Nine.

That's how many steps Owen took for Kyle today at Gymboree!!! It's probably not official walking since it's only here and there, but it's definitely a start!

Early Halloween w/ the Ketches

Happy (early) Halloween! Our friends/neighbors the Ketches are going to be out of town tonight, so we had some Halloween fun a little early. Day before yesterday we took the three kiddos to a pumpkin patch. Although a little sparce this late in the month, they still had fun running/crawling around. Owen found some just his size.

Then last night we decided to do some early reverse trick-or-treating where we took pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that David helped me make (while Owen destroyed things in the kitchen) to some of our other neighbors--they all enjoyed seeing the kids dressed up. David was a doctor (his scrubs say his name and he carried a toy stethescope), Owen was a lion (actually David's costume from last year) and sweet little Lauren was a baby polar bear. Here they are on their porch (Owen is waving). David kept saying, "Let's go to Halloween!" as if it were a place. His mom kept saying, "David--this IS Halloween!".

This little lion can't growl, but he can wave (at everything!) and point to everything and say "dat"--which is either his name for it, or (maybe?) he's asking us what it is???

We're going to enjoy a nice long weekend--Kyle is post call today and has the weekend off! So, yea for us and Happy Halloween to you!

Baby Book

If you haven't figured this out by now, this blog is pretty much our baby book for Owen; so, forgive me if there's detail that you don't care about (you can understand how as a parent I want to remember as much of his little life as possible), and forgive me if I repeat myself...

Here is what Owen is up to these days:

1) pointing at everything (usually things he wants?), and exploring with his pointer finger (instead of primarily using his mouth)--we appreciate this development (us LOVES touch/feel books and actually seems to know what to look for--he says "dat dat dat" for everything.

2) squealing and kicking wildly (if I'm holding him) when I open the front or back door meaning we're going outside--conversely, he gets very upset when I close the door especially if we just stepped outside to get the mail or something quick. the funny thing about going outside is that for the most part when we get out there he turns into "stoic Owen" as if he's not even enjoying it

3) he's got his 4th tooth (that makes for 3 on the top)--little weirdo!

4) has figured out that standing on tiptoes makes it easier for him to get into things he shouldn't...he's found a couple of drawers in our office and my bedside table that he is particularly fond of.

5) kyle noticed the other night and he's right--Owen pretty much is always making sounds--except when we're outside--it's constant alien gibberish with the occasional ba, ma, da, oh, ah, etc...he "says" things when he points, and it really does feel like he's trying to communicate with us which is so exciting even though it doesn't mean anything yet! He does make a sound like "yeah" a lot so it sounds like he's answering questions, but we've tested it and he's not. :(

6) he's learned to turn light switches on and off (up is harder)...this goes hand in hand w/ his fascination with buttons of all sorts--the computer keyboard (which he can reach on his tip-toes), the TV (on-off-on-off), my phone--if he hasn't accidentally called you yet, just wait your turn...

7) he's sort of "learned" how to cuddle--this is probably my favorite development--before nap times and bedtime he'll actually lay his head down on my shoulder and just hang out with his little arm around my neck. it is soooo sweet I wish I could bottle it up forever.

8) OWEN TOOK HIS FIRST (unassisted) STEPS YESTERDAY--TWO OF THEM! Kyle and I were both there and it was sooooo awesome to see! He's also been standing for longer and longer times--it's absolutely amazing to see how quickly this has started. In a matter of days he went from letting go for 1 second to 8 to 20 and then to a few steps! Truly amazing!

Here we are at Gymboree--which he is LOVING! Being around walkers is such an encouragement. Last week we stayed for 2 hours! Here is he climbing up a ramp after crawling through that tunnel.

I asked Kyle the other day if volunteering at a 5K counted as exercise for me. From a medical perspective, he said, "um, no". Well, fine. Here Owen and I are standing at an intersection near our house directing the runners. I'm pretty sure I had just eaten a doughnut (oops!) but that gave me the much-needed energy to encourage the runners up the big hill in front of us! I actually took this picture because Owen was up to something but I couldn't see him in the backpack...he was eating part of a tree. Don't worry, I took care of it.
Here we are out on a walk. We went up and down our block and he pushed this little toy around--it was such a hoot! He's pretty much turned everything into a push-toy now: silverware basket from the dishwasher, all chairs/stools, toy and laundry baskets, even small stuff that he has to crawl behind to push like my shoe or his tiny piano.
Cuteness. (Look close and you can see his teeth!)
Rock climbing at the park. It's dirrrrty business but so much fun!

Okay, so you've read that we have the most wonderful neighbors in the world, and this video shows one of the reasons...David (2.5) is almost the only one who can elicit this type of laugh from Owen. Okay, that's not true, but his success-rate is dramatically higher than anyone else's. (He's saying ribbit and jumping like a frog--if it's not obvious.)

Sometimes Owen just stands at the front door (glass) and just waves and waves hoping he'll see his friend David across the street even when they're inside or not home.

Oh, and I forgot to include this after his birthday, but at his 12 month appointment he weight 25 lbs and 10.5 ounces (75-90th percentile--slimming down!) and was 31 inches tall (75-90th as well).

Whew--I'm exhausted. If you made it through the entire post, you deserve a cookie. :)

Girls Weekend, Boys Weekend

So, my trip weekend before last had been in the works for a while...partly a celebration of being able to leave the house for more than 3 hours (yay for a weened 1 year old) and partly any excuse to visit my dear friend Taylor...so off I went to New York City.

Taylor works for an Austin-based ad agency in Manhattan and will only be there for a short time before returning to Austin (she had better keep her word--I'm keeping mine), so it was a perfect time for a visit. It was a great combo of touristy things and things only a "native" would do. We packed a LOT into our short weekend:
1) took a harbor tour and saw the Statue of Liberty, and most of the city skyline including where the Towers used to be
2) saw Marry Poppins on Broadway half price! It was supercalifragalisticexpialidocious (sp?).
3) ate at loads of great restaurants (some very late at night)--we recommend the "Blue Ribbon" tour.
4) went to Tim Keller's church--awesome!
5) went to ground zero
6) got my picture taken w/ a couple of very friendly NYC policemen who were helping us navigate the crowd at the "Spanish Heritage Parade" taking place on 5th Ave.
7) did LOTS of window-shopping. Beware: in NY, a $500 purse sounds reasonable after you've just seen a $16,000 purse at Bergdorfs...
8) ate a hot-dog on the street (not for breakfast, Mom)
9) grazed Central Park
10) navigated the subway all by my self (such a big girl!)--I actually convinced a few people I was a native b/c they asked me for directions!
11) went to Time's Squre (so overrated and anxiety-provoking)--we only went to get our Broadway tickets
12) drank lots of starbucks--it's a rule.
13) did NOT get to take my much anticipated tour of the Federal Reserve Bank because Monday was a bank holiday, thank you Christopher Columbus (the only disappointment of the weekend).

Here we are at Rockefeller Plaza. It was a beautiful weekend so we did lots of walking around. I actually went back Monday morning while she was at work and stood outside of The Today Show on NBC--Kyle saw me waving and holding up a picture of Owen. I saw all the cast (except Al--he was on assignment) and a few fun guests including Jim Cramer (mad money), Dakotah Fanning, and a kid who got his arm eaten by an alligator and now has a wicked mechanical prosthesis.




My mom and Sid and two of their friends were actually in town for the weekend too--so at Taylor and Sid's request (demand?) we went to Hillcountry BBQ to watch Texas kick some OU bootie. It was actually really fun...totally authentic. Lone Star, Blue Bell ice cream, Big Red, sausage from Lampasas, Texas/Austin stuff everywhere, including a couple hundred displaced Longhorns, or at least Texans. Not exactly what most people would in Manhattan, but it was really fun. I actually ran into a guy from high school who lives up there now. What a small world! (And yes, I'm wearing burnt orange, much to Kyle's dismay.)
Speaking of old friends, here I am w/ my old highschool friend Cara. We reconnected through Facebook (how else?) and got together for a very upper-west-side brunch. Super-fun. (Taylor actually knew her from camp too, so really really small world.)
Here I am w/ the doorman at the famous Plaza Hotel...this is NOT where I stayed. Taylor's efficiency (one-room) apartment is technically in Soho (south of Houston--say, Howston, St.) but in her words is sort of in no-man's-land. It's great...so quintessential New York. It's in a great old building, and she pays an arm and a leg for less than 300 square feet. Literally, an arm and a leg. :)
Here is my way-cooler-than-me friend Taylor musing some modern art by a famous guy whose name I've already forgotten. We went to the MOMA to see the visiting Vangogh exhibit and saw this guy's stuff too...you'd recognize it/him: An arrangement of drawings of cambell's soup cans, Marilyn Monroe, splatter paint...you know. Andy Warhol? Yes, I think that's it. Anyways, we weren't allowed to take pictures of the Vangoghs, but they were pretty impressive even for someone who knows nothing about art, especially modern art. I can see why Stary Night is in practically every dorm room in America.

All in all it was a FANTASTIC weekend. What made it even better was getting to come home to my sweet husband and hilarious little boy. They tell me they had a great weekend as well, which was music to my ears, and I actually believe. Kyle said it wasn't easy (which was also good to hear), but he really had some good male-bonding time w/ Owen. What a blessing all around!

First Professional Photoshoot

When we learned about this little portrait studio (and how inexpensive it was), we sort of felt like bad parents for just now taking Owen for his first photoshoot...but alas. It was more fun than we thought it was going to be. Also, it was nice to have Bee there to help us narrow down our favorites. It was all fun and games until (under her watch, eh hem) Owen fell and busted his lip--at least it was after the pictures. Anyways, here are some of our favorites...

Classic.

Jailbird.
Wicker? Okay.Cupcakes again? Yes, thank you! (Oh, this picture was taken as he did his little spin-move, where he kicks his legs to pivot around his bottom in a circle.)
Woohoo for being naked and eating a cupcake!

(Make sure to check out the post about his birthday party below.)

Party Day

Happy Birthday Owen! One year ago today he was born and boy are we glad!

We had Owen's first birthday party on Saturday and had such a wonderful time. We were lucky enough to get to use the wonderful playground at our church--perfect for a bunch of little people and us big people too! The weather was absolutely perfect and I think everyone had a good time!

My mom (Bee) came into town Thursday evening and after Gymboree on Friday morning we finally made it to the store. We didn't start getting food ready until dinnertime, so we were up pretty late. We made chicken tortilla soup, a chicken ceasar salad sanwhich on chiabatta bread (hard to eat but yummy), several dips including the world-famous guacamole from Sarah Jane's Houston Aunt, and two kinds of cupcakes which (not to be boastful), but I was very proud of: vanilla vanilla, and chocolate w/ peanut butter icing--I think there were about 5 dozen total. Plus, Owen had is very own little 6-inch cake--perfect for destroying! Perhaps it was all a little overboard--but that's what Bee and I do...I sort of think I can't help it, and why would I want to!--I like it!

Here is the birthday guy w/ Bee. We had lots of fun friends from the party--most of our Bible Study, Tanya and Lee from Durham, other Redeemer friends and our favorite neighbors; it was great to get everyone together and eat and play w/ the kids and enjoy the beautiful afternoon outside. Also, we had a lot of fun watching the giant mylar "1" balloon that Owen accidentally set free float away--it was amazing how far you could see it on such a clear day.
And here's what first birthdays are really all about...his first cake. (We have a really great video of the whole ordeal but its too long to post...sad.) Initially, he went at it with his little pincer grip and picked at it as if he were trying to pick off all the colored sprinkles. That lasted until I picked it up and held it in front of his face, thinking he would just go for it. He moved his head towards it a few times (hands shaking w/ excitement) but he always backed up before taking a bite, as if he was too overwhelmed. Finally, we cut it open w/ a knife and what you would expect finally happened. It really didn't get everyehwere until the end, when he got a nice bit in his hair, ears, eyes and nostrils.
Doesn't he look like such a big boy? In some ways it really is hard to believe its been a year and in other ways I can't remember our lives without him...I have vague memories of doing a lot less laundry and seeing a lot more movies, but I know we wouldn't trade it for the world.
I know at this age a party is mostly (if not all) about us (and having fun pictures to show him someday) so by those standards the party was a hit! It's also good to be reminded of how very very very blessed we are to have Owen Timothy in our lives--to celebrate both all that God has given us, and who He is. On that note...here's a look back. Enjoy.

On. Off. On. Off.

I swear I just turned around for one minute, but that's all it took fo Owen to make his way into the off-limits office. I'm pretty sure he was trying to post a blog or send an email!

What? I just wanted to personally communicate with some of my fans, Mom!

On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

OFF!

ON!

This new trick was cute until Kyle was trying to watch his only 15 minutes of tv--the news. Okay, still a little cute.

Bee is flying in this evening, so signing out until the party is over!