Seven Months

• Two more teeth nearly in, I expect to see them fully soon
• He can sit for a few moments by himself without falling backwards and when he does tip over he doesn't cry, just continues playing
• Love to pull toys out of buckets
• Transfers an object from one hand to the other
• Attempts to put small objects into his mouth and sometimes succeeds
• Eats crackers
• Uses hands to pull himself forward
• Can jump/bounce when he is holding someones hands (instead of someone holding him at his arm pits)

More Pictures click here

Before and After

I was very excited when I put a load of laundry in the washer and looked in my bathroom....
No LAUNDRY!



Then I recalled the pile of sheets that Vinnie (the dog) has been sleeping on upstairs in our bedroom. So, to make sure I do my chores I put three sets of sheets, pillow cases, a blanket, and some towels on my kitchen floor so that I wouldn't forget.


I put Owen down for a nap and looked at the week of mess in our livingroom.

So I cleaned it up.

My work is not done, but I'm getting there. It's one in the afternoon I've been up since 10 this morning (Owen and I took a nap after his morning bottle at 8) and I haven't showered, but I feel accomplished!

Epiphany

Tomato Forest
2010

Jason took me away this week-end and driving through the country side and sitting on top of Mount Battie gave us a more broader view of our world. We lamented how some of the "old ways" are lost, the slower ways, the quieter ways, the quality of time.

Last year we had a modest garden that got a little lost in the shuffle with the birth of our son (see this post for an explanation) but this year we want to do better. We want to have more variety (not a tomato forest), do better at harvesting, improve our canning/freezing/storing, and spend more time tending to our little plot of land.

There was some discussion on possibly adding a chicken or two, some for eggs some for meat, and a small little desire for a milk goat. The goal is to live more off our own half acre of paradise and less off the store, and to eat and live more healthy.

We are planning on planting: 

• 5 Roma Tomato Plants
• 5 Slicing Tomato Plants
• 2 Cherry Tomato Plants
• 3 Zucchini
• 3 Summer Squash 
• 4 Green Beans
• 6 Green Peppers
• 20 Red Potatoes
• 20 Russet Potatoes
• 6 Sweet Potatoes (maybe)
• 6 Onions
• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Garlic
• 4 Cabbage
• 4 Spinach
• 6 Cucumbers
• Beets
• Broccoli (maybe)
• Edible Pea Pod Peas
• Herbs: basil, bay, mint, rosemary (I have to look into these)
• Pumpkins
• Squash (Acorn & Butternut)

Today Owen and I went outside to the garden to take a look at things. We found lots of little blue flowers flox/flocks (--spelling?) is what I think they are called. The daffodils are also coming up which makes me very happy. This year when they die back I'm going to move them over to the dying apple tree where some other stuff I planted last year is hopefully getting ready to grow.

I found some Rhubarb sprouting up, and also some weeds. So, while Owen ate dirt and leaves I dug around and uprooted some unwanted greenery. I think that Owen is going to be a big help in the garden this year.

I found a worm and thought about showing it to him, but changed my mind. If you would like to see more pictures of Owen playing in the dirt check out my facebook link (you don't need an account to look).

Four Months a Month Late

Now I have two teeth!
I like to eat foods out of a little mesh feeder.
I have eaten: carrots, apple, pear, peas, green beans, pineapple.
Mamma also lets me chew on raw peppers when she is cooking.

Mamma thinks I weigh over 20lbs!

3 Months

Three Months Old!

Look how big he is!

Merry Christmas

Having Fun

We are having so much fun being parents. Owen is getting bigger and more interactive every day! He is starting to settle into a sort of schedule which is nice, my day is a bit predictable now. Christmas quickly approaches and we are looking forward to the festivities and busyness of the year. We have had several Christmas parties already (one each Saturday of December) and Owen has done great with them. He is usually very sleepy the next day since he misses his two hour nap in the afternoon while we are gone.

Owen loves to play with his toys. He reaches and bats at them with his little fist. He has excellent head control and loves using his Bumbo (pictured on the left) with a toy "rainbow" (as I call it). I hope to upload a video soon of him using his toys.

He surprised me at his two month check up and rolled over! His doctor put him on his belly to check out his head control and said "Look, he is going to roll over!" sure enough he rolled right over! He prefers to nap on his belly (where I anxiously check him every five mins to ensure that he is breathing)  and I relent because he naps better on his belly than on his back. I think, perhaps, all his belly napping time is why he is a head with his head control?

Owen loves faces. He will study and stare at a new face for the longest time as if to say "Hey, I don't know you. Let me take 5 minutes and memorize your every feature so I will remember you next time." He loves to talk and smile and is becoming ticklish.

Bullet using the Bumbo

The dogs have done fine with Owen. Izzy (the lab) gives him kisses whenever she can. Vinnie (the pom) doesn't seem to have any opinion about him at all. The cats like his crib (he doesn't use it yet) and his Bumbo and will cuddle with Owen as long as Owen is in my arms.

I guess that's it for now.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Last Check-Up

Owen had a check-up at the end of November. His stats:

Owen 2months Old

Weight: 12lbs 13oz
Height: 23 1/2 inches

Development:
Controls Head Well
Rolls Over
Smiles
Coos
Laughs
Follows Object
Reaches for Faces/Toys

We couldn't be any prouder of our little boy!

Christmas Pictures

Owen Johnathan

Owen Johnathan
Born September 29th @ 2:19pm
Weight: 7lbs 14.7oz
Length: 19.5inches