We're baaack! {and Owen is ONE}

{wrote this yesterday, on owen's actual birthday, but didn't get all the pics in til tonight...}

Our little Owie Bowie is ONE today.  What!?  A year flies by.  Must be getting old, eh?

As if to assert his ONEness, Owen was suddenly walking and talking today.  Well, not quite, but -- he stood himself up and took about four controlled steps over to the couch (controlled being the key word; over the past couple of weeks he's had a few good running jaunts, but he's always been just a bit too eager for his own good and ended up on the floor).  And -- today he started saying two things other than dada, nana, and mama.  He was playing with blocks and stacked one on top of another three and exclaimed, "ididit!"  (He was copying me and Ben with something similar yesterday, but we weren't totally sure he knew what he was saying.)  "You stacked it?" I asked him.  "Stack!" he said.  Then over and over: "ididit!"  "stack!"  So darn cute.

Grandmother made him {me} a cheesecake and he seemed to love it, despite already having fallen asleep at dinner {he's got fine taste buds, this one}.

It was nice having a little break from blogland while we were in California.  No sitting in front of a computer, just enjoying the sun and my pups and having my love on vacation and time with family.  {And as a bonus, I had a huge reading list to come back to.  Still working my way through it!}

We had so much fun on our trip.  SO much fun.  Thank you SO much Grandma and Gram for making it happen for us, and thanks Grandmother for the airport rides and post-vacation recovery meals.  Boy is it lame to return to this cold weather!  But at the same time, of course it's good to be home.  Today Bob said, "Mom, I'm very happy we came back to our house."  And I'm happy to be back at our house, too. I just wish it was on a beach in SoCal.  Just kidding.  Kind-of.

Some favorite photos and moments from the trip {just a few; more to come}...

{did you know about this trick for air travel with car seats?  wrap the latch straps around a carryon suitcase and latch them onto a metal ring.  click the top tether strap to the ring also and tighten everything.  done.  don't have to carry the seat, plus it doubles as a kid or stuff carrier.}

Seven plus hours of airplane time (times two) with two little people was... a challenge.  Not awful, mostly cute even.  But we had our low points for sure.  One of which occurred immediately prior to the peaceful moment pictured below.  Bob was actually the easy one for the most part.  The pups took turns riding in the car seat and sitting on our laps (mostly mine).  Bob was much easier on the lap; Owen was a little maniac who didn't want to sit still for one minute.  Ironic how all carryon items must be securely stowed but babies can just hang out and crawl from seat to seat.  Anyway, with the help of several new toys and books, lots of packed snacks, the flights' beverage service, and a few trips up and down the aisle for stretching little legs, we survived.

And... we saw Richard Simmons exit the plane we were waiting to board.

"We're baaa-aaack!" he said as he walked into the terminal.  Can't you just hear the voice in your head?  That's exactly what it sounded like.  The voice, the outfit, the hair -- I feel like my life is just a little more complete now.

The rest of this week: cheap stuff to do with kids in LA.  Stay tuned.

heading for cali

We're about to leave this snow-land and fly to California.

We've got a two hour flight to Cleveland followed by a 5+ hour flight from there to LA -- which should be very interesting with our two baby monsters.... But, people do it every day, right?  Flying with Bob in the past has never been too bad.  We have some tricks up our sleeves to help us survive the journey -- not the least of which is this little box o' fun we put together...

This gem is a booster seat / stuff tote in one -- the benbat yummigo.  Snagged it from zulily in anticipation of our voyage.  We've got it loaded up with all kinds of snacks and books and toys and stickers and tunes.  So, the pups should be entertained.  And Owie can join us at the table no matter where we are.  And that's a big deal, because he's a big eater these days... and he can't be trusted unless he's securely strapped in.  And as a bonus, Bob checked the thing out when it arrived in the mail, and he played pretending it was his car nonstop until I was able to hide it away for the trip.  So that should come in handy for waiting around in airports.

Anyway, we're excited!  Wish us luck!

the essential tasks of each day

As I was changing Owen's diaper a bit ago, tickling him and enjoying his baby teeth and giggle, surrounded by a seeming explosion of toys and laundry and crumbs on the floor, I thought, This is it.  This is what matters.  Drying this little bum and making this tiny face smile.  Squeeze as much love into every single day, that's what I want to do.

It's a new year, and I do want to have a cleaner house than I did last year.  I want to do more photography work.  I want to write more.  I want to visit relatives more.  But mostly, I want to shower love more; I want to be present with my babies more; I want to drink them up even more than before.

What are the essential daily tasks, the ones that cannot be saved for tomorrow?

kissing chubby cheeks
blowing raspberries on round soft bellies
feeding little mouths
whispering 'i love you's
teaching love
praying for entrusted souls
squeezing tiny bodies
tickling tiny toes
laughing and smiling and
thanking God.

That's my New Year's resolution.