Nighty night

I love bedtime routine. Something so sweet, cozy, familiar. It takes me back to being a child and such peaceful feelings.

First we play in the playroom...

Then, we read stories....

Finally lights out for Colin and onto nursing and rocking for Logan....
These are the moments

7 months of sweetness

Logan marked his 7 month birthday with officially crawling. He has been taking 2 or 3 "crawl steps" for a little while but today he truly crawled for several so I'm considering this his official kick off to crawling. Now the fun begins! He also achieved another milestone this past week with his first tooth popping through this past Saturday. Wow, is it going fast and I'm really REALLY trying to cherish every second. Especially the sweet moments when he is still or when he falls asleep on my shoulder or when he gazes at me for long periods of time during nursing. I know all too well how quickly they change and evolve into energetic toddlers who rarely stay in stillness. Logan has my heart in his grip, this is for sure. I really can't get enough of his sweetness and he remains my angel baby- the most perfect little sweetheart. Our family friend Judy nailed it years ago when she stated the best way to describe the love you have for your child is in Sade's song "this aint no ordinary love"... It's true: nothing like it and it amazes me how you fall in love on such an intense level day after day...

Grammie Time

I am a bit delayed in posting about our wonderful visit with Grammie last weekend. It was a short but sweet day trip to LA as she was staying with Tam. We had a great day visiting with Grammie, Auntie Tay Tay and Uncle Steve. The only snafoo was about 20 minutes into the drive, poor Colie Bear started to cry which was followed by enormous amounts of barf. In fact, it was so much vomit I literally didn't even know where to start cleaning - the clothes? the crevices of the carseat? the chunks that splattered into my Coach bag? The poor kid, I suspect, was car sick just as I was regularly as a kid. I hope and pray it was an isolated incident, but disgusting that's for sure. Luckily once we were back in route, the rest of the day was smooth sailin'. We had lots of giggles and hugs and puzzles and a terrific family day! :)

Nudy Cutie Colin enjoying Uncle Steve's drums

Mr. Smiley and his sidekick

It's amazing how one big gummy grin can light up your day! Logan has become known by many as "Mr Smiley" because truly, that's all the kid does. Despite a torturous night of sleep training (which has gone on for a few nights now- I'll save that for another blog entry), Lo Lo's will still wake up with a huge smile. After a blow out, yep still smiling. This kid doesn't quit and I love it. Of course, the best smiles are those that come from staring at Colin. They continually make each other crack up and really, it doesn't get better than that...

Logan on the move...

Blessings...

Here I sit on New Years Eve day and I am reflecting on QUITE the year we had... a new baby, a new house, a new job... lots of change. And through it all, we have done remarkably well in adjusting. Yes, it has been trying at times, but I think our family recognizes how lucky we are to have each other and to be each others family. Closing out a year brings lots of thought and reflection, and also brings promise for more beauty to come. It is a time where you really are forced to pay attention to the things that count, and not sweat the small stuff. This is a lesson the O'Bryant family has vowed to keep close and work better at in 2010. It is so easy to get hung up on details or get frustrated over little things. Just this morning, I was feeling so sleep deprived and frustrated with the lack of sleep I am regularly getting. And then I took a moment to look at my precious babe- a baby that is pure sweetness and laughter and one who by most standards is among the happiest, smiliest babies out there. SO, he doesn't sleep the greatest at night. I am choosing to focus on the fact that he is only little and will need me this way once... I am blessed to be able to nurse him and have time with him in the darkness of his nursery... so this I will focus on. Sleep will come... later :)

I am so excited for what life will bring in 2010... mostly because of my beautiful babies!!

Happy 6 months Logan!

It is hard to believe my sweet Finny Pooka (as Colin affectionately calls him) has only been in our lives for 6 months. And yet, in another way it feels like a blink- only seconds ago I was bringing our beautiful son into this world. Within seconds, my sweet boy found a perfect spot in our lives and in our hearts and this has only become clearer and clearer as our love for him has grown. He is undoubtedly, the smiliest baby I personally have ever seen. Friends, family and even strangers continue to comment on his amazing disposition and his enormous smiles and it just can't be helped to smile back into his adoring and curious blue eyes.

Of course his calm and peaceful nature is during the day. By night, he is a little devil these days and loves to be up and being held. I somehow AGAIN managed to make the same mistakes I made with Colin in being a bit too attentive in the night and fostering a clingy night baby... DARN IT! I guess I just couldn't help myself in wanting the closeness of co-sleeping... and now I am paying the price :) One cuddle and a boob solves all problems in the night and so I continue to say... "someday I will sleep" :)

Logan is incredibly strong... rolling and scooting and pretty much sitting as of late. It is clear he is in awe of his big brother and absolutely loves it when Colin makes him laugh and interacts with him. That to watch, is pure sweetness. It really doesn't get better than that.

I am so thankful for my precious family and the love and joy Logan has brought to us. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.