moving!

Just wanted to warn that this is going to be a slow blogging week for me. We are moving. . .not too far, but moving nonetheless. So as you know, William lost his job about 4 weeks ago and with no prospects on the horizon, we really didn't want to sign a 1 year lease anywhere. But his (ex)boss' wife literally knocked on our door last Saturday and asked when we think they could be out because they decided they really want to put it on the market as soon as possible. So in other words, get out.

So enter God.  My good friend Anne and her hubby just bought a sweet new house.  And fortunately (for us, not them) their old house hasn't sold.  They are going to let us live there!  Woohoo, a place to live.  It's a cute little place in Ashland Park. The neighborhood has a great park which will be perfect for the warmer days.  So send up some prayers of thanks for them and pray that they get an awesome offer on their house.  Well, right after we move out of it. :)  William's been making lots of trips with my dad to pack away many of our things in storage. And then we're moving most of our big stuff and other essentials this weekend so that on Monday, we can make a trip to Carbondale to meet the new Miss Liana!  Ahh, I can't wait!

So just to tie you over for a little while, here's a short video of Owen laughing with William. My finger must have been covering the sound at the beginning, but you can hear it after a few seconds.

Happy belated birthday

We had a pretty pathetic birthday celebration for William.  I promised him a big one next year.  But here's the pictures from our simple cake and singing time.  Jenna joined us as well.

Here's bad picture (it was dark) of my cake from scratch.  Here's the recipe.  I would definitely make the icing again (it was fabulous) but the cake needed to be a bit sweeter for me. 

 

We were nice with the candles. :)

Owen wanted to help with the candles.

 

introducing. . .

Liana Claire Habel

7lbs, 8oz (at least that's what Phil thought last night :)

21 1/2"

 Love.  ♥ Aren't they both beauties?

Dear Baby

Dear sweet baby girl,

I cannot even express all the things I'm feeling right now. I think I have cried more today than I did when I gave birth to your soon to be friend, Owen. I can't give the world any updates because your momma hasn't posted them. And well, that is a really fun thing for a new momma to get to do. But I just wanted you to know a few things.

We have prayed and prayed for you. For years. Really, years. And when I saw that picture of you wrapped snuggly in your momma's arms. . .I knew that you were the EXACT baby that we had been praying for. You are perfect. Absolutely perfect. And you have been worth every minute of the wait.  You have such an amazing mom and dad.  They are some of the world's greatest people.  They have hearts so big they can't be contained.  They're going to teach you so many things, like how to be an amazing gardening goddess and cook, and how to read great books, and how to survive without a TV.  And you'll grow up not only know about their love for you. . .but about how much Jesus loves you.

I'm giving you a book when I get to meet you this week (oh how I wish I could come this minute). And in it, there's a line that sums everything up perfectly:

Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the wonderful, marvelous night you were born.

This is true. Jesus was throwing quite the party tonight because you arrived (in quite the fashion too). You are the one and only ever you.  I love you so much already sweet girl.  

Love,

Emily

Baby Habel is on the way!

The bestie is in labor. If you have a minute, say a prayer for a great labor and a safe arrival of that sweet baby girl!

Happy Birthday William!

Umm, totally thought I hit publish on this yesterday.  Oops, so now it's a day belated.  Just wanted to wish my sweetie a very happy, umm, 29th birthday.  Isn't he handsome?  I'm so lucky that no one snagged this guy before he came up here from Texas for grad school and got stuck with me. :)  He the best husband and dad a girl could ask for.  Happy birthday.  Get ready, because next year we're going to throw you a huge par-tay for that 30th birthday.  Love you!

rolling from back to belly

Last night when I went to check on Owen crying around 4am, I found him on his belly. That means is was the first time, finally, that he's rolled from his back to his belly. He's moving a little slow around here in terms of wanting to be mobile (see 8 month interview). :) But here's a little video from this morning when he was repeating it. You can stop after about 30 seconds because it gets boring. On a side note, anybody know a good, free movie editing software for .mov files?

Happy Valentine's Day!

"You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus." - Philippians 4:19 (MSG)

Thank you A&P for the best valentine this year! :)

Happy 8 Months: An Interview

I was lucky enough to get an interview with Owen today in commemoration of his 8-month birthday.

Emily: Thanks for sitting down with me today, Owen.

Owen: Oh, no worries. I had a break in my schedule.  So, you know, it's cool.

Emily: So, how is it being 8 months old now?  Anything new happening since we last talked with you.

Owen:  Being 8 months is pretty great.  I mean, the basics are still pretty much the same.  I look cute, I get held.  I cry, I get held.  I smile, I get held.  But lots of great new things are happening for me around here too.  I like spending time in my jumparoo.  It's way more fun than that exersacuer thing they put me in.  I like to sit in it and ponder life's tough questions.

I also have had fun with lots of new toys. I think my mom finally realized I'm ready to move beyond those squishy toys that have water in them. Here's a video of some of my new mad skills.  My mom gets pretty excited every time I do this. 

Emily:  Any new food experiences you'd had lately that are worth mentioning?

Owen: Well, I've enjoyed a few new fruits and I really like the zucchini I've had.  I'm also getting much better about eating things with more texture in them.  I really like chewing on apple and pear slices too.  I heard my mom saying that now that I'm 8 months, I going to be getting lots of new things to eat like tofu, yogurt, chicken, turkey, mangoes, and more.  Chicken.  Isn't that what mom calls that the yellow puppet thing I like so much.  Hmm.  I also really still like nursing. I'd nurse all night if I could instead of that thing mom likes to call sleep.  I've also found that nursing is way more fun if you hold your passy in the free hand.  I now insist on this all the time.

Emily: Speaking of sleep, we've heard some rumors that you're not getting much of that these days.  Care to tell us more about this?

Owen: I have no idea what you're talking about.  I'm just doing the same thing I've done since I was born, getting up every 1-2 hours just to check on my mom and dad.  They really like seeing me so often.  Lately, they've really been trying hard to make me cry myself back to sleep, which come on, would any of you like that?  I think not.  So just to remind them who's boss, I've started a new policy of being up from 3-5am crying or just being wide awake.  You know, just to keep the parents completely sleep deprived on their toes.

Emily: We've noticed you sporting a new hair-do lately.  Wanna give us any tips on who your hair stylist is?

Owen:  Well, I've got a rockin' aunt who can't wait to cut my hair.  But it's coming in a little slower than I anticipated.  But as this picture proves, I'm starting to get a little sprout like Alfalfa and dad calls it my faux hawk.  The parents have even threatened to put gel in it for church.  I think the spout goes well with my angry look.

Emily: So, in a few recent press pictures, we've noticed a nice head tilt and you sticking out your tongue.  Is this your new look?

Owen:  Well, yes thanks for noticing.  The feel like the head tilt shows off my better side.  And the tongue thing.  Well, I'm just realizing I have control over this thing in my mouth and it feels pretty funny to stick it out and blow bubbles.  It's especially funny when my mom has just put a spoonful of food in my mouth.

Emily: Any chance you'll be mobile anytime soon?

Owen: And ruin the ability to get held everywhere I go?  Not a chance.  I still refuse to roll over (even though I'm totally capable of doing it).  I just don't want to get the parents expecting me to do everytime they say 'roll over buddy.'  I do finally accept some tummy time that's longer than a minute and I like to push up on my hands.  I also like to stand up with a little help.  I think that whole crawling thing is for babies.  I think I'll skip it just like my mom did.

 

Emily: So, Owen, anything else you'd like to share with us today?

Owen:  Just a few random facts that only my grandparents would care about.  But here goes.  I really love my mom.  When someone else is holding me now, I almost always cry.  Unless my mom is right there.  Just gotta make sure I give her some loving.  You know she birthed me and all.  Then there's this 4 legged creature that's really starting to like me these days.  They call her Sophie Cat.  I like to pull her tail and nuzzle my face in her fur.  I'm also getting really good at waving my arms when I get excited.  Maybe one day I'll figure out how to get my hands to meet and do the thing they call clapping.

Emily: So, Owen, in conclusion, how do you stay so grounded with all the attention you get?

Owen: It's a balancing act. I just try to remember where I came from and get back to my roots every once in a while. I just don't want to get too "Hollywood", you know? Oh wait, here's a few more pictures and a video I want you to see of me.

Owen: Upon previewing this article for publication, my stylist would be appalled.  I'm in my pj's in almost all of these pictures.  I just want people to be aware that I have quite the collection of clothes thanks to my grandma, but my mom keeps insisting on these footed pj's for these cold days where we stay home.  I'm kinda ready for that white stuff to melt because then my mom says I get to go outside more!

play date!

How did I not post this?  A few Saturdays ago, we had a fun play date at Joanna's place! It's so weird to think that just a few years ago all of us were in a single gals small group, and now we're all married with a kid! Time really does go quick!

Big sister-to-be Taylor

Loving my hands in my mouth!

Brooklynn showing off her somersault skills.

Love that she says "cheese" for the camera!

Look at those cheeks on Caleb!
Of course, I didn't get any pictures of Owen or all the kids together. :( But I'm sure we'll do it again soon!

bath time surprise

First, see the faux-hawk?  Owen's finally starting to get a little hair!  Maybe we'll put some gel in it for church next week.  But onto what this post is about.  It was bound to happen.  I've heard it happens to all moms.  Poop.  In the tub.  Yep, not a minute after I took this picture, he did his grunting routine and I knew it was too late.  Luckily it wasn't a floater, so I was able to not have to completely re-bathe him.

Was that more info than you wanted to know?  I'm sure Owen will someday want to know about the first time he pooped in the tub. :)