Without Maryn!

We have been without Maryn since Tuesday!

The first day or two was pretty nice.  I got some great one-on-one time with Josiah and running around to appointments was a lot easier.  Maryn just doesn't do well in places like that.  We also went to Kroger, and it actually went very well.  I've been getting Owen on more of a "routine," and it has really helped his belly, which means he's taking some nice long naps.

But now we kind of miss her.  Although if she was here, I'm pretty sure I would not be blogging right now.  I've had some awesome quiet times the last few days, and have read half of a novel!  I've been working hard on our new cooking blog (cookingwithmaryn@blogspot.com) and have been trying to clean up a good bit after our sickness.  Today was packing day.  We are going to leave in just a couple hours to go get our baby girl!

I can't wait to see her!  I hope she will let us cuddle with her and give her lots of hugs and kisses.

But all in all, I think this little trip to grandma and grandpa's house was really good for all of us.  I'm so proud of her (mostly I'm proud of myself, haha!), and I know the relationship between her, my parents, my Aunt Cathy and all the Ohio family has really gotten stronger.  She will remember these trips her entire life.

Happy Summer!

PS:  It's 102 degrees here.  No joke.  John's a/c in the Santa Fe doesn't work.  So let's pray he makes it home safe.  Maybe he'll buy a tank top to drive home in.  :-o

Owen's One Month Dr. Visit

Owen will be six weeks old on Monday, and we just had his one month visit with the pediatrician yesterday. It's no surprise that he is a very healthy little boy.  He has excellent head control, strong arms and legs, and healthy eyes, ears and belly.  He weighs 12 lbs. 7 oz. and he is 23 inches long.  He is the average size of a 3 month old!  

We got out his 3-6 months clothes when we got home, and they fit very well.  He was getting scrunched in those 0-3 months clothes, but I thought surely it was my imagination.

Owen is a delight.  He smiles a lot now, and is even trying to laugh and coo, although he can't quite get it out yet.  He really watches our faces and our mouths closely, even imitating some of our mouths' movements.  He hasn't rolled over in a while, probably because he's getting a little chubby.  But look how cute he is.  I could eat him up.

I think he loves me :)

 "we started realizing that our children had become judgmental little scoffers. Why? Because we were so busy comparing and contrasting our education, parenting, and worship style choices with those of other parents that we had marginalized the gospel before our kids. We were way more excited about high church liturgy, classical education, “courtship,” family worship times, you name it. We actually believed they were signs of spiritual maturity. The only problem was, we had neglected the one and only thing that could ever give our children and us the power and strength for real spiritual maturity—the gospel."
Luma Simms  Raising Gospel Centered Kids

Caught Ya

I caught ya being cute with your new hair cut!

 I caught ya cuddling with your siblings during movie night!

 I caught ya reading a great book!

 Silly, silly billy stinker pie.

Butterball Baby and the "Big Kids"

 I call Owen my little butterball.  His belly and his head are so round.  

And buttery.

 I put the newborn clothes away today.  Here's Josiah trying on the outfit that was my favorite on him when he was a baby.  I think Owen only got to wear it once.  Owen is a little bigger than Josiah was.

Owen turned four weeks old yesterday.  Josiah turns two in almost just one month.  Maryn will be....(gasp)...four in September.  Four.

Can you believe it?

My baby fetish

Some people have a thing for baby feet.

Or baby faces, or baby cheeks,

Or baby bums.

This is my baby fetish:

 Arm chubs.  :)

Look at the dimpled elbow!

When the dimpled elbows disappear and become bony little scabbed up elbows, it's time to have another.  Because we all need some baby arm chubs in our life.  :)

Wow.  What an interesting few days we've had.

busy week!

 I take pictures of Owen all evening after the big kids are in bed, as Owen sits up against my knees.  I love how they can sit against your legs when they're little.

 He's getting so big!  And has lots of facial expressions.  Oh, he's so, so, so sweet.  He loves to look at me.  I love to look at him!

 And here's my sweet little turtle boy.  Who gets cuter every day, and is getting way, way too big.

I pretty much breastfeed Owen all day.  He has been giving me a couple hours break each morning and each afternoon, but beyond that I pretty much nurse all the time.  Today was a hard day.  I hope tomorrow will be better.  He hardly nurses at all at night, and we sleep pretty well.  So I guess that's not such a bad trade off.  

We went to Target today as a family.  John got the groceries, and I took the kids Father's Day shopping.  Then John did Food Line from 2-3 and I did Food Line 3-5 while someone babysat our two oldest kids.  And then I fed my kids foods that come from cans, and we watched two hours of Thomas the Train.  Maryn has adopted a fantastic British kind of accent thanks to Thomas the Train and Angelina Ballerina, where she says lit-tle with the "t" sound rather than the traditional way Americans say it.  But she also has been calling John "Datty" and Josiah "Butty."  Which drives me up a wall.  I don't know why I'm so easily annoyed.  Lately especially.  

Tomorrow, we get to go to Kroger and Sam's Club, which will likely expend all of our time, energy, and any money we have left to our names.  Happy Wednesday!

THREE kids getting BIG!

Here's Maryn and Josiah being sweet.  But they aren't always this sweet to Owen.  We've had quite a few little "incidents" lately that have been uh, a little scary.  :)   I remind myself that babies are fragile but God is sovereign.  I pray for his life daily...:)  I say that in gest, but really, I do wonder how so many infants make it through infancy with big siblings around.

 Owen really gets cuter every day, and his face is changing.  So far I think he looks more like my dad's side of the family.  Perfect, since his middle name is Michael!  Maryn is a cross between John and me, Josiah is all John....MAYBE Owen will take after my family more.  We shall see!

He continues to roll over belly to back and today he almost rolled over back to belly.  I think he could do it if he had a reason to.  After our long car ride yesterday, I got him out (he had been crying) and he just smiled and smiled at me!  And he just wanted to stare at me the rest of the day.

I love being loved by a sweet little baby.  There's nothing like it.

 Maryn.  Acting like Daddy, with her headphones, his watch, his phone, and his Kindle Fire.

 Josiah's legs got stuck in his crib's slats this morning.  I was a little worried because his one foot was so swollen, white and cold.  Scary.  It was a good day to try napping in Maryn's room, in the toddler bed.  They will be sharing a room soon!  I honestly have no idea how it will work.  I am pretty sure it won't work at all.  Prayers please!  And any advice is welcome.

Life with Josiah has been pretty tough lately.  We are treading new territory here with a "normal" toddler.  I realize now that Maryn was never a normal toddler.  Ha!  If you know her, you know what I mean.  Oh Josiah, I love you.  You and your sticky hands, your crayon messes, your dirty face, and always smelling like ketchup and peanut butter even when you haven't had ketchup OR peanut butter in days or weeks.

Life with three!  Fun as can be!

aggghhh

I'm going to be really honest here and tell you that my oldest two children are driving me insane.  I can't imagine what's come over them :)

Anyway.

Here's Owen getting a sponge bath.  :)  

 I thought this little duck towel suit wouldn't get used, but it was actually perfect for sponge bathing.  He stayed warm and cozy.  Apparently not warm and cozy enough though...

 ALL CLEAN!  Hiii!

 Here's our buddy Eli coloring with Josiah while Eli's mama, Elise, vacuumed our whole house!  Yippee!  She's trying to make Owen's new little buddy come out.  His name is Aiden.  They live downstairs and Aiden's due date was today!