Owen 5.5

Dear Owen,
This week we went out walking a few times and we had a lot of  really good conversations... the first of these included you spotting theses shoes

you told me with no reservation that these were wedding shoes...you said "these are really perfect because of the jewels"... then you asked if you should buy them now to give to your wife on your wedding day. I almost let you because how sweet is that? I realized that we wont know her size of shoe until you meet her though so no shoes. I couldn't believe how thoughtful you have become...not to mention romantic!
The next day we walked again and this time you talked a lot about your house...the one you going to have when your married. This house is going to be bigger than the first united Methodist church in downtown Salem as we passed it you said "my house is going to be like that building...except bigger and taller it will have fountains in all 6 bathrooms and a large pool upstairs" "to keep all the kids quiet" I had to ask if  a life guard was going to keep them safe as well because drowning is not a great way to keep children from making noise. you said " its going to be a big pool momma with not very much water in it...not very full? you know so no one can die in there." I ask how many kids your having and you said "two the first time then one and then maybe two again" I said "twins? you want twins first then one baby then twins again?" and you said "actually I want ten twins...and like a hundred kids" I said "you wife is going to be one special lady to give you all those kids..." you said " not all at once momma they will come out at different times" as if to intimate that any woman even remotely interested in birthing ten sets of twins and a hundred other children would only be special if they all came out at once. I am of course laughing at this point and you ask why...I said "well I am just imagining you with a hundred kids in a pool"... you said "maybe just the ten twins actually"
yeah just the ten twins that is a little more manageable...

Owen you are funny and sweet and loving. You love your brother and soccer and dinosaurs. You love playing with toy guns and making really good shooting sounds. You want to be a scientist. When it is your turn to pick a movie on net flix you always choose an adult documentary about nature or dinosaurs or the way things work.

You also love ice cream...who doesn't?

I think you will make a fine papa and scientist someday. You make me smile. You are wonderful.
Love Momma

Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything,but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what ever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.Philippians4:4-8  

Owen the scientist

Me: Owen let me check to see if your teeth are getting loose...
Owen: Ok any falling out?
Me: no...thank goodness...I love you tiny teeth.
Owen: when the teeth fall out I am going to collect them all.
Me: no. no your not.
Owen:: yes I am I love those teeth.
Me: Maybe we can make a time capsule for teeth and bury them in the back yard.
Owen: can we dig it up?
Me: nope once they are buried they are gone.
Owen: no way I want to look at those teeth everyday.
Me: maybe you could look at them for a day after they fall out then bury them...?
Owen: I really want to collect those teeth... I love teeth mamma.Me: maybe you can become a dentist and look at teeth all day long.
Owen: no mamma I am going to be a scientist and I am going to collect teeth... Because my mamma wont be around.
Me: fits of laughter...I will always be around and I will never let you collect teeth.

Cherry Blossom Time...again

It was time to hit the cherry blossoms at the capitol mall again so this year we went with our friends(and neighbor) Angela and her precious son Bennett...(you can check them out here at Little Bird if you want to see more of B's adorable face) because we didn't want to wait until after MG got off work and risk loosing our only chance at sunshine...
It is 90% chance of rain for the rest of spring practically.

They really are so lovely.

Super Hank flying through the blossoms.

Sweet big baby growing way too fast...

Brothers 

My two littles with cute(and very edible) Bennett.

And here is another sweet boy who just wont stop growing
despite my constant recommendations that he do so 

So big and still so little...
I really adore him.

Our state Capital...
where MG works
and where the Cherry blossoms abound.

Say fair well because we may not
have sun again for weeks.

Just another manic Monday

Monday morning at the Gay household.  Messy. Crazy. Noisy. And Fun...most of the time.

Some pictures from this morning just for fun.

Henry loves to climb and perch now and when he gets up "high"
he thinks he is really clever and shrieks with delight.
Its really funny and sweet.

Owen loves this robe a good friend passed down to us....
He thinks it is "super cozy" and I think he looks
amazing in it!   

5

Owen,
Yesterday you turned 5! I can hardly believe that 5 years have come and gone already... words actually fail me. You are so big now. You are a real live boy no more preschooler left in you and all vestiges of babyhood long passed.

This was your cake. you were really impressed...which is funny because it was a monumental flop. The cake was vanilla with mostly chocolate frosting(I had to add some left over colored butter cream to fill in when i ran out of chocolate). You loved the effect and specifically asked for the number 5 to be on there.

We had the 3rd annual cookie frosting party... this year only a few of the kids did the frosting...and I am left with a giant bag full of cookies the neighbors will be getting soon. Owen you loved eating the butter cream frosting. That's about all you did with the whole cookie bit this year...next year we will try a new theme.

We saved our presents for you until the evening and you were really excited about all of them. I always have such a bitter sweet feeling about giving you gifts... bitter because I always wish it could be more but sweet because you don't even know or care that you have not received a lot. I am glad that you are so easy to please and that you have such a great capacity for joy.

This picture is blurry... but so is life sometimes... this year has literally whirled by me. I find it so hard to accept that your 5 and that I have had you for this huge amount of time and yet I am still getting to know you. You are still my sweet natured little boy. You have compassion for those who are hurt and needy. Owen you have a very gentle spirit and you are kind and loving to everyone around you. You are also always moving and there is honestly constantly some sound effect coming out of your mouth. I fear that the days of snuggle ups on the couch are nearing there end and that someday soon you may even decide kissing me is gross(please never feel this way...). I am treasuring every last drop of your littleness because it is disappearing before my eyes as the new big, independent you is emerging. I love that your growing and changing but it hurts a little too. I still remember the feel of your warm baby body so sweet and tiny in my arms. I am even more in love with you now than I was then... Imagine that...
Love, Your Momma

Owen and Henry...

A picture update

Henry was a duck for Halloween and was less than impressed

Owen was a Lion he loved the whole afair

Henry Hates jumping in leaves 

Owen loves jumping in leaves

Owen dresses himself

I dress Henry

They both love each other.

I have been away a while so I just wanted to give you some cuteness to make up for it.

Christmas is upon us and we are slowly getting in the mood this year.

I hope to turn this house into a winter wonderland by the end of the week.

Now Is The Time

Now is the time to get things done…wade in the water, sit in the sun, squish my toes in the mud by the door, explore the world of a girl just four.

Now is the time to study books, flowers, snails, how a cloud looks; to ponder “up,” where God sleeps nights, why mosquitoes take such big bites.

Later there’ll be time to sew and clean, paint the hall that soft new green, to make new drapes, refinish the floor – Later on…when she’s not just four.”
- Irene Foster

 I read this on a blog I really enjoy. I read then re-read it and thought Ah-ha! This is my struggle right now... this is my predicament. I don't seem to be able to just do the small fun things anymore... if someone asked me "don't you remember what it was like to be a child?" I would say "uh not really". I want so badly for this  season of homeschooling Owen to be joyful and adventuresome. I want to foster joy and a love of learning.  I want to read books and do crafts and bake things for the neighbors. I want to go on long walks and puddle jump. I need to make this time special for him... and for me. Instead I get so caught up in the things that "have to" be done and loose sight of the things that "should be" done.  He is only 4 and he deserves better than I have been giving. He is still a child full of life and curiosity and I have not been able to see it-I have been too focused on the task of educating and I missed the whole point-I see it now and I want to "get things done".

This is my prayer, and if your so inclined I ask that you would pray it for me as well, I hope I can remember it daily.

Father in heaven, Thank you for my lovely family and the beautiful healthy children you have given to me. Please help me to seek your purpose for my every day. Help me to know the things that should be done in this season and to do them joyfully for your glory. Give me wisdom to discern which days should be filled with practical things and which should be used for fun. Help me to understand your plan for this season of our lives and to seek you and and to carry out your will and not my own for this special time in our home. I ask that you would give me a renewed child like joy and that it would be contagious in this house and in our lives. I pray that you would use me however you want and that I would be submissive to your plans for me and for my children.  I pray for these things in the name of your sweet son Jesus.  Amen.
now is the time to get things done

a stream of conscience

I haven't felt the desire to write in a long time. I keep thinking I should really update my blog... but the task seems cumbersome and I cant make myself want to. I want to get back to the place where writing is cathartic and something I feel passion for... I guess I will just start by writing more often and see if those old feelings return.
My life lately has seemed slow moving and hurried all at once. Slow because our lives have been rather metered, rushed because I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
 I started homeschooling Owen and although  it is not as hard as I thought, it still seems to be a mental challenge to rise to the occasion everyday. I know some of you are probably more than a little surprised that I am homeschooling-and honestly so am I-but it is the right thing for our family in this season of life. Owen loves learning and is disappointed the days we don't do school. I am less passionate about it... still I know it is the best thing for us... so I am muddling through it day by day.
Its funny how my days seems to drag on then fly by. We have a great routine right now... we wake and have a family snuggle up on our bed. Then we eat brecky and tidy up a bit. Then Henry naps while Owen and I do school. We then do whatever the day calls for and the have lunch then rest and then a little more of this or that then dinner, bath, stories, and bed. Some times I think that the day will last forever that the bed time and kissing the boys goodnight is a far away dream. Other days I cant hold on to the sweetness of the the passing minutes to save my life.
Its nice... and yet my heart longs for adventure on a grander scale. I don't know what business my heart has longing for such a thing when we are doing great with  the simple things in life...but there you have it. I find myself dreaming of travel and hiking and open sea sailing-I have never even been on the open seas-I want to sail! Maybe not literally... but I have the yearning that I always get before a big change.
I want to be out there -you know in the world-making a difference... but doing what? For whom? With who's energy? All questions yet unanswered.
Yes I feel a change brewing-something is happening in our lives-and I don't know when but I sure know its a-coming. This season of simplicity is good, its a gift, a rest before the big adventure ahead. I will enjoy the slow pace while it lasts instead of impatiently fidgeting for the end of the day. I will drink in the smell of little heads and blowing bubbles. I will let the sound of my children's perfect laughter fill my soul with joy and I will wait and see what our-certainly interesting-future will hold.

I have been gone so long I hardly know where to start... First off Henry is a really sweet baby he sleeps well and eats well and he is loved by one and all. We have had a whole litany of issues the last couple months to try and get the milk supply up for him but he was un-phased by any and all attempts to make more milk... he just eats it and seems glad. I am now just recovering from mastitis and a cold. We are still working with my Dr. concerning my thyroid disease and trying to get that back on track A.S.A.P... Other than that we have been enjoying this new little and battening down the hatches a lot.

Owen really loves the tiny brother and is regularly overheard talking,singing to and and calling him sweet little nick names like little bobble head and tiny brother.

Henry is also known as little frogger because he has tiny little hips, a wide chest, long legs, and a wide mouthed smile! We love this smile!

Sweat little men.

Tiny toes

Ever since he was born he has been sticking his tongue out.


We even think he is cute when he cry's

Tiny fingers.

40 weeks!

Who knew a baby would want to stay inside me for the entire 40 weeks of pregnancy! Actually the way it is looking at this point the little sprout may stay in even longer than that!

me at 40 weeks bad photo I know...

My due date was Monday February 7th and instead of having a baby I caught another cold...cold number 8 in 9 months to be exact. I am powering home the emergen-c usisng the netty pot, taking the elderberry, resting, and using a box of tissues per day. I have been praying a lot that this cold will end fast and that this baby will come even faster. I know I can trust that it will all happen in the right time and I am being taught a powerful lesson in laying my burdens on Him, not listening to lies I want to believe(you will be sick and pregnant forever) and remaining faithful in prayer knowing that He does hear me and that He does loves me so much that He has a plan that will be way better than anything I could hope to ask for.

His plan for Owen was totally unexpected and totally perfect. Who could ask for a better kid? And I know that it will be the same for this next one as well...even though I have to wait a lot longer to meet him.
Hitting our favorite coffee shop Broadway Coffee House(its only 5 blocks away and serves stump town!) and taking what may be our last "family of 3" Photo. It is a strange thing to think of someone else being a part of this family. Strange and wonderful. I am so excited to meet this new little boy I can hardly stand it!
I love the boy I have so much that I really couldn't be happier to have another one to squeeze! So just you wait little baby your gonna get some good squeezin' from all of us here on the outside real soon! Owen keeps asking when the baby will get here and he seems genuinely excited to meet him as well... I love that he gets to have a brother and that I get to have another little to love!

This post is rambling and disjointed... My brain is not functioning on all cylinders at this point and that my writing has suffered tremendously. I still feel the need-however-to document the joys and trials of motherhood. So to try and sum it up I love being Owens momma and cant wait to have this next baby in my arms! I also feel anxious every day that he may never actually get here...silly I know. I am tired of being sick and pregnant but feel guilty even thinking those thoughts because I know I am truly blessed in so many real ways. So there you have it my life and inner thoughts after 40 weeks of pregnancy.
hope to introduce you to the newest littlest Gay very soon!