, but then that's how I would have handled it. Now, when I see this chick....oh no I am not going to tell you how I will act, but you can bet it won't be friendly.... remember she is the one that didn't want to be friends.   But apparently one week before I was defriended she texted me saying her kid needed some Owen time and "we should get together".....must be nice to have a light switch on your emotions.  I can't just turn mine off like that.

Isn't it interesting how the true spirit of people comes out at the holidays.  The nasty ugliness just spills out of family and friends around this time of year.  I think it is because Satan is working overtime in our lives.  Well, guess what not in my house, not this year!

Owen and bath time

Owen L O V E S a bath!!! He cries when we take him out of the water, I have to share what happened just now!!

So, I started running the water and I have started standing him at the tub to watch the water fill the tub. Well then I had to get him undressed and it never fails that when he wears a disposable diaper and poops that it is an explosive poop!!! I thought I was going to strip him down right by the tub but when I got his pants off I smelled it and knew.

Sure enough it was down his leg.

Off to the changing table and wet wipes we headed and that is when Owen acted like I broke his heart! I changed him as fast as I could, but within 10 seconds real fat tears were streaming down his cheeks. The part that cracks me up is that as soon as he saw the tub full of water he stopped mid cry started smiling and kicking with excitement!!!

Here he is chilling on his belly you would never guess that he had just had a melt down!!!

Playdates with Colin

I attended a breastfeeding class when pregnant with Owen (best advice EVER!) and was excited to meet another new mom, Katie, and found out she too was having a BOY!! Oh the fun I imagined we would have!!!

In February, our little men were here and were only 13 days apart!

Now 10 months later I am in SHOCK that our boys have grown so fast!

Here are a few pictures of our little men together:

At the beginning the difference of 13 days seemed HUGE!

as newborns (Owen on the left, front)

by 3 months the boys started looking the same age (Owen far right)

now they each have their own personalities!

little buddies

It is so fun to see them together; they are having a war for the cutest cheeks!!

sharing a blueberry muffin

playing with orange colored toys (I totally could have rocked being the mom of twin boys)

And, I swear they are already swapping tricks!

Breastfeeding/Weaning

My original goal was to breastfeed Owen to a year.  Well, I know I could have if I had wanted to, but there were multiple reasons we decided to wean Owen earlier than planned.  We started giving him water in this cheapo sippy box that has a flip up straw (from Walmart in the tupperware section on the bottom shelf it was like $1.50).

Owen: 
By 6 months, Owen was able to drinking my water through a straw.  So we kept offering him water to practice.  At 8 months, I started giving him the frozen milk I had stored up.   By 9 months, I ran out of frozen milk so I started to offer him formula and now at 10 months he is strictly formula.  I will probably switch to whole milk between 11-12 months.  I still want to talk to his pediatrician first.

Me:
I did call a lactation consultant (since it was free) and talked to a friend who had breastfeed her 2 sons (thanks Caroline!).  They gave me some great tips and the best is to drop one feeding a week.  If you are still pumping you should drop those first.  Owen was nursing 4 times a day, 8am, noon, 4:30pm and 7:30 pm. His favorite was the morning, so I started dropping the feeding in this order:  4:30/after nap, then the noon/after morning nap, this left me at nursing every 12 hours.  Since, he really asked for the morning feeding I dropped the nighttime feeding and just this past week dropped the morning feeding.

I just let it be a casual thing. For example, say I nursed him at noon on Monday, dropped the feeding on Tuesday and Wednesday, but then Thursday he was really cranky and needy I would just nurse him.  I am not sure how your milk supply has been, but I almost had an oversupply issue in my right breast so I was very worried about over engorgement.  So far I have not had too much uncomfortableness.  Another good tip is to wear a tight bra or sports bra.  The binding tells your body to slow down the milk supply.  You can use cabbage leaves if you get engorged and I do think they work some as I used them after I delivered the twins.  But thankfully this time I haven't needed to (they are stinky).

I did realize a couple days after what I was thinking was Owen's last feeding that I had some lumps in my right breast.  I massaged the lump that evening (and leaked a little) and then the next morning it was still there, though smaller.  So, I nursed Owen then they were gone!  I massaged my breast a TON when he was first born and as time went on I didn't need to anymore, but when you start weaning you should to make sure you don't get clogged ducts.  If you ever had mastitis you will know all this already.  I did and it is HORRIBLE!!!

Whew! I didn't realize I had such a long winded opinion....oh wait!  Yes, I did!   I hope this helps anyone going through this too!

Owen: 10 months

love this face

Schedule: 
You've been waking up at 7:30 am with Daddy's alarm clock, one of us gets you and by 8am you are done with breakfast consisting of puff or cheerios, yogurt and milk.  By 9:30 am to 10am you are so tired and ready for your nap.  You usually sleep till noon and are ready for lunch.  You are eating about 4-6 oz of stage 2 baby food, some more puffs and 4-6 oz of milk.  We then run errands or meet up with friends for a playdate and run home by 2 pm to get you back in bed for your nap.  You will sleep till 4-4:30pm and then you have a snack and more milk and we start waiting for daddy to get home.  After dinner at 6pm you play with daddy till bedtime at 7:30pm.

laughing at mommy

Teeth:
You got your 5th tooth on the top left!  It was a rough week till it broke through, you would wake up once or twice and we would rock you and give you some numbing agent on your gums.

so serious, my boy

Eating:
This month we started weaning.  At the beginning of the month you were breastfeeding 4 times a day.   Each week I dropped a feeding and you did so great!  You are drinking formula out of a straw sippy box.  As of the night you turned 10 months we had our last feeding together.   It was the middle of the night and you needed some comfort.  You pooped your diaper (you were constipated) and then you were teething so you needed mommy's milk that night.  It was so sweet, so bittersweet.  I am so proud that you don't need me anymore for your food, but I miss our sweet snuggles already.  We even spent our first night apart when I stayed with your Aunt Sara one night!

runner up for the Christmas card

Movement:
You have started crawling!  I can put you down in one room and find you in another or down the hall.  You like to throw a toy and then crawl after it!  Your crawl is like a belly/army crawl.  We have already teased you that you are prepping to crawl under houses like your dad!  You will lay on your side and play...you still don't want to sit up on your own.  We can hold your legs and you will sit up, but you never try to do it.  I know it is only a matter of time, I did find you in your crib once this month sitting up crying and you have sat up several times in the bath.

Our Christmas Card picture!

Did I mention how much I love you and I have loved experiencing each new thing through your eyes.  My life is so much better with you in it!

my new project(s)

I have been working on a project and my perfectionism was trying to take over, but I finally said STOP and just let it be what it is.

Here it is.

I started another blog, please check it out!

http://pinpushing.blogspot.com/

Is anyone on pintrest?  Is anyone not on pintrest?

Ok, you just have to check it out for yourself to see what it is all about.   It would be great if you would go there and then come back here and let me know what you think.   I need your honest opinions.

Oh and let me know if you think you are going to join in with me on the fun!!!  Even if you just follow the blog that would be GREAT!!

breastfeeding and formula

I know I am very lucky that Owen and I have been so successful in breastfeeding.  I have many friends who wanted to breastfeed and were unable to for one reason or another.  I feel guilty that I am in the process of weaning him.  There is no one reason, but I decided it was time. I have to admit I am proud of the fact that my body was able to produce milk and that Owen didn't have a drop of formula till after 9 months.  But it was time.  I need to be able to have others give him milk.  I can tell at times he is wanting to do things himself.  It is part of growing up.

My original goal was to nurse to one year, then to 11 months when he could have cows milk. But due to some other reasons I decided to move up our goal.  So when I purchased the first can of formula I felt so guilty, I wanted to hid it in the cart.  When I got home I had to read the container I felt like such a novice measuring that powder and water.  I was overjoyed that Owen didn't just gulp it like it was juice!  Though now that he doesn't really taste much a difference between the formula vs frozen breastmilk.

Oh and if you are wondering what formula, I went with wally world brand.

Owen's eating schedule was:

• 9am: nurse and eat puffs and yogurt
• 12pm: nurse and eat puffs and 4oz baby food 
• 4:30pm: nurse and eat a snack
• 6pm: eat dinner, 4 oz baby food and some table food
• 7:30pm: nurse and go to bed

His eating is the same except the 12pm and 4:30pm are now replaced with formula through a straw.

TMI Warning:  I got AF!  (for the first time since before Owen!!)

if I have been MIA..

I have a good excuse!! I am working on a project!  A big project that I am hoping to launch in the next week or so!!  I might could use some of your help!  I promise to give more details soon!!  

Owen, 9 months

Time is flying here we are and Owen is 9 months old.

Your words:
Mama, Dada, Na-na (night night), all done, I love you, Up (you lifted your arms said up, up mama!)

Eating:
You are starting to eat some of the food off of my plate including: spaghetti, enchiladas, re-fried beans, lasagna, Brunswick stew, santa fe soup, grilled cheese, and nutri-grain bars; basically anything sort of mushy.  You still are eating stage 2 and some stage 3 baby food.  We are proud to say you were breast milk only till 9 months!


Schedule:
Wake up at 7am, play till 8am when Daddy gets you out of your crib and hands you to me.  Nurse, change diaper and go eat yogurt and some puffs!  Play time till nap time from 10-12.  Eat lunch usually a fruit or veggie; play till 2-4 when you take your second nap.  Then you get up, nurse, and we play till daddy gets home.  We have been eating together as a family and it is so fun!  You are like a little bird when I offer you food off of my plate your sweet little mouth is so open and ready to try new things.

it was a meal squeezed in before naptime

Sleep: 

You are still our little sleeper. The time change messed you up for over a week, but thankfully you are getting back on track....we need you to stay up till 7:30 and spend a little time with daddy on the weeknights.  We did have a hurtle this month.  You would turn onto your belly and then cry till we flipped you over.  Now you are doing this just to get us to come in the room as we very well know you can flip over on your own!!

Movement:

You are getting so good with your hands, picking up the littlest of things!  It is amazing to watch you learn to use the different functions of the toys.  You are picking up on cause and effect of thing more and more every day.  You learned to really sit up and this month as been so fun to play sitting up with you!  You haven't started crawling but your little butt is starting to get up in the air hear and there!  But that doesn't stop you from getting around you pinwheel and roll to where ever you need to be!

We love you so much and are so proud of you!

Sick baby and mommy

It is official Owen is in the middle of his first cold. I seem to have it worse than him which I hear is typical of a breastfed baby... Thankfully. Last night he woke himself up with a little cough from his runny nose down the back of his throat. Poor thing was so uncomfortable laying down that he let me hold and snuggle him and he fell asleep in my arms in the rocking chair.

He doesn't look to sick, but laying his head on me is a sign he is tired and not feeling good.

Owen : 8 months

mama's happy baby!

check me out I am sitting up!

• You have started talking
• first you say na-na-na for night night; we think this means "I want to be in my crib with my woombie"
• then one night you said clear as day "I love you" back at daddy! (people may not believe me but you did!!)
• when we were driving to the beach you said "na na na na mama and dada na na na" this was the first time you said dada; broke daddy's heart that we had to keep driving and not get you to your crib like you needed.

so sleepy

sleeping on his belly

• Sleep:
• You have learned to sleep without your swaddle around you; you are still clutching it and sucking on the fabric.  When I hand your woombie you kick and squeal with happiness!
• You like your room nice and toasty when you sleep...if its not you like to let us know!
• You can go some days with only 2 naps, but then you do still need 3 naps

• Eating:
• you will eat just about everything I will give you some new things you have tried are:  lasagna, refried beans, cake, puffs, spinach, but you don't like baby food with textures!  That stuff you will gag and spit back out.  
• You still like fresh food best...the baby food that I make for you...or our food now! 

You are such a good baby!  Have I mentioned that?  Sometimes we are so busy and you only get one nap and still you are so good for mama.  I try to make our days at home special and low key so that you can make up that much needed sleep for growing.

Owen playing on the floor

I know it is long, but I couldn't edit it down...so just enjoy all 3 glorious minutes of my funny little boy! 

cleaning old books

I have a huge list of projects for around the house,

Next up was cleaning up my old childhood books-

Little Golden Books

Dr. Seuss

Disney Books


Some books that were my moms...Owen's Neanna's Books!


The problem is they were dusty and smelled horrible they had that mildew STINK.  After scouring the internet I think I found my solution!


First, I wiped the books with one of those prewet disposable wipes. 

Then, I tried the microwave trick, its goal is to remove the moisture and therefore the stink....well, little golden books do have some metal in that gold finish!  So they make some crazy sparks if you are not careful.  Big fat FAIL!


Success came when I did the following:

place dryer sheets between the pages of each book 

put the books into gallon freezer bags

 

put the bags in the freezer for a week

took them out of the bags and put into the sun for an afternoon

 

I am amazed that they now don't stink like mildew....maybe a little too much like laundry, but they are definitely up to par for my standard of acceptable smelliness!

they know

I swear Owen knows if we are eating or trying to sleep.  For instance, how many times have I sat down to dinner and Owen wakes up 10 minutes early!  Seriously, in 10 minutes I can have my plate wiped clean and in the dishwasher. 

So this brings me about today.  I don't know if it was his extra long nap in the morning or the fact that I had given him juice a little bit before putting him down, but he took forever to settle down and fall asleep.  Of course, this happens on the ONE day I decide I am going to let myself take a nap.  So, I put Owen down and he was happily playing for a while and started to quiet down so I laid down in my bed.  Not even 10 minutes later he is loudly whining like he needs something.  I think maybe his foot is stuck in the rails or he finally pooped.  So, I check on him, no foot stuck, no poop.  I went ahead and nursed him as we are transitioning between a 3 hour to a 4 hour schedule and at this point it had been just over 3 hours and he didn't eat very well earlier.  So, back in the crib he goes.  I laid back down too.  15 minutes later he is crying out again.  This time I did the diaper check and foot check; patted him and left.  15 minutes later, he is crying out again. I peak from the doorway and he is on his side facing the wall with his arm in the air.  The arm is going from his side to straight up in the air and he is pumping it as fast as he can, up down up down in the dark it looked like a little blur. 

I think to myself....my nap isn't going to happen especially since I didn't eat very much for lunch and I am hungry.  So, I sit down with my snack and realize that I hear nothing.  The kid has fallen asleep as soon as I got up!

I swear they know...and do it on purpose!

Owen: 7 months/remembering 9-11

Today we remember 9-11, ten years ago and the innocent people who lost their lives and all the soldiers who lost their lives defending our country after the attack.  I am remembering the people who keep us safe so that I can live my life raising this precious little boy.  Thank you to anyone who is reading this that has family or friends that they are remembering today.

There is not many times in our life that we can remember the exact moment and time where we were in time.  10 years ago today, I was sitting on the lawn on the UNCG campus drawing buildings for a class.  I remember all of a sudden we noticed that students were acting strangely, crying, walking quickly.  It was in between class time so we knew something was up.  We ran back to our classroom, someone had a radio on and we tried to figure out what was happening.  Our professor canceled class and I headed back to my dorm room in time to watch the replay of the plane hitting the 2nd tower.  My Mom saw it happen live.  My sorority sisters were mostly gathering together all trying to figure out what was going on and we were calling family members to absorb the shock together.

So, where am I ten years later?  Well, I am living 45 minutes from where I was that day.  I am married, I have 2 sons in heaven and 1 here in my arms.  I am heading to church to remember the church members that have passed away this year and remembering 9-11 during our service.  Then we will be having a carry-in lunch in the Hut.  I will probably spend the afternoon at home letting my little boy nap and hopefully get together with some friends for dinner.  I wonder if in ten years I will remember this day as clearly.

I think it is fitting to remember this past month on this day, I would like to think that those who gave their lives would tell us to cherish our lives...because every moment, every minute is so precious and special.

I dedicate this month of remembering Owen to those people we are remembering today. 

• eating everything in site!  You are so willing to open your mouth and try everything...well except for anything with a texture!  You will gag and make the funniest faces if it has too much texture!
• you have tried: mangos, bananas, peaches,  (yes we both found them disgusting out of the jar), lima beans, kiwi, re-fried beans, a tiny sip of a mocha decaf frap (ops! forgot how good you are with a straw!) i am sure there is more foods I am forgetting! 
• when you nurse you have started the funniest thing:  if I don't let you hold onto my face/chin (b/c you might scratch me) then you will scratch your head and drag your hand from your forehead to the back of your head like you are nervous or stressed out!  You look like a little old man when you do this!
• you have learned to sit up, though I still need to be nearby to spot you
• you do the funniest crunches throughout the day! Yup my baby almost has abs of steel...IF he didn't have rolls of chub covering them!
• You lift your legs and bottom in the air when I change your diaper to help me.
• You like it when I clean your nose with the air bulb from the hospital....you think it is a fun game!!  
• You got the sniffles from teething just a few days from turning 7 months and you have been making the funniest face and sniffing in and out very quickly!
• You are TOTALLY working on your top teeth and I wasn't ready for the bottom 2, but they are pretty cute so I figure the top ones will be cute too!  But don't feel like you have to grow up too fast!
• You pat the books when I read them too you and all I want for my birthday is a chair I can put in our sunroom so we can read together.  I want to spend all my time in that room with you!
• You are still nursing and we haven't tried a bottle in months!  I am so proud of us!!  If you had asked me if we would get this far I would have never believed it!  
• Here is a sample of the schedule we have been living:  wake up at 7 and coo with daddy before work (from your crib), sleep till 9am, get up, nurse, eat veggies, play in jumperoo, morning nap, get up at 12pm, nurse, sometimes eat another solid food, play/run errands, afternoon nap, at 3pm get up, nurse, play, quick nap before daddy gets home at 6pm, nurse, eat solids, play with daddy and then get ready for bed.  Nurse again at 10:30pm our most precious snuggle time.  Most days we miss one of those naps b/c we are so busy running errands or whatever, but you are flexible and do so good!!
• You started swim lessons this month and LOVED it!!!  You splashed your face and mommy's face the whole time!  I am loving watching you enjoy your firsts!  We haven't dunked you yet, but I am sure it is coming!

doing his daily crunches

yup its documented, he is sitting up on his own!

very focused! love the faces he makes

stop the paparazzi, i have had enough 

look at that profile, so handsome!

he loves his daddy, and his scratchy beard!

first day at swim lessons

he did great!

Labor Day: truely a laborus day

Is it being a new mom?  Is it because I am home most of my day?  But I feel like I can't get everything done.  I feel like there is always more I could be doing.  I could list out about 10-15 responsibilities that I have very quickly, then I could list just as many items that need doing, projects for Owen, projects for the house, cleaning and organizing.  Seriously, the list is endless.  Sometimes, I start one thing and then it leads to 5 other things.

For example:, today I wanted to put away the pj's my mom got Owen, sounds simple right....get the carters bag out of the living room!

• I go to hang his clothes up in his closet, but find that it is overflowing with clothes that are too small or out of season
• so I needed a box to save his clothes in 
• so I had to go into the basement (here is where I see all the other projects that are haunting me)
• I wanted a large plastic container like I have put his other clothes in, but didn't have an empty one, but there was a "Jeanna: winter scarves & purses" bin that has been in the way.
• So up to the living room where I sorted thru that container that hasn't been opened in 2 years.
• Then I had to get a bag for the items to donate
• Then I had to put the items I wanted to keep in my bedroom (they still need to be put away...)
• Finally I have an empty container, so back to Owen's room I go!
• The container is full before I can blink, but I decide that is enough for one day.
• But while I am at it I went ahead and did some other organizing in his closet.
• Now there is a few random things on the floor, but for the most part it is cleared out.
• I still need to label the rubber bin and take down to the basement.

 Are you bored yet reading all that?  Seriously, I feel like everyday is a little like this.  I have been trying to keep on task, but it is hard too. I guess it goes back to my ADD that they said I had when I was young.

BUT to make myself feel better I should say the other things I tackled today:

• Organizing Owen's closet 
• Cleaning out 1 rubber bin from basement that hadn't been opened in years
• de-junked the drawer in the hall bath that wouldn't open that was driving me NUTS!
• did 2 loads of laundry and all of Owen's is put away, just a little of ours is on the bed folded ready to be put away
• Put dinner into the crockpot and stirred occasionally throughout the day
• did about 2 hours of items for HES/family business
• cleaned out email inbox
• read a little from my book (got to have some reward time in my day!)
• blogged 2 entrys about Owen!!!
• boxed up pictures that are going to be mailed off to be scanned! (major on going project and I am sick of seeing the boxes sitting around my sunroom!) 

Owen: 6 months

This is so late and thankfully I wrote this closer to his 6 month birthday, but I was waiting to piut pictures in it and now I can't remember which pictures I was going to put in it!! Haha~mommy brain at work so here is our 6 month old.

Wow, seriously am I might have to start ever month like this!  You amaze me Owen, you are already so smart.  This month you have learned so much, here are just some of the highlights:

• I found your second tooth on the bottom on 8-1, so far you haven't bitten me yet.
• You love the oatmeal, rice and avocado and are tolerating green beans, squash and rice.  You like a thicker baby food, if it is too thin you gag and spit it back out at me!  You have tried carrots and really don't like them.  I got some in you buy hiding them in rice cereal.  Your Neanna gave you oatmeal and applesauce and you made a face, but seemed to really like it!
• You are still refusing a bottle, but we have become so quick at nursing together that it usually isn't a problem, except when I need to be somewhere else away from you. But I will give up concerts and get togethers for you my little one!
• Your daddy likes to make noises and bury his head in your belly to make you laugh!  You will stick your fist in your mouth and squeal!  It melts my heart and I am going to enjoy every minute watching you grow up and love your father.
• I have found your tickle spots and squeal the word tickle tickle tickle at you and you just laugh and try and squirm away.
• You had your first trip to Sunset Harbor the Holmes' family beach week.  You did GREAT sleeping in your pack-n-play.  
• Your biggest weakness is traveling long distances in the car.  We bought you your very own DVD player for your seat and it worked most of the way distracting you, but you wouldn't give it up and go to sleep.
• One afternoon I had the sweetest time snuggling with you on the bed, we were just laughing and talking to each other.  I started whistling and you tried to copy me!  First you studied me very seriously!  Then you put your lips together and made a raspberry spraying me with some spit!! Then you opened and made an O with your lips.  I was so impress!!  I am just amazed by how smart you are!  To write this down doesn't even come close to how special of a moment it was.  I am so thankful that we have this time together and I hope you will know that I always love you.
• Your Daddy loves getting you out of the crib, sometimes he doesn't even take time to unzip your woombie because you are so excited to see him!  Each time after a nap you give us the best grins and it makes us know that you know us and we feel so loved.  
• You are trying so hard to sit up, if you are laying down on your back you will raise your head and shoulders off the ground.  You have started doing this when you know I am going to pick you up too!  It is nice and I tell you thank you for helping mommy!  
• You make the cutest monkey face when you want solid food.  It lets me know you are ready to eat and if what I made you is gone I know that you are wanting more.  I hope we can get it on camera for you!!
• This month your body is starting to get as chubby as your cheeks!  Your little legs are turning into hams!  I love it!
• You have learned to drink out of a straw!  It only took you the second try to get it!  You still suck too hard and choke a little on the water, but Mommy is thinking you will end up skipping the sippy cup.  I can't get you to suck on those yet.  Time will tell!
• 8/7:   You needed a little help falling asleep tonight so I went in your room and rocked you, as I was holding you and inhaling your smell you became so still and just let me hold you like a little baby.  Thank you for being so sweet, I prayed to God thanking him for you today.  I do this everyday, thanking the Lord for you.  You are so amazingly perfect!  These moments are what I dreamed about all my life as I have waited for you. 
• At your 6 month check up you weighed 17 pound 11 oz they said you are 65%!  We are so proud of our chunky monkey and she even said you have great muscle tone and a perfect head shape (yes as your mama I worry about even the shape of your head!).

mommy and Owen

daddy and Owen in Daddy's 66 mustang (are you claiming it with one little finger?)

"Mom, what are you and Dad making me do?"

i love this one as he was looking at his mommy!

SUCCESS!!! Swaddle is GONE!

It was time.

• the woombie was so tight when I was zipping it up
• Owen was rolling over while inside of it
• he was having to sleep on his side b/c he couldn't stretch out
• we decided not to purchase the MEGA sized woombie 
• he is almost 7 months
• though Owen did still smile every time I zipped him up and it was the cutest thing ever, though I wasn't wanting to admit he was growing up and putting another last behind us, but it was time and I know I have a whole lifetime of firsts in front of us!

Saturday morning, Chris headed to Charlotte to his cousin's house to help roof and Owen and I hunkered down for what I thought was going to be a LONG day of crying and a sleepy baby.  I had mentally prepared myself for three days and night of screaming crying as I was pulling the woombie cold turkey.



So here is the break down of our day:

• 9am: we wake up, eat breakfast, Owen gets a bath and it is time for nap #1
• 10:30:  Owen lays down for his nap wearing a t-shirt, cloth diaper and long sleeved footie pjs.
• 10:45:  Owen is doing his whining tired cry
• 11:00: Owen is screaming crying, I go in and rock him, calm him down and remind him this is our new way of sleeping.  I hand him his woombie and guide the tag into his mouth.
• 11:30: after some more whining, he is ASLEEP!!
• 12:15: up and ready to eat
• 1:30: back down for a nap and this time only 5 minutes of whining and 15 minutes of talking to himself and he is alseep!
• Since then he seems to be able to just talk himself to sleep!! Thank you Lord for an easy transition!  I have noticed that he doesn't seem to get into as deep of sleep, but I feel that this is part of his transition and we will get there, hey we are only on day 3 as I am typing this!  I was fully prepared to still be CIO!~

The moral of this story is:  wait till baby is ready!

yes he is clutching his woombie in his sleep, kinda broke my heart a little to deny him of his wonderful swaddle that made him so happy.

 

 

 

a moment

I want to remember this moment.


I am completely exhausted.  Owen and I have been going going going! 

A quick recap of the past few days:

• Saturday:  get up drive to Elysha's house for a wonderful afternoon visit.  Owen slept in his pack-n-play in her wonderfully large pantry!  Then headed to Mom's house for an amazing dinner (roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, cold marinated green beans) and WOW Owen and I had a TON of stuff!
• Sunday:  get up, drive to Greenville, SC for Weslee's (my cousin) wedding shower, Owen didn't sleep in the car, but did continue his crib tour of the South by sleeping in their crib for about 45 minutes, then we packed it back up and headed back to my mom's.  Owen is exhausted, poor baby the car ride back wasn't fun.  But he did get some good z's in Neanna's crib and his mommy enjoyed another yummy meal!  Hamburgers this time! 
• Monday:  get up, pack up, meet Gin Gin and Lucy for coffee and chit chats.  Lucy gave Owen a Bible and Gin let us borrow a PraiseBaby DVD!  Owen caught a cat nap till we stopped for gas and then shopped at IKEA.  I got Owen a kid's height table for the chairs we had from my childhood, some mats for the shower so he won't slip and slide and some stuff for Daddy's coffee station that I have been wanting to do FOREVER~!  Then we had to make one more stop to pick up a box of stuff and headed home.  

So, now I am at home.  Listening to the thunder and rain outside.  My feet are up and my son is asleep.   Did I mention that he SQUEALED with JOY when he saw his room?!!   It was hilarious, it was like he was looking all around making sure it was really his room.  He had the hugest grin on his face and patted the wall while I changed his diaper.  Then I nursed him just to make sure he wasn't hungry and put him in his crib.  When I laid him down he squealed and laughed!  Then he started kicking his legs like he does when he is excited to see someone or just happy!  I could barely zip him up in the woombie before he was grabbing at the cloth to suck on (I swear this thing is his lovey~!).

He spent several minutes just chatting happily in his crib.  I think he was telling his room hello and how much he missed it.  Now it has been almost an hour and he fast asleep and this storm is already passing as I am typing this post. 

I just want to remember this moment. 

6 month family photos

I am so in love with my son even more!!  Here is a preview of the photos we have seen so far:

the rusty ford truck

chillin' in the field on a handmade quilt

walking around luggin' an 18 pounder

speechless

Owen's First Earthquake

About an hour ago, Owen woke up and as he was nursing the house started shaking.  I had no idea what was going on, but thoughts of an airplane landing in my living room had me running out of the house.  So, I was standing in my driveway holding Owen staring at the sky when it stopped.  We have a rock quarry near our house and so I thought maybe they were just blowing stuff up over there again. 

So far no reports that anyone was injured that I have seen.  Thank you Lord for keeping us safe today! 

dream last night

I dreamed that Owen wasn't mine, that we were adopting him and the birth mother was pregnant again and wanted Owen back.  She was going to rename him Greg or Sandy, they hadn't decided.  I was writing down his schedule for her and a letter for her to give to him later in life.  I knew as I was writing the letter that he would never read it.  We tried to convince her to let him keep his name as he already responds to it.  I tried to explain I wanted him to have one thing from us....they wouldn't even take a blanket and changed his clothes before they left.  They were thrilled that we had only breastfeed him and didn't seem worried about his transition to the bottle and formula;  haha I dreamed thought they don't know him like I do.  So, I was praying that they would be back in 3 hours begging me to feed him and would see how I was HIS wonderful mommy and let me keep him.  Chris was holding him and then handed him to the "father" I was handing the "mother" the letter I wrote and watched her fold it into a tiny square and stuff it into her pocket.  Thankfully, I woke up.

Chris' alarm was going off, but that didn't stop the tears from flowing down my face.  I can NOT imagine the heartache that some mother's go through.  This dream really could happen to some women.  I knew it wasn't time for Owen to get up even though he was awake, but I had to hold him. 
To smell him.

To touch him and know he was really mine.

 To hug him.

To send thanks to God because I don't have to worry about another woman trying to take him (unless I end up on some Lifetime movie).  

To nurse him.

To snuggle with this little boy that has changed my life for the better.

Then I put him back in bed where he is grunting, sighing and falling back asleep.  All is well in his little world, clean diaper, full belly, warm bed, snuggled in his woombie.

Thank you Lord for this son you have given me.  I pray that you are with the women still waiting for their children.   You know I will never forget these women and I will always pray for them.  Thank you Lord for Owen, he is more perfect that I could have ever imagined, you truly outdid yourself this time!

Day 2-6: swaddle/woombie weaning

Tuesday:  Owen woke up early and I had a hair appointment so I didn't try and unzip anymore so he could get a good nap...well he didn't.  Then he only got 20minutes while in the car and when we got home he NEEDED a nap so he was zipped up to the top and conked out immediately.

Wednesday: We missed his morning nap to run errands, so he needed it mostly zipped up for his afternoon nap.

Thursday:  We headed to a friends house, Owen slept great in his crib....zipped up to the neck!

Friday:  He had a dr appointment and shots.....good news his doctor recommended that it sounds like he still needs it and not to worry about weaning him yet.  Got home zipped him up while he was smiling and then took a GREAT nap!

so we gave up for now.....if only the woombies would go on babyhalf off again so I can get the big Houdini size, looks like we are going to need it!

Day 1: swaddle/woombie weaning

So, yesterday I tested a little to see how Owen would do having his woombie unzipped a little.  If it was only a little he wasn't able to get his hands out and was fine. 

So, today I unzipped a little more.  The first nap when I checked on him his hands were still in.  The second nap didn't happen.  His arms were out and he played for an hour before crying.  I soothed him and put him back down for what I was hoping at least a 45 minute nap.  This time I put his arms in and left it unzipped about 3 inches.  Well, seems like he got one arm out immediately and began to cry instantly. After letting him cry for a while I knew it was pointless.  It was time for him to get up and eat in 20 minutes.  So, I got him up and he ate great and then jumped in his jumperoo, but it wasn't my usual happy baby he was whiny and tired.   So I gave up and put him back to bed, zipping the woombie all the way up.  Happy little boy got some good zzz's. 

So, now he is down for the night and since Chris' band, Stuck, is practicing he is again zipped to the chin.  I don't think he is asleep, but at least he isn't crying.

I might be purchasing the big Houdini woombies in the near future...I wonder if they make them in the adult size? 

what to do?  Has anyone had this problem?  How long did it take to wean from the swaddle and what age was your baby??
 

Owen: 5 months

Another month has flown by.  I am so happy right now, I am doing my best to remember each moment.  I feel like I have forgotten already what that little newborn felt like in my arms.  Owen's dreamfeed is my favorite time of the day, when I pick him up and he stretches groaning then snuggles into my neck.  Then again every time I rescue him from his crib and he gives me his gummy grin my heart melts a little.  He is getting so independent, holding his head up, rolling over, eating solids and more.  He is almost sitting and loves to stand on our laps while we hold his hands. 

He recently has had an eye infections and it is making him a little fussy.  But Owen has been a trooper and even with an eye infection and a tooth coming in he has still been my sweet baby!  Yes, there have been some fussy moments and a lot more sleeping, but over all he is still so sweet. 

Our days are full of eating, playing and sleeping, playdates,  throw in some errands, house hold stuff and doing the books for the family business we are a busy bunch! 

Owen weighs 16.5 pounds!!  I recently got my very own ergo carrier to carry this heavy chunk around!