Owen 9 months

Baby boy,

You are now 9 months old!  I know I say this every month, but I seriously can't believe it.  In only 3 short months, we will be celebrating one whole year of you being alive!

This month, you have started crawling really fast.  When you spot someone or something you are excited to crawl to, you will crawl really fast, get a huge smile on your face, and start panting.  It is the cutest thing ever.  You have also learned how to pull up on pretty much anything and everything now, and recently started to use your walker to take steps.  You are literally growing up right before our eyes!

You are starting to eat a little bit more finger foods and you are not quite sure about them yet.  We love your funny face when you eat something you are unsure of.  You are eating stage 3 foods now and you are still taking 4 bottles a day. 

You have another ear infection this month and this time it is a double!  You are such a good baby that you never even let us know that you are hurting.  The only reason we went to the dr. in the first place was because you have had this cough for a long time, a runny nose, and your eyes just looked like you didn't feel well.  Hopefully after this round of antibiotics, we are done with ear infections for a while!

You weigh 20.5 pounds and are 29.5 inches long.  You are growing out of some of your 12 month clothes!  I should have known you would be long like your daddy.  It is hard to believe that you started as this tiny little guy who has grown into my big baby! 

You are saying, "babababa" all the time now and just tonight actually you finally said mama (although I don't think you knew you did.)  I loved it and almost cried though.  You are also starting to make a bunch of noises using your tongue and while doing that spit flies everywhere.  Recently while saying "baba", you will say it really loud and it sounds like a squeal.  We laugh so hard every time you do it.

You have 2 bottom teeth now, but that is it.  I think you will get more soon because you are gnawing on everything in sight.

You met mommy's grandma in October and you got to meet a lot of family in daddy's family this month at Thanksgiving including Memo.  You will get to meet all of mommy's Louisiana family next month at Christmas.  You are such a good traveler, and as usual, are the most content baby in the world.

We hear almost daily from Mrs. Shelley or church nursery workers that you are the happiest, most easy going baby in the world.  Someone told me that if she had octuplets, she would want eight of you.  You see my darling, everyone loves you so much!

We love you so much baby and can't say enough how lucky we are to have you and how greatly you have blessed our lives.

Owen 8 months

Owen pumpkin,

You are now 8 months old!!! You are such a sweet boy and our love for you seriously grows every month!

This has been a busy month because you have started crawling, sitting up, and trying to pull up on stuff!  You started out crawling really slow, but now you are so fast and we have to keep our eyes on you our little runaway boy!  You are so funny when you spot something, start taking off towards it, then turn around to see if me or your dad is watching you.  It is so cute! 

You LOVE to play with your toys and anything else you can get your hands on for that matter.  You are very content playing by yourself, but you love for me and your daddy to play with you also.

You love being outside and have gone on several walks, swang at the park for the first time, and went to the pumpkin patch with your cousins. 

You giggle so much now!  Things that make you giggle are the dogs, your daddy's funny faces, and anytime you get tickled or blowed on. 

You had your first ear infection this month.  They prescribed you amoxicilin and you LOVE it.  Your daddy says, "let's take your bubble gum."  Ha!

Also, at your dr. appointment you weighed 19 pounds.  You are such a long boy, although we don't know how long you are now.  You wear anywhere from 9-12 month clothes. 

You love to eat!  You are taking 4 bottles a day that equal 24 ounces.  You have started holding your own bottle this month.  You are on stage 2 foods now and you eat several different fruits, veggies, and meats.  Also, you have started to give yourself baby snacks.  You like the Gerber cheetos, Mums crackers, and the spiral puffs.  You have started taking a little bit of water or baby juice from a sippy cup too. 

You have two teeth coming in on the bottom.  They are almost out and we are very grateful because watching you cut teeth is no fun!

We cannot imagine our lives without you.  You are such a joy and a sweet, precious baby.  We love you "pumpkin", "beefcake". 

Owen 7 months

My little pumpkin,

You are 7 months old!!!  You are developing quite the personality and you make daddy and I laugh every day.  You smile more this month than you ever have.  I haven't weighed or measured you this month, but I do know that you are in anywhere from 9-12 month clothes you big boy!

You have started sitting all by yourself this month and when you fall, you will get into the crawl position.  You army crawl and you will also take a couple of real crawls.  When laying on a blanket or the floor, you will move everywhere by rolling around, scooting, reaching, pulling yourself, and turning. 

You have figured out we have dogs and you love to watch them.  When one of them gets in your face, you will smile at them.  It is so sweet!

You are still eating 4 times a day and you are beginning some stage 2 foods now!  You absolutely LOVE to eat!  When you see your bottle, you will start making this cute noise and the closer it gets to your mouth, the more dramatic  you get.

You love to take baths and we got you a seat that you can sit by yourself while you bathe.  You will reach for your bath toys and love to kick your legs in the water.  It is so cute!

You are still teething and there is still no tooth in sight.  But, I know that your first tooth will make its appearance any day now.  You love teething tablets and to just gnaw on things.

You are developinng quite the personality.  You make the funniest noises and will smile when you do something you feel like you accomplished all by yourself!  We love watching you just stare at something and try to figure it out and at other times you roll around and get so excited!  You have figured out your tongue this month and love to stick it out.  You silly boy!

We love you so much and can't wait to see grow up sweetie pie! 

Owen 6 months

Sweet baby boy,

You are now 6 months old!!!  Oh how the time does fly. I cannot believe you are half of a year old!  You weigh 17. 5 pounds and you are  27 inches long. 

I am back to work full time, and we are both adjusting pretty well.  I miss you a lot, but we still spend a lot of time together and you really like Mrs. Shelly and Mrs. Patsy.  They play with you a whole lot when mommy is at work. 

You are sooo close to crawling and I think it will take place any day now.  You will get on all four's, scoot, fall, and then try again.  You get the most serious look on your face when you are practicing because you are concentrating so much.  You are also closer to sitting up on your own.  Your daddy says that you fold yourself in half.  You will sit for a few seconds and then either fall forward or to your side. 

You are still eating 4 times a day and 3 of these meals are combined with cereal and/or babyfood.  You absolutely LOVE bananas and sometimes I wonder if this is because I ate a lot of these when I was pregannt with you little one.

You are starting to make a lot of new noises.  You sound like a sick dinosaur when you are tired or pooping and it makes us laugh so hard. 

You are definitely starting to teethe and you are wanting to put everything in sight into your mouth.  You like to suck on frozen fruit inside of a teething toy or pacifiers.  This is funny because since you were born you have never liked pacifiers.  We still don't let you fall asleep with them, but we let you suck them to help soothe your little gums. 

You giggle when we tickle you or when we kiss your belly or your neck.  That is the sweetest sound in the world.  You are such a sweet boy and we love having you in our lives precious baby. 

Owen 5 months

Baby boy, you are now 5 months old! I know I say this every month, but time is flying!  You are so adorable and are definitely my favorite baby in the whole world.  This month, you have started playing in your jumperoo more and love hitting it, seeing the lights come on, and hearing the music.  You also tried the toy at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's that your cousin Jada used to play in and absolutely loved it.  (Yes it is pink, but I know that you will be man enough one day to handle it.)  I love your little monkey face when you are talking to the toys and how in awe you are of new things.  You still love to shake rattles and have recently started tossing them by accident, but it is still so funny. 

You take breastmilk and formula now.  You eat cereal twice a day now and have already tasted green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, and peas.  You love to eat and are a great eater.  You have 4 meals a day, although the last one is just milk.  There are times that we have to stop in the middle of your meal because that is your favorite time to make a poo-poo.  You also love to squeal and smile while you are eating.  You have started looking around at everything and waving your arms because you get so excited while you are eating. 

You have just started taking two 2 1/2 hour naps a day and take one catnap at the end of the day.  You are still sleeping amazing at night.  You usually go to bed around 7pm and wake up around 6am.  You have just started rolling over from your back to your stomach when being put down for your naps or for bedtime.  The problem is, one of your arms will get stuck and you will get upset.  After I go in there and help you, you will usually go back to sleep silly boy.  I love how when I get you from your naps or in the morning, you give me the hugest smile in the world.  You are such a sweetie!  I don't get to hold you very much for your naps because you are very independent like your momma (go figure), but every once in a while I can't help myself. 

You love, love, love water and we have taken you swimming a couple of times this summer.  You have a fun floatie that you sit in and you love to kick your legs. 

You are getting stronger every day and when you are on your belly, you still push yourself up and now you try to kick your legs in an effort to crawl.  I think the time is coming soon my boy.  You love to stand up on your daddy and I and will squeal in delight while you are doing it. 

Owen 4 months

Our sweet boy is 4 months old now!!!!  He has gotten so long and I think he is going to be tall like his daddy.  He is measuring at 26 inches long and is in the 88th percentile.  Whoa!  He is weighing in at 14 lbs. 12 oz. and is just growing so fast.  Our pediatrician said he is meeting all of his developmental milestones great and that he is such a happy baby!

This month he learned to roll over from his stomach to his back and from his back to his side.  When he is on his tummy, he pushes up as high as he can go and starts to look around.  He is also starting to try to move his knees in preparation for crawling. 

He started giggling just this week!  That is the sweetest sound in the whole world.  His first 3 months of life he would smile, but he was also very serious.  Now, any time he sees me, his daddy, or any other familiar face, not only will he smile, but he will giggle or start talking to them!  He loves to blow bubbles and will have a whole conversation with you for as long as you will listen.

He loves to stare at his bunny that sings "Jesus Loves Me" and will even talk to it sometimes.  I tell him that the bunny is his best friend.  He is starting to reach for things and holds rattles now (although he doesn't know he is holding them yet.)  He loves his toy cow in his carseat and will stare at it and talk to it forever in the car.  He also still loves to stare at himself in the mirror.  I think he knows that he is the cutest baby in the world. 

He is sleeping 10-12 hours at night and takes 3 naps a day.  He is down to 5-6 feedings a day now.  The pediatrician told us we could start him on cereal anytime within the next two months.  He still seems pretty satisfied with breast milk, so we might wait for him to start acting hungrier. 

Owen 3 months

Owen is 3 months old now.  Wow where does the time go?  He weighs somewhere around 13 pounds now (we have only weighed him on our scale).  He did not get any shots this month, but goes back at 4 months for his next round of them.  :-(  He is smiling a lot more now, loves to follow people with his eyes, and coos really loud!  He is kicking his legs and flailing his arms all over the place and turns his head from side to side.  He loves to watch fans, loves his play gym, and loves staring and observing different things.  Owen has figured out his hands this month and loves to stick them in his mouth and stare at them.  He has just begun grasping onto rattles, but doesn't realize he is the one shaking it yet.  When on his tummy, he will try to kick his leg behind his back, but isn't rolling over yet, although I know this will happen really soon!  He also is doing push ups and lifting his head up while on his belly.  When we hold him, he holds his head up for a long time!  He is such an easy going baby and we love him so, so, so much!  It is hard to imagine ever not having him in our lives. 

Owen 2 months

Owen is growing so fast!!!  He had his 2 month appointment and shots on Tuesday.  He weighed in at 10 pounds, 12 ounces and 22 inches long.  So, he has gained quite a bit of weight and length!  He was such a brave boy and only cried for a second. 

He was given the regular shots as well as oral medication, which is an anti diarrhea medicine.  The pediatrician also told us to start him on vitamins with iron.  We think the combination of the shots and vitamins gave him really bad stomach issues.  So, we will try the vitamins again in a couple of days and see if they settle better in his little tummy.

Grant and I are starting a routine with little man.  I have gotten the advice by several people and books to feed, play, then sleep.  He has a pretty regular routine where he wakes up between 4-5am and eats, then goes back to sleep until 7 or 8 and eats again.  Then, he wakes up and has tummy/back/swing time for a while.  Then, he usually falls asleep for his first nap.  After his nap, he eats, then is up a little longer.  Around lunch time, he falls asleep again, then eats, then he wakes up for a couple more hours.  He takes another nap around dinner time, then eats, then plays.  Then, he might squeeze another nap in early evening, but sometimes he doesn't.  We start his bedtime routine at 8 that includes rocking, story, lullaby CD, feeding, bath (every couple of days).  I think he is really getting used to the routine and knows that when we go into his room where it is quiet and dark, this signals bedtime.  We lay him down when he is almost asleep, but isn't fully asleep yet.  This way, he learns to put himself to sleep and isn't relying on us to get him fully asleep.  I usually go in around 10 to sneak in another feeding and he usually stays asleep during it.  This way, it tops him off and he sleeps longer stretches. 

He is almost down to 6-7 feedings and 2 naps a day.  When he is at this point, we plan to adjust the routine and to stay consistent with his nap times.  We are big believers in routines and consistency, but also know that flexibility is a must too. 

He is such a sweet and happy baby with such a good temperament.  He really is very laid back and loves to be talked to and held.  His favorite games right now include talking to himself in the mirror, laying on his back and talking to anything around him that will listen, and watching mommy and daddy talk to him.  We ordered him a play gym that should be here soon.  I am excited to see him stare at the hanging animals, because he loves to stare at the hanging animals on his bouncer. 

We love him and can't wait to update you on his milestones to come!

Owen-first few weeks

You have been such a joy to our lives so far!  You are 3 1/2 weeks old and time has already flown by way too fast!  You are an easy going baby who usually only cries during diaper changes (you hate being undressed) or when you're gassy.   You love being held and talked to and this past week you have started talking back by cooing.  You are focusing on faces and will turn your head to try and see who is talking.  You are starting to smile in your sleep and make the funniest facial expressions.  We love you our little Owen Gabriel.  You are such a sweetie pie!

Owen Birth Story

On March 3rd, 2010, we had our weekly doctors appointment.  Daddy went to almost every appointment with mommy, but couldn't make this one because he had to work.  At the appointment, the doctor let mommy know that she was dilated to a 1 and 60% effaced.  I was frustrated because I hadn't made any progress since the week before.  The doctor had been telling me how low you were, and at this appointment you were still low.  So, I left this appointment thinking that I still had a couple of weeks to prepare for you arrival and that I still had time to finish up last minute details.

On March 4th, 2010, I was 36 weeks and 6 days pregnant.  I got up to get ready for work just like any other day.  I taught all day, doing dances with the students and walking up and down the hallways.  At 3:15, I walked out the door on my way to my car and started to feel something dripping out of me.  I had just gone to the restroom and thought that I somehow hadn't gotten all of my pee out.  I realized when I got outside that I hadn't parked where I usually do because I had gotten sonic for lunch, so I began my trek to walk around the outside of the school to the other parking lot where I had parked.  While I was walking, the wetness continued coming out.  When I got in my car, I realized that this must be my water breaking!  So, I immediately called Grant and let him know.  He was just as shocked as I was and I let him know that I was going to call the hospital and to meet me there.  I called the hospital and told them that I think my water broke and they told me to come straight there.  Your daddy and I then called and texted every family member and close friend to let them know that you were on your way!  Everyone was so excited and couldn't believe that you had decided to make your entrance 3 weeks early!!!! 

I got to the hospital at about 3:40 and they wheeled me up to the labor/delivery floor.  I got changed into my robe and they went ahead and put me in a labor room, since I didn't need to be examined to make sure I was really in labor because your mommy left a puddle.  Then, your daddy showed up and that is when the nurses started hooking you and I up to all of the machines. The nurses were super nice and helpful in getting me situated.   After three attempts, the IV finally got put into my arm.  The nurse staff told me that I couldn't get an epidural until I had gone through a bag and a half of IV fluid.  I asked who the doctor on call was, and guess what, it was Dr. Sorensen, mommy's doctor!!!  She informed the nurses to start pitocin on mommy because although my water had broke, I was still not dilated very much.  So, at about 4:45, they checked me and I was dilated to a 3.  I was starting to feel contractions at this point, and they weren't too bad at this point.  Luckily I remembered how to breathe to get through contractions in my labor class.  I'm so glad I paid attention!  Your daddy kept calling everyone at this point, and mommy was texting her family too!  Your maw maw and paw paw, mimi, and aunt janna and uncle justin all headed to the hospital as soon as they heard!  At about 6:30, they checked me again and I was at a 5!  At this point, I was starting to really feel the contractions and they were about 30 seconds apart.  The anesthesiologist got to the hospital at around 7:30 and gave mommy an epidural.  I am so glad that they let daddy stay in the room with me because it was so nice to have his support.  After the epidural, I was able to relax but my legs got really shaky.  The nurses told me that it was a reaction to the drugs and that is normal.  I had been having shaky legs and had been cold, but after the epidural it got a lot more intense.  I started to take a little nap, because I thought I still had a while until it was time to push.  The nurse came to check on me and to see how I was doing at around 9.  I asked her if she could check me and she said she would but that it probably wasn't necessary at that point because it hadn't been that long since the last check.  She checked me and I was already a 9 1/2!  So, that means only 1/2 a centimeter until it was time to push!  Your daddy had gone to the waiting room to talk to family and I called him and told him he needed to come back.  Everyone was surprised at how far I had progressed and how quickly!  At around 9:30, I started pushing.  It took several pushed to get you out because when you were finally born, your hand was by your face.  You always liked to have that hand in front of your face at your ultrasounds so that didn't surprise me at all.  You were born at 10:27pm at 6 pounds 10 ounces and 20 inches long.  You were amazingly adorable and mommy and daddy loved you instantly.  We couldn't believe you were ours.

We stayed at the hospital until Saturday, March 6th.  You got shots and blood drawn, and we learned how to feed you and to change your diaper.  You were already such a good sleeper, but we had to help you eat.  You didn't want to latch on so mommy and daddy were taught by the nurses to put a pacifier in your mouth with a syringe of pumped colostrum.  We only pumped the colostrum into your mouth when you would suck on the pacifier.  This way, you learned how to suck when you were latched on to the breast.  We couldn't wait to bring you home and when we did, it just felt so right to have you here sweet little man!

Owen Pregnancy

I fell off the band wagon with updating this blog throughout my pregnancy, so we will do a recap of the whole thing. 

During the first trimester, I didn't throw up at all.  The only way I knew I was pregnant is because my boobs started hurting and I started to feel more tired than normal.  I didn't feel you move inside of me yet baby boy, but I knew you were there. I craved Taco Bell all of the time!  I think your daddy got sick of eating this, but he did it for me.  We had an ultrasound every four weeks during this trimester to make sure everything was ok, and you were growing great!  Every time we saw that screen, we were in total amazement that you were our child growing in there!

When the second trimester hit, I felt like I had more energy and baby boy, you started to make my belly grow more.  We found out at 15 weeks that you were a boy!  You were not very bashful and had your legs seperated and that is when we saw your "third leg".  After wearing my regular pants and stretching out the zipper part with a rubberband for as long as I could, I had to start wearing maternity pants. 

The third trimester started, and mommy's calves started hurting really bad.  Your maw maw Joanne said she had also had calf pain in her pregnancies, so I think I got that from her.  I also had lower back and foot pain.  Your daddy was so sweet to massage me as much as I needed so I could feel better.  My belly started getting huge and I started to feel like I couldn't wear any pants comfortably anymore.  I always wanted reeses peanut butter cups and puffy cheetos.  Mmm...

Also during the third trimester, I started getting nervous.  Reality started hitting that I was going to be a mommy and I had never done this before.  Your daddy was very calm, cool, and collected as usual and this was very helpful to your mommy.  We took a breastfeeding, CPR/infant safety, labor/delivery, and newborn classes to prepare for your arrival.  We also read books, online articles, spent a lot of time in prayer, and asked a million questions before you were born so we could make sure we could prepare ourselves to be the best parents we could be.  We knew we wouldn't know how to do everything, but we wanted to feel as prepared as possible. 

I felt so privileged as your mommy to carry you in my belly.  I am still in awe that you grew inside of me and we both love you very much!