Having a kid is great; some might say it's the best thing a (sufficiently mature and financially stable) person can experience. I would agree. However, the greatness is hard to explain while the struggles are easy to see. The average person doesn't think your baby's first smile or roll-over is the greatest thing ever but probably thinks a baby crying or lack of sleep is the worst thing ever. You get used to those things. There is no doubt parenting changes you.
Like just about everyone else, I love food. The other day I made the most beautiful bacon and cheese omelet I've ever made. It was a perfect light brown on the outside and melty on the inside. I had my toast buttered and was ready to eat (note: I thought about using the word "nosh" but I couldn't do it. It's a recent addition to my top 3 least favorite words list. Just writing it makes me cringe.). As I was getting my fork Owen woke up from his nap and started crying, he needed a bottle. Karen was at work so it was up to me. In the past, just about anything could wait if food was on the table. Not anymore, I calmly put down my fork and fed Owen with only a single forlorn glance back at my omelet. I eventually got to eat my cold masterpiece and soggy toast. All that is to say, priorities change and you're happy to do it.
I love relaxing on the couch almost as much as I love food but now we spend a lot of time on the floor with Owen. First it was trying to get him to roll over, then sit up and now crawl. I am on the floor just about from the time I get home from work until Owen goes to bed. The other night I had just made dinner (a cheddar, bacon and guacamole hamburger if you're scoring at home) and was headed upstairs to watch TV while I ate. Owen was already asleep and Karen was at the grocery store so it was just me. I was halfway through my hamburger when I looked around and realized I was all by myself sitting on the floor eating my dinner, right in front of a perfectly comfortable couch. I thought "what's going on?" "how old am I?" I gave the non-existent camera a Jim Halpert look and kept on eating. The floor isn't that comfortable but still our furniture had become pointless.
At the beginning I said a baby is a great thing for a sufficiently mature and financially stable person, I suppose you can never be too financially stable but you can definitely be too mature. And if you are, it takes all the fun out of it. You'll see and hear things that would make a 12-year old laugh and if you're not able to laugh you'll just be grossed out and miss out on some of the funniest moments of your life. I had a point to this post but I got up on my soapbox and lost sight of it. Kids aren't always great but YOUR kid is always great; they'll make you do funny things and will do funny things to you. I think that was it. Seven months makes me an expert, right?
Friday, July 23, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
New Friend
Summer is in full swing! This year, summer means soccer, soccer, soccer, and work, work, work. Since I got my new job as Education Director for Hackberry Creek Church, I have spent a lot of time planning and preparing summer activities for kids. It has been lots of fun but also quite exhausting and it is only June. Any of you who have worked a week of Vacation Bible School will know what I mean. In between working and sleeping, we have been watching game after game of the world cup. Myers took the day off today in order to watch the US vs. Slovenia game. It was an exciting match that Owen missed most of due to a long morning nap.
We have all been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Owen's new friend, Lady Hiss. Little Emily Forney was born last weekend and Owen got the chance to meet her today. Myers and I were both surprised at how tiny Emily looked (she is only 6 pounds) since we were used to seeing our big guy. Matt and Laura were surprised at how gigantic Owen looked since they were used to seeing their petite lady.
Emily came about 2 weeks early. Last Saturday, the Levers, the Haynesesesss, and the Forneys all had a fun day together cooking, talking, watching soccer and playing games. The very next day Emily decided she was ready to enter the world!
We have all been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Owen's new friend, Lady Hiss. Little Emily Forney was born last weekend and Owen got the chance to meet her today. Myers and I were both surprised at how tiny Emily looked (she is only 6 pounds) since we were used to seeing our big guy. Matt and Laura were surprised at how gigantic Owen looked since they were used to seeing their petite lady.
Emily came about 2 weeks early. Last Saturday, the Levers, the Haynesesesss, and the Forneys all had a fun day together cooking, talking, watching soccer and playing games. The very next day Emily decided she was ready to enter the world!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Teefs
Owen has been a really good baby. Not much crying, good nap taker, lots of laughs etc. However, over the past couple of weeks he has been a bit grumpy. Myers and I often find ourselves making the most ridiculous faces and noises in order to make him stop crying. Glad Owen doesn't have a camera of his own to take OUR picture.
About a week and a half ago, we discovered what all the crying was about: he has sprouted 2 teeth! Both teeth are on the bottom and they make him look like a distinguished gentleman. I can't believe he already has teeth, it makes me realize that he won't be a baby forever.
Other recent milestones:
1. Rolling front to back and back to front. He likes to practice these moves in his crib. We never know what position he will be in when he wakes up in the morning. We often find him sideways, face down, with his booty sticking up in the air. Very cute.
2. Cereal eating. It was a slow process, but Owen now seems to have gotten the hang of eating from a spoon. He has made some pretty funny faces along the way and is now eating cereal twice a day. I think we are going to start adding some fruits and vegetables to his diet soon. Another step away from being a baby.
3. Sleeping!!! After months of waking up 3 or 4 times a night, Owen is FINALLY sleeping through the night. Hallelujah. He usually goes to bed at 7:30 and then wakes up to eat at 5:00ish and then back to bed for another 2 or 3 hours. It is fantastic.
About a week and a half ago, we discovered what all the crying was about: he has sprouted 2 teeth! Both teeth are on the bottom and they make him look like a distinguished gentleman. I can't believe he already has teeth, it makes me realize that he won't be a baby forever.
Other recent milestones:
1. Rolling front to back and back to front. He likes to practice these moves in his crib. We never know what position he will be in when he wakes up in the morning. We often find him sideways, face down, with his booty sticking up in the air. Very cute.
2. Cereal eating. It was a slow process, but Owen now seems to have gotten the hang of eating from a spoon. He has made some pretty funny faces along the way and is now eating cereal twice a day. I think we are going to start adding some fruits and vegetables to his diet soon. Another step away from being a baby.
3. Sleeping!!! After months of waking up 3 or 4 times a night, Owen is FINALLY sleeping through the night. Hallelujah. He usually goes to bed at 7:30 and then wakes up to eat at 5:00ish and then back to bed for another 2 or 3 hours. It is fantastic.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Helmet
At Owen's 4 month doctor appointment, the pediatrician suggested that Owen might need a helmet to correct a gigantic flat spot on the back of his head. Myers and I noticed the flat spot a long time ago but were hoping it would correct itself. (yes, we were delusional enough to think that Owen's skull would magically mold into a normal shape all by itself). I have to admit I was a little upset at the prospect of getting a helmet for our baby. The more I thought about it though, I realized that if I were a teenage boy with a misshapen head and my parents could have fixed it and chose not to, I would be really mad.
Cranial Technologies is THE PLACE for this kind of thing. They have several locations around the country and apparently people drive hours and hours to get their helmet (DOC band) at Cranial Tech. I feel very blessed that there is a Dallas location. We went for a consultation where they take mugshot-like photos from all different angles of Owen's head. It was very difficult to have someone point out all of the problems with your baby's head/face/skull. Anyway, after a cool digital imaging appointment Owen is now in his helmet. Since he is so young they are hoping he will only be in it for about 6 (maybe 8) weeks.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Big Changes
After 4 years at ACIG, I will be leaving the insurance field to begin a new phase of my life. After months of prayer, thoughts, meetings and interviews, I have been hired as the Director of Education - Membership at Hackberry Creek Church. I could not be more excited and can't wait to get started. My new friend, Kelly Shultz, will be the Director of Education - Outreach and the two of us will both be working part time.
Since I am moving from a full time job to a part time job I will now have a lot more time at home with Owen! Myers and I feel so blessed to be in a situation where one of us can be home with Owen most of the week. We are going to have to get used to cutting back on some of our favorite luxuries (i.e. going out to eat) but we both know that the "sacrifice" is well worth the reward!
Since I am moving from a full time job to a part time job I will now have a lot more time at home with Owen! Myers and I feel so blessed to be in a situation where one of us can be home with Owen most of the week. We are going to have to get used to cutting back on some of our favorite luxuries (i.e. going out to eat) but we both know that the "sacrifice" is well worth the reward!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Swimming
Ok, this time I promise I will start updating the blog more consistently. Do you believe me? Didn't think so.
Owen is turning 4 months old this weekend. How exciting! His new tricks include grabbing things, laughing, sitting up (well, sitting against the back of the couch and not falling over) and swimming! Last weekend we heated up my parents' spa to a nice luke warm temperature and gave Owen his first swimming experience. He wore his fancy little swimmers diaper covered by very stylish orange swim trunks. We had high hopes that he would absolutely love the water. While he didn't hate it, he didn't exactly love it either. He almost seemed not to notice that he was in the pool. We held him in there for about 5 minutes and then got out. Even though he didn't laugh and splash and play, I am still considering it a successful experience.
As the weather gets warmer we hope to have many more trips to the pool. By August, Owen will be a regular George Hamilton sporting a beautiful bronze glow.
Stay tuned for a new post next week with a report from Owen's 4 month check up.
Owen is turning 4 months old this weekend. How exciting! His new tricks include grabbing things, laughing, sitting up (well, sitting against the back of the couch and not falling over) and swimming! Last weekend we heated up my parents' spa to a nice luke warm temperature and gave Owen his first swimming experience. He wore his fancy little swimmers diaper covered by very stylish orange swim trunks. We had high hopes that he would absolutely love the water. While he didn't hate it, he didn't exactly love it either. He almost seemed not to notice that he was in the pool. We held him in there for about 5 minutes and then got out. Even though he didn't laugh and splash and play, I am still considering it a successful experience.
As the weather gets warmer we hope to have many more trips to the pool. By August, Owen will be a regular George Hamilton sporting a beautiful bronze glow.
Stay tuned for a new post next week with a report from Owen's 4 month check up.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Not So Great at Blogging...
Big News! Owen is here! Ok, so he was born 8 weeks ago. Our initial plan to update the blog several times a week is not going so well. Oops. Anyway, the first 8 weeks of parenthood have gone pretty well. Lots of eating, lots of sleeping and lots of pooping for Owen. I read a message board that was polling new mothers to see how often their babies poop. Many of the women said once a day or once every other day. Some even said that their little ones poop once every 5 days!! Owen is pooping, on average, 5 or 6 times every day. Usually he poops immediately after we change his diaper and then laughs at us. (Myers is not a fan of the word "poop" so I wanted to include a story that used the word poop as many times as possible)
Other highlights...
I swore to myself that I would not refer to myself in the third person and that I would not talk to Owen in a ridiculously high pitched voice. I am sad to admit that I am now doing both. If you were a fly on the wall at our house during the day you would likely hear me say something like, "smile for your mama" or something dumb like that. What is it about having a child that makes you suddenly talk like an idiot? At least I keep this nonsense contained within the walls of our house.
At 8 weeks of age Owen is able to hold his head up. He also smiles and laughs and sleeps like a champion. When he was born he weighed 8 and a half pounds, he has now chunked up to an astounding 13 pounds. Most of that weight is contained in his gigantic cheeks!
Other highlights...
I swore to myself that I would not refer to myself in the third person and that I would not talk to Owen in a ridiculously high pitched voice. I am sad to admit that I am now doing both. If you were a fly on the wall at our house during the day you would likely hear me say something like, "smile for your mama" or something dumb like that. What is it about having a child that makes you suddenly talk like an idiot? At least I keep this nonsense contained within the walls of our house.
At 8 weeks of age Owen is able to hold his head up. He also smiles and laughs and sleeps like a champion. When he was born he weighed 8 and a half pounds, he has now chunked up to an astounding 13 pounds. Most of that weight is contained in his gigantic cheeks!
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