Enjoying Birthday Gifts!

Thank you to Grandpa for my Harley shirt...I love it and thank you to Dane and Kate for my ATV that I can ride indoors!!

A Very Special Thank You

One of the first things I do everyday when I get home from work is get the mail. I usually find a pile of bills and catalogs and so that's why I was delighted to find something else in the mail earlier this week...a savings bond for Logan. It was a birthday gift from his "aunties"...Sue, Dale, Jill, Jackie, Barb and Debbie. His "aunties" are not truly related to us, but they will always be considered family. Sue, Dale, Jill, Jackie, Barb and Debbie were my mom's best friends. They met in college and have remained good friends ever since. They get together a couple times a year and share good stories, play games and eat good food and one of the neatest things about this group of ladies is that they love each other exactly they way they are. Since my mom passed away 4 years ago, I have had the pleasure of seeing them several times, including my wedding and my brother's wedding. Every time I see them I'm overwhelmed with emotion. So much of my life has changed since my mom passed away...I'm married with a child, Dane is married and moving down to Bloomington soon, I started a new job, I have some new friends and my relationship with my father has changed (we are much closer these days) and because of all these dramatic changes I tend to forget about life before Mom passed away...until I see her friends and suddenly I am reminded of her. I'm reminded of her wonderful sense of humor, her beauty, her compassion for others, her strength and her love for me and Dane. The only thing that connects these ladies lives to my life is their relationship with my mother. The fact that they want to continue a relationship with me and my son is so special and important to me. So, a very special thank you to Logan's "aunties" for a very special gift! I love you all very much (and Logan loves you too!)

Logan's First Illini Game and Second Halloween!

Last year at Halloween Logan was only 1 week old and too young to dress up or trick-or-treat. This year he was one, but still too young to trick-or-treat. Jesse and I decided to take him to the Illini football game so we could dress him up and celebrate without trick-or-treating. We always tailgate when we go to games and so we wanted to make sure Logan had the full experience. The place where we tailgate was pretty muddy so Logan spent most of his tailgating experience in his stroller or in the truck bed playing. We didn't think he would last very long during the game, but he lasted for about 3 quarters (he did fall asleep for an entire quarter and all of halftime, though)! On the way out of the stadium the man who was selling programs asked if it was Logan's first game. When we told him that it was, he gave us a program for free as a souvenir for his first college football game...HOW NEAT! It was a great day and a great way to celebrate Logan's second Halloween! We can't wait until next year when we can take him trick-or-treating.

"Reading" his Go Illini book

It was a great day to be an Illini fan (they beat Michigan!)

Jesse, wearing MY costume

Daddy's Top Ten Favorite Things About His Son

10. I love how cute he looks in a polo shirt and jeans.
9. I love how he shoves his whole hand in his mouth when he's feeding himself.
8. I love watching him climb up the stairs and how proud he acts when he reaches the top.
7. I love it when he pulls himself up on my leg.
6. I love it when he gives me his "war face" (shakes his head back and forth and growls).
5. I love his cute little hands and feet and the little dimples on them.
4. I love the way he smiles at me.
3. I love his beautiful, long eyelashes.
2. I love his big brown eyes.
1. I love his giggle and laugh...it is the best sound in the world.

Happy Birthday to my little L-Bow!

Logan Turns 1!

After Logan was born we used weeks to describe his age. After about 12 weeks, we used months to describe his age. Now, his age will be described in years...2 years, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years, 13 years, 16, 18, 21, etc...all the milestones will happen at different year intervals and we can't wait to see them all unfold. In the meantime, he is the big ONE! I can't believe he is one! Everyone keeps asking, "Didn't it go by fast?" and we say, "Yes, the year went fast, but the days go slow." We celebrated his first birthday last weekend. The party was small, but perfect. As parents, we loved every minute of it! Everyone was so generous and Logan received some fantastic gifts. He had so much fun and loved eating his cake. We can't wait to celebrate his birthdays in the future.

Riding on his new toy

Opening gifts on Grandma's lap

Our family (just before digging in to his cake)

Yummy!

With his cousin, Ryder and his Grandma and Grandpa Bowman

With Grandpa Myers

Becoming the Mom I Always Wanted to Be

I always knew I wanted to have children. There was never a doubt in my mind that I wanted to be a mom someday. I pictured it all very clearly...playing at the park, eating dinner together, playing together, reading books together, cuddling together on the couch, teaching him new things, celebrating holidays together, etc...So, you can imagine my shock when my newborn didn't want to play with me or sit in my lap while I read books to him. In fact, I spent the first 5 months of Logan's life wondering what I had gotten myself into. I often thought that being a mother just wasn't for me...no sleep, changing diapers, breastfeeding, even less sleep, changing diapers, breastfeeding some more...not exactly what I had dreamed about! My, how things change...Logan will be 1 year old in a week and I finally feel like I'm becoming the mom I always wanted to be:

It's too cold to go to the park now, but I'm sure we'll be there a lot next summer. We eat dinner together on most nights and then I usually spend an HOUR cleaning up all the food on the floor and everywhere else, but it's fun to eat together as a family. I actually get to play with him on a daily basis. Now he plays with his toys (opposed to just chewing on them) and he plays peek-a-boo and hide and go seek with Jesse. He also loves to be chased and he'll giggle when you catch him. He loves to be read to. He actually fusses when I put a book back on the shelf and reading has become something that often calms him down. Tonight he cuddled with me on the couch while I watched the end of Grey's Anatomy. He just laid there in my arms and sucked his thumb and I ate it up. I can teach him new things every day. Logan often mimics sounds and words that I make, as well as movements...he's like a sponge right now!!! And there are some holidays coming up that are going to be a blast with Logan by my side (and Jesse too!) I love both of them so much and I can't wait to enjoy more mommy-filled days!

Relaxing Sunday

I love Sundays! Yesterday, the weather was chilly, but it was a great day to hang out at home, relax and visit the local pumpkin patch.

Yummy...cinnamon toast

Jesse and Logan all bundled up at the pumpkin patch

Logan and Erin at the pumpkin patch

The Bowmans

Logan loves to play with the dishwasher