Future Photographer

 I love life with these four people.

 Haha, most of the time :)

Owen :)

He sleeps like his Daddy.  :)

Owen is an unbelievably happy, "easy" baby.

Thank God.

Thank God.

Thank God.

Because my other two are really giving us a run for our money this week.  :)

Someone needs a vacation!

And that someone is ME.

Maryn told me today she can't wait till she dies.  So she won't have to share any more.

I wasn't sure how to correct her attitude, maybe because I feel that way too sometimes.  After all, I do have snacks hidden in my make up bag in the bathroom and sneak in there sometimes to eat them with the door locked.  This is what my life has come to.

She gets her drama from her mama.  :)

8 Weeks and Ready to Get Back to Whatever is Normal

Owen turned 8 weeks old today.  He is doing great.  Eating well, as you can see:

 He sleeps well, and would be sleeping in his own bed and his own room now if he had one.  I'm not sure what we're going to do with the kids' sleeping situation.

Anyway, with Owen turning 8 weeks I decided it was time to get a little more on the ball with our other two. So I got up early today.  I had a plan, a routine.  I took some advice from my friend's blog MyHomeTableau.com to simplify.  We put a lot of toys away for rotation.  I tried to not let there be more than three dishes dirty without washing them all.  I cleaned the house during "quiet time" and then we left for a magic show at the library from 2-4:30 so that the house was clean and dinner was ready to be made in time for John to get home at 5:00.  When he got home both kids were in their rooms pouting because 5:00 pm is. so. hard.

Josiah and Maryn have been extremely difficult.  I feel like I'm trying so hard to be nice to them, but they make it so stinkin hard with Josiah's constant whining and Maryn's irritating habits.  So I'm hoping that reducing their toys (and messes), getting them into a very predictable routine, and getting back into consistent, loving discipline will get us all back on track.

Today, we made a replica of Solomon's Temple.  I bet you didn't know it had a little boy poking out the top of it!  We made beaded necklaces, invited over a neighbor friend, played Memory, BINGO, Go Fish and Crazy 8s, saw a Magic Show at the library, checked out new books, watched a Thomas and Friends show and Word World, and read a bunch of books.  I tried to stay off the internet, and I tried to not think about the 1,249 things I should be doing for VBS, the cooking blog, RA duties, cleaning out the fridge, the tub and John's white T-shirts.  It was a good time, actually.  But the thing about 2 year olds and 3 year olds is that, no matter how much time you spend with them...

they will always want more.  And that can be exhausting.

You can't talk to them like they're the bully in 5th grade and say, "Just leave me alone!"  Because words like that break their little hearts.

People say I'll miss these days.  I know that's true.  I know these will be my favorite days.  I'll read my blog ten years from now and wish I had Josiah's big brown eyes gazing up at me for ANOTHER snack.  To hold him up so he can see inside the washer.  I know I'll miss Maryn wanting to play all those games with me and get super excited about the necklace I made her.  I know I'll miss the gooey chubbiness of Owen's fat cheeks and incredible baby smiles.

But sometimes it really is just hard.

Josiah and the Elephants

Today was the biggest day of little Josiah's life.

He got to see elephants for the first time (that he can remember)!

 Elephants are his favorite animal.

Here was his initial expression upon seeing the elephants:

 Then they started an elephant show, and the elephants got really close.  They held each other's tails and walked around the circle.  They showed how they can lay down, stand up, and almost climbed a tree!

 Here he is, really trying to figure them out:

 He clapped when they did their tricks:

 Maryn had a great time, too!

 This is what Owen did the entire time we were at the zoo (yay!):

 I could not figure out why the kids were not cooperating for this picture, and then Maryn said, "It's hot!"  And duh, the iron clad elephant sure was blazing hot.  I almost unknowingly burnt my kids legs off because I wanted a picture of them on an elephant.

 The kids are having a great time with Grandpa, who is with us for the weekend!

It was so hot, we had to keep spraying the kids with a spray bottle.  Here's Josiah getting sprayed!  He's such a cutie pie.  He has been incredibly, incredibly whiny the last two days.  We are having a lot of communication, discipline and other two year old issues.  He turns two in less than a month.  I honestly don't know if I'll make it through the next year... :)

Sunday Sweetness

Meeting Owen

Grandma and Grandpa Erdman visited yesterday and today, and met Owen for the first time.  

 Maryn's been enjoying her time with them, filling up her purse with lots of things so that her purse is almost just like Grandma's.  She ate a ton of food last night at WW Cousins!  Josiah is being his adorable, hilarious self, showing off his kung fu moves and ball skills.

 Owen is being our sweet little pumpkin belly boy :)

 Don't you just love him?

It was a good two days with Grandma and Grandpa!  We're so glad they got to visit, especially since they lost power the night they were here.  Let's hope their power is back on when they get back home.  They've had a rough week with forest fires at their camp, where 30-40 acres of forest were burned.  Fortunately it just got a lot of underbrush and was a "good" fire.  We're so grateful everyone is okay and no buildings were damaged.

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!

Rainy Days

We have been having a good old time indoors as we celebrate our rainy days lately.  Okay, so it hasn't really been raining.  It was actually the "first week of summer," and Memorial Day Weekend.  I may sound like a teenager when I say this, but everyone was out and about, traveling, visiting, and pretty much having the best week ever.  But we were stuck indoors.

Being stuck indoors doesn't bother me all that much, but I have felt extremely sorry for Maryn and a little bad for Josiah, too.  Our zoo membership has run out, so there's probably no hope for going to the zoo this summer.  Poor Josiah has yet to see an elephant since he's become obsessed with them.  And Maryn points out to me at least three times a week, "We haven't gone to the zoo in a long time."

I know, sweetie.  I know.

So I try to make things fun for them.  But all the neighborhood kids are having so. much. fun. right outside their windows.  Maryn has been such a big girl, such a great helper, and hasn't thrown a fit yet about not being out there.  But it breaks my heart.  I guess this is what the Baby Blues looks like when you have older kids.  

Hopefully my belly will be feeling better soon, and we'll get out there, at least in the mornings before it gets blazing hot.

 Poor Josiah had to wear Maryn's PINK paint shirt.  :)

Washing a baby...this kept them busy for quite a while.

 We made these adorable snakes.  We did some learning about reptiles and snakes, too.

 Maryn and Josiah made a hide out under the baby swing, so I got them to make Indian (Native American :)) headbands.  Cutest picture ever.

 Owen.  He's so cute.  We are taking him to the doctor soon because he's had gunky eyes.  I think probably just clogged tear ducts.  He rolled over the other day, at 9 days old.  I couldn't believe it.  I am going to try to get him to do it again here soon.  And he has grown out of newborn diapers.  He's definitely our biggest baby so far.  And look at him...he's so contemplative.

 I think he's probably a genius.  He's a lot like Maryn in the way he watches me.  I know they say newborns are blind as bats, but I don't believe it.  This baby studies my face and even reaches for me--I know it!  He turns immediately when he hears my voice and SMILED, genuinely smiled at me when I sang to him.  It was the I Love You (from Barney) song.  What a precious sweet boy.

John got home at 10 am today and has the whole weekend off.  I get him for almost four straight days!

And we got a new washer today.  It is NICE.  Like, really nice.  Happy birthday to me.