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!