Mr. Independent

Owen has decided he wants to start feeding himself more, rejecting the spoon or fork or finger approaching his mouth loaded with yummy food, leading to this:




He's very methodical in his pattern-making.

Baby Toting

This clip from a 1963 episode of "Telescope" on CBC is so great.

I have used a Moby wrap, a ring sling, and a Baby Hawk for toting Owen around over the past 11 months. I love wearing him. I love looking into his eyes and feeling his warm chubby body next to mine. I love experiencing the world through his eyes. I've really got a front-row seat for it! Adam has worn him on occasion as well. The stroller is great for long treks in open spaces, but for short jaunts or in closed quarters (like a busy mall, a hike, a trip through the library), wearing Owen is the easiest way.

Life in the Fast Lane

Time keeps on tickin' by and the countdown to returning to work full-time outside the home weighs heavily on both my mind and my heart. I'm often awake for a few hours in the middle of the night thinking about the big changes that are soon approaching. Monumental changes for everyone in our family: Adam becomes the main caregiver in the morning, preparing both himself and Owen for work and daycare, I return to a job I love but am leaving Owen with someone else, and Owen...well, Owen is going to have to deal with the biggest change. But kids are resilient, and that little guy is a real charmer. We're going to gradually ease him into the change and hope for the best.

I am just so grateful I've had more than a year off (paid!) and have spent so much time with both of our families this year. I think about my mum, who returned to work just a few short weeks after giving birth to me. I think about parents who are completely alone in their parenting and wonder how they do it. We've had it really good!

Say "Cheese"

Our Little Boy

Up & Down

Man in the Mirror

We've been busy around here, travelling to Comox and Courtenay, Roberts Creek and Gibsons.

Owen is now crawling and getting into everything that he shouldn't and touching everything that we don't want him to. How do babies know how to do that, huh?

He is sleeping really well, logging in 12+ hours a night, plus some naps during the day.

Owen has fallen in love with himself (in the mirror), and continues to squack happily at the sight of dogs or other children.

He loves bananas ("na nas") & his "dada" and "mama."