A week in the life of an 11 month old...

Gotcha! I found you!


Are you watching me? Because, before you can blink...
Going swimming

Picking (or eating) strawberries

I can hardly believe that Owen is 11 months already...soon to be 1 year! It's truly crazy...this year in so many ways flew by (despite the fact that during some periods I never thought I'd live to see them through). Soon, I won't have a baby anymore, but a toddler, and before I know it, he'll be off to college. Actually, in a lot of ways, I already don't have a baby. If you've had a chance to meet "O", you know what I mean. He is incredibly independent--likes to explore, feed himself, and is so verbal. He'll let you know what he wants for sure! However, he is also incredibly loving and cuddly. A great mixture! Now, he knows the following animal sounds: cow, horse, sheep, bear, cat, dog, monkey, and he will do them on-cue. He loves to perform for any captured audience! He can also say tons of words. We now have to be sort of careful about what we say/do around him...for instance:

1. Shawn was laughing at dinner last night and pounded on the table, and Owen immediately perked up and laughed and hit his fist down as well. Shawn did it again, and Owen followed suit!

2. Another quick story is that Owen loves this Mother Goose book that Grandma S. got him--he'll read it over and over and over again. A little background: In the book, the last rhyme is "Wee Willie Winkie" and part of the rhyme is "...rapping at the window..." and I always knock on the book at that point. So, on Friday, when the babysitter was here, he crawled over to the basket of books and grabbed a few and went over and sat in her lap. Then when she got to the "Wee Willie Winkie" part, he started knocking on the book. So funny. The babysitter was impressed!

3. Owen also "prays" with us before meals, by shaking his hands as we sing the " Hands, hands, hands--we thank you God for hands..." blessing. Then he says, "Amen."

Wow, Owen is a gift---we are so thankful for him and his lively spirit! What a blessing. Thanks to all of you also, who have helped shape him, as well as offering Shawn and I support this past year. You are all a blessing to our life as well!