Training

We are pretty serious about our trains over here. Owen has developed an obsession with his trains.... I know you are thinking, ALL boys love trains. Seriously, we take it to a new level. Owen calls it "training", he loves arranging and rearranging the trains in specific orders...

He loves pushing them along the tracks and has figured out just the right speeds so they dont crash around the curves and down the hills....

And he LOVES the characters. He knows all of their names and makes up amazing stories about them. He narrates little scenes with the trains like "oh no Percy you are going to fast", "I need a wash down, Gordon said ", or "Fergus is scared of the smelting yard".

Here is Toad (the train), Owen's new best friend. He comes everywhere with us. I don't know why Owen chose Toad out of all of the other trains, but there is something so special about him, its pretty sweet.

Each different train comes with a pamphlet that shows you all of the different engines and all of the different stations you could possibly buy. About a month ago, Owen discovered this pamphlet and studies it every day. He knows all of their names and tells me all about them. He also points out which trains he doesnt have and wants Bella (his grandma) to buy for him. Oh boy.

I love watching this precious one and seeing his imagination take flight.

Big smiles!

So in love with this kissable baby girl.

My Little Sunshines

Its been the gloomiest summer I have ever experienced,

lots of cloudy, chilly days down here at the beach. We feel a little cheated out of a summer, but I have my own little doses of sunshine...

Little Miss

Little man

Baby girl is growing so fast, almost 9 weeks and smiling, cooing and being her usual dreamy self.

I love having my little girl..

We have managed to squeeze in our usual summer

activities when the weather is nice.

Owen got a beach day with Gramps...

And we have had lots of picnic dinners on the bluff (even if its freezing).

We headed inland for sunshine and Owen got a

sprinkler fight at Gramps house.

Em threw a birthday party for Mickey at the end of July...

It was quite an eventful evening with friends, bbq, and boxing matches...

...and my sister Jessica going into labor!

Early the next morning, baby Stella arrived tiny and precious...

Love you little Stella.

Little Miss 6 weeks

I finally got around to my first photo shoot with Peyton...

I had about 3 minutes and a combination of baby girl crying, big brother weaseling his way into pictures and Mark trying get us all out the door.

Peyton is 6 weeks, 9 lbs. 7oz. and such a love. She smiles these days and I just love this baby girl so so much. Here she is in one of the first dresses she fits into (and Im trying out the bow thing.. so different than boys.)

Peytee with her doll...

A little big brother love..

(don't be fooled, I didnt add the pictures of him trying to feed her pretzels or literally smothering her with his hug.)

Here is what most of the other pictures looked like!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July from our family of 4!!

Someone was really excited about the pancake breakfast

at Gramps house...

What can be better than Gramps on the grill flippin some cakes...

Listening to the band...

(this little boy stayed in this spot playing on his drum for about 45 minutes, no exaggeration)

dancing...

good friends...

(the mamas with their babies, 2 in the slings, all had our

second babies within 6 weeks of each other)

...and family??? Love our growing family.

I felt so spoiled on this day... I cant believe how blessed we are to live in a country that gives us so much opportunity to pursue our dreams and live free. Praying that God allows my children to grow up in a country with all of the freedoms that I enjoyed.

ps. I know Owen is still dominating the blog, I dont have any new pics of Peyton by herself.

Im working on it.

Peyton Jane

Our baby girl, Peyton Jane

6.15.10

8lbs. 2 oz.

Also known these days as little miss, Peytee, baby girl, Pa-den (Owen), baby sister...

and "Miss Thang" by her dad...

she already has him wrapped around her tiny finger.

We are officially a family of four... and loving it. There is definitely more personality in our house these days. The past week has been an emotional roller coaster for me... lots of drs. appointments, nursing, lab results, swaddling, tears, pumping, laughter, prayer and sheer joy. Earlier in the week, before the real chaos settled in, I attempted to blog about Peyton's birth and our first few days with her...

Tuesday was a good day...

Mark and I welcomed our baby girl, Peyton Jane, into the world with a wonderful (and quick) induction birth. It was such a peaceful day, just Mark and I for most of the day, anticipating the arrival of our baby girl and loving some alone time to talk and just enjoy each other. The induction was smooth and very quick and to top it off one of my best friends got to be there (with her baby girl in tow) for the pushing to coach us on and welcome baby girl. The following days in the hospital were peaceful and full of bliss marveling over this beautiful sweet baby girl, visiting with family and close friends that came to visit, and enjoying our ocean view from the window.

Yesterday was a hard day...

I was excitedly anticipating going home and sharing a day with just Mark and Peyton, to get situated and catch up on some sleep before big brother came home. My peaceful days came to a screeching halt when the dr. told us that although I was being discharged, we would need to keep Peyton at the hospital for an additional night under phototherapy for her jaundice that was rapidly getting worse. This meant we had no room and had to send Peyton to the nursery to be placed in an incubator like container with UV lights and googles. My sweet Peyton, I wanted nothing more than to spend the day holding her, sleeping, and learning to nurse with her. This news also meant that in order to be with her I had to sit in a chair in the nursery all day (even though Im still recovering from a delivery, ouch.) and stare at her until it was time to nurse her in the middle of the room. It was a long day and an even longer night with two short trips home to lay down between feedings. In the midst God provided some amazing times bonding with Peyton and an appreciation for holding and nursing her like I never would have imagined.

Little Diva with her goggles on...

I am in total family bliss today...

it was one of those days where everything felt good and perfect and I never wanted each moment to end. Today started with bringing home our baby girl from the hospital... it was the best feeling in the world to just sit with Peyton on our couch looking out the window with baby girl all snuggled in my chest, sleeping so soundly with the smell of her and her blankets surrounding me. Then big brother came home. It was so amazing to see Owen, he was literally a burst of sunshine entering the house and filling Mark and I with so much joy.

Time and time again Owen melted our hearts with things like:

Running into the house yelling Peyton's name and running over to see her, touch her, and give her a kiss, and ask her if she wanted a snack?

Saying I love you over and over and wanting to "snuggles" with me for a long time.

Loving his train station baby Peyton gave to him and playing with it all morning.

Owen asking to hold baby Peyton and rock her in the rocker.

Dancing "with Baby sister" (as she is chilling in her bassinet) to the electronic lullaby tunes on her bassinet.

Giving baby Peyton gentle touches on her feet and kisses on her head.

Watching baby sister get fed and counting "One, Two milks."

Making sure baby Peyton would still be there when he got home from the park this evening.

Catching him rocking her bassinet and singing her his night-night song.... so sweet.

Yes, that is a huge band-aid on Owen's forehead... long story.

Last few days...

Of being an only child. Owen has pretty much been the center of the universe for the past two years. Although I have tried my best to not raise a spoiled child... he inevitably gets all of the attention and focus most of the time. I have LOVED my time with just one child, being able to focus all of my time and attention during the day on him, soaking in all of the milestones... but, Owen is SO ready for a sibling. Its time for him to learn to really share (and Im not talking about just "taking turns" with toys) this boy's heart is going to grow and be challenged by the invasion of a baby sister.

In these past couple of weeks, I have intentionally tried to do a couple of things with Owen in the midst of rushing around to prepare for the baby...

We stayed with Gramps while Mark was in Boston for work.

This boy is so spoiled by his Gramps.

We went to Disneyland one last time before the baby...

Im not super excited about braving this place with an ACTIVE little boy and a newborn without Mark. So we took one last quick little day trip with some friends.

And we got to see the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show front and center!!! OH TOODLES!

Dancing around with Malia... such a fun morning!

and many, many park days with friends...

I am sad that the era of having things semi-under control is ending. I am mourning the loss of JUST Owen and I, and all of the things that went along with being the mom of only one child... being able to meet most of his needs as they came, easily braving new adventures, having the nap time to rest and do things around the house, getting brakes when Mark comes home...

BUT, I am so excited to add this baby girl into the mix.

I am 39 weeks and enjoying my last couple of days of calm before this new little life enters our world. If you think of me, could you pray for us? Pray that I go into labor naturally (although I am getting induced on Tuesday if baby girl isnt here yet.), Pray for Owen in this transition of becoming a big brother and learning to share my time and use his GENTLE touches (aye!), and Pray that this new little girl is healthy and a good little eater (and sleeper? that may be a little much to ask for).