Curious Owen

Baby dolls

Growing up together in church my friend Stephanie and I spent lots of fun times together :) On Wednesday nights we would each drop our identical baby dolls off at the nursery, assign them cribs and then meet upstairs at choir practice. Afterwards we would stay in the nursery ourselves until our moms were done with their practice. Fast forward about twenty years and here we are at lunch today with our real baby dolls!!

Open gym!

The kids and I met some friends at Gabrielle's in Temple on Friday morning. It was the first time that we had taken advantage of "open gym" and it was lots of fun!

What a GENIUS idea that for just $5 kids can run wild, jump on trampolines, climb tall mats, walk along a floor balance beam, wade around in a foam square pit, hang upside down on gym bars like a cute little monkey and fellowship with other little people while mamas visit :) Emma and her good friend Ava only got called out once by an employee for hitting boys (yikes)!

Even Owen got in on the fun. He was a busy little guy and enjoyed chasing a plastic purple ball, wrestling gigantic dice and scooting through a tunnel:

As we were leaving the gym Emma said that she was tired. The kids both slept all the way home. I think we will be back to open gym again soon.....

My Wish

Tonight Owen had a tough time falling asleep at bedtime. Ever since he was itty bitty we have left the radio in his room on the local country station and he seems to be okay with it :) Tonight "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts came on and we danced. The lyrics perfectly put into words exactly what I want our children to know as they grow and blossom:

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow

And each road leads you where you want to go

And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you

And if one door opens to another door closed

I hope you keep on walkin' til you find the window

If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile

But more than anything, more than anything

My wish for you

Is that this life becomes all that you want it to

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small

You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to

I hope you know somebody loves you

And wants the same things too

Yeah, this is my wish.

I hope you never look back but you never forget

All the ones who love you and the place you left

I hope you always forgive and you never regret

And you help somebody every chance you get

Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake

And always give more than you take

But more than anything, yeah more than anything

My wish for you

Is that this life becomes all that you want it to

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small

You never have to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to

I hope you know somebody loves you

And wants the same things too

Yeah, this is my wish

(My wish for you)

Looking back...

Here is a journal entry from July 2009:

Today we found out that "it's" a BOY!! Before the sonogram Jarrod and I took one last guess: GIRL. Emma kept saying "boy, boy, boy". At first only Jarrod and Emma could see the screen. I finally saw him near the end. We were so surprised when it was announced that it is a boy! Our son was moving a lot. His little mouth was opening and closing and his little arms and legs were moving! The radiologist measured him at 1 lb 5 oz and also said that I was measuring to be 24 weeks along, exactly one week ahead. They probably won't move my due date. As we walked out of the office Jarrod said "Now we can get lots of camo"!

Here is another entry from July 2009:

We have decided to name him Owen Barrett Smith. Owen means "well born and noble".

Exactly one year later, here is our amazing son! God is so good. Owen is the most cuddly, giggly and sweet little boy ever :) It is so neat to think back to just a year ago when we were just learning more about the baby who would join the Smith household that Fall. Now we can't remember life before him :)

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." -Pslam 139:13-14

Kirsten's baby shower

This weekend we traveled to Comanche to host a shower for Kirsten, Jarrod's second cousin. She is expecting her second child, Zalee, this Fall! Her colors are pink and green and the nursery already looks fabulous :)

The hosts with Kirsten

The Big Brother/Little Sister shirts we gave them

My first attempt at painting wooden letters to hang above her crib

The diaper cake!

Closet dividers

Grandpa Ed & Owen :)

Diaper Wreath

If you are looking for a fun and unique baby shower gift I have an idea for you! Every new mommy needs a festive wreath to hang on her hospital room door. This is a great way to announce a brand new bundle of joy! Furthermore, new parents NEVER have enough diapers!

My crafty friend Sandra was so sweet to surprise me with one when Owen was born! I decided to try it out and make one for my cousin Chassati when she welcomed baby Anaiah into her arms last week :)

Materials needed:

foam wreath
25+ diapers (I used size 2)
clear hair rubber bands
curling ribbon (2 colors)
tulle (optional)
Cardboard letters (to spell name)
main (bigger) toy or stuffed animal
small baby items (the lighter the better!)

Instructions:

Open each diaper and wrap it around the wreath with its open flap facing outward. Scrunch diapers together. Wrap one clear rubber band around each diaper. **I use size 2 so that the wreath can be used to decorate the nursery for a little while :) You might not use exactly 25 diapers...could be more and could be less!**

Next, tie one of each color ribbon around the rubber bands. Curl as you go:

Place your main toy (or stuffed animal) in the bottom middle. Then, take into consideration all of the small baby items you have to include in the wreath. Get an idea of where you wish to place these things so that the display looks symmetrical. Travel size bath products work really well. If the mommy registered you might take into account some small items remaining on her list! Bibs, spoons, tiny shoes and washcloths work well. Onesies and other items can be much too heavy. Secure the items with ribbon (I found tulle to work better on some items).

I like to put the baby's first name on the very top to give it a personal touch!. These cardboard letters come in all colors!