Owen's Belated 1st Birthday Bash!!

We had such a fun time celebrating Owen's 1st birthday this weekend!  Both boys had an awesome day hanging out with AmMa, Mimi, Papa, Aunt CaCa, Uncle Nick, Aunt Geri and Uncle Carroll!  Owen didn't do quite the damage on his cake that his big brother did, but he certainly enjoyed it and mama appreciated that there was little mess to clean up!!

It really was a fun day and I'm pretty sad that it's over and everyone has gone back home.  Thanks to everyone who came up to see us and to celebrate such a big milestone.

I still can't believe my baby boy is 1!!

The birthday boy loving his balloons and getting ready for cake!

Austin was cracking himself up, as well as everyone else, singing his silly songs.

"Happy Birthday dear Owen, Happy Birthday to you!"

(Or in Austin language, "Happy Dirtday")

The only picture of me and my baby boy...

...might need to give Aunt CaCa some lessons in focusing the camera!  ;-)

Delicious!

Austin thought Owen needed to pick up the pace.

He also thought his baby brother needed some help eating that big 'ole cake!

Mama getting a hug and a big icing kiss from her birthday boy!

 The damage

Time for presents! 

Owen would rather use the boxes to climb on than try to get to what is inside them.

The push car from AmMa!   

Enjoying the dancing Mickey Mouse from Mimi and Papa!

It's an Austin in a box!

To a 1 year old and a 2 year old, the boxes are almost as good as the gifts!

Finally, an evening stroll in the perfect car....

Owen gets to ride,

Austin gets to push, 

Mom & Dad get to follow!

Owen's Red Wagon Birthday - The Details

I would have liked to do more, I had wonderfully cute ideas coming out my ears, but with all the craziness surrounding the move, the extreme lack of time and fact that only a few close family members were making the 2 hour drive up anyway...I just couldn't do it all.

I was very pleased with how things turned out in the end, however, and the day ended up being pretty darn fantastic!!

One Year

I know I'm about 2.5 weeks late, but here's the rundown of Owen's actual birth day!

We woke up the morning of May 4th, 2011 for the first time in our new home.  We had been in our new town for less than 24 hours but figured there had to be an IHOP somewhere.  Ryan and I had stayed up until 4am trying to unpack some of the boxes, but the kitchen was still in NO shape for me to cook!

Owen enjoyed a great first birthday breakfast of french toast and milk and wore his party hat with pride.  All the waitresses were fussing over him and finally decided to come over to our table, singing, with a bowl of ice cream.  This was Owen's reaction:

Poor little guy.  I completely understand though, I was so painfully shy growing up that I used to cry too every time people came up to me singing at a restaurant.  Seriously!  I doubt IHOP gets too many first birthday breakfasts, however, so I'm sure they didn't know any better that 8 people suddenly approaching our table while clapping and singing loudly could scare a 12 month old.

Later than morning when we got home it was time for present opening.  It proved it be a bit challenging for Owen to open his presents since Austin is still a little young to understand that people other than him get gifts on occasion too.  I think Austin opened most of them, but it proved to be alright because Owen wasn't all that interested in the opening part anyway.  He did really enjoy what was underneath all that wrapping paper, though.  The LeapFrog Birthday Cake was a huge hit as was the ball pit and Angel Dear blanket.

And what's a birthday without a little cake?

That evening we once again headed out to eat, and this time we went to Owen's favorite restaurant, Outback.  And yes, my 1 year old really does have a favorite restaurant.  He enjoyed his "usual" which consisted of lots of bread, the cheese from my salad, and a delicious sweet potato.  Once again he ended his meal with a few bites from a bowl of complimentary birthday ice cream.  No singing this time, though.

What a sweet day to celebrate my sweet little 1 year old!!

Owen is 1!!

Boy did that year fly by fast!!  I still couldn't believe he was one on the morning of his 1st birthday and I'm not sure it's fully hit me a week later.  This past month has been a real exciting one and I was finally able to really see the transition from baby to toddler.  I guess it's going to happen whether I like it or not...my baby boy is growing up!  Here are some exciting things about Owen at 12 months:

-has started imitating a lot of the things we do (making faces, noises, hand motions, etc.)

-loves to boggie woogie to any type of music

-Where's Spot is his new favorite book

-can scale a flight of stairs in no time

-loves to drink out of a straw

-takes two 1.5 hour naps or one long 3 hour nap depending on the day

-favorite foods are vanilla yogurt, bread, watermelon and bananas

-likes to cuddle for a little while when he wakes up

-has started to repeat sounds that we make and "talk" a lot more

-loves it when I sing to him, especially "You are my Sunshine"

-says his brother's name "Ah-Tinnnn"

-weighs 21lbs. (27th %tile) and is 30.25 inches tall (67th%tile)

-his head measures 19.2 inches (96th %tile)

-can stand up without holding on and push to the standing position on his own

-still not full on walking, but will take a few steps at a time when he feels like it (maybe he's having a hard time not toppling over while trying to balance that big 'ole head on his tiny shoulders!)  :-)

-favorite activities include reading books, listening to music, swinging, climbing in the kitchen cabinets, going to Monkey Joe's, taking a bath, laughing, cuddling with mommy and putting everything in his mouth!

Owen has been an absolute blessing and has added so much joy and happiness to our lives.  I couldn't have asked for a sweeter little boy!  Even though he's only been with us a year, I can't picture my life without him.

Happy 1st Birthday, Owen!  Mommy and Daddy love you soooo much!!  (and Austin too!)

Owen's 1st Year

Happy 1st Birthday Owen!!

We're here, we're moved, we're unpacking, but most importantly we're celebrating Owen's 1st birthday!
Excuse the short post, but I'm typing on my phone since we won't have internet until Friday.  But I do want to share a quick picture of the birthday boy before I go...