B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Owen has discovered food, or at least the idea of it. Meals have become a time of avoiding the feeling of his tiny little eyes boaring in to me as he wonders why he can't have some too. It is a silent plead coupled with strands of saliva dripping down his chin and shark attack like reflexes to anything that passes by his mouth which made me realize this boy might be ready for food. So, one week why of turning 5 months Owen had his first taste of "solid foods." I don't know that you can qualify mashed to death bananas mixed with breast milk solid but regardless it is his first introduction to food. I was fully prepared for the scrunched up face and projectile tongue reacting to the foreign taste and texture in his mouth as he became acquainted with the banana mush; however, he simply swished it around, drooled a bit down his chin, and opened his mouth for more. Another step in parenthood for me and another step towards childhood for him...oh boy!

Owen Lately

Owen lately...
has been enjoying living with his Carlson Grandparents
and two of his fabulous Carlson Uncles (Clark and Galen).
He has been trying so hard to roll from his back to his tummy.
He has discovered that he has an opinion
and is not afraid to vocalize it.
Food is beginning to look delicious.
Owen lately continues to bring a smile to my face and
a song to my heart.
Thank you Lord for my precious boy.

4 months

I think every month with Owen is my favorite month for different reasons but 4 months seems to be Owen's favorite so far. Those unruly hands are finally being tamed, his fingers are becoming useful besides just grasping at things with an iron fist, and he's discovering that his body can do more than just lying there like a cute pudgy vegetable. While I am enjoying watching the daily developments take place, I also watch them with a certain amount of trepidation, for sooner than I would care to admit he will be moving, which means my life as I know it truly will be over.

Stats: 16lbs (he has turned in to a chunk!) and 26.25 inches long!




This hat was made for my older brother by my Mom's great aunt!


Owen locked in on the sea lions...he just stared and stared at them.

'
Blue Steel

The Next Michael Phelps!

Last week we went on a mini-vacation with my family in Newport Oregon. The Condo we stayed at had the most delightful pool that was warmed to a lovely bath water temperature. Owen LOVED swimming! He had a blast kicking his little legs and each time we went seemed like he could have stayed there all day, lasting over an hour in the water! Even the splashes from his uncles and his first time being dunked underwater didn't seem to phase this little fish. He was in the water and in heaven!

Swimming with Uncle Jo Jo

Kicking around with Papi

Hold your breath Uncle Clark!

Aaah this is the life

I see you Grandma Vicki

Just relaxing in the pool

Sister

I am the only girl in the midst of 4 amazing brothers. Naturally, while growing up, the one thing my heart always longed for was a sister. To me, a sister would be someone I could share the load of taking care of these crazy brothers with, someone I could day dream with, share interests, clothes and being pretty with. At some point, I realized what a blessing being the only girl in my immediate family was and that the status came with certain perks (i.e. not having to share a room and missing out on the "fun" fighting years most sisters seem to go through.) However, even as I came to realize how wonderful my brothers were, I don't think my heart ever stopped really wishing for a sister.

Then came the summer of 2001.

That summer, I began to fall in love with a certain boy named Josh King while we were leaders for our church's Junior High summer camp. Along with his stunning looks and awesome personality, he had another perk- two sisters! It was at this camp, that I began to taste what having a sister is like through my budding relationship with his youngest sister Chelsea.

Fast forward several years to present day and my beautiful younger sister-in-law, Chelsea, became a wife on August 21st. I had the extreme honor of being a bridesmaid in her wedding which caused me to stop and reflect on who she is and what an immense blessing she has been in my life. At her rehersal dinner, I wanted to make a toast, but the words wouldn't formulate fast enough for me to stand and say them before the moment had passed. So, here's my opportunity:

Chelsea, you were the first taste of a sister in my life. I think back to the early years my relationship with Josh in which you and I made countless batches of cookies together, had little movie dates, and engaged in heartfelt sisterly conversations. Those moments were precious to me not only because I was gaining a sister but because I was able to experience the joy of family with a girl!
As the years have gone on, I have loved watching you flourish in to a beautiful woman. I have seen such immense growth in you. You are a woman of action and boldness who will work hard to achieve a goal set before you. You are a woman of grace, extending forgiveness and support even when it is deemed unwarrented. You are beautiful, which comes not only from your natural good looks (he he) but from your groundedness in who you are as a woman of God. You are goofy and playful, in a way that lets you laugh at yourself and provides others with the freedom to set aside the facade of adulthood and revel in good humor and fun. I am so happy that you have found a man who appreciates and values all of these qualities about you. Nathan is an extremely blessed man to have you for his wife. Speaking of Nathan, thanks for picking out someone I can consider a brother :). I love you and look forward to sharing more of life with you as you become a wife and hopefully some day a mother.


My beautiful sister-in-law, Chelsea (now) Pogue

Writing her vows

Before she became a beautiful bride ;)

Adventures of an almost three month old

Things an almost three month old enjoys:


Tummy time that doesn't result in falling asleep.


Chubby little hands


Reading books...ok not quite.


Conquering of the hands...mastered the left, still working on the right.


Beating up my Cousin Levi with the help of my awesome Aunt Casey


Going on a ferry boat ride with Mom, Pop and Grammi


Blowing bubbles and drooling of course


All of that makes me tired...might as well sleep with my poto in the air.

Little Si

Hiking is a fond childhood memory I hold. I remember scampering up hillsides with my brothers, marveling at huge trees, delicate wild flowers and the beginnings of a longstanding family tradition of head dunking in icy mountain streams. Fortunately, I married a man who loves the outdoors. So, last Saturday we embarked on our first little family hiking excursion. Choosing the right hike was a bit of a challenge as we had to take in to consideration the challenges of packing an infant on your chest up a steep hillside and of course the every 2-3 hour hunger pains Owen was bound to feel. With all that in mind, our first stop was Snoqualmie falls. This beautiful spot is a mere 25 minutes from us and sadly neither of us have ever hiked to the bottom of the canyon before. Little did we know, the trail is closed for the next three years...guess it would have helped to know that before driving out there. So, we popped in to the gift shop, stole a glance in their "hiking with kids" book and found our next destination: Little Si.


Snoqualmie Falls

With determination in our eyes, warm sun on our shoulders, and a content Owen strapped to me we began the trek up the side of Little Si. Now, I've been pretty good about getting back in to a work out routine since Owen's birth but somehow free weights and elliptical machines can't compare to carrying a 12lb baby up the side of a mountain. So, in the moments where my lungs screamed "Darn you for forgetting your inhaler" I reminded myself that there are families with 6 year olds coming back down the mountain and I have 20 years of learned determination on them I should be able to make it to the top! So between that and daydreaming about doing this all over again when Owen is old enough to hike himself, we made it and what a beautiful sight it was!