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!