Back to Charlotte

We took our family of four on a road trip this weekend to Charlotte. Matt and I both were encouraged and refreshed by our time with sweet friends in Charlotte. It was a long weekend, a little bit crazy at times with both boys screaming in the car, but WELL WORTH IT! We were able to spend time Friday with some friends and with some of Matt's professors who influenced him the most. Saturday we got to go to the RTS graduation and see other folks that we hadn't seen in a while and we were able to spend some good time with good friends throughout the day. It was a joy to celebrate the work that the Lord has done and is going to do in these families' lives. We love you all and miss you so much!

Here are Owen and Sam. Sam is the sweet one year old son of our friends Jake and Melissa Hunt. We enjoyed many visits with them throughout the weekend catching up and loving on each other's children.



After all of the graduation craziness died down, we did dinner at the Kulps and put the kids down there to hang out for the night. Here is Owen with Bennett and Celia Kulp.



Owen and Bennett liked visiting a lot! Perhaps they will get married one day! I would LOVE that. Here they are dancing to the ABC's on Bennett's iPod.

Two Boys

Whenever we go from upstairs to downstairs in our house during the day, I carry both of the boys. We call this "Two Boys". Owen thinks it's great. So, here are some pictures of our two boys. There have been many sweet moments in the last few weeks. Baxter has not been screaming anymore - we're not sure if it is because we have him on a better combo of meds or if it's that I have cut dairy out of my diet - and that has provided us with some sweet moments with him. Owen is just growing up more and more by the minute! He speaks in such complete thoughts and sentences and it is a joy to listen to him and talk with him. He has enjoyed calling us "mom" and "dad" recently too. Tonight he sang with me when he was going to bed and he giggled after each phrase. So precious! The pictures hardly capture it all, but we'll try!

WARNING - THIS IS A MARATHON POST!!

Owen "helped" me make muffins the other night. He enjoyed stirring the muffins with a big wooden spoon.



Owen has a developing love for trains. Some days this is the only toy he wants to play with all day. If anyone has a train table or old trains that you do not want anymore, please let us know!



Owen also enjoys helping daddy cut the grass. This is a daily request.



This is what Baxter does while Owen plays with his mower.



Here are our sweet boys after bathtime last week.



Baxter had his first sit in the Bumbo this week. It was a short sit and he spit up afterwards, but it was fun. I think he's a little too young for it, but he seemed to like it ok.



We received a big shipment from diapers.com (Thank You Uncle Mark!) the other day and decided to turn it into an art center. Owen loves to sit in it and color. Today he was coloring in his Curious George coloring book in the box.



Baxter's sweet content face.



We borrowed this from our friends Wes and Jennifer and it has been a LIFESAVER. Baxter is most content when he is playing in this "aqua center."



Owen fell yesterday at Costco and hit his chin. It was quite a scene and it included blood. Nothing serious though. It looks worse today than it did yesterday.

Family times

Life as a family of four is going well overall. There are many many moments of joy and delight - listening to Owen talk about life in full sentences, watching Baxter's face light up when we talk to him, and watching Owen love having a baby brother. It's also busy...even crazy...at times, but the Lord is teaching us a lot and walking us through each step. A few things that you can be praying for us are: Baxter has really bad reflux which provides for a lot of spit up and crying. Please pray that he'd grow out of this quickly and that we can provide him with relief in the meantime. Owen has been really scared of noises (birds, trucks...) ever since a thunderstorm a few weeks ago. Pray that he'd trust in the Lord and that we'd have the patience to walk him through this time. Thanks for bringing our boys before the throne of grace for us - we trust it is there that we find mercy and grace to help in time of need.

Here are a few of the moments of joy...

Owen and Baxter watching a show together - Baxter is clearly in control of what is on TV today. We'll see how this plays out as they get older :)



We played with the self timer the other night - I'm pretty proud of the outcome!



Owen LOVES his baby brother - he just doesn't have a good sense for where his limbs are in relation to Baxter's body. That can make for some interesting moments!



Owen's first cheeseburger! He enjoyed dipping it in ketchup - that's my boy!!



We had a BIG thunderstorm last night - Owen does not like thunderstorms. Dinner was quite chaotic. Matt had a great idea - make a "protective" fort out of pillows that Owen could eat his dinner in. It worked...for a little while. Here is Owen eating his pancake dinner in his fort. Sweet sweet Owen.

"Golf Ball" and Sand box

We had a visit from Matt's Dad (Grampop) last weekend. Here are some pictures from our visit and a few new toys for Owen!

Owen and Grampop working hard on a "lacing" project.



Baxter giving Grampop some grins.



Owen enjoying his new sand box - it was a birthday present from Grampop and Grams that we just now got around to setting up. Owen loved it!



This is a new golf set from Grampop and Grams. Owen calls it "golf ball". He is a natural. It's so fun to have these great new things to play outside while we enjoy the great spring weather.



Thanks for a great visit Grampop - we look forward to seeing you again with Grams this weekend!

My parents came this weekend to celebrate mother's day and our anniversary, but we didn't remember to take any pictures...oops! We love you anyway!!