Mommy of two.

Time flies, being a mommy of two.
Owen is already almost two month old.
Jack is almost two years old.

...It's already 11:00am?! My days just wiz by.
Being a mommy to two little boys isn't as difficult as I thought it would be, but it's more exhausting than I could have ever imagined. Measuring my day in two hour intervals, Owen eats every two hours (if I'm lucky...sometimes it's every hour and a half), makes the day fly by. Owen eats, Jack eats, Jack plays, Owen sleeps, Jack wakes Owen up by trying to shove a binki in his eye (he means well...), get Owen back to sleep, find something to entertain Jack, realize Jack is eating his entertainment, yell at the dogs, try to find the cat, find the cat and Jack eating the cat food, Owen poops, Owen eats, Jack climbs onto anything he isn't supposed to, realize I haven't peed yet today and it's 5pm, while peeing realize I haven't eaten today, fix dinner, clean up dinner, Jack plays outside, Jack eats a rock (which is better than the mushrooms that are growing in the grass I guess), Owen fusses, Owen smiles, Jack laughs and everything doesn't matter anymore - They are healthy and happy and mine. And I love them with everything I have.

<3

Grateful.

Today was a trying day. With the whole family being sick and the nice weather outside Jack was a handful and poor Owen was fussy for, what felt like, 99% of the day. We missed out on going to my company picnic, which is sad. But, I as I sit here, for the first time all day - sitting - with my feet up, Clay bouncing a sleeping Owen in his bouncer and Jack dreaming peacefully I am so grateful to being living the life I am. I am so happy that Clay is my husband, and so thankful for everything he does for me and our little family. He is such a great husband and father. Jack is such an adorable child, such a silly spirit and caring personality. He has adjusted well to being a big brother and I'm so excited for what lies ahead. Owen is a happy and healthy (mostly, except for this little bug we've all got) baby. He doesn't sleep through the night, he doesn't roll over or enjoy tummy time, both probably because I spend too much time holding him and giving him cuddles, but he is wonderfully perfect and I'm so happy to have him.

While baking cookies, yes - sick and baking, I'm crazy, I realized that tomorrow will be five years since Clay and I started going out. Five years. Looking back makes me smile. Remembering living in the apartment with an old friend and having the time of our lives - staying up all night, being irresponsible and just enjoying being young. I remember Clay's stuff accumulating in the corner of my room until one night while laying in bed we decided it just made sense for him to actually move in. I remember our first fight and him moving out. Then, I remember him coming back. I remember when he asked me to marry him and I said yes, and put the ring on my own finger before he could do it. I remember hunting for a rental and knowing when we found our first home together. And our wedding. I remember the two pink lines on the millionth pregnancy test and waking him up screaming and crying 'it says yes!' I remember house hunting and moving into our home, putting together Jack's nursery and bringing home our precious son. I remember the two pink lines again, this time casually mentioning 'No more beer or cigarettes for me!' (not that I drink or smoke) and the smile that came to his face. And the tear that came to his eye when Owen was born.

I love my amazing husband more than anything. And our amazing family. Our boys and our home. I'm so grateful for everything that is.

Sick.

We are all sick and I'm really grouchy about it.

Owen is sick.
Jack is sick.
Clay is sick,
and I can feel it coming.

I'm tired. And I'm cranky.

That is all.

How Time Flies!

Owen is already 6, yes 6! weeks old, I can't believe it. He is smiling, laughing and making so much noise - probably trying to compete with his big brother. Both kids are doing great, Jack is so smart and silly and Owen is so sweet and sleepy (which won't last long!).

I'm attempting to start a small daycare, just enough to pay the bills and keep me home with my babies. Currently, I have one little cutie who is getting along with Jack great. I'm really excited to have more children around Jack since he's kinda awkward socially.

Everything else is just going well. I'm loving being able to eat dinner with my family every night, feed Owen all day long whenever he needs it, cuddle my babies when I get the urge and see my husband during the daylight hours. Life is good!

Now, picture time! :)

Jack before a hair cut!

Owen in his Bumbo (thanks Elise for reminding us we had one!)

Jack thinks he needs to sit in the baby chair too (after I cut his hair!!)

He LOVES holding his baby brother.

This terrified me. I stopped freaking out long enough to take two pictures. No hands, Jack is holding on with his LEGS!


<3!!

Blue Popsicle!

To end a long hot day I gave Jack a blue Popsicle and photographed the madness!

'It's cold!'

This was his look when Daddy joined us...

If only you could hear his giggles of delight!

Dad was NOT thrilled, but Owen was content. 

Chilly! 

I love this one...His toes are so cute!

The dogs waited so patiently...

Sharing is caring.

When it fell off the stick he spent a good minute trying to put it back on.

As he lays in bed right now, sleeping blissfully, his face is still stained blue.


I love my Jack-a-roo. He is such a great kid and I am honored to be his mommy!

Sweet Baby Owen.

Oh, how time flies! Owen is almost a month old. He is already wearing 0-3 month clothing and is almost too long to sleep width wise in his pack and play! We have moved him from the bed, per Dad's strict orders (...er, request...). Jack is such a good helper, but boy does he know how to throw a fit!

Things are going great. Prepare for picture over load! I feel like Owen hasn't been photographed as much, which is probably because I'm hardly ever able to sit still!

Jack loves giving kisses!

This was Daddy's idea of an acceptable outfit...And yes, he has no pants...

His summer clothes are a little too big.

Not a happy duckie

Jack at his Uncle Dustin's wedding, flirting with the bride.

More kisses...

I love his wrinkly forehead...

Welcome, Owen James!

What a busy week it has been! Owen James Lowder was born on May 6^th at 3:55am. He weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces and is 21.5 inches long. He is the picture of health – and perfection!

 

I took the first week of May off of work, praying I’d have a baby before my paid time off ran out. I walked and walked and walked…then walked some more. I even begged my doctor to induce me but she wouldn’t. On Wednesday I was having contractions that would last for 2-3 hours, be 8 to 10 minutes apart but they didn’t hurt bad enough to go in – just bad enough for me to call my doctor and demand for her to get the baby out. She didn’t. And wouldn’t. So, I walked more. Thursday morning around 2:30am I started having contractions that were 6 minutes apart and extremely painful. I insisted that Clayton go to work but told him to keep his phone on and texted my mom to let her know it may be soon. Around 6:30am the contractions stopped. I went through 4 hours of contractions 6 minutes apart and so painful I would cry through them for what seemed like nothing. I was convinced I’d never have a baby.

Once Jack woke up that morning we went on a very long walk. I had two contractions. I was so frustrated I decided to just sit around all day and become comfortable with the idea of having a baby in my belly forever.  When Clay got home he insisted we walk so we did. And the contractions started again. And they didn’t stop. They got more and more intense until I couldn’t handle it anymore. Around 9:30pm we called my mom and she came over to be with Jack.

We were admitted to the hospital around 10:30pm and I was dilated to a 6! I, for some crazy reason, decided I wanted to walk around instead of get an epidural right away – that lasted all of 5 minutes. Around 11:45pm I had my epidural and was able to rest. Around 2:30am I was feeling a ton of pressure and was so terribly uncomfortable. The nurse checked me and said I was dilated to a 10 but only 95% effaced, she tried moving my cervix out of the way but she couldn’t. So, I sat up in bed which forced Owen’s head down. By 3:30am it was time to push. My doctor wasn’t on call and I hadn’t met the doctor that was on call – just a super sweet Resident who said she would page the Doctor when it was time to deliver. I pushed through three contractions and then the nurse told me to stop. So, I stopped. But, I could feel Owen’s head moving out and sure enough with the next contraction the nurse yelled to the Resident (who was frantically trying to figure out how to page the doctor) ‘You better come over here and catch this baby!’ She did, barely. He just slid right out!

At first he was breathing really fast and they were worried about him but after some cuddles with mommy he calmed down. He nursed right away, and hasn’t stopped! We were able to come home on Saturday.

Jack has been doing really great. He loves to kiss Owen’s head and point out his body parts. He has been acting out a little but nothing more than expected. I am doing great. Daddy loves having a baby around again. Owen sleeps like a champ and hardly ever fusses. I feel so lucky to have such a great little family!