Owen's Birthday {part one}

Yes, there will be a part one and two - mainly to not overload one post with a bazillion pictures.  Before Owen's actual birthday we celebrated with his baby pose, including his two pals Raeleigh and Nivi.  These two gals have been buddies with Owen since birth and their respective parents were are a true blessing.  Moving to an area right before having a baby is slightly stressful...but once we met these two families who also had big bulging baby bumps like my own it made baby life all the more fun.  I mean...lets be honest...part of the fun is sharing in the miseries, hopes, dreams, and excitement of having a baby.  All three babies were born mid to late december and each have a truly special place in all our hearts.  We celebrated with a room full of balloons, carrot cake and even getting a little craft on.

papas and babies (nivi, rae and owen...NRO)

mamas and babies (rae, owen and nivi...RON!)

enjoying some carrot cake

really enjoying the balloons

cough cough

I hope the new year rang you all in well this year, for us 2013 brought on the flu and what now seems to be mastitis for me...yeah...can it get any better?  While I don't have much to share with you today I just wanted you to know that we were still alive, breathing (sort of) and ready for this nasty flu virus to leave the house.  I know you are all patient and wonderful people...just a few more days and I should be back in action.  There is just so much to share....so I promise...in a few short days things will change around here.

finally starting to see smiles from isabelle this morning...
think healthy folks!

Oh and incase you get the flu too...here is how a family of four are sort of surviving:

Lots of sleep...take it when you can get it...
Ginger tea- 2" piece of ginger sliced thinly and simmered in 4 cups of water for 20 minutes (keep the cover on your pan), it also is heavenly to just breath in the steam from this

Netty pot - seriously try it if you haven't already

Gargling salt water

Humidifier laced with eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass oil

Top Ramen...I know...I know...msg...blablabla

Netflix...Isabelle Busytown and us Portlandia (all desire to be TV-free has gone by the wayside)

Cough/throat drops...isabelle and I like the burts bees drops and aaron is a die hard ricola fan

Frozen stoneyfield yogurt to go tubes (never bought until this past week because i had a coupon...i am so glad i did)

Dipping our re-useable wipes into warm water infused with eucalyptus to help wash and break up the caked snot on Owen...he hates this

Lots of bubble baths and hot showers

Do you have any other suggestions as to how you get through nasty viruses like these...if so I would love to hear!

Happy Birthday Owen!

I have a longer post I am hoping to share but it won't be complete in time for the big day...but for now I wanted to say Happy Birthday to the most wonderful little guy I know.  Thanks so much for picking us Owen.....we love you OH so much.

charlie brown style...

At first I had nixed the christmas tree idea this year....Owen is a handful...and a half...and the idea of a christmas tree sounded like a bad...BAD...idea.  But them came the solution...a charlie brown christmas tree on top of a table...far...FAR...from Owen's reach.  Don't get me wrong...he has tested the durability and stability of the table many times thus far...but thankfully all the shaking he can muster doesn't topple the tree over.  Phew!  

owen...a super big helper

decorating the tree

mama serious face

i have to say i am a pretty big fan of this tree, could be my favorite thus far...it is only straight if you look at it from one angle and is decorated with only handmade christmas ornaments.....she is a beauty!

The holiday season is full of travel plans.  We are headed down to DC to be with family and then up to RI to spend some time with more family.  With Owen's car history the drive is going to be quite possibly scary...but I have faith that we will get through it...i might get my first few gray hairs and I might have a killer head ache the entire ride...but it is well worth it!

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

Playing dentist!

Isabelle had her first dentist visit and after a little persuasion she opened her mouth wide and did a great job!  And now...can one guess what her favorite game to play is...that's right dentist!  To have Isabelle excited about brushing her teeth and playing hygienist with dad is just about perfect.

dad getting his teeth cleaned

now its isabelle's turn....tiny clothes pins came in perfect for making a bib and cleaning teeth (naturally)

and per usual...owen desperately trying to get in on the action

Chicken harvest 2012

It was a cold december day that friends and family all gathered for a peaceful weekend retreat in rural vermont.  And what is it you ask that brought us all together? Nineteen plump and pleasant chickens ready for the freezer!  We truly are blessed with an amazing group of people that helped us do some dirty work and afterwards celebrated life with.  What an wonderful weekend - thank you all!

Isabelle & Noa coloring

me heading up with the last of 19 birds
this particular bird was our rooster that lived with our laying hens...he was not very friendly
let this be a lesson!

max and i
our meat birds I think ranged int he 5-6 lb...some of the cockerels may have been even more

the plucking and drawing station

while it may not be the best job...it was cold and sticking your hand in a warm bird cavity had its appeal!

aaron with his knife skills

Kirsten and I excited to be almost done!

So far we have had chicken noodle soup and chicken and dumplings is on the menu for dinner tonight. And let me tell you....for chicken...they aren't so bad!  Thanks again for all the help - you know who you are!

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all photos (other than the first) were taken by the lovely kelly hanks - thanks xo!

his new moves

I have a whole lot of blog catching up to do....from owen walking...chicken slaughtering...to holiday decorating.  So bare with me folks!

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Owen has lots of new moves lately.  He started walking about 6 weeks ago and is now really getting the hang of life on his feet.  He will take up to 12 steps before plopping back down...only to get back up and try again.  This boy is persistent despite my best efforts to keep him horizontal!  He has also learned how to scoot his legs around and safely go down the stairs...which is a blessing as he really thought that going head first wasn't all that bad.....He really is a bit of a dare devil and has the little grin to boot - we are so happy to have full health insurance...this kid has me worried.

big smiles

climbing up stairs

standing

going down the stairs...there are only 3 folks...no heart attacks please!

walking!