We're Back!!!!!

It's been A LONG time, but I'm going to try this again....  My sister Julia and I made a deal to start blogging again.  We are going to hold each other accountable, we'll see how this goes....

A lots has happened in the last 3 years, here are some highlights, pictures, some from big moments like birthdays and holidays, some from small moments along the way that make my heart happy like this....

 And this

And this

And this and this and this.....

 

Almost 3 years later, the kids are bigger and 1 more is in there.  There were lots of happy moments along the way.  Some were captured on the camera and some live only in the shadows of our memories.  

Here's hoping the next post is not 3 years down the road.  Jules, your turn.  :)

 

Owen's big week

I don't actually know how Owen feels about this week. I'm guessing for him, it's been a week just like every other, but he has grown so much this week. He has accomplished the delicate art of sitting, and is getting his first tooth.


The sitting thing is awesome. He is really starting to get tired of the various contraptions we have to entertain him. Everyday when I drop him off at school, he just watches the bigger kids that sit in their little pin, and it's so obvious he wants to be there. This week, he finally figured it out. He can sit for a while without falling, unless he moves too quickly towards something. When he does fall, he just lays there and starts playing with something new. It really looks like he is just playing it off, like he had wanting to lay down all this time.


The teething bit is not as awesome. This caught us by surprise, although it does explain some recent bouts of fussiness. He has been a major drooler since he was born, so we've always just written off drool as something he does. Like he drools puddles and puddles. Most weekend days when we are going to be around the house for awhile, I let him hang out in just a diaper. It's easier than having to change him 5 times in one day because his drool soaks through the bib and his shirt. It's gross. So a little drool in our life is not indicative of teeth, it just means Owen is Owen. And he has always been a pretty oral baby. He chews on everything around. One day last month, before he had completely figured out the whole hand to mouth situation, I caught him chewing on a toy hanging from a little baby gym. To get the toy in his mouth he would move his head around until the rings fell perfectly into his open mouth. It was really funny to watch, and he probably spent more time attempting to get the toy into his mouth than anything else.

Lately, he has enjoyed chewing on his feet. There are times we will pick him up and his socks are soaking wet. So socks are another item of clothing that I don't bother with anymore if we are just going to be at home all day. Thank goodness it is summer in Houston, perfect weather for a diaper baby.
Madeline didn't start getting teeth until she was about 9 months, so I had not thought about the possibility of teeth. Yesterday Owen was sitting and drooling, and he started doing this weird thing with his tongue where it looked like he was trying to lick his bottom gum. I didn't even catch half of the weird faces he was making. It was so funny, I could not stop laughing!



Then, he reached for my hand and put my finger in his mouth, and immediately I could feel the tiny tip of a new tooth under the gums. Randomly, I'm kind of excited for him.

Summer

I have heard so many people wax poetic about summer. I'm going to be honest, it's not my favourite time of year. I really prefer spring and fall. I love spending time outside, and summer in Katy is not made for outdoor activities. We go swimming, and go to the park , and we take evening walks, and eat outside. Ok, that last sentence made summer in Katy sound magical. But all of those are early morning or evening activities. Daytime is brutal. We usually spend the hours from 11-5 hiding out inside doing crafts and trying to keep the house somewhat orderly (ok, Andy and I are the only ones trying to keep things orderly, Madeline loves a mess). But in a spirit of optimism and looking at things from a positive light, I am choosing to concentrate on the things I like about summer.

I love early morning visits to the playground.




I love bubbles and pajamas.




I love swimming. I love the smell of sunscreen on my little ones.




I love bringing Owen outside so he can do the exact same thing he always does, except outside. And I love his new set of faces he's learned to make.




I love setting up the sprinkler toys and inflatable pool in the backyard and watching Madeline and Nelson go crazy.




I love flowers in full bloom.




I love sno cones, and red tongues.




I love that the time gets all jumbled up and an afternoon visiting with friends quickly turns into evening and night. Afternoon swims quickly lapse into dinner and popsicles.




I love evening walks as the sun starts to set.




And I love summer naps, and summer nights.