Gym Play

This morning my Mom’s Group met at Loudoun Gym for its open play. Owen had a wonderful time. His favorite is the huge springy floor where he likes to run around and chase and throw balls. Last time we were there he did not like the trampoline as much but this time he enjoyed it and kept saying “bounce-a-bounce”. He definitely loves these places, he runs all over, it’s quite a workout for me as well.

Running after the ball. He has learned to throw the ball pretty well but sometimes it’ll go behind his head. He still prefers to play fetch, runs and gets the ball and then brings it back to me to throw. (Sorry a little fuzzy, had the small camera.)

He found a racket and tried to hit the ball with it. I showed him how to once after he got frustrated and he quickly went back and started to swing and hit the ball. He got a big kick out of this new trick.

He climbed into this mat and enjoyed throwing the balls and balloons in and out. A four year old girl found a fun game of gathering all the balloons and giving them to Owen for his “pit”. It was sweet!

Then off to the trampoline. He enjoyed bouncing but did fall over a lot, he kept trying to run. He figured that the edge was easier to stand up and bounce.

Then he climbed the wall behind him and stole two of the foam blocks to play fetch on the trampoline.

Eating Leaves…

…Well not really. Today at lunch I had a spinach salad and Owen kept pointing to my plate saying “leaf”. I decided to give him a piece and he was very excited to eat a leaf. He kept looking at it and saying “leaf” and then take a bite. He kept asking for more, so I guess he probably got 4 leaves and maybe actually ate 2 of them. Not sure he loved the taste but heck he finally ate some spinach. It will be interesting to see if he tries to eat a leaf outside.

ABC’s and 123’s

As I have said before Owen loves his ABC’s, whether it be a book of them, blocks, a puzzle, or the song. For months now he has liked to listen to them and also try to figure what each letter is. I swear by those little foam letters for the bath. When we first got them he would show me a letter and I would tell him what it was, this is what started his love for the ABC’s. Now he pretty much knows every letter and can point to them on a puzzle. We have actually heard him recite A-F in his crib before bedtime. He loves to recite the whole thing with you, and if he hears a letter said by itself throughout the day he will start reciting them from that letter. Omer and I are absolutely amazed that he can do this and just had to share it with everyone.

Owen Saying the ABC’s

Owen can also count from 1 -10! It started also out by just reading books with numbers and then Omer counts the stairs as they hop up, and from there he just picked it up. He will never say 1 though, you have to start him out. And before the number 4 was the only one he knew and now when he says his numbers he skips that one. Strange! Once again, we are in absolute amazement that he can do this. Not sure where Owen got his smarts from.

Owen Counting 1-10

Happy Birthday Brady

Owen’s friend Brady turned 2 on Thursday and we went to his birthday party at Wee Play on Saturday. It was a lot of fun, they got to do crafts, play with toys, follow along with songs and of course eat cake. I think Owen’s favorite was the cake, he was by far the messiest. Still prefer to use his hands, but in the past two days he has actually eaten his yogurt with a spoon!!! Sorry not that many pictures but put the camera away after the craft, too much running around.

Making a Painting (Owen in the bottom right)

Brady, the Birthday Boy

Visit from Grammy

Grammy flew into Dulles from a trip this evening and came for a quick visit. I have been working with Owen on saying “hi grammy” and he will do it but would not for her. They enjoyed playing cars together, he kept going back to his bins to pull more out. Owen enjoyed getting to play with Grammy and she was shocked at how talkative he is now.

Grammy and Owen playing cars

Grammy playing with Owen’s feet. (She was doing this because Owen took her shoes and was trying to put them on his feet.)

Music Class

Last Tuesday we started a new music class called Wee Got the Beat. Owen loves music class! We went today for a make-up class because Owen was sick on Tuesday. This music class is great, she does lots of different songs with the egg shakers, scarves, instruments, and of course parents. I think his favorite part is the scarves where she plays peek-a-boo. He likes to take them off people’s heads and likes to put them on his head. He also loves when she plays the guitar and they get to play with instruments, he loves to listen to the songs and will occasionally dance. Unlike the last music class we took he actually will sit in my lap for a little now to do the songs with parents, I think this is more because he’s older now. He still prefers to run around and visit everyone. This class has taught him Ring Around the Roses. I had tried this with him before and really didn’t show much interest, but after the first class he LOVES it. It will hold both hands and walk in the circle, the cute part is that when you are supposed to fall down he comes and sits on my lap. I will try to get some video of this soon.

Owen at Music Class

18 Month Check-Up

We had Owen’s 18 month appointment this morning. The doctor was very pleased with Owen’s personality; he was running around the room in diaper and socks pushing his car around and would occasionally say something to the doc. The doctor noted that Owen has met or surpassed all the milestones for an 18 mo old. The only thing he still hasn’t accomplished is using a fork the right way, which is still a little early. He likes to play with it and will sometimes stab a piece of food but never has made it to his mouth. We also discussed Owen’s pickiness of food and fighting meal times. I know this is common at this age, but Owen just isn’t eating much anymore and will pitch fits at the table sometimes. The doctor just advised us to let it be and move on and try not to make a big deal about it, kids this age just don’t need as much food. I really hope this stage ends soon, I want my good eater back! The doctor was shocked how talkative and the amount of words Owen has (we stopped counting when he reached 40), Owen is definitely a chatter box. The doctor called him a little parrot. So true! The shots did not goes as well, he screamed VERY loud. I felt so bad for him, but after it was all done he snuggled into my neck and was calm. He did fall right to sleep when he got in the car, poor guy! The doctor said Owen is growing great and looks very healthy. His stats are: 23 lbs 9 oz (19% up from 17%), 33.25 inches (77% up from 75%). Owen also still has a big head, he’s in the 95% up from 90%…such big brains.

Jungle Animals

I got Owen some plastic jungle animals being that he always seems to enjoy them when we are at other people’s houses. He saw them on the counter and got very excited. He sat and explored them all and tried to say all there names. He says elfoot for elephant, zeber for zebra, raffe for giraffe, isource for rhinoceros. He also likes to make the noises for the elephant and lion.

Playing with his new jungle animals

Roaring like a lion

Owen thought his animals needed to take a slide.

Boys Will Be Boys

After Omer got home from work last night, I went out to walk the dogs. When I returned, Omer calls from the basement and says “We made a mess”. Well I had to see how big a mess he was referring to. I went downstairs to find all the sofa cushions on the floor in a pile. Omer built Owen a “trampoline”! Owen had big fun bouncing on the cushions and then falling face first into the back cushions. It was so cute to see. Owen would say “bounce-a-bounce”. I love when my boys are having this much fun together.

Owen Bouncing

“Bounce-a-bounce”

Omer would point and Owen would fall down.

Owen in mid-fall.

Tickles and Laughs.

Snowy Fun

This afternoon, I bundled Owen up and went out for some snowy fun. He seemed to like this snow more than last but still isn’t the biggest fan. I think he doesn’t like being so bundled up because he can’t walk as well and then of course the cold on his hands. I actually made a break through and he kept his gloves on for about 15 minutes and took them off because he wanted to grab something. Chloe loved the snow and caught many snowballs and chased Chester who is not as fond of the white stuff (it gets very clumped on his fur). I thought Owen would enjoy being pulled on a sled but we don’t have one so I tied a rope to the top of a trash can lid and I did pull him a little but he couldn’t hold on to anything so it didn’t work very well. That is when I thought I would see if his wagon would go through the snow. It did! Owen enjoyed his snowy wagon ride and kept repeating “wee!”

Wagon ride in the snow

Using my muscles to pull the wagon.

Puffalump in a wagon

The back of the yard is lined with pine trees which act as a wonderful umbrella, so I got Owen out of the wagon to see if he’d enjoy walking around in less snow. He did, he explored the snow covered fence, the sticks, and the snow covered branches that were touching the ground.

Owen with his walking stick.

Checking out the snow covered branches.

He enjoyed touching them and making the snow fall off.

Leaving the “cave” (That’s what I was calling it for Owen.)

Omer came home early from work and got to enjoy a little time in the snow. Owen wanted lots of hugs from him. I joked it was so that Daddy would take him inside. I am still hoping Owen will become a snow bunny like Chloe and me.

Daddy and Son

Now the pictures of the pups. As I said Chloe loves the snow, she gets so energetic and really chases Chester. She also loves to catch snowballs in her mouth and chase after them. Poor Chester enjoys the play with Chloe puts lays down often to pull the snow clumps from his fur.

Chloe and Chester playing chase

Chloe looks like she is really about to pummel Chester.

My pups enjoying the snow