Loving Every Stage

First captured smile on camera!!! Now he won't let me take pics, but did for me last week!!!

As Owen quickly approaches 5, I wonder how in the world time has moved so quickly. I think about how much I have changed as a mom since he came into our lives. Sometimes I feel like he got gypped, but then I remember that he got a lot of alone time with me that his siblings never got.

As he moved through each and every milestone, I found deep joy in celebrating each first. Now, we seem to not have as many "firsts", but it's amazing to me how he is changing right before our eyes even still. Its incredible to see how much he "gets" when he's not yet 5. He told me the other day, "we'd better hurry up and pray for a brown baby because if we get a peach one, I'll be angry." Please don't think that we have said this, I was just as shocked as you. But he does love how he matches his siblings and he fully expects for any other child of ours to match him.

Both of the boys talk a lot about their birth families. We absolutely LOVE that they talk to us about them and feel comfortable doing so. We pray that this continues as they grow. We have some priceless pictures of their birth parents. Owen asked me if we could get these out and frame the one of both of his birth parents. He slept with it that night (they have done this before). This is just a reminder for everyone out there that most children yearn to know their story and their birth family. We feel honored that our kids are comfortable enough to share this with us. Our hope is that in starting this early with our kids, they will know our deep love, respect and desire to have relationship with their birth families as well.

We see Owen being a great leader for his siblings. He is very sensitive to those around him, and he is also a rule follower (generally). He panics if he thinks that either Sadie or Cooper are in danger...and he screams at me to come help. When he learned that a family close to us didn't have a car, and had to walk to meet us for a play date he quickly told me that he was going to save up enough money to buy them a car. He was heartbroken. What.a.sweetie. He is still pretty shy outside of the house. He loves to help out with making his bed, setting the table, vacuuming, unloading the dishwasher, clearing the table and helping Sadie and Cooper.

He seems to never quit eating, yet doesn't seem to put on weight either. Of course, he never stops moving so that might be why! He is not super picky about food, but is a bit more so than Sadie or Cooper. Right now he thinks that every meal should be topped off with something sweet...oops! It's amazing to me how much energy he has. He always does better outside and on the go. Even though he DESPISES naps and swears he is old enough to skip them, he can still out nap his sibs most days! No lie, he still sleeps 2-3 hour naps and goes to bed around 7:30!

I love hearing stories about him at school like when his leader in Kids Club at church told me that Owen said, "I have the most beautiful mommy in the world." He then followed that up with me being the best mommy in the world. Awww. Blake and I talked just the other day about how it will feel when we are no longer cool to our kids. **sigh** He still adores his daddy and wants to be a bone doctor just like him...on most days. Sometimes its an astronaut or a pilot (he really wants to fly like Peter Pan). He still can't say hamburger correctly and it drives him nuts! It comes out ham-murmer. I love how when we have friends over he calls them customers.

I could go on and on about this kid. Mostly about how much he has taught me and changed me and blessed me. They all have, but with him being our first...he changes me daily with the conversations we have and the times I mess up and have to practice the humility and forgiveness that I preach. Owie, you make me SO proud and I am honored to get to call you my son. You are my I love you!