Pumpkin Carving

We didn't get around to carving pumpkins until the afternoon of Halloween. We had a great time putting the Buckeye game on TV and getting our pumpkins properly carved.

The next few shots are Owen discovering what's inside a pumpkin. Classic!



We always go a little crazy with elaborate carving, and this year was no exception. Daddy always claims to have the best pumpkin, but I think the elmo that we did for Owen's pumpkin turned out the best.

Thanksgiving

Owen didn't want to eat any of the traditional Tday food...all I could get him interested in was a sweet potato. Oh well, more for me!

After dinner, we took a walk to a local park that we had never visited. Owen loved it since the entire playground was built in a big sandbox. Grandpa liked to show him shoveling tips.

Grandpa and Grandma enjoyed walking Owen back home.

OSU vs. Michigan

My parents have good friends, the Zyskowski's, from Michigan who have retired up in Maine. Grandma and Grandpa were up there visiting for the OSU vs. Michigan football game, so we made the 3 hour trip up to Boothbay to spend the day with all of them. The game was fabulous since Ohio State won, but Mr. Z had to find other entertainment...
Trucks are always a big hit with Owen.

But tumbling and wrestling games also get a lot of good laughs!

Peeper

Owen just loves to watch a lawn getting mowed...even when our neighbor's gardener is doing leaf clean-up, Owen enjoys watching all the action. While it's more exciting when we are outside and get to see the action, Owen has lately taken to watching out the window.

Saturday Morning Tradition

Ever since I was a kid, Saturday morning was pancake day at our house. My father rarely ever missed making us pancakes...so I decided that we should keep the same tradition. Owen just loves blueberry pancakes. He even likes to mix the ingredients together. It can get a little messy, but we have lots of fun!

20 Months

20 Month Milestones:

• Loves to "dip" food. This makes me cringe a bit at the mess, but it is so cute and fun to watch.
• Has recently gotten into puppy and truck videos. Aunt Cat got started with this when she showed him a truck video on YouTube. Puppies are also really high on Owen's likes list, so what could be better than a movie with talking puppies. Homeward Bound is his favorite movie.
• Has really started to sit and listen to book stories.
  
• Is into coloring with crayons.
  
• Owen has started sleeping with stuffed animals. This is really new because he never before had any interest in them.
• Still has a bit of stranger anxiety...Owen didn't love being left alone with Aunt Cat.
• Understands hot and maybe cold. It is so adorable to watch him blow on his bowl of oatmeal when I tell him it's hot!
• Likes to build structures with blocks and legos...it's all about stacking UP.
  

Money Hoard

Aunt Leslie got Owen this piggy bank a while ago...and Owen has become obsessed with putting our spare change in it. I find it incredibly cute and wonder if Owen will be a spender or saver?!!!

Buckeye Owen

We drove down to PA to catch the OSU vs. Penn State game. Owen got to stay with Great Aunt Gina and cousins, Kandace and Robin. He was apparently very good and got lots of attention. Of course it helped that my cousin, Evan, had this awesome drum set that was heaven for Owen.
Owen got a taste of his first Buckeye cookie.

Great Aunt Gina knows that food is the way to a little boy's heart!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today was Daddy's 33rd birthday. Owen watched him open some gifts, then got a surprise when I told him the last one was for him. He got into the unwrapping with enthusiasm.

As much as I would love to tell you that Owen is into reading books, I have been sadly disappointed that he is not. He hasn't shown much interest at all. BUT, I got him this book of trucks and he seems to love it. While it may be boring for mom and dad to read to him, he really enjoys looking at it, and will sit through the entire book without interruption. I guess it took finding the right subject matter!

Owen was right there to watch Daddy blow out his cake candles. Daddy tried to get him to blow with him, but Owen didn't quite get it until after Daddy had already blown them out.

And of course Daddy wanted Owen to get a slice of cake, and Owen loved every last crumb!