Owen's Blessing Weekend

Halloween weekend was Marianna High School's Homecoming, GA/FL weekend, and Owen's blessing weekend. To say the weekend was busy would be an understatement and to add to it, I scheduled Owen's newborn pictures for that Saturday.

Friday/Halloween
Halloween was also Owen's first set of shots/vaccines (the first of many) and his two month appointment. He weighed 11 lbs 12 oz and was 24 inches long. That put him in the 30th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height... are you really my baby?

When mom, Les, and Jim arrived, they were all surprised by his size but probably the coolest thing was how Owen smiled at my mom when he saw her. Owen hasn't seen mom since he was born but it was as if he immediately recognized her. We all went to dinner at Bonefish Grill and it was just a great night.

Saturday
The Gators won against GA which no one expected and we took pictures. For the pictures, Owen wouldn't sleep or sit still. I wanted some cute pictures of baby Owen in a basket wrapped up with muslin but he leaped out like a frog, refused to sleep, and simply wanted to cuddle. Diane was so awesome and patient with him.

Sunday
I don't think Anthony and I have ever been happier. It was a very special day for us and Anthony was getting to the share the priesthood with his son and family which was so surreal. It was fast and testimony meeting too which sometimes makes me nervous because you never know what people are going to say but it went off without a hitch. Anthony and I got up and shared our testimonies too. His made my mom cry with his short, sincere, and warm testimony.

After the blessing, we had family back at the house for breakfast casserole, fruits, muffins, etc. It was great getting to take pictures and just visit but as usual, the time was just too short.

Blessing Attendees
Judi
Mark
Bill
Annie
Ben
Dickie
Drew
Sage
Mom
Jim
Les
Vivian
Lierin
Heather

Blessing Circle
Coby
OJ
Ben
Garrett Smith

He's 8 Weeks Already!

Owen went and grew (and grew and grew)! So I figured we'd update you. Owen doesn't fit in three-month pajamas any more because his feet and legs are so long. I'm not sure where we got such a string bean but we did. On Halloween we have Owen's two-month appointment and then we will have a height and weight update (also his first shots).

Owen dresses up for church

Owen started smiling in CA about 6 weeks old

Likes
Boobies (food)
Lights
Mirrors
Seniors
Family
Creepy Music (anything with someone dying in it...we don't get it either)
Babywearing (MOBY Wrap, homemade ring sling, Tula, etc.)
Standing (with Assistance)
Punching Things (things he likes, things he doesn't, the air...he's not picky)

Dislikes
Car Rides
Dad's Sneeze
Heavy Doors
Being on His Back
Waking up in a Different Place than Where He Fell Asleep
Making Bowel Movements (still learning that)
Witching Hours (9–11 p.m. ish)
[Owen added input here. It was unintelligible.]

We're working on his aggression.

His first holiday will be Halloween

Traveled to CA at 4 weeks

Friends & Family that Owen has been able to meet:

Grandparents—Diana, Doug, Judi, Mark, & Dickie

Grandma Carol & Grandpa Jean

Grandma Betty
Grandpa Allen & Satomi
Grandpa Aho
Uncles—Dane, Les, & Bill
Aunt Annie
Wendy
Great Aunts—Janet, Julie, Kim, Beth, Portia, & Melanie
Great Uncles—Scott, Other Scott, Monte, Pete, Joe, & Bryan
Cousins—Amber, Trent, Donnie, Emily, Eliza, Noah, Abby, Caleb, Matthew, Sage, & Jacob
Friends—Betsy, Sharline, Suzy, Emily, Elizabeth, Myra, Tasha, Amanda, Dalia, & many more

The Stops - Cruise 2013

The cruise was to the Southern Caribbean and it was awesome. Here are some of the pictures. First we were in Grand Turk then Dominican Republic then Curacao and finally Aruba.

Grand Turk

On the beach in Grand Turk - Our ship is on the right

Anthony and I in front of the boat

Anthony posing with our towel creature

Dominican Republic

No AC in that old church and it was HOT!

Dinner time

Our BIG group

 Aruba

Inside a cave

At the natural pool on Aruba

Here's the pool

Mom and me

Anthony on stage at one of the shows - the comedy was pretty good on board

This was such a wonderful trip and we had a blast with family. I was super impressed with Carnival's gluten free dining options too. They were really good at making sure I had plenty of delicious options and I only got sick on the first day when I played a little fast and loose with the buffet.

Anthony LOVED his first cruise and said he'd go again and again just not during college football season. We made great memories!

Setting Sail - Cruise 2013

For Christmas 2014, Mom and Jim gave Anthony and I a week long cruise in the Southern Caribbean so our trip was scheduled for the whole family to go together for Thanksgiving week. It was hectic driving down Friday night after work but we made it.

Here are some pictures of us leaving Miami, FL and the first day on the boat!

Wake up call - Dane's ready to sail!

This STUD on our balcony in Miami

Getting ready to board the boat!

Ready to set sail!

On the Lido Deck

Debbie, Richard, and Hill joined us on the trip

Jim and Mom on the lido deck

Jim and I

On the first night of the cruise was dress up (Captain's dinner I think) so below are some of the pictures we took from that evening.

Mom and Jim

Yes, that's my baby brother and he cleans up nice.

My good looking husband

Grandpa Allen and Bulldog Football Game

On our way to see my Grandpa Allen who was staying at my mom's in Fort Walton, we stopped off for a good ole' Marianna High School Football game to cheer on our favorite player, Bill GoHam Braxton! Anthony loves high school almost more than college

My view... over Anthony's shoulder... Note: He is wearing his alma mater's color

Bill is in this picture

Grandpa's visit was fun and it was nice to just get together and relax. We hadn't seen him in over a year so catching up and just chatting was fun. Below are some pictures of the beach and a volleyball tournament that was being held here. 

4th of July and the Funeral

4th of July was spent in Panama City Beach, FL which like most of 2013 was full of rain so much so there was massive flooding throughout the city. Dickie got a condo on the beach and the below images from the balcony. We got a few chances to run out into the pool and gulf. It was nice having Ben and Drew in one place too.

Look at those whitecaps

You can see the tossed pool chairs

From the car window - a flooded neighborhood

Ben, Anthony, and I did get a game in at Coconut Creek. Bill, Anthony, and I escaped in the flooding for the mall. I got gluten free fried chicken! Homemade by Mark and quite a treat! Annie worked a lot. Drew and Sage went swimming with Dickie, Ben, Anthony, and me. Anthony and Ben worked out a lot. To Mark's sadness, the boat never left the dock. Bruce fell for his tall blonde cousin Tank (don't worry they are dogs and not really cousins). And we all enjoyed the weekend even being stuck indoors because we were all together.

On the way home, we stopped in Marianna so Anthony could see his grandma. We didn't know it would be his last chance to see Jackie mom but it was. I let him go in alone because oftentimes I felt like I dominated the conversation and I knew that if I didn't go, the two of them would be able to talk better one on one. She passed away 2 weeks later and the only picture I took was of Ben and great uncle Hiram (RD's last living sibling). The funeral was beautiful and I was glad Anthony was able to go ahead of me and spend time with his dad and Ben (Drew did not make it as he was attending a concert). I had just started my new job and was only able to go for one night.

It was weird because exactly 5 years ago, I was Anthony's girlfriend having only been dating a few months at his granddaddy RD's funeral. I remember the emotion and meeting these people. At the time, I had no clue how intertwined our lives would become or how happy I would be to share their histories and legacies. When we do have children, names will be pulled from the family tree to pay respects for those that made my husband and me who we are. If we abandon them then we lose the beauty of what makes us who we are.

Ben with Hiram Bennett

Anyway, more about Jackie mom who loved my Anthony and was one of the most interesting women I have ever met. I loved to listen to her talk very whimsically about her love of the beach and the movie Gone with the Wind. One time while I was skyping with Anthony from Spain, she walked up to the computer and stood next to it and chatted. She had no idea about the webcam and thought the whole things was very odd. It was cute and I don't think we realize how much change she (and her whole generation) must have seen in their time.

For Christmas last year, Jackie mom let me paint her nails when we took her home which was fun. She told me of how she met granddaddy after the war and that he paid for their home in cash from the war. She was proud of her home and and grandchildren. Jacckie momwas grateful for all she had. She will be missed. I wish I had a better way with words to explain her. I only wish I had known granddaddy or Judi's parents as well. Their memories live on in the legacy we create.

Memorial Day Weekend

I needed a break so for Memorial Day, we headed West to enjoy some fun in the sun. It was a relaxing weekend with great conversation and lots of fun.

Bruce tried to escape from the travel kennel before we even left JAX

My brother rode his bike The Breakers

My new whip! (Whip is slang for car or ride)

All in all, it was exactly what the doctor ordered. Some serious R&R! :)