Swinging

My cousin Nicky has a big area in her backyard filled with play equipment. It's a kids dream! They have a swing set, a trampoline, a seesaw and a sandbox. We put Owen in the baby swing not knowing if he'd like it. We tried it once before at my Aunt Linda's in Wyoming and he wasn't too thrilled with it then. However, he didn't mind it this time. He was actually having a good time.

Extended Family

This weekend we got together with my Dad's side of the family to celebrate my cousin Nicky's 25th Wedding Anniversary. This is our extended family (minus Michael, he was working on the house and my cousin Tara's youngest Eden, he must have been running around somewhere). Standing in the back is Anthony, Uncle Cliff, Bill, Taylor and Steve. In front of them is Tara, Aunt Jan, Callie, my Dad, my Mom, Pam, Stephanie and Codie. In the front of them kneeling or sitting is Allie, Nicky, Grandpa, Grandma and me holding Owen. In the front row is Colby, Lenae and Fawn.

A Poem for Owen

One of my good friend Nikki wrote this for Owen. Enjoy!

Baby Owen Michael Martin:

Beautiful baby boy
Ambitiously grasping objects
Blue eyes watching every move
You can’t help but fall in love

Only God could create such a
Wonderful little boy like you
Extraordinary creation
Never fail to amaze

Mesmerized by what you see
Immense world fills you with awe
Curiosity motivates you to explore
How can anyone resist
All we have to do is watch and
Enjoy your new discoveries
Life is all around you

Mommy and Daddy
Are so proud of you
Remarkable little fingers and
Toes, little nose and mouth
Incredible giggle and smile
Never-ending love for eternity

NPT 06/21/07

One Year Ago!

One year ago today was the first day we got to see Owen. I found out I was pregnant on June 20th 2006 and because of my past history the doctor wanted me to come in for an ultrasound to make sure everything was okay. So on June 21st 2006, Michael and I went into Seattle to have the ultrasound and this is what we saw....

That little white part inside the black circle is Owen. I was only 7 weeks pregnant, but there was already a beating heart that we could actually see. Babies are completely a miracle!!!

It really is amazing what can happen in year. In that time I have held 3 different jobs, had 4 different managers, worked at 2 different locations, carried a baby, delivered a baby, been on leave and been laid off. Boy it was a busy year!

Breastfeeding picture (It's decent)

Since Owen has learned to use his little hands he has been reaching for everything. When I breastfeed at home I don't use a cover-up cloth because it's just the three of us so there is no need. When we go out however I like to be modest and I'm sure the people around me appreciate that. Well Owen likes to reach up and touch my face when he's eating and when I use the cover-up I've been told it looks like something out of the movie Alien to see this hand pop up out from under the cover-up. Our good friend Ellen took this picture on Sunday after Owen's dedication. We all went out to eat at The Old Country Buffet and Owen needed to eat too. She thought it was too cute that he was putting his hand on my chest like this so she snapped a picture.

Lower Lip

Owen has the cutest lower lip. When he gets sad he really knows how to work it. This picture was taken yesterday when Peepaw was holding him. He wasn't really sure if he wanted to be sad. He kept going back and forth from being fine to being sad. I just had to get a picture of this cute face.

Dedication Day!

Owen was dedicated at our church on Father's Day. I thought it was only appropriate since he is such a gift to his Father and I and also a gift from our heavenly Father that he be dedicated on Father's Day. In all 19 people both family and friends joined us at church for this special occasion. A baby dedication isn't like a baby baptism where we think that Owen will go to heaven now just because of the decision we have made. We believe that Owen needs to come to that decision on his own. A baby dedication is where Michael and I are publicly saying we are going to raise Owen in a Christian home in the hopes that one day he will accept Jesus as his Savior. It's also a reminder to the church that they are responsible in a way for Owen coming to know Jesus. By tithing Owen will have a church to attend, by volunteering for the nursery he will have a place to play so others can listen to the sermon and not be disturbed and by teaching Sunday School he will hear about Jesus at a young age from others and not just his mom and dad.

Father's Day

This last Sunday was Michael's first Father's Day. I made french toast for breakfast and Michael opened three cards. One from GG & Peepaw, one from Owen and one from me. Since I got a gift certificate for Mother's Day to the spa to go away and have some time to myself I got Michael a gift certificate to go paint balling with his friends. He hasn't been in a long time so it should be a lot of fun. Well as much fun as willingly going out in a field and shooting at each other only to come home with welts all over your body can be.

Cutest Baby Ever!

I know I'm totally and completely biased when it comes to this topic, but I think Owen is absolutely the most beautiful baby EVER! I mean he beats the Gerber baby hands down. I don't particularly think of myself as a pretty person so I never really thought I would have a beautiful baby. Michael is pretty nice looking though! But to look at Owen and see how adorable he is still shocks me to think that he's a part of me.

Tommy Jeans

Owen is just now starting to fit into his 3-6 month clothes. Now his clothes are starting to look more and more like a little boy than a baby. This is his Tommy Hilfiger outfit. Most of the time I'm the only one that gets to see Owen in his cute outfits. Normally by the time Daddy gets home he's in a sleeper because he's either spit up, leaked through his diaper or just plain drooled all over the outfit he was wearing.

Toys

Since Owen can now reach out and grab things he has been playing more and more with his toys. Most of the time they end up in his mouth with I'm sure is pretty common for most babies. He also has some great musical toys. The first picture is this great toy that was given to us by some friends from church. Owen lays under it and he can kick the pedal and it's plays music and lights up. When he can sit up on his own the bar will recline back further so he can actually drive with it.

Oscar The Grouch

Don't let the cute face fool you, this kid can be Oscar The Grouch sometimes. Yesterday he was particularly fussy. I think it has to do with the fact that he had an allergic reaction to the lotion I was rubbing on him. It was the Aveno Lavender & Vanilla Baby Lotion. I was rubbing it on him to help his eczema get better. The doctor recommended Aveno and this lotion was a gift at one of my showers. I talked with a friend yesterday and she said the exact same thing happened to her son, he was allergic to the lavender in the lotion. So on Monday afternoon after discovering a ton of bumps all over Owen's tummy, arms and legs I called the doctor and we went in for his first appointment that wasn't for a normal check up. He gave us a prescription for some hydrocortisone cream that has a little bit of a steroid in it to help with the eczema and he told me to give him 1/4 tsp of Benadryl for the bumps. His bumps are slowly going away and I've only used the cream twice so his eczema hasn't really gotten any better as of yet.

4 Generations

This picture was taken back on February 16th which was Peepaw's 87th birthday. Peepaw was born in 1920 and Grandpa Grant was born in 1950. I was born in 1980 so to keep up with the tradition of spacing kids 30 years apart I have to have another child in 2010. I'll try my best to keep the tradition going! :)

Here's a newer 4 generation picture.

Uncle Ryan

Yesterday Owen got to meet his Uncle Ryan for the first time. Uncle Ryan didn't even know he was an Uncle until yesterday around 1:30pm. Ryan and I haven't seen each other in quite a while, but I think that will be changing now. It was so much fun going to Ryan's work and getting to see his office. He was so excited to find out he's an Uncle. He walked around with Owen introducing him to everyone.

Mommy & Me

I love this little guy! He is so much fun! I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom and I have to say I am enjoying it so much more than I thought I would. I have loved the baby phase with Owen, but I am so excited that he is developing and learning. It really won't be long before I'm chasing after him at a park. I just know I'm going to love every phase. Michael and I both enjoy teaching him new things. I can't wait to start teaching him shapes, colors, numbers, the alphabet and sign language. I want Owen to know sign language just as well as I do or better.

Cute boy!

I just thought this was a cute picture of my baby boy. I can't believe he's almost 5 months old. Time flies!

Hot Weather!

This was taken on Sunday when it was super hot out! Poor Owen was all sticky and sweaty. He even got a little heat rash. Since he still doesn't have control of his hands he has to be swaddled at night and it was so hot he was only sleeping in a onesie under the Swaddle Me blanket, but he was still waking up so sweaty. I'm so glad it's gone back to the cooler weather, but I have no idea what we are going to do when it gets really hot in July and August.

Boys Night

For Mother's Day Michael got me a gift certificate to Gene Juarez for a massage and a pedicure. I made my appointment and went on June 1st. This was Michael's first time having Owen by himself when Owen wasn't sleeping. Michael decided to have a little photo shoot with Owen and Tubby (the green hippo from Grandma and Grandpa Grant). Michael took all sorts of photos of Owen from funny angles. Most of which are pointed directly up Owen's nose. Don't ask me why! Unfortunately it wasn't all fun and games. Owen refused to take the bottle of milk I had for him so it was a little trying at times for Daddy since he doesn't have the particular equipment on his person to make Owen happy.

Here's my favorite picture from that night. Owen is gnawing on Tubby's leg so Tubby's butt is facing the camera.

Discovering

Owen really is discovering more and more each day with his motor skills. He can...

-Reach up and grab a toy from you if you hold it out in front of him
-Grab a toy if they are laying on the floor next to him
-Hold his teething ring and chew on it
-Take his pacifier out and try to put it back in

He is also discovery the difference in the feel of certain things. One thing he has been doing lately is rubbing the wall when I'm changing his diaper and then reaching up and feeling the difference by rubbing his teddy bear that's sits next to him. He's such a smart little guy!

Professional Pics

When Owen was little over 2 months old we had professional pictures taken. This photographer needed pictures of babies at all different stages for her portfolio so we opted to help her out and in turn we got the pictures on a CD for free. She only took 15 pictures, but they all turned out great! Here are a few of my favorites.

Bottle Feeding

The last couple of days I have been struggling with trying to get Owen to take a bottle. He took them just fine a month ago when we were on vacation in Wyoming! Yesterday I went to Fred Meyer and picked up a different bottle with a smaller nipple. He has a very good gag reflex so I thought that might be the problem. So last night I pumped and refused to feed him except from the bottle. Yeah I know this sounds mean, but if Michael and I are ever going to have sometime away from him before he's a year old this is something he absolutely has to learn. At first there was some crying and fussing, but then I let him just play with the bottle and get use to the feel of it. Before long he was actually wanting to play with it. After about an hour or so he finally ate 2 oz and I called it good. Then right before bed I breastfed him. This morning I woke up and pumped and when Owen woke up he took the bottle without fussing at all. He drank about 3 1/2 oz no problem. The next 2 oz took some coaxing, but he did very well. I've decided I'm going to feed him from a bottle once a day to keep him use to it so when we do go out he shouldn't have any problems.

Chatter Box

Owen has Ooo'd and Ahh'd for a while now, some days more than others. On Sunday morning he started chatting more, but yesterday it was almost nonstop. At the start of the day he was talking to me and when I would chime in with my 2 cents he would listen, but by the end of the day he was just talking right over me. He says things like Ieeeee and Ahwooo and Uhhhhh. He has such a sweet voice and it's funny because it almost sounds grown up in a way. When he starts to cry though that still sounds very babyish. I shouldn't be surprised that I have a talker on my hands since I am one of those myself. :)