Halloween Night

I don't know if it was a trick or a treat, but my 5th tooth peeked through today. I'm still waiting for three more, and it's doing a number on my digestive track... Overall, I'm a pretty happy camper despite the fact that I'm getting 4 teeth at once... Hmm, maybe next year I'll get candy instead of teeth.

Halloween night was even more fun. Mommy got dressed up too (I think she forgets she's not a kid... she's the Mommy). I didn't recognize Mommy at first, I was kinda scared, but then she made me laugh.

I didn't mind the Zebra costume as much tonight. We had kids over to our house too. Mommy & Daddy's friends Dave & Lisa brought over Carson (3) and Noah (14 months). Mommy was funny, I kept pulling off her ears. We went trick-or-treating to just a few houses to show off my cuteness. Then we came home and I helped Mommy hand out candy to all the kids.



I also got to play with Noah. We had a lot of fun.

Halloween Fun at Gymboree

Today was our Halloween class at Gymboree. We got all dressed up and I went as little Ray Lewis. I didn't want to be the Zebra, it is too hot for inside parties.

Sofia was a shark. The other Sofia was a chicken. Will was a monkey. Some other kids were missing but we had fun anyway.

Here is our class and all the Mommies too. Oh and Gymbo.

I love to play on all the equipment. The tunnels, tubes and balls are my favorite.

Oh and of course I love the slide and the parachute, and bubbles. Oh, wait I just love Gymboree.

I get very independent and just crawl around to get whatever I want.

I think my favorite thing at Gymboree is this big ball. Mommy rolls it back and forth and I just laugh!

Sofia loves the bubbles.

Then we all played on the parachute and the we got a ride from the Mommies. Gymboree is a lot of fun, can't wait until next week!

Second Halloween Party!

Boy was today fun... Owen woke up on time this morning, and cooperated with me in going down almost 40 minutes early for his nap. I kept telling him - We're going to have a lot of fun when you wake up but you've gotta take a nap. He maybe understood and he went down without even a peep. I woke him at 11:30 dressed him and took him to my cousin Candace's house for another Halloween party. What's funny, when you're a kid Halloween is like a week long - party after party, I never remember that.

With the teething going on, Owen didn't really feel up to his Zebra costume, so we just dressed him in his skeleton, glow-in-the-dark t-shirt and jeans. He was comfortable and happy. So cute. When we got there, he was a little overwhelmed at first, but caught glimpse of Tyler's toys and dove in. He kept coming back to me, but would venture off longer and longer to play with the big kids.

He really loves kids. It's almost as if he's intrigued by them, and wants to join in. At one point, he left me crawled all the way to the other room, and joined in to the big boys playing with the tunnel and other toys. One of Owen's favorite things is the door stoppers... and the big boys found all the ones in Candace's house and Owen rushed over to show them - "Hey I do that too!" He was so proud. So was his Mommy.

Then we ventured outside for pumpkin painting. That was much more geared to the big kids. Owen was possessive of his pumpkin, but then lost interest and crawled away from all the kids and the party. After the painting began, I tried to engage Owen a little with the paint brush, but he seemed to want to eat the paint, and that didn't seem nutritiously sound.... So I decided it was time to pack up and head home for nap time.

Overall, Owen had a ball at his first big kid party. I know we'll have so many more, and he will venture away from me sooner, but it's all so fun.

Outsmarting My Parents

I am happiest with toys that have wheels. I love to play and push the cars around the kitchen and my play area. This is a new car that Mommy bought me, it makes a pig sound and is fun to push around.

I also have been playing very nicely and independently with my toys after I get a bath... this is how I evade bedtime. I'm such a good boy, Mommy can't possibly put me to bed. It's been working! I'm outsmarting them already.

My First Halloween Party!

Today was fun, although I didn't know it was going to be fun. We went out to breakfast this morning, and I was really good at first, but it took 40 min for our food to come, and that's way too long for a little guy like me. so I wasn't happy at the end of the meal. Then we did some shopping, Mommy & Daddy almost always buy me something. Then after my nap Mommy put me in this weird outfit and told me we were going to a party.

I wasn't very happy about my outfit at first.

And I screamed and wanted it off.

I actually begged her to take it off.

But once we got outside, I kinda forgot about the hood on my head and thought I looked pretty cool.

When we got to the party, there was music, and I really like to dance now. I rock back and forth the the music. It's fun. And other kids were interested in me too.

There was a costume contest, but being that I couldn't walk yet, Mommy had to enter with me, and I didn't win, probably because of Mommy with me, I mean, no Zebra has a Mommy with it. I'll get them next year.

Mommy says we have to wear this outfit again to another party and trick or treating... Hmm, am I going to have to hide from her?

Giggles, Climbing and Play Time

So much to blog! Owen has been imitating us recently, his latest is the telephone, he has a play phone that he picks up and pretends he's talking. Sometimes he'll put any old object next to his head, but he likes this little phone... think he's calling Sofia.

Aunt Liz was here again today, yesterday she had Owen cracking up with a book... no, silly, she wasn't reading the book, but she kept closing it and opening it in Owen's face and he thought that was the funniest thing ever. Today, when they were playing with the tunnel, Aunt Liz found that if she just wiggled the fabric, Owen would crack up... They really have fun together, especially lately, as Owen is increasingly playful and so inquisitive! The video is just of her fingers, but listen to his giggles. How cute?

Owen's also learning to climb. We went to BAAC today and played up in the tree house and in the soft play area. Owen can climb all the way through it. It's very cute. He's so proud of himself when he gets through each obstacle.

He's also really enjoying practicing his walking with the octagon shaped toys that he pushes then stabilizes with each step. He walks well with this, and can even push it all the way across the room. This has really given him some confidence when trying to walk and push a toy, or holding my hands. He's still aways from actually walking, but he's definitely progressing well. He also loves to cruise along the rock climbing wall. He's very good at maneuvering across the wall between pegs. I think that this area has really developed his skills well. He's so adorable and learning so much, so fast.

Another of Owen's favorite things is to test out his voice... He loves to hear an echo, and the BAAC Clubhouse is perfect for him. It's great. Listen for yourself.

Mommy's Little Helper

So today, I was very helpful to Mommy, we took a road trip to Hamden so that Mommy could take some pictures and see the garage's she's going to sell. They belong to Great Aunt Kathy and Great Aunt Denise. I'm a very good Real Estate Assistant, helping Mommy find the place, and being a very good boy in the car.

Then when we came home, Mommy & Daddy were making dinner, I tried to tell them that I wanted bread. I opened the drawer and pulled it all out, but Mommy wouldn't make it. When it fell on the floor Sam Dog scooped in and ate it. Mommy why won't you give ME raisin bread?

Visit to Grandpa's

Wow, what a quick weekend we've had... Friday was pretty relaxed, we didn't do much except watch some TV and eat carry out. Saturday morning we got up and had breakfast and hopped in the car and drove up to Grandpa and Grandma Bev's house. This was the longest car trip we've taken in quite a while, and actually, we weren't sure how Owen would do. But he was in good spirits and really was quite content for the entire trip up there. When we got there he played for a while, Owen made sure they knew their place wasn't baby proofed. He played with crystal candle sticks, ripped up a magazine, chewed up a piece of cardboard. He even took a nice 2 hour nap.

After the nap, Owen had a great lunch, and then we took a walk down to the water and watched Brigit swim. (Sam couldn't come because she was a resting a sore leg.) Then we played some more until Owen was all tuckered out and ready for another nap, so we got back in the car, and ended up taking a nice long drive home so that Owen could get a good nap in.

Today we didn't do much, slept in, ran some errands, and were back in time to watch the Ravens game... Time is just flying by.

Cute Little Devil

Aunt Liz came over to spend the afternoon with me today, while Mommy went to work. She snapped a few pics of me... I'm Ranger Danger! This is my typical afternoon - trying to figure out what is more dangerous? Sam Dog's water bowl or the heating vent? Hmmm... I'm thinking the heating vent... Did I drop a Cheerio down there?

But you can't help but love my devious little smile, can you?

10 Month Play Date

It's been a busy week! I turned 10 months old today. Mommy invited Sofia and Ms. Robyn over to play. We're just two peas in a pod. She's fun to play with although, she pulls my hair sometimes. That's OK, though, because she's cute.

Yesterday, we went to dinner at the country club. It's nice eating there, because it's not crowded and Mommy & Daddy let me crawl around and push my trucks.

I also had Gymboree again yesterday, it's so fun, and I love climbing around and playing. The parachute is also fun.

Tonight before bed, Daddy was making me giggle and make funny sounds. It had all of us laughing!

Bam Bam!

I love to bang things on the hard wood floors. Mommy keeps calling me Bam Bam... I just love the sound that things make when they drop. Gravity is very cool...

Congratulations!

Mommy, Aunt Liz, Ms. Robyn & Mr. Jaime had their big race today. The Baltimore Running Festival was held in Baltimore. They did the Marathon Relay Race.

Aunt Liz got them off to a great start, by running the first leg, she ran 6 miles, from the starting line at Camden Yards up to Druid Hill Park and back to Mercy Hospital, she ran her leg in one hour and 1 min. Mommy ran the second leg which was 6.8 miles, from Mercy Hospital to Fort McHenry, and back to the Science Center in one hour and sixteen minutes. Mr. Jaime took over then, and ran 6.1 miles, around the harbor, through Patterson Park and up to Lake Clifton high school, he ran all that in 1 hour and 5 min. He handed off to Ms. Robyn who ran 7.3 miles around Lake Montebello, across 33rd street and then back to downtown, ran through Camden Yards to the finish on Ravens Walk, she finished all that in about 1 hr 2o min. Very impressive for everyone!

So put that all together and they did a full marathon (26.2 miles) in 4 hours and 38 min! WOW! I'm very proud of them! Congratulations!

I had a great day with Daddy. Lucky Daddy, I slept until 9am, and then we had lots of fun playing and swinging outside. When Mommy came home she was sore and tired, so I kept playing with Daddy and then we went out for dinner, and of course they bought me a toy too... It's a fun day when I get to play all the time with Daddy...

Good Luck Dinner...

Tonight Aunt Liz, Sofia, and her Mommy & Daddy over for dinner tonight. They have a big race tomorrow. They are running in the Baltimore Marathon Relay race. So tonight we all had dinner at our house. Mommy made spaghetti and meat balls, I like the spaghetti at first, but then it got stuck to my hands and that made me mad. But Sofia and I got to sit next to each other and we were both very good letting our parents eat. We also got to play with my toys, and Sofia got to show off how she's walking by herself a little, I have to admit she's very cute! But I like crawling and I'll stick to that for a while, but I could tell Mommy was thinking... hmmm time to start practicing walking...

I'm going to spend all day tomorrow with Daddy, I think we're going to have lots of fun. Wait till I tell him Mommy doesn't make me eat vegetables anymore. :)

Good luck Mommy, Aunt Liz, Ms. Robyn & Mr. Jaime. Have a great race!

I Love to Push Trucks!

My new favorite thing is to push my trucks and trains around the family room and kitchen. It's so much fun on the hardwood floors! I can do this for hours... It's my favorite thing to do. I love the sounds that each truck makes on the floor. It's so cool, and I can go under the high chair, and under the table. And Mommy and Daddy keep buying me new trains and trucks to push around, it's so much fun! They know exactly what I like.

Yesterday was my first day at Gymboree Level 3. We had a ball. This class was a lot more fun, because we got to spend a lot more time on the equipment and playing and less time singing songs. I also have a new teacher.

Today, I took my first trip to Ravens stadium. Mommy and Miss Robyn had to pick up the race stuff. I was quite a hand full, I admit it. It wasn't very nice of me, but Sofia sat like an angel in her stroller, but I just wanted to crawl around and yelled at my discontent. Sofia even shared her fish and crackers with me, but I just screamed! But funny thing, I stopped the moment we got in the elevator to leave... Ha ha... Mommy got her stuff, but I think today was harder for her than the race will be!

Fast As Fast Can Be!

Owen is getting so quick! He's crawling everywhere and venturing into any and every room in our house. He's so cute, but I am just exhausted chasing him!

He's quick on his crawling, but he's also getting faster and faster with standing and cruising. Check out the video... As soon as he spots something he's not supposed to have, he's all over it, and nothing can get in his way.

Today we have our first Level 3 Gymboree class. It's going to be so much fun. I really hope that Level 3 will challenge Owen and will also hopefully provide him more play time on the equipment and less songs and bubbles. We'll know shortly...

Busy Weekend

We had a very busy weekend. Friday was our last Level 2 Gymboree class, and then we had a major BJs run to stock up on just about everything. After that we even dared going out for a quick dinner, even though we knew it was late for Owen. But he discovered French Fries were tasty and sat pretty happily throughout our quick meal.

Saturday, Mommy went up the the Bel Air Athletic Club and got us signed up. We can go on Monday. After that we went to Chapel Hill Farm for their fall festival with Grandma Owen rode on the train with Mommy and he LOVED it. Then Mommy and Daddy got to enjoy a nice evening out and Grandma watched Owen. It was so nice to have a relaxed laid back dinner, and Grandma had a blast playing with Owen.

Sunday we stopped by to see Granny on our way to the Country Club for their fall festival and hay ride. It was SOOO hot on the hay ride, but it was fun. Owen found a pumpkin and we decorated it. It will be a lot more enjoyable for Owen next year when he's walking around and really into the festivities, but it was fun. We then watched the Ravens squeak out a win against San Francisco.

Today, after Mommy went to work, we went up to the BAAC for the afternoon. Owen went to the nursery for about 25 minutes and Mommy ran on the treadmill. Then we played in the Clubhouse which has a really cool tree house and soft mats and play area. It's so cool and we had a blast.

This evening we played outside and swinging, it's so fun now that Owen is more interactive and play, what a blast!

New Gym & Play Area

Today Owen & I ventured up to Bel Air. We were in search of something fun to do, I sort of remembered seeing one of those kids play centers up near Harford Mall, but come to find out my memory recalled the Bel Air Athletic Club. But we went inside anyway, because of the outside looking like a very kid friendly place. They have a huge "clubhouse" for kids, and this huge tree house with slides and climbing. They have mommy and me classes, swim lessons, and the games and fun only gets better as Owen gets older. Although I was interested in joining a gym already, the fact that I wouldn't just be dumping Owen off at a nursery made me really like this place. Not to mention that they are putting in a major renovation to their pool area and will have an indoor pool water area with baby pool and "big" pool too. It's outdoor in the summer and indoor in the winter. Very cool.

I have to call the membership person back and join. Between Gymboree and this place we will have lots of places to exert energy this winter. Not to mention it'll be good for me too, I could use a place to workout, and their nursery is really nice. So my feeling is that Owen will play with me at the clubhouse and then he'll play in the nursery while I work out. I actually was able to let him play in the nursery for a bit today, while I toured the gym. He did really well. We're (I'm) very excited!

We also went to this really cool playground up in Bel Air, called Lyn Stacie Getz playground. It's a wooden playground with swings and cool castles, sand boxes, and lots of fun climbing areas. It's well worth the drive, the place is really great for kids, and there isn't anything like it in White Marsh/Perry Hall. Although he had fun crawling around a bit and swinging, I can tell he'll really love it when he's walking. Such a fun day!

Climbing Stairs

Owen's new thing is climbing stairs, he gave it a try last week at Gymboree on the nice soft squishy stairs, but didn't take a whole lot of interest. Yesterday, we were in the foyer, and he just started climbing, I stood right behind him and only let him go about 6 stairs. Tonight, we were in the basement and Daddy was in the kitchen, and Owen started up the stairs, and with me right behind him he actually crawled all the way up them. It's very cute, but scary and dangerous at the same time. He's just growing and developing so quickly, it's amazing.

And his intelligence is also showing up. Each day we are seeing increases in his ability to communicate and even in his manual dexterity. Now, I know Owen is an intelligent kid (and I know I'm biased)... but the last few days have been remarkable. For example, when he plays in the tub, I sing this song about frogs. Lately, we've been so busy, (and I've kinda gotten tired of the frog song) it's been tough to do all the chores and sing all the songs. But Owen will go into the tub find the frogs and start putting them up on the side of the tub, trying to remind me - Hey Momma... Sing the song! When I do, he gets all excited.

All this increased activity has also made for a much more tired little man. Recently, his naps have been great, very little fight to go to sleep, and he's been sleeping very well at night also. He's frequently begging to go to sleep, he goes to the books and starts pulling them out and whining, and just really wants to be read to. He knows that means he'll be going to sleep. I think one of my favorite times is story time in the evening. Tonight he was so tired and frustrated on the floor playing, I finally picked him up and put him on my lap. As soon as I showed him the book he calmed down and relaxed. Even tired, he let me read to him for nearly 15 min. I think he loves that special time too...