Eleven Months

So, it was pointed out to me today (on the babe's 11 month birthday), that I have been rather sucky about keeping you updated on his milestones. So sorry! So, here are some highlights:

• Owen is eleven months old today!
• Last month he weighed in at 24lbs 4oz. and just about 30" tall.
• He's been walking for 6 weeks now!
• He's got 4 teeth (2 on top, 2 on bottom), with two more coming in right now (2 on top)
• He is weaning himself off of baby food (eek!)
• Drinks great out of a juice box, but still hasn't mastered the sippy cup
• Wears size 12 month clothes and size 4 shoes.
• His favorite characters are Elmo and Mickey mouse
• He loves to "read" his books (especially the touch and feel ones)
• He is ticklish EVERYwhere (just like mommy)
• Is still a clone of Daddy
• Can say "da da", and occasionally says "ma ma", but usually just babbles.
• Plays the keyboard and the drums
• Still not completely sleeping thru the night, but we're working on it.
• Is an early bird
• Loves being outside!
• Waves Bye-Bye, plays Patty-cake
• Dances to any music
• Gives hugs (working on the kisses)
• Is a biter!

As for the rest of us, Matt just passed another certification exam, so he is now CompTia Server+ certified! He is working lots; we're blessed for all the work in this current economy. I have less than one month until graduation, and then it's off to take my state board exam and find a J-O-B. Currently I am at a nursing home doing my last clinical rotation, and loving it! Owen splints his time between his grandmas and a dear friend; needless to say he gets lots of love and attention while mommy and daddy work. The hugs when I get home are the icing on the cake!

That's all I can think of right now. I promise to be more productive about blogging, because there's lots going on over here and the little man is quite the character. Here's some pictures you may or may not have seen:

Comfy at home (Oct 2009)

Mischievous at Brant's Apple Orchard (Oct 2009)

Our Little Monkey (Halloween 2009)

Running around (November 2009)

Asleep at the Christmas parade (November 2009)

7 Months

Things Owen does now:

• sits by himself
• reaches for toys, paper, food, basically anything he's not suppose to have...
• grabs above said objects and passes them from hand to hand
• puts everything in his mouth (favorites include cell phones, keys, paper, your nose)
• pulls himself to a stand, particularly when Mama's not looking
• stands for a long time at a surface usually the window or his toy
• cruises the furniture
• pets (and chases) the cats
• crawls with his belly on or off the ground depending on his mood
• drums on whatever hard surface is in front of him
• "chews" his food
• throws temper tantrums

Generally speaking though, he's a very good baby. He's been to several picnics and family dinners at restaurants and he is a charmer. I love seeing bits of his personality developing even though I can see I'm in trouble because he's got a bit of a stubborn streak in him (he got that from his dad too!)

I am soooo content with my life right now. I really cannot imagine going back to school and eventually work even though I know I need to.And the time will come when I want to go back, but as of right now, I wish we could freeze time at seven months.

Scrapbooking

My vice is scrapbooking. It is addicting, it costs money, I spend way too much time - sometime neglecting other responsibilities (never Owen, of course!) - with the activity; but it helps me relax. I get in the zone, do a page, and come back to civilization a refreshed woman. Lately, due to time and resources, I do one or two pages a month at the most. But I love documenting my son's growth with pictures and journalings. I know that being a boy, he may not appreciate it like a girl would, but I know that it will be something he will treasure and that his future mate (eeeks!) will thank me for. Plus it's fun for Matt and I (and anyone else...) to look back at how much things have changed, even in these short months.

^Title Page (documents age, height & weight)^

^Pregnancy Pages^

^Baby showers^

^He's here! (typical hospital shots)^

^One of my favorite pages^

^January^

^February^

^March^

^April^

^May^

^June^

Each month I do a "monthly" page with 2-4 pictures from that month along with a quote about babies or children. I've used song lyrics (Rascal Flat's "My Wish", Taylor Swift "Stay Beautiful") for the quotes as well, so if you know of any good ones, let me know. And this is the first 6 months, guys! I've still goit 6 more months to go for this book! It's going to be a thick one! I also redone two pages that I previously scraped. (Can you guess which 2?)

Now that I'm caught up with this month, I'm going to go make out my garage sale list for tomorrow. (Hopefully it won't rain!)

6 Month Dr. Update

Here are the latest stats:
Height: 28 1/4"
Weight: 19lbs 4ozs
Head circumference: 17"

He also go three shots. Usually he does really well with them. So well, that after a dose of Tylenol and removal of band-aids, you can't tell he got them. Something changed, though. He was miserable all day Wednesday and Thursday. Feverish, crabby, fussy, sleepy. He even got a little rash on his arm! Wednesday night, he could not get comfortable or into a deep sleep. And it really doesn't help that yesterday was the hottest day of the summer. All he wanted to do was sleep and sweat.

Thankfully, last night he slept all night again. And this morning he woke up smiling. He's been good ol' Owen all morning, and now he's taking his usual nap. Ah, quiet!

6 Months

Owen went swimming for the first time yesterday. We finally got a day warm enough here to wear shorts comfortably! Yay for summer! Anyways, back to the swimming. He loved it! His face did go under once, and he did NOT like that, but he quickly bounced back! We had to pull him out because he was shivering. I bought him this raft thing that he loved! He kicked his feet and tried to propel himself (didn't work out too well), all the while blowing his infamous raspberries! The whole event took an hour, but it must have really pooped him out, because he slept til almost 8 o'clock this morning! That is a record, folks! I haven't slept past 6am in 6 months!

Getting used to the water

Playing in the raft

Kicking so hard to go so slow

Making Motor boat sounds

Chillin' afterward

Now we're heading off the Owen's 6 month check-up at the doctor. Poor baby gets shots today, even though he usually does really well with them, it's still not pleasant. Time to see how much sooner I'll have to go garage sale-ing for a new carseat!

5 1/2 Months (Again!)

Hum. I may have to come up with another system of titling my blog entries if I'm actually going to keep up with this. I don't know how many "(Again!)"s I'll be able to tag on there...

And seriously there is nothing more refreshing that a baby's nap. Even if I don't sleep, it is wonderful! He's been doing poorly with his naps lately, as in catnapping all day. Not much can be done with a clingy, fussy baby who won't sleep! Yesterday was wonderful though: two 2 hour naps, one in the morning and one in the evening. And today we are 15 minutes into our afternoon nap. Fingers crossed!

I went garage sale-ing on Saturday with one purpose: a highchair. We were feeding Owen in the bouncy chair-thing, but he learned how to scoot his butt out so that he was almost on the floor. Not good. Well, I found one! At the second sale I visited, for $5 less than I expected to pay. YaY! The first night, he didn't like sitting in it at all, but he's adjusting quite nicely.

Bad Quality Picture, I know

Yesterday was my first evening summer class. It'll be interesting to say the least. It's on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-9:45 pm. Yes, that's right...almost 4 hours! And smack-dab in the middle of Owen's bedtime. So, last night was the first time ever that I did not put my baby to bed. Granted, Matt did a wonderful job, and Owen seemed to enjoy having quality time with Daddy, but still! The best feeling is when a baby falls asleep in your arms, and I didn't get my usual dose. Oh, well, I guess I gotta share the love right?

I'll leave you with this: (Gotta train 'em young, even if they don't like it!)

5 1/2 Months

Could I have really gone (almost) 3 months without an update. Yeah, probably. Sorry...

Looking back, what has happened the past 3 months? Well, personally I finished off the semester with a 3.8 GPA and 2 clinical rotations (the last one I l-o-v-ed!) But you're really not here to read about me!

Let's see, stats first. At the last dr. appointment, Owen was 16lbs 4oz, 27" long. We've recently measured him again and he's 28" long. How'd I get such a big boy? Solid foods were started months ago, and he's had a plethora of "tastes" - ice cream, ketchup, french fries, coffee, juice, bbq sauce, frosting, you know all the stuff I'm not suppose to give him! He particularly likes chocolate milkshakes. And grabbing for any of my food; once, an entire taco landed on the floor!

He sits up by himself, and as of Monday night will stand by himself. I swear we're going to ski[ the rolling, crawling, and walking stages to go right to running. He wants to go! He's an outdoorsman, too. Every chance we get we try to do something with him outside, and he loves it! He is mesmorized by the cars that fly down the road.

Now that I'm home for a few months, I'm going to try a feeding/napping schedule. He likes to catnap (Urg!) and eat when he wants to eat, which is fine and dandy, but mom would like a little bit of structure! In the meantime, I wil try to update more often than every 3 months!