That's Why It Smells Like Carmex In Here!

Today we found Owen in our bathroom drawer. He found a tube of Carmex. Harmless enough - right? Well Owen not only showed us that he has now figured out how to take caps off, but he also showed us how Carmex can be a great hair gel - helps to wooo the ladies. Woo away Owen; woo away. We also learned that it only take two rounds of California Baby Organic Shampoo to remove Carmex residue from baby boy's hair.

17 Month Update

17 months old already! Owen is growing up so fast we can't keep up. We should really talk to him about that.

At 17 months Owen;

LOVES playing with buckles. He can spend an hour playing with the buckles on his Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster Seat . He has yet to figure out how to unbuckle, however.

Eats whole apples

Can climb onto his horse by himself

Loves drinking juice from Mommy's new Jack LaLanne’s Classic Power Juicer.

Gets excited when he hears a truck or tractor outside.

Realizes the house has a basement. He wants to go and explore all the time.

Is developing habits. If he sees a drawer open that is normally closed, he'll go over and close it.

Loves going to the hardware store with Daddy.

Can follow directions. If we ask him to go into the other room, pick up a book and bring him back to us. He can also retrieve puzzle pieces and bring them to us.

Loves to play with water. We often fill the bathroom sink and let him push toys around in the water. He uses a little Snoopy step stool and can just barely see over the edge. It's really cute until we realize he's full of water. We decided to be creative and let him play with a larger tub of water on the kitchen floor. The towels we laid out were no match for Owen when he picked up the 5 gallon tub and dumped all the water out.

Still hits occasionally, but now he immediately stops and gives us a kiss on the cheak after doing it. Sometimes he kisses us even if it was a light punch that we didn't even feel.

Enjoys dancing and knows when to 'fall down' during "Ring Around The Rosey"

Pulls and pushes us in the direction he wants us to go.

Still doesn't understand cuddle time.

Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas! We decided we should update the blog with Owen's Christmas Activities. Being his second Christmas, he acted all pro - unwrapping gifts and helping decorate. Although Owen was excited to do everything and could say Ho Ho Ho when he saw Santa, he didn't quite understand the purpose for all the commotion. There were five holiday parties with one 3-day strech of constant unwrapping. We were getting worried that Owen would start to expect a wrapped gift every where he goes.

Christmas Eve this year was very different from last year. Owen partook in a lot of new family Chirstmas traditions.

"Shut the door Daddy - It is getting cold in here!"

First-off was hanging Santa's Key. Mommy was distraught that our house did not have a fireplace for Santa to come down. When Mommy consulted her students - they reminded her that they never really cared how Santa got in their house just as long as the presents showed up. Others said that Owen won't pay attention to that many details. Well Mommy and Daddy comprimised - instead of a $3000 fireplace, Daddy bought a $10 Santa Key (during our vacation in Spring Green). Some may call that the cheap way out, others might call it fiscally responsible.

Owen left Santa milk and cookies as well as carrots for the reindeer. At Daycare Owen made special reindeer food (oatmeal and glitter) and sprinkled it outside to make sure Santa stopped. Owen really wanted Daddy to eat the carrot. He must've known that Daddy did most of the physical lifting of the gifts.

Then it was off to bed to wait for Santa to come. Owen's face says - I don't know what happening tomorrow but it sounds good.

Since Owen was no longer a "Christmas Rookie" he felt is was neccessary to critique Daddy's tree decorating. Owen is looking forward to traveling to the tree farm outside of town next year to pick up tree. Daddy hasn't had any help for several years. The last helper Daddy had refused to get out of the Jeep on account of "a chill in the air".

Cousins' Mya, Billy and Owen pose for a pre-gift opening photo. For the next two hours paper was flying, kids went missing, balls were thrown, boxes were discarded, tape was cut and dreams came true and the trio attacked the mountain of gifts.

Uncle Bill and Owen - a rare shot. Owen didn't know Bill could read.

Being at home for two weeks is a long time. Owen had to take a few minutes to reminise about his old school pal, Brody.

Stress levels were rising as Owen tried to remember the physics lesson he received from Uncle Brandon ... now what was the speed equation again?

Owen really enjoys playing with his new 6-in 1 Tent and Tunnel Play Zone by Toyco. Of course it's all fun and games until Daddy gets stuck halfway through the tube.

16 Month Update

Every day Owen comes home with new skills and words. It's amazing to see how much he changes every day. Owen attacks each day with so much enthusiasm and excitement that it's hard to keep up with him. There are some big wheels turning in his little head and it's fun to watch him figure things out ... even the things we'd rather he didn't figure out.

At 16 months Owen:

• Has molars coming in. One has popped out on the left side. Many more to come.
• Climbs onto chairs, and then onto the table. As cute as this is, we'd rather he didn't know how to climb on top of the table.
• Has a litany of words, including; Up, Down, Help, Momma, Dadda, Daddy (we think this is the same as Dadda - but could be completely different), bbbrrrooomm (truck sound), All done, More, No and Banana.
• Most anmial sounds are a low grunt. Recently he has started to softly "mmmmooo" and we taught him to howl like a wolf.
• Insists on the "no jackets in the house" rule. We were not aware of this rule until Owen pointed it out.
• Eats most of his food. Sometimes all of it.
• Loves cheese, ketchup, anything with spaghetti sauce, bananas, apples, grapes, pears, noodles, pizza - especially Tombstone with little sausages, applesauce, chili, yogurt, bread and teddy grams.
• Loves to color
• Plays with his trucks and tractors
• Runs everywhere
• Looks at books by himself
• Tells us if he is not interested in a particular book by shoving it away.
• Refuses to cuddle for more than 3 seconds
• Loves to wrestle with daddy
• Does not understand the concept of sleeping in on the weekend
• Still does two naps at home and one nap at daycare, but the second nap at home is becoming more difficult.
• Tolerates the snow.
• Has fun helping Daddy shovel the driveway.
• Dusts in the kitchen with a towel. He has even dusted his refrigerator magnets.
• Loves his Little Tots slide
• Can stack all 12 stacking cups - and then knock them over
• Takes a bath twice a week.
• Brushes his own teeth
• Brings Mommy and Daddy their shoes.
• Leaves little hand prints on every window
• Has a sleep schedule that requires we go to Saturday afternoon church
• Now thinks the naughty hallway is fun
• Waves goodbye as one parent drives away to work
• Loves watching trucks drive by the house.
• Doesn't seem to care about the Christmas tree or the lights outside
• Can climb up and down stairs

Owen has really been hitting the weight room hard this winter.

A few more years and he may look like this ...

Owen loves to put his hat on. He has yet to put it on correctly.

Owen is beginning to pitch in around the house. Although it's quite unnerving watching him swing the broom around, it is nice to know he's trying to help.

Over the course of one week Owen picked up two "BooBoo Reports" at school. One of the teachers thought we may need to get him a helmet if this continues.

Owen loves to run up and down the hallway. He has important business to attend to in every room. He never walks, just runs.


No use crying over spilt milk ... or poured milk in this case.

" I don't have time for spoons ... I'm a growing boy."

Thanksgiving

Owen was excited to celebrate his second Thanksgiving. He had so much fun that he decided to stay at Grandma's house for a few extra days ... without the parents. It was nice to get away from Mommy and Daddy for a while. Owen really needed the vacation.

While Owen was vacationing at Grandma-Camp, Mommy and Daddy were able to complete some big projects around the house. It's amazing how much of a productivity-killer Owen has become.

Owen had lots of fun watching the grown-ups play. He spent most of the time making sure everyone was playing nice and not pulling hair.

Owen was excited to find out he will have a third aunt in a few months. "Soon-to-be Aunt" Gena was proudly sporting an engagement ring from Uncle Bryan. The competition for "Favorite Aunt" will really heat up this summer!



Four cousins each had mini-cousins during the same year.

Todd/Owen ... Bill/Billy ... Sara/Sydney... Nick/Owen

Bedtime Routine

Owen has a fairly structured bedtime routine. Just before 7:00 we ask Owen if he would like to go upstairs and brush his teeth. The answer is always a rigorous "NO". But as soon as the gate at the bottom of the stairs is opened he runs as fast as he can in a somewhat straight line to the stairway. He is so excited to crawl up the stairs that sometimes we have to go up two or three times before he's ready to run to the bathroom to begin brushing his teeth.

Owen has quickly mastered the art of teeth brushing. Although we question how much brushing really goes on ... just where does all that toothpaste go?

After Owen is done "brushing" his teeth we take over and finish the job.

Although it's not a normal part of bedtime, Mommy often uses this time to give Owen a trim.

Mommy nixed the idea of a mohawk. Daddy and Owen are still appealing the decision.

Uncle Brandon's Wedding

A few weeks ago we traveled all the way to Winona, MN for Uncle Brandon and (now) Aunt Jamine's wedding. Normally a family gathering which demands a 4 hour drive to get to would result in more than 2 pictures ... normally.

Owen insisted that the third pew from the back is the "Best Seat In The House".


Owen spent some quality time with his second-cousin Cooper. Owen couldn't understand why Cooper didn't get up to play with him. Doesn't everyone walk??

Owen was so excited to show Mommy all that the Plainfield Parks System had to offer during a break from the ride home.