Week 22...I Think!

From 22 weeks

Poor 2nd child...already being neglected. We've been meaning for months to get a profile pic of the little...well not little...girl!

Pride Comes Before a Fall

So for the past couple of weeks I have been proudly telling people who ask that Owen has been doing super when it comes to the Christmas tree. He only takes off "his" ornaments and for the most part leaves the tree alone! Until yesterday :). I was getting lunch ready in the kitchen only to turn around and see this! Total loss .... 3 ball ornaments and 1 icicle. Does a parent laugh, be mad, or play it neutral on this one?!

A Boy and His Snowglobe!

Decorating or Destroying?

Father and Son

Thanksgiving '09

Found Out Early This Time!

Owen will be a Big brother to a new baby SISTER come April!

18 Months Old!

Owen had his 18 month appointment today, so I thought I'd record the stats and high points and low points to look back on someday!

Height - 32 3/4 inches - 60th percentile
Weight - 27. 1 lbs. - 60th percentile

Developmentally he would be ahead of schedule except for his speech. His gross and fine motor skills are in high gear, but speech is lagging behind. The Dr. recommended we get a speech evaluation done on him. This isn't the first person who has recommended it so it looks like we'll get one scheduled. Ears are looking good....woo-hoo! And last the Dr. kindly told me that the "terrible 2's" begin now :)! Thought I'd include a pic of his latest "face" that cracks us up....Daddy taught it to him :)!

Third Anniversary and Fall Fun

B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!!!

Today......more progress :)!

As of noon today we have some new shrubs on the south side of our house and a new fence going up! It's just amazing! More pics to come at the end of the day!

HOORAY!!!!

First two days of backyard progress!!!! Dirt, dirt, dirt, gotta love it :)!!!

Scary O!!

Tiiimmmmbbber!!

Uncle Kyle requested some pics of the very exciting life of Owen :). So here are a few and I think I'll put a video on too, since he asked so nicely :)!

First we have cousin Brayden's Birthday Party...O was teething and wore a bib the whole time.



And now we have Owen's second trip to the zoo. Owen's ability to point and make a noise when he sees an animal made it a step above our first trip when he was 3 months old.

August Pictures

The Latest

I took a few minutes and glanced back over previous months and found I have been doing horrible as of late. So I'm going to try and sum up the last couple of months worth of activities.
Starting with what Owen has been up to:
* Balls, balls, balls, balls. Throwing them mostly but now and then shooting them into his basket. Every garage sale we went to one Saturday he found either a ball he wanted or an actual basketball goal...and all but one were not for sale :)! We are currently working on distinguishing that balls can be thrown but piggy banks, books, shoes, cups, etc. can't be :)!
* He also loves his piggy banks. He has four of them and we put money in them at least once a day. Let me clarify....I open up the bottom of the piggy bank and get money out that can be put back in. We ran out of change so we're recycling!
* Fly swatting is another favorite activity. Daddy taught him this one.
* And most recently he discovered the fun of flashlights (we were using one to look for Mommy's lost cell phone)!

As for Todd and Myself:
* First, the back yard. Well, I can pretty much sum it up in two words.....no progress. Kind of a bummer, but we are hopeful it'll be done soon.
* Todd has taken on an additional title at church called "Equipping Director". In a nutshell he is trying to help our congregation discover what gifts God has specifically given each of them to use in ministry, and then to have them serve God in that ministry. A pretty big job!
* I'm still at home with O and loving it!
* Todd and I got the opportunity to go to one of my oldest friend's weddings, and Todd performed his first wedding ceremony...very cool!

More Harvest '09 and Rick & Mary Lou's Last Sunday

A Dancin' Machine!

Owen decided to bust out the dance moves yesterday! He's almost as good as his Daddy already :)!!

Backyard......BEFORE

Omaha Getaway

Mmmmm-Mmmmmm Cheesecake Factory!

Todd's usual: Louisiana Chicken Pasta

Melissa's usual: Santa Fe Chicken Salad with Spicy Peanut-Cilantro Vinaigrette

This time we tried new cheesecakes....Dutch Apple Carmel Streusel and Dulce De Leche Carmel Cheesecake (I can highly recommend the 2nd one).

First Combine Ride

Owen's first combine ride...woo-hoo! He did well for the first five or six minutes then it was time to move around. Get down stand for a minute, sit on my lap for a minute, stand on my lap for a minute and then repeat! Later that day when we got home we discovered that he is pretty allergic to something out in the field...maybe wheat...ugh!

Best Darn Daddy Ever!

1 Year Old Running His First Scam.....on his Grandparents of course :)!

He must have made $3 off them before the night was over :)!

Coming Soon.......A NEW BACKYARD!!!!!

We found out about an hour ago that we won the "Ugliest Backyard" contest....I still can hardly believe it!!! A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who supported us through their votes. We have the most amazing friends and family..... We're so blessed! From what we understand the votes are what got us the new backyard! So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! Pictures to come soon :)!!

Live Action from the Splash Park!

Splish Splash!

Went to the splash park today, O loved it!




Sportin' the new ear plugs :)!

We Need Your Help...

We need your help. Todd and I entered a contest for the world's ugliest backyard and we got picked as a finalist. We get a backyard makeover for free if we win. Vote for us!!

Go to http://worldsugliestbackyard.com Vote for option D. I don't think you have to vote for 3. Go option D! Thanks!!

O's New Can and Cannot Do Lists

After one year of life Owen can.....

....walk upright

....put Denver's dog food in Denver's water bowl to make it nice and soggy for him

....throw and catch pretty good for a 1 year old

....SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT...HALLELUJAH!!!

....flirt (see video), shamelessly as the other guests at the restaurant said

....eat and like every fruit in sight...he's officially a "fruititarian" with a bottle of milk thrown in



After one year of life Owen cannot.....

.....consistently drink from any form of a cup, he's still mostly a bottle boy

.....understand the word no....or is that just selective hearing?

.....understand why he cannot have a cell phone

.....go on any longer than 30 minute shopping trips....a true man's man

.....be outside enough, it's his favorite place to be

.....get Denver to stay still long enough to lay down and cuddle with him

Stats

Owen's 1 year stats are.....30 and 1/2 inches, 75%tile for height and 23 lbs. 1 oz, 55th%tile for weight. Dr. said he's doin' great!

Owen's Official Birthday!

More Flirting

Owen had a "thing" for a waitress at the Kirby House. Whenever she looked at him he'd smile really big and then hide his face. It was hilarious, and the other people eating in our room got a bang out of it too :)!

Mother's Day Pics

Mother's Day

Well, this Mother's Day was quite different than my first. A lot less stressful and painful :)! For those of you who don't know I was in labor for a good portion of Mother's Day last year, and at 7:23 p.m. I was officially able to celebrate it :)! So for this post I of course want to post some pics, but would also like to do a little reflecting of my first year of motherhood.

First, what a blessing it is to have Owen in my life. I said to Todd one day a while back, sometimes when I wake up I get the same feeling I do on Christmas morning. It's that little excitement that there's a present waiting for you in the other room, and I just can't wait to go get him. Now, to be completely honest I don't have that feeling every morning, but thankfully those don't come as often.

Being a mother has been the most humbling experience I've ever gone through. Just when you think you're getting the hang of it things change and you start all over again. It's also humbling because I have been eating a lot of my words, especially phrases that started with "when I have kids I'm not going to....or they aren't going to..." :).

I know God has blessed me with exactly the child I need. I can see that I will be growing a lot along side him. It is going to be a great adventure and I look forward to each day, both good and bad. Speaking of...he's waking up from his nap gotta go!

1st Birthday Party!

And Today....

Yesterday....

Messin' :)

Easter 2009

The First Hunt

Owen's first big Easter Egg Hunt at Aunt Janice's. Due to inclement weather it was held in the old flower shop, hence why Owen is hunting under a table for the "hidden" treats. There was some stiff competition, but in the end I'd say he held his own :)! By the way there were 40 plus people there, they are who you hear in the background.

Fun at Oakdale Park

Pretty sure he needed a little more height, but he sure gave it a good try :)!

Playing the chimes.

O doin' a little "rock wall" climbing at the park.

The Return of Tater Tot Owen!

Potato Jack "The Ambush" Pt 2

Potato Jack "The Ambush" Pt 1

Every year Todd has a potato bar fundraiser for the Youth Group. For the last 3 years he has put together these little "ads" for it. He uses kids from the Youth Group to "act" in it and he stars as "Potato Jack". This is part one of Potato Jack's adventure for this year :)!

One of O's Favorite Toys....The Ball Popper!

Kissin' ?!?!?

O hasn't quite mastered the placement or techniques of kissing, but it's sure funny watching and experiencing his version :)!

Quick Update

Good news, good news...Owen's ears are getting better! For the last few months we have been taking him to a chiropractor in hopes that his ear infections would go away and we could avoid tubes. This past Wednesday we got a great report saying they are looking pretty good! Hooray, an answer to many prayers! As for walking, he is now standing quite a few times a day for about 10 seconds or so but not more than a couple steps. He bent down to pick up a book while standing by himself. Problem is he has no idea he's doing it. Yesterday we went to the little mall playground and he went up some steps of a slide/tunnel thing and by the time I got to the other side (less than 2 seconds) he'd already started on his way down...head first of course! Don't worry I caught him ...I'm not that slow :)! Let's see what else...Salina now has a Kohl's...more options is always nice ;). And we got a Freddy's Frozen Custard....hooray! Todd and I stood in line for 1 hour to get free, yes free food and frozen custard....they were training the staff! It was a huge highlight of my week! Other than that just looking forward to the good weather staying, and Owen's big 1st birthday!

A Dad and His Boy

"Just" Some Family Time

Meeting in the middle! Gramps, Grammy and Uncle Kyle came from western Kansas and Uncle Eric, Aunt Andrea and cousin Brayden came from eastern Kansas. It was a beautiful day and good times were had by all!

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to do a quick update and post a few pics that Grandma got. Todd has started his trek to becoming a deacon in the Methodist church. It'll take approximately three years and for those of you who want to know what it means...Todd says, "I'll be able to marry and bury". He also is keeping busy with work, Owen and me! As for me, I'm still enjoying being at home with Owen. We've really enjoyed the great weather in February getting out for walks and exploring a little. I'm pretty convinced that Owen's going to be an "outdoors" man :). Todd and I attended a simulcast called "Focus on Marriage" this past Saturday. It was a day well spent, the speakers were great and we also got to meet and chat with lots of people. And now for the little guy. He is unfortunately still fighting an ear infection, but we have faith that he will be healed. Today he is getting his two front teeth in...ouch! As for the walking lastnight he took another couple steps, but nothing that I would call all out walking. I think the ear infection messes with his balance...that's my professional medical opinion of course :)! Oh, and you might not be able to tell, but he IS getting more hair :)! He's almost 10 months old, just two short months til the big year...hard to believe. Speaking of Owen...I hear him waking up....gotta go!

February Pics!

Owen's Best Friend :)!

FIRST STEPS!!!!!

For weeks and weeks people have been saying..."It won't be long til he's walking". The day has come! Today while I was away cleaning and Todd was home with Owen he took his first 2 steps! Todd said that as soon as he realized what was going on he got scared and started crying :). Well, it's in the books - 1st Day of Walking - it's gonna be a whole new ballgame now :)!

Imitating Daddy

January Happenings

Here's the last couple of weeks of "Just" life...haven't used that pun this year so thought I better :)! Grandpa finished 30 years of working at the Minneapolis dealership and Owen scored the balloons after we visited him. Made the trek out west to go hunting with the youth boys and their dads. Tough trip both ways.....lots, and lots, and lots of crying. The picture of O eating should read "typical first bite". When ever he eats a new solid he can't figure out what to make of it. Today we had a play date with little Miss Maddie, O's "southern bell". It was really fun to watch them interact, especailly when Maddie decided to "taste/lick" Owen :)! And can't forget that Todd got his Master's diploma in the mail today....whoo-hoo, sure glad we're done with that!

Can Do's and Cannot's

I had an idea a while back to do Owen's "Can Do's" and "Cannot's" for the record. So here goes.....

Owen can....
* Crawl.....and quite quickly once he has his sights on something he
wants...usually the dog's bowls.

* Laugh :)

* Pull up on everything, the latest is our pant legs.

* Say he has two teeth...well not actually "say it" :)

* Get mad when he doesn't get his way....gets that from his Daddy :).

* Fart....again got it from his Daddy :).

* Speak his own language from manly grunts to cute cooing.

* Climb over....us, Denver, toys, guitar cases, steps, etc.

* Eat Gerber puffs, with the funniest faces.

* Say "mama" and "dada" but not intentionally directed at us.

Owen cannot....

* Sleep through the night....ARGH!

* Get those top teeth to come in....drool and chew and drool and chew and nothin'!

* Hold still while his diaper is being changed.

* Like his nose being wiped.

* Stay in one place for very long, or sit on a lap or be held period very long.

* Understand that Denver's tail is not a toy.

* Help looking just like his Daddy (that's what most people say at least).

Laughing - At the Strangest Things!

Who knows who this is funny ?!?!?

Indoor Sledding Part 2 - Different Ending!

Christmas #4

Final Christmas with Grammy and Gramps, Uncle Kyle, Uncle Eric, Aunt Andrea and Cousin Brayden!

Christmas #3

Christmas at Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Justs'.

Christmas Eve 2008

All the "little ones" at Aunt Janice's Christmas Eve night.

Christmas Day 2008