12 Months

How, sweet boy, are you possibly one?  I can not believe how quickly this year passed.  If I could push "rewind" and start it over, I would in a heartbeat.  You are a joy, and I am so glad that God blessed our family with your presence.

Favorite foods

apples

strawberries

bananas

sweet potatoes

peas
cheese
chicken

Favorite toys

shakers
drums

balls

angry birds

balloons

cars

anything that belongs to Jonathan...

Favorite activities

eating
being held

snuggling
eating

being held

playing with Jonathan
eating
being held

swinging

You are sleeping much better this month; at least at home!  You go to bed around 6:45 in the evening, and typically sleep through the night (can I get a woot-woot) until I wake you up around 5:00 am to nurse.  Then you snooze until around 7 or 7:30.  You occasionally wake in the middle of the night, but are easily soothed back to sleep with a little snuggling and some soft music.  You still sleep with your pacifier and a clothie, which is super cute.  Nap time is an issue at your sitter's (too much going on!), but at home you nap like a champ in the early morning and after lunch.



You, my dear one, are a little peanut, but are feisty and full of energy.  You have cat-like reflexes and a fun-loving spirit.  You are always ready to join in when your daddy and brother are wrestling.  Fearless is a good term to describe you at this age.  You still love to be held and often scream when you are put down.  The chiropractor is a must since I hold you so much.  Sometimes I get a little impatient because you constantly need attention.  But then I am reminded that you are still tiny, and just happen to need more love and attention than Jonathan did at this age.  And I love that you need me and want to snuggle.  And then frustration melts away to love and adoration.  Mommy and Daddy love you so much, Owen.  And Jonathan, well that big brother of yours loves you so much.  You have an amazing bond with your brother, and that is just about the best thing I could have hoped for in this stage of life.



Happy 1st Birthday, Owen William.  You are loved beyond measure by a God that is greater than all things.

12 Month Stats

Weight: 21 lbs, 3.5 oz. (50th percentile)

Length: 29.5 inches (40th percentile)

Note: I apologize for the unedited photos.  My computer is history, and I am using a loaner that I really don't know how to use….

11 Months

I seriously can not believe that in less than a month, you will be ONE, my precious baby boy.  Where has the time gone?  You now know four words: Dada, Mama, Uh-oh, and…Butt.  Because every boy has to have that last one in his vocabulary, right?  Still waiting to hear you say "Jon".  I might cry when you finally say big brother's name because you guys are seriously best buddies.  Your face still lights up when you see your brother, and you giggle with delight each time.  Heartmelt #532491.

You love to eat and you scream when someone else has food that you do not have.  We are working on "food" and "please", but for now, screaming is where it's at.  You have pretty much given up on green veggies.  You absolutely love sweet potatoes, and will flip for an apple.  Pears also seem to rank high up on your "love" list these days.  

This month, you have become even more attached to me, as if that's even possible.  When I leave the room, you crawl after me and scream (not a crying scream, but a "hey-you-get-back-here-don't-leave-the-room-without-me" kinda scream).  When I'm in the room, you will play by yourself for a few minutes, and then crawl into my lap, snuggle, and then you're off again.  Imagine this scene on repeat.  Your daddy says it's the same with him when he's watching you.  It's absolutely precious and I will miss these moments when you're older and more independent.  You have your "alone" time in your pack 'n play on a pretty regular basis.  As long as no one is in the room attracting attention, you will play by yourself independently for anywhere from 10-20 minutes.  During this time, I try to put laundry away or clean something around the house.  I have to be super fast though!

This month you participated in swim lessons at the YMCA.  You loved "jumping" into the pool the best.  Daddy was a great swim partner for you. 

You also got your first, much needed, haircut.  You were a pretty good sport about it.  No tears.  You just pulled away from Miss Ashley as she attempted to cut your mop hair. 

Sleep is still an issue for you.  I thought we were on a roll at one point, but then the dreaded top teeth started to come in (you are working on 4 at one time right now), and we started back at square one.  Most nights you continue to wake-up once or twice.  Sometimes more.  Naptime is not an issue at home in your own bed, but anywhere else, it's a battle.  No worries.  We'll get there.  And as soon as you're done nursing, this mama is going to a hotel for some much needed z's.  (At least that's what I like to dream about.)

I love you, sweet baby boy.  Even when you look like Alfalfa. 

10 Months

Little Peanut, you continue to grow and amaze me everyday.  You are a curious little boy, and are constantly getting into things.  We have to keep quite a close eye on you because you don't fully understand the word "no", yet.  You are loving...oh, so loving.  Your eyes light up when you see your loved ones.  You smile and giggle with delight when you are shown affection.  You especially love to be tickled.  And Jonathan's laugh makes you smile every. single. time.  You are determined.  You want what you want, and nothing (besides having things taken away or being scooped up by us to keep you from hurting yourself) will stand in your way.  You crawl over things (and people) to get where you want to go.  And if you see Jonathan's Star Wars Angry Birds on the table, you make a beeline in that direction as soon as you think no one is watching.  You are a pig hungry little boy.  You continue to scream between bites because we just can't seem to get food into you fast enough.  You love bananas, and can pick them up and eat them. You love apples, and gnaw on them anytime we are willing to let you give it a go.  However, you mostly eat pureed "stage 2" foods because you gag on "stage 3" foods that have "chunks" in them. Water is still your favorite thing; whether it's simply watching Jonathan slurp it into his mouth and spit it out into the sink, or enjoying a bubble bath filled with toys.  You recently started walking with the assistance of a toy walker.  Jonathan and I were having a pretend "picnic" at the table, while you were across the room playing toys by yourself.  When I looked up, you were pushing the large toy car across the room, taking your first assisted steps.  I will never forget the expression on your face, which seemed to say, "What's a guy gotta do to get some attention around here?"  Sleep is still an issue for you.  Some nights you don't wake at all, but most nights you wake-up anywhere from 3-5 times.  You nap regularly at home with music, a clothie, and your binky, but you still have trouble sleeping at Ms. Colleen's.  No worries.  You'll sleep through the night...eventually.  You are a delightful little boy, and it is an absolute honor to be your mother.

 10 Month Stats

Weight: 19 lbs, 10 oz.

Length: 28.5 inches

8 Month Stats

Weight: 18 lbs, 6 oz.

Length: 27.5 inches

*Comparatively, Jonathan was 23 lbs, 6 oz. and 28 inches in length at 10.5 months of age.  BIG DIFFERENCE! 

Enjoy the pictures.  (And please note how much effort it takes to get one good shot these days!)

"Gimme that, Mommy!"

Look at those precious bunny teeth.

Almost got it...

Favorite shot of the day!

Finally!

9 Months

Wow.  I cannot believe that I am sitting here writing about you, my sweet nine-month-old.  It seems as if Daddy and I brought you home from the hospital just yesterday.  So many changes have taken place since your birth, so here's a little recap. 

1. Daddy got a new job at WOCC. 
2. We followed God's leading and left our home church (where we met and married!) of 8 years.
3. We God sold our condo (after 800 days on the market)...all in HIS timing.
4. We moved in with my parents (and my sister and her three kids).
5. Mommy went back to work after a wonderful maternity leave with my two beautiful boys.
6. We found a new baby-sitter/teacher/caregiver/second mommy for you and Jonathan.
7. We moved into our new home in a new (to us) community.
8. We were privileged to take part in a new building campaign at our new church. (Old hat to us!)

That's a lot of changes in such a short amount of time! 

Here's what's been happening in your life over the last month.

You learned to clap.  You get a big, open-mouthed grin on your face when we say, "Yea!" and you clap.  So precious.  You also learned to crawl fo' real.  Full speed ahead!  You still crawl with your belly on the ground sometimes (just keeping with the times...doing the "worm"), but are mostly crawling around now.  A bit slowly, but you are persevering.  Especially when you see cords/wires/anything dangly (part cat?).  You know where you want to go, and nothing can stop you.  If something (or someone!) is in your way, you just crawl right over it.  You gravitate toward "big boy" toys, and don't care for little baby toys quite as much as Jonathan's lightsabers, figures, and play food.  You want to do everything your big brother does.  You want to eat what everyone else is eating.  One day, Jonathan was sitting on the floor eating an apple, and you crawled right up into his lap and tried to take the apple from him!  You are quite a handful character.  You can go from crawling to sitting, from crawling to your knees (my personal favorite), and...tada! knees to standing!  You LOVE to stand and often lock your knees so that we can't make you sit down.  Sweet boy, you are still not sleeping through the night.  In fact, you wake-up anywhere from 4-8 times per night.  I love you so much, and I value our midnight snuggles...but if you could limit them to once or twice per night, I would be so very grateful.  You are, however, getting much better at going to sleep on your own.  As soon as we go into your darkened room, we turn on your music, give you a clothie and your binky, and you immediately lean over and put your head down.  Pure love.  It never gets old.  You are still nursing, but are eating a lot more food now.  My milk supply is way down, and I hope and pray that I can continue to nurse until you are a year old.  It pains me to know that you are growing older and my life with an infant will soon be over.  However, I know that this is the way of life, and I must accept it and move on.  I will just continue to treasure each and every moment with you.  You still say "dadadadada" and what sounds like "yeah."  Your laughter is contagious.  When you laugh, it's this big belly laugh that cracks me up.  Sometimes it's a smile that makes you laugh, or a tickle on your belly.  But the best laugh just started when you watch Jonathan brush his teeth and he spits.  You laugh so hard that you just encourage his silliness, and he then spits about a dozen times just to keep hearing your sweet laughter.  You look for Jonathan when you hear his voice, and smile brightly when you see him.  Jonathan declared the other day that you are his "best buddy" (heartmelt #9,215).  Your laughter is sometimes short-lived and can immediately turn to crying or fussing.  Three ways to describe this month would be: active, fussy, and sleepless nights.  :O)  You are happiest when being held, being tickled, sucking on your binky, and when playing with Jonathan.  Your face seriously lights up when you see your big brother...and his does, too!  I couldn't have hand-picked a better big brother.  Jonathan is genuinely concerned about your well-being.  He loves to hug you and make you giggle.  You are still wearing 6-9 month clothing, little peanut.  I'm not sure how because you love to eat, and you scream when we take too long between bites.  We will find out how much you weigh at the end of January.  I love you, Owie.

Take One...of many.

Baby push-ups (just like last month)!

Poor baby!

"I can play like Daddy."