Swimmin', Sharks, and Turning Two!

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating the O'Bear (and Father's Day!)

I had the idea to start his real birthday, Friday, off right with a breakfast of champions including donuts and chocolate milk. I'm pretty sure it was a hit.

Our friends, Asher and Kathleen, then came over to help bake the birthday cake. It was a pretty involved recipe for a giant cake in the end. So Kat helped me in the kitchen and Asher helped entertain Owen. I think it worked out well for all involved. The cake was awesome!


Next, we headed over to Garland to meet up with my parents and Jenni and Jamie for some Flying Fish food. I think O might have had 3 bites of fish and 30 bites of french fries. What are you going to do...

The party went perfectly! O got dropped off at Nana's and slept til 4:30, while my mom, sister and I did some last minute things and set up the party downstairs at Nana's.

We swam, we ate, we laughed.

We got attacked by bubble guns, splashing babies, and splashing adults.


 We opened, we played, we crashed.

I'd have to say it was a wonderful day. I can't believe how much O has changed over the last year.

At our doctor's appointment yesterday, his stats were:
Height: 36" - 88%
Weight: 31 lb - 83%
Head: Good ol' 93%

Still growing and growing. Talking up a storm. Taking risks. And being his awesome self!

Happy Birthday, O'Bear!

It's a Great Day to be Two...

Have you heard the news? There's a two-year-old (well in a few hours...) sleeping in the next room.

A TWO YEAR OLD! A child going on his third year of life now. In MY house!

Some days I feel like Peter Pan who plays games with his shadow. I have my own shadow who follows me around, sunny days or not, repeats what I say, usually is in a 5 foot radius from me. And has stolen my heart.

I love my shadow fiercely.

I think it is also those things which we love fiercely, that bring us the most anxiety, pain, sadness, and joy. All of these things can be said about my shadow. My son. My O'Bear.

He runs with abandon. He jabbers in sentences and stream of conscious (my favorite). He sings real words to real songs. He eats everything (when he wants to). He pulls me to come see something (really hard!). He steals my phone (and navigates) to play Angee Birds and Alien Buddys (thanks, Lyd!). He loves to swim. He loves his dad. He loves his family. He loves his dog (Ryker is thrilled).

He is everything I never knew I wanted and more. An amazement of life and God's love every day.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Owen!

Big Boy Room

I've started thinking about O's Big Boy Room. EEKKK!

In just about a month, my sweet baby boy will be turning two! He's amazing. All the words he knows. His fearless attitude about exploring and climbing things. Playing better with friends. He's getting to be such a big boy.

So...what's a mom to do, but dream of the next step. (Don't worry, I'm sure I'll have plenty of panic attacks along the way before anything happens). The plan so far is to use Joe's old bunk beds. His mom did us a favor and picked out pretty straight simple lines, so they won't look too dated or retro. I hope to stain them the same color as his dresser and crib.

He hasn't climbed out of his crib yet. He still sleeps well in it. But, dang, that kid is just getting big. And when potty training comes along and who knows what else, it'll be time.

After looking at several bedding options, I jumped on this one. PBK was having a deal. I loved the look and I loved that it could go with just about any sheeting you put under it! So, here's a preview of what O's big boy bedroom could look like...minus the blue on the beds and the awesome wood walls and tons of light. But you get the idea...

Amazement and Sadness

Owen is awesome. Every day he amazes me. About two weeks or so ago he started talking in sentences. It just clicked he got it. Now, don't get me wrong, he mostly still sounds like Yoda, but he's awesome.

His first sentence was "I see a plane!" when we went to the DFW Airport Park where you can watch the planes take off and land. SOOOOOO COOOL!!!!

Steps where we were so scared before that he'd trip or fall, he's walking right on by with not a care. Drinking out of a big boy cup, oh yeah, no sweat...except for the fact he might knock it over or dump it on you.

Sadness has ensued because pants once too big are too small. His baby fat has all but disappeared. He talks in sentences. He eats sauteed onions and broccoli on his own. Owen is awesome, but he's not a baby anymore.

Our Elmo/Curious George, plane-loving, car-racing, sentence-slinging toddler is here for the long haul.

Tangled.

Remember that story of Rapunzel with the long flowing gold hair.

Well, we weren't that bad. But we were getting there. 

See, Mr O turned 20 months yesterday, and his poor, beautiful, gold hair kept getting tangled and matted when he slept. So Joe and I decided to put our big parent pants on and get our baby boy a haircut.

We loaded up and headed to Joe's local hair cutters and asked them to please take care of our baby boy.

See...we're all smiles here. Poor kid doesn't know what's about to happen.

We decided to take the easier approach and let Owen sit on Daddy's lap. Daddy got a spiffy leopard cape and Owen got his very own. Cue the 'less-than-thrilled' emotions. Our hairdresser told O she was going to just spray down his hair a bit, and the boy froze, turned into Daddy and started to tear up.

A lolly pop!!! Get this kid a lolly pop stat!!!!!

Whehehww!

Still uncertain what was happening to his sad little self, Owen did quite good and set mostly still for the lady with just a few tears still in his eyes.

Then. The. Clippers.

You know that slow-motion in horror films where the poor sap knows he's going down and cries and screams in agony. It was kinda like that. It was the saddest, biggest pout-laden, tear-jerking reaction you could have gotten from a little guy.  He burrowed into Joe as much as he could.

All in all, I'd have to call him a champ. He did good for not really knowing what was happening. And gosh, as if it was possible, he got even more handsome!

(Please note the snot and tears and mess we've created.)

Happy Birthday, Owen. We are glad we can always provide you with trauma and a lolly pop. -- Your parents.

Chatterbox

Owen is a talker.

He is not shy. Okay, he is shy...but not with his posse around.

I love hearing him talk and all the new words he's learning.

The thing I hear most from the back seat these days is "Drive. Drive. Drive. Drive" You get the idea. The kid is not telling me to drive. The kid is saying HE WANTS TO DRIVE. O knows how to stick the right key (no matter the car) in the ignition and turn it at least enough to get the radio going.

Anywho...here's a little bit of Conversations with Owen taken on our way to small group last week. Makes me smile.

18 months...at 19 months

My baby boy is officially 1.5 years old! He is a spitfire. There really isn't any other way of describing him.

He really only has one speed - full tilt. He runs, everywhere. He tinkers. He builds. He stacks. He sorts. He screams. He laughs. He hugs. He kisses.

At his 18 mo check-up, O was:
94% for height
76% or so for weight
90% for head.

He's a big kid, but doesn't really have an ounce of chub on him, unless you check out his belly after eating noodles. He wears a size 4 diaper still. He's in 18mo pants and some 24mo, but some of those are either too long or too wide around for his skinny waist. He's in 18, 24 or 2yr shirts....whatever will fit over his giant noggin! He's got so much hair - it looks like spun gold when he wakes up from his nap.

His favorite hobbies are still playing outside and stealing daddy's tools. With our bathroom remodel going on, the child has been in hog heaven. Drills, screwdrivers, paint brushes, screws, nail gun (not a fan of this one, but always unplugged). He's playing more with Ryker, much to puppy's chagrin; he can say and touch Ryk's tail and paws! Owen can talk up a storm now. He's got so many words and if he doesn't know the words, don't worry, that won't slow this boy down. He can have long, thought-out conversations...only you have no idea what's said. Joe and I have decided it's a mix between Navajo, Mandarin and French. He can say Ryker, Ursa (gparents' dog), cake, cook, cracker, 'side (outside), down, up, milk, Jenni, Jamie, Holly, Carol, Sassy, A, Pappap (Jim). I know there are so many others too. He's just amazing.

And along with being amazing, comes the trials. We've had quite the battles at bed time, waking up, rocking and throwing a fit if placed back down. This has gone on for hours, so we've just started crying it out. Hard for all of us. O has also decided to start the Terrible Two's early - he says it's his way or the highway. His way consists of never getting new diapers. Wanting more and more and more raisins till he'll turn into one. Going outside with no clothes on the actual cold days of winter. And a H**L to the No on getting into his car seat nicely.

We are all learning. O is growing and becoming more and more our pride and joy. Prayers are extremely appreciated during these trying times. One and a half years...I am blown away.