The one where I try to update a whole year's worth of events in one post (part 2)

Ok, so the other one got really long and I decided to break it into two parts. Look at me, updating and stuff!

January, 2014:

• We make it to Aunt Kel and Uncle Justin's in time to have a nice dinner and for the boys to play a little before going back to Grammy and Grandpa's to go to bed. We are all old people now who can't stay up until Midnight, and we are all conked out before the new year comes. 
• On this trip was a huge accomplishment: Owen is done with his binky! We didn't bring it with us to church the Sunday before we left, so we just decided to continue. It worked out perfect, because he wasn't on a good schedule while we were traveling, and he also stayed up late, so he was just exhausted and fell asleep without it every night! I was planning on being done with it when we got home from the trip, but this worked so much better!
• We try to schedule going to see lots of relatives on this trip who haven't been able to see Owen in a while. The first day we were there we met Grandma Allen for lunch. First we were able to go play in the treehouse and with the animals at Bravo Farms. Owen loved spending so much time with Miller and they both enjoyed playing with their huge collection of dump trucks in the sand. Then we went to the Tulare Outlets to have lunch at the Bravo Farms restaurant which is always a pleasure. 
• The second day of the trip was probably the best day of Owen's life: Aunt Kel worked it out with one of the patients at her work to be able to have a private tour of a small sanitation company up in the mountains. Owen got to ride and climb in real trash trucks, watch them dump dumpsters and just run around admire the whole setup. He and Miller both could not seem to believe their luck, and were just stunned to see their favorite things up close. They got to wear their matching trash truck sweat shirts that Gramma made them for Christmas, and never did I ever think that going and watching trash trucks would be so exciting and amazing. 
• We also visited Mamaw and Papaw and Grandma Bryson and just enjoyed spending time with all of the family. Luckily we didn't get sick this time!
• Mama is THRILLED to come home and to not have to go back to work. She is so thankful to have time to do everything at home, to be able to get Owen on a good schedule, to be able to do fun things like paint and play at home, and to not have to wake up early. Owen adapts to the change pretty quickly, and our days look like this: wake up and play in Mama's bed. Eat oatmeal with blueberries. Take a bath and play in the tub while mama gets ready. Play in the living room while mama does some chores. Eat lunch. Watch Little Einsteins (we discover this is the only tv show/movie that really holds his attention around this time) and drink some "milk" (what he calls coconut water) then lay down to take a nap. Sleep around 1.5-2 hours, with Mama sleeping for part of that then enjoying having some of the afternoon to herself. Wake up to have a snack, play outside and wait for Dada to get home. Sometimes we get to go have lunch with Pops and Gramma, sometimes we go the park with Aunt Minky, sometimes we decide to go for a walk or have a date at Costco, but our days are pretty simple and we both seem to enjoy that. 
• Since we are home all the time now, we work on Owen sleeping in his big boy bed. It makes a WORLD of difference. He loves having his own bed with lots of pillows and blankets and he immediately starts sleeping through the night. He needs one of us to lay down with him to help him fall asleep, and we are learning that it is VERY hard for him to relax (like 20-45 minutes of wrestling and tossing and turning) but once he does he is out. Mama doesn't mind laying next to him for his naps, because she gets to take a nap too. :)

February, 2014:

• Mama starts having pretty crazy cravings, this time mostly having to do with beverage preferences. She needs to have ice cold orange juice or milk RIGHT NOW. Or a specific kind of bottled water with store bought ice (our water and ice from the fridge taste terrible all of the sudden). The worst craving is soda, which is usually an ice cold Sprite. 
• Another new part of our schedule: Dada puts Owen to bed each night to start getting ready for little sister's presence and they enjoy reading "Good Night Moon" and "Good Night Construction Site" in bed every night. When Mama tries to read them during the day, Owen says "No, Dada read, night nights." Mama is excited because Owen finally seems to like fiction and will pay attention to stories. 
• Owen and Mama get to go to their first homeschool gathering, where Owen enjoys playing with Auntie, Aunt Minky and all of the kids while Mama teaches her first private art lesson. She really enjoys getting to still feel creative and educational without having to be at school. The kids and the moms seem to really enjoy the two lessons, the first on Joan Miro, and the second on Matisse. 
• Owen's vocabulary and memory seem to be exploding: Owen can name all 17 different kinds of big trucks in his truck book. He can also point them out (at a far distance) while driving on the freeway and while he is playing with his little versions of them. Mama has to learn new, correct truck and equipment names everyday to make sure she is teaching him the right ones.
• When we need to get out of the house we like to go to Costco to get samples, to Target to browse and eat popcorn (out of a toy trash can, of course) or to drive to In N Out for burgers to look for trucks working and driving. 
•   Owen gets to go to his first Valentine's Party at Nana Joy's house. We make his "I Dig You, Valentine" cards at home using pictures of dump trucks and backhoes and lots of heart stickers. He enjoyed being able to run around and play with the kids and watching everyone open their cards. 
• We met Vanessa and her two nanny girls at a new park (Red Hill) and Owen had a blast. We learn that while it is awesome having a park across the street from our house, sometimes it's worth it to drive to a park that's more appropriate for his size. He loved being able to climb and go through the tunnels without help. Another good thing was going with new friends, since Victoria is a year older than Owen and she showed him how to do new things he had never tried before. We also enjoyed going to admire the ducks and turtles in the pond, and Vanessa and I enjoyed the awesome naps they all took after. :)
• Miller and Ryder were lucky enough to get to go to Disneyland for their birthdays, and we were lucky enough to go meet them at the beach when they were done. It was lovely to spend the afternoon at Santa Monica Beach, and then to have everyone at home with us for a day or two. 

March, 2014:

• Aunt Minky surprised Mama by throwing her and Magnolia a small shower. It was a lovely evening spent with friends, gifts and pie. We got lots of super cute (but practical) outfits and gifts for Magnolia, and it is starting to sink in that we are going to have a little girl soon!
• Mama tries to make being at home with Owen before little sister comes a fun experience, so we try different activities like painting, and exploring outside. Owen enjoys painting, but is always surprised/annoyed when his arms or belly are covered in paint. 
• Gramma and Pops were nice enough to decide to take us to San Diego for a little trip before little sister comes. Dada enjoys getting to have some days off, and we enjoy getting to have some alone time and some family time. Owen does NOT like the ocean, but he loves the pool. He loves having Gramma and Pops around so much, including Pops teaching him how to pile all of the pillows on the bed and jump on them, and Gramma feeding him anything he could possibly want to eat. 
• Mama needs to figure out what she is doing next school year, but the pieces are not falling into place easily. (Is there a partner? What school and grade will I be in?) This causes some stress, and still isn't resolved. :/
• Gramma comes over every so often, to make sure that our house is ready for a baby and to keep Owen occupied when Mama is tired or can't get up and play too easily. Being pregnant the second time is not as easy as the first time: it is hard to get comfortable sitting or laying down, it is hard to stand up, and I have a lot less energy. 
• Mama and Dada go to the Maternity tour class at the hospital where Magnolia will be born, and it REALLY sinks in that we are having another baby. 
• We assume (wrongly) that sister will arrive similarly to brother, so we decide to have Owen's birthday party the weekend before he turns two. We go to Miguel's to have his favorite beans and rice and invite a small group of friends and family. Owen is so thrilled to have so many of his favorite people there, and just wants to sit and chat and eat off of everyone's plates. :) After afternoon worship everyone comes back to our house for cake and presents. Owen is so excited for all of his presents and to have his house full of people. We are sad Owen's Fresno family isn't able to come, but we know we will see them when little sister comes. 

April, 2014:

• We are so excited to have Aunt Kate here for more than a week. She spends the night with us a few times, and Owen loves having her to play with. Mama loves having her here to help. We make some freezer meals, clean and organize, and also get to shop and hang out. Owen loves to make videos with Aunt Kate on her new ipod from Aunt Judy, and Aunt Kate is reminded how exhausting, yet fun, it is to be around a toddler for long periods of time. As much fun as they have together, she is relieved to go home and sleep all day without interruption. :)
• It is on this trip that Owen learns he doesn't like anyone to leave his house, ever. His new response to "Ok, say bye bye to _______" is "No, no, no, no say bye bye to ______." He won't give them hugs or say goodbye, because he doesn't want them to leave. He makes this super pathetic, sad face until they are gone for about 10 minutes and then gets over it. :(
• Mama realizes that we need to create some birthday traditions, especially with so many so close together. Mama just can't seem to decide what she wants to do on her special day, and it seems like since Owen is starting to understand what is happening that we need to have more special things we do. Gramma reminds Mama that she won't always feel so foggy and pregnant, and that we can plan more special things next year. Owen does get to have birthday pancakes and Miguel's on his birthday, and Aunt Kate and Mama get manicures. Mama, Dada and Owen try to get little sister to arrive by having Vince's for dinner. It worked for Owen, but it doesn't work for Magnolia. :( 
• Vanessa brings a "friend" here from Kentucky to meet everyone, and we have fun grilling him and teasing them. He seems great, and it is wonderful to see Vanessa so happy. 

That brings us up to current. Basically trying to wrap up loose ends while we wait for little sister to arrive. As of today she is 4 days late, and the doctor says he won't let me go any later than the end of this week. It is just such a different experience! Everyone says that this is the case, but I naively assumed/wished that she would arrive the day after Owen's birthday, as easily as he did. Owen came a week early, so I wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as I am now. I am still blessed that I can get up and around, and I usually feel better when I am up and doing things. I am told that I don't look nearly has huge or as uncomfortable as I feel. My feet swelling is much better this time than with Owen, but little sister is sitting differently making much more pain in my legs and back. I am still nervous about having two kids and about how Owen will react. I am not looking forward to the swell of hormones and the insane emotions they bring, but I am looking forward to having her here. I feel more prepared to have a newborn this time, and I am praying that the transition will be smooth. 

My goal is to update with a few picture posts, but we will see what happens in the next few days!