One Reason I Love Being The Mother Of A Little Boy

Owen dances to the beat of his own drum, and that is a FACT! He has the innocence that only a child can possess and he lives life on the edge. He isn't scared of anything, and he has a real talent for pushing the envelope as far as he possibly can. He climbs to the very tip top of everything and prefers to go straight through something that is in his way instead of around it. He already has the battle wounds of a 5 year old and bumps and knocks everything to the point that Wade and I are concerned if he will have any sense by time he's grown. He likes to play chicken with the vacuum cleaner and tries his very best to use "no hands" when climbing the stairs. And, just when I think he's fresh out of tricks, he surprises me by using a pulled out dresser drawer as a stool to reach whatever it was he had his eye on. He is rough, rowdy, and everything in between. But, the most refreshing part of all is that he is 100% himself and could care less what anyone thinks. He has this genuine spirit that can make him a firecracker one second and the most loving and sweet child the next. Most days, I feel like I'm a part of the circus and Owen is the featured act. And as wild as life can seem these days, I find that we are right where we're supposed to be, or at least, that's what I'm hoping. I often wonder how we are progressing as a new family and personally, how I am measuring up as a first time mom. There is a sense of acceptance that only Owen can give me. And when it happens, I feel like I'm on cloud nine. Some of my favorite things that he does are the simplest, but the most rewarding. Like, when I look down and there he is leaning up against me. Or, when I feel a little hand giving me a pat when I least expect it. He doesn't come on too strong, only enough to reassure me. Then he's back out setting the world on fire and doing the things I usually don't want him to do. He can laugh at himself and find humor where I can't. And, he can make some of the dreariest days bright. There are a lot of things that he does that impresses me, and I could go on and on about every little one of them like most mothers I know, but, the obvious thing I get from being around him is that he is an expert at being him. He's comfortable in his own skin and he doesn't hold back from living because he is afraid of what the world might think of him. Having a little boy is up and down and all around, and takes me places I never dreamed. It's not perfect, and it is definitely not easy. But, the one thing I know for sure is that he is everything he is meant to be . . . nothing more, nothing less. And although there are a gazillion reasons why I love being the mother of a little boy, the one that stands out the most is that I get to be his mom. And, that in itself is the real prize.

Gearing up to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics

Welcome To The World Baby Chunn

Yesterday around 2:05pm, our best friends Larry and Cheryl welcomed their second baby boy, Treble Jamesdale Chunn.  We are so excited for them and their new bundle of joy.  They have a 5 1/2 year old boy named Brayden who is just beside himself about having a little brother.  Treble weighed in at 8lbs. 1 oz. and looks just like Brayden did when he was born.  We are so excited for them and were glad to be able to share in their special moment!!  We have been friends for close to 10 years now, and it is hard to believe all that we have been through in that short time.  Cheryl was in our wedding, as well as, there when Owen was born.  She is like a sister to me and I just love her dearly.  We wish them the very best with their new baby boy and look forward to watching him grow in the coming years.

Baby Robot

Good Morning from the Butler House!!! Thought I would share something funny this morning to enlighten you. I have a small metal trash can downstairs that I use to hold some of the many toys in our house. And, instead of playing with all the toys that are inside like most children would, Owen thinks it is more fun to dump them out all over the floor and wear the trash can on his head. Then he will proceed to walk around and jabber all sorts of things. He especially likes it when I tickle him and run my hands across the outside of the trash can in front of his face. It is the perfect tickle me Owen scenario since he is forced to have his arms up holding it on his head, leaving the space under his arms available for Mommy's attack. And, believe me; I can usually bring him to his knees. Life is all about choices, and this is a hard one for him to make. He has to decide whether it's worth playing robot boy or running the risk of being attacked and tickled. As much as he tries to pretend like he doesn't like it, he taunts me a lot in the process. He reminds me so much of Wade when he does this, and shows lots of potential to be a prankster just like his daddy. Sometimes I will pretend to not notice, so that I can catch him when he least expects it, but he usually puts all his cards out on the table by walking right in front of me with the biggest smile and a look on his face like he is trying so hard not to laugh. Sometimes, I don't even have a lay a finger on him. I can just start to approach, look at him dead in the eyes, and he is already on the floor dying laughing. It's nothing fancy, but it sure helps to keep the spirits up. It makes me thankful that he is a loving playful child and doesn't take life so serious. My favorite Great Aunt Becky always warned me to let em' be kids while their kids, because they never get it back and there is plenty of time for the seriousness that life can bring. I'm not always great at that part, and sometimes I feel like I should lighten up. So, I resort to doing what a little boy has taught me to do when things get too sobering. I wear the trash can on my head and put myself in the shoes of a 1 year old. And, as silly as it sounds, it feels good to let my hair down and just play like I'm a kid again.

Running Around Like A Wild Man

Notice the blur coming off his backside. He was running so fast, I could barely snap the shot.

Just wanted to point out that these are one of my favorite sets of pajamas that he wears.  I love the raccoons and foxes.

And, last but not least, my favorite of them all...

If this isn't a look of mischief, nothing can be. 

Come & Get Me if You Think You're Big Enough!!

And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon...

Owen has been feeding himself for many months now, but Friday night we finally decided to start letting him practice with an actual utensil to help with the process. He is always a Hungry Jack and can devour a meal in less than 15 minutes on a good day. But, you throw a spoon in the mix combined with slippery macaroni and cheese, and you've got yourself an all nighter.   Thought this was too cute not to share! 

Owen's New Desk

 Lately, I have been introduced to a whole new world that I've never experienced before. It's called consignment shopping. I've found that in the area where we live, you can pick up some really nice and practically brand new things. It's basically like one big yard sale all year round. And, you don't have to wait till the summer to get the good stuff. But, the most logical conclusion I have come to is that with a rowdy one year old, this is the perfect solution. Owen is definitely ALL BOY and I would put money on the fact that he could tear up a steel ball with a feather. So, this works out perfectly! I get to get Owen some really nice things for a fairly small investment. And, the best part is that we can stretch our money farther and get to have and do more in the long run. So, I've sort of become addicted to my new hobby, and it is so much FUN! It's like a scavenger’s hunt and there are so many things available. So far, I've been able to find several new toys, some clothes that are brand new with the tags still on them, a toddler desk, and a practically brand new jogging stroller that has never been used. I can hardly wait to break that out when it gets warmer and take Owen for the ride of his life. I'm just hoping that he feels a need for speed. YEAH RIGHT!! My jogging pace will probably be that of a brisk walk, but I'm at least hoping to put some wind through his hair. I'll have to be sure to let you know how that goes when the time gets here. Anyways, I thought I would share some pictures of the new desk that I was able to find. I also found a small chair to go with it since then, so Owen is set. This is his first little desk and I can hardly wait to see his imagination unfold. I've got the fridge geared up, ready and waiting for one of his many masterpieces. I thought it would be nice to give him a place to be able to do some creative thinking, read, color, play with his trucks, or just sit and think. He is so bright and has so much potential. I can hardly wait for his first original piece of artwork, a finger painting, or even his first letter to Santa. Owen has an obsession with turning things on and off. For instance, everyday he has a routine of getting the lamps turned on if they aren't already. We have four just in the living room. He starts by getting my attention and goes to each of them, points, and mumbles something so that I know to turn them on one by one. Now, this is at least once every day, and if we are in a different room where there are lamps, he follows the same procedure. So, I was thrilled when I realized that his new little desk has a light on it. He already has a flashlight that he LOVES, but now he has his own little reading lamp. And, as you can imagine, he wears it out turning it off and on, off and on, and off and on. I know I say that he is funny a lot, but he really is. And, nothing can change the fact that he brings out the best in me, and makes me remember to stop and just enjoy the little stuff. I don't know if I've ever really appreciated electricity until now. It was just another one of those things I expected from the world. And, now it is a form of entertainment in this house. Needless to say, the artwork is on hold for now due to the fact that Owen thinks that crayons are tasty. But, it will be no time until my fridge is covered and I'm making request for what I think he should draw.

Story Time @ Pottery Barn Kids

Last Tuesday, Owen and I were invited to go to story time at PBK. It was his buddy Bode's actual birthday, and we were excited to get to share in his special day, as well as, get out of the house for a little while. Although I try to read to Owen often, this was our first organized appointed story time. You always wonder how they are going to fair among the others, and Owen made me so proud. He was on his best behavior and was such a gentleman. It was one of my proudest moments as a mother. He wasn't able to sit for the entire story, but he did really well for his first time. He especially loved playing with all the neat toys and other kids. After story time, we had lunch out at The Cheesecake Factory, and followed our day up with a trip to Target and a really nice consignment shop called Kid to Kid, where I was able to find him some really neat things. One thing in particular was a new little school bus that has a handle on it that he can pull around and load up. It plays music, lights up, and has places to put different shapes. I could hardly wait to get home and for him to try it out, and he just LOVED it! It wasn't long until he was climbing inside himself and pretending to be riding it. He is so funny sometimes and never ceases to amaze me. He definitely keeps me laughing. We had a wonderful day out on the town. It was so nice to get to spend some one on one time with my little guy and take some time for just the two of us.

He LOVED this vacuum cleaner!

Owen's New School Bus

Let It Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!

The one thing I can honestly say brings me the most joy as a parent is experiencing the little first things with Owen. It doesn't matter how big or small, it is always so exciting. The weekend before last, the weathermen were calling for our first big snow. The snow began to fall Friday morning, and to much of my surprise, Wade was let go early from work to beat traffic and to get a head start on the weather. First things first, we made the emergency trip to the grocery along with every other resident in Nolensville, TN to stock up on all things necessary for the perfect "snowed in" weekend. It included the basics (milk & bread), ingredients for homemade vegetable soup, movies, and last but not least, the diamond edition of Scrabble. By four o'clock that afternoon, everything was covered and we were in a winter wonderland. After naptime, we bundled Owen up in the coveralls that I am proud to say have survived 28 years of wear and tear. They were Wade's when he was three or four, and have continued to be used through the years by all the nieces and nephews of the Butler Family. They are still a bit long, but with a few rolls and tucks, they fit perfect. I remember how excited was when I still pregnant and Wade's parents gave them to us for the little one we were expecting. I just imagined how elated I would feel watching our child wear them and play outside in the snow. Never the less, they got put to good use that weekend. Owen loved the snow! It was like he knew exactly what to do and didn't even know what it was. He sure made a cute and almost exact replica of Wade when he was that age. He played in it, picked it up, and even had a taste here or there. Wade made him a little sled from some rope and a boogie board, and pulled him around in the yard. We attempted to make a snowman, but by day two, the snow had turned to ice and was nearly impossible to work with. In between playing outside, we would come in to defrost, watch t.v., eat, and just hang out. Although Wade usually refuses to play me in anything remotely competitive, I was able to butter him up enough to give it a whirl and have a fun friendly game of Scrabble. Let's just say that was the first and last time we have ever played. After taking roughly four hours to complete one game, I've been hard pressed to get him to give it another go. But, I had a ball while it lasted. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves tremendously. It was so much fun to play in the snow and watch Owen try to figure what exactly it was and why it was there. He really seemed to enjoy himself, and I personally enjoyed it very much. I wonder how long it will be till we see snow like that again. Always seems to come around every couple of years or so. But, one thing's for sure, I will be especially looking forward to dragging those old worn out coveralls from the closet and putting them to use again. I will just be anxious to know if it still takes any rolls or tucks, if they are the perfect fit, or if that phase in our life has passed, and it is time to pass them down once again. It was an amazing moment in my life to fulfill what I had once imagined and to finally get to see that little one we were expecting playing in the snow in his Daddy's coveralls.

Sincerly,
Codye

He held on like a Pro...

Enjoying himself in  an empty hamper!!

Look at that Grin!!  I could just eat him up!!