Introducing Owen

Life with two is incredible. fascinating. joy filled. difficult. blessed. challenging. full. organized chaos. perfect.

Owen was born on March 4 this year, he is such a dreamy baby. And I say that meaning both in personality and the fact that the kid cannot stay awake for more than about 6 hours a day total, he is such a love. I want to be sure to document what life is like with this new little addition, because it is SO different than before he was here, but it is true, I don't remember what I used to do before he was here!

The first few weeks are clearly blurry- recovering from my second cesarean went better than planned, until I totally overdid it by walking about 3/4 mile with the kids in tow and I ripped a few stitches, whops. From what I do remember, there was lots of poop, peeing on me, peeing on the counter, peeing on clothes, shrieking at peeing, sore nipples from the most shallow latch ever (nope, not tongue tied, darn), smiles, sleepy time, snuggles, kisses and so much love. Brooke has been fabulous with Owen from the get go, I am blessed. Although she was only 20.5 months old when we brought him home, she was as gentle as a 20 month old could be, as quiet as she is capable of being (which is not quiet at all, pretty much as quiet as dropping 5 pots and pans on the floor- with lids) and mesmerized. It is still my favorite to remember mornings with Lyn. Daddy got up with her while I waited for Owen to stir, I'd listen to them sit on the potty, make breakfast and destroy my perfectly clean house. (I was a slave driver when we got home, we were NOT going to let the house get out of control so every night at bedtime, we'd clean everything to "perfection.") When Owen was finally awake for a feeding I'd walk down the hall and step on the gate, Brooke squealed with delight every day, "Baby?! Baby!" It was her Groundhog Day, every day... and I promise, she still gets just as excited, 5 weeks and 2 days later. But now, she remembers he is coming out of that bedroom at some point and searches for him if he is still sleeping when she is first awake. She loves her little brother, and I could not be happier.

Owen has been a dream- he eats, sleeps, and is up and wide awake for small portions of the day. So, adjusting to two hasn't been all that bad. There are elements that are killer- but since he is so content, it pretty much is as perfect as I think I could have imagined- and yes, I have had 2 screaming at the same time. At week 3 (when I hurt myself) I had finally felt as though I could do this, handle this, and it was definitely not "that bad." Queue ripped stitches and I fell back a week. So week 4 was really when I said to myself, "This really is working out, it is so not that bad, I can do this! I cannot wait to do this again!" Queue Jon scheduling a vasectomy, just kidding. :) I hope we have more babies- and he does too, just not this instant.

My current days are pretty crazy, but I love them so, so much! We're still doing a quiet time with Brooke in the morning and I would recommend it to anyone looking at having kids. Some days she sleeps (and I make sure it is for no more than 30 minutes) and other days she just plays in her bed or screams and sings. Either way, it allows me 1- a shower if Owen is napping, 2- a moment to clean up something she has destroyed :), 3- get a handle on one chore for the day. And that, my friends, means a successful day. Owen is awake most in the mornings and evenings, he will do about 1.5 hours of wakefulness and then nap, another hour of wakefulness and then wake only to eat and pass back out. I try to get him in his bed when he acts tired, so I am not caught holding him (or starting bad habits) and unable to care for Brooklyn the best way I can. I talk to my mom every morning while Brooke runs around the house, she is a very independent player and I have to force myself to play with her, she would be content to play all day by herself pretty much. As long as she has her snack and drink of course. We're also trying to be outside more since it has been nicer, and that is fantastic. The yard is fenced, as is the deck, so often I just open the back door and let Brooke and Harley run about on the deck. After I let Brooke up and we've done something (reading, puzzles, building with mega bloks) we start lunch and Owen is usually kind enough to let me eat a full meal. Then it is more play time before naps. I try to do one "brain" thing with Brooke a day where we build, read, or do puzzles, so no matter when we can squeeze it in, we do. Then it is nap time until just about when daddy gets home. I clean the house when Brooke naps- except for the early days when Owen decided to be awake from 115-315 (beginning of nap time, booger!) But now that he is older, he is settling down and I am getting an even better handle on the house.

Jon and I are communicating at an all time high I think, which is a beautiful thing. We are finding systems that work for having 2 kids- which are different than having one. I'm on Owen duty, he has Brooklyn. He tries to play with her outside or take her on a bike ride every day when he gets home and Owen and I rest. Now that I'm not nearly as exhausted, because yes... I'm spoiled and have been getting at least 4 hour stretches pretty much forever... and 5 hours for at least the past 2 weeks, and if my brain is remembering correctly... over 6 hours last night, I try to do a chore that is hard to do when Brooke is around. We eat dinner, Brooke gets a bath, we play and watch Big Bang Theory and read lots of stories before bed. I've missed bedtime for a long time now, which makes me sad, Owen needs to eat at bedtime almost every night, but I know I'll be in there helping again soon. :) My hands are very full, I am very busy, but my heart is more so full, and I like being busy. I think I'll write more about my systems with 2, because it is pretty great :) but I did not eat a good lunch today because I just didn't want anything, so I'm starving, and my kids will be up soon.

*This post was not entertaining in the least, but more so to be sure Owen does not feel undocumented :)*

My little OJ

My life.

I never thought I'd pick another person's boogers,
I never shared a blanket all night long.
I never imagined singing the same song on repeat for hours on end.
I never realized how little sleep I need.
I never held the power to calm someone's tears and fears,
until you came into my life.

I told myself I had to stop being afraid of the dark when you got here, baby girl, but I just can't promise you that it isn't scary,
and I can't promise you that there are not monsters in the closet or an alligator under your bed,
because I kind of think there are some in my room, too.
But we can just snuggle together, because when we do, they don't seem to bother me at all.

My baby is 11 months old. What an amazing almost year it has been. What a treasure, a gift. Lord, I pray I have done well mothering her and raising her well. My sweet baby B-lyn.

Missing and loving

I miss late night feedings, but I love sleeping all night.

I miss snuggling in bed, but I love wrestling and tossing you into the blankets.

I miss sleeping all day together, but I love playing more.

I miss non-smelly poops, but it is nice to share mealtime with you.

I miss having a clean house, but I love that you are the reason for my messes.

I miss having you in my bedroom, but I love that you are independent.

I haven't missed out on many moments.

I absolutely love the little girl you are becoming.

Where we're at.

Lately Brooklyn,

- has shown a true liking to yogurt, full body flail (that others may consider a medical condition) of excitement as soon as she sees her special cups.
- can be seen with a puzzle piece sticking out of her mouth, she particularly enjoys the farm board puzzle from her big cousins with huge knobs that she plops in her mouth and sucks on throughout the day- I get to stare at cardboard brown cutouts in front of her cut little face.
- tips over backwards to drink out of her sippy cups (Avent are my favorite, no leaking so far, and easiest for her to drink now that she figured out how to suck them! And my SIL just informed me that the tops are inter-changeable with the bottles- too bad I didn't use those! Geez Louise! :) The things you learn LATER! :) Then again... I only have bottles that came with my pump...)
- pulls my pants down on a continuous basis, to the point that if shorts season doesn't get here fast... we're going to have a problem. She loves to stand while I cook or do dishes and pulls on my pants to get up, then they both end up on the floor! (In fact... she just pulled them down to my knees, thank you for that love.
- tries to grab on to the back of pants to follow behind, she loves "walking" like this- cracks me up every time!
- has yet to open a cabinet (thank God for quiet close because even my 2 year old nephew can't open them! :) For those of you who have been to my house... you know it will be a problem when she has the curiosity for, "What is behind door A?" since there is no way to block cabinets in a small house with a great room... :)
- will finally eat avocados, she just needed a little lime, miss fancy pants- she gets it from Aunt H. :)
- calls me Mama, and daddy Dada and Papa (last night... or was she calling for her grandpa? Hmmm...)
- If she hears "hello," in a song, from a toy, others speaking, she waves looking for who came in- seriously a-friggin-dorable.
- she has another little girl cousin due in less than 2 weeks (my cousin's baby) and another girl cousin due in August (my other cousin's baby) and we cannot wait to love on those little bundles.... by poking eyes, pulling fingers, and most likely sitting on. (Don't worry- I won't be doing those things....)

Life is good, and I am enjoying every single moment.

Iron sharpens Iron, so will a child sharpen her Mama.

I can't be the only mom in the world who is changing, growing, and challenging herself as a woman every day.

I am a young-ish mom- and I never had thought about what that might mean for my family. It might mean that I have less life experience, that I haven't been out to see the world, and so perhaps, I might not know how to best culturize my children. (Yes... I made that word up, you probably won't want to re-use it).

But I am an old soul- a watcher, a thinker, and mostly a what would I do-er.

I have been an aunt for almost half of my life... that is scary... oh my word.... holy crap. I have watched my brother's parent their children. I have babysat for many families, and one daily for years. I have younger cousins. I attend a church where families are abundant. I have been close to others with young children. I have watched, I have listened, and I believe I have held experiences in my heart.

So, surely, I might be less than a quarter of a century old (for a few more months at least), but I have lived a full, beautiful life where I believe I have been blessed plentifully with experiences. Those I have read about, watched, and lived. And I try to learn from each one, so I am proud of the mom that I am every day... and some days I know I won't be. (It is kind of easy with a baby... but when we're starting to get in to everything... Dr. Nelly can come out)

My mothering gets better every day- Brooklyn sharpens me into a more beautiful woman of God every day as I am challenged to raise her for the King.

This morning I had a sense of peace as she tipped over my entire purse- I was blending my breakfast (YUM) and not watching her, she grabbed the handle and poof- keys, wallet, receipts (that should just be thrown away anyway), gift cards galore, business cards aplenty, thank goodness I zipped the lotions/body works/lip stuff in that side pocket... and I just giggled at her big, proud smile. "Silly Lyn, look at how clever you are big girl! Momma should have watched you!" I chuckled, she squealed, all was cleaned up in less than 2 minutes, and life went on.

She won't remember this moment. And in 2 years, I may forget... I guess that is why I like to write down my favorite memories. Who cares that she made a small mess, she is a child, she is a baby, she is my love- how can I get angry over that? I should have been watching!

Have you had little moments that have changed you? Experiences where you said, "I will never do that when I have kids," and meant it- even better, LIVED it? Are you quick to anger with your kids (because you're tired, you're done, you're sick of being the entertainer, you just want to be alone)?

Choose a reaction today- close your eyes and create in your head a moment- something that always makes you lose your temper, but this time, change how you respond in your head, seal it over your heart, and commit to that reaction today.

(I read a story on facebook, I think it was, of a friend who had gotten in a small fender bender- they were rear ended, and they were kind, gentle, quick to forgive, and tender with the person who had bumped them- I decided to act this way if that were to happen to my family. And when it did this winter- forgive me if I wrote about it already, I reacted just as I would have wanted to in a dream world. I checked Brooke, who was fussing from the noise we bet, then enveloped this young boy in a hug as tears streamed down his face, "We forgive you, Austin, it is okay." To see the tears turn to a sobby smile melted my heart- I don't think I would have reacted like that 2 years ago.)

Why should we holler, get frustrated, and scowl at others? We could throw in an eye roll, that'd be mature. We could just choose love and kindness... perhaps.

Greetings

A day or two ago on the radio they were discussing greetings- what a powerful 30 seconds we have with our children and spouses, students, and coworkers every day.

"Mornin!"

"You're late."

"Do you have homework?"

"Why did you wear that shirt today?"

"I'm so happy you're here."

"We're running late, let's go."

I think you get the point- I think you already know what I am going to say.

I try to treat my husband like the king when he gets home, because well... he is the king of this castle. I squeal with joy, ramping up the excitement for our 9 month old and dog. Harley slides across the wood floors taking Brooklyn out by the knees, I catch her by the arm and we race to the back door. "Daddy is here!!!"

I hope his heart swells at the sound of our thrills. He whistles behind the door exciting the dog and intriguing our baby- we literally cannot wait for this man to open the basement door.

I kiss him hard when he walks through the door as if to say, "Where have you been all day, my love? How I have missed you!" My hand always lingers on his bicep as he reaches over to snuggle our baby and give her scruffy whisker kisses. Then- the dog licks till her heart is content and we are back to regular business.

I have been chewing on this- I have so many negative feelings towards cell phones and the constant connect-ability we can choose to have with them- often when we enter a lunch date or family time we're "just finishing this up." Then you get the, "sigh, hello." (I don't want to give a sigh hello, I want to give a smile, welcome, hug, a cheer... anything but that!) Jonathan and I are holding out on the smartphone thing (partly because we have no room in our budget but mostly, because I simply hate the idolatry of phones). To see kids sit on their phones at dinner or on a visit, for a mom to not set the phone down for 5 seconds to snuggle her babes who just walked in the house, for a dad whose ear piece is always connected to his head and can't kiss his wife because he is still "working" when he walks in the door- I have to think, are we stewarding these moments well?

Are we showing our spouses, children, and families how important they are through our greetings? (And this is just 30 seconds of our day, there are million other times that I hope we are all showing love to our loves! :) It seems like something so simple, so stupid, so small to just say "Hello," but I think it matters so much.

Believe me, I know that every day is different- the other day I had dinner up to my elbows and Jon just wasn't going to get the loving he usually does when he walks in the door- I think he forgives me. But today- I made sure to love him in those first 5 seconds because it is on my heart. It is important to me.


Is it important to you?

Smooches and Waves

Puckered lips.

"Give Momma a smooch! You can do it!"

plop.

My face is dripping with slobber, my heart is overflowing with love.

She has kissed me before, but tonight it was kiss, after kiss, after kiss- and the loudest, silliest giggles from both of our mouths as she covered mine in hers. This moment will remain frozen in my memory- our best laugh attack, our sweetest moment yet. Oh sweet child of mine- you are the most perfect gift. My lips shook the inside of her mouth making her giggle even more- open mouthed kisses are so gross, when it isn't your kid. I eagerly await the days of real kisses, but for now, if I look a little drooly, I'm just being loved on by one special girl.

Tonight I made a quick trip to the library before bedtime- I got 2 books in (Choosing to See and Startling Beauty) from 2 far away libraries and wanted to get a head start while my dear love played games tonight. When I got home I waved largely to Brookie and she beamed, waving her arm as hard as she could. She came to me falling on her face trying to wave and crawl at the same time. (I wouldn't recommend it.) So precious, so sweet, so wonderfully mine.

Lord thank you for this little girl you have entrusted to me- may I honor this gift every day, may I teach her all that you would have her learn, may I be the best for her always- (in every stage, even when she poops her diaper 5 times a day... and sticks her feet in it).