Owen - soon to be big brother

Hey big kid,
You amaze me more and more each day and I can't wait to see you as a big brother. I know that you will love Noah so much - and that you already do, since you give me big smiles when we talk about baby Noah and you kiss my belly. I also know, that this is going to be hard for you. Mommy was the oldest kid and so was daddy, so we both have an idea of the position we are putting you in. There will be times that you want and need us and we will be busy with Noah and/or other baby brothers/sisters that you may have later - but I need you to know that nothing will ever change the love I have for you.

You, my owee - my firstborn, you made me a mommy. You made me into the person that I have always wanted to be and I can never thank you enough for that. You might drive me crazy sometimes, you might make messes on purpose, and beg for attention, and play too rough - but you love like crazy and that is amazing to see. Today when your girlfriend came over, you so sweetly were determined to feed her her bottle - I worried that you would try to steal it, but you didn't a single time, you just wanted to love on her and help take care if her. I know that sometimes you might get jealous and you might resent being the oldest and being the big kid, but I want you to always know in your heart that you were the one who taught my heart to love in a way that I never knew how before and that will never change - I will always love you like that and if you are ever feeling left out or like I'm not paying attention to you, please tell me, so we can fix it, because mommy never wants you or Noah or any other babies we have to feel unloved or unimportant - none of you will ever be second best to me - each and every one of you is a gift from God and so important to me in your own unique ways - and no one can or will ever replace you in my heart.

Jealous much?

My time being just your mommy has been so precious to me, and you have helped me to grow in so many ways - you've taught me so much about love and patience and flexibility and not judging others (or myself) and you've made me a better mommy and a better person in more ways than you could possibly know.

I love every bit of you, always let your light shine!

Love,
Mama

Let your light shine! Never lose that joyful spirit!

current loves

 Hey Stinky Pete,

Here a few things you currently love and hate (just a little).

Bathtime! You are a little splashing fiend! Lately, you've been having most of your baths at Momma (my mom) and Poppy's (my dad) house while Mommy and Daddy are at work! But we still do baths at home on the weekends and boy do you love it! You used to hate getting out of the bath because you were cold, but you've toughened up and now really enjoy the whole thing! At home you have a boat toy that you can pour the water out of and you really think that one is a lot of fun!

You aren't too sure about your new "big boy" carseat! Soon enough you'll love it, but for now you don't like change much. You have a different one in Mommy and Daddy's car and you keep looking out the sides - I think you miss the security and coziness of your infant carrier - but baby boy you barely fit in that thing anymore - especially if you were in some of your bulkier cloth diapers - premium prefolds! You are getting soo big - over 20 pounds and about 26 inches long (I think)! Mommy could barely carrier that big heavy carseat with you in it!

 "Baby Pools" (i.e.  dog dishes!) - You are loving finding the dog dish and splashing around in that water! (and maybe eating a few kernels of dog food if mommy doesn't catch you quickly enough!) I can't wait to see how you do in the pool this summer! It's supposed to hit 100 (it's mommy's rule to never go in the pool before the first 100 degree day) this week and we already found you a great new swimsuit - so we just need some new cloth swim diapers and we'll be ready to go! Last summer we weren't allowed in the pool after you were born until it was too cold to swim - so mommy is really excited!

Eating everything and anything! You are a little chowhound! You love fruits, veggies, meat, and pretty much anything that we eat. You are fast too! If we aren't looking for just a second - you swipe food right off our plates and steal big gulps out of our straws! One of your favorite foods is cauliflower and you plow through puffs and baby "cheetos" like it was going out of style - a handful at a time! We have to spread your food out on the table to make you pick up less of it at a time! You're doing pretty well with you pincer grasp but don't think it's fast enough so quickly revert to grabbing as much as you can in your palms! You're still nursing when we are together and drinking about one 6 oz bottle of breastmilk while I'm at work (you'd probably have more, but pumping isn't going as well as it used to)! And you can probably guess why I'm calling you "stinky pete" - cauliflower is not so nice coming out the other end!

You've also started "talking" up a storm! You consistently say "dada" now and think that's everyone's name - although you are starting to use it more on the guys - Daddy, Poppy, and your Uncle J. You are babbling about everything and you use such fabulous intonation that sometimes we swear you're really talking to us! But obviously, I don't have any pictures of that one! I'll try to remember to take some video soon!

Baby boy - you are soo loved! I can't get over how much fuller my life is now that you are in it! I'm so thrilled to be your mommy and I can't wait to see what's coming next!

-Mommy