New skills

The diaper changing table has become a favorite of our growing boy. He smiles with delight whenever we plunk him there. The act of diaper changing, however, is becoming more and more of a challenge, as he loves to pull his legs up and squirm around as we wrestle the old diaper off and the new one on!
This week we hit another 'baby's first' milestone - rice cereal. We thought it seemed a bit early for introducing solid food, but our pediatrician recommended that we just start out slowly and watch Owen's readiness cues. For now, we're letting him get the new taste and texture down from the comfort of a finger (as was suggested in a book I read). Attempts 1 and 2 were basically an exercise in futility, as he promptly expelled anything on his tongue. But he seems to be tolerating it more and more - that is to say, some very small proportion of rice cereal is actually being swallowed and not expelled! We're in no rush, so will continue trying a little bit here and there in the coming weeks...
Owen seems to have a lot to say these days, especially when he's just finished nursing and is relaxing in mom or dad's arms. Here's a "conversation" from last night...

Trip to the Soo

Over the MLK holiday weekend, we headed up to the Soo to visit Grandma and Papa Bacheler. We were hoping for temperatures cold enough for some cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, but mother nature didn't cooperate - each day, the highs were above freezing. Instead, we enjoyed another fun winter passtime - high-speed tubing at the city-maintained tubing hill! (Owen watched from the comfort of Grandma's arms). Many hours were also spent by the wood stove in the cozy family room. Clearly, Owen enjoys his relaxation as much as the rest of us....(cute hat and sweater below care of Great-aunt Mary Jean!)

Four months and counting

Sunday was Owen's 4 month birthday. We celebrated by watching copious amounts of football on TV, including the roller-coaster match up between the Packers and Cardinals, which ended in a disappointing loss by our local team due to an overtime fumble by Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Can't say I'm disappointed, though, to see the football season come to a close...Nate's reign over the remote control from Sat-Mon is over!

Today, I bundled Owen up for his 4-month doctor's visit, and I can proudly report that, as predicted, our little guy continues to be at the top of his brackets. He scored about the 95% for head circumference (18 1/4"), height (29 1/4 "), and weight (19lbs 12 oz). As the doctor reviewed the scores with me, he commented that Owen is nearly the size of an average 12 month old. At least he's well proportioned. The most impressive moment during the doctor's visit, however, was when Owen took his immunization shot (luckily, only 1 this time) without a single tear or cry. I was a proud mama.

On a daily basis, Owen keeps us entertained by his shrieks of delight, big smiles and advancing dexterity - he's grabbing for anything in sight (which means that I've had to stop my usual jewelry wearing in hopes of keeping my ear lobes intact, and throw my hair back in a ponytail if possible). Soon, we'll begin our adventures in solid food, as the doctor recommended that we attempt to start rice cereal within the next couple of weeks.

Here's some video action of Owen, first attempting to sit up in his Bumbo chair, and then doing what he loves best these days, grabbing for his toys on his play-gym thingy (squirrel monkey care of Aunt Rosie) :

Happy New Year!

On New Years eve, we left RI and headed westward with Salinda's mom (Nannie), to Jeannette PA so that Owen could meet Great-grandma, and many of his other relatives. Thankfully, the 'Yooper' was driving when we hit heavy snow on I-95 in CT just a couple of hours into our trip. Within a half-hour stretch, we saw numerous cars in the ditch and were wondering if our travels would be foiled by the weather. But we prevailed and made it to western PA by late afternoon. Needless to say, Nate, Owen and I were in bed and asleep long before midnight.

Over our two day visit, Owen also got to meet Great-uncle Chris, Great-uncle Steve, Great-great Aunt Joanne, cousin Larry and family, and Great-uncle Bill & aunt Julie. We so enjoyed our time with everyone. A special thanks goes out to Uncle Chris for all the behind-the-scenes work he took on while we were visiting - cooking, cleaning, shopping, sweeping snow off cars, etc. He kept the machine running smoothly.

Here's a four-generational shot of Great-grandma, Nannie, mother, and son -And a sweet parting shot of a smiling father and son...

Christmas in Rhode Island

Owen spent his first Christmas with the Daley family in Rhode Island, on Salinda's parents 40-acre farm. We arrived to find plenty of snow on the ground and plenty of relatives eager to spend time with the newest family member! After settling in to his new surroundings, Owen was his usual happy self, quick to smile and captivated by all the new faces, sounds, pets, smells, and surroundings. For a week straight, he was basically passed from lap to lap between Nannie, Grandpa, all the aunts, and uncle Joe. Among the highlights of our trip were:

• Christmas afternoon sled riding and tubing
• Deer hunting on the property (Nate)
• Origami flower-making in preparation for Joe and Lena's upcoming wedding
• Game nights and a holiday open-house
• A get-together with high school pals (Salinda)

An early reading lesson from Nannie....

Father-son camo...
Blue, blue eyes!
Sled riding on Christmas day...

Santa's little helper...
Relaxing on Grandpa's lap...
Christmas tree awe...Salinda and her high school friends - 2009 was a baby-filled year for many of us!


And for good humor, some sledding video...