We love a parade.

Who doesn't love a parade? They are in celebration of fun events, there is music, fire-trucks, marching bands, and candy! I mean, what's not to love? We have been taking Keagan to parades since he was a wee-baby. The past two weekends we have gone to parades. We went to a fall festival parade and then the MSU homecoming parade (an annual favorite in the Owens household).  Keagan enjoyed labeling all the modes of transportation that passed by and equally enjoyed picking up candy. Unfortunately he doesn't scurry around like the big kids to get as much candy as he can, and sometimes he gets left out when candy is thrown. I guess it is because he is still little? They (the candy throwers) obviously don't know who this child's momma is...and what I am trying to condition him to be. (Yes, I want my kid to get all the candy he can...pinatas be ware...any dentists out there should just stop reading now) Ahem, anyways...Keagan had a good time. And he ended up with a pretty good stash, of which I have only eaten the candy that I know he cannot (jawbreakers, laffy taffy...).

And finally, this is what happens to my child when his newest obsession (Thomas the Tank Engine) suddenly appears on our television:

All things Thomas are on this kid's mind 24/7...and I am not joking. He asks for Thomas on the t.v., Thomas on the pi-pad (iPad), Thomas upstairs (his train set), church and Thomas (our church nursery has a train table...), Thomas, Thomas, Thomas. We are using Thomas as leverage with potty training. Slowly, I think we are making progress....

the zoo, take 2



Back in June we took Keagan to the zoo in Nashville. We figured he would "get it" and he kind of did, at least once we got there. But I don't think he really got it. We read a lot of books to him, and a lot of those books are animal books. And he is obsessed with the Lion King, and loves to name the animals as they appear. In the last 2 months or so, actually since Finley has been born, his understanding of things and ability to put 2-and-2 together has skyrocketed. He has really matured and I wanted to take him back to the zoo while his little brain was evolving so rapidly. I knew he would truly "get it" this time. One small "problem"...we have a new baby! Well, we considered taking Keagan to the St. Louis zoo (which is awesome!) but we didn't want to make the drive there and back in one day...too much for Finley (and us). And we didn't want to go back to Nashville. It was ok, but we had already been-there-done-that this year. So, we decided to try the Evansville zoo. Once we got to Evansville and ate some lunch, we told Keagan we were going to the zoo. He immediately squealed...and then started singing. We weren't sure what he was singing at first, but then we started to hear "monkey" in the song. We started recognizing other words, like "bed" and "no"...and then the melody hit us. He was singing "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" Hilarious that he would sing THAT when we told him we were going to the zoo. See what I am talking about?? He is smart!! The zoo was a bit disappointing to the adult zoo-goer, but it was perfect for Keagan...and easy to do in a few hours so it was also perfect for Finn. We had a really nice family day, albeit quite exhausting. And Keagan thoroughly enjoyed himself: he labeled the animals and demo'd their sounds all throughout the zoo, he fed giraffes, and he "played" with the otters. Watching him enjoy all of this was the best part of the whole day. He really had so much fun. Finn couldn't have been more perfect of a baby: he slept the ENTIRE time (this is rare) and allowed us to focus on Keagan. I am looking forward to taking the boys to the St. Louis zoo in the spring time, when Finn might be old enough to see the animals, too!! 

A Letter to Keagan

My dearest Keagan,
What an amazing little boy you are becoming. There are so many things that I want you to know, and so many things I never want to forget about you at this time in your life. You are so very sweet. I hope that you stay this way. You love your momma and call out to me in the mornings (Momma! Where are you? Momma, come 'ere!). You love your daddy, and get so excited when you know that he's home or that he's coming home soon. You love your brother. This is the best part to me. That you know enough about love to show love to your baby brother amazes me. He has only been around two short months, he has taken over and is demanding of my time and attention, yet you show him love and you care about him when he cries. You even share your toys with him! Your spontaneous kisses on the baby's head, on my knee, hand, arm, and on your daddy's leg pull at my heart strings. You are so loving!! I never want to forget how, in the mornings when I am changing you, you grab my hand and pull it to your face, kiss it a bunch and say "MY momma!"  Everything is "Mine" right now. Sometimes this can get annoying because it is difficult to tell you that it isn't yours. But I will gladly be yours. You can call me "mine" anytime. Forever, actually.

You go through phases that have been oh-so difficult. I think that all children do this. I am learning right along-side you. Recently you have gone through a phase that is more ugly than I have ever seen. In fact, it has shocked me. You have kicked and screamed and thrown things in defiance. It has been difficult to figure out how to discipline you, and I have lost control at times. I don't know the right things to do sometimes, like I said: I am learning, too. But despite it all, I hope you know that I loved you even in our most ugly moments. I love you more than you can ever imagine. These difficult and ugly moments are some I would like to forget. I am thankful that you will never know exactly how it all played out.

Your interests interest me. No, I don't care a bit about die cast matchbox cars. Or Elmo, choo-choo trains, or sliding down slides. But because you care about these things, I will go to great lengths to allow you to expand your interests. I will leave your cars parked on the couch for days, because I know how much it means to you and how hard you work. I will help you go down the slide (even the big, twisty slide at the park!), point out Elmo when he makes an appearance on the Today show, let you watch Lion King or Kung Fu Panda on repeat, or buy you Thomas the Train toys, shirts, jammies...because these interest you. And make you happy.

I never, ever want to forget how your little legs hang off your carseat, how your socks cut into your chunky ankles (even though you are hardly chunky!), how we have to roll your pants at the waist to get them to stay up (see!? hardly chunky...), how you love your shoes, how you ask for more marshmallows and chocolate chips in your trail mix.

I don't want to forget how you ask for a "juice drink" and "fruit snack" when you know we are going for a walk. How you label everything as we drive down the street (daddy's truck, big truck, tractor, house, lawn mower, yellow, motor-go-go) and how enthusiastic you are! Or how, when I get off the phone or we talk to someone you don't know, you always ask "who dat, momma?" And  my favorite is how wonderful your manners are, without me having to prompt every time. You are so good about saying thank you, please, bless you. And you use these appropriately! You are very opinionated on what you wear, have been for a while. You like your hats, sunglasses, belts, etc. You don't like your sleeves rolled up and if you have a jacket on you don't want anyone taking it off. It's quite funny how particular you are. You are definitely your own little person.

Even though you chase the dog endlessly, point your finger back at me when I reprimand you, and don't always listen (you are two, afterall!), I wish that I could remember every detail, sight, smell, sound. You are growing too quickly, time is passing by at lightening speed. You are such an amazing blessing to me. I hope that as our family grows and changes you will always know what a special place you have in my heart, and always will. I am your momma, and I am so thankful to God that He chose me! And thank you, Keagan, for showing me what true love is. There is absolutely nothing like the love a mother has for her babies. You are the first one to show me this.
I love you, my sweet Keagan.
Love,
Mommy