Gerber family '08

Needless to say, it has been forever since the last update! I had it "up to here" with our dial-up connection, and protested any computer work from home until our we got high-speed! So, I am so pleased to finally announce that we have joined the ranks of most other people enjoying the thrills of DSL! It is unbelievable how much more efficient you can be...but you all know that already (it's us who are discovering it)!

Anyhow, it is good to be back in touch and share the latest with Owen and our lives. O is now almost 17 months old, loves to play football (esp. when you tell him to "go deep", he'll run to the other side of the room and extend his arms for a catch), read books, climb on anything stationary, and talk, talk, talk! I think I can honestly say that I am now finally truly, fully, deeply loving being a mother. He is just so much fun and we can actually communicate together! It is so funny what he comes up with! He said his first sentence a few weeks ago....the very primal "I want that!" as he pointed at his breakfast cereal I was pouring for him! Then later that day, he brought me a book and said, "Me want you read this!" So, he has no troubles letting us know his needs, that is for sure! What a sturdy self-confidence we have nurtured! :) Anyhow, here are a few of the latest shots from our life. And I promise, I"ll try to keep this blog more up-to-date, now that it doesn't take me 20+ minutes to download pictures!

Here is Owen climbing up on the table (in a split second as I went to the other room), loudly announced "Climber!, " grabbed his spoon and went to finishing his yogurt!

Do I live in a zoo? I love Owen's expression!

Shawn and I (before and after) went skiing at Copper Mountain last Monday--lots of fun and VERY cold (high of 14 degrees).

Thank goodness for Starbucks!

Thanksgiving and other randoms...

So, we've had quite a month! Owen continues to grow and change every day! We went to Florida and had a great time with the Gerber's for Thanksgiving. Shawn and I also stole away 2 days to go to Sanibel Island for a little private R&R! It was most needed! Here are a few sweet shots from our time together:

With Grandma checking out the babes!
I love Siesta Key!
Swimming with Daddy!
Tickling the ivories with Grandpa G!


Since we've been back, Owen is definitely into exploring his world! Owen, as you can see in the following pictures, loves climbing and getting into whatever he can find, as the following pictures indicate. We also went through the first torture session of trying to get a family Christmas picture. It's a little tricky when the only thing to get you to look at is the little flashing light on the camera timer! Chocolate for breakfast? I turned around and this is what I see...I guess it does have "calcium"?!
Christmas angel or "Don't touch?" However, climbing up on the chair was fun!
With his new step stool, he has found all sorts of ways to entertain himself!

Shower Cowboy!

Curious George, anyone?
So sweet--he fell asleep in the car (snack in hand) during Christmas shopping...
Don't even ask...
Reading, reading, reading! A favorite of his!
When we got back from Florida, Rachel threw Shawn a surprise 31st Birthday Party at BW3's and about 10 other friends came to spread the love.

Since then, Owen got croup and we were in the ER this past Sunday. It's not a fun virus to have--but we are thankful for good treatment and health care access. He's feeling better now, amid a bit grouchy! Hope all is well!

Back In Business!

Little old man...........................Cutie little boy!

Playing outside with Mommy...beautiful fall days!

I'm Micky Mouse's firefighter! Snack time with "D"!

Nothing is better than Jell-O fingerpainting....'paint' you can eat it!
And, nothing is better than the sticky mess that results!
(Doesn't he look exactly like Shawn in this picture???)

Running with Mommy at the Irish Snug! Go Mom!

We're back!!!!!! Our camera situation is back in order now, so here are some of the lastest O pictures. We had some big things happening this week: first haircut (went form old man comb-over to a nicely trimmed, somewhat Amish looking boy :), first attempt at fingerpainting with Jell-O (a very fun and sticky mess), and running his first 5K with Mommy! I run (ok, let's be honest...plod along) with a bunch of young adults from church every Thursday night. It's at an Irish Pub downtown that hosts the "Irish Snug Running Club." About 100 people gather each Thursday to run a 5K around town and then end back at the Snug for a free spaghetti dinner. It's fun (can't believe these words would ever come out of my mouth, coupled with 'running'), and some good personal time for myself! Anyways, once you've run 5 times you get a running T-shirt, your picture taken, and documented as a real member of the club! Shawn and Owen came to run and cheer me on for my 5th time this last week--an accomplishment for sure!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! We'll be in Florida...I can' wait...especially to finally travel WITH Shawn somewhere (and to have another set of hands for our very active 15 month old)!

The Cutest Grizzly You've Ever Seen!

Here is a picture of Owen and his Uncle Troy with 1/2 of his cute bear costume from Halloween!

Due to our continued camera situation, this is as good as it gets (stealing pictures from family web pages, etc...)! Anyhow, Owen and I had a great trip to Ohio to see family and have fun on the Ramseyer Farm (www.ramseyerfarms.com). There is nothing like corn mazes, pumpkin picking, and animal petting to feel like fall!

Still no camera...

Ok--before I completely lose my blogging friends, I should update! I know, I know...there is nothing more annoying than going to check the Gerber blog to get the latest and greatest on Owen (and I suppose his 'rents), to find that nothing has changed...same old pictures...the same ones that were there the last time you cruised.

With that said, I'll just give you the news! Owen is now a champ at walking! And, a champ at falling! :) He got his first major road rash this past week (under the "watchful" care of Daddy)! I know---things happen before you even know it! He tripped off of our sidewalk into our beautiful lava rock mulch! Seriously, I know everyone in CO (being the oh, so arid climate it is) loves landscaping with lava rock, but probably hasn't taken into much consideration of what happens when you fall face first in it! Poor little guys looked like he was battered, beaten, and bruised! Major scrape on the right side of his face...forehead, nose, eye, cheek...bad news bears!
However, he's a little trooper and is healing nicely!

He will repeat most things you do, say...and eat! What a mimic! He knows all of his body parts, and can make all the animal sounds (including: owl, monkey, snake, lion, elephant). His favorite past time has been to have me put him in our big arm chair and then he "reads" books to himself. Seriously, he was sitting looking at this one book for over 20 minutes last week! It was great! He would babble, turn the pages, and then make faces that correspond with the faces in the book. Very, very sweet.

Ding dong--we really need a camera!

We'll see what we can do! Hopefully it'll be sooner than later!

Owen and I are flying to OH this Tuesday through Halloween! I am dropping him off with my mom, aunts, and g-ma, and then driving to Canada for Mennonite Publishing Network Board of Director meetings. I'll miss the little guy, but I know he'll have a great time on the farm! (And I won't lie...I'll love the extra time too...maybe I'll even get a chance to read myself! Fancy that!)

Alright...hopefully next time, won't take me as long to update and perhaps we'll get a picture or two on from our trip!

A Year In Review

August 29, 2006
Month 1
Month 2

Month 3

Month 4
Month 5

Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
August 29, 2007

Wow--where has the year gone? I can hardly believe that our little man has grown up so fast. In an amazing way, you sort of forget how they grow and change so quickly....especially as you see where they started to where they are now. Looking back at the pictures of Owen each month, is fun to see not only how he has developed, but also how we, as parents, have adapted as well!

Big news: Owen has started walking as of last week--which is pretty incredible! Ok, so he still bears a strong resemblence to Frankenstein, but he is alas, up on 2 feet!

A little explanation...

Ok, I apologize for not updating the blog sooner than this---our camera just got soaked by an unfortunate spill in my purse, that proceeded to fry both the camera and my new cell phone (neither which had insurance). So--that $1.25 water bottle spill became quite expensive. Alas, we are without picture capabilities and seriously, what fun is it to read a blog with no pictures?

Hopefully Shawn and I will be able to get out and buy a new camera soon, to keep you up-to-date with our little man. He is almost walking...so close...he'll now stand by himself for about 30 seconds at a time, but still hasn't figured out how to walk without letting go. He continues to make us laugh with his antics and new vocabulary every day! His new favorite thing is to push anything resembling a car/truck/tractor around saying, "Vrrrmmmmm....!" We also put a new star/moon mobile above his changing table, which he LOVES. He points to the moon and goes, "Mooooonnnnnn" and has just learned to say "Staaars." So precious!

So, needless to say, we hope to be up and running again soon!