Happy Birthday, BO!

Oh my sweet, sweet Boden. I can't believe you're one! You light up my life and bring peace and comfort to me daily. Your sweet demeanor is just what I need! There is something about you that is so out of this world. I'm amazed by your calm personality. It is a constant reminder to me of what life is all about. There is no reason for contention, the need to rush through life or for irreverence. Those are just a few things that your peace teaches me.

Thank you for balancing out our family so well. You melt my heart. 

Here are a few of your latest accomplishments:

You walk! 

You are eating everything we eat.

You LOVE to snuggle with Lucas.

You also love to play chase with him around the house - but you're not so fond of him picking you up.

You weighed in at 25lbs, 8oz

height: 2'5.5"
You have 8 1/2 teeth.

You love bath time and RUSH to the bathroom at the sound of running water.

You LOVE LOVE LOVE music and dancing.

You love watching airplanes and being outside.

Your favorite thing to do is put things on your head. Hats, blankets, shirts, cups... anything and everything goes on your head.

You say Momma, Dadda, when looking for something, you hum to my tune, "Passie, where are you?" You blow and say "tah" for Hot.

You love to point to my nose and eyes.

Every day you learn new things and it is so fun to watch.

I love you, handsome boy.

Happy Birthday!

hugs&kisses,

"mommy"

10 Months

Oh sweet baby Bo, you are getting to be SO fun and SUPER active! You just weighed in at 24.5 lbs - but the funny thing is, I think you look like you're slimming down! You crawl everywhere and FAST with the most perfect form, might I add. You pull up onto all things vertical. Walls, chairs, you name it. Today I found you in the dish washer. You are keeping me on my toes, That's for sure. I love it when you follow us from room to room. You love chasing Lucas around and look like you're just begging for him to play with you. He loves it too. He says you're like a puppy. (He's always wanted one!) You're better than a puppy. You will someday grow to be Lucas' buddy and will be able to run and play with him.

You are learning and doing so much. You clap and say "Ga Ga Ga" Which to me sounds like "Clap, Clap, Clap!" You just learned to dance and showed off your skills during the sacrament hymn today. You say Mama and have for a while. That was your first word. If all that doesn't impress you, listen to THIS: You know how to WHISTLE! You are constantly pursing up your lips and blowing which makes the cutest little whistle. I have yet to get it on camera.

What melts my heart most is your sensitivity. You are such a softie. If you hear a loud noise, you look to me to make sure it's ok. You startle so easily. When you are getting into something you shouldn't, I say "Boden, please don't do that." in a soft voice, and what do you do? You look at me, wrinkle up your face and sob. It's like you already know what punishment is. I have to apologize to you every time I ask you not to do something. It's pretty pathetic/adorable. 

This summer has been action packed with trips, camping, family in town and reunions. You don't like when you're not in your crib and with all the new environments, you have been very clingy to Momma.  I am 100% okay with that. You are also teething and I can tell you're just uncomfortable. You love Ice and I often freeze bananas for you to chew on.

You will be walking very soon - I can feel it. (and I am scared) Please go easy on me.

hugs & kisses,

"mommy"

Oh my goodness. Mr. Boden, you are half way to your YEAR mark! 

You are sitting up, jabbering tons, you love to eat Momma's face and love every second Lucas is in the room. :)

You weighed in at 20lbs 4oz and are 2' 2.5" long. 

You  love solids and right now your favorite foods are sweet potatoes and yogurt. You smile in-between bites and wait in anticipation for the next. You have let me know more than once that green beans are not on the preferred list by blowing them right back at me. They're my favorite, so I'm determined to change your mind. :)

Here are some of your latest photos as well as a couple from your 6 month shoot.

First Time in Grass:

 "Beach BUM"

We love you, Bo Bo! Happy 6 months!

hugs & kisses,
"mommy"

Family Home Evening at the Seattle Temple.

Dear Boden, 

I hope that you can learn the teachings of the gospel and have a good understanding of where you are from and where you are going. As members of the church, we have such assuring blessings of clarity. Heavenly Father sent us here knowing that we would have a hard time. He knew there would be people around us making bad choices and he also knows that we will make bad choices at times. That's why he sent us the scriptures to teach us about Christ and his atoning sacrifice. He wants us to return to him and misses us more than we can comprehend. He is proud of you, just like your Daddy and I are. I know that he has a special love for you. Please remember this. Also remember that the closest place to heaven on earth is the temple. Please make it a goal to get there. Your Dad and I worked hard to get there so that we could start an eternal family. We have seen great blessings by staying temple worthy. I have also had many, many answers from Heavenly Father in the temple. I hope that you can build a relationship with God and make and KEEP sacred covenants with him. You will be blessed as I have in my life. 

I love you, sweet Boden. I want the best for you and this is why we teach you these things. The BEST that life has to offer can be found when we work hard to remain worthy of the temple's blessings. 

hugs & kisses,

"mommy"

5 months old!

There is not a day that goes by when I don't think about just how happy I am to have you. Every time you wake from your nap, you give me HUGE snuggles and nuzzle right into me while squeeling. You are such a happy boy. You're always so excited to see your Momma. It melts my heart. 

You are 5 months now!
You are starting to sit up, eating solids... We started with Bananas and rice cereal. You aren't too crazy about the cereal, but you LOVE bananas, carrots and pears. I have to be careful with bananas because I don't think your system is quite ready to digest them. ;)

You weigh 19.5 lbs and are in the 98th%. I am so glad to see you growing and eating so well. 

You sleep through the night, sometimes getting up just once. This is a Mother's dream. Thank you for being such a wonderful boy!

Your brother LOVES you so much. He can't keep his hands off you! He's always talking to you and assuring you that everything is ok. He is a great helper and always brings you diapers and loves teaching you things like: rolling over, which tractors do what and sings you songs.

We love you so much, Baby Bo!

hugs&kisses,

"mommy"

you.

There's nothing more fulfilling than watching you so calm and comfortable in my arms. You often times fall asleep staring into my eyes. I'm the last thing you see when you fall asleep and the first thing you see when you wake. I love that you need me and want me. I know you'll grow out of it - so I'm cherishing every second of your dependency. Rocking you is oh so therapeutic. Nothing calms me down more than having you in my arms.

There are things that come along with your dependency. You get to come to work with me, you are at countless basketball games sleeping in your car seat while I play, you get to run every errand and sometimes cook right in my arms.

You are 3 months old already! Time flies. I am proud to say that you are already 17 pounds! That's wonderful! Lucas was a much different baby - very skinny so I'm glad to have a baby to squeeze! You sleep through the night and have from the start! This is every Mother's DREAM. Your record is 12 hours but usually you sleep 9-12 hours. There is not a day that goes by that I don't thank you for sleeping so well. :) Yesterday I got you chuckling! You have been trying to laugh but no noise comes out. You figured it out - and it's the best sound ever!

I want you to know how grateful I am for you. I hope that you can understand just how deep a Mother's love is someday. Please know that I am here for you. All your life I'll cheer you on and do everything I can to help you through this. It's not easy. I know you're coming to the world at a very scary time - I'm prepared to see you through. I'll help you learn gospel principles that are sure to bless your life.

Thank you for coming to our family, sweet Boden. I can't imagine my life without you.

hugs&kisses,

"mommy"