Owen at 2 years!!

Birthday balloons in bed is our favorite tradition!

When I asked him his favorite part of his birthday, he said "cupcake!" ;)

He's obsessed with his birthday "mow-mow"

Sweet Obaby, you made your fast and furious entrance into this world two years ago, and our family has never been the same. Your fierce love and determined spirit have marked your two years of life, and we see the "young fighter" (your name's meaning) coming out daily. We pray this will be channeled to be a great warrior for God's kingdom. You were made to work hard and love large, little one. We are incredibly thankful to be your parents, and delight in the little boy you're becoming. You are cherished, Owen John.

Age: 2 years

Stats: Will find out soon at Dr appointment

Clothes: 18 months still

Keepin' it real- this is his signature look!!

Favorite Foods: Kid can eat!!! His fave is probably anything with bread (grilled cheese, banana bread, pumpkin muffins, etc.). He also LOVES yogurt, and as soon as he finishes his last bite, he immediately starts screaming, "yeah!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!" for another serving, in anticipation of me asking if he wants more. Haha. Every.time.

Words: He has really taken off in the last few months. He repeats so much of what we say, and has started putting lots of two-word phrases together, like "daddy mow," "mama book," "bite please," "balloon pop," etc. He still calls Audrey "baby" and doesn't have a word yet for Graham. Whenever Audrey starts to cry, he immediately starts chanting "paci! Paci! Paci!" He has one volume- LOUD. All the time. 

Activities:
- MOPS
- Music class
- Grocery shopping
- Church
- Children's museum
-Splash pad
- Parks
- Playdates

Favorite friends: Really, these are kiddos his age that we have playdates with. Because let's be honest, they barely acknowledge each other right now. So, future friends- Lewis, Chet, Jack, Liam, Lexi, Bennett, Max.

Favorite Things: Holding random small objects that he can't live without, for like three days, until he moves onto the next object... Could be a play-do container, a rubber duck, a certain ball, etc. Also, BALLS in general. He looooooooves to hold them and throw them and talk about them and take other kids' away. Looking like he'll be the athletic one of the family, since Graham has rarely shown interest. Loves pushing the toy mower and riding his toy racecar around inside. LOVES being outside, exploring or swinging. Loves books and will bring me books to read all day long. Graham is definitely in the "frenemy " category, but Audrey has his heart. He still squeals over her, gives her kisses, plays with her hands and feet. So, so presh.

Mom's Proudest Moment: Probably watching him become a big brother. He's kinda at a tough age right now, asserting independence without the skills or communication to go with it. So to see him love all over Audrey with such a tender heart has been incredibly special -and surprising. He squeals over her and kisses her and wants to be near her all day long. Melt my heart.

Big brother duty- encouragement during tummy time ;)

Dad's Proudest Moment: "Helping" me with so many projects around the house and in the yard.

Audrey Katherine at 3 months

Weight: No doctor's appointment this month, but I'll weigh her on my neighbor's scale soon just to make sure she's doing okay!

Height: ??

Clothing size: 3 months, but her onesies are getting tight! She's a long baby!!

Diaper size: Size 1. We are somehow still in disposable!! Family and friends were incredibly generous to give us so many diapers to get through the newborn days, and they have lasted much longer than we thought!! I was so terrified of having 3 in cloth, but I only have one right now (Owen)! Graham is now potty trained (!!!!!) and Audrey's still in disposables, so it hasn't been bad at all! 

Feeding: She is nursing about every 3 hours during the day, and getting up usually twice/ night. (We kinda got off track with night feedings while my Mom was here for two weeks, and Audrey and I shared a room. Every time she made a noise, I just fed her to get her back to sleep. Trying to get back to once/ night.)  Some of the biggest differences between her and the boys are the fact that she has been almost painless since the beginning (both boys hurt me incredibly badly and I had to wear a nipple shield with them both for months), she sometimes only nurses on one side and she's way faster no matter what, and she barely spits up (Graham especially had MASSIVE spit up). She's the only one who seems like she knows what she's doing. (The boys always seemed clueless, and so was I.) All of this feels like God's grace to me in the third child. Nursing had been incredibly hard, painful, consuming, frustrating, confusing, and heartbreaking in the past. I did it, but I hated it. I think this babe is going to help redeem all of that. Crazy how different my experiences have been.

Post-nursing snuggles with that sweet, pudgy belly. :)

Sleeping: Pretty much the same as last month. She naps for about 1.5 hours ish each 3 hour cycle throughout the day, and then I put her down for the night around 8pm, give her a dream feed when I go to bed around 10, and then she usually gets up twice (ish) to eat, and then again around 6/7am when we start the day. Finallllllllllllly getting more on a schedule throughout the day. (Feedings usually around 6:30a, 9:30a, 12:30p, 3:30p, 6:30p, 9:30p, and then whenever she wakes up at night. She stays up for about 1 hour after the feeding, and then naps til the next feeding ish.)

Milestones: Smiling and cooing more and more. Much more alert. Much stronger head control.

Likes: Same as the last two months-- Being held. Mama's milk. The Ergo. Her paci... Also, being swaddled. 

My favorite pic this month. :)

Dislikes: Mostly still the same as the last two months-- Not being held. Her car seat. Baths. Tummy time. 

Adventures: First 4th of July (cookout with friends)! Surviving 3 weeks without Daddy (working on his PHD). Enjoying 2 weeks with Nonnie. First "beach" trip (really a lake ;). 

Sweet little firecracker.

I mean, come on. PRESH.

Nonnie is the BEST!

Daddy's HOME!!!
Audrey getting snuggles and Graham talking his ear off on everything he missed. ;)

Beach babe.

What we couldn't live with out: Although I wouldn't call this an "essential," one thing we've used a ton this month is the Bumbo. She's finally old enough to sit in it, and it is super helpful in keeping the boys from trampling on her and in taking places like the beach! 

Doesn't she look so much older in this thing?!
The Bumbo adds five months to ya. ;)

Best part of parenting this age: The newborn stage is incredibly sweet, but it feels so good to get out of the "fourth trimester"!!! She is doing so much better sleeping on her own, she responds to us with smiles and coos, she just seems "sturdier," and she is also just coming into her own little person. When I pray and thank God for her, I still just cry over His goodness to us in the sweet gift of her life. We adore you, Audrey girl.

Hardest part of parenting this age: Probably the fact that it feels like at least one of them is screaming at me alllllllllllll day long. So worth it, but so hard sometimes. #3kiddos3andunder

#life :)