Jeremy's Birthday

This past weekend we celebrated 27 years of Jeremy! For his birthday, we got him a new patio set. Thanks to Lowe's end of summer 75% off sale my parents and I were able to get him this awesome set for our back porch. He got it a week early but fun none the less.

Sunday, I made him his favorite cake (red velvet with his mom's homemade white icing) and the meal of his choice (shrimp creole). My mom (Dad was out of town) and our friends the Langstons came over to celebrate with us. We sat on the deck and enjoyed his birthday present.

Owen and I are thankful for Jeremy and feel blessed to have him in our lives. Thanks for being the best husband and dad anyone could ask for! We love you!

First Trip to the Barber Shop

Owen's hair grows incredibly fast. He has already had one professional haircut and one "Daddy" haircut. He was started to look like a hippie so it was time for another one. This time we decided to take him to the barber shop that Jeremy goes to. All boys have to the barber shop!

Surprisingly he did very well. Mr. Bill used the clippers and he stood very still and he only got a little squirmy when he got the scissors out.Gotta thin out the mop on the top.
Can't you tell his excitement?
Modeling the front
Side
Back
He looks like such a little boy now instead of a baby. He's still super cute, as always!

Finally..

After 5 weeks and a lot of hassle, Picture People has finally let me see my pictures online. We got these taken around Owen's 9 month mark. They were running a promo for free pics so we hopped in. I copied these from the site for easier viewing, so forgive the water marks in the middle.

Styling in my madras pants...Does the camera make my butt look big?

Now the random pics begin...all the photographers idea...

Ride 'um cowboy
Scrub a rub dub, Owen's in the tub..
So yummy, you could eat him
Look at those teeth!
Hi Mom! This pic was for my mom as my brother and I have the same picture done of us around his age.



We're hoping to get a bunch of pictures taken when he turns a year. Only a month away!O

Our Week in Pictures

Life is pretty uneventful these days, which is nice. I'd take uneventful over dramatic any day! So here's what's going on with the Coxes..

Monday we went to camp to see Claire. See post below about our time there.
Wednesday we had dinner with our friends the Langstons. Natalie and Owen enjoyed playing in her new ball pit. After dinner the boys ripped up the Langstons' old countertops to make way for the new ones. Wow, what a process! Jeremy didn't get home until after midnight.
Thursday, in order to keep Owen occupied while I cooked dinner, I gave Owen a teething biscuit. I knew he would make a mess, so I stripped him down and put him in the high chair. Here is what he looked like after the fact.Click to make it bigger. Notice half of the cookie on the straps still.


Then it was time for dinner. He made an even bigger mess with his rice and peas. Once he was done, he (and his chair) really needed to be hosed off.
Think I'll put my legs up and relax after a long meal. You can get me out now, but not before a little karate action.
Today we officially started the process of weaning Owen from breastmilk to cow's milk. We are doing it slowly, just replacing an ounce at a time. We also are going straight to the sippy cup instead of the bottle. He's getting so big!It's been a good week. :)

We <3 CWR!

Owen and I have been lucky enough to visit our beloved Camp Willow Run twice in the last 3 weeks. The first time we visited the Windleys as they served as the camp speaker. The second time (today) we visited with Claire and Katelyn as they served as camp nurse. Camp holds a special place in Jeremy and I's heart as it is the place where we met and fell in love while serving the Lord there during college. It was so fun to take Owen there where everything first began. Both days we visited it was very hot and due to nap times of all the children involved, we didn't do a whole lot but sit around and talk. It's ok though; being there is enough. It's funny how 6 years later, nothing has changed; same food, same staff, same schedule. It's such a wonderful place.

Because we didn't do too much we really didn't take any pictures. Here are the few that we took.

Owen and I on the dock when we went to visit the Windleys. This is where I spent most of my summers. I love being on the water!
Claire, Katelyn, Owen, and me in front of the boxcar.
Thanks Windleys and Browns for letting us come visit. We had so much fun!

Random Thoughts

No pictures today; just random things going on here and thoughts in my head..

1. This is the first time in 6 years that I won't be going back to an elementary school in August. Kind of a weird feeling.
2. I've contemplated going back to work full time lately. The last few months, finances have been tight and I feel the need to help. There is a daycare at Jeremy's work but at $700 a month, I'm not sure if I would make enough to make a difference. (Nash Cty teachers get paid way less than Wake Cty). I don't know if I really want to teach though either.
   
3. Preschool starts the first week of September and I'm really ready. I need something to do. Lately I've been envious of people who go to work. Is that weird?
4. We still don't have a church and I'm tired of church hopping. Nothing here remotely holds a candle to what we had at the Summit. While we aren't looking for an exact replica, we want a church that has challenges us, is focused on missions, and promotes community. The sermons we have heard here lack any meat and most of the time, feel like something I could preach.
   
5. I miss the Raleigh area A LOT this week. I miss our friends especially. I'm thankful for those who continue to pursue our friendship; you don't know how much it means to me. If anyone knows of a job in the area, let us know. I would move back in a heartbeat.
   
6. Owen has become Mr. Mischievous lately. Yesterday morning, he managed to escape his little rocking chair while he was still buckled in. Jeremy came out of the shower and found Owen playing on the floor by the chair, with the buckles still fastened. Then later in the day, I laid him in his crib to take his afternoon nap. He was talking himself to sleep when all of a sudden he started wailing. I went upstairs to check on him and he had managed to get his head stuck between the bumper and the crib. I helped him out and thought it might be time to remove his bumper. With bumper removed, I laid him back down and left him to fall asleep. 5 minutes later he is wailing again so I run back upstairs. This time he got his leg stuck in between the slats. RAHH! Bumper then is put back in the crib. 15 minutes he finally falls asleep. Crazy little boy!
7. I'm working on plans for Owen's 1st birthday. It's hard to believe that it's almost time!
8. I am tired of nursing and ready for it to be over. Starting next week or so, I am going to start the weaning process. We are going to take it very slowly replacing an ounce of breast milk every 2 days. I have loved that I was able to nurse him for his first year of life, but I will be glad to have some independence back.

Ok that's enough randomness for today.

2 Peas in a Pod?

Everyone always tries to figure out who Owen looks like, Jeremy or me. This past weekend while at my parents' house I went through the old albums and found some pictures of me around Owen's age. See what you think. Does he look like me?

This first picture doesn't do Owen justice. Usually his eyes are much wider. Oh this picture was taken by Picture People a few weeks back. I realized I never posted it.

Messy eaters. What can I say...we like food!
On the move.Evidently we are both chipmunks too!