Photo Shoot

We decided to snap some shots of Owey-bug today. It was kind of warm in our apartment, so we let him go pants-less. The ottoman is the perfect size for the boy. Like the stool at the end of Michael and Jan's bed (from the Office!).



He smiles so much now. Today I had him sitting in front of me, and I kept saying "Are you a little flirt?" And every time I said it, he turned his face down and smiled shyly, So CUTE!

These were taken right after he had a 4-hour nap. He is always most pleasant right after he wakes up. A new development: if we notice that he is really tired and ready for a nap, we can lay him down awake, and he will turn his head to the side, start sucking his thumb and fall asleep within about 5 minutes. No crying, no feeding, no rocking. I think I have a little angel baby.

This last picture reminds me of how he looks when he's getting ready to giggle. So far, the things that make him giggle are tickling his arm-pits, his inner legs, his feet and his neck, while simultaneously making a tsst-tsst-tsst sound.

I heart you.


Owen is getting baptised tomorrow! More people than I thought are attending! I was touched to hear so many people wanted to come, considering it started out kind of a quiet event. Then my aunt said she wanted to come, and we decided to have a brunch at my mom's house afterwards, and then people started telling us they wanted to come! We also didn't invite too many people, because we are lunatics and go to church at 8:30 in the morning!!

Sadly, I found out today my aunt couldn't make it from North Carolina, which made me pretty sad. She's my Godmother, and I didn't think she would miss it! Also, I'm incredibly eager for her to meet my little boy. My mom and I talked about possibly taking a weekend and going for a visit sometime this summer.

That would also be something of a test run for a HUGE trip we are planning in September! We are going to Iowa to see Krista and Emily, and a plane would just be a bad idea (think of all the checked luggage!!) So, 11 hours one way in a car with a baby! We shall see...

I went to Sam's with my mom today to get some breakfast type things for the brunch tomorrow, which is now somehow at my house. On the menu: strawberries, assorted breakfast breads (strawberry, blueberry and chocolate), breakfast meats and potatoes, and I'm going to whip up some scrambled eggs with dill and cheese. I wish I liked eggs, alas, I will not eat them. I just make them. I'm not exactly sure how many people are coming, but maybe 7-8. It's suddenly become a to-do. I'm glad I'm taking Monday off from work.

In other work news, there was something of an opportunity recently, that I still have mixed feelings about. We are getting a new client at our site, and they have been doing interviews and testing for the past couple of weeks for anyone on our client who was interested in transferring. Of course I was interested if it meant that I could get a day-shift, so I could spend the evening at home with my family, have dinner together every night instead of just two nights a week, start Owen's bedtime routine when he gets tired and not when we have to, at 9pm when I get home from work... However, of all the things that transpired, currently and in the past with new clients, Clint and I just decided that it wasn't the right move for me. I think I had a good shot at a day shift, because I am a dual operator (processor and proofreader), and I have been there nearly two years. There are only a few people that had been there longer than me that would have wanted a day shift (which they also deserve, of course). Still, I hope that I have shown that I am dedicated to my current account, and hopefully at some point in the future I might be able to get a day-shift position. It's not the hardest thing now, but when he's a little older, I would love to get back to a "normal" working shift. It makes your entire life different. So, I am sad in a way, but I think it's for the best.

By the way, as much as I thought I would hate it, The Wrestler was a fantastic movie. Of course I had trouble with the dad-issues in it... but Mickey Rourke was fantastic. I'm sorry to say I think he deserved that Oscar over Sean Penn's Harvey Milk. (and I do love me some Sean Penn.) When I think of Mickey Rourke circa 9 1/2 Weeks and then see him in a movie like this, first of all, he has completely changed himself as a person, but he WAS his character. I tried to ignore all the stupid wrestling in it... but the story was really powerful, and I was totally impressed with Mickey Rourke. And of course, Darren Aronofsky, hello!

And Benjamin Button comes out on DVD soon! I want it for Mother's Day :). I think Mother's Day will always be a little extra special for me, because last year, I found out I was pregnant a couple days before Mother's Day! Clint got me a present :)

OK, a lot to do still, enjoy the pictures.

Remember this day!

First, the most important thing:
Owen laughed for the first time yesterday <3 href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTth_plwqPxxulepSDNOEZJbPAyOcQIamgO9ozEXYwz4PJPgv4cl7QIhRtqXSz2MdMhIowvkgdWcXi0t5Lv7G2ZDfqgI6k0OSY2P_mSY0zvIq4j8a1JO1qW-epsqsqf-7RfdFaulRu7rE/s1600-h/the+best+friends.jpg"> The boys telling secrets.

After a night of heavy drinking.

What's that mommy doing?

Alexander posing already!! Their professions? Being adorable!

And then, Erin took a couple pictures of me and my boy, which I am so excited about!


I think this one looks a little sultry. Maybe I should print it out for Clint?

Lovin on him.

It's been a long time.

First off, I should apologize to my faithful reader(s) - Virginia, who informed me that she is disappointed every day when she looks at my blog and I have not updated. I'm sorry Virg.

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. The most exciting thing is that Owen is sleeping like a champ. At 10 weeks we started his bedtime routine, and since then, he has started sleeping longer and longer, and he has been consistently sleeping 9-10 hours each night. So, we had said that after 2 weeks of sleeping through the night, we would try out putting him in his own room to sleep at night. We had been preparing for a couple weeks by putting him down for naps in his own room, so he's not confused when he wakes up, he knows what room he is in. So, we actually ended up waiting 3 weeks to move him to his own room (I think it was an accident, because there was no reason to wait longer). So, last Friday (April 10, at two days shy of 3 months), we put him to sleep in his own room. We fully expected to have him wake up sometime in the middle of the night. We laid him down, put on the wombs sounds bear, and I turned on this little "under the sea" lamp that projects a bluish light. We did not hear a peep out of him all night. Since Friday, he has been sleeping in his room, sleeping ALL night, and not even crying in the morning. When he wakes up in the morning, he just sucks his thumb and makes little grunts until we come check on him. He always gives us a really big smile when he first sees us. It's incredible. This morning, he slept almost 12 hours. I put him in bed around 9:15pm last night, and we didn't get him out of his crib until 9am. He does this funny little thing, he shoots his legs straight up in the air and sort of twists himself around. For instance, one night I put him to bed laying longways in his crib, and he must have done his little thing so many times, he was laying shortways. I had to ask Clint if he moved him in the middle of the night.

He also seems to really like his bumper.

He is also making other little milestones. He smiles in response to voice and other smiles. He yells when no one is paying attention to him! If Clint and I are having a conversation in the kitchen and Owen is in his swing, if we don't talk to him for a couple minutes, he yells so we look at him! It's so cute. He has started sort of laughing, more like an attempt to laugh. He hasn't had a giggle or a full-on belly laugh just yet, but I think it's coming any day. He saw himself in the mirror for the first time last week. He has also started reaching and grabbing for things he wants. He will hold onto something for a good 5 minutes at a time. He also wants everything in his mouth now. Big strides.

We also had his first Easter. We went to church in the morning and had dinner at my mom's. After that we went to visit my great aunts. He got a basket from us and a basket from my mom. He got some books, Pinocchio, some lotion, a little horse stuffed animal, a bunny and a little whale bank. He actually seemed interested in his Easter basket, which was cute. I of course took a million pictures.

We also had a breakfast date with Owen's best friend Alexander, who is exactly 4 days older than Owen and Erin, my new thrifty, coupon clipping, green-tastic friend.

We also had his 3-month photo shoot on Easter, which was really cute.

Owen also excels at being adorable.

Clint is home for another two weeks. No big news on his job front as of yet. I continue to find little ways to save money by using coupons and trying to obtain free things (like a $25 gift card to Rite Aid just for transferring a prescription). It's becoming such a challenge, it's so fun, like a game. I also have been buying coupons (technically not buying coupons, but buying the time it takes for the person to search for, clip and ship the coupons) on Ebay. I bought $68 dollars worth of Kashi coupons for $6.50. Yes.

This weekend, I had an excellent shopping experience. I used my Rite Aid gift card to buy like 10 things, and I only had to spend $6 out of pocket. I bought a ton of food things and some baby stuff, toilet paper and paper towels at Target. After $10 in coupons and a $25 gift card, I spent $17!!!

We watched Marley and Me, and Clint and I both cried like little girls. So good.

I have to get ready for work. Blah.