Dear Owen,

We got your newborn photos back today… you are quite a handsome fellow!

Love you,
Mama

And my personal favorite — your pirate eye! About once a day, you’ll open just one eye to see what’s up before committing to opening both!

Dear Hayden and Owen,

Today was Thanksgiving, so we went to Nana and Papa’s for Thanksgiving dinner and then we came home, changed into our Christmas pajamas and decorated our house for Christmas, as we do every Thanksgiving evening! Hayden, you had a great time looking through all the ornaments this year — you loved playing with all of them and asking where we got them! Owen, you slept through the whole thing, but that’s okay! It was fun just to have you here!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Hayden,

Today was Thanksgiving Feast Day at preschool. You did some cute crafts and took Dad and Grandma as your guests. You all had a good time!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Owen,

Welcome home! You have had a pretty exciting first weekend home. You have slept (A LOT!), taken your first outing to the pediatrician, spent some quality time with your sister, had your first post-umbilical cord bath, and been a generally wonderful guy to have around. We are all so crazy about you!

Love you,
Mama

Sleeping:

Ready for your first outing to see your doctor:

First Bath (which Hayden prepped for you):

Hanging out with Hayden:

Dear Hayden and Owen,

Today, you met each other for the first time. We are a family of four, and it’s going to be so much fun!

Love you,
Mama

Siblings

Dear Owen,

Tonight at 7:34, you joined our family! You are a sweet, sweet baby and we are so lucky that you are here! You came screeching in to this great big place at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and 21 1/4 inches long. Owen means “desire born” and you are just that — our desire to have another sweet child come to life. We promise to love you without conditions, help you grow into the kind of man God wants you to be, and help you follow your dreams. Welcome to the world, big guy. We love you more than words can say.

Love you,
Mama and Dad

Dad cutting your cord

You and Dr. B.

First Pic with Mama and Dad – Just a few minutes old!

You – Brand New!

Dear Hayden and Baby,

Just wanted to say how much I love your dad. Hayden, I’m listening to you and Dad over the monitor right now. You’re having a ball playing together and getting ready for bed. Your dad loves you more than life itself. I’m overwhelmed in this moment with love for you both.

I love your dad because he cares more about you than he cares about himself. I love your dad because he’s the best friend I’ve ever had. I love your dad because he always makes me feel better about whatever is coming our way. I love your dad because he can be trusted with the biggest secrets ever, and he’d never tell a soul. I love your dad because he knows everything there is to know about me and loves me anyway. I love your dad because he’s very wise and he thinks things through before he makes decisions. I love your dad because he makes funny jokes. I love your dad because he supports me in the pursuit of my dreams. I love your dad because he works so hard, and balances his time so that even though he works a lot, we all get quality time with him. I love your dad because whenever something happens and he’s not with me, he’s the first person I want to tell. I love your dad because when I am with him, I lose track of the time.

When I pray for you both every night, I pray for the people with whom you will spend your lives. I pray that they are learning to love and be loved just as you are at this very minute. I hope you will find someone you love as much as I love your dad, and I know that when you do, you will know you’ve found your greatest ally, partner and friend. You’ll feel like you really can do anything.

Love you,
Mama

PS – Here are the Lyrics to “our” song.

Not Like You – by Lowen and Navarro

When the wind blows
I know you won’t be far behind,
You always seem to read my mind
When I need you most
When it’s cold outside
You are my refuge from the storm,
I couldn’t want for any more
When you hold me close.
The warmest sun cannot fill my day.
Even the brightest stars cannot light my way.
And the wisdom of the ages cannot pull me through.
Not like you.
You’re an angel
Who always holds me in my place.
With all the magic in your face.
I cannot fall down.
And I know someday
If you should find you have to leave
I will be stronger than I am, I believe
‘cause you’ve shown me how.
The warmest sun cannot fill my day.
Even the brightest stars cannot light my way.
And the wisdom of the ages cannot pull me through.
Not like you.
You brought me closer to my own desires
Like a frozen fire
Left burning.
The fear you melted came and washed me clean
A forgotten dream
Come true.
The warmest sun cannot fill my day.
Even the brightest stars cannot light my way.
And the wisdom of the ages cannot pull me through.
Not like you.

Dear Hayden,

Today we took our last big outing as a twosome before your little brother gets here! We spent the day at the zoo, and we had a blast! There were lots of great animals, and they’ve added a whole Little People farm, just for kids your age, complete with play cows to milk and real goats to pet. We’ve had a lot of adventures in the the last 3 years — just take a look at this blog. I’ve loved this time we’ve had together, just the two of us! I can’t wait to watch you love your brother — we’re going to have a bunch of adventures as a trio, too!

Love you,
Mama

Tiger:

Baboon:

Carousel:

Cow Milking:

Goat Petting:

A Pretty Great Pair:

Dear Hayden,

Grandma and Jiddoh came to visit this weekend. You had a great time playing with them!

Love you,
Mama

Dear Baby,

Tonight, there was a baby shower in your honor! Kim, Elizabeth and Erin hosted a great party for us! The food was great and the company was even better. You are so loved already, and you aren’t even here yet. This is the last big event before your arrival, so now I am really settling in around the house and preparing for your debut. I can’t wait to meet you!

Love you,
Mama

Mama with Erin, Elizabeth and Kim: