An All Star Addition

O'Baby! We're expecting.

We found out a few weeks ago that O'Baby 2.0 will be joining us around September 24, 2013.

We are excited. We apprehensive. We've been a little bit reserved.

It was a hard road to get to this sweet baby. It has not been an easy season for us and so many of our friends. Babies are amazing, fragile gifts that, only through God's mercy and love, turn into the bundles of joy we get to hold 9+ months later. And sometimes, we mere men don't know God's timing.

So, that's why there have not been the shouts of Surprise! The banners blazing. Till now... We've just been waiting. We've just been loving, and we've just been praying for a healthy baby to join our family.

Our families are so excited for us. My mom of course thought I was daft when I showed her a onesie for my soon-to-be-here niece that read, "I'm the Big Cousin!" "Ummm, no, Owen is the big cousin, Leanna." I then showed her and my dad O's accompanying shirt, "Big Bro." Slowly, slowly, the meaning became clear. My dad is pretty excited that he'll get to have two new grandbabies in the same year. I'm pretty excited too.

Joe's mom and dad were equally happy with tears and hugs after they read O's shirt.

Big Brother. Owen. Ha! How great! If you ask him if he wants a brother or a sister, he has said without fail that he wants both. BUT to his credit, and his mama's glad heart (and ultra sound), he said they don't have to come together.

O'Baby we are glad you are here. We are praying daily for your growth and health. We love you already.

-- Mommy and Daddy

2.5 is the new 17

So it would seem around here that 2.5 years old is the new 17. "They" say everything is happening sooner with these younger generations.

Let me give you a few examples...

1. He forages in he refrigerator. ALL THE TIME. And if he can't find something he likes there (usually fruit, cheese or lunch meat), he moves on to the pantry for crackers or raisins or something of the sort. Thankfully, this boy is like his daddy and could eat his weight in fruit and sticks to pretty good foods. Worrisome for us though...he is only TWO and a HALF!!

2. He knows his way around an iPhone, iPad, Kindle and even the Roku. Seriously. You try and move an icon. No worries, he'll find it. Oh, he doesn't like where his buttons are placed, oh he'll just switch that around too. We know all about charging and clicking and finding the arrow or home button. Amazing how smart this kid is some days.

3. He lounges. He wants his snack on the couch with his blanket. He doesn't want a clean shirt half the time, and as for hygiene, he can take it or leave it most days.

4. He doesn't really want to cuddle (though he never really did, sniff.) He is an independent cuss who loves to say "Let me do it," and he usually can.


5. He doesn't pick up after himself. Shocker...men...

6. He's getting too tall for this mama to bear some days.

Oh, O. I love you, my independent, growing-up little guy. You astound me, frustrate me, and fill me with love (another thing I hear teenagers can do). Don't grow up too fast.

Love,
Your mom

7. He calls me Moooommmmmmmm. Neat. (we have this whole back and forth thing. Mooommmmm. Baaabbbbe. Moooommmm. Baabbbe. You get it.)

My Little Pumpkin

Does this happen to any other moms out there?

You take a picture of your child. You love it. You start looking on your computer at older pictures. You realize how small, and cute, and precious said child was. You turn into a ball of mush.

Yep. Guilty.

We went to a fall festival with Joe's sister and their nephews on Adrian's side this weekend and had a blast. We of course took pictures with the pumpkins. I just love fall. I love the colors. I love the crispness. Love, love, love. And what's better...my precious baby boy WITH pumpkins. So here you go, O through the years with pumpkins!

2012 (2 yr 4 m):

2011 (1 yr 4 m):

2010 (4 m!):

O's First Day of School

Another first happened today!

Owen had his first day of school!

We chose to send Owen to Mother's Day Out two days a week this year at the local First Baptist Church. I'm excited to see how much he'll learn and grow this year. The program includes music, Spanish and all sorts of fun activities!

The morning started with breakfast with the grandparents and "a little bit of Arthur" (his fav tv show of the moment).

Then Daddy and I took our buddy to school complete with nap mat, pack-ack, and lunch box. Oh, the cuteness!!!! We didn't have the picture perfect hand-off this morning, but it is my prayer this gets easier and easier.

He is growing leaps and bounds every day. This summer it has been so fun to watch him become a stronger swimmer, explore the yard and play pretend, meet new friends on the playground and play together, learn tons of new words and phrases. What doin', mama?

Don't get me wrong, I am a little apprehensive. But I am confident that God is our protector and comforter and he will be there for all of us as our little buddy continues to grow. Let the school adventure begin!

The Sweetest Thing

Isn't one of the sweetest things a child does is say goofy words when they are learning. Either just on the cusp of the right word, or something all their own. Owen is growing and learning so fast these days, I feel that these moments will bee short lived, so I thought I'd write a few down before I forgot.

Pepanohni - pepperoni: his favorite pizza topping

Qatar - guitar: O's favorite musical instrument besides a drum...can be played on the real thing or anything he decides is a qatar! =)

Pack-kack - back pack: bag for packing snacks, toys, and clothes to go to Nana's/Grandma's and soon school!

Screw scriver - screw driver: his go-to tool for dismantling the house

Emplix - Olympics: our summer sports entertainment, big fan of swimming

Mocha Tater/Moke dTater - Smoke detector: he loves reading his firemen books. This gave the grandparents a run for their money when we were out of town one weekend.

Noonles - noodles: mac & cheese or spaghetti, this kid loves 'em

Uncle Ohdrian - Uncle Adrian: This just cracks me up! He can say Adrian perfectly fine, but Ohdrian keeps popping up

Libuhdee - Liberty: his sweet friend

I know there are more, and I'll have to add. I just didn't want to forget this sweet part of growing up.

O's New Ride

Owen turned two. So, of course he needed another mode of transportation.

Cozies are for babies.

Actually cozies are for parents who are dumb and think it'll be fun to push their kids around forever.

This year, we opted for self-propelled. We're not there yet, but we're working on it. Heck, he's two! What do you want, a miracle! ;)

 (wahoo!)

 (The men doing their manly things...did anyone else hear Tim Taylor?)

 (One happy kiddo!)

Thanks Grandma Carol and PopPop Greg for the new wheels!

Swimmin', Sharks, and Turning Two!

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating the O'Bear (and Father's Day!)

I had the idea to start his real birthday, Friday, off right with a breakfast of champions including donuts and chocolate milk. I'm pretty sure it was a hit.

Our friends, Asher and Kathleen, then came over to help bake the birthday cake. It was a pretty involved recipe for a giant cake in the end. So Kat helped me in the kitchen and Asher helped entertain Owen. I think it worked out well for all involved. The cake was awesome!


Next, we headed over to Garland to meet up with my parents and Jenni and Jamie for some Flying Fish food. I think O might have had 3 bites of fish and 30 bites of french fries. What are you going to do...

The party went perfectly! O got dropped off at Nana's and slept til 4:30, while my mom, sister and I did some last minute things and set up the party downstairs at Nana's.

We swam, we ate, we laughed.

We got attacked by bubble guns, splashing babies, and splashing adults.


 We opened, we played, we crashed.

I'd have to say it was a wonderful day. I can't believe how much O has changed over the last year.

At our doctor's appointment yesterday, his stats were:
Height: 36" - 88%
Weight: 31 lb - 83%
Head: Good ol' 93%

Still growing and growing. Talking up a storm. Taking risks. And being his awesome self!

Happy Birthday, O'Bear!