Catching up

It's been tough to keep up with the blog lately, and I'm not sure why, but we've been busy and having lots of fun, and just enjoying so many different things. Nothing has been very exciting, and for some reason, my picture taking has dropped significantly the last few weeks, which makes it even tougher to blog. Ok, I'm just making excuses.

Two weeks ago, we had a really rough week at school. Owen has been going through a very "clingy to Mommy" phase, and is suffering from some really tough separation anxiety. We talked to the teachers, and last week and so far this week, has been better. We started him letting him take "bunny" to school as a comfort item so that when he asks for me (he goes to the door and says - Mommy Outside) the teachers have something that will comfort him. That means bunny has come home covered in whatever art project and lunch he has had, but it has helped him be a bit more comfortable at school.

Last week we started Gymnastics again on Tuesday. He started off a little shy, but quickly engaged and remembered the fun we had there last spring. He even let the teacher spot him and was super eager for stamps and stickers. I was so proud of him. Daddy was away all last week in Phoenix, so it was quite a busy week for Mommy. Tuesday evening Robyn and Sofia came over for dinner and play time, we always have a blast when they come over. Owen was so funny, running around and having fun with Sofia (Owen calls her Fia).

So what is little Owen up to these days??? He loves to drive his car through the family room and kitchen, driving all the way, it was something he didn't have enough space for in the apartment, so it was fun for him to ride his toys all over the new house... He has finally mastered the sit and spin. It has taken months, but he finally figured out how to sit and make it turn. He frequently uses it as his desk chair for his "office". He has been pretending to be Daddy. He goes to his "office" answers the phone, checks his "files", it's so funny, and just another indication that his imagination is definitely forming.

Other than flying his airplanes, playing with his cars, and building with his blocks, Owen's FAVORITE activity is to be chased, more than anything else he loves to do, he can't stop giggling, crazy running and laughing when we run, chase and "boo" him. It's so fun, and he NEVER tires of it.

He always loves to play outside, and help Daddy with the yard work. He'll just go to the door and say outside, until we go out. He'll also now willingly put on his shoes - he'll say Shoes on... Outside (or Buh Byes) - depending on where we're going. His favorite word is still NO (very emphatically) it's the answer to almost any question asked. Although he is starting to make choices - I can ask him if he wants "this or that" for food, and he'll usually chose one of the options. It's nice because it's giving him a little control over his meals and seeming to make most meals a bit smoother. We're still struggling with expanding the number of foods that he will eat, but we've made great strides with eating (most days).

Thursday last week Candace and Tyler came over to play. They enjoyed seeing our new house, and Ty and Owen played so well together, it was great to see. At one point, it was hysterical Owen was babbling on talking to Ty, and Ty said - What's your name? And Owen said "Owey" and then Owen just kept talking and Ty said - "I just don't understand what you're saying". It was so funny and so adorable, I couldn't help but burst out laughing and smile at how cute it was. So cute!

Daddy came home from Phoenix Thursday evening, and he brought Owen a Southwest airplane. Owen had such a fun time playing with it, and it's still his favorite airplane. It was great to see Owen happy to see Daddy, but also funny, that it was almost as if he hadn't left. Despite the fact that Owen had been asking for Daddy all week, when he got home, he was like - "oh great your here now, thanks for the airplane... do you have any juice???"

Friday we headed up to Hershey to pick up Sam Dog. Grandma watched Owen on Friday night, and Mommy and Daddy had a rare treat to head out to dinner and a movie (and some shopping for Owen's fall wardrobe). We had a nice evening, and so great to have Grandma to babysit. We headed to Chocolate World on Saturday and then to visit Sandy and Jack and see their beautiful grand baby Emmy. Owen kept looking at me when I was holding the baby, (who is so cute and so tiny at 9lbs, it's so hard to remember Owen that small), but he engaged very well in a room full of people he doesn't know. Ben (Emmy's dad) started throwing a ball for Owen and they played very well together. Then the torrential downpour began and we decided to head home early.

Owen has also been having some resistance to sitting in the bath tub. He has always loved his bath but some days puts up quite a struggle lately. So we bought him some new bath toys and bath markers, and he has been loving drawing over himself and the bath tub - and we're back to enjoying bath time again.

This week has been busy as always, he had a good day at school Monday. We went out for ice cream after dinner last night, which made Owen a crazy man running around hysterically all evening. It was too funny. Then Mommy and Daddy stayed up entirely too late to watch the Ravens game, despite the outcome, they played a great game.

Today we had an event filled day. We started with gymnastics, Owen had a blast, and so happy we signed up for another session. Owen was very impressive today, he swung 3 times on the trapeze into the pit, none of the other kids would even try it! So great! He also loves the rings, and the bars. He is not a fan of circle time but did really try today. At the end of the class, they give the kids little sticks they bang together to do the stretches and sing a song. Owen last week ran around and would not sit down, so I had to take the sticks away. But today when I told him he had to sit, he went to the teacher, got the sticks, and then sat on him bottom and scootched the entire way towards me. I didn't mean it quite that literally, but he definitely knew he would lose the sticks if he didn't follow direction. Then he was the first kid to put the sticks away and wait patiently for stamps and stickers. It's a great class, and I was so proud of him.

Then we went to Annie's playground and climbed through the tower, slid down the slides, and swung on the swings. It was very busy day at the playground because schools were closed. So we came home had some lunch and did a little art project. After Owen's nap, we had some dinner and played for ages in the basement with Play Doh. It was against my better judgement on my new carpet, but it was so much fun. I have rarely seen Owen play for the same thing for such a long period of time. I think we played for over 45 minutes, it was very impressive, and he had a blast. I can hardly wait to play with it again tomorrow...

21 Months!

So, I know this keeps sounding cliche, as I say it month after month. But it truly is amazing how fast time is flying. So here's my sentimental moment for today. I look at Owen and see such an amazing, smart, handsome, funny, adorable little boy. I can't even say baby anymore, because he looks nothing like the little angel I brought home from the hospital.

It's unreal, and impossible to explain how fast each month comes and goes, but at the same time, when I sit back and look at the pictures, even from one month, it's incredible how much he has learned and accomplished, and the opportunities he has had to explore new things and places.

He amazes me daily with what he has picked up verbally, the songs he can sing, what he has learned how to do, and especially how much he understands when I talk to him. His communication skills are helping so much with the temper, and I am so grateful that we're understanding each other better each day.

Sure, we still have our regular toddler battles, and I'm sure they have no end in the near future (he's not even 2 yet!) And each day is a new day, and a chance to start fresh. It's an incredible feeling to know that you're changing the life of this little guy every day. That you're the one that teaches and molds him to who he will become.

Happy 21 months Owen, I love you.

Zoo Pictures

Fun Time at the Zoo!

Yesterday was a blast... We had so much fun at the zoo. We went with Ms. Robyn & Sofia, and it was Tot Tuesday, which meant there were more Zoo employess out near the exhibits, to answer questions and talk about the animals, and since the zoo wasn't very crowded it was nice to relax and enjoy the day. Owen and Sofia were excellent all day. They got in and out of the strollers to see the animals, and other than a few minor flares of temper, they were excellent and had so much fun.

Owen really enjoyed seeing the zebras, and loved the polar bears. When we were standing by the leopard cage, Owen kept saying "cougar", it was cute... They also had a blast in the children's petting zoo, and riding the tractors... They had a bit more freedom in this section, not having to be in the stroller as much, so it worked out well...


On our way home, I really struggled to keep Owen awake, he was really tired, but then after he went down for his nap, he started chatting and singing. He never stopped, so I picked him up around 5, and wasn't sure if he would be in a good mood or a grouch, but he was not just in a good mood, but he was HYSTERICAL. He was running around laughing, and had the giggles for over 2 hours. At 7pm, we got ready for bed and he went down without a peep... slept until 8:15 this morning, when I had to wake him for school...


What a great day at the zoo...

In need of a haircut...

It's been a marathon of a week so far. I can't believe it's only Wednesday! Monday and Tuesday, Mommy went on a war path in the basement, tackling all of the boxes. Yes, we're officially UNPACKED! Everything (except the baby clothes which we don't need and the bar glasses (since we don't have a bar) is unpacked, and put away. We have a bunch of pictures and artwork to hang, so that's the next project, but for now, I'm basking in the box free house. So nice!

Owen loved playing in the basement yesterday evening, after all the boxes were gone, he just ran back and forth and around an around... So cute! I was afraid we'd have boxes there till Christmas, but feel very satisfied that their done... in less than 3 weeks (not to toot my own horn)...

He's been pretending to fix everything. He has been playing with Daddy's tools, so when we were buying a birthday gift for his friends party this weekend yesterday, Mommy bought him his own Home Depot drill and screw driver set. I wanted to get him a little tool box, but they didn't have one in stock. He LOVES his drill, and is rarely without it, he'll fix anything for me. It's so cute. Today before breakfast, he had to get the drill, fix his high chair before he would get in. Too funny!

Owen had a great day at school today, the teachers are very impressed by his constantly growing vocabulary, and how well he sings songs and joins in the activity. He knows about 1/2 the alphabet song, most of Happy Birthday (trying still to get this on video, it's so cute!) and can almost count to 5. The learning is amazing at this stage, I am so impressed by him!

But after school today he took his nap, and woke up with wings! I realized how badly he needed a haircut, and did the unthinkable... I sent Owen and Daddy to the mall (by themselves) to get it cut and bring home dinner. Owen hates having his haircut, and I knew he wouldn't put up nearly the fight that he would with me for Daddy (he'd be a big boy) and Daddy was quite successful.

It wasn't until after he came home tonight that I realized just how long his hair had gotten... but he looks so clean cut and so cute!

Time is Flying

Time is flying by, I can't believe how quickly the weeks are passing. Why didn't they seem to go this fast when we were in the apartment, and minutes creeped by... But anyway, we had a pretty busy week. Tuesday we spent most of the morning, running errands to get some necessities - groceries, diapers, the usual. Wednesday morning, Daddy left for a meeting in Kentucky, I got Owen off to school, and once I got to work, about 10:30 I got a call from Owen's school that he was sick, and I needed to pick him up. When I got there he was fine, playing with his classmates and smiling. I couldn't believe they thought he was sick... but nonetheless, he had to go home... He was fine, just teething. I took him home, and we played all afternoon. Since Daddy was out of town, and my babysitters have all started back to school, I couldn't get back to work, but I made up for it later in the week. Owen has recently started "playing" games. We've purchased a few toddler games - whack a mole, fishing game, mr. bucket, and lucky ducks. He loves to play and I think understands a bit about your turn/my turn. It's cute, and fun. I love to play games, so these are exciting times!

Thursday, we had a lot of fun. We headed to Columbia to meet Ms. Melissa and Alik at Play Wise Kids. It was empty, and we had the place to ourselves. The kids jumped right in and played in the play house. They still really parallel play, but there was some interaction. Alik is 17 months, but they're almost the same height, and I know will be good play mates if we keep getting them together. Play Wise Kids was a lot of fun this time, because we were able to spend time in each exhibit we wanted to, rather than trying to avoid the mass of kids that are there on the weekends. Owen really enjoyed the train table. I need to get him a larger train set, the one we have just is a circle, but I can see he would enjoy a little larger area to push the trains around. He also loved the "grocery" store and pushing the small carts around. He threw veggies into his cart, and did not want to leave. But we eventually left and took the kids to Wendy's for lunch. Owen was hitting his wall and barely ate anything, he wasn't even showing off, he was just distracted and climbing out of the high chair. It wasn't our best meal out, but it was fine.

Daddy came home Thursday night, and we were all ready for the weekend. Friday was a pretty long work day, catch up from Wednesday, and fortunately they kept my healthy, but teething, child engaged and didn't send him home again. We had a nice dinner, our couch finally arrived, and Mr. Ken and Ms. Mary (our old neighbors) stopped by to see our new house. Then we started getting ready for the rain to come. Tropical Storm Hanna started Saturday and it rained all day. We did venture out around lunchtime to do a little shopping and get lunch at the mall.

Uncle Alex brought Sam Dog back to us on Saturday afternoon. She didn't even know we had moved, but I think enjoys the new house, and it's good to have her home. When Daddy took her outside, she caught a turtle. Daddy brought it inside to show Owen. He was intrigued but had no idea what to think about it...

Saturday night, Laura came to babysit Owen so Mommy and Daddy could go downtown to Roy's for Pop's birthday. It was so great to go out to dinner, and we had a lot of fun. Owen was very good for Laura, and went to bed very easily.

Today we went to Target (will we ever have everything we need here???) and to Costco, then made it back in time for the Ravens season opener. Owen took his nap during the game so he didn't watch much (but that meant that Mommy got to see the game). So exciting that they won the first game and are looking pretty good! After the game, we met up with everyone at Liberatore's for dinner. Owen was very hungry when we got there, and ate about 3 pieces of Lib's pizza. He was very good, and especially loved the chocolate cake he and Daddy split. We had been practicing singing Happy Birthday song, and he was doing really well, but wouldn't sing it with all the people there. Oh well, I'll try to catch it on video so Pop can hear it, because it's so cute.

We came home and let Owen stretch his legs outside because he had been cooped up all evening in the high chair. He loves to play with the hoses and water the trees...

Labor Day Weekend Fun

It's been a fun weekend. Lots of fun play time, and a few projects too. Sunday morning, we went to visit Granny on our way to the pool. Granny was happy to have us visit, and loved seeing Owen be cute and playful. Afterwards we headed up to the pool. It was so warm and such a beautiful day. But Owen wasn't quite himself when we first got there. I think his teeth are still bugging him a bit, and he did not want to play in the baby pool. So we headed to the big pool and he was much happier. He swam with Daddy, even though the water was quite cold. Then he played on the stairs for quite some time. He loves to go up and down and he's so proud of himself.

He also jumps off the stairs, sometimes with no warning so you have to stay on your toes so you're always ready to catch him.

We had a nice lunch, and then got home for Owen's nap. During his nap, Daddy and I tackled the office. We unpacked and got everything organized. What a relief to have another room accomplished. After a great dinner, Daddy hung the curtains in Owen's room, and Owen took a "swim" in the master bath tub.

This morning, Daddy and Owen tackled the lawn. The back yard was seeded, so there is hay everywhere. Owen helped Daddy rake it up. It was quite warm out there, so they couldn't do too much. This evening, we headed to the bay house, there was quite a crowd there. Owen took a little time to warm up to such a crowd, but he did great. In no time, he was on the pier with Aunt Jess, searching for airplanes in the sky, had dinner and covered himself in chocolate pudding. At the end of the evening he got the giggles, and everyone loved hearing him laugh and be funny. He even sang his ABCs and was quite charming. I was so proud of him all night long.

What a great way to spend our labor day weekend...