Pictures from my phone

This is Owen at about the same age as Eden is right now.








Look like anyone you know?

Owen & Eden

Owen Can Talk

The other day someone asked me if Owen could talk yet. I said yes, and then this person asked if he used any words we could actually understand. I was a bit offended. You see, it was asked in such a way that it sounded as if this person equated intelligence with the ability to speak. Of course, anyone watching the political campaign can definitely see the flaw in that thinking.

Owen does have many words, and I debated listing them all here, but instead I'd rather list how he communicates without words.

Since I was pregnant with Owen we've had this crazy bond--almost as if I can hear his voice in my head. Even now, he can just look at me, and I usually can get it. I say usually, because sometimes I'm not a very good listener.

His eyes speak volumes. I can always tell when he's getting ill or tired just by looking in his eyes. They also get bright when he's excited, and he gets a sprite-like twinkle when he's up to no good.

Technically, Owen is bi-lingual. We taught him to sign at 9 months. He's almost 3, and he still signs several words. I'm hoping to start teaching him another language in 2008--just can't decide which one.

Matt would debate that Owen is already tri-lingual. He says that Owen speaks "Owenese." It's his own jibberish language, but sometimes we totally understand what he's saying. I can't explain it, but somehow he gets his point across.

That's what it's about, right? Communication isn't about intelligence, or using the right words. It's getting your point across. So, if you can't understand Owen, maybe you're just not listening.

A video of Eden

The noise in the background is Owen vacuuming.

Choo-Choo Cookie

Today we made a gingerbread train, or as Owen likes to call it a "Choo-choo Cookie." He saw a picture of one on the cover of a baker's catalogue, and when I told him it was a cookie--well, we didn't hear the end of it. So, we had to make one ourselves.

Owen adds the decorations.

The completed choo-choo cookie.

Devouring it before the icing dries.

Daddy joins in the feast.

And where was Eden during this sugar-fest? Why, just sittin' around looking beautiful, of course!

Gift-giving

I'm a horrible gift-giver. I can never decide what to get, and spend way too much time agonizing over if the receiver will like what I purchase. When I finally do make a decison I can never wait until the blessed event--I have to have the receiver open it now!

I'm also a horrible gift-receiver. I especially dislike opening gifts in front of the gift-giver. I agonize over how to respond if I totally hate the gift. I get disappointed if it's not exactly what I hoped for, and I feel utterly guilty when someone gets me something I actually want. I just don't feel like anyone should have gone out of their way for me. Also, I hate the dreaded "wish list." Where's the fun in that? Can you imagine Christmas morning: "Oh, wow, it's exactly the book I told you to buy me." Surprise, surprise.

That all being said, it's probably pretty obvious that my poor husband has struggled each holiday and birthday to get me something. I sat down one day after a particularly frustrating Christmas morning, and devised a way for my husband to buy for me.

It's worked so far, and I've been delighted with what he finds for me--sometimes it's something I never knew I wanted. So, I thought I'd share this with all of you who might be struggling this very moment with what to get that special someone.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Has the gift-receiver mentioned the item(s) more than once? twice? three times?
2. Is it just for the gift-receiver, and no one else? (Meaning, you are truly buying this for them--not you.)
3. Is it something the gift-receiver would buy for themselves, but can't because of cost or time?
4. Does it make the gift-receiver's life easier?
5. Will it make the gift-receiver feel _________? (Fill in the blank: prettier, relaxed, special, etc.)

If you can answer yes to the majority of those, then it's likely the gift is a winner.

Another suggestion is to start from head to toe. This works for me, b/c I don't typically spend money on items for my appearance. Not that I don't want to, I just think their are other things that we need to spend our money on (like food and the mortgage).

Last year, Matt found a bag of manicure goodies. It included everything I needed to really make my nails feel great & look great. I love it! I hadn't asked for anything like that, but he knew that I enjoy getting my nails done even though I rarely can afford it. Now, he gave me the option of being able to do it at home.
What I love even more was the pride I saw in his face, and the story he told me of how he came to find & buy it.

This year we're keeping things simple. We bought the kiddos a couple things, but for each other we decided to get all we need to complete the rock wall in the garage. It's something we both want, but have been putting off b/c it wasn't a necessity (meaning: it wasn't in the budget). We've even found a way we both can contribute to the purchase, w/o breaking the bank, but still each making a small sacrifice.

Truly that's what it's all about, right? Sacrifice? One amazing sacrifice, that puts all this gift-giving to shame? If you're reading this, and don't have Jesus in your life--it's time you got to know him. It'll be the best gift you ever got.

Breathing

I haven't blogged since before Eden was born. Didn't know what else to post, beyond what has already been said. Matt has done a great job keeping everyone up to date.

But we have OUTSTANDING news today, and I didn't realize how much stress it was causing until we heard the news.

Eden's PKU's came back normal--meaning that there are no immediate signs of CF. Praise GOD!!!!

Despite that throughout my pregnancy I suspected that this baby did not have CF, and we had no reason to believe she had CF after she was born--getting these results lifted a burden from my mind. It's almost like I wasn't allowing myself to bond with Eden, b/c I was afraid.

It's pretty hard being told that your child has a "life expectancy" abnormal to anyone else. That that life expectancy is shorter than your own. Even though Owen defies the norm, and challenges his doctors with how to "treat" a healthy CF kid--it's always in the back of my mind to make every day, every second, count.

Not that I feel like I don't need to make it count with Eden, but I feel like I can breathe a little better now. Yeah, it's silly. Yeah, I know I'm a nut case, but that's what's going on in my head right now.

Eden will be 4 weeks old tomorrow. We were looking through our pictures from the last month and it is hard to believe how much she has grown and changed. Owen loves to take care of his little sister. He insists on holding her at least once a day or his life is not complete.
I don't remember Owen having either the strong neck or the determination to hold up his head like Eden does at this age. Tamara says he did though so I guess he did... I have a smaller collection of functioning brain cells after having two babies and getting up at 4AM most mornings.

Eden really likes baths as long as they are nice and warm and the water keeps running over her. I guess we are in for trouble in about 12 years.

Milk Coma Anyone?

A typical sight after eating her weight in milk.