The Owenby Family: July 2009

A couple of weeks ago I saw a woman on television talk about how moms have so many responsibilities that "multi-tasking" has become second nature. The woman was explaining how people in general really need to slow down. Evidently the mother had left her little one in a hot car all day because she was so consumed with all of the other tasks she had to accomplish before going to work one day. I can totally related to this mom and it is so easy to get consumed with chores, bottles, making dinner, grocery shopping, play dates, etc. that before you don't know where the day has gone. While I'm feeding Benjamin sometimes my mind wonders to all of the things I have to get done and hoping he will finish soon so I can get back to accomplishing all I want to get done that day. I am trying not to do that and over the past couple of weeks I have taken the advice of the mom to slow down and not multi-task (it's SO hard!).

Benjamin had his 4 month check up yesterday and he is a happy, healthy boy! He weighs 13 pounds, 10 ounces and measures 23 inches long. He is in the 50th percentile for weight and the 25th percentile for length. Chris and I were surprised with his weight because he thought he weighed more than 13 pounds. He is getting very heavy. Benjamin's face lit up when he saw Dr. Baust and enjoyed playing with him. He also showed Dr. Baust how he can sit up for about 5 seconds, "talk", and grab his toes. The doctor mentioned introducing Benjamin to solids since he has been on rice cereal for two months now because of the reflux. We have the option of starting him now or wait until he is 6 months and Chris and I decided we will wait for another month or two. However, since a lot of the vegetables and fruits are in season now I will start making the food and freezing it so we will have plenty to feed Benjamin when the time comes.

Over the past couple of weeks Benjamin has really shown his personality. He is definitely an observer and likes to explore. He does "talk", laugh, and occasionally "sings" which have been the best sounds to hear as a parent. Benjamin makes Chris and I laugh so much. He loves his new activity station that his Grandma got him. The picture above shows him playing in it. At first he wasn't quite sure what to think of it, but now likes to play and move objects around. He loves to kick and knock items off of it and make Chris and I pick it up. Also, Benjamin LOVES books! When he gets fussy Chris and I will read him a book and once he sees one, he immediately stops fussing. When he was 2 months, he loved looking at the pictures and now he wants to hold them and grab at them. His favorite book so far is Chicka, Chicka BOOM, BOOM! and a shape book that has a window on each page that Benjamin moves over each shape. Benjamin enjoys games and interactive songs that we do with him- Stinky Feet, Patty Cake, One Potato, Jimmie Johnson Vroom, Vroom, Alphabet Rap and other songs, but those are his favorite. We love to make and watch him smile. Benjamin is on a schedule during the day (2 hour nap in the morning, 2 hour nap in the afternoon, 1/2 an hour nap in the evening with play time and feeding in between) and continues to sleep through the night.

Chris has been busy at work and has been a very involved dad when he gets home. He makes up and sings silly songs for Benjamin and it makes Benjamin laugh. When Chris gets home from work, I leave to coach at Gymnastics Inc. where I teach Level 1 and 2 gymnastics to 7- 12 year olds twice a week. Last week we got to travel with Chris down to Aiken, South Carolina and stayed the Houndslake Country and Golf Club. It was beautiful there and Ben got to swim in a pool and celebrate Chris' first birthday as a dad. So far I LOVE being a stay at home mom and I am so blessed to have this opportunity. I have started to see the back-to-school supplies pile up at local stores and have gotten excited about seeing them, but then realize that I'm not going back. It's hard but then I look at Benjamin's smiling face and I know it's worth it. I haven't completely left HCS because I am currently working on professional developments for teachers so I can earn re-certification points.

Sorry this post is so long... I promise to do smaller, more frequent posts in the future! God bless!