My day so far...

So far... Zero dishes have been washed.  Owen is dressed.  Oliver and I are not.  We've watched Thomas and Friends.  Owen's practiced his sitting up.  Some progress has been made.  We've shared toys.  Owen has gone down for a nap.  Oliver has had issues with me on the computer.

I think we'll go to a playground soon.

Growing, Growing, Growing!

Ok, so kids are asleep...at least in their cribs (I think the big one is still playing around in there), and I have no more episodes of Merlin to watch on Netflix (seriously sad about that...but heading over to mopvideo.com from here to find more).

Anyone up for a kiddo update?  Here goes.

Owen is 5 months old today.  He has 3 teeth and another on the way.  As of February 20th he weighed a big ol' 16 pounds.  He is super ticklish.  He loves to grab the sides of my face and violently eat my chin (I love that too).  He is sleeping in his crib.  Has been for maybe 2 or 3 weeks.  It's going pretty good.  Better than I thought.  He has his times (right now actually) when he seems to wake up more than usual.  Usual is once a night.  More than usual is 2 or 3 times with at least one of those times taking a while to settle back down.  I think we may face a problem with him sleeping in the future.  For now I accept that he is still an itty bitty, and that I don't care much for the cry-it-out method anyway.  With the boys sharing a room though, I do whatever it takes to get him quiet and sleeping fastest, whereas with Oliver I would spend longer trying to soothe him without picking him up.  Most nights I don't have much of a problem with getting up with him, but lately I've been so tired.  It helps that he's cute.

Owen is still on a breast milk only diet.  I think I am scared by the experience with Oliver having to stop cereal and use formula to get his weight back up so I am holding off on food for Owen now... even though that had little to do with cereal and more to do with me not having any milk to give.

Oliver was a happy baby, but Owen is SUCH a happy baby!  He seems to be a little more of a goofball too.  But when he's mad...he is loud.  It's kind of funny to compare their personalities- Oliver was easy going and pretty even keel, while Owen is both happier and angrier.

Oliver.  My baby Oliver.  2.  He's 2! I still can't believe it.  He is such a big boy.  So independent, so smart, so handsome and loving and curious.  But I love the moments when I look at him and realize he still a baby himself.

He has so much energy and loves to run and jump and crawl.  We started going to Gymboree right after Christmas, and boy oh boy have we made good use of our membership.  He is so much fun to watch there.  He is so in love with the owner's daughter who is sometimes there in the evenings.  The two of them run and bounce and jump and fall together.  I love it.

Oliver loves trains.  We take a ride past the train yard probably 2 to 3 times a week on our way home from Gymboree.  It is so amazing to him to see the freight cars loaded and unloaded.  I get a kick out of watching him watch them.  His favorite books from the library are Freight Train by Donald Crews, and Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis.  As long as I can keep renewing them... I don't know if the library will be getting those back!

He is on a Toy Story kick.  It's great.  And he loves Woody.  Which is awesome because I am totally Team Woody...not that Buzz isn't great too.

Oliver is just so full of love.  He can be very affectionate.  And so sweet with his brother! Oh so sweet!  He really knows how to melt me.  I am just a mushy puddle of mom in his hands.

He's never had much of a problem with jealousy of the new baby... but every once in a while he insists that whatever is done to the baby is done to him as well.  And I allow it.  If he wants me tickle him like I tickle the baby, I do it.  Bounce him on my knee too?  No problem.  I always want him to feel loved.  So loved.  Because he is.  That little boy made me who I am.  And I can't believe I am lucky enough to have him in my life, never mind how blessed I am to have spent almost every moment of the past 2 years with him.

Now and Then

Then...

I can't believe Oliver was this little.  I can't believe how long ago this seems.

It's only been 2 years!  Oh my poor heart!

And Now...

My little Owen following in his brother's shoes. 

Literally.  Following in his shoes, his pants, his onesies... it's amazing. 

To see how similar and yet individual my two little loves are is just so wonderful. 

Two Reasons I Love My Life

I was in the kitchen buttering some bread for Oliver's grilled cheese when I heard the sound of innocent joy.  It's a beautiful sound.  Magical.  So pure and happy. 

This is what I found going on in the living room.

(and yes...I cried a little watching them)

I love them. 

And I love my life because they are in it.

Baby Mine

My baby Owen-

You are growing MUCH too fast.  The weeks are just flying by and I am amazed every time I look at you and you seem so different than just the day before.

You are a very easy going little one and I thank you for that.  I would also like to apologize on behalf of your brother.  He just loves you so much he can't help himself but hover over you and wake you with kisses and exclamations of "Babyyyy!"

Thank you for your smiles, and your coos, and your little fingers that open and close on my hand or my collar (sometimes my hair).

Not sure why this is upside down.

Somehow you've already grown so much that the bassinet barely contains you.  I asked your thoughts and you agree that Daddy should be kicked to the couch so you can take the bed. 

My little Owen, I am so in love with you.  I'm not even sure what to say here- I have too much love and not enough words!

At 2 months old, you love getting a bath, you love the view from your changing table, you laugh at the toy bar on your bouncy chair, and you ejoy spending time on your playmat swatting at your toys and looking in the mirror.  Tummy time is not your favorite, but already you are so strong and can hold your head up to look around, so that it is becoming more tolerable for you.

  I love that when I talk to you you smile. 

You are starting to watch Oliver and I've caught you flashing a smile or two in his direction.  I can't wait for the two of you to play together... but don't rush it little baby... you are already growing way too fast.

You weighed 13 pounds at your doctor' appointment, and that made me so happy.  I love your heavy, healthy little body- your rolly legs and chunky arms- and I adore every one of your chins!  I am so relieved that you are thriving so well.  With my own breastfeeding concerns left over from my experience with Oliver, and with all the spitting up you do (seriously...not fun), I was worried about you getting enough nourishment.  And you certaintly are.  AND you seem to have slowed down with the spitting up so I'm even happier.

You sleep well for me, my handsome boy.  Thank you, (it's my own fault I don't get enough sleep).

You look just like your Aunt!  I remember thinking Oliver looked like here when he was your age, but HOLY COW! You really do!  You have lighter hair, skin and eyes than Oliver, which makes you an even closer image of her.

Just for fun- here are a couple pictures of me and your aunt... it's like looking at you and Oliver!

Touch and go (photo overload!)

On Saturday we had planned to go to our town's Silverbell festival (Santa, hayrides, tree lighting, caroling, "merrymaking", etc), when we learned from a mom in our music class that morning that there was a Touch-a-Truck event going on.  Oliver has turned into a total boy and is in love with trucks and buses and police cars, and firetrucks, and motorcycles... you know... things boys get a kick out of.  So we decided we were adding this to our very full weekend.  And the weather...perfect!

Oliver dropped our donation to the toy drive into the wonderfully full bins and we were off- exploring the trucks he loves to point out on the roads up close.  I felt pretty bad with our little offering, but it was a last minute decision to go and we didn't want to be empty handed so I grabbed what I had bought as a start to my Christmas shopping for all the little babies we know.

Looks like he was all over them right? Wrong.  While we are convinced he did have a wonderful time there, he was actually not happy at all about actually going up into any of the vehicles.  Running up to them and walking around them was enough for him.  I think he wanted to want to go up, but he went all jelly-bones when Nate would lift him up into the seats and insist on coming down.

So, besides trucks, you know what else Oliver loves? Dogs. There was a K9 unit demonstration.  Nate has wanted a German Shepard for a while...now he REALLY wants one.

And how bad do I wish this firetruck had a Christmas wreath on it?! Oh that would have made a gorgeous holiday picture for the card! Still heart-melt-able pictures, wreath or no wreath.

And....

Owen was there too, he just didn't know it.


Wordful Wednesday
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