Speaking of "working on that"...

I said just yesterday that we needed to start working on stopping MJ from saying "What's the next prayer?" as he prays every night...tonight, he didn't say it! It went something like this, "Thank you God for ...(unknown word). Thank you for today. Thank you God for my Daddy. Thank you God for my Mommy. Thank you God for my brudder. Thank you God for...Amen." He's so cute when he prays. He scrunches up his face & tries to close his eyes without really closing them. Too funny! I need a picture of it, but I think that would ruin the moment. MJ, I love you more each day.

Masonisms

Here are some funny things Mason has said lately. I'm trying to write them down so I don't forget!
We've been praying together before bed & just recently Mason has started to pray out loud after Daddy or I do. Some Mason prayers...
"Thank you God, what's the next prayer?" Mommy says, "Mason you know." MJ,"Thank you God for Daddy, Thank you God for Mommy, Thank you God for my brudder.Thank you God for Mason. Thank you God for my TB (TV). Amen"
"Thank you God for what's the next prayer?" Daddy says, "Mason you know." MJ,"Thank you God for Mommy. Thank you God for Daddy. Thank you God for Owie. Thank you God for Mason. Thank you God for my tent. Thank you God for my airplanes. Amen"
Tonight's prayer was "Thank you God, what's the next prayer?" Mommy says, "Mason go on!" MJ, "Thank you God for Mommy, Thank you God for Daddy, Thank you God for our brudder, Thank you God for my car bed. Thank you God for my cousin Wuke, and Wydia & Wael. Amen." So Sweet!! I love it! However, we need to break the habit of "What's the next prayer?" Oh well, you're just learning & it makes my heart overflow that you are talking to our God all from your mind & heart. I know it must make HIM happy, too.
We've been reading a Bible story either from a Beginner Bible or the lessons sent home from SS and then a separate story book before bed. The most recent favorite (like every night for 2 weeks) has been "There's A Wocket in my Pocket" by Dr. Seuss. Last night, you wanted to read a different story but this morning Mason came in my closet where I was trying to decide what to wear to church. I had on my robe & he stuck his hand in my pocket and asked, "Mommy, is there a wocket in there?"
Too funny! :) I love you, Mason, more each day!

Friday Thoughts

Today is Friday and I'm missing my boys while I'm at work! Mason didn't want to go to his class this morning. He told me, "Mom I WANT (which really means I don't want but you don't say "don't") to go to Rockin' Raiders. I want to go be Mini Matador today." I stated that big kids didn't belong in there with the little babies like Owie. After waiting outside while I went in & signed you in & put your lunchbox in your cubby...you decided it might be ok. I hate leaving you when you feel like that! Seeing your sad face & hearing those words from your sad voice breaks my heart. It is almost worse than when Owen cries as I leave. At least I know someone will hold Owen & he'll be ok. Don't get me wrong...they love on you, Mason, too but it isn't the same. When I talk to Daddy about it, he reminds me that we all have to do things (like go to work everyday) that we don't always want to do. So, this is just a little lesson in life! I'm sure that after you go get engaged & busy your thoughts change. Anyway, this afternoon, I'm picking you boys up early today & we're going to Gainesville to meet B-Daddy, Nana & Jinna. I can't wait to get y'all. Work is dragging by! Tomorrow is a birthday party for Donna Shaver so the gals are headed to that & you guys are going to hang out at the hotel...or maybe the park or zoo! I'm going to try to talk B-Daddy into that! Even if you don't go in the morning, I'm going to try to take you myself while we're there. It is a pretty cool place that Mason would LOVE! Owen doesn't care about things like that yet, but he will one day all too soon! Daddy is hunting Dove in Snyder with some friends so he won't be with us. We'll miss him, but we'll see him tomorrow night when we all meet back up at home. You, my boys, are most precious to us and I love you more each day.

Owen's birthday party

We had Owen's 1st birthday party last night (Sunday Aug. 31). It was just a casual get together with our friends the Walls & Scheckels. We cooked out burgers & brats & had cupcakes. Then the men (& Mason on his "guitar" aka musical push toy) played Guitar Hero while the ladies sat & visited. Owen & Aiden crawled around. So much fun. Owen, you were funny about your cupcake (as to be expected). You really liked the icing...not the cake so much. Such a mess! I dug cupcake out of your ear. You had icing in your hair & even in your eyelashes. It was lovely! Mason was a big helper. He helped blow out the candle. He helped open presents. He helped Daddy grill. He played with Owen & Aiden. Such a sweet big brother! It was a fun time for all of us. I look forward to future birthdays. They are such fun! I love you more each day!

First week of school

, You have officially completed your first week of school at Tech for 2008! Mason is in the Rockin' Raider class & Owen is in the Mini Matador class. Such fun! It was a busy week...but no accident reports & I think that's a record for us! Mason had an accident report his first day when he started there...that seems so long ago! Anyway, you were both cute & Mason was excited about his new class. Owen didn't cry too long. I ran into the observation room to watch & make sure. Yeah, I'm "that mom". The Rockin' Raider teachers are Shannon & Jan. The Mini Matador teachers are Donna & Tracey. Mason had Donna when he was in that class. We are happy with your teachers & classes this year. I pray it will be a great year for us all! I hate that I have to leave you boys, but I'd rather leave you there than any other place I can think of. It truly is spectacular!! I love you more each day.

Happy Birthday, Dear Owen!

Well Owen Russell, the calendar says it is your birthday...but I'm having difficulty believing it! You still seem so little to us! Today we spent the day at home, just me & you & Mason. I was glad that you didn't have to go to school on your birthday. We went to Babies R Us & bought a new carseat for Mason so that you could graduate to his old seat and face forward. You look so tiny in it! (I need to add some pictures to this blog...maybe I'll get on that tomorrow!) Tonight when Daddy came home, we all walked to our neighborhood park for a little concert in the park. You do so love to be outside! So, that is how we spent your birthday...pretty uneventful but you don't know the difference at this point! We're having your birthday party next weekend. It will be fun to celebrate your first year! We love you so much...more each day!

You're dismissed!

Sweet Owen, on Tuesday, you were dismissed from Physical Therapy services with ECI! Yea! You made such great progress in such a short time. It makes me wonder if you were truly just a "late bloomer" & would have arrived here on your own or if they really helped get you going!?! I'm choosing to believe they helped. Each week, we saw improvement...I guess we'll never really know. All that to say, your physical skills are appropriate for your age now, so no more PT! We also had a nutrition eval that same day. The ECI Dietician came by to talk with me and look at you. She said you're a little small (weight wise) but mainly our concern is your poor digestive health! This chronic constipation is WRONG!! I want you to know that we are so concerned about you. It breaks my heart to hear you cry and scream in pain when you have to go poop! No one should have to work so hard just to go to the bathroom. She gave us some suggestions...mainly said you weren't drinking enough during the waking hours so we need to increase your fluid intake. The second suggestion is to have you tested for Celiac disease. Daddy & I (along with our extended family) are praying against that. It would mean a total lifestyle change in our eating habits. Although it would probably be more healthy for all of us, I would just hate it for you! But, we won't dwell on what might be. We're going for your 1 year check-up with Dr. Gray (boo) on Monday, so we'll talk with him about it. His office has really been zero help in this whole, long drama! He may not be our pediatrician much longer!! Anyway, all that to say I am proud of how far you've come physically in the last 2 months & am thrilled that maybe we will get you some relief & work out your poor tummy troubles. I love you more each day!

Home Again

Well, we are home! Nana came to Oklahoma to take us home & here we are! :) We finally got to spend a few nights in our home sleeping in our own beds, playing in our own yard...life is good! Owen finally got to crawl in our house for the first time! Mason is very excited that O's birthday is coming up. Everyday he asks if we're going to Owen's party. I guess there is no use denying my little O will turn a year old any longer...but I don't have to look forward to it!! I am pretty sad that his babyhood is coming to an end, but I am so happy that certain aspects of his babyhood are finally getting better...all the incessant crying because I wasn't holding him is diminishing. Now that he had to be held by people other than me for these past 2 weeks and the fact that he can move around on his own has really helped that situation. For that I am thankful!! We met each set of new teachers from the CDRC on Friday. I hope it will be a good year for both of you boys! It is hard to believe that this will be Mater's 3rd year there. It has been a good place...but that's another post. I love you more each day, boys!

A wonderful weekend

We had a great weekend with Daddy. He came to Edmond to visit us at the Dreessen's house. You were both so glad to see him! He got to see Owen crawling all over. He was so proud. Owen & Daddy spent some serious snuggle time! :) He loved every second of it. Daddy got to go 4 wheeler riding with Mason & swimming. He enjoyed playing in the pool with you, MJ. You are fearless when it comes to the pool & he got a kick of you jumping to him & "swimming" the way you do. You actually do quite well for a kid who's never been in swim lessons & not spent a lot of time in pools. You really surprise me! Watching the way your faces light up when you see your Daddy is so precious. I love that you guys are already so close. I look forward to watching that bond grow as you grow. Your Daddy is a wonderful man & I hope you both grow up to be just like him! I can't wait until we're all together again on a permanent basis!! I miss being with your Daddy everyday. I know you do, too. We'll go home this week & get back to our life. :) I love you both more each day.

Mason's Reign of Terror

My Mater, what am I going to do with you?! You love being around your cousins yet you have a funny way of showing it! You get so excited & have so much energy...let's be honest, you can be quite mean! Although, I don't think that "mean-ness" is your intention. I think it is because you don't know exactly how to engage them in play so you get physical. Anyway, your favorite thing to do these days (while we're visiting with the Dreessens) is to chase Lael! Well, you love to play chase & he is a little scared of you so he runs screaming which you think is quite fun so you run after him laughing! The 2 of you running circles through the kitchen, dining room & living room...it is a video in my head I will hold onto! Maybe we should get it on video for later. You'd probably both get a kick out of it when you are older. Especially you since you are the chaser. You also have a tendency to hit/push/pinch your cousins these days so we've instituted the policy with them, "Whatever he does to you, do it back to him." We'll see if it helps. Time out doesn't work & neither does spanking! You don't like it when they hurt you, so hopefully you'll get the point and start being a little nicer to them. I hope so! I hate it when you guys fight. I know that later on you'll all be best of friends and that right now you're only 3 & "ALL BOY", but I do wish you could be a little nicer in the meantime. I worry about you starting school in a few weeks...I hope this behavior doesn't carry over. I don't want to be the mom of "that kid". You have such a sweet heart & you are generally so pleasant! My sweet Mason is who I want the world to know! I love you more each day.

Physical Therapy has paid off...Owen is CRAWLING

Sweet Owen, you started crawling this week! We've been doing PT for a month now working on getting you moving. Low & behold, it worked! You figured it out!! You started crawling, by yourself, on Sunday, July 27, 2008, at Aunt Jinna's house. Daddy wasn't here to see it, but Jinna & Lydia were my witnesses. You only moved a few "paces" to start with, but by Thursday, you are really getting places. It is slow & not very coordinated & you still splat every few paces, but you can get where you want to go! I'm so proud! Daddy is coming to visit us here at the Dreessen's this weekend & he can't wait to see you moving! I love you more each day!

I can't believe I bought into the blogging hype...

Ok, if it weren't 3:19 a.m. on August 1st, 2008, and I wasn't wide awake, I may not be doing this. I don't know what got into me! I can't sleep & I'm at Jinna's house so I got on the computer. I was looking at/reading some friends' blogs & thought..."I could do that." So here we are! Anyway, now that I've started...I am going to use this as a message board for my boys. I was really good about "journaling" for Mason during his first 2 years but when I got pregnant with Owen, that all went down the tubes! I think I've only updated it a few times since I got pregnant & poor Owen! His journal only has his "birth story" in it & the sweet baby is about to turn 1 year old in 20 days!! So, maybe I'll be better at this since I can just write snippits & stuff from anywhere and not just at our home computer. We'll see how it goes!