Owen gets his drivers licence

Party at Ellenor's house!

We had another playgroup get together today. There were lots of us there. Owen had 6 friends to play with - Charlie, Ellenor, Keira, Kaelen, Presley, and Olivia. Owen had a nap before the meeting today so he was rested, happy, and ready to play... unlike last week.

And here's the whole gang. Next time we should try and get pictures of the Moms too. Seeing as we do meet every week, and we're all friends, it seems silly that we don't have any pictures of us - just our kids.

October 31st is only 5 weeks away

So I got Owen a Halloween costume. It's not any of the ones that I was looking at before. Gabe really didn't want me to order anything off the internet, so I was limited to what is in local stores. I'll give you a clue to what he will be dressed as.....

I have never gone trick or treating. Well, let me clarify. When I was 12 I got dressed up as my friends said we would go trick or treating, but I was the only one dressed up, and people didn't want to give a 12 year old candy, so we pretty much just walked the block, and then went back to my friends house. I don't really think that counts. And last year I walked around with the Jordan kids and Victoria as they trick or treated. Again, I don't think that counts. So this year, with Owen, I am excited to do something I was never allowed to do as a kid. But he's not even walking yet, so the evening will probably go like this: get dressed in costume, take pictures, go to friends house, take pictures, put hat back on Owen, take more pictures, go with friends to a few houses, put hat back on Owen, go home with cranky baby, put Owen to bed, notice it's only 8:00 pm.

So, this year may not be the exciting time I think it is going to be. Maybe next year. But I still get to get him all dressed up and take pictures, and that is really the best part.

:)

Owen gets a new Auntie!

My brother Nathan just proposed to his girlfriend Karitas, and now Owen gets a new Auntie! Yay!

Hat Shopping

This is Victor. He and Owen went hat shopping today, discussed the stock market and bought cigars. All in all, a good day.

More friends to play with

We had another play group adventuer today. Charlie, Keira, Ellenor, and Presley came over to our house. Owen was so excited to have kids to play with that he refused to go down for his morning nap until he had played with them all for hours.

So, here is the whole gang. From left to right they are: Presley (3 months old), Owen (7.5 months old), Ellenor (8 months old I think), Charlie (8 months old), and Keira (7 months old I think).

Owen particularly liked to play with Presley today. Probably becasue she can't get away from him. Here he is crawling over top of her. Owen also liked to toyuch Ellenors face today, but was much less gentle eith her than with Presley - poor girl.

no lessons, just fun this time

Owen and I went to the pool today for a fun swim. He loved it! He is so awesome in the water - putting his face under, and kicking his feet. It was hard to take photos as I had to hold him (he's slippery when wet), but these are two fun ones. I have posed smiling ones, but I like these ones better.

Check out his new swim shorts - aligators - fun!

Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear

Big kids are fun too!

Owen had a play date with Joshua Parson today - a friend from Church. Josh is almost a year and a half, and Owen was really taken with him. He loves to watch bigger kids, and copies whatever they do - or at least tries to. And Josh was pretty interested in Owen as well. Owen would make his breathing noises (like he does when he is really concentrating on something) and Josh would copy him and then laugh. Josh shared his toys with Owen and even gave him balls to throw every once in a while. It was great.

One of the toys Josh has, Owen has too – the gum ball machine with "roll-around" balls. Owen has had this toy for a few months now, and never really got the knack of how to use it. Well, that’s not even true. When he first got the toy he had it figured out in a few days, but then Owen realized that if he waited long enough, Mama would do the work for him. So after that Owen never put the balls in the top, and pushed the blue handle for the balls to roll out the bottom of the gum ball machine. But as of today he was doing it properly again – and without any prompting at all. He just figured it out all by himself. That’s my little genius!

Play Group - now to meet weekly

A few of us from Baby Time Drop In at the Chilliwack Health Clinic have decided to start meeting weekly on our own. Anyone is welcome to come, and we'll decide who's house it will be at from week to week. This week it was at Charlie's house. Next week it will be our house (Thursday at 10:00 am for those of you who want to come).

These pictures are of Charlie and Ellenor. We helped Ellenor's Mom set up a blog or her yesterday. It's just such a great way to share baby info without sending everyone you know an email once a day.

Presley's Baby Shower

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Happy Birthday to my Godfather!

This is a photo of Matthew and Krista Francis, Owens godparents, on the day Owen was baptised into the Orthodox Church. Today is Matthew's birthday. He and Gabe have been friends for many, mnay years. Matthew was almost in our wedding party (except he was on another continent at the time). Gabe and I found out that we were pregnant with Owen just before Matthew and Krista's wedding (which Gabe was a groomsman in). Somehow our lives have always been intwined with Matthew's, so it was more than fitting for us to ask him (and his fabulous wife) to be our sons godparents. And we couldn't have chosen anyone better. We love you guys!

Play date

Owen had three women drop by the house today to see him. Oh yah. That's right. He's a player.
All joking aside, Owen did have a play date with three little girls today - Kaelen, Presley, and Olivia. Coincidently, these girls Moms all work (or worked) with Papa, and are friends with Mama. Funny how that works out.


This is Presley Jane Sexsmith. She is a few weeks old. I knew Owen was jealous of her hair, but this picture proves it. Here, Owen is saying (in a fabulous Italian accent) "My Darling. Your hair is so... how you say.. oh yes - magnifique! Oh yes, my soft caress... how I love to run my fingers through your luscious hair." He can't even stand to look at her hair he is so jealous. Oh Owen - don't worry, you'll have lots of hair too one day. Grandpa bought Owen this leather driving hat the other day.


And Kaelen is such a poser! I thought Owen would pose for the camera, but she is hilarious! It's so neat to watch these kids grow up together - to see them reach milestones together and go from infants to babies to kids. Well, we're not there yet, but before you know it they'll all be in kindergarten together. Time goes by so fast!



Owen isn't so fond of wearing hats anymore. But he does love to chew on them! He has even gotten into chewing on Mama's fingers. I'm not too crazy about that new fangled idea though. Ouch!


And this is Owen with Olivia and her Mom Tammy. Olivia is a year older than Owen, and she is going to have a new brother or sister next January. How fun! Olivia loved to play with Owens toys today and he was so good in sharing with her. And all the girls for that matter. When Presley was laid next to Owen in the photo above I thought he may smack her on the head, or scratch her face, but he was so gentle, And I didn't even have to tell him to be gentle. He just lightly touched her head and rubbed her hair. It was really quite cute.

Face Crawl

Owen did the "face crawl" today. It’s not crawling, but it gets him from point A to point B. He’s like a little worm. What he does is bury his face in the sheets (we did it on our bed), push his feet up and forward, wiggle his body forward (face still in the sheets), and then lift up his head, readjust, and do it again. He did it a few times, so we know he got the hang of it. But he was pretty pooped after 20 minutes or so – face crawling is hard work.

Papa's Birthday

Today is my Papa's Birthday. I love my Papa so much! I try to tell him, but it all comes out "Babababa". Soon enough I will be able to tell him how much I love him.

Until then I will smile nicely and pose in pictures with him.

My Grandma had these shirts made for my Papa's 29th birthday party today. She is so funny, my Grandma.

Happy Birthday Papa! Here's to 100 more!

- Owen

The last 7 months...

1 month old










2 months old










3 months old










3 and a half months old










4 months old - definately the biggest jump in weight. This is when we introduced formula. Can you tell?!









5 months old










6 months old - he had another big weight jump here. This is when we introduced solid foods.









7 months old!

7 months old already!

Owen is 7 months old already! He weighs just under 21lbs, and is just under 30" long, which puts him off the charts for his length for his age. It also means he is long and lean, which is hard to beleive becasue he is still pretty chubby. His size 3 shoes will be too small for him soon as his feet seem to get bigger and bigger every day. His 12 month sized clothes will still fit him for a while - they are still very roomy on him.

Owens third tooth is coming in (top middle), he now watches videos, plays with new toys (big ones that help him sit and walk), and he will be moving on his own very soon. He gets on his hands and knees and shakes. And he can pull himself up to a standing position on a person (not yet on furniture). If you hold his hands he can walk and he is very proud of himself for these accomplishments!

Owen also understands a few words and phrases. He knows "feet down" which we say when we are holding him, but want to put him down so he can stand. He knows "sit", "Dada", "Mama", "Grandma", "kick" (we used that a lot in swimming lessons), "tickle", and "what's under here" - for this we say when we are about to tickle him in the arm pits, although he may just know the tone in our voice when we say it, and not the actual words. But when we do say "what's under here" he tightens his arms against his body, and begins to laugh before we have even touched him. It's hillarious!

Owen and Baby Adam

My friend Sarah Kamp (Jae to me since Jr. high school) had her second baby boy this past July. His name is Adam. We got to go visit them a few days ago, and they came to visit us today. Owen likes baby Adam. Well, let me re-phrase that. Owen likes to touch baby Adam.

Owen and I are working on being "gentle". When I touch his face softly I say "gentle", and then I take his hand and touch my face and I say "gentle". So when Owen grabs at baby Adams face, I take his hand and say "gentle". And then Owen looks up at me, smiles, and gently grabs baby Adams face. It's a work in progress.

Budding romance? Or big bully?

This is Kalean - Owens friend since birth. She is 3 weeks younger than Owen. Kaelens Mom works with Owens Papa, and now she and I are friends.

Owen has spent a lot of time with Kaelen at the Baby Time Drop In at the Health Clinic. We haven't been all summer, so Kaelen and her Mom came to our house yesterday for a visit. It was nice to see them again!

Owen and Kaelen used to lie on the ground and hold each others hands. It was so cute. But yesterday, Owen kept stealing all of Kaelens toys from her. Whatever she would play with, Owen wanted. And Owen would take. Which is weird, because Owen has never done that before. He is usually ok with sharing and has never been a bully.

Hopefully Owen gorws out of this "bully" phase or he won't have any friends... never mind girl friends!

Tooth and Carrots

Can you see Owens tooth? Look closely - you may even want to clik on the photo to enlarge it. His tooth is on the bottom - in the middle.

And can you see how much fun Owen had with lunch today? He didn't really seem interested in eating, so I let him play with his food. He was much more interested in it then - but still not hungry.