Beach babe

We took Owen to see the ocean for the first time while we were in San Diego! It was a fun memory to make on his daddy's birthday! Paul got to go surfing and try out a paddle board and then we took Owen down to the water. He got a big smile on his face when he first saw the ocean. We walked him down and let him look at the waves. Owen mostly just starred at it like he was trying to figure out what it was. Paul and his twin brother put the body board in inch deep water and stood him up on it. He was very intrigued by everything. Before we know it he'll be the one on the paddle board and surfing!  

Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday Paul!

You are an amazing husband and daddy. I often think of how grateful I am to have you as my best friend and my sweetheart. I have so much fun with you everyday. I can't imagine a better father for our son. He adores you and gets so excited every time he sees you when you get home from work. We both love you so much! Owen can't quite draw you a picture or make you a gift, but he can give lots of slobbery kisses and clinging "koala hugs", as you call them. You are a manly, brave, loving, hot, strong, sweet and courageous man. We are glad your ours! Happy birthday! 

Owen's first flight

We made it to San Diego. We had a good start, as you can see from the first picture! He slept in the car and was pretty happy checking out the airport. You should have seen us lugging around all our baby loot. He did so good until the plane took off. Once we started going up he started screaming, he cried harder then he has ever cried. I think his little ears were hurting. It took a while for him to calm down, but once he did he fell fast asleep. Then I cried. It was sad seeing him so upset and not being able to help. He was back to his normal self as we were leaving the plane, smiling at all the people and getting lots of smiles back. He got to see Grandma and Grandpa Worcester and Uncles David and Andy tonight. 
What did you do when flying with an infant? Any helpful tricks to try on the way home?

Crumb cake

We woke up this morning and baked some yummy crumb cake! We didn't even change out of our jammies. My little helper watched and was very entertained by the whisk (for a little bit anyways). This is a Martha Stewart New York Crumb Cake recipe I found on Pintrest. You probably have everything you need for it right in your pantry! Our house smelt so good all morning! The cake was really moist and delicious! Yum! 


2 Tablespoons canola oil
4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 sticks butter, melted and cooled
confectioners’ sugar
Preheat oven to 325


CAKE BATTER
Mix together 1 1/2 flour, sugar, baking powder and salt
In a different bowl whisk together egg, milk, canola oil and vanilla 
Add the wet and dry ingredients together
Grease a 9x12 pan
Pour batter in pan and spread evenly


CRUMB
Mix together 2 1/2 cups flour, brown sugar and cinnamon
Melt butter and let cool
Add butter to dry ingredients and stir until you get large crumbs
Sprinkle crumbs on cake batter and bake for 20 minutes
When the cake is done sprinkle desired amount of confectioners' sugar

Its all ready to take to the Thanksgiving banquet tonight! 

Books with our boy

I feel like the holidays have officially started! We have the week off for Thanksgiving and then Christmas will be here so soon! We started the night off with a decaf iced mocha and then spent time with our boy. I love getting to snuggie with my little bug, so soft in his comfy cozy pajamas. Thanks for the jammies Brittany, Kicky Pants are the softest! Paul spent a long time reading books to Owen. We got out his Christmas books, Corduroy's Merry Christmas and The Polar Express. I still want to get Bear Stays Up for Christmas, The Sweet Smell of Christmas, and one of the sweetest Christmas books, Mortimer's Christmas Manger. I think Paul likes reading the books with him as much as he does. At one point while I was making dinner I looked over at Paul as he was animatedly reading, "I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-Am". I'm sure Owen loves looking at the pictures and hearing daddy talking so funny, and of course eating the books is always fun. Paul and I often find our selves randomly saying things like, "Bog, Bog Bog, said the Frog" or "Mommy calls me Peekaboo...her bouncy baby roo" as we are doing things around the house. I guess this is what happens when you have a little one, you get words to books stuck in your head.


We leave for San Diego on Monday to visit Paul's family. It will be Owen's first flight and big trip. Before then we have a thanksgiving banquet, christmas preview, celebrating Paul's birthday with my family and getting all packed up to go!

Candy land

Owen went to the cutest birthday party for his friend Bliss this afternoon. They had a whole life size Candy Land board for the kids to play on! It was so adorable watching them all play. The birthday girl's sisters dressed up as Princess Lolly and Queen Frostine. There was candy face panting, Gramma Nutt nut toss and musical Candy Land squares after. I'm sure all the kids went home with a new excitement for playing Candy Land. Owen loved watching all the kids and looking at the bright colors. Happy Birthday Bliss!

Enjoying fall

While we were sick I noticed the little tree outside our living room window turned a beautiful red color. We took Owen for a closer look this afternoon. We stayed pretty cooped up while he was sick so it was nice being outside. He is doing a lot better, still has the lingering runny nose and occasional cough. I love the fall when the trees all turn yellow, red and orange. I'm excited for this colder weather. I know some people don't like it but for some reason it makes me excited. I love getting all cozy inside and watching movies, listening to Christmas music and looking forward to the holidays.

A sick day

Owen has his first cold. It is very sad to see him sick. He has had a fever, runny nose and cough for the last several days. We took him to the doctor and they told us what to watch for to make sure it doesn't get too bad. When he wakes up he sounds kinda like a pug, not able to breath very well out of his nose. I'm so grateful for the humidifier we got with our Babies R Us gift cards! The night we started using it he slept so much better. We are praying he will get all better really soon!


Monday's are our day off so we got to have a sick day with daddy. We are going to try and keep Owen home to rest and get better. We mostly hung out in our room (with the humidifier), had a visit from Grandma and read board books. We also put together our Operation Christmas Child box. Operation Christmas Child sends shoe boxes filled with toys, hygiene items and school supplies to children in need around the world. Just follow these instructions and you can make one too! It is a fun thing to do as a family. This year Owen was a little more excited to take the toys out then helping us pack it up. :)

4 months

4 months old! It was funny trying to take pictures this time, he did not want to just sit there and smile. He wanted to grab, lean and fall over. So curious! The pictures are fitting of the stage he is in. Here are some of the things he's doing and things we love...

-He loves to touch things with his hands. He has started reaching for our faces. It is the sweetest thing when he intently looks at me and reaches up his little hands to my face.

-He rolls over from tummy to back and almost from back to tummy, if he could just figure out what to do with that arm.

-He loves books! When we read to him he coos, hits and grabs excitingly at the pictures.

-He mostly wears 6-9 month clothes, sometimes even bigger! 

-He has started noticing his own voice. He yells sometimes, not because he is upset, but because he is listening to the sound of his voice. 
-Bath time is one of his favorite things. He puckers up his lips, furrows his brow and flings both arms into the water as hard as he can. Always keeps an eye on his ducky wobbling around upside down. And tries to suck on the wash clothe every time it gets close to his mouth. 
-He weighs 15lbs 1oz (50%) and is 26 1/4 inches long (90%)

-He loves when we sing to him! Lately I've been singing Christmas songs (I waited till November), songs from the Sound of Music and "Ballop went the little green frog".

I asked Paul what his favorite things have been and he said, "That he smiles, laughs and plays with me...That he loves to snuggle...Seeing him taking everything in...That he likes some toys better then others like his bear, lovie and crabby...When he takes naps on my chest...And how when I bring my head down close he grabs my ears and screams"

We love you, little bug, and are so glad God gave us you!