The Rhode's

¿existe más?

2011-09-09T12:51:00.002-05:00

You betcha! :)
I had the opportunity to sit in Owen's [daycare] preschool class for about 10 minutes one morning this week, before going to work. While I was there, I was pleased to find out that the children are also learning colors and shapes in Spanish.
Owen is well versed with the Spanish translations for red (rojo), blue (azul) and green (verde). I have started trying to teach him the words for yellow (amarillo) and white (blanco).
The shape this week was a square, but he seems a little unsure of that one...and I'm okay with that as I think it is a tongue twister!
Square = Cuadrado

¿Hablas Español?

2011-09-06T14:16:00.002-05:00

This was one of those experiences where I stopped and said, "WOW! I had NO idea!"

One morning over the weekend, Jake and Owen were at the dining table having breakfast and practicing numbers. On a whim, Jake said, "uno." And to our amazement Owen replied, "dos." We then found out that Owen can (without hesitation) count to five in Spanish. How cool is that?!?!

Yes, one of those proud parent moments! :)

Hmmm...

2011-09-06T14:11:00.004-05:00

So...I would like to start blogging again. Sharing pictures and story fragments of Owen's life is one of the things I do best...and I have fallen off the band wagon here. I am trying to decide if I should play a little catch up or possibly just start from his third birthday (just less than 2 weeks ago). For now I will stay with the current, but maybe one weekend I will get adventurous and start posting some pictures from the first 7.5 months of this year. YIKES!

Can you tell I'm enjoying my two, now three year old?!?! I would much rather play than blog! :)

A gift for daddy...

2010-12-22T18:38:00.002-06:00

We had asked Jake's cousin, Courtney, to watch Owen for us one night...and as a surprise she was able to take this photo of Owen wearing Jake's Marine hat and gave it to Jake as a Christmas gift. What a perfect gift!

Courtney is starting up her business as a photographer...be sure to check her out at http://capturedbycourtneyphotography.blogspot.com/

SNOW!

2010-11-13T16:22:00.000-06:00

Our first snowfall of the winter...the snow was heavy and sticky...perfect for making our "snow-family" (complete with our snow dog!).

Bonfire in November

2010-11-07T21:30:00.000-06:00

How amazing...the weather was still great for a bonfire on November 7th!

First Train Ride

2010-11-06T19:20:00.004-05:00

Super fun! Owen and mommy took their first train ride today with some friends...from Big Lake to Minneapolis (and back again). While in Minneapolis we ate at Pizza Luce. Yum! We are looking forward to taking the train downtown again.

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T21:05:00.001-05:00

Owen seemed to enjoy "trick-or-treating"...this was basically his first year wandering around with his bucket and all. He wasn't always quite sure what to think about it (maybe that had something to do with his mom acting like the paparazzi...who knows), but when he saw the bucket of candy he was usually pretty excited to pick something out. The costume was simple, but cute...our little fireman (or as he calls himself...a "whew-man"). Owen and [second] cousin, Mackenzie.

Carving Pumpkins 2010

2010-10-30T18:47:00.003-05:00

The finished product...All lit up!

It's a new fad!

2010-10-19T19:09:00.002-05:00

Owen is starting a new trend...upside-down sunglasses!

Outdoor Fun

2010-10-18T20:17:00.003-05:00

I just had to share this video...Owen's latest outdoor fun! My little stunt man is "back out!"

Sit-n-Spin

2010-10-16T09:35:00.004-05:00

I finally took a video of this...Owen is getting the hang of how to use his "Sit-n-Spin."

Dance - Week 5

2010-10-16T09:28:00.002-05:00

Monday, October 11th
Week five of dance was totally focused around what Owen wanted to do...as he was the only one who showed up for class. And since Daddy stayed home, we didn't get any pictures again this week. We have found that Owen participates the best when he gets to dance with a prop...Miss Lauren has introduced a couple of "friends" (stuffed animals) that watch and/or dance with the children. Owen danced around with a penguin this week and also really likes waving around the scarves. Until next week...

Dance - Week 4

2010-10-04T20:51:00.000-05:00

Sorry to disappoint but we have no pictures from dance class this week...both Jake and I decided to participate with Owen in class to see if it would help him. During our last two weeks, Owen will suddenly decide that he would like the other parent in class with him. Per the teacher, Miss Lauren, we both joined in. He just wasn't quite into dancing tonight...until Miss Lauren pulled out some fake leaves that we got to dance with...and drop to the ground....spin around...that was a fun activity. Hopefully we can get some pictures next week!

Apple Orchard & Pumpkin Patch 2010

2010-10-03T19:55:00.001-05:00

We visited Apple Jack Orchards in Delano on a beautiful, sun-shiny, Sunday morning. We were ready to head out to pick our own apples and look for a small pumpkin.

First, we had to stop and wait for Owen to navigate his way through the maze. He found the middle!Then, it was time to go for a ride on the "cow train" (pulled by a John Deere Gator). Owen was very excited to get in his seat...but as the ride took off he wasn't too happy that mom and dad weren't going along. Maybe next year he will enjoy the ride more.At last...off to pick apples. Unfortunately, due to the irregular weather pattern we have had this year there was a frost in May that destroyed many blooms and the orchard was very bare. Any apples we found were treasures! We still enjoyed walking amongst all of the trees and searching for any good apples. And just like last year...we watched Owen perform the "sit test" on pumpkins! So cute!

At 2 years old...almost 3 feet tall...and showing off our pick from the pumpkin patch.

Dance - Week 3

2010-09-27T20:42:00.001-05:00

Another fun week at dance class...in reality, Owen does struggle a little bit...but he has his "favorite" activities. He seems to really enjoy dancing with the scarves, they wave them up and down, and side to side...we twirl around and he even is very good at putting them back in the drawer.

Owen also seems to like the "hand holding" activities...we march across the room, we play ring-around-the-rosy, and other similar circle games.

Overall, we are happy that we have chosen to enroll him in the class and we will continue to bring him. It is my opinion that he might struggle a bit because we rush around after work/daycare to eat dinner and get to class (hey, we are getting better only 5 minutes late to class this week).

# 2

2010-09-26T13:58:00.003-05:00

You guessed it...and I'm writing about it!
Let me just back up for a moment to this morning...it was time to change a diaper, so I asked Owen if he would like to sit on the toilet...and he promptly said, "uh-huh" and headed for the bathroom. So exciting! He actually peed [quite a bit] more than last night...he must already be comfortable with this deed and he was very pleased with his results (as am I, if you can't already tell).

On to the "#2 story"...it was time to change a diaper again so I repeated the situation from earlier and asked about using the toilet and again we went to the bathroom. Owen was saying he had to "poo-poo" but I wasn't quite sure...until I actually saw the, well, you know...poop falling into the toilet.
Woo Hoo!
For those of you that have toilet-trained children I am sure you can relate to this feeling of celebration I have. And for those that have yet to experience such a situation, you might just think back to my story someday and understand why I felt the need to blog about this. :) Today marks another great day in the story of Owen's life!
Let's keep this toilet-using momentum going!!!

# 1

2010-09-25T20:33:00.003-05:00

Yes, I really am going to write about this miraculous event! :)
Today marks, not only Owen turning 25 months old...but today he went potty on the toilet for the first time! YAY! I know we still have a long road ahead of us, but this gets us one step closer to abandoning diapers. Anyways...please humor me as I go into play-by-play.
Whenever Owen feels like sitting on either the actual toilet or his potty chair (he refers to both as the "pot") we gladly let him. Tonight he sat on the toilet, then his potty chair...then we basically thought he was playing a game delaying the inevitable diaper/jammies/bed, so we told him it was time for his diaper. To which he responded, "No...pot." He sat back down on his potty chair and suddenly started to let it happen! How exciting for us...we cheered and praised him and let him flush it down the toilet!
Cheers to more potty training success!

Dance - Week 2

2010-09-20T20:20:00.001-05:00

Owen attended his 2nd week of dance class and it went very well. He is already getting more comfortable with the other children in class. During a "march" across the room, Owen gladly held hands with the little girl standing next to him (last week he wouldn't). The activites for week two were very similar to week one...some stretching (accomplished by asking the kids to tickle down their legs...pretty cute), dancing with scarves, ring around the rosie, and marching across the room. All of the children seem to really enjoy the class.

First night of dance

2010-09-13T20:05:00.005-05:00

Owen started his "dance class" tonight for the fall/winter season. The class is just for 2 year olds and right now there are just four children in the group (the class is held on various other days and times as well). The class is called "Jump Starts"...the children will be getting a jump start on their gross motor skills. Parents are encouraged to join in until their child feels comfortable participating alone (Jake and I got to take turns tonight). The teacher said it was a successful first night! There wasn't a whole lot of structure...but there were no tears and no misbehaving children. Below are a couple pictures we were able to get.

MN State Fair

2010-09-12T16:02:00.003-05:00

We visited the "Great Minnesota Get-Together" on Friday, September 3rd. The weather was a bit chilly...both windy and overcast, but at least it didn't rain! We ate lots of food and wandered around for almost 8 hours! Here are a few pictures from the day.

Just us!

2010-09-05T16:23:00.001-05:00

Here we are...

2-year photos

2010-08-29T16:16:00.001-05:00

We love our photographer! Here is a peek at some of Owen's 2-year photos.

Two!

2010-08-29T15:58:00.001-05:00

Well, here I am again...catching up to what happened. August was a very busy month for us. I think we only had one weekend day that we didn't have something going on...and of course we took full advantage of that and had a relaxing day at home!

Although we attended many fun events over the month, our hightlight had to be Owen turning 2! We had a fun construction-themed party for him and were very happy to celebrate with those that could attend. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Owen and his "God-siblings"...Dawson and Kylie. Owen's friends were helping him open presents! :)First time sitting on his tractor!And this is how he likes to use the tractor...daily...as he watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! I guess this is more comfortable than the couch.Oh and he loves to "ba-shoom"...he is a little fearful of the real vacuum, but I actually think this is helping.

July 4th, 2010

2010-07-31T13:00:00.003-05:00

We had a nice "5-day weekend" over the fourth of July this year...spending Friday, July 2nd as our get ready and pack day...then July 3rd we travelled to Warrens, Wisconsin...and finally travelled home on Tuesday, July 6th. We stayed at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Warrens and were fortunate enough to be able to rent a cabin with our friends. We chose this location because it is about an hour closer than Wisconsin Dells and had heard that it was a fun place to visit.
The cabin...
The kiddos (Owen ,22 months and Tatum, 19 months) did fantastic while travelling...I think we made 2 or 3 stops on the way there...and only 1 on the way home. Here are some pictures of our playtime.

July Events/Parties!!!

2010-07-31T12:00:00.003-05:00

What would July be if it weren’t filled with events and parties?!?!

On July 10th, we celebrated Rachel’s (Jake’s cousin) 21st birthday…of course this included lots of people, lots of delicious food, and lots of FUN!
We celebrated my parent’s 30th wedding anniversary!!! What a better way to celebrate than to have a little cookout…we made them some “Surf and Turf” (Salmon and Steak) along with zucchini (from our garden) and asparagus (not from our garden) on the grill. Owen and the dogs (Jade & Colby) played in the pool while we watched. It was a great day!

On July 17th…My dad’s cousin, Tanya, and her family were visiting Minnesota for a while (they live in Alaska) and had some time to swing by my parent’s house. We were able to visit with them for a couple hours. Always a treat to see them!
Then later in the same day…We celebrated Jake’s Grandma’s birthday…she will be 80 next month. SURPRISE! A celebration was planned a month in advance. Kids, grandkids, and a few others were invited and we all just showed up at her house and brought all the food. Another great day! Owen enjoyed seeing his cousin Nathan…and giving him ‘knuckles.’
Later that evening Jake and I had a "date night" planned...unfortunately it was cut short by bad thunderstorms and tornado warnings. Once we got home we found our gazebo didn't make it this time...such a bummer!
On July 21st, I participated in the Torchlight 5K in Minneapolis. Below is a group picture of my co-workers. I opted to walk the race and finished in 49 minutes. It was quite the night! I am looking forward to next year...and improving my time!

Finally a few other miscellaneous photos from July...

I finally found a hat that Owen likes to wear! Playing at Big Lake beach...

Target Field

2010-07-30T16:55:00.003-05:00

I also found these pictures...we went to a Twins game on May 27th...Twins vs. Yankees. We enjoyed getting to experience the new field. Outdoor baseball, weather permitting, is AWESOME! Here are a few pictures from the night.

The view from our seats...we were on the main level, in Row 2!!!

Twins WIN!!! Of course that made a great ending to the night!
Group photo...our wonderful friends that brought us along. (Yes, there is a lack of Twins garb...we will try harder next time!)

June - at the park

2010-07-30T16:41:00.000-05:00

I just ran across these pictures and couldn't resist posting them. These are from back in June and we were just having some fun at the park in our neighborhood.
Getting ready to climb up...
And a few moments later...he's almost to the top! An easier way up to the top...(and one that makes mom and dad not so worried!)Whoops...somehow he got turned around in the slide...look out below!!!Feet first...much better...he loves the tall slides!

Ears!

2010-07-29T13:13:00.004-05:00

Owen had his 1-year follow up appointment for his ear tube surgery on July 8th. We were very hopeful, since Owen had not experienced much for ear infections and one of the tubes had fallen out a few months back, that this would be our last visit with the ENT. Unfortunately this is not the case...it was not our time to say "Goodbye forever" (as our ENT said). Owen's hearing was not where they want it to be at this time...which could have been related to the fact that he was a bit upset during most of the hearing test. However, this makes them want us to return for another follow up. If Owie's ears stay mostly clear of infection we can wait until December/January to go back...if they begin the infection cycle (I call it a cycle because in the past they seem to clear up while he is on the antibiotics, then just come right back afterward the meds are gone) again we will need to return in October.

At the time I am writing this we have already had another ear infection and were on antibiotics...we are praying this is not the start of the cycle!

In other "ear news," Jake also has gotten the pleasure of visiting with an ENT twice this month. It seems the guys have their own little ear infection club...ha ha! I kid, but I definitely feel bad for them.

As of now, neither of them will require surgery...please let us keep it that way!!!

A day at the beach!

2010-07-28T19:00:00.000-05:00

How could I forget to blog about this??? I know...because I forgot to bring both my camera and my phone on this fun adventure...and now I finally have a few pictures from the day (thanks to Abby)! Daycare being closed...and mommy taking a vacation day led to a day at the beach! Owen and I met up with a friend of mine (that I haven't seen for about 10 years), Abby and her little boy, Bode. I think the boys were instant friends when we arrived at their house, it was so neat! Bode is just a couple weeks younger than Owen and they seemed to be interested in the same activities. Here are some photos that highlight our day!

Playing trucks, side-by-side...
Owen is enjoying the beach...Enjoying the water...
Both of the boys loved to splash!
Sharing the trucks...

Three months of catching up...

2010-07-12T15:49:00.011-05:00

My, my…where does time go? I feel like I ask this question more and more every day. Is this really what I have to look forward to? The rest of my life whizzing by? I think this is why I cherish the days that I don’t have to get out of my pajamas (however rare they are)…I can just enjoy the simple comforts of my own home, I can spend time with my wonderful husband and together we can watch our little boy simply do what little boys do. Play with trucks and blocks, get dirty, play in the water…you get the point. Anyway, enough of my ramblings…I haven’t posted in almost THREE months…I really need to get you caught up to speed!!!
April:
This is where I left off…April was a hard month. I lost a really good friend of mine. She was family and it still brings tears to my eyes today. The final result of Angel’s passing was called a “splenic torsion.” Basically meaning that her spleen twisted or flipped and instantly shut off her blood supply and there was no way to predict or prevent this from happening. We waited approximately a month for these results.
Thankfully, the final week of April brought many cheerful events:
On April 26th, baby Nathan was born! I became an Aunt…Jake became an Uncle…and Owen became a Cousin. The happy parents are Jake’s brother, Bryan, and his wife, Brenda.
On April 27th, friends of ours (Jen & Dave) celebrated their 8th anniversary.
On April 28th, Jake and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary. The three of us celebrated by having dinner at Rockwoods in Otsego.
On April 29th, our friends (Sarah & Steve) celebrated their 4th anniversary. Also, my cousin welcomed her 2nd baby, Andrew.
We also put up the "framework" for our vegetable garden. It only measures 8'x10' but we crammed it full of lot of delicious things! Here is a picture of Owen with the beginnings of our garden.

May:
Well of course in May, we celebrated Mother’s day. We enjoyed breakfast/brunch at the OCB with my family and then later we enjoyed dinner at the Macaroni Grille with Jake’s family. Quite the day with lots of food!
Owen is finally getting enough hair that we can spike it AND you can see it in pictures! So handsome!!!

For the Memorial holiday weekend, we took our annual trip to Akeley on Saturday to visit the cemetery. My grandpa was buried there and also quite a few of my grandma’s relatives. We had a beautiful sunny day and enjoyed our picnic lunch.
On Monday we joined some friends on a boat they rented and brought out to Big Lake. Owen loved riding in the boat and trying to drive…he didn’t like getting in the water or on the tube! Oh well, maybe next summer.

And I think if we let him, Owen would pretty much live outside. He immediately wants to sit on the deck when we get home from work/daycare...and we play outside until it is time for bed. He is not a fan of rainy days!!!

Owen and his friend Beau...a couple of "tough guys!"

June:
On June 2nd I was invited to see a play at the Gutherie Theatre. My friend got some complimentary tickets from work…so we made a night of dinner and the play, Dollhouse. I haven’t seen a play since I was…gosh, I don’t even remember…so a long time ago! It was a fun experience that I would like to repeat!
Then most of June was filled with miscellaneous events; graduation parties, Albertville Friendly City Days, wedding shower, and Big Lake Spudfest to name a few. And of course we celebrated Father’s day on June 20th.
Our vegetable garden is blooming! We are now learning that the directions on the package to space the plants are pretty important! At least if you don’t want over-crowding. Now we know for next time! Here is Owen and our FIRST zucchini!
Owen and Dawson, playing at daycare!
July:
And finally, here we are to the current month. I think I will save July activities for their own posts.
Thanks for reading! Now let's see if I can keep up a bit better again.

With Heavy Hearts

2010-04-21T09:51:00.001-05:00

It is with a heavy heart that I deliver this news to our blog followers…One week ago today, our beloved Angel passed away. She was at home and we very much believe that it was peaceful. Angel can now truly be our Angel and watch over us from Heaven.
Angel’s sudden passing was just six days after her tumor removal; she had no complications, and everyone (including her doctors, whom we visited four days after her surgery) was amazed with her recovery progress.
We have now learned that her tumor was a high-grade Neurofibrosarcoma, which is a cancer that affects the tissue surrounding the nerves. The mention of it being high-grade leads us to believe that it began to spread through her body very quickly. We are currently awaiting autopsy results from the University of Minnesota…we hope this will shed some light as to what happened and hopefully help us cope with the passing of our beautiful girl.
A friend told me, “Our dogs don’t need to live as long as we do…because they don’t need to learn to love like we do.”
This is a picture of Angel in 2005…but it is one of my favorites.

We love you girl…you will NEVER be forgotten!

Success!

2010-04-09T10:12:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to be able to deliver good news today...and the outlook is very optimistic!
Surgery was a success. It lasted approximately 2.5 hours and Angel's blood pressure and heart rate were stable during the entire time and there were no complications. They were able to remove the tumor and close her up without removing any ribs. A lot of muscle, tissue, and skin were removed and there is a lot of tension right now…the incision is approximately 14 inches long (from the top of her back down to her tummy). We will need to be very cautious so that the incision does not break open.
Angel came home last night around 8pm. She was very groggy as the anesthetics take quite some time to wear off. I slept on the couch and then by her side…she did very well. This morning I could tell she was more alert and is improving. I hope we are able to keep the pain under control and that the recovery is seamless (no pun intended)! Owen and Jade were both excited to see Angel. Owen greeted Angel with his typical “Hiiiiiii”…she wagged her tail. He also pointed at her incision and said “Owww”. Jade wanted to sniff Angel a ton…but we limited their interaction and will continue to do so for a couple days.
Thank you for all your kind words during this challenging time. In about a week we hope to know more about the tumor.
Love, Angie

Angel - Our Golden Retriever

2010-04-06T14:56:00.004-05:00

Family & Friends -
I wanted to write a quick note to let you know that Angel has been scheduled for surgery. She will be having her tumor removed this Thursday, April 8th. This tumor has gone from the size of a quarter to larger than a softball in somewhere from 3-4 weeks.

We are told there is 1cm of tissue between the mass and her ribs…depending on how the tissue appears during surgery they may or may not have to remove ribs. So very scary!

Our veterinarian tells us that this will likely be one of two things:
1. Hemangiosarcoma - not good at all, but we pray the tumor on her side is the only site and the surgery will remove it. If it is the only site, our girl will go back to happy and healthy.
2. Chronic Inflammation - caused by an unknown source...we most likely would never find out the initial cause of this tumor...but removal of it will stop its growth.

I will send an update on Thursday to let you know how surgery went. It will take an additional 5-7 days for the histopathology to come back...at that time we will know what this tumor is/was.
Angel is not just our dog...she is a daughter, a sister, and a friend.
Thank you for your prayers.
Love,
Angie

Easter 2010

2010-04-05T08:06:00.002-05:00

What a wonderful day we had for Easter! The sun was shining, the company was great, and the food was delicious! We spend the late morning/early afternoon with Jake's family and the late afternoon/early evening with Angie's family. After the first meal we were ready to burst at the seams...but of course we couldn't resist our "2nd course."

I was able to capture some cute pictures over the weekend that I will need to publish soon. Until then....take care!

Spring is here!

2010-03-25T09:30:00.003-05:00

Well, sort of... We've definitely had some nice days and have been able to go for walks and run around the yard a bit. Last night was beautiful out, just a bit of wind. Today is quite cold again...but we are looking forward to lots of outside playtime in the coming months.

Owen turns 19 months old today...wow! I guess you could say that we might have gotten him a "half-birthday" present... I found a great deal on Craig's List for a used playset. I think its a hit!

Shoes!

2010-03-25T09:27:00.003-05:00

Owen LOVES shoes! Everything from daddy's tennies....

...to mommy's heels!

While "trying on" the heels he even decided to start pushing around his trucks! Such a funny little guy!

Fun around the house!

2010-03-25T09:19:00.003-05:00

I think we are all starting to get a bit stir crazy in the house...we are looking forward to playing outside as it gets warmer. Lately Owen tries to climb into and onto anything and everything...here are a few pictures of our fun around the house.

First Haircut

2010-02-07T09:14:00.000-06:00

Owen got his first haircut on February 7, 2010. Jake's cousin Courtney was able to trim it up just a bit.

17 months old!

2010-01-26T11:29:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I realize that aging is inevitable…but where is time going? Did my little guy really just turn 17 months old? That means 18 months is right around the corner! These milestones are only getting harder to grasp. I can see that every day he is learning new things and developing as a toddler…such an adorable little sponge! Am I the only one that cannot believe how fast he seems to be growing? I wish I could freeze-frame some of these moments.
Owen has been getting more interested in the dogs again…he does this cute jibberish cooing to Angel…then turns and points and says “don’t” in Jade’s direction. Huh, I wonder where he learned that. Ha ha.
His sign language is developing. We constantly see him using the signs for more, please, milk, and eat. We know that at daycare he was recently learning the sign for cookie and at home we were working on the sign for thank you.
We have a busy-body on our hands…and we are loving every second of it! (And yes, he is holding a cell phone...if he sees either of us go near any phone, he MUST have it.)

Playing catch up

2010-01-26T11:20:00.003-06:00

More pictures along the way...from around Christmas time to now...that I've been meaning to share.
We bought Owen his own recliner for Christmas. He is slowly using it more and more. Mostly he just likes to climb into it, then get right back out...go figure.

Some fun in the sun...and snow! All that gear makes it tough for the little guy to get around, but we were able to enjoy the snow for a bit.

Time to get that highchair out of the dining room! Owen is finally eating dinner at the table with us! Well, his highchair was at the table...but that was different. Now he sits on a booster seat.

Not so bald...

2010-01-26T11:17:00.002-06:00

I took this picture back in November...and am finally posting it. Owen has very fine, thin hair...but it is there! Check out these locks... and since November the length has about doubled!

Little Drummer Boy

2009-12-24T16:03:00.004-06:00

Owen received a drum set today...he loves it already! Here is a photo and a video of him and daddy rockin' out.

Not too excited about Santa...

2009-12-21T13:22:00.003-06:00

We were finally able to see Santa on Sunday evening at a family gathering...Owen was not thrilled about sitting on Santa's lap...I believe he started to cry before Jake even let go of him. Poor little guy (and poor Santa)...but I think we only made him sit there for about 30 seconds while I took these two photos...

A picture of Owen in front of our tree...

15-month Stats

2009-12-03T09:08:00.002-06:00

Owen had his 15-month checkup on the Friday after Thanksgiving and he is progressing very well. One tidbit, his pediatrician said that the “average” child his age knows and says 5-15 words…and Owen definitely does (we get to count all the animal noises he makes). For those that know about his bout with petechiae, it has mostly diminished but something his pediatrician will continue to monitor.
Our little boy is growing….he now tips the scales at 24 pounds and has reached 30.5 inches tall.

Dancin' Machine 2

2009-11-26T09:29:00.002-06:00

A new dance video...sorry it is a bit dark and he was easily distracted.

Underwater Adventures

2009-11-21T18:40:00.002-06:00

We visited Underwater Adventures at the Mall of America on Saturday. It was extra fun because we went with our friends Steve, Sarah and Tatum. Both Owen and Tatum were a bit frightened in the beginning (a forest type thing you walk through) but were interested in looking at the fish in the aquarium.

The Mural

2009-11-15T11:38:00.004-06:00

This is an awesome new product offered by Uppercase Living...and Jake's aunt used Owen's picture as a trial...we LOVE it! Owen calls it "bay-bay." It is a 2' x 16" mural of Owen at 12 months old...as you can see it is almost life-size!

Sign Language

2009-11-09T18:16:00.003-06:00

YAY! We caught some sign language on the camera!!! Owen gets completely distracted by the camera...so it has been tough to catch is new accomplishments on video.
He has learned to sign the word "more" (and says "mo") and also signs "please." I think he's doing pretty well with these signs for a little guy.
Also, watch out...or he might scare you with his "BOO!" :)

Halloween Parade

2009-10-31T18:01:00.003-05:00

We went to the Anoka Halloween parade...here are a few pictures we took.
Owen sitting on the sidewalk...
Owen standing in the street...

Big Lake Spudfest float was there...

Grandma Cheryl was in the parade with her work...

Mommy's work was in the parade...hopefully next year Owen will ride on the float!

Daddy's current building had a float in the parade...

Overall we had a great day...just wish it would have been a little warmer! Oh well, thanks to no snow!!! :)

Owen's Costume

2009-10-29T20:51:00.002-05:00

Owen will be a monkey. He likes his costume a lot!

Owen's daycare had a Halloween party on Wednesday this week. They invited over another home daycare and had one BIG party!

Owen & The Girls

2009-10-29T20:14:00.002-05:00

An updated picture of the three... Angel, Owen & Jade

Pumpkin Carving

2009-10-29T20:02:00.003-05:00

Carving Owen's pumpkin was fun! He calls it a "ball" and liked tapping on it until we cut it open. He touched the "guts" just once then was afraid to look in it.
Looking inside...
Finally sitting with the "finished product"
And we had to take a picture with the lights out!

Apple Orchard & Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-20T19:05:00.014-05:00

On Sunday, October 18th we visited Apple Jack's Orchard in Delano, MN. We decide to go there because of the many things they have...an apple orchard, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, a corn maze, hay rides, and many other things for kids to do. They are located on the Crow River and have some beautiful scenery.

Owen is crawling through a hollow log...

Having fun out in the apple orchard...we decided to pick our own!
Owen trying to pick his own apples...

Looking for a pumpkin...found some warted ones.
We couldn't find what we wanted in the pre-picked area...so we travelled to the pumpkin patch. Owen decided to do the "sit-test" on the pumpkins. He actually started bouncing on them!

At last, we found the perfect pumpkin for Halloween 2009!

Fall Pictures

2009-10-17T10:27:00.001-05:00

We used the same photographer and park in Monticello...here are just a couple.

13 months old

2009-09-26T08:36:00.000-05:00

Wow...a year came fast and now Owen is 13 months old! He is really growing into such a cute toddler and he likes to investigate EVERYTHING! He keeps us (and the dogs) on our toes.

Walking Video

2009-09-25T08:20:00.001-05:00

Climbing

2009-09-15T08:18:00.001-05:00

All kinds of mischeif!!!

New Toys

2009-09-12T08:07:00.001-05:00

Owen received "bristle blocks" as a birthday present...not only does he like the blocks...but he likes to play in the container!

12-month Stats

2009-08-31T21:09:00.002-05:00

Another milestone...another doctor appointment...I guess it comes with the territory. Owen had his 12-month check-up today and is developing right on track and, according to his pediatrician, he is even doing some things that typically come at 13 months of age...YAY Owen! :) Here are his stats:

Weight: 21 lbs 13 oz; he is in the 30-35th percentile. This is a 7oz weight gain in 2 months.
Height: 28 3/4 inches; he is in the 18th percentile. This is a 1/2 inch growth in 2 months.
Head Circumference: 18 inches; he is in the 30th percentile.

All of his growth measurements have stayed consistent, so it was good news all around. Now it is time to begin weaning him from the bottle and continuing to watch him learn new things. Oh, and he now has a total of 6 teeth!

Dancin' Machine

2009-08-31T20:38:00.004-05:00

Another one of Owen's birthday gifts...a "sit-n-spin"...he doesn't quite get that concept...but he sure does like the music it plays. Watch the video to see his new dance moves!

Playin' Baseball

2009-08-31T20:17:00.005-05:00

Somebody's got the giggles...watch the video to see!

More Professional Photos

2009-08-30T19:27:00.001-05:00

We loved the first ones so much that we asked the photographer to take some additional pictures...these are a few we've received so far.
Enjoying a cupcake... Overalls...

Telling secrets to Dawson...

1st Birthday Party

2009-08-29T19:34:00.000-05:00

Since Owen's birthday was on a Tuesday we chose to have a party for him on the following Saturday. For August, it was a bit chilly...only around 68 degrees. The sun was shining, the food was good, and the company was enjoyable...what more could we ask for? We are very thankful to have such wonderful family and friends! Owen had a great day playing with the other children and smashing his birthday cake! Here are some photos from the day.

Professional Photos

2009-08-25T21:26:00.003-05:00

Here are just a few...there were so many awesome pictures it was hard to choose which ones to post.

1st Birthday!

2009-08-25T21:13:00.001-05:00

I know it's cliche...but where has the time gone? These past 12 months have really flown by..."baby" Owen is now 1...and considered a toddler! He does so well with trying to talk, walk, and mimic the things we do. His favorites words include Dada, MaMa, Num Num (for food), Da (for dog), and Nuh (for nuk or milk). His birthday this year was on a Tuesday and he celebrated during the day with his friends at daycare. That evening we took him to a park in Monticello to have professional pictures taken and they are great! After pictures we came home and enjoyed birthday cupcakes.

First Few Steps...

2009-08-23T21:05:00.003-05:00

Owen has been taking a few steps in between Jake and I for a while now...this is the first we thought of to be able to get it on video. I'll need to work on getting something better! :) Watch the video and see the action...

August 2009

2009-08-17T20:50:00.004-05:00

Some recent pictures...
The "tough guy" face:
Just being happy!

Uncle Mike's hat...its too big!

Teeth!

2009-08-17T20:35:00.003-05:00

Finally...we have teeth!!! Owen went from zero to 4 teeth in just about 10 days. His first one was on the upper left, then the middle 2 on the bottom, finally it was the one just to the left of the other upper. Here's a picture showing off 1 tooth (and a messy face).

And...down the stairs...

2009-08-02T12:33:00.003-05:00

Check out Owen's new trick of crawling down the stairs...

Rocking Cow

2009-08-01T18:18:00.004-05:00

This is Owen's rocking cow that he got from his Grandma Pam and Grandpa Gary for Christmas. He's finally figuring out how to use it!

And a video...

Learning to walk

2009-07-30T17:57:00.000-05:00

Owen is using various things around the house to help him learn to walk...his highchair, the bar stools, and toys are the favorites.
Here is a video of him going across our living room with a toy.

Family BBQ 7/19

2009-07-24T12:47:00.004-05:00

Jake's family had a get-together on Sunday. What a beautiful day!

Beyonce 7/16/09

2009-07-24T12:40:00.003-05:00

First time out without Jake and Owen...it was a great concert!

Pool Time

2009-07-12T13:50:00.006-05:00

The summer feels like it has only just begun...and the pools are already on clearance?!?! That said, we couldn't resist getting a pool for Owen (it didn't hurt that we had a giftcard either...a special thank you to Rodney, Christy and Dylan).

Do we have the next Michael Phelps? He sure is excited about the pool!

Just a swingin'

2009-07-12T13:41:00.004-05:00

Finally, we have our very own swing at home!

Fun around the house

2009-07-10T21:49:00.006-05:00

Owen helping with the dishes

The high chair is not just for eating anymore...it is actually a fun toy!!! Just watch this video and see :)

July 5th

2009-07-10T21:08:00.004-05:00

Jake had so much fun on Saturday that we got to spend about 3 hours on Sunday at the Monticello hospital. He injured his ankle after just a few minutes on a wave runner. Luckily there were no broken bones!

6 days later...still a bit swollen...and a lot more black and blue.

The Monticello hospital is basically right on the Mississippi river and there is a nice park behind...Owen and I left Jake to fend for himself and enjoyed the beautiful day!

He LOVES to swing!!!

July 4th

2009-07-10T20:46:00.004-05:00

We celebrated the 4th of July by going out to Jake's aunt and uncle's cabin...located in Isanti county, so it's not too long of a drive to enjoy the cabin life! It was a beautiful day!

Owen tried swimming/floating...wasn't a big fan...not yet.

Hanging out with mommy after trying the lake

Courtney (Jake's cousin) let Owen try his first Pina Colada (freezy). DELICIOUS!

Such a big boy...Hanging out in a lawn chair

Owen made a new friend...He's giving 'High-5' to Ethan. (Uncle Bryan in the background)

July 3rd

2009-07-10T20:39:00.002-05:00

Friday, July 3rd was an extra day off work.

Angie's parents came out to visit and brought sweet corn...Owen enjoyed it before it was cooked.

Baby Birds!

2009-07-02T21:42:00.004-05:00

So...I was weeding our flower garden in the front yard one day...and as I pulled on some weeds I looked down and noticed a birds nest with 2 little eggs in it. I quickly let go of the weeds (which were still slightly attached to the ground) and backed up. I kept an eye on the nest while I finished weeding and sure enough...a Mama bird came to check on her eggs. I instantly decided that these birds were mine to "adopt"...which basically means that I need to look into the nest a couple times each day. You can't imagine my surprise when the next morning when I checked on the nest and there were 4 eggs! How VERY exciting! Anyways, it has only been almost 2 weeks since I first noticed the nest...as I approached the nest tonight...2 little mouths opened up to me!!! The baby birds have hatched!!! They are beautiful. I ran back into the house to get my camera...and here are the new babies!

Mama bird came back...she's sitting on the nest...kind of hard to see...I will work on capturing a better picture.

New picture of Mama bird...right before she enters the nest...

Ear Tubes

2009-07-02T21:27:00.002-05:00

We visited Children's hospital in Minneapolis again on Wednesday, July 1st. Owen had surgery to put tubes in his ears. The tubes are recommended for children who either have recurring ear infections or have fluid behind the eardrum that doesn't go away. Owen had both. During this procedure an ENT surgeon makes a small incision in the ear drum and places the tube through the hole. It takes all of about 10 minutes.

I think the hardest part of the day was watching the doctors take Owen away to the operating room. He has been quite the lil' trooper through this all...he even slept through the night on Wednesday...we thought for sure he would be waking up for more Tylenol, but never did. Now we pray the tubes will do their job and we will be rid of fluid in the ears and ear infections for good!

Some pictures before surgery...

So Big...Clapping...High-5

2009-06-28T20:59:00.004-05:00

Today was a VERY fun day at home... here is a quick video to sum it all up.

Owen's 3 new "tricks" are featured...

Spudfest '09

2009-06-28T20:46:00.003-05:00

Owen enjoyed his first parade this Saturday. This weekend was the Big Lake Spudfest. Since Owen seems to enjoy "people watching" the parade was quite the hit...the only part he didn't like was the loud noises of the firetrucks and ambulance. Unfortunately we didn't end up going to the carnival...Owen spiked a fever (I'm thinking its related to teething...yay, here come teeth???) so we decided to just stay home. Here are a few pictures from the parade.

Not enjoying the firetruck...

The Coborn's shopping cart...
Checking out the band...he wasn't a fan of the drums...

10-months old!

2009-06-26T12:13:00.002-05:00

Owen turned 10-months old on June 25th!
We had a pre-op physical for Owen today, June 26th. He now weighs 21.4 lbs and is 28.25 inches tall! The physical today was to clear him for his ear tube surgery next week...and we are good to go!

Current Events 6/26/09

2009-06-26T12:00:00.003-05:00

I can't help but blog about the current events of the week...I think this blog might be something that we will be able to look back on one day to see what was going on in the world when Owen was little. Or who knows...maybe this thing will be WAY outdated! :)

Three American icons have passed this week and will be forever remembered by many.

Ed McMahon passed on June 23, 2009. A well-known comedian and TV personality, today's youth would be most grateful to Ed for helping stars, such as Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, get their big break into Hollywood.

Farrah Fawcett passed the morning of June 25, 2009. She was an "American sex symbol" that was prominently known for her rold in the hit TV show "Charlie's Angels."

Michael Jackson, the 'King of Pop,' passed the afternoon of June 25, 2009. MJ was a life-long star...his journey began when he was just a child (performing with his family) and sadly ended this week at the young age of 50.

Both Ed and Farrah had highly publicized heath issues, so the news of their passing was a bit easier for people to swallow. But the sudden death of MJ...this is a huge shock to all. As I am writing this, we are still waiting for the final word on the cause of his death (heart attack, cardiac arrest, and even drug OD have been mentioned as possibilities).

As I think about how these will impact Owen's life, I wonder...Will Owen ever try to do the "moonwalk?" And if he does, will he know of its origin? I guess that is my job as a parent to teach him.

Another tidbit...the power of the Internet...as many as 20 million people per hour were trying to access information on MJ's passing yesterday...it was said that the Internet "almost died with him" because of the overwhelming requests!

Ed, Farrah and Michael...may you rest in peace.

Ma-ma

2009-06-23T07:05:00.002-05:00

He did it!!!! Owen said "ma-ma" last night!
We heard him say "ma-ma" 2 times...VERY exciting! After that he went back to "bububu" and "dada". I can't wait to talk with him more tonight! :)

The Minnesota Zoo

2009-06-19T21:25:00.007-05:00

We visited the Minnesota Zoo on Saturday, June 13th. The weather was perfect for a day outside.

The Park

2009-06-04T21:43:00.002-05:00

We took Owen to the park for the first time...

New Favorite Noise

2009-06-01T21:25:00.003-05:00

This is especially fun while eating!

9-month Stats

2009-05-30T10:29:00.004-05:00

Owen turned 9 months old on Memorial Day. We visited his pediatrician on Tuesday and received nothing but good news! Owen now weighs 20lbs 6oz (he is amost to the 50th percentile) and is now 27 3/4 inches tall (still in the 25th percentile). He has been growing at a perfect rate. We also found out that the latest ear infection has finally cleared, but his ears are still filled with fluid. This makes us even more confident in our decision to schedule Owen for ear tubes. Once the fluid can drain he will be able to hear so much better and hopefully be rid of the infections.
As for new accomplishments, Owen is broadening his vocabulary. He constantly says "Dadadadada" but has now added a "T" sound and "Bubububu". It is wonderful to listen to him jabber. In addition to crawling [everywhere], he pulls himself up on everything...standing is a favorite for him. When he's standing next to some of the toys with wheels he will often "body surf" right over them...and somehow, doesn't seem to mind and just gets right back up to do it again. Owen is also getting better at waving "bye bye"...sometimes it's time to wave in the middle of talking to someone :)
Still NO teeth...he wraps his lips in around his gums and is making a lip smacking sound more now...they must be coming. Even with no teeth we are moving on to more solids. Owen likes fruit (watermelon, strawberries, and bananas so far) and we even tried a bit of a hot dog last night...he loved it! Little pieces of toast and french fries have also been things he has enjoyed.

New Trick...Stairs?!?!

2009-05-23T20:38:00.006-05:00

With crawling has come so many new "adventures"...Owen is pulling himself up on everything and has even managed to start crawling up the stairs. Two words to describe him now...unstoppable and fearless! Here are just a few pictures of the madness.

Watermelon

2009-05-23T20:11:00.005-05:00

It's that time of year...and I love watermelon...let's see if Owen does too...

Visit to the ENT

2009-05-23T17:40:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, May 21st we took Owen to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Specialist at Children's Hospital. Right around 6 months of age he developed an ear infection and it has been a lingering problem ever since. We tried 4 antibiotics before we were able to get the infection to clear and then the fluid still didn't drain...it was only a matter of time before he would get another infection...and of course, he did.

At the appointment, the first thing Owen did was a hearing test. He sat in a booth with Daddy while they played various sounds and watched for Owen's reaction. The results of the test showed that Owen has some hearing difficulty, mostly with the extreme high and low pitch sounds(anything in between was a bit better).

The ENT doctor had 2 options for Owen... 1. Wait and see if this is something he will grow out of OR 2. tubes. We chose the latter. Tubes should allow his ears to drain, preventing infections and improving his hearing. These will be great results...the only thing now is for us to wait...the first opening wasn't until July.

Crawling

2009-05-06T17:32:00.004-05:00

Finally...we've caught some good action on camera! Check out Owen's cool moves :)

MOA - Trip #2

2009-05-03T18:13:00.000-05:00

Owen made his second trip to the Mall of America on Sunday, May 3rd. We watched his uncle Mike compete with his "battle bots" (robots).

The arena they fight in...a view from 2nd floor.

Owen & Daddy

Owen & Mommy

Brushing Teeth

2009-04-30T18:07:00.001-05:00

We're starting him early...He still doesn't have any teeth!

Our trip to Children’s Specialty Center

2009-04-29T08:27:00.001-05:00

Just over a week ago (at one of our multiple check-ups for an on-going ear infection) Owen’s pediatrician suggested that we seek the advice of a Craniofacial Specialist. She had noticed that Owen’s anterior fontanel (soft spot on the top of his head) had closed up significantly since his 6 month wellness exam. In addition to this area closing, there was minor concern with the rear right of his head still being a bit flattened. (Once the fontanel closes, there is not much more for “re-shaping” of the head.) All of this she told us was more of a precautionary and more for us all to get peace of mind…and, I quote, “nothing to lose sleep over.”

Referred to a specialist? Nothing to lose sleep over? I immediately enrolled in the “University of Google”…otherwise known as researching on the Internet. How much could I learn in the 8 days until our appointment…WAY TOO MUCH! :)

Our appointment finally came, and we made our trek to Minneapolis…just a short 45 minute drive really…but it’s fun going to the “big city.” Let me start off by saying…so as not to hold anyone in suspense…the appointment was a HUGE relief.
The doctors walked in…not just 1 or 2…but 5 people entered our room…nurse practitioner, nurse, surgeon, and 2 physical therapists. While the nurses and surgeon talked to me about Owen’s history and development the physical therapists were checking Owen’s neck to see if he favored one side or if there were any neck issues causing him to constantly look one way. Results = GREAT! (Could this be our trips to the chiropractor? Not sure, but I’m happy none the less.) Whew…down to 3 staff in the room. Next, the 3 of them each felt the top of Owen’s head in great detail. They were looking for “ridges”…ridges can result from the fontanel closing too early…and if they exist, we would be looking at surgery. Results = NO ridges! They explained to us that the time frame for the fontanel to close is a bell curve, and that Owen is in the small percentage of babies where their fontanel closes early without a negative outcome. The last part of the exam was in checking the shape of his head and measuring the diameter. They check 2 basic measurements…right front to left rear and left front to right rear. As you know, in a perfect circle these would be the same…Owen had a 1cm difference. This is a borderline measurement for the doctors to recommend a helmet [for shaping]. They explained that the baseline they use is 1.2cm…and told us that they did not expect to see such a difference when measuring Owen. When you look at him straight on or more at eye level, you would never really notice the flatness or difference…birds-eye view is a different story. The decision has been left up to us…wow…how do you make such a decision? Well…2 more staff enter the room…these are the “helmet” specialists. The NP and surgeon both said, “If this were my child, I would not do the helmet in this case.” That said, we have decided to opt to go without the helmet and hope his head rounds out a bit more…but if not…it’s okay. He’s perfect to us! :)

Baptism Day

2009-04-27T08:22:00.003-05:00

What an exciting weekend...Owen turned 8 months old on Saturday and was Baptized on Sunday.

The service was wonderful and we feel blessed that many of our family and friends were able to attend. After the service, we had a luncheon back at our house. It was a very busy day and Owen seemed to enjoy every moment.

Here is a picture of us and Owen's Godparents (Dave & Jen Veldhuizen and Mike Rhode).

Owen's 1st Easter

2009-04-09T06:47:00.002-05:00