Pops, This Ones For You!

Tissues and a paper bag to dispose of them. A Cowan family tradition.

Boy Or Girl?

I have been thinking a lot lately about the reaction I got when I announced we were to "finally" have a baby boy. It seemed like anyone who heard of it would say something like, "you must be so thrilled!" or, "I bet your husband is happy!" And I have to admit I actually would get quite defensive and even a bit angry about it. Some people would even say, "there is just nothing like the bond of a mother and her son." "Really?" I would think. I thought that maybe I would understand when he was actually born. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled I get to have both boys and girls in my family. I just didn't see how I could love one over another.

Well people: I am now the proud mother of both daughters and a son and I can now tell you with authority that yes, there is a difference between my love for my children. But it has pretty much nothing to do with their gender.

In my 6 months as a mom of 3 I have learned one thing for sure. I love my children each completely different. They are different people and therefore should be treated and loved differently.

Jolie is my most friendly child. She LOVES everyone. From the time she was little she would play with anyone anytime. No matter the age, gender or race. She has so much confidence in her little self. It amazes me everyday. It may sound cliche but she truly just loves life.

Lucy is my lovebug. She loves to snuggle up to me and give me hugs and kisses all the time. She loves to do whatever I am doing. Be it cooking, cleaning, whatever. She is a shy sweet little child.

Reese is just a goofball. Honestly he is the funniest baby. He has this low husky voice that just cracks me up. He loves his sisters and his immediate family but basically wants nothing to do with anyone else. He is very serious and contemplative. I just adore him!

I guess what I am trying to say is that I really believe each member of a family plays a different and important role. We need them all and I just couldn't live without any of my little monkeys. I feel just so blessed to be a mother to all of these special kids.

What do you think?

Dead Tired

You know in those movies where people go on long journeys and when they rest they stop and lay on the ground or under trees? I have often thought how insanely tired those people must be to be able to plop down and fall asleep in the elements and actually get some rest. I have never been one to sleep in odd places. On a red eye to New York or to the Caribbean I was never able to get one minute of sleep. I can't sleep on road trips in the car either. It is a curse.

Things have changed for me in the last few months. I have actually experienced what true EXHAUSTION is. For months Reese hasn't been sleeping. For the last several weeks he has been waking us up every hour-sometimes more. You know this is my 3rd baby. I have been through sleeplessness before. But it has never been like this. I found myself asleep on the stairs one night. I even slept a few hours once on Reese's bedroom floor with nothing but my nursing pillow for comfort. I find that my sleepiness is so complete I now know exactly how those travelers must feel as they sleep anywhere.

I called my mom last week in tears. I just was done. I thought I could not function one more day under these circumstances. She very kindly offered to take the girls for the weekend. Landon was also gone to Utah to visit friends so this was my chance. I sleep trained that boy! I didn't want to do it but I let him cry it out. There was no one around to hear him so I just did it. It was a lot easier that I expected. He never cried for more that 20 minutes. 3 nights of sporadic crying. It is amazing what your willing to deal with when you are dead tired.

And it worked. He sleeps. All. night. long. And I am in heaven.

P.S. I also cried it out with Jolie. It also only took 3 nights. I am a believer.

P.P.S. Yes, Reese sleeps with his blankie over his face. He wakes up if I sneak in and take it off.

Good Times

Our Valentine's/President's Day weekend looked something like this.

and a little like this.

and a lot like this.

Eventually, reluctantly by some, we emerged from our sick beds to try out this.

and we did this.

and learned how to chew on this.

and ate some of this.

it was darn good.

yeah, we are so hip.


Good times.

Just Some Stuff

I am behind on my blogging and I apologize. I came down with the cold from h*#! this week and if I live to see the end of it I will be one happy mama. I mean come on, don't you think a mother of a baby who doesn't sleep should get a get out of being sick free card? It is just so unfair. I can't even get a particle of air through my nose and my head feels like it is being squeezed into a too-small helmet. Woe is me.

Okay I am done crying about that.

In better news, on Friday Landon took Jolie to her school's Daddy-Daughter Valentine's dance. They had dinner, dancing, pictures taken, and Landon even took her for yogurt at Pinkberry after. She told me yet again it was the best day of her life. She couldn't believe she got to go on her "first date with Daddy." Pretty much one of the most adorable things ever.


It wouldn't be a good post these days without some pictures of my serious little man-child. Here he is in his favorite place to be. (Other than on my hip or boob, cuz let's be honest he is a true-blue Mama's boy and I am proud of it!)

All Boy

This boy is just pure boy. He has a low scruffy voice. He often growls. He is way stronger than he looks. He loves to eat constantly. His feet are BIG! A huge change from my girls tiny feet.

He is also totally serious. The only person who can get him to laugh is Jolie- and occasionally Landon. I just can't! He smiles pretty much only at immediate family. He is a happy kid, just very pensive. A deep thinker I suppose. Just like his dad.

He is very deliberate in his playing. He doesn't just grab at a toy and shove it in his mouth. He thinks about the move he makes and very decisively puts that toy in his mouth.

I am just putty in this boy's hands. I am enamored. How could I not be? If only I could get some sleep...

p.s. This last picture is goofy. It represents the goofy faces Reese makes all day.
p.p.s. Anyone want to buy some girl scout cookies?

Lovely Lucy

Lucy had her first ballet class today. She loved it of course. She actually came out of her little shell a bit and appeared to have a lot of fun. I am so proud of that little monkey.

Check It Out People

My amazing and talented Aunt Sandi just started her new photography website/business. Now I am just wondering how she has time to take care of her 6 gorgeous children and learn photography? Does she sleep? I guess I will never know!

Congrats. Sandi, you are who I want to be when I grow up. Love you.

P.S. If you check out her website, you may see some familiar faces.

Bored

I found this on a friend's blog:

Things you've already done: bold
Things you want to do: italize
Things you haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font


1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland/world
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. walked to the top of the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked
23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagara falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michelangelo's david in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had your portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistene chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies.
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a cheque
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in Times Square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guard in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person
96. swum in the great salt lake.
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

I guess I haven't done that much.

We Are Expecting!

The newest member of our family is a soon to be mama hummingbird Landon discovered in our backyard this weekend. We are so excited and can't stop checking up on Mama Bird! She let me get less than a foot from her to take these pictures. So so fun! We will keep you posted on her developments and the birth of her babies. Cross your fingers we get to see them!