Owen....soon to be ONE!

Sweet baby Owen -

Your eyes are still blue!  Your cheeks are chubby!  Your hair is growing fast - and has a few curls in the back.  Your legs are chubby and you are constantly on the move.  All of this tells me that my sweet boy is closer to becoming a toddler than to being a baby!

You're 1st birthday is fast approaching.  On, Thursday we will celebrate your 1st birthday.  Let me just say that I really cannot believe one year has passed since you joined our family.  I know that Mom's, Dad's, grandparents, etc. all over the world frequently comment on how fast time seems to go with each passing year - but this year has certainly passed in record speed.  I would give anything to slow down the time!  Just as I say this though, I am reminded of the fun phases you have ahead of you!  

We have big plans for your big day!  We will be visiting with family for the big day and have a big birthday celebration on Saturday with lots of our family members attending!  I am looking forward to celebrating myself!  I can't wait to see you with your birthday cake.  I'm picturing one messy, icing covered baby boy!  You love food - and you don't mind making a mess - so, this should be interesting!  I'll have my camera ready!  We have a cute birthday shirt all ready for you (well, 3 birthday shirts really).  1 new 1st birthday shirt from Target that I had walked by about 15 times...and finally, I gave in and bought it for you.  One very cute personalized shirt, with a sailboat on it - to match the theme of your invitations and party decor.  I found this on esty - the same lady who made Payton's 3rd birthday shirt made this for you.  It is adorable and I know it will be really cute covered in cake!  Finally, you have a hand-me-down for Payton.  I agree, seems a little excessive for a 1st birthday, but Mommy is big on birthday celebrations - so, three shirts seems fairly normal - you can just wear them all week long!  In addition, Mommy's big day is coming up just after your 1st birthday, so you can just wear one in honor of Mommy's birthday too!  

As your birthday approaches, I've been reflecting on the last year we have had together.  When you joined our family, you made # 4 (# 5 counting Bailey).  Payton was 27 months old - and in the midst of temper tantrum central.  He loved you from the moment he met you but, for your 1st three or four months in our family, Payton was a bit of a handful for Mommy.  Funny though, I barely remember that now!  And, everyone knows Mommy wants a baby girl - but, when I met you - last year, on June 16th around 8:30 in the morning - I knew that another little boy was just what had been planned all along.  From the first time I held you, I knew (*prayed, willed, made certain*) that you were going to be Mommy's little boy.  I can say, one year later, you are indeed Mommy's little boy (YES!!!!!!!).  You were not the best baby in the world - in fact, we frequently had sleep-deprived nights well up into your 10th month.  I think part of the problem goes back to you loving Mommy so much.  You would wake up in your crib - realize you couldn't find your sweet Mommy, cry out (for a very short time), Mommy or Daddy would come to your rescue, and you would find yourself snuggled up against Mommy in her big bed and go right back to sleep.  This worked great for you - not so much for Mommy and Daddy.  Finally, you have stopped this.  I know this is goal we were after - but I miss my little snuggle bug!  You still aren't the greatest sleeper - just last week you were up requesting a bottle at 2 AM.  You got the bottle and went back to sleep - in your crib - so, it wasn't so bad.  

Our bedtime routine is great - and we have it down to a science.  At 8:15 or 8:30 you are SO ready for bed.  You get your milk, jammies and a few books.  You already pick the 2 books you like the best - and ask for them - with a point and a high pitched ummm." You are always ready to go right to sleep with your lovely and about 10 minutes of music.  

You are certainly wild and loud.  You already have a very strong personality.  The phrase strong willed child will probably fit you well.  Most of the time you are a very happy baby.  When you get upset, you get mad.  It doesn't take much to make you mad.  When you are mad, you will cry LOUDLY and often you will bend over and *beat* your head on the floor.   Changing a diaper on you is like trying to change the diaper of a wild animal.  You are constantly moving!  

You LOVE food.  You eat and eat and eat.  You are finally eating most everything we eat which makes meal times easy - but, I have to remember to make enough for you.  There are times you eat more than Payton.  You love fruit and veggies.  You are finally starting to drink really well out of a sippy cup.  You have known how for months but you didn't really like it.  Finally you are picking it up and drinking on your own - you even steal Payton's cups!  You also steal his cheerios in the mornings!  

You love Bailey.  You are fascinated with her and like to crawl up to her and pet her or lay on her!  

Just like your big brother, your favorite things so far all all things round - basketball, soccer ball, football, tennis ball, bouncy balls.....you constantly have a ball around you and enjoy throwing them, rolling them, and chasing after them.  

You love to be outside.  You like to sit in your wagon, with a ball in your hand, watching us do yard work or watching Payton play.

You crawl at lightening fast speed!  You pull up easily and have started to walk while holding on to the couch, table, etc.  You don't show much interest in walking yet in my opinion.  You don't even want to try out the walking toys we have.  

You love the pool and love to splash in the water.  

You love Payton so much.  As soon as you see him in the mornings your face lights up - you smile and flap your arms to see him.  The best part, he loves you just as much.  I know there will be times in the near future where that excitement will turn to fights, arguments, and whining but I feel certain that the two of you will be the best of friends as you grow up.  Payton constantly asks when you will be big enough to do certain things - for example, play basketball.  He is so ready for you to be a big boy so you can play basketball together!

You weigh about 21 pounds.  You still have small feet - you can still fit into your 0-6 month or size 3 shoes.  The 0-6 month Robeez are pretty tight but they fit!  You are wearing 12 month, 12 - 18 month, or 18 month clothes.  You HATE to wear hats - let me change that, you WILL NOT wear hats.  

Oh sweet baby, where has the time gone?  We have had a busy year indeed but I wish I could turn back the hands of time and do it all again!  You have turned from that sweet newborn who has to have every need taken care of into that baby who starts to discover his world and has bright eyes as he sees new things and again, on into that budding toddler who is actively exploring and discovering every part of our world.  You are learning new things every day - and we are learning new things from you!  You can still be that sweet, sweet, boy - especially at bed time when you will still snuggle with Mommy a little.  You can also be wild!  I know deep down that you will be my wildest child (which is especially hard to imagine when I picture Payton right now....he is wild enough...but somehow, I know you will live up to all my "worst" dreams of mothering a boy).  You are already 100% boy and I love that!  I'm learning to love being the Mommy of two boys - and wondering how I could ever raise a girl!  I love you so much - and the thought of my baby being one year old gives me so many mixed emotions.  Like I said earlier, I know that we have so much fun ahead...and I'm excited to watch you grow and change with each passing month.  The next year will be a blast for sure!  But, it is hard to pack away all those baby clothes and know that stage of our time together has come to a close.  We have a wonderful year full of memories with you sweet baby boy!  Happy 1st birthday week!  Love, Mommy!