For the Love of Imagination

I just love watching Owen's imagination grow - his toys frequently talk back and forth to each other, "Hello, truck, it's nice to meet you. Let's go play on this ramp. Can you do this trick? Here follow me!" SO MUCH FUN! We have pretty elaborate Lego building (ok let's be honest, he and Todd do, I can only make simple stuff), pirate treasure hunts, monster hunts, fort building, Monster truck races, etc. He loves to sing and make up songs; we have quite the random song set for at night after books and prayers. He used to like to sing typical toddler songs and still does, but at night, "Mom, sing Optimus Prime and Monster Trucks!" "Okay, Owen, you want me to make up a song about Optimus as a monster truck?" "Yes!" So, to the tune from the Monster Truck theme song, I make up songs about every Transformer that he asks, or a song about two characters (last night it was Pingu the Penguin and Optimus on an adventure in the ice, other times it is Rescue Bots or songs made up from scenes from Transformers). I use the tunes from kids songs, so it may be a song about Bumblebee falling in the water, then coming out to defeat Megatron and sung to the tune of 'She'll be Coming Around the Mountain", but hey, it's the words and story line that really count!

Christmas

Another double Christmas this year, with early celebrations at Todd's parents, home on Sunday and my mom arrived less than an hour after we got home to spend the next few days with us. Owen definitely had more understanding this year and was all in on presents, but still unsure about the whole Santa business. The volunteer fire department brings Santa around on their truck to see the kids and we did get a smile from Owen, but he was not getting out of Todd's arms to talk to that guy in the red suit :)

He had made reindeer chow at school so he and Todd sprinkled it outside for the reindeer to eat.

Owen was so excited about the presents in the morning and kept saying, "Are these all for me?"

Adding extra decorations :)

3rd time's a charm

A stubborn little baby that did not want to reveal its gender and two parents who are super planners may not be a good mix! Although part of me was secretly excited that we might not find out what we were having, we have started weekly ultrasounds for non-stress tests and at our 32 week appt, you could see without a doubt that this little person is a girl! Time to start thinking in some different colors :)

Out of the mouths of Babes

It's funny to hear your kids copy what you say or how you say something. I always give Owen choices about toys or activities and now when we play, he leads us like this.... "Mommy, what do you want to play with? Here are your choices: you can play Rescue Bots, or tractors, or trains.... whaddaya want?" And his imaginative play is growing; "Can you pass me my saw? Yes, I need to do this right here and then my wrench, pass my wrench so I can fix this part. Okay, great, now I need...." and on and on. It is pretty awesome!

Mommy Can You Play with Me?

Well, the accident caused a sprain in my back and some other issues, so off to PT and Massage Therapy every week for me. The van needed the entire bumper and side panel replaced, so grateful again that we were not the primary hit, but the secondary. So much drama even from that. The other part too has been a significant increase in Braxton Hicks contractions, I think maybe due to the pain from my back and my activity level throughout the day. Usually I have to come straight home and lay on the couch for an hour or more to calm down the contractions and the pain level. It is killing me because it cuts into my time with Owen. He asks me to play and we are coming up with some really interesting ways to incorporate what he wants to do with my ability to participate! Driving monster trucks on 'ramps' (my legs), playing balloons so I can hit them back to him from the couch, reading books if he will sit :) usually that happens more at bedtime than dinner, or playing Transformers and Rescue Bots on the couch. He is being a trooper and Todd is too, hopefully things will be back to normal soon!

A boom and a crash

Owen and I were driving home on 11/15, stopped at a stoplight when we were rear ended. The first thing Owen said after the initial shock wore off was, "Who crashed our car" and when I explained what happened, in his biggest voice he said, "YOU DON'T CRASH MOMMY'S CAR!". Poor little guy had to sit in the car for what felt like forever to me while I exchanged insurance with the two guys (Subaru hit a Honda which hit into me). Baby was kicking up a storm and I felt pretty yucky, so after a call to Todd to explain where we were, I called the doctor's office and they said I had to go straight to labor and delivery for monitoring. We are so fortunate to have good neighbors - Todd called Crystyne and she was waiting at the house when I got home, helped me get Owen settled, and then stayed with him while Todd took me to the hospital. They required us to stay until 4 hours post accident, hooked to the monitors. Baby looked ok, only a few contractions, but my left lower back and hip were so sore. Todd's cousin Shawn took over for Crystyne and put Owen to bed - he has been staying with us during the week while he goes to Gonzaga).  I feel so blessed that Owen's car seat kept him safe and that baby is ok. After the pre-term labor during the Achieve Center move and then this accident, this baby has been through a little too much drama!

First Snow of the Year

Our first snow of the new Winter season happened last week and Owen was so excited, he had to get out before we went to school. I had to leave for work early, so he and Todd got to go out to the backyard and enjoy the snow together for a few minutes before heading out. He can't wait to wear his boots and snow pants for the 'really big snow'!

Happy Halloween!

Owen wanted to be Bumblebee for Halloween and we found a great costume. He wore it to school that day and a friend of Sandy's came over to the daycare and face painted all the kids to match their costumes. When Owen saw himself in the mirror, he said to Sandy, "Wow...I'm really Bumblebee, huh?". She said, "Yes, you are, Owen," to which he answered, "Then you guys should all call me, Bumblebee, okay?". Too funny :) It was all washed off when we picked him up, so I am so glad they took pictures at school. Our entire office dressed up as Minions from Despicable Me so Todd and I kept our costumes on when we took Owen trick or treating. He had so much fun knocking on all our neighbors doors and saying hi to everyone out in their costumes. He wanted to eat each piece of candy as soon as it was put in his bucket :)

Triple Threat

We went to Greenbluff with my Mom at the beginning of October, Todd's parents and Jeff and Meredith's family in the middle, and Owen went with his class at the end of the month. He had plenty of pumpkin picking and train rides, although he would probably ride the train indefinitely!

Cold day with Grammy, Mom, and Dad

On the big train and then...

a ride on the little train!

Fresh donuts!

Which one to choose?

We tried to convince him to pick just one, but he wanted 5, and especially loved the white pumpkins!

The next weekend, off to Greenbluff with Maddie

Another train ride on a much warmer day!

Hanging out with Maddie

Playing games

Riding the race carts

Dad, Uncle Jeff, and Papa racing

Work to Do

Cooler Fall weather never stops Owen from playing outside!. He is out there every chance he gets, soaking up the last of the sun.

Sweeping

"Mom, I have a lot of work to do, I'm busy" :)

Bike rides with Mom and Dad

New Interests

Owen has discovered the world of Transformers and Rescue Bots. The Rescue Bots are way easier to transform, with the other ones I feel like I am working on a Rubic's Cube :) Heat Wave, Boulder, Blades, and Chase from the Rescue Bots are often invited to dinner with us!

Lined up at the table

Being fed some delicious cheese :)

A swing for Owen

Owen almost spends more time in our neighbor's yard than ours because they have the beloved 'community' swing set. We are so lucky that James and Tiffany are awesome neighbors because he is over there every chance he gets! Todd wanted to build a swing set for Owen in our backyard and researched the best supplies before deciding which direction to go. And yesterday, Nana and Papa came to help build it. Owen was so excited, he couldn't even wait to have all of the bolts in before he tried out his new swing. And, of course, he wanted everyone to swing with him too! He spent the rest of the afternoon out there and even started to fall asleep in the swing :) I think it is going to get plenty of use over the next few weeks before the snow comes!

Summer Days

Our summer is coming to an end and it has been so much fun! Trips to Canada, Oregon, visits to Moses Lake. New adventures, and lots of random weather!

Summer of dirt in our backyard while we switched out the gravel, it was a little boy's dream come true, every night, covered in dirt from head to toe! 

1st annual Maple Street movie night at James and Tiffany's  

Swimming lessons at daycare

Heading outside to play and wanted to wear his backpack that we use for school/daycare - looking too grown up already!

Achieve Center swimming party

Checking out the fire trucks and Medstar with Shiloh at the Fire Station Open House

Chalk time - everywhere, including the slide, clubhouse, our house, the BBQ...

Love and Logic in action!

Date with Mom and Dad

Puddle jumping after a summer rainstorm

Other People's Children

Okay, stepping on a soap box for a minute here, but we try really hard to teach Owen manners, sharing, being kind to others. And it is so irritating to me when I try to reinforce those teachings out in the world and a child who is not being taught that way ends up interacting with Owen (I realize this is going to happen his whole life, but still). Case in point - at Carters on Saturday and there is a lego table, 4 chairs, 4 kids, no parents staying nearby except for me and one other dad. They are all playing great until this little boy starts taking blocks from the other kids' 'pockets' (right in front of each chair to hold the blocks). First a little girl gets upset about it, then he comes over and takes some of Owen's. Owen, of course, says, "hey, that's mine" and tries to grab it back. The kid is kicking and screaming and I intervene, talking to Owen about how he can build with the blocks he has, trying to distract him and redirect. Owen is frustrated because obviously rules we ask him to follow are not being followed - sharing, no kicking/hitting. So he goes back to his side and kicks his chair, right up against the dad and baby/car seat that are standing nearby. I remind him that he can stay in the store as long as he doesn't cause a problem and he kicks the chair again. So, out we go to the car, Owen crying, kicking, screaming; meanwhile the other Mom hasn't come anywhere near her kid, she's still shopping somewhere in the store.  Yes, I know Owen should not have kicked the chair, but he is 2 and was frustrated from what happened before that. And I can't not be consistent and not discipline for things we would normally at home, but it frustrating to me when he was just responding to a stinker kid at the store.

A trip and a wedding at the beach

Joneel's wedding was August 10th at Rockaway Beach, OR so we packed up Owen and headed out on a roadtrip. Owen is not a fan of long car rides, but he was such a trooper - fun toys, movies, a nap, and some key stops at places he could run and play helped us get there without too many tears.

We had two condos side by side, only about 100 feet from the beach. Ariene, Johan, and Rayell and Brandon's family took one side; Mom, Gary and Christine's family, and our family took the other side. Owen had so much fun playing with his cousins and getting his first look at the ocean! We played hard and did some tourist stuff the day before the wedding, then enjoyed family time with Joneel and her kids as she and Ken were married. It was a cloudy day, but no rain and the backdrop of the ocean with the waves crashing against the shore was perfect for their vows (although it made it hard to hear, even with the microphone!).

A stop for dinner and a trip to the pet store, he 'walked' this dog all over the store!

Digging, his favorite pasttime

We found a Batman kite in the closet at the condo and everyone took a turn flying it in the crazy wind

Watching the waves

Rest time after a long morning of running and playing at the beach

Second trip of the day down to dig in the sand!

Choosing an ice cream flavor to try at the Tillamook Factory

Enjoying his mint chocolate chip ice cream and watching a Tillamook movie about cows :)

Finally gets to drive the bus! He waited forever, patient kiddo - so many adult tourists ahead of us taking their picture in this bus!

Our family at the wedding

Hanging out with the boy cousins after the wedding