FIRST STEPS!!!

Owen took his first steps today!

Dinner was done, dessert was being consumed by those over 2-1/2 feet tall. Owen was under the table holding on to Teresa's chair when he let go and walked, total frankenstien walk, 2-3 step before going splat and Mama shrieking with delight!

He managed a likewise 2-3 step in the kitchen a few minutes later, but mostly we were all laughing and celebrating too much to get a good step in! Teresa was very excited too, quite cute!

9 month stats
25th percentile weight/height
95th percentile head

18pounds 12 ounces
27.5 inches long
14.75 inch head

doc's not concerened he's dropped in percentage for weight/height given that he's been to active cruising and crawling.

Crawling

So Daddy and Teresa went on a weekend trip alone - back East to celebrate Great Nana's 90th birthday. The day they left, Friday, Owen decided he could crawl one crawl movement... but as soon as big sister came back - Owen decided he could crawl 2 feet for the sole purpose of reaching bid sister - and her puzzle pieces.

We're off and crawling!

Aside - While Daddy and Teresa were gone, I avoided saying "Teresa." I quickly noticed that whenever I did, Owen would get whiplash looking around trying to find his big sister!

FOOD!

We've flirted for a while with trying Owen on solids, but he just really hasn't been interested. However, now that we're back from our big Ireland trip, he seems to have changed his tune. The other day he wolfed down a cube of nectarine, and he's become quite adept at feeding himself Os, stars and those little Gerber biscuits. I have a feeling he'll be eating everything in sight soon.

Even better, when he's tired of feeding himself, he gives us the milk sign!

naptime... someone is standing in bed yelling towards the door. down boy. naptime!

clapping! he's clapping for himself!

and a second tooth!

and still not crawling but lots of cruising.

really, we love Owen no less, life is just busier! His posts are just that much more meaningful ;)

today as I sat at the computer with him sitting on the floor nearby, suddenly his head was at my knee - no I had not fallen, rather he has grasped the chair and pulled himself to a stand. gleefully I might add.

17 pound 7 ounces
26.75 inches long
18.25 inches head circumference

6 month stat

raspberries! neeed I say more?

our boy is growingup!

Owen sits! 2 days ago you set him in a sit and he kissed his toes. Yesterday placed in a sit and he...sits! growing strong tummy muscles!

Streeeetch. push. wiggle.

leeeeeeeeeeeean.

Look ma! I'm on my belly!

I came home from my weekend at Sea Ranch to find my son had found his thumb. Do we want a thumb-sucker? dunno but it appears we have a recreational sucker.

At 4 months old, Owen has become quite the talker. Much more than I remember Teresa talking at this point. If you give him a big smile, he'll give you a big smile and coo and laugh and squeal in return. Owen put these skills to work over the Memorial Day climbing weekend in Joshua Tree: charming everyone while wearing his blue fleece bear suit, especially Mom and Dad.

yesterday after teresa got up from her nap, she discovered owen on th e floor in the livig room, just kick'n it in a onsie. She departed to his room and brought him back a snuggy. I turned around to find her again in his room opening drawers so asked what she was after - socks for owen.i handed her a pair and she proceeded to put them on him best she could (not half bad!).
nak

I sit here watching Owen try to throw a leg over to roll front to back... and also trying to pull his knees under him to crawl too? Oh my.

Tub of Bub!

Owen's 2month appt was yesterday. On their scale that always weighs my kiddos 5 oz light (as compared to the hospital digital scale), he weighed 12 lbs 12 oz. His length, as measured with his knee bent was 23 inches. His head, measured while ihe was barely thinking, was 16 inches. This places him 75-75-90 respectively for percentages. Tub of bub!

Sleep!

The past two nights Owen has given us 6+ hour stretches. yippee!

Showers

not only did Daddy get the first golden pee shower, he also got the first golden poop shower!

in the hospital Daddy did a change and left Owen exposed. He needed to pee. So away he peed, up the wall, all over his clothes and blanket too.

and now peacefully at home, in the middle of the night, in the middle of a change, Owen again blessed dad, this time with poo. I don't know everything that was hit, but there was a teriific drip and smear (Daddy's early morning cleanup attempt) down the wall from about 4 feet up and a foot wide. Dad didn't really want to talk about it. I cleaned away the evidence.

Big Bath

Owen had his first big bath tub bath today with Mama and...... Teresa! Teresa hasn't had a bath since before Owen was born, and only one shower since then, not for lack of our offering, suggesting, cajoling.

Since Owen is now tracking objects, he rather liked watching Teresa's bright singing dolphins in the tub. Teresa wanted to help entertain Owen but we wouldn't allow her to do so from out of the tub. The urge to help Owen won over the fear of the tub! yeah!

Owen got a cleansing and then hopped out to Daddy's arms. Teresa and Mama washed her Two's two paint off and got an overall good scrubbin'. Teresa is now still in the tub playing happily by herself! yeah yeah yeah!!

Bruiser

eleven and a half pounds already!

Owls

9 days before Owen's birth we had a wise visitor swoop into our patio and become confused for a bit before flying away... In superstition (mostly of Europe), the owl was seen as reincarnations of the dead and in Wales, is also associated to fertility, as it is an omen of an easy birth if an owl comes near a pregnant woman.

Double Whorls

Owen is part of only 2-5% - he has a double whorl on the crown of his head. Poking around these whorls are considered reflective of "normal" brain development. Other poking says double whorls means good luck and strong willed. Hard to imagine a child of ours strong-willed ;)

Well let's see: With Teresa we managed to start this when she was 4 days old... With Owen it ended up being about a month and four days... Here goes:

Owen James was born on Friday, January 26 at 12:21 At 8 pounds, 6 ounces, he was a hefty little guy. Mom and Dad settled into infant-care a little easier this time, although it has still been a little bit of a shock to the system to have to get up at night to feed and change diapers. He took to nursing without any encouragement and immediately had a good latch and productive nurse. Great-uncle Jim was his first visitor on Saturday morning and big sister Teresa (along with Grammary and Grandpa Pete) came by in the evening to visit for a few minutes. Teresa took immediately to her little brother, and was able to gently hold him and cuddle him. This time, mom and dad were more prepared about food in the hospital, and despite both having hospital food, dad went out to get burritos for an extra fiber-rich meal. On Sunday, mom and dad reluctantly headed home after lunch to meet Teresa at home.

Pesto poopies have returned to our world. we'd hoped to escape it with Owen, but no, Teresa started a 4 weeks, owen is on track. So I went to breastfeeding support today to get a jump on fixing him before a couple weeks go by like it did woth Teresa.
I talked to Pat. OK, OK, I cried to Pat, no shame here.
she wants me to limit dairy, but no reading labels. She wants me to give owen Acidophilus (Im already taking it). She wants me to "block feed" Owen (he only feeds from one breast every 3 hours); this is to make sure he is gettinghind milk.
She wants me to call Fri/Sat to tell her how we're doing -- we should see improvement by then.
In the meantime he gained 12 ounces the past week (are we sure he's related to itty bitty T?)

I went to the support group today so I could weigh the growing boy. He is NOT following Teresa's footsteps. This husky fella has put on 1/2 pound a week since birth; yep, a 10 pounder 5 ouncer today. granted that was with a full belly - but no clothes.

it was really cute, Teresa wanted cuddles with Owen and wanted to read Raggedy Ann with him. He was awake while she adjusted his hat and talked about elbows and facial features but I think slept through the story...Teresa was pleased!! very sweet. This morning she was full of hugs for him. so far things go well!

Daddy just left the LR with Owen to change a diaper as T and I were looking at pictures - pictures of Owen which is what Teresa requested. Teresa decided Daddy needed help so left me announcing, "I'll be back in just a minute."