12 Months

Our little guy is a year old and I just can't believe it. Wow. The year seemed to go by so fast but it was a wonderful, fun filled year. We have been so lucky to have this healthy, happy boy in our lives. He brings so much delight and enjoyment that it is hard to image life without him. It makes me a little sad that he is no longer my little baby, but this amazing boy that is growing so fast and has such a great emerging personality. I keep getting this comment that he seems like such a happy baby and I never get tired of hearing it. I can’t help but feel pleased and proud of this comment. I hope it’s a reflection of how much happiness he has brought to us.

12 month milestones:

• Lately Owen will drop or lose an item and then look for for it. He might be playing with a ball and lose it under the tv cabinet then figure out how to lay down and reach under to grab his missing item. It is so cool to watch him figure out how to do this.
• Owen is a messy eater. There's probably not a baby out there who isn't. But he has been experimenting with holding a spoon and trying to feed himself. He doesn't get a lot in the mouth, but he has the general concept of it all.
• Claps hands, waves bye-bye and gives a "five".
• He gets upset if you take something away from him...but his anger is always short lived.
• Says ma-ma and da-da a lot, but it never seems to be directed to either of us specifically. He doesn't really say ma-ma and look at me directly, so who knows if he's using it right or not. His first word is coming soon, I can feel it!
• Loves putting objects into containers and then taking them out. He also like to try and put lids on things. For instance he'll take the lid off a container of puffs, then tries to put it back on.
• Has fun opening and closing cabinet doors. He loves anything that opens and closes, the cabinets just seem to be his favorite.
• Another recent thing is that Owen has been voluntarily sharing an object with us. He'll give us something, but then immediately want it back. He's also been into putting food in our mouths, which he finds very funny. Cheerios or an apple slice that have been drooled all over are yummy!
• Walking is another thing that feels like it will happen any day now. He's into pushing and walking with anything that will move. He will take a chair and walk with it across the floor if it'll move. Loves to walk his car toy all around the house. He walks with a door as it opens and closes. But if he doesn't have the tiniest thing to hang onto, he falls to the floor. He balance seems to be great. I just don't think he realizes he can do it without holding on. He also refuses to try and walk while being held up by an adult.
• Loves to check himself out in the mirror.
• Owen is learning to repeat silly things we do. Like making gurgling noises or dancing or even "talking" on the phone.