Beeeeeeeeeee!

My mom, Owen's Bee, came up this past week. She spent part of Monday and all day Tuesday w/ Owen and I and then all day Wednesday and Thursday and part of Friday w/ Owen all by herself so Kyle and I could get away for a couple of days. I think everyone had a great time and Owen definitely got some official grandma-spoilage out of the deal.

She bought him his first couple of trains (Thomas, Percy, etc.) with a little track that is a huge hit. He was already obsessed with them and loves playing with David's as well as watching train videos on the computer. (When he sees Kyle or I at the computer he comes in and says Choo Choo or Nay meaning he wants to watch a train or horse video.) Also, she took him to McDonald's for a soft-serve ice cream cone (his first), and no surprise this was a big hit too. Apparently there were quite a few spectators there...

They also spent a LOT of time outside and at the park--I'm so thankful she had him during fairly nice weather. Owen loves loves to go down the big boy slides all by himself now!

He can even swing in the big boy swings if we help. He also really likes to pick up rocks and put them in the bucket and them put them (or throw them) other places. (In hindsight, I think the rock-throwing at the waterfall on our hike may not have been the best idea.)

I am so thankful they had a good time since moving back means we'll have the opportunity for a lot more of these extended playdates w/ Bee. Oh, I didn't mention that he totally knows who she is and says her name (very long--Beeeeeee!) and points. So fun! Maybe it was learning her name that finally made him make the connection that I have a name too (other than Dadda), so he's FINALLY calling me Mama! It still doesn't come as easy as Dada, but he's getting there. :)

His talking is coming so far and seemingly so fast. More and more animal noises and now he can say "more" (as well as sign-it, he does it together) and a very clear "bye bye" and "nigh night", "baow" (ball) , "doh" (dog) ,and moon, also he knows that Christal and Phil's baby is "Nay Nay" (Nathan). I ask him to try to say something and he totally does. Words/phrases like "breakfast" and "I love you" are hard, but he's getting the sounds right even if there are consonants missing, etc. It's so amazing to literally almost be able to see the wheels in his head turning as he figures this stuff out. It's evident his comprehension is ahead of his ability to actually speak what he knows (which must be frustrating!) but it's still amazing! Oh, and he knows the letter "O" and points to it in things.

Anyways, Kyle is back to working days this week so we should have a pretty regular one...

I almost forgot--this may be one of the funniest videos we have of Owen to-date. We discovered a new "game" w/ Owen and he was quite proud of himself (as you can see). Oh, the little "hop" at the end is Owen jumping--which is a new favorite activity. If he actually does get off the ground he usually lands on his rear, so it's usually just a forceful deep-knee bend. :)

Oh, and (praise the Lord!) we have had a good 4-day stretch of good naps! (We've been struggling for a while w/ the transition from 2 naps to 1 in the afternoon.) Some days he'd just take one in the morning (bad) and other days I'd try to keep him up until after lunch and he would almost be in hysterics. Anyways, w/ some advice from the Bible Study girls/moms and Bee there to help, I think (cross my fingers) that Owen has settled into a 1-nap routine. He's going down after lunch around 1 and sleeping from 1.5 to 2 hours which is totally acceptable. So, yea!