All about Owen

When we found out we were having a baby last year, our biggest concern was definitely Owen and how he would react to this big change in life as he knew it. He was going from being our baby, mama's wild little man, to being sandwiched by GIRLS as the middle child. I spent my pregnancy butting heads with him, he was dealing with his terrible two's and three's, and I was tired and huge and had a ton of anxiety about what this little ball of energy and fury would do to a newborn baby. Luckily, when Madison was born, she became Owen's pride and joy. I couldn't have been more wrong about how he would handle his new role in the family. He has taught me that WORRY is a useless waste of time, and I need to enjoy each day I have with them. Oh the things I learn from my children.... the list is very long!

Owen is thriving and maturing before my eyes more and more every day. He still has a temper, he still is overtired, but he is getting so much better about handling his anger in more positive ways. It has been such a learning process in parenting for me. He has very real strong feelings, and I find if I take the time to hear about them, he takes the time to calm down and not react so terribly. I think that with all the stress in the world lately, with Daddy and the crew searching frantically for construction jobs, with the schools struggling and teachers and principals leaving, and the worry in our hearts about what the future holds- though we haven't talked about it in front of them, the kids have picked up on the worry that is always there. I decided that no matter what happens to us financially, we need to focus even more on being good, positive role models for our kids. In the last month I've developed a simple, positive rewards chart in my house. It has been an AMAZING tool for the kids, especially Owen. I took our kitchen wipe board and set up a magnetic board with their names on the top, and different small rewards to get to each day- with a big treasure box reward at the end. The treasure box is simply full of little items from Target's Dollar section- and the kids love it! All they have to do is be positive people, and do positive things to move spaces forward. If they are good friends, good helpers, good sports, are playing nicely, are cleaning up their messes, washing their hands, setting the table, putting away laundry- if they do any of these things or other wonderful things they come up with throughout the day on their own- I notice, and praise them, and they move forward. They love working towards a goal, they love being rewarded for being great members of our "team" and they cheer each other on as they move forward. Moving backwards is the alternative, and it happens every now and then, and is devastating. It's worse than any time out or spanking, they work so hard for that goal, and hate to lose ground. It has been so great for discipline! Owen really, really hates moving away from that treasure box, so he does everything in his power to remain positive.
Owen moving up the chart!

Enough about discipline- on to the fun stuff! Owen's weekdays are busy with preschool, and then a few hours with mom and Madi before Kylee gets home from school. Twice a week he gets a playdate with his friend Hayden during that time, and the other days he's begging to play with his best buddy, Brian. I swear these two were seperated at birth- the teachers always tell "Owen/Brian" stories at school- they are like two peas in a pod. They have very similar personalities, are the same size, interested in all the same stuff, and are HILARIOUS to listen to. They both talk a ton- though, many have said they've never met anyone who talks as much as Owen- but, that doesn't bother Brian. Brian is the only one who likes to watch movies with Owen- they blab through pretty much all of them. They are also very good about telling each other how glad they are to be buddies, it is very sweet. The sad part is, Brian is a year older, and he is having to go on to Kindergarten next year, much to his mom and my dismay. We attend a state preschool, and he is just days away from the December cut off... so the preschool won't have a place for him. We haven't told the boys, we'll just have to have mandatory playdates next year to keep them together!

Owen and Brian check out the gold dust and destruction made by the Leprechaun's on St Patty's Day.

What I love so much about Owen is his enthusiasm for life. He is very smart, he thinks things through, and he loves to learn anything new. He'd follow Kylee anywhere, he simply adores her, and wants to do whatever she can do. He amazes us, because he studies how she does something... like say, getting all the way across the monkey bars... and he'll try it and do it the same day. Luckily, Kylee is a SUPER good sport, and is always proud of Owen's great ability to pick up on anything he tries so quickly. He is young in a big kids world, and there isn't much out there activity-wise for 3 year old boys in our small town. He has been good about sitting out and watching Kylee's soccer, basketball, dance, and now T-Ball, but I am hoping the coaches will at least let Owen practice with Kylee's team this spring. He's been craving some after school fun, as well!

Most of all, Owen is such a sweet, caring human being. He loves asking me to squat down to his level, and says "I need to tell you something," with a big, mischievous grin... and then whispers sweet things in my ear, like "You are the best mom ever" or "I just love you, Mom." He's silly, and loves making all of us laugh, and you can hear his hysterical laughter above all others whenever Madison does something super cute and unexpected. He loves when anyone asks about his sisters, he'll tell you Kylee is 5 and Madison is 4 months, and his job is to protect them. I'm starting to think Owen likes his role as the "man of the house" when Daddy's working, and he's already learning there are many positives to having an older and a younger sister. He always lets Kylee's friends baby him and take care of him, and he loves that the girls in his preschool are magnets to Madison's baby seat. He'll "demonstrate" the proper rocking technique for his favorite little preschool ladies. His Uncle Dave gave the Franco perspective I had never even thought of when we saw him over the holidays... when Owen's a teenager, he'll have BOTH older and younger girls visiting the house to be with his sisters! Maybe being a middle child isn't so bad after all.