Two month check-up and play-time with Daddy

We went to the pediatrician yesterday for Owen's two month old check-up. He did great, even through the immunizations (3 shots). He confirmed that Owen is continuing to grow like a champ (which we know because he's getting heavier and harder to hold). He's 23 7/8 inches long (75-90th %tile), weighs 13 pounds 8.4 ounces (90th %tile!) and has a head circumference of 15.5 inches (25-50th %tile). (I should note that Owen did not get the vaccine for Hib that Merck recalled this morning, so no worries.)

He's "talking" more and more and starting to drool a lot (which apparently is normal). He drooled all over his pediatrician, but he seemed used to it. He's also standing up on our laps when we hold him up (and no, this will not cause him to be bow-legged). And the other night he went from 9:45pm (asleep at midnight) until 5:30am without eating! He hasn't done it since, but we're hopeful!!!

I have to brag on Kyle a little bit. He's so great at "taking over" with Owen when he gets home. I know he misses Owen like crazy when he's at work, especially on call, so he wants to spend time with him; but I also know he's consciously trying to give me a break. Here are some shots of play time with daddy the other day...

Um, yeah. That diaper looks a little loose Dear. Danger.


He was smiling, really, he was.

Conked out outside, nice!

Owen and I are headed to TX on Tuesday to celebrate Christmas with family. Kyle will join us the following week. I'm sure we'll take an obscene amount of pictures (Owen's first Christmas!!!) and I'll try to post some while we're away, but if not, we'll be back after the new year. Merry Christmas!

Happy Time & Viva Mexico!!!

Smiles, smiles, smiles! Owen is having more and more "happy time," where he'll sit in his bouncy chair or my/dad's knees and just smile and coo and make all sorts of noises and faces. It's great! It's SO much fun to watch the little guy start to figure out he has a face (which he can control) and a voice (which he can use to make noises other than crying). He's not yet mimicking sound for sound, but he definitely responds in his own little way to our faces and noises.

Ooooooh!!!


Ahhhhhhh!

Melt my heart!

We had to get out of the house the other night, so we went to a new (to us) Mexican food joint. This place was pretty authentic...the sign said "La Botana" but all the menus said "Casa Herrera"--go figure. We told Owen we were going to Mexico for a quick visit and we're pretty sure he believed us. He did lots of cooing while we were there...I'm telling you, he's this close to rolling his Rs! In fact, that's one of the noises he likes me to make the most! Kyle and I were just commenting the other night that he seems to have his best evenings (which are generally the fussiest time of day) when we're out of the house. So, he's already showing signs of being a great (world) traveler. Viva Mexico!

First Christmas Party

Our small group had its annual Christmas party this weekend. Owen went as Santa. We won a really tacky "home sweet home" framed print (white elephant) and a homecooked meal delivered to our door in the real gift exchanged (priceless!). We had a great time and especially enjoyed seeing all the kiddos running around in their Christmas best.

Christmas, Sleep & Smiles

"Baby's first Christmas" is a very popular phrase in our house these days. We understand that its going to be "Baby's first everything" for a while, but there is something extra special about Christmas. His Bee is making his stocking, and its going to be the first time for him to meet lots of him family (his great-grandmothers, his cousin Bailey, Uncle Luke, Aunt Melissa and Uncle Alex). So, needless to say, these are only the first Christmas-y photos for the season.

Since Owen and I are heading to Austin fairly early this month (with Kyle to meet us there later), we went ahead and got our tree last weekend so we could enjoy it for a while before we leave. He likes to look at the colored lights--big surprise!

It was cold, but Owen was a real truper. Clearly, he understands the importance of finding the right tree!

On to another topic--everyone is alwasy asking how he is sleeping. Well, at 7 weeks, we're starting to see something that sort of resembles a schedule. He actually slept from midnight until almost 6 am the other night. Of course, he didn't repeat it the next night, but the point is it's possible! Nap time during the day is very inconsistent, and pretty much non-existent in the evenings (which means he's fussy for pretty much the only time Kyle is home).

BUT, he's consistently having "happy time" in the early morning with me...he's extremely alert and smiley and has started making little coo noises that sound like "haaaa" and "gnaaa". It's great! He really locks eyes and smiles--as if he recongnizes me! I'm still working on capturing the awake intentional smile on film...and will share it as soon as I do!

Pops/Poppy/G-Stan/StanDaddy/GrandStan

My (Alison) dad came to visit last weekend--his first time to see Owen. We're still negotiating his grandfather name, mind you nothing traditional. He seems to like ones with his name in it (or he's just being difficult because he knows I don't like them)...can you imagine Owen (or any other grandchild) talking about going to visit their G-Stan, StanDaddy or GrandStan? No, I didn't think so. I suggested Pops and Kyle likes the modified Poppy (think Seinfeld). If you have another suggestion or a thought on an existing option, we're all ears! We just alternated throughout the weekend. At some point Owen will be big enough for that to get really confusing, but for now it's okay.

If Owen looks like me (say some) and I look like my dad, does Owen look like Stan?


Owen had several firsts this weekend. First trip to Whole Foods (thanks to the grandfather guy), first time to eat out (at the Loop, our favorite little local place, and very kid friendly)--(he didn't eat, we did), and first exposure to an adult in a head-stand (i.e. my dad doing yoga). My dad was really in to "teaching" Owen things...this means he would whisper "important concepts" to him, things like "you want to move to Texas", "buy low, sell high", "net present value", "Texas, Texas, Texas".

The other big first for the weekend was Owen's first tennis outing and first SMILE caught on camera!!! Perhaps he loves tennis. More likely, he likes sleeping and we happened to be at the tennis court. Either way, I think it's still adorable! And if he somehow has mad tennis skills (I'm not sure who he'd get them from) I'm sure some big tennis brand would love this photo!

Thanks Dad for a great weekend!

Week 1 and Other Adventures

Well, the big guy and I made it through our first week by ourselves! Every day (and night) was different--what seemed to work one day didn't work the next--but we're learning! Kyle had last weekend off which was great because it gave me a break and since we didn't have any company we got to just hang out the three of us.

Owen is doing great. He's sleeping for longer stretches at night and we're starting to learn (I think) what his different cries and other noises (and believe me, there are many other noises) mean. It's so great to feel like we sort of know what we're doing...at least more than the week before!

A couple of "milestones" this week: we had his first bath with NO crying. To say that he cried during all his other baths is really an understatement...we're talking shriek of the banshees. And then the other night he just decided that this bath thing isn't so bad. He maintained a pretty somber face the whole time (like he was concerned), but he didn't cry!

He's also looking around a LOT more...his eyes are bright and he loves to stare at faces and the ceiling (even above more interesting things). And this morning I think he smiled for the first time while awake and not passing gas...it was really early in the morning so I might have dreamed it, and it hasn't happened since, but I'm pretty sure that was it. I am soooo looking forward to that being a regular, repeatable occurrence!

To commemorate his first month birthday, I wanted to make hand and foot prints for a little frame/kit someone gave us. Thank goodness this stuff was water-based! It was everywhere...all over Owen, Kyle (who was holding him), and the kitchen. But we got the prints! (And to think that this episode is what preceded the cry-free bath!)

Owen and I had our first public outing together--just the two of us. We went to the grocery store!!! (Doesn't he look happy about it? Kyle said he must like grocery shopping just about as much as his mom...which means not a lot.) Luckily, he likes the baby bjorn (carrier) so hopefully this can be a regular outing!

Nothing new/big for this week (which is nice) but my (Alison's) dad ("Pops") is coming to visit for the first time this weekend so we're looking forward to that. More later...

It's E.A.S.Y. (w/ Aunt Megan)

We have had a great weekend. Kyle was off and we were lucky enough to get a visit by "Aunt" Megan. She got to be a part of our new plan, the E.A.S.Y. Plan! (Basically, we're trying some "Baby Whisperer" tricks to get Owen on an eating/sleeping routine (thank you Hogg and Blau). Not a schedule, just a routine. And boy, we can already see the difference! Life was so much more manageable and, well, easy this weekend! (We even managed to fit in a game of Settlers of Catan--yes, Megan won.) You can pray that we keep it up this week when Kyle's back at work and all the company (read: help) has gone. Pressing on...

Aunt Megan, the Baby Whisperer w/ the little man.

A walk through the park.