dear sweet walker.

I can officially say that Owen is walking. It happened yesterday. He still falls every once and a while, but that's to be expected. He's getting really good at re-balancing himself. Such a sweet boy. He is really into talking these days, too. Not to mention singing and fake laughing. He just really loves joining in these days.

of bops and giggles

Today Owen was full of smiles and giggles. He and I were the only ones at home today, and we did loads of playing with his toys and dancing to music. He loves listening to music! He stood infront of the stereo for a bit this morning, so I turned on the Flyers, and he immediately grew excited and started hitting his hands on the stereo table, while bopping up and down. He's been really attached to me holding him lately, which I don't mind of course, but it is hard to do things that way, so having him content to play on his own is helpful.

He has been doing a lot of phonetic imitating. He doesn't mimic sounds yet, but if I say, "yay yay yay" he'll do the same. And he loves fake laughing. It's really humorous, especially when it is accompanied with his little knee-slap.

I've gotten into the habit (mainly because Owen now looks for it) of saying Yay!! When he claps. He looks at me every time he starts clapping, in expectation of my encouragement and he gives a huge satisfied grin when I say it. Earlier today, when he did something I thought noteworthy, I said Yay! and he lifted one hand, passed the toy he had in one hand to the other, he realized that didn't work so he passed it back only then to put it down - all so he could clap! Haha! I didn't realize the association between clapping and Yay! was so strong until then. He heard the word, and all he could do was make it work to clap. man, he's so cute.

push to walk

Owen has discovered pushing this cart thing, which allows him to 'walk.' He loves doing it, and it takes great concentration and his tongue helps a lot with this.

Silly me, I took the video sideways. Sorry!

soon 1 year

i was going through old emails, and i found this photo. this photo is nearly 1 year old. the sweet sweet boy in the photo has been in our arms for almost a year. i'm in awe.

eating spinach

11 months

our dear sweet boy is only one month shy of the day of his birth. It is incredible that time has passed so quickly, that he has undergone so many remarkable changes and that he has developed into such a sweet boy. He has made the transition to my being away 2 days of the week well. Convenient Ry has always been around a lot that I don't think Owen notices much, though I do believe he has noticed my absense. As you can tell in the photo above, our front screen door is the perfect looking-out door for Owen. He loves to stand there and watch the activtiy across the street (tons of kids playing), and Ry and I usually stand there with him when one of us comes home from our day away.

Owen has been enjoying his walks once we get moving. As soon as we put him in his stroller, though, he puts up a big protest. And, he gets rather upset when he sees me pushing because he wants me to take him out. But, while we're walking he's fine. There is a lovely park, and path along the Mississippi River that we like to walk along. I really should do it more. Here are some photos from our walk.

for some reason

For some reason it is easier to relax now. I just finished a novel, and though it was a short one, it's the first one i've read since . . . um, i think March? Yikes. It was good to read. i really like having our own room, a space that can be fit for adults, not a babe. Owen's room is lovely and completely suited for his playing needs. He really loves being able to play with everything and go in every corner. He's been such a fabulously fun boy; he is in love with Ben and Jen, he imitates and copies when he wants to (from making noises to opening cupboards), and he is closer and closer to walking all the time. No first step yet, but he likes to test his balance by letting go of whatever was his support, and feeling what it is like to be completely surrounded by air.

I start work next Wednesday, Ry has his first class Thursday night. This vacation is soon coming to a close. So sad, but following routine will be good, at least for the first while.