So cute

Love this picture.

LET'S GO DODGERS!!

So...my sister pointed out that I have neglected to mention "my" Dodgers on the blog. Well, I don't know how it got past me, but we are following, and we are so bummed that we aren't in L.A. right now! We are watching game one with the the Phillies, and my boys are about to lose. BUT, that's ok...we have 6 more games in this series. CHECK THAT: the Dodgers just lost Game 1 to the stinking Phillies.

I better start wearing my Dodger gear every day.

LET'S GO DODGERS!

"I love L.A.....We love it!"

Dang...

Ok, so, enough pity party. (thanks everyone for the positive words) Last week was rough on several accounts, and I had 10,000 people coming at me (not just on the blog) about Owen's sleep habits...so I was on overload. Anyhow...moving on...

Owen had a really good week at school this week! He didn't cry, and he played and smiled most of the day! :-) He only goes twice a week, but it is getting better.

His two front teeth on the bottom are starting to show a tiny bit through his gums. Who knows how long they will take to come up, but they are there!

He is standing all the time now. SCARY!! :-) It is super cute...but he is growing too fast. He is going to be the tiniest walking boy too soon. Seriously, it is just around the corner. I can't believe it.

QUESTION: he seems to be getting over baby food. He just isn't as interested. He really likes yogurt, so that is his new favorite. He likes to feed himself, but besides Cheerios and Puffs I am not sure what else I can let him feed himself since he has no teeth. Any thoughts? What about pasta? I wasn't sure about it because it doesn't really dissolve. I don't know. Give me some ideas.

Ok, now what all the family wants to see (and I am sure others do too)...PICTURES!!

Done

I have written several blogs in the last 10 minutes, but I deleted them. I am upset, and I don't want to write something I will regret.

For that reason, I won't be asking for advice regarding my son's sleep habits on this blog anymore. It is a sensitive subject for me, and I am not going to feel like less of a mother regarding that subject anymore.

For the record: (for anonymous) - I never thought or said that Owen would one day learn not to need me. Yes, that is unrealistic, and I never thought that for a moment, regardless of what you might think. We have tried many things to get him sleeping through the night (which he actually did until he was 5 months old), and none of them have worked. So please don't accuse me of not doing anything about it up to this point. And you really have no idea what goes on here to tell me that the "longer it goes on" the more I am teaching him that he needs me to go back to sleep. The next time you comment, whomever you are , please keep your assumptions of how you believe we are doing things wrong out of it - because you really have no idea. I believe a do a pretty darn good job, and I refuse to feel like I am somehow failing my son because he will not sleep through the night despite our best efforts.

Our efforts will continue, and somehow Owen will sleep. But, I won't blog about it.

That is all I will say about it.

UPDATE: here I am feeling sad and like a failure, and I just realized that Owen is 8 months old today.

...

It is 11:09 PM. Owen went to bed about 8:00. He has already been up twice.

I really don't understand how letting him cry when we put him to bed will make him stop waking up 500 times a night. Can someone explain this??

Growing

Well, Owen is getting so big. I can't believe it. On Wednesday he will be 8 months old. That means only 4 months until his first birthday. It will be so fun to watch him eat cake for the first time. I know that he will fully commit to a huge mess. We will have to do it in the backyard with a hose handy. :-)

Here are a few things about Owen these days:

~ He crawls so fast. I turn my head for one second and he is on the other side of the room. He follows me around the entire house.
~He is pulling up on things and cruising along the couch.
~The other day we CAUGHT HIM STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR WITH NOTHING AROUND HIM TO HOLD ON TO. He will be walking too soon.
~He says "mama" and "dada"
~He enjoys spitting. :-)
~He bounces ALL the time.
~His new stance is kneeling on one knee with the other foot flat on the ground.
~ He can't get enough of playing with water bottles. Forget toys...water bottles are where it's at!
~ He enjoys playing with his fridge farm, even though he can't really make the matches and what not. He likes to eat the animals and push the buttons.
~ He started eating YoBaby yogurt and LOVES it.
~ He is still a bity guy. A little over a week ago at the doctor he weighed 15.8 pounds. 5th percentile, but Doc assures us he is healthy and good to go!
~ He isn't that big into eating. He doesn't like to take time out of his busy schedule to eat. If we can distract him and keep him entertained while he eats then he will usually eat it all. When we go to school on Mon/Wed mornings, I put him in the front pack and feed him while he is in it. He will eat it all that way too. Of course, he might have it all over his face when it is all said and done since I can't see his mouth. :-)
~ He isn't big into sleeping either. Still. I have tried everything. (short of letting him cry...we tried that a couple times and we couldn't last past 5 minutes, that just isn't for me). He sleeps in his crib for 4 or 5 hours max, then he wakes up and will not sleep in his crib for more than 1 or 2 hours after that. Sometimes he sleeps decently in the bed with us, but I don't sleep that great then. Grr. Oh well. I'll sleep in 24 years when all our kids are out of the house. (can you guess by that number of years how many kids we want??) So, I'll be almost 52 when I get to sleep again. A reason to look forward to my 50's I suppose. :-)
~ Owen is very attached to me, and that makes school and MOPS very difficult. School is getting easier since we go 2 days a week, but MOPS will take FOREVER because we only go there 2 times a month. I wish I could say that I love MOPS. But, I don't yet. Most of the women are at least 10 years older than me (I am the youngest, I think the closest to my age is 32 ish), so we don't really have a ton in common. I feel out of place there. I told Travis I would give it one or two more tries, and if I still don't love it I won't go back.
~ I wanted to take Owen to Gymboree for a class or two, but it costs $72 a month (unless you want to take an art class, then it is eighty something a month), for one class (45 minutes) a week!! If you want to do 2 classes, it is another $72/month for the second class. INSANE. That is a complete rip off...especially since you aren't dropping your kid off for someone else to do the class with them, but you stay with your kid the entire time - so you are in charge of them. The "teachers" don't have to control them or wrangle them. I don't get it.

Ok, so those became less about Owen and more about my gripes as the list went on. :-) I will post pics soon, and a video of Owen standing up!!

Tired...

I had written a long post that I was going to add pictures to and post it, but I waited too long and now alot of the information in that post is irrelevant.

Anyway, I am tired. Owen is precious, and I am tired. He had his first cold this weekend. Thankfully it seems to have run it's course rather quickly, and I chalk that up to breastfeeding! :-) Last Tuesday we started MOPS. Owen had a rough time in his class, and I was called out halfway through the meeting to get him. Poor kid. Wednesday was the first day of school for both of us, and that was equally rough for Owen. Today at school he had a better time, and I think maybe last week was rough because he wasn't feeling great. Thursday we went to San Antonio and put Owen in the pool for the first time, shortly after he had a full blown cold. :-(

Owen is fully crawling all over the place. He is so fast. He is also pulling up on everything. He wants to walk so bad. I'd like him to wait a while on that, but I'd almost be willing to put money on him walking by 10 months.

He really wants to eat table food. Any suggestions on what to give him?

Here are some pictures. (WARNING: LOTS OF PICTURES AHEAD!)

Owen and Daddy make a Land of Pillows sometimes

We took Leah's idea and made a ball pit out of our baby pool!! Owen LOVES it!

AND THIS IS HOW WE FOUND OWEN A LITTLE WHILE AGO....

He was crawling around, next thing we new he was standing up! AHGGG!!

A couple things...

First off....I don't know these people, but that really doesn't matter. This little baby needs major surgery, and isn't even born yet. Click (on the word 'this') to sign up for a time to pray...and also pray whenever you can. If it was my sweet baby I would find some relief in knowing that he/she was being prayed for every hour.

And next up......I am sure you have all been waiting so patiently for the next installment of yearbook pictures. Well...your in luck. Here you go (stay tuned for yet MORE hilarity in future posts).

Jeri in 1978

Travis in 1974

OH YES MY FRIENDS!! I know it is hard to stare at all that BEAUTY!!! :-) Hmm, actually, we think Travis looks like his dad back in the day in this picture. I'm telling you people, this junk is HILARIOUS! Every time I pull these pics up I am crying because I am laughing so hard! Ok, more to come.

Another Day

Nothing real exciting to report (but something oh so hilarious at the end of the post), just thought I would at least post a little update and some pictures.

I started orientation for my new job today. I will be teaching preschool at a great school right by our house on Monday and Wednesdays! And best of all....Owen gets to go to school FOR FREE!!! :-) So far I think it will be great. I have a full day of orientation tomorrow. Owen and Travis will be left to their own devices for 6 hours! :-)

Owen is definitely saying "mama" now. He was in his bouncer today while I was doing something, and he started fussing. After a minute I hear this whiny, "mama! mama!" Over and over. :-) As soon as I walked over to pick him up he was all smiles.

Here's a few pics of the cutest boy in the world.

AND NOW......

I know that you have all wondered what Travis and I would have looked like in past decades, and of course! Why wouldn't you wonder that? :-) Well, fret not. Here are the long awaited photos! (well, just a couple for now!)

This is me in 1952

This is Travis is 1954

Jeri in 1964

Travis in 1964

Oh yes folks! It only get better from here!! (or worse, depending how you look at it!) I will be posting more of these gems! You better believe it! So, stay tuned!

New things

So, Owen continues to grow. Unreal. He is definitely a morning person...which is probably a mixed blessing. :-) He would probably start his day at 5:30 am if I let him. Of course I won't. I am useless at that hour. Useless. He loves to eat. Sweet potatoes are his favorite, and bananas. He likes green beans pretty well, and carrots seem to have grown on him a bit but they still aren't his favorite. Everything else he has tried he likes ok, he could take it or leave it I guess. But, he eats it. I bought some of the Gerber puffs snacks. I break them in half and put one half on the tray of his high chair. He grabs it, half the time with his thumb and pointer finger, and sticks it in his mouth! He said Mama today for the first time. It is still hard for him to say. I think he tries to alot, but can't get it out. He just ends up saying "Mmmmmmm." He says Daddy all the time, for about the last 2 weeks. He has the d-d-d-d sound down. But, he definitely says Daddy. I was changing his diaper today and Travis came in the room behind me and into Owen's view. Owen perked up and said, "Daddy!" Of course, when he said "Mama" it was because I wasn't shoveling food into his mouth fast enough. I was also trying to eat lunch, and I was taking a break from feeding him to get in a few bites for myself. He was trying to get my attention for a few seconds. I hear this, "Mmmmmmmmm" and then "Mama", with his frustrated grunts. That was the only time he said it. It may be another 2 weeks before he says it again. HA HA

The other day I laid him on his tummy to play and I sat on the couch with Travis. We were talking for a minute, and then I saw Owen playing with something I didn't really want him to play with. So, I got up and took it away from him. And then I did a double take. He was sitting up. I confirmed with Travis that I had, in fact, laid him on his belly. He sat up by himself. He did it one other time that day, and hasn't since. :-) Such is the pattern for Owen. He will do something once and we won't see it again for a couple weeks.

He gets around really well. He occasionally uses his knees in the traditional crawling fashion, but most of the time he uses his arms and feet. But, that kid is pretty fast.

He has the GREATEST laugh! Travis can get him to laugh like crazy by doing virtually nothing. No one can get him to laugh like Travis can.

Ok...here is a cute pic to hold you over till the next post!

HOORAY FOR NEW BABIES!!

My newest nephew Will was born TODAY!!! (in the wee hours of the morning!) He is a tiny little thing at 6 lbs 15 oz. (almost an entire pound smaller than Owen!!) Here is my brother and his wife with WILLIAM TYLER!! Happy birthday Will!

Picture Perfect

Here are a couple of Owen's newborn pictures, followed by some of his 6 month pictures. So sweet. I love this boy. More than anything. (I need to scan in his 3 month pictures and post them).

Owen has a message....

Owen's dad is rad!! He finished the BAR!! Whew! That was a long three years of studying for one three day test!! Thankfully, that is DONE!!! Now, to find a job....

AND FOR GOOD MEASURE:

Even though I (Owen's mom) finished my master's a year ago, he is still proud! :-)

We went to an anniversary party last weekend. And, there is not better excuse (actually...who needs an excuse??) for Owen to sport a sweater vest!

I discovered what it would be like to have twins, and a 2 1/2 year old last week! I babysat some friend's kids (5 months and 2 1/2) last Thursday for a bit. It started off really well. Zoe (the 5 month old) was asleep in her car seat for about 30 minutes of the hour and a half they were here. When she woke up it was no big deal. I stuck her in the Bumbo, and Owen in his bouncer. I put on a Veggie Tales CD and we sang songs. They thought it was hilarious. Meanwhile, Joshua (2 1/2) is lining up my cookie cutters across the floor. View evidence:
So, when Zoe woke up we sang songs, as I mentioned. On cue, both babies started crying. Scratch that. SCREAMING. Bloody murder. Um. Hmm. What do I do?? I somehow manage to get both babes onto my lap. I am bouncing and singing, to no avail. More screaming. LOUDER screaming. Owen is upset because Zoe is upset, and he get MORE upset when I try to comfort her instead of him. We had a guest sleeping in the guest room (Travis was out of town for the BAR). I started laughing, because really, how else do you deal with that situation. Laugh or cry, I figure. So, laughing was the only way to cope. Then I discovered Zoe had a horrendously awful diaper. Of course. So, I get the supplies out, and set up shop on the floor, screaming baby in front of me, screaming baby to the right of me, and toddler stringing cookie cutters behind me. I am used to changing a boys diaper, and Zoe is a cute little chunky thing, so the rolls made it harder. I am still laughing. At this point, to keep myself from crying. So, my house guest comes out of the guest room and tiptoes down the hall to see what kind of war she is walking into. She peaks around the corner and says timidly, "hiiii?" Then we both start laughing. She has to help me a bit with the dirty diaper, because it is taking me WAY longer than it should take any normal person to change a diaper, much less a MOM that changes 10 million diapers a week. Well, then Zoe and Joshua's mom walks in the front door. Apologizing profusely that her baby is screaming and had a rotten poop at my house. I laugh. I mean, what else to do, right? And honestly, it isn't like Zoe was trying to punish her mom (or myself) for leaving her with someone else. 15 minutes later I was back down to one baby. Whew. :-) MUCH easier.


Since then, Owen has decided that cookie cutters are much more fun to play with than any of his toys.


Ok, I think that's all for now. I will have more pictures posted in a day or two!!