A Year Ago Today

So, where was I a year ago today? Lying in a hospital bed, epidural in, waiting for Owen. He was born around 3:30 p.m., after an agonizing hour of pushing. It sure would've helped if he'd been facing face down, instead of face up. "Thank you," to Dr. Nielsen and his amazing suctioning skills.

When he was placed in my arms for the first time, all I could think of was how much he looked like newborn Corwin. Almost identical! Strong, healthy, good head of dark hair, blue eyes, and screaming! He was beautiful! He still is beautiful.

Now he doesn't look so much like his brother. Mom says he looks like I did as a baby, and I looked like my Dad. So, there you go. I finally got my stamp on a kid! He doesn't act like his brother, either. Corwin was always going, always into something, always talking. Owen is more studious, even-tempered, and easy going.

He will sit and study an object for 30 minutes! He likes to "hear" the object, feel it, and try to fit it into something (anything). We've found TV remotes in his ball-popper, train toys in the toilet, toy animals in cups and Tupperware bowls, cars in laundry baskets. He likes to fit things together. I'm constantly taking pens and markers away, because he likes to take the cap off and on, off and on.

He is a pickier eater. He loves sweets, and refuses eat what's in front of him if he sees something he'd rather have. And, he's always ready to eat.

He's a cuddler. He'll crawl up to you, stand up, and put his head on your leg and just sit there. When you get him out of bed, his head almost always goes directly to your shoulder, and he'll pat your back.

He's a smiler. Always grinning (unless Corwin's bugging him). Very sweet natured. Very pleasant. You never hear him cry (unless Corwin's bugging him). Good sleeper. If I could have more just like him, I would. But, the risk is too great. :)

Happy Birthday, Big O. It feels like yesterday that you were still in my belly, and I couldn't wait to meet you. I'm a very blessed Mommy.

October-Ness

Well, here we are. October is half-way over. The leaves are changing, and fall baseball is over. I love fall. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is the precursor for winter. And winter I do not like. It's too cold.

Last week was the annual family fishing trip. This is where several "branches" of my mom's family gather at the lake in pursuit of the white bass. Some years are more successful than others, and we can assuredly proclaim this year more successful than last. But, it was far from the years prior where the men would come back with their live wells brimming because they had caught the legal limit. Nevertheless, they enjoyed trying, and we did have enough for the long-awaited-for Fish Fry. (I should know because I got the privilege of frying most the fillets).

While my family was here ("here" being the Lake of the Ozarks, which is about 30 minutes from my house), we celebrated Owen's first....birthday. That's even hard for me to type. My baby will be one on the 20th. So sad. He's not a baby anymore. Anyway, he wanted to touch the candle, instead of blow it out.

But, there was no mistake about the purpose of that cake. The boy LOVES his sweet stuff.

Here he is, post celebration, showing Mommy a leaf. You would be correct to assume that that leaf probably went straight to his mouth after I captured this image.

Here he is the next day, keeping warm with Grandma around the camp fire. He didn't want to sit there. Most of his day he spent playing in the dirt and rocks and getting filthy. He is a boy, after all. (By the way, that's my great Aunt Betty in the background.)

Corwin and Silas were busy, busy. At this particular moment they were constructing ... something. Corwin, yes, has his baseball helmet on. I'm not sure why. At least I didn't have to worry about him falling and getting a head injury. Whew!

Here's Owen doing his own constructing. I'm sure he was not welcome to work with the big boys. Look at those blue eyes and adorable cheeks! That's my boy!

Not Me...Tuesday!

1. I'm so glad that I did not find my baby eating -- rather sucking -- toothpaste the other day. I've taught my 4-year-old to carefully place the cap back on the tube (certainly not in the bathtub), put the tube back in the cup (definitely not on the floor) so that his brother doesn't suck on the open end of the Fresh Mint Flouride Crest Toothpaste. I'm so glad that didn't happen to me.

2. I also am so glad that I didn't find my 4-year-old doing the "underwear dance" again while he was supposed to be putting on his clothes for the day. Thankfully, he grew out of that silly stage long ago. I would be aghast if that were my child. How strange and inappropriate.

3. I'm so glad that I don't find my baby boy eating off the floor after he just finished a meal! Ha! As if there were anything on the floor for him to eat, anyway! My house is always clean and tidy, and I am a stickler for germs and disgusting habits.

4. I would like you all to know that I am not spoiling my children. I certainly did not buy my child a store-bought Halloween costume (an astronaut, in fact), because I am extremely frugal and do not waste money on frivolous things such as that. After all, how long are they going to be able to wear it, anyway? I am a Super Mom and will hand-make a costume he will love, will look great, and cost under $5 (made with things found around the house).

5. I certainly didn't raid my son's piggy bank for money the other day. And, I do not currently owe him $30. I am always prepared when going grocery shopping. On that same note...

6. I did not go out to eat with the church ladies the other night and forget all form of payment. I, again, am fully prepared and sharp as a tack. I did not have to request money from my friend and pastor's wife, to cover my expenses. I would never be caught in a predicament such as that.

7. Finally, I was not told by our pastor that my son bossed the kids on the way home from the Pumpkin Patch the other day. I was not informed of his "coaching" and warnings of "telling your Mommy when we get back!". That would not be my child. Oh, no, no, no. I have taught him to be polite and pleasant at all times, and he is sure to obey that instruction.

Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled...Pumpkins?

Yesterday Corwin and the Caravan Kids (church scouting group) went to the ol' pumpkin patch. It was a gorgeous day, and the kids had a ball!!! They also remained safe and uninjured. This is our third year going to the Meyer Pumpkin Patch, and every year it gets better and better.

Does that say he's close to 4 feet tall??? No way! My boy's growin' up.

Here he is trying to find the "biggest one ever!" And I'm trying to make sure we don't have to buy every pumpkin on the lot because he thinks he has to pick each one up.

His favorite activity: the hay jump.
I wish I knew how many jumps he made.

Here he is riding "Bertha". I think he rides "Bertha" every year.
He likes being in the last car of the train.

Feeding the goats, getting goat slobber on his hands, then proceeding to wipe that goat slobber all over his clothes. Hmmmm....

Making a "corn angel" in the grain bin.

Riding with Mrs. Sheila (his Sunday School teacher) on the hayride to the pumpkin patch.

Mrs. Sarah was telling the kids how Jesus wants us to be like a
Jack-O-Lantern.

Reeking havoc in the pumpkin patch! Again, Corwin had to test his strength and pick up all the "biggest pumpkins ever"!
(His words, not mine.)

It was a good day, but now it's time to go home and rest.
(Yeah, right!)

What I Want to Be When I Grow Up

My son is a very, very happy boy. We went to Marshall's this morning to look for Daddy a pair of shoes, and went strolling through the kids' department, when we saw this....


...Yes, folks, an astronaut costume. Well, the helmet is actually a police motorcycle helmet, but he thought it'd work as an astronaut helmet. Anyway, we--obviously--had to get it. I kinda had to get it myself. I must admit, I am proud of this space phase he's going through. We've learned a lot about our solar system, space exploration, etc. I'm not one to spend a lot or make a big deal about Halloween costumes, and fortunately this one was quite affordable, but I was willing to splurge on this one.

He's played in it most of the morning, with my bed being the space shuttle. (So much for making my bed this morning.) He still aspires to be an astronaut someday (or a trash man), so maybe this will spur him on in that direction. By the way, when he becomes an astronaut, his name will change to "Astronaut Neil Armstrong," apparently. I asked him why he couldn't be "Astronaut Corwin Morris," but apparently that is impossible. So, if another "Neil Armstrong" appears in space news in 20-30 years, you'll know who it is.