EIGHT Months

8 months?! That's precisely 2/3 of a year... and this momma cannot believe that!

The older I get the quicker life just flies by. I've never wanted time to slow down as much as I do now that I'm watching you grow so quickly. I truly savor every day. I'm so blessed to have you, and so incredibly blessed to be able to stay home and love on you all day long!

This has been both a fun (and sad) month.

Sad because your Great Grandmom passed away on July 22. It's bittersweet. She's died peacefully and is in Heaven now. She lived 90 beautiful years so we know it was her time to go, but we will sure miss her so very very much. She loved you so much and you truly brought lots of joy and laughter to her. Even though you'll never remember her, I hope you see the gentle love and beautiful spirit she possessed when you're older and look back at pictures.

All the FUN:
You had your FIRST HAIRCUT!! You did so great. I was so sad to say goodbye to the curls, but your hair grows so fast and mommy and daddy just can't keep up with it-- it needs somebody who knows what they're doing to trim it. You instantly looked so much older. You are such a handsome boy!

You had your first 4th of July! We had  family day. There was a big festival type thing here in Norman. You are doing such a great job at crawling, so we entered you in the baby crawling contest. (Hey, there was a $50 Toys-R-Us card at stake, why not?!) Anyway, there were 3 babies in your heat. One girl sat at the starting line and cried, and you and another girl just stared at each other in the crawling position and didn't go anywhere for a really long time. Then you saw grass over to the side of the carpet and crawled over there... she saw her grandma waving car keys at the finish line and headed that way. Daddy and I were proud of you for letting the pretty girl win. ;) We ended the night with fireworks in the back of the car. You slept for most of it and then woke up to watch the end.

Aunt Rachel and her family came to Oklahoma and we had such a fun visit. Time at the lake house is always so much fun!

Daddy started his rotations and has been lucky enough to have really great hours for psychiatry. We enjoy lunches and weekends with him so much! Since we've had lots of time at home, I put some finishing touches on your room! I chose the "Brave Little Explorer" theme before you were even born and, my oh my, it's perfect for YOU!!

You still have 2 teeth (no new tech this month), are doing so well at crawling, you blow raspberries, suck your toes, play hide and go seek, pull up and stand by yourself for a couple of seconds, you are so curious and observant, and SO.VERY. HAPPY! You LOVE water and I'm obsessed with your wrinkly little raisin toes.

I love you, my little BRAVE EXPLORER.


Some of my favorite pictures from this past month:

                                                          

She's In Heaven

The world has lost one of the kindest, most loving, gentle and beautiful ladies. Although we are all very sad, she lived an incredibly great 90 years and that is something to celebrate! She will be missed dearly and the memories cherished forever. I will be forever grateful to have had the two weeks at the beach this summer with her. We celebrated her 90th birthday, had many good conversations, enjoyed lots of ice cream, and laughed about the enormous amounts of energy and entertainment Elliott provided. Since 1925 she has seen and experienced so much. She grew up idyllically, sent a husband to war, graduated college, was married over 65 years, created a wonderful home, had 5 children, buried a young daughter, cheered her brother to the moon, traveled the world, has poured love and kindness into every relationship she has ever made, and so much more. I dream to live as fully, gracefully, and long!

Also, on the other side of the country in California, Aunt Joan Aldrin peacefully passed away as well. Such a sweet, strong, and beautiful woman she was!


Madeline Aldrin Crowell passed peacefully to heaven on July 22, 2015 while at home in Pennsylvania. Maddy had just celebrated her 90th birthday in June with her family and friends at the Jersey shore where she enjoyed spending many summers throughout her life.
Maddy grew up in Montclair, NJ and was the daughter of the late Col. Edwin E. and Marion Moon Aldrin. She graduated from Hood College in 1947 and married the love of her life the following week. She and her husband, Chuck, began their life journey together. Her greatest joy in life was being a wife, mother, and grandmother. 
Maddy was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Charles P W Crowell Jr.; their daughter Linda; and her sister, Fay Ann Potter. She is survived by her brother, former astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin; four children, Dr. Charles P W Crowell III (Jeannie); Lisa Brandon (Greg); Cathy Anello (Beau) and Lori Hebenstreit (Steve); 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends. 
Maddy navigated life with a lovely grace that can only be described as beautiful. She was kind, unassuming and went about life quietly, making it perfectly clear that her chosen path was to her the best path in the world and she wouldn't have it any other way. 
She lived life according to the words of Will Rogers; "I never met a person I didn't like." She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. 
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2015, 10:00 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa.




NINETY YEARS OF LIVING WITH BEAUTY AND GRACE.