Potty Training

Last week was one of the toughest weeks I have experienced as a mother.  We decided to conquer potty training.  So where do I begin.

I started by reading some articles about 3 day potty training.  I thought wow these moms make it seem so easy and their child is 21-22 months old.  Owen shows the signs of readiness, so let's do this!  LIARS!  It is not easy at all!  It is something horrific I think more so for the mom than the child.  They tell you to focus solely on your child for 3 days and that he/she will pick it up by the third day.  Owen was on the 4th.  But hey I will still give them credit.

Some things they don't tell you:

• You will feel like you are covered in pee.  Sorry if this grosses some of you out, but it is true.  And guess what you probably are covered in pee.  Your child starts to go so you pick them up and rush them to the toilet.   After they don't pee in the toilet, because they are being stubborn or just peed on the floor, you start to clean up the mess.  Oh and then guess what they are starting to pee again.  So back to the bathroom.  This a continuous cycle.  So the 100% focus to your child is already gone because you are just trying to clean up the mess before he decides water puddles are fun to play in.  
• You will be really close to having a break down on day 2 and will have one on day 3.  And if you haven't given up already then you will be praying for signs if you should quit by day 4.  
• The articles tell you not to bribe your child with if you do this then you get this but instead offer subtle prizes.  You stick to this at first and then totally cave and say you didn't potty so no sucker.  Yeah, mean I know!  But you get desperate.  
• You will need more stickers than you ever thought possible.  The bathroom and toilet are all stickered up!  
• You will start to let them watch tv on the ipad just so they will sit on the toilet for longer than a second.  No I am not exaggerating they will only sit for a second before telling you "all done!"  And then you realize they are just sitting there so they can watch tv and they are not actually trying.  So then you take it away and are back to frustration.  
• They tell you that you will need to give 100% attention or focus to your child and to play their favorite games or toys with them.  Yes very true but they forget to tell you that you are so busy staring at them that you can't really play because you are afraid you will miss an accident.  Oh and by the way 100% attention means no phone, no email, no tv, no eating, no cooking, no peeing, no nothing unless they are napping.  Oh and as soon as they are awake, quick to your feet to get them out of the crib so they can go pee and you don't have to change the sheets.  I lost all contact with civilization for 4 days.  
• The articles also tell you to go ahead and work on night time training.  This happened twice and then I grew tired of changing the sheets and having to get up early to wait for him to wake.  So we will worry about that another day.

One good thing about picking last week to potty train was that it was the week that the snow decided to come to Moscow.  So I missed this

photo courtesy of Shannon Davis

photo courtesy of Shannon Davis

photo courtesy of Shannon Davis

I tried to take this in the morning at about 8:30 

Oh there is so much snow!  So a good week to stay indoors.  And when I did try to get out it was tough to walk in and push the stroller.  Owen has been very good with his new big boy status.  Accidents are few and far between.  He has no fear of public toilets.  That is more me.  So I carry anti bacterial wipes with me to wipe down the seat first.  And we will see how he does on the long plane ride.  Prayers that it continues to improve are always welcome.  All in all it is worth it, just be patient and persevere.  If I can do it you can do it!

someone left the cake out in the rain

Today I decided to take Owen to the park.  We needed to get out of the house.  Since I have been back in Moscow the weather has been in the 60s and rainy.  My new rain boots have been in good use.  So today was beautiful even though the weather on my phone and computer showed rain clouds and 61 degrees.  So I get Owen dressed and I am ready and we head out.  It is quite warm.  I swear more like 70 so Owen and I are shedding our sweaters.  Even though if you look around people are in their scarfs, winter coats, and still look freezing.  And of course the kids are already in snow suits.

Being pregnant of course I am hungry.  Oh who am I kidding, I am always hungry.   I had the brilliant idea of stopping off for some delectable desserts before the park.  This was a better idea in my mind than in actual reality.  I have to cross the park to get to the cafe so of course someone wants out of the stroller.  I keep saying we are going to get something sweet, then I remember he responds to cookie and cupcake.  So that helped improve the jaunt.  We both enjoyed a yummy chocolate/caramel cake with nuts.  (I would compare to a snickers bar).  Of course when we get to the cafe Owen has to take his shoes off and his sweater.  I understand the sweater but the shoes and socks?!?  So all dressed and satisfied, off to the park we go.  Well now I see what the weather was talking about.  It starts raining!  I mean really, more rain!  So Owen and I run to a dry spot and wait and then run to a dry spot and wait.  This happens for about 4 stops and then I give up and we just take off in the rain.  So now we are receiving looks because I have a baby in the rain.  Well it wasn't by choice people!  And fortunately once we cross the street the skies are clear.  That is one thing about Moscow.  It can be raining on one side of the street and not on the other.  Now that I am out of breath thankfully we have a short walk to go.  Maybe I should mention that the park is about a 20 minute walk from my place.  That might help put things in perspective.  When I get home and look in the mirror I realized I am a bit disheveled.  Hair is all over the place clothes falling off and of course Owen is as content as can be.

Kids have the life!!!  They definitely don't understand the leaps and bounds we go through for them, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

So that is my day in a nutshell!

Moscowverisary

Well it is obvious to say that I have neglected blogging.  I have spent the last two weeks with it on my too do list and haven't had the motivation to do it.  Actually I have really wanted to write about my one year anniversary here but when I have the free time this is not what comes to mind.  Odd too since I seem to like it once I get started and finish.  Hmmm....

Anyway, I have lived in Moscow for over a year now.  We moved here July 7, 2011 and it is now August 9, 2012.  I went home at the end of June to see my family and take a little mini break in Florida.  It turns out Owen and I were on the same Singapore flight from last year.  I wonder if I will arrive in Moscow on July 8th every year :)  Probably not!

So here are some things that I have learned and like and dislike about our new home:

• The transportation system (metro) here is great.  It is easy to understand and can get you just about everywhere you need to go.  At the same time you have to ignore the mass amounts of people (I found out yesterday on average 9 million people travel on it everyday).  The smell and the hotness.  It is warm on the metro in the summer and the winter.  And no that warmth is not welcomed in the winter because you have a coat, scarf, and gloves already on.
• Moving here last summer and adjusting to the heat and the lack of air conditioning and ice did not make the transition to this summer any easier.  
• I do not like the government controlled heat.  When it turns on it is bloody hot and there is no way to control it.  So you have to open the windows, which mind you it is sub artic outside.
• I absolutely love staying home with my little boy.  He is a bundle of fun and is always entertaining.  I might get tired daily but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
• Owen climbs on everything.  I am going to have to move all furniture out of the house and sit on the floor to keep my child grounded.
• Whenever we move back to the US we will have someone clean our house there too.  No matter what David says :)  That is definitely something I have gotten used to.
• Whoever thought I would like to cook!  And not just cook but be able to throw stuff together, substitute foods, and not use measurements.  
• I need a bigger kitchen.
• Grocery shopping is a pain in the behind here.  I have to go to about four different stores to get everything I want.  And if you see something you better buy it then because it won't be there next time.  
• Places open and close here quickly.  I swear that store was not there a week ago.
• There are 24 hour flower shops all over the city.  You know for those people that stay out all night and need flowers to take home at 6 am :)
• If you ever need panty hose or tights this is the place to buy them.
• Prices are high here.  You have to ignore to eat but other than that you must really decide if you want that item.  Such as I need the basic pedicure but we can hold off on the deluxe.
• You can only do one thing a day here.  So, don't over commit.  Park with Owen sure.  But park and lunch with friends, no thank you.  Too tired and hot!
• I am still getting used to the language.  Even though I take lessons I have a hard time understanding people.  They talk to fast.  Funny for me to say that.  
• I love walking.  I actually like not having a car.  There are times that having a car would be easier but I really do enjoy the exercise.  If I am feeling like a slug I just go out and feel 10x better.
• I do not care for six months of winter.  Four is a good number.  Anything longer than that is just ridiculous.  I mean really who needs that much snow and subzero temperatures.  
• I do not care for the 10 days during the summer that they turn off the hot water.  I think next year we will have to plan a trip during that time.  
• I have figured out that I have gotten so used to things here that when people come to visit and go through the shocks I once did that I laugh at them.  But if I remember correctly they weren't that funny for me a year ago.  
• I love the friends that I have met here.  I love getting to know new people and learning about different cultures.  I love the interest groups I partake in.  
• I really miss Taco Bell.  
• I would love some iced tea that is not flavored.
• I glad McDonald's has expanded across the world.
• I love that it is easy to travel to other countries with a short flight.  

Maybe that sums everything up.  I am sure there are many things that I am forgetting.  After all I am a mom and my brain is only half there.  I have really enjoyed our experience.  I am blessed for being able to have an experience like this.  I have met wonderful people and have learned many things.  

We're still here!

I realize as I sit here trying to decide if I want to blog or not that I am officially the worst blogger.  It seems all the other bloggers take it on religiously and love it.  I am just not that type.  The artist, creative, side of me is gone.  Or maybe just the initiative.  Since I have gotten back from the US in March my days seem long and my ambition is gone.  But I have a renewed spirit today with a sunny day in the 60s.

I went back to Arkansas in March for a short week for my sister-in-law's wedding.  Since it was short I really didn't tell anybody I was traveling home.  So sorry to anybody that is offended.  I experienced beautiful weather in the 80s while in Arkansas.  And then I came back to the artic tundra and full snow.  It was nice to have my dear friend, Michelle, come back with me.  At least she kept my spirits high for about two weeks.  Then after she left, the snow and the cold took its toll.  I was ready to retire my winter coat and my boots.  More importantly I wanted to retire Owen's snowsuit.  He was always in good spirits.  If I laid the suit out he would stop his destructive streak and lay down in the suit ready to go.  But once out it was always hard for him to enjoy his time being all bundled up.  Of course, if you were with Owen would not think he was unhappy, so maybe that is just mom's state of mind.  :)  But now we have beautiful weather.  I sent the coats to the cleaners and put the boots up.  I refuse to pull them back out until October.  So at the moment I have been wearing one pair of shoes because it is not quite time for sandals yet (more so my feet are not ready for sandals.  can anyone say pedicure!)  Since my spirits are lifted I will try to give you a recap of the last couple of months.

• My friend, Michelle, came to visit.  It was great having her here.  We went to St. Petersburg, which is truly beautiful.  I would like to experience it in the summer next.  And now I have someone that can contest to what I have been saying all along.  When it is was time to leave she said she would miss us but not Russia.  And next time she came to visit, if she comes again, it will be in the summer.  She understands the snow, cold, stairs, rudeness, and difficulty with the stroller now.  Owen loved having her here and they played constantly.  I am surprised she didn't leave anything behind, what with Owen constantly unpacking her stuff and carrying it off for her.  We definitely need more visitors, as hard as it is to say goodbye.  
• Since the weather has made a change, they have started to clean the streets (a little bit).  And have started to paint every fence, door, and grate they can find.  Yes they are still dirty when being painted and the fumes are horrible.  Nothing like the smell of pain in the springtime.
• We go to the park almost daily.  Owen loves it!!!!  He runs around and talks to random people and picks up random toys.  Loves bicycles and strollers.  And of course he loves the dirt.  He will just sit in it and play.  I have a hard time with this but try my hardest to overlook.  I guess the days of a bath every other day are gone.  He absolutely loves the slide.  Any and all slides.  He will start to climb up the slide as soon as he down.  It is hard for others to have a turn. 
• He can now say horsey and recognize them.  He has taken to this animal quite a bit.  Of course they are a beautiful creature.
• Owen went to the zoo for the first time.  He really enjoyed seeing the animals.  He would sit in awe as they came close.  We will have to make this trip more often.

I think this about sums it up.  As always after I publish this a whole list of things will come to mind and I will be mad they didn't get in here.  And then it will probably be another decade before I write again and I will forget about it by then.  We are doing well and enjoying the sunshine.  But we are ready for visitors and very ready to go the beach this summer with Partner.  Remember there is always a place to stay in the Motherland.  So book your tickets now! :)

Sergiev Posad

Every weekend we sit around the house and do nothing and by the end of the day on Sunday we are both so restless that last week I gave David two options on the weekend.  London or Sergiev Posad.  Sergiev Posad is part of the many Russian countrysides.  I told him we either need to be traveling on the weekend or participating in true Russian experiences.  David passed the choice to me so I chose what I thought he would hate the most (making him rethink passing the choice to me.)  So I chose Sergiev Posad.

You leave at 9 am and drive for about an hour and head to Sergiev Posad.  You stop at Sveta's house for some yummy blinis (pancakes) and then head out to the forest for troika rides, campfires, sledding and more.  Then back to Sveta's for a Russian dinner and then home.  We went with some other families from the baby group on Friday's.  So there ended up being 10 adults, 2 sets of twins around 2, an 11 year old, a 9 year old, a 3 year old, a 14 month old, and a 10 month old.

The ride out there and back was quite long.  It turned out we got an extremely slow driver.  So rather than an hour each way it turned into 2 hours each way.  Which meant our time eating blinis was rushed.  But that did not manage to stop Owen from eating 3.

My boys all tuckered out after having full bellies.

Back on the road.  It is truly beautiful to see all the snow covered trees.

Waiting on the horse!

Us on our first Troika Ride!

From here we stayed in the woods and enjoyed a nice campfire, some sledding and some great playing.

Look Owen it's a bear!

Really mom bear!?!

I guess it's not too bad!

Nice bear!

Oh look a ball!  (Of course he comes out to the woods and spots the only ball)

Cayden snoring on the Troika Ride, like Owen should have been doing

Whoa we are going fast!  How do I get off this thing?  (Owen's first time sledding)

Crash Landing

At the end of the day we headed to the monastery

And then it was time to head back.  I feel the time in the woods was not long enough.  It was a beautiful day in the mid 30s.  This was a true Russian experience.  I was sure that I was going to hear David complain when we got home, but instead he surprised me claiming it was a good day.  The only thing we would all change is getting home at 9.

Week in Review

I have always known that I was not the type to scrapbook, update, and such.  But I did think I would get a little bit better at moving away and not working.  Well I was wrong, very wrong.  That talent was definitely passed to my other siblings.  Last week was a busy week.  It was a good week just busy.

Owen and I had a play date on Tuesday.  Lisa and her 10 month old son, Cayden, came over.  They have been gone for too long in the US by this point.  I was missing my friend and Owen missing his.  Cayden is a very active crawler and Owen is a very active walker, so they hit it off.  Owen was showing Cayden how to crawl under the table and over the chairs, up the stairs, and around the house, not to mention how to pull all the food out of the refrigerator and the cabinets.  I am sure Lisa was thrilled with all of Cayden's new tricks.  Owen plays with other kids, but that is the first time I have really seen him interact with another kid.  They were talking to each other and playing.  It was great.

Look Owen, I got into the cabinet!

And this is how you chew on cords

This is to keep us out of cabinets, but I play with it instead.  Why don't you try it?  Nothing can keep me out.

I think I will!  Thanks Owen!

Wednesday, Owen and I went bowling with the SSA (Schlumberger Spouses Association).  That was quite fun too.  Owen loved all the bright colored balls and kept trying to be the ball down the lane.  And even with him I still managed to bowl over 100.  We had a nice lunch and Owen ate a fair share of cheese pizza.  He missed his nap this day and only napped for about 30 minutes.  I learned he is not cranky when he misses a nap but quite hyper.  Which can be quite tiring on me.

Thursday, Owen and I went to the IWC (International Women's Committee) membership meeting at the Finland Embassy.  It was their sign up day for interest groups and my Bible Study leader asked if I would help her out while she was out of the country.  Sure why not.  Owen played in the playroom with the other kids and was the perfect little gentleman.  They said he shared his snacks and emptied all the draws. That would be my boy.  Me on the other hand am not sure what I was doing.  Obviously telling a point.  :)

Friday, was the weekly play group.  It was small group of all boys at play group this week.  It was quite nice.  Owen made a new friend that was around 2 1/2.  They seemed to follow each other everywhere. At the same time Owen helped Kim clean her house with the broom and dustpan.  He seems to love this toy anywhere he is.  And then Friday night David and I went to the IWC Embassy Ball.  It was quite fun.

We went and ate at the Switzerland Embassy and then headed to the Ritz Carlton.  It was the first time David and I have really been out in a long time.  Isn't he dapper in his tux!?!

So now I am nearly through with this week and will hopefully start blogging a bit better from here on out.  I guess we'll see.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Well the sub-artic temperatures have arrived.  From what everybody says it has been an unusually warm winter.  When we left in December to head back to Arkansas it was in the mid 20s here.  We got back with it being in the mid teens.  Still not too bad.  Then this past week it hit. It has been in the negative teens.  That just sounds wrong.  Weather should not go to negative numbers.  That is too cold!

Before I moved here and was completely uneducated about Russia I had the vision of cold miserable days with snow swirling around me and under foot.  Then I moved here in the summer and was in shock.  And then winter came and it didn't seem so bad.  Well last Thursday was the vision in action.  I think it was -12 that day.  I do talk in Fahrenheit.  I am a little fuzzy on Celsius and most of the people that read this already think in Fahrenheit.  So we will keep it that way.  Plus talking in Celsius just makes it seems colder.  -12 F is  -24 C.   That is an even bigger negative number.  So we will stick with F for now.

Anyway, the day was cold and slightly miserable, but did that stop Owen and I from braving it.  NO!  Owen and I went to the mall to have lunch with David on his birthday.  The Russians don't let the cold stop them, so why should I.  The only problem is that the Muscovites are much more used to the cold so they do a casual stroll.  I on the other hand am practically running.  And mind you I have the stroller in front of me, so I am clipping these arm in arm snugglers, yelling excuse me "извините" the whole way.  So when I get to my destination my face is frozen solid and my legs are numb but I am sweating under my coat, scarf, gloves, and hat.  And not to mention that buildings here are overheated so I am in short sleeves.  And Owen is cozy and warm in his snowsuit.  First thing we do when we get to the mall or anywhere is to take off the outerwear and do a combination of thaw and melt.

Then Friday came and Owen and I are gearing up for baby group at my friend Katherine's.  It is not far from me and I walked there last time.  So I thought if the number is positive I will walk again.  I would have even taken the number 0 for positive, but no as I leave the house the temperature is -13.  I mean seriously!  So I took the metro which was an experience as always.  I don't know if the holidays or the weather made people more grouchy but they are not helping the way they did before.  And then the exit gates at the metro stop I took didn't have a wide turnstile for me so I had to take Owen out of the stroller and fold up the stroller to get through then pop it back open to put Owen in.  Just another normal day in Moscow.

But yesterday was by far the coldest day for me.  I was just asking David the temp yesterday and he said it wasn't the coldest day we had but it sure did feel like it.  I don't know why but I was cold all day.  Even to the point, that today I go out and think that it is not too bad and fairly warm at -2.  What is wrong with me!?!

So, who's ready to come visit?

Someone's in the kitchen

There is this recipe I found on Pinterest that I have been wanting to try, so two days ago I decided to cook it.  Well it turned out I did not have enough chicken, so last minute I decided to make chicken fried rice.  For me to last minute decide and whip something up is a shock.  There is no other word for it.  So yesterday I went to the store and got some chicken.  Knowing I wanted to make this dish, crispy cheddar chicken, I went to 2 different stores earlier in the week to get all my ingredients.  The hardest for me to find was cheddar cheese.  Last resort I would have pulled out the gouda again or maybe edam.  But alas I did find the cheddar.  Here is the link to the recipe,
http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2011/10/crispy-cheddar-chicken.html

I started cooking at 4:30 while Owen was asleep.  It does not take long to prep this meal, so I was done in no time.  I didn't follow the measurements exactly since I am only cooking for two and knew I did not need a lot of chicken.  David is not big on left overs so less is better here.  I did have a hard time making the cheese and ritz cracker stick with just milk.  I am not sure of a better method here.  The only substitution I made was for the sauce.  I can't find cream of chicken soup here, nor cream of celery this week, so instead I used cream of mushroom.  David made no comment on this, so far so good.

I also decided to make a potato recipe that I found on Pinterest.  Cheese and Bacon potato rounds.
http://allrecipes.com/Cook/11770279/Photo.aspx?photoID=592510

This turned out quite successful too.  Maybe a little crispy.  Of course for this I had a little problem with the bacon.  I bought bacon and then had to second guess myself but it was super thin.  It worked all the same but it is not the bacon I care for.  Oh Petit Jean meat how I do miss you.  Even Oscar Meyer.

A can of green beans and we had a complete meal.

Owen even helped in the end with cleaning up :)  All in all a successful meal.  Who is this?  Abby doesn't cook!  And soon I might even remember to take pictures so you can see the end result.  

Abby's Mexican Casserole

Today I decided to cook.  This is really the first time that I have cooked since we moved here.  When I say cook I mean looked up a recipe and made something new.  I usually make spaghetti or stroganoff.  Something easy.  One main reason I have not been cooking here is that the recipes I am used to involve ingredients I cannot get here in Moscow, particularly Rotel.  I have learned I rely on rotel way too much.  So here I am venturing into something new in my tiny kitchen.

The first thing I did was go onto Pinterest and look through all the recipes I have been pinning thinking someday I will make these and they are not just on here for looks.  Well that someday came.  I had to think about the ingredients I had on hand.  There is no running to the store to get what I need.  The market is not far but there is a good chance it will not have what I want and I did not want to have to bundle Owen and myself to go check.  Yes that would be laziness!  After looking through all the pins I decided on Paula Deen's Mexican Chicken Casserole.  I knew I didn't have all the ingredients but figured I could substitute a bit here and there.  This is a scary thought for me.  I am one to follow the directions when cooking step by step and I am definitely not knowledgeable enough to know what to sub in.  And then to top it off I am messing with Paula Deen's recipe.  But here I go anyway.  (Disclaimer:  for anybody reading this, I followed the recipe exactly and did not substitute.  David gets a bit scared when I cook in the first place so as he is concerned I followed Paula Deen.)

Here is the original recipe:
http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/mexican_chicken/

Servings: 8 servings 
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 30 min
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients Add to grocery list

1 10 3/4 -ounce can cream of chicken soup
1 10 3/4 -ounce can cheddar cheese soup
1 10 3/4 -ounce can cream of mushroom soup
1 10-ounce can tomatoes
1 whole chicken, cooked, boned, and chopped or 4 cups leftover cooked chicken
11 1/2-ounce package flour tortillas
2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, stir together the three kinds of soup and the tomatoes. Stir in the chicken.

In a greased 13 x 9- inch pan, layer the tortillas and the chicken mixture, beginning and ending with tortillas. Sprinkle the cheese over the casserole and bake for 30 minutes.

Here is what I actually used:

1 can of cream of celery (no cream of ckn here)

1 can of cheddar cheese soup

1 can of kidney beans

Almost a whole box of chopped tomatoes

1 package of taco seasoning

chicken

tortillas

sliced gouda cheese

Now I am sure after you read my list of ingredients you have to think this is the most disgusting dish ever.  Oh but it was quite yummy.  I thought I had cream of mushroom but did not so I decided to add kidney beans.  Because we all know kidney beans and cream of mushroom soup are the same thing.  The food was lacking a bit of flavor so before I added the tomatoes I thought long and hard about using one of my precious cans of rotel, but as I am hoarding them for cheese dip and tacos I decided against it.  So instead I went forward with the chopped tomatoes and added a package of taco seasoning.  This seemed to do the trick.  But mind you for all the people in the US, particularly in the south, rotel would have been all that you needed.  After boiling my chicken and stirring it all together I added it to the casserole dish as instructed.  I did debate about using tortilla chips instead.  I did not but will next time.  It was hard for us to cut the tortilla.  I did not have cheddar cheese and since I am saving the velveeta for cheese dip I decided to use my gouda cheese slices.  Yes I am sure you think this could not possibly be good but I have substituted gouda for many things here and it worked.  

So all in all I can say that I probably created my own dish and Paula Deen was just an inspiration.  So I guess now I can call this Abby's Mexican Casserole.  Of course it will never be repinned or reused because if you go by reading alone you would never add these ingredients.  But taste is the key.  So trust me it was good.  And David liked it too.  Which is all the test, because he does not always (most of the time) like what I cook.  So cheers to me for a job well done!  And it turns out that Owen likes kidney beans.  So I guess I will be buying more.  Now if I can only remember which market I bought them in.  Hmmmm.

a birthday and a haircut

While we were in the US we celebrated two milestones for Owen.  He turned one and he had his first haircut.  I had a hard time with both of these.  It is a sign that our little boy is growing up.  It is hard to believe that a year has already gone by.  So many things happened last year that it all seems like a whirlwind.

We had Owen's party on Saturday, December 17.  His actual birthday is December 21st.  It is amazing to see how much that little boy is loved.  David's brother, Aaron and his family were able to make it from Ohio.  David's parents and sister and her finance (Randy, lives in LA) also made it.  My sister and her boys came in from Joplin, while my dad traveled from Mt. View.  My grandparents came from Morrilton and my Aunt and Uncle came from Hot Springs, and my brother David lives close by.  Even Owen's nanny, Beth, when we lived in Lafayette made the jaunt.  It was amazing to see how people traveled from near and far to see this little boy celebrate his big day.

I kept the festivities simple, with a Razorback influence.  :)

Owen played his part perfectly that day.  He entertained like a pro.  He went and saw everyone.  Made sure each person got to hold him.  He chatted with each person.  Fought through his tiredness and triumphed.  Opened presents like a pro.  He was made to socialize.  David says he got it from his mom.  I have to agree.  :)

Now onto the haircut!  I kept putting it off.  I thought I should wait until after his portraits.  Then I should wait until after his birthday.  Then I never seemed to make the effort to go by there.  It's like it is the final mark of him no longer being a baby.  He looks like a toddler instead.  :(

He did a great job.  He sat in a fire engine, which he did try to drive and ring the bell.  He had a blue sucker in one hand and Thomas the Tank Engine in the other.  Such a good boy!

Two big exciting events that make my heart heavy.  I love seeing my baby grow up but I am also sad that he is growing up.  Where does the time go?