We were out of town (for the first time ever on a birthday-month photo day!) so Papa had to take the picture! He had just about as much luck as I do—there were about 30 attempts! 🙂
And apparently Owen had a good time with Katie, too!
Category Archives: Owen
Owen + Play-Doh = Art!
I’m still surprised Grannie got him to play with it!
Owen’s first swear word!
We were sitting around this morning before we headed to the airport, and Owen was playing on the iPad. I wasn’t really paying close attention to him but my ears suddenly perked up when I swear I heard him say dammit. I brushed it off as just not hearing him correctly (it was almost a whisper) but a minute or so later he said it again!
“Dammit. I can’t get /whatever/.”
I turned to look at Linda and said “Ah, his first swear word.” And she agreed that’s what she thought he had said before.
I am not 100% sure where he picked it up, though I’m pretty sure it was me—as I’ve been known to let it slip now and again. And at least he used it correctly!
More bubble gun fun!
I’m stuck!
He pulled all his stuffed animals over the side of his bed…
Not quite.
I was putting Owen to bed and going through the routine of turning on his night light, his sound machine, etc. I also decided to straighten out his carpet and said “There!”
From behind me, I hear “Not quite!”
What? I turned to look and saw this:
Yep, he was right. It wasn’t quite right. 🙂
Bubble gun with Papa
Owen got a bubble gun for his birthday, so he was testing it out with Papa!
And this is how he apparently hides now:
Cars play-doh with Grannie!
Four year well-visit
Height: 45″ (greater than 97th percentile) — was 42.5″ at 36m (greater than 100th percentile)
Weight: 51# (greater than the 97th percentile) — was 45# at 36m (greater than 100th percentile)
So…overall he’s gained six pounds from his three-year well-visit…but he was actually up to 56# as of November (when he was weighed at his pink eye appointment) which means he had gained 11# at one point. But, he’s lost 5# since then. Interestingly, the doc said his weight is still a little high for his height!! But she doesn’t really know his history, as this is the first time she’s seen him. When I explained that he’s always been over the 100th percentile, she felt a little better about it.
He did really well with the weighing and vision test, but the iron test threw him for a loop since he got his finger pricked. Hoo boy. “OUCHIE! OUCHIE! OUCHIE!” And he hated the band-aid and wanted that off. And there was crying and snot dripping and the whole nine yards. Had I been expecting the iron test, I would have asked to wait and do it at the end of the appointment. Because then I had to try and get him to calm down to finish asking him the questions on the 48m assessment (things like Does he know middle, above, between, below? What is his response if you ask him what to do when he’s hungry? Can he name five colors?) so I was asking him those things…and he was NOT being cooperative since he was concerned about his finger. But then he got my phone to play with and settled a little.
The pediatrician checked him out and said everything looked good (heart, lungs, ears, etc.). I brought up my concerns about his poop…and I wasn’t overly impressed with her level of concern (or rather lack thereof). Her initial response was “Oh it can take six months to learn to poop.” Yeah, that’s not really the entire issue (and it HAS been six months). So after some urging on my part, she ordered blood work to test for celiac (hopefully just to rule it out) and agreed that we should try a no-cows-milk diet to see if anything changes. Then depending on the blood work results and our diet results, she’ll get us an appointment with the GI specialist if necessary.
Then it was time for vaccinations, which was awful…screaming and crying and snot (the usual). I debated saving the blood work (at another location) for another day, but figured it would be better to just get it all done in one day. So we went there after and he didn’t like that much, either…but it went okay.
So now we wait for results. And in the meantime, hope to see some results from the no-milk diet…
Brrrrr!
It was cold enough this morning to need a hat! He doesn’t like wearing hats as much as he used to when he was little, so I’m amazed he even put it on at all! See, Grandma Marsha, I said he’d wear it SOME day…
Happy 4th Birthday, Owen!
Fun with leftover Lego parts!
Balloon fight with Grannie Lin!
Posing with his presents—and in his birthday shirt—for another birthday picture!
Katie in her new party dress…with Grannie (and a gift from Grannie):
And trying to peek around me to watch TV like Owen does:
Owen’s finished (lame) Lego cakes:
The appetizer set up:
Attempting to Skype with Gramma Jean/Grandpa David and Grandma Marsha/Uncle Rob (it didn’t work too well—our network couldn’t handle it):
Most of the attendees:
Singing Happy Birthday:
Really excited about his new Xbox Sesame Street game from Grandma Marsha and Uncle Rob:
And the guitar I found on clearance for $3 (and took the batteries out ahead of time!):
He did pretty well opening presents…except he really loved the first things he opened (Lego Cars and a Ninja Lego) so he wanted to stop right then and play but we made him keep going. 🙂 We did stop about halfway through, though, because he was losing interest and really wanted to play. Which was just fine.
One last attempt at a good Katie pic:
Our attempted family photo:
And just for comparison…last year’s photo:
Owen is four years old today!
A great shot in the morning…more to come later today, for sure!
What I did all day.
It took me about five hours to bake four double layer cakes for Owen’s birthday cake.
Why so many?
Well, for starters, the theme was Legos, so I wanted to make a bunch of Lego blocks (squares and rectangles) and I knew one cake certainly wouldn’t be enough so planned on two from the start. Then as I was making the second cake, I realized I left out an egg…so called dad and Lin who were at the store and had them pick up two more, just in case the minus-one-egg cake didn’t turn out plus an extra in case I had a kitchen catastrophe. 🙂
I was exhausted by this time (about 5pm) but still had to make the frosting and get the first layer on. What a mess—and I was being careful!
Facebook post, 4:49pm: Someone slap me if I decide to make Owen’s birthday cake next year. I’m 5 hours in and not even close to done. And the *hard* part is next.
Unfortunately, it was a nightmare. I didn’t love the taste of the frosting (made with Crisco and powdered sugar) and it was an absolute mess to work with. And I can’t frost a cake to save my life— which I already kinda knew but thought I could certainly do some square cakes—so that didn’t help. And trying to frost the marshmallows (what was suggested for the Lego pieces) was the absolute worst. THE WORST. Betty Crocker can kiss my ass (though, to be fair, I didn’t use their pre-made frosting). But I still don’t think it would have helped.
Facebook post, 8:55p: WHY DO I EVEN TRY? Ugh. I can NOT frost a cake. These look nothing like Legos. And there’s no red. It’s dark pink. And I don’t think I like the Crisco frosting. Too much work and frustration. /cry
Yeah, I so didn’t get the true, vibrant Lego colors I had wanted—even with my special purchase of gel food dyes. (No, I don’t even have pictures of those monstrosities.) At that point, I was tempted to just toss everything in the trash and go buy a cake. Seriously. But then I was more logical and thought since I already had HOURS and MONEY and TIME invested, we’d eat these cakes.
And the kicker is that I know Owen won’t care at all so I really shouldn’t be putting myself through the stress of it…but I honestly thought making a Lego cake would be, well, a piece of cake.
LESSON LEARNED? From now on…I will never make a birthday cake for Katie or Owen again unless it’s a 9×13 in the pan or possibly a layer cake. Nothing fancy. No designs. No themes. Ever. EVER.
Project Desensitization
So tonight Tom and I went out again, leaving the kids (Owen) behind. He was just getting ready to get in his bath so I went up to tell him.
Me: Owen, daddy and I are going to the store.
Owen: [Looking down.] I’ll be crying.
Poor kid. But so cute because of the way he said it…like he was resigned to the fact he’d be crying but wasn’t actually that upset about it.
But as it turned out, Lin said he did pretty good. Phew.
Four more days to go.
Separation anxiety starts…now.
Tom and I had to run to the store tonight and likely wouldn’t be back by Owen’s bedtime. He has never had any separation anxiety…so we didn’t think anything of leaving and having Grannie and Papa put him to bed.
But apparently tonight was the night.
We got home about 10 minutes past his usual bedtime and he was still up getting a story. And he was crying. Complete with fistfuls of Kleenex. 🙁
Lin said he had been like that on and off all night, saying he missed us and he’d never see us again. 🙁 And then when he saw me he cried harder. Poor kid.
So now we need to try and desensitize him a bit before we leave for four days. 🙁
Owen’s new bed
Owen was gathering up pillows from the living room…and he took his B…and this is what Tom found:
Build with me, papa!
Grannie Lin and Papa arrived around 4, and Owen quickly got Papa building with him! And Charlie jumped in the box as soon as it was empty!
And Katie checking out Papa’s face!
Skeleton Twins
Mama! Come look and me and the skeleton!
Look at the mess!
We had major wind and rain storms pass through last night—and it was also recycling night—so there were a few random plastic bottles in our front yard. Owen sees them and says “Mama! Look at that! Look at the mess!”
Yet he doesn’t see that his toys all over the house are a mess.
Kids.
Look at all the bunnies!
After playing a game of Funny Bunny
Me: Owen, which bunny wins?
Owen: ALL OF THEM!
Owen: Mama, shoot the bunnies!
Me: Gun sounds.
Resulting bunny destruction:
Owen: Look at all the bunnies! They’re all standing!
Owen: I’m gonna shoot all the bunnies!
Fun with golf clubs
Katie was napping so I convinced Owen to go outside and play. There were some tears, but once I got him outside he was fine!
Trying to hit the golf ball is harder than it looks.
Waiting for daddy!
I tried five times…but still ended up with eyes closed! But her tongue is out—go figure!
So then I just took one if me and Owen.
Daddy’s home! And he joined us on the blanket!
And tried to show Owen how to hit a golf ball (for about the 14th time).
Look at all the Owens!
I’m working on a new TV screensaver. While I try to get it working, it’s just a single repeating test picture of Owen. When he sees it, he says “Look at all the Owens!”
That’s Elmo’s World!
Owen is really becoming a parrot—and learning from watching Sesame Street. His favorite new “Word on the Street” is stumble—as he fake-demonstrates it all the time. And he LOVES the Elmo’s World theme song:
That’s enough!
Katie is screeching.
Owen: “Be quiet! I’m trying to play!”
She continues screeching.
Owen: “THAT’S ENOUGH!”
(Oops. I guess he’s heard that a few times.)
She keeps screeching.
Owen, VERY LOUDLY: “THAT’S ENOUGH!”
Then he starts crying, saying he’s “very very upset and not happy anymore.” Yes, he sympathy cries with her…
Owen: Katie doesn’t like me.
Oh man, is it ever wine o’clock.
Reaching out
Katie just wants to touch her brother.
Owenisms 10
Owen: Where’s dad?
Me: At work.
Owen: Silence. [He walks over to me, leans against the bed, and hangs his head down.] I waited and waited and waited and daddy wasn’t here.
Owen: Awwww. It’s a baby one.
Me: What is?
Owen: [Shows me a teeny hair clip from my dresser, then picks up a regular-sized one.] And this is the mama! I’ll put them together.
Me: [Sees Owen doing the potty dance] Owen, go potty.
Owen: Oh! Yes!
Owen: Where’s daddy?
Me: At work.
Owen: Why’s daddy at work? I’ve got to get him back for us.
And then after we went downstairs…
Owen: Looking at the picture of me and Tom over the fireplace. He’s frozen. Up in the picture. He’s not going to make a wish for me. Wait! I got it! He’s going to make a wish for me! Mama and daddy are going to make a wish for me!
(No, I have NO idea where that came from or what on earth he’s referring to.)
Owenisms 9
After finishing a level on Xbox Lego Pirates…
Me: Good job, Owen! We did it!
Owen: Mama, I’m so proud of you!
Tom: Owen, do you have pets?
Owen: Yes! Maggie, Charlie, and Bella!
Playing in Katie’s room while I’m getting her ready for bed…
Me: [As Katie is being super wiggly] Katie! You’re out of control!
Owen: [Pretending he’s talking on the phone] Hi dad. Katie’s out of control. Okay. Bye.
As Tom is wiping Owen’s poopy butt…
Owen: Dad! Don’t get poop on your hands!
Owen feet
I looked over and this was what I saw.
Owen playing on the iPad, quite obviously relaxed. 🙂
Where Owen chose to sit and play Xbox.
