Just for Aunt Kelsey!

Owen has always been really good at holding his head up and lately we have been sitting him up against the couch corner. So I thought I would try out this bumbo seat he has and he does pretty good! I think it really makes him use his muscles because after ten minutes he got a little fussy. HE IS GROWING SO FAST! LOOK AT MY LITTLE MAN! I decided he needed to start wearing pants and a shirt instead of his sleepers all the time and he looks adorable.

He is as happy and smiley as ever. He sure got spoiled in Washington being held ever second; he won't let me put him down.

Kelsey made this way cute family card.

What do the stats show?

Birth 7 lbs. 10 oz. September 26
1 month 9 lbs. 4 oz. October 26 38% for weight
2 months 2 weeks 13 lbs. 12 oz. December 8
2 months 3 weeks 14 lbs. 2 oz. December 16 90% for weight

Birth 20 in. September 26
1 month 21.5 in. October 26 49% for height
2 months 3 weeks 23.5 in. December 16 50 % for height

2months 3 weeks 14.5 in. December 16 22% for head circumfrence
2months 3 weeks December 16 75% for weight to height ratio

Basically he gained all his weight in November and is way above average for an almost three month old baby. We love our chunkers. In one week he gained 6 ounces. His height is normal as he grew 3.5 inches in about 3 months, but he looks so big! Aparently he has a little head but we will see how that changes in January.

Today's Musings

Yeah! for the Bell family and the birth of Wyatt Craig, I can't wait to hear all about it!!

My baby is the cutest thing I have ever seen, he smiles at anything and everyone.

Good luck to my mom, who will interview for a job at BYU-I tomorrow.

Check out Kayla's blog--kaylaandaaronstewart.blogspot.com

Beg Kelsey for her fabulous Cajun Chicken Fettuccine recipe! But be prepared for SPICEY!

Umm, -14 degrees in Rexburg, Idaho this morning.

I watched my first episode of The Biggest Loser yesterday and it was so interesting!

I am actually making progress now in my MT training! Pat on the back.

Kent only has four more days of school left!

Tons of holiday pictures to come, including the Andes wreath! wink, wink!

For Your Viewing Entertainment!

I want to make this!

It's Andes mints!

To make this shimmery wreath, unwrap about six dozen chocolate-mint candies and glue the wrappers all over a 12 inch round-edged extruded (heavyweight) foam wreath. Then make "branches" with wrapped candies. On a large piece of cardboard, arrange the candies into six large and six small branches ( you'll need eight candies for each large branch and five for each small one, as shown). Trace around the candies, cuto out the cardboard branches, glue the candies onto each branch then hot-glue the finished branches to the wreath.

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/door-prizes/index.html

5 Things I Have Learned from Being a Mom

1. Your heart grows bigger, your mind seeks insight, and your hands are always full.

2. Sleep is relative, a child's happiness is everything.

3. Personal time, gifts and activities don't hold the same value.

4. A roof, heat, food and clothes can make one content.

5. Memories are made when just sitting close together.

Who you callin' CHUBBS?

Check out Owen's double chin, pudgy wrists, and leg rolls!


Seems O is more comfortable laying on his tummy than any other way, so Dad devised a little workout bench with the chair arm.

Here is our happy nakie boy. He just kicks, smiles, wiggles, and grunts. We also call him our noisy baby because he makes all sorts of noise in his sleep and play.

Owen's Baby Blessing

This picture is going on our wall. Owen was dressed in a little outfit with a vest and satin bowtie for his special day. We also used the blanket that Kent was in for his blessing day made by his Grandma Gottner. Kent did great and was able to bless him though the priesthood that he would be healthy and succeed in life. That he would serve a mission and marry in the temple. Also that he would have a desire to keep the commandments and know that his family loves him.

I was able to bear my testimony of the power of the priesthood to show us God's love for us and how Owen has taught us how to love and serve and have patience. My dad and Kaycee also bore thier testimonies and I felt so thankful for the gospel and how it gives us strength.

We blessed Owen in my home ward, Clark Ward in Rigby, and it was perfect. We were able to have a lot of family in attendance, especially those from Kent's side who traveled over. This is a fun four generation pic of the Stringhams.

OWEN'S bABY sHOWER

My mom and Carla hosted a baby shower for Owen and I on the 31st, the day before the blessing. I was so suprised and delighted to see alot of Kent's family come. Kent's parents, sister, and grandparents left Washington at four in the morning. Kent's other grandma and aunts came from Burley.

And of couse some of the aunts, cousins, and sisters of the Barnes clan were there. We played a couple of fun games and had festive fall treats!

Since we had most of the clothes and necessities for Owen, we initiated a crib fund for him instead. I am so happy that everyone would help us get this really nice crib, mattress, and bedding. I found it on craigslist earlier on and it converts into a toddler bed, so we will get alot of use out of it. Then we got a mattress and cute motor bedding from the store.

I also got a few fun gifts of clothing and accessories from family. It was super fun and everyone loved getting a chance to hold Owen.

The Cousins Meet!

Oh! I was so glad that Lance, Kelsey, and Jaeger traveled over to see all of us on Saturday. It was very fun to talk and spend time together oohh-ing over the babies. Jaeger is precious and has great features and is skinny and calm! I was glad that Lance could be apart of the blessing circle for Owen and I am glad that I could see how Kelsey takes care of Jaeger so well and learn from her. It was great! Like Lance said, these two will be hanging out together alot someday!

Sometimes he's an angel

But because of this . . .


We can only determine none of this . . .

and none of this . . .
or this . . .

or this.

Or else we will forever look at each other and be scared of our baby and can only smile when he is like this.

This Little Pumpkin. . .

is ONE MONTH OLD TODAY!!

(caught a grin and a blink)

and has gained 1 lb. 12 oz. for a grand total of 9lb60z

Owen's First Email

Click pic to read caption :D

Kent, the Mighty Hunter

Antelope - 13 inches
Kent went to Montana with his brother, Kraig and met up with his dad, grandpa, uncles, and cousin . Mule Deer - 4x3

On Tuesday, Kent and Ben hiked up around Palisades, Blowout Creek and was able to shoot this deer from over 400 yards away.

Owen Owen, I can't keep you dry!

19 days old
180 diapers
7 outfits in the last 2 days 2 nights
5 wet pillows
new talent: milk out the nose

conclusion: needs a wetsuit but the wet is on the inside!

Thanks, Aunt Kelsey and Cousin Madi !

What were you thinking?

So I decided to dress Owen in the handsome, trendy baby sleeper I made for him. . . .

I don't think he is impressed.

It drowns him.

"What were you thinking, Mom?"

He looks like a bald man in an oversized animal throw.

Need those email addresses!

I think I will be more comfortable with this blog being private as I record more and more details--making it into a family journal instead of a news bulletin. But, I love the little group of people that make comments and want you all to be able to see pictures and details of our family so send me your email addresses.

Events coming up:

Family Pictures
Baby Shower
Baby Blessing

I'm really excited for the professional family and newborn pics this coming Tuesday, so stay tuned.

Oh, and Kamilla, my email is kambriajo@gmail.com -- I would love to still be able to read your blog!

My Poor Glow Baby.

Owen has been fighting jaundice for almost two weeks. I know it is common, but really having a light down his back and being able to go only so far as the cord will let us, well it's getting old. I should get a picture of when we burp him, his whole back is lit up.

Friday will be our sixth doctor's appointment and I sure hope the bilirubin levels have gone down, because they have to push three pipets of blood out of him each time. No fun. While Owen is dealing with that I am getting better from mastitis and he is healing from his circumscion and me from the episiotomy. (Documenting all the interesting ailments for the future ;)

Conference weekend, Kent's parents and sister came down from Walla Walla to visit us. They brought us a sweet stroller and took us to Craigos. And Teresa saved me Saturday night by watching Owen while I combated the chills from the infection. We were glad to have them. Even though last week was exhausting with doctor visits and visits from friends.

This is Bryant, Kent's dad, he held Owen the most and even got Owen out of his bed twice. It was cute.

Cutie Pie.
He always has his fists up in the air, especially when he is sleeping.

I love how his forehead wrinkles up when he opens his mouth.

Here he is holding his binky, although half the time he spits it out, that's okay.

I think I will!

Owen Daniel--Sept 26th--4:22 pm--7 lbs 9 oz. 21 in.

Fall means birthdays, school, cleaning, and canning!

My birthday was Friday the 11th and it was lots of fun with ice cream and cake at work, followed by lunch at Bajios with most all the fam. Then Kent's brother and sister came over and we had orange rolls and watched a movie. Kent loves me and brought me this rose and some nectarines. I am also sitting on the recliner we got for a steal of a deal. It reclines, rocks and swivels :) Happy Birthday to me. The only present I didn't get was for the swelling to go away. I swear people told me by thirty six weeks the swelling would go down, so don't look to closely at this picture. I had to renew my driver's license today and the picture looks like I went to the dentist all over. I absolutely detest pictures these days. But I am very excited that there is only 2 1/2 mores weeks till our due date!

My mom was gracious enough to let me can with her this year. We did scrumptious, pretty peaches and flavorful salsa!

THis is my new best friend--peach cobbler--I think I will have you every other day.

Oh and we did do a good amount of cleaning the first weekend of September as we moved out of our old apartment and into a new one with more space! Yes! Then last Thursday, Kent started school and we both went to part-time at work. We also went to the fair and celebrated Katelin, Kassidy, Kennadee, and soon Kara's birthday!

Addition: Fall means hunting. Lots of hiking and hunting. 14 miles here 7 miles there. A bear close and mule deer miles away. Yep, how could I forget that fall means hunting!