Outgrown

While I was rocking Harrison to sleep tonight I realized something very frightening. We have *almost* outgrown the glider. :( We were both turned sideways scrunched into the back corner so we would have as much room as possible. As he was drifting off to sleep, (legs dangling off the side) I started thinking back to all the things he has outgrown in the past {nearly} 15 months. The first thing that I can remember him outgrowing was the baby bath. I'm pretty sure we only used the net that attaches to the top of the bath about 5 times before it was "outgrown". Then it was the swing, the play mat, the bouncy seat, the bumbo seat, the bassinet, the car seat carrier, the second (larger) baby bath, bottles, and tons and tons of clothes along the way. Depressing? Slightly! Although it makes me pretty sad to pack all these things away, I know that it is a necessity in order to make room for all the new "toddler" accessories that are beginning to take over our home!
Crazy to think that in only a few short months we have gone from

this tiny cuddly newborn 

to this rambunctious ALWAYS on the go toddler! 

I can't imagine all that we will "outgrow" in the next year. 

Here's to growing up! 

Fall Fun

We made our second annual trip to Jackson's Orchard this past week! I do have to say that Harrison had a lot more fun this year! (Disclaimer- Lot's of pictures follow!)

And he sure has grown a lot since last year! 

Fall 2011

Fall 2012

We sure are glad we started this tradition! 

Kamikaze Baby

Does anyone else out there feel like their child is on a kamikaze mission ALL THE TIME??? Shew! I do believe if Harrison makes it through the next year of his life without a serious injury it will be a miracle! This kiddo climbs then jumps off or falls off of EVERYTHING! The couch, the kitchen chairs, his crib, his picnic table, the playset- seriously anything and everything! I'm not sure how long this stage will last, but it sure is making me one stressed out Momma! Here are just a few of his daring acts that I've caught a picture of!

Fall Bucket List

I found this bucket list while surfing the internet on our 9 1/2 hour drive home last night and have decided to do my best to enjoy all these fun activities with my family before Fall ends. The Fall season runs from September 22-December 20 so I'm only a little late gettig started. Feel free to join in with me!

Vacation Cowan Family Style

Where has the Cowan family been this week? Searching for shells along the sea shore :)

Home Base

Today I was reading an article titled "25 Important Things to Remember When Raising Boys". I made my way through #'s 1-24 without reading anything that struck me as "important".
Then I read tip #25 and cried like a baby!
#25 Home Base:
Be home base
You are home to him. When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back. When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile. When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you’re the only one who will listen that many times. When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands. When he is sick, he will call you. When he really messes up, he will call you. When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious. Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun. Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.

Pass the Kleenex, right?!?!
I think this is a good idea to keep in mind whether you are raising boys, girls, or a mixture of both. You, fellow Mommas, are always going to be Home Base :)

Heads Carolina, Tails California

Where will this family spend Fall break?

St. Louis?

 Panama City Beach?

The Smokey Mountains?

We'll let ya know when we get back! :)

Harry-Go-Round!

and round

and round!

And loved it! 

ONE Year Old

This precious boy is officially ONE year old! 

My oh my how time flies! 

Here is his first picture with his Big Blue Bear at only a few hours old.

He actually fit on the bears leg here! Wow! 

Our big boy is now measuring in at 31 inches tall and 26lbs. 

He's ALMOST walking.... He will take steps from me to Mahlon or from one of us to the couch but he's still not confident enough to walk on his own. But we are getting there!

He has 7 teeth in this big ole smiling mouth

and he LOVES to play outside! 

He is currently sleeping through the night although he takes spells when he will enjoy waking up at least twice a night, 3 or 4 nights in a row. We like to blame these sleepless nights on teething! 

He LOVES trucks, tractors and cars and will say "vroom vroom" as he pushes them around the floor. New to the word bank this month has been the dreaded "No" but also a very cute "ni-night",  "done" and "moooo"  :). He is a big cuddle bug and likes to sit on my lap and read books- especially the pop-up ones!

His favorite foods currently are blueberries, bananas, yogurt, shaved turkey and pasta! 

Lots of things have changed over this past year but one thing has stayed the same, we sure do love this sweet boy! He has brought us endless joy, countless smiles, and filled our hearts with more love than we could have ever imagined! 

We love you Harrison! 

Self Feeding Like a Big Boy!

Just the other day when I posted Harrison's 11 month update I wrote that I was excited to see what new developments this month would hold for us. Little did I know that he would acquire a new skill in less than a week from the time I wrote that. What's the new skill?

He can eat with a fork! Last night during dinner he picked up the spoon I had laid on his tray and started stabbing at some of the food that he had not eaten yet. I thought "Hmm, wonder if he could actually get some of that in his mouth if I gave him a fork". So, I handed him a fork and watched closely to make sure he didn't jab himself in the eye. I'd say " Look Harrison, can you eat like Mommy?" and I'd take a bite. Sure enough, a few bites actually made it to his mouth! I was so impressed that I forgot to take a picture! (that's pretty rare for me!) 

Tonight at dinner time, I had my camera in hand when I handed him the fork and was able to catch some successful bites on film! I am so proud of this little guy, but he is growing up way to fast! 

Eleven Months!

Oh my goodness, my child will be ONE next month! Is that even possible?I'm going to pretend this isn't happening and focus on all the fun new things this past month has brought us!

Our sweet, energetic baby boy is 11 months old today! 

I got your nose! And some wild hair!

He now has 5 teeth, 2 on the top and 3 on the bottom.

 He loves using these chompers to munch on blueberries, cooked carrots, pasta, scrambled eggs, pancakes....really just about anything he can get his little hands on! 

Our peanut butter and jelly squares got a little out of control here :)

He weighs 25lbs and is 31 inches tall. Mommy will appreciate when he learns to walk because he is getting a little hard to carry! Speaking of walking, he isn't walking on his own yet,but he will walk holding your hands and while pushing his walker 

He has really started talking this past month! 

He has added "dog" "book" "uh-oh" "ufff"- (for "woof") and "oww" (for "ouch") to his word bank :) He babbles ALL day long! It's so sweet listening to him! He points a lot now too-very cute!

He LOVES his books! Especially the pop-up books and ones that have flaps to open, he gets a little too excited sometimes resulting in a few missing "pop-ups" in some of our books :)

He has learned to clap, and claps a lot! He not only claps for others, but for himself as well! It's pretty funny.

And is it just me or has his hair grown a lot this past month??

I'm sure there will be a lot more "growing" over the next month as well, both physically and developmentally.

I'm excited to see what all my ONE year old boy can do by this time next month! (insert tears here) :'( 

Dear Summer Vacatioin

Although you are quickly fleeting from my grasps, you have been a pleasure to have around! What did this  family do while summer vacation was here? Well, we didn't go on a summer vacation or spend hours at the pool (partly due to my child's dislike of the combination of water and large crowds) however we did enjoy hours and hours of fun family time together! Along with all of our book reading, block tower building, peek-a-boo playing we have also.....

Stole Daddy's Cheez-Its :)

Had picnics and played outside

Practiced learning to walk

Made lots of messes learning to self-feed

Painted.....using our hands along with our head

Made it pretty difficult for Momma to get a picture for the birthday invitations

And spent many hours cuddling at nap time.

All in all, it's been a pretty good summer around here!