first day of daycare

Owen started daycare Monday..it was a sad morning for Dave and I as we dropped him off.  Owen was a little overwhelmed at first with all the new people (big and little), new place, new toys...but he adjusted and even got in a whopping 2 hour nap amongst his playtime!  Yesterday went even better in terms of adjustment, and this morning when Dave dropped him off he was smiling and excited to be there.  So, I think he is well on his way to enjoying his daily playtime with the daycare providers, Melissa and Ulisses, as well as with the other infants and toddlers.  There are 3 infants a couple months younger than him, 2 who are a couple months older than him, closer to one year (standing on their own, but not walking yet), and another 3 (I think 3...) that are 1.5 years to 3 years old.
We get a little log book everyday of his activities, and Ulisses commented that Owen seemed very aware for his age (which likely added to his overwhelmed feelings on day 1), and that he seems to really enjoy watching the bigger kids play.
Melissa and Ulisses passed along some pictures from his first day there.

"tastes delicious!"

"oh...a puzzle"

bit of a big head look...but he's enjoying the activity seat

hanging out on the front stoop with Melissa

the goings on

We've been trying to pack in all sorts of family time before Owen begins daycare (tomorrow!  sigh...).  We've gone on some great walks, hung out in the backyard, had lots of splashing bathtub fun, enjoyed a visit from our good friend Andy (one of Dave's college roommates) and generally just enjoyed watching Owen improve his sitting skills and work hard at getting up on his hands and knees...he'll be crawling sometime soon!!

doesn't need the pillow fortress anymore for sitting!

hanging out with Andy

sitting on Dad's shoulders at the block party...
and keeping steady with a handful of hair!

cooling off with a little splash in the sink

rolling around in the backyard

utilizing the footstool in his bedroom as a teether

playing with his pint sized soccer ball

Picnic Wednesday

Every Wednesday should be a picnic day!  We convinced Dave to take a little lunchtime work break yesterday, and the three of us headed over to Lake Harriet to have a little picnic lunch...nicely provided by the concession stand ;)
It was a great day for it...not too hot, and the breeze made all the sailboat masts ring like wind chimes!

feels so good on that new tooth!

reaching for the camera...as always!

doesn't quite fit!

getting ready for the post lunch nap

First tooth!

I stuck my hand in Owen's mouth this morning, and low and behold, his first tooth has finally made an appearance!  It's been on its way for many months now, but I finally felt actual sharp little tooth poking through those gums of his!  I guess he is growing up...next thing you know he'll be shaving!

This paci has been endless fun!  Thanks Liz!!

perhaps this is more his era...can you spot him?

Owen promptly turned it upside down to rock the chin beard

The Great White North

We spent the last week up in Canada visiting my family.  We had a couple of nights in Calgary, but spent most of the week at the cabin.  Owen met a lot of family, all of his uncles, aunts and cousins on my side, a great aunt and uncle and a second cousin (? my cousin), plus his great grandma!  And of course he got to see his grandparents again!
Our first night in Calgary we had a bbq, and Owen met a lot of people in a short period of time!

Great Auntie Joan (my Mom's sister) and Owen

2nd cousin Ryan, Great Auntie Joan, Owen (with a bit of an angry face!)

Great Uncle Dennis and Owen

my good friend from high school and beyond, Paula

with my longest friend (since kindergarten!!), Lyndsay and her husband, Jeff, with their two kids, Claire and baby Lars

Then we headed up to the cabin to meet the rest of the Iredale clan!

with Uncle Scott at the pool (ok, this was in Calgary, not the cabin)

chillin' on the deck with Grandpa

at the beach with cousin Anna...Owen was not a big fan of the lake water the first day...he has his dad's thin southerner blood apparently.

but we warmed up nicely with a swim in the hot tub with cousins Anna and Will when we got back to the cabin

Captain Owen pretending to drive the boat!

Making faces with Auntie Kate and Uncle Greg 

"This is my middle namesake?!?!"

snack break with Grandma

 eskimo kisses with Auntie Beth

Auntie Kate's hat is lovely on him!

Grandma with a couch-ful of grandkids!

Then back to Calgary before the flight home again.

having a little visit with Great Grandma Iredale 

listening to Grandma

One last cuddle with Grandpa before heading to the airport

Owen loves 'lympics!

Jumperoo should totally be an Olympic event!

                                   difficulty: 15.6      deductions: 0.4        Score:  15.2     GOLD!!!


Okay...it's me, I love 'lympics!!!  Owen just gets subjected to my love of it!