February 2016: Back to the Beach and Lots of Owen

Owen is getting older but isn't getting old around here.  The kids are impressively tolerant when he cries, even when it goes on for 30 minutes in the car.  They beg to watch Owen get his nightly bath.

At the beginning of February, he was still waking up every 2 hours.  I remember Caryn holding him at our meeting and feeling like I might cry if someone looked at me wrong.  I was tired.  Now that February is over, I can count on him waking up only once and sometimes not at all during the night.  Whoo-hoo!

 We started to get out, making easy trips to the beach and pool.  I watched from the sidelines until I hit my magical 6 week mark.

 Owen started smiling!  Zac is the best at producing smiles.  He says in his highest voice, "Hi, Owen, hi sweetheart" and Owen obligingly lights up.

 Owen yawned through the Superbowl halftime show, but we liked it.

 Vicki has saved me by giving Zachary rides home every day since Owen was born.

 The worst decision we made back in November was to sign up Zachary for baseball.  Six days a week is too much for any kid this age, but especially too much with a newborn.  Baby Owen, patient Kate, and exhausted mommy sat through a lot of practices and games.  We don't regret it, though.  It was not a good decision, but it was fulfilling to watch Zachary improve.  He contributed at least one run in most of his games.  The pitching machine was hard to get used to, but by the season's end, he was not a strikeout threat most of the time, and had some solid hits into the outfield.  Here he is with some of his friends from Koloa Elementary.

 Kate begs to hold him.  He sometimes struggles with all her cuddles and loves.  This picture kills me with the way his hat pushes out his ears.

 We learned a new Valentine's hairdo.

 Throughout February, Owen's smiles were tentative and gentle.

 The big event of February was having Justin and Jennie's family back in town for two weeks.  We got together for many playdates, beach outings, pool visits, BBQs, and dinners.  Kate was in heaven with Ava back.

 We met Hilary's new goat, who is a month younger than Owen.

 We went to Hanalei and I got to surf again.  Paddling is hard when you haven't done it in a while, but I did have some fun rides.

 Zac and Chase got along well during their trip.

 Baby-in-a-Bucket.

 Preschool friends!

 Jennie's Owen is on the left.  I steal all her ideas, including her baby names.

Jennie and Justin are looking hard at building a house here.  I'm trying not to think about it because I get too excited by the possibility.  They would be our first friends ever to move back to Kauai.  

 More Baby O:

 This picture makes my sides ache from laughter.

 Overalls!

 Sweats!  It was cold in February.  Yes, cold is 60 degrees, but 60 degrees is cold when you have no heat.  I love it when I'm not at the beach.

 I took this picture after his first night sleeping 9 hours straight!  High five, kiddo.  (He's propped up and fell asleep in the chair while I was brushing my teeth.  This is not where or how he sleeps.)

 Car seat drama begins.  It started at 8 weeks and is 100% consistent.  If we are in the car, he's not happy about it.

Baseball ended Feb 20 and soccer games started the same day.

 Proof that I went to the beach.

 Zac went up against Jojo's team.  A few times, the goalie on the Lihue Cougars team stopped his shot.  One time, the goalie even jumped in front of Zac's foot as he was kicking.  I turned to Brady and said, "That is one gutsy goalie!"  I learned only after the game ended that it was his "bro," Jojo!

 After the game, we stopped and got our first Acai bowl.  We've lived here nine years and it was getting embarrassing that we hadn't tried one.  It's one of those, "You know you live in Hawaii if..." statements.  Acai bowls are everywhere.

 I was a little offended that they commented on my baby weight.  Har har.  It was a Chunky Monkey Acai.

Owen's very favorite time of day is the bath.  Brady gives the bath to him almost always.  I love Brady's sweet nature with him, and hearing Owen's coos.

 More overall shots.  Hilarious!

 Owen loves to lick--his fist, blanket, my hand, my shirt, and even hair.

 Photo credit to Kate.

 One of my favorite pictures of my kids ever.  I love that she is learning to read and has convinced herself that Owen loves to listen.

 The widest I've ever seen his eyes.

 The kids giggled and giggled while Owen yawned, sneezed, fell over, and grinned.

But nothing beat the hysterics when they propped the baby next to him.

 Kate loves it when Owen uses her princess blankets.

 This past weekend was one of my favorite of Owen's life.  We ran over to Poipu Beach park in the evening and played Bocci ball until the sun set, then to Lappets to finish off the evening.  It was so charming.

Zac was all business.

Saturday, we squeezed in workouts and took the kids to the beach for an hour before Zachary's game. We decided one hour at the beach was better than no hour at the beach.  Zac was loving the paddle board again.

 Owen loved the shade.

 We played skim ball before packing up for the game.

 To celebrate a recent promotion for Brady, we got a sitter and had Owen join us for dinner.  We knew it was a risk taking a baby to a quiet setting, but the night was a perfect storm.  Owen fussed for every minute but the first three (when this picture was taken).  We got a call halfway through dinner that Zac was feeling sick.  We noticed in his game that he seemed sluggish on the field.  We hurried home and he was sick all night.  Romantic evening!

February was happy and full of love.  I've thought many times that I have everything I have ever wanted.  Last year at this time, I so desperately wanted a baby, and here he is.  I feel like I can't remember my life before he was part of it.