Ball! Dog! Ball! Dog!

So, Owen is talking. And very nearly walking! And sleeping through the night, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. He's the most amazing baby in the whole wide world. :)

He has a four-word vocabulary, of Mama, Dada, ball and dog. He actually says many more things, but those are the only four words we get in context every single time. We've also heard him say "ya", "no" and a few other choice words (yesterday we were in Rona, and he got excited about seeing another little baby, a girl. He smiled at her, and she giggled at him. Then he pointed at her and said "ho". Steve and I had a very serious talk with Uncle Jamie when we got home about what he's been teaching Owen!!) He's also becoming a very good mimic, so that sometimes if you say a word, he'll mimic the sounds, even if he doesn't get them quite right. A few times, I've been chatting with people and he's copied the sounds of a word they've said. They stop, look at him and ask, "did he just say (whatever they said)?" It really does sound like he's talking, but like I said, there's only the four words in context every time. In the meantime, he gets SO excited when he can tell us that he sees a ball or a dog, and you would not believe the commotion when he sees a dog WITH a ball.

He's so close to walking, he'll toddle along with you only holding on with one hand, and he's been cruising furniture for months now. He's very steady on his feet, standing to play with toys, and even squatting down to pick something up and then getting back upright without falling down/over. Baby gates were already up throughout the main floor, and last week I installed the one at the top of the stairs (involved a couple of two-by-fours, lots of drilling, plastic zip ties, and protective vinyl, but it's up, it's solid, and our lovely wooden posts will be undamaged when it comes down).

The sleeping is going so well. We put him to bed, sometimes we have to leave him to fuss a bit before he'll lie down even though he's tired, but once he lies down and snuggles his bears, he drifts off and then stays down for 11 hours or so. One night I went in to check on him, and I tripped on the rug. My stumbling must have woken him, because he sat up. I quickly ducked down where he couldn't see me, and he looked around a bit, grabbed his bear, lay back down, and talked himself back to sleep. So yay for Owen putting himself back to sleep if he does wake up in the night! I was hoping he'd be sleeping right through before I went back to work (and there were times when I seriously doubted that was going to happen!) so I'm very happy.

He gives "high five" now (multiple fives, he'll stand there and whack your hand all day if you let him) and if you say to him, "who's number one?" he'll hold up one finger for you. He's very good at letting us put sunscreen on him, and at wearing his sun hat, but he wants nothing to do with his sunglasses.

And best of all, Owen gives kisses! But his idea of a kiss is to blow a raspberry on your cheek. Or your arm. Or leg. Actually, he'll take any part of you he can reach if he's feeling affectionate. So they're quite slobbery, but they could not be any more adorable.

We're starting to think about the first birthday party. (I can't believe it!) I'm working on the invitations right now, but I get sad thinking that Auntie Kris and Uncle Ryan aren't going to be there. :( But we'll try to have fun anyway. And I will try to post more regularly, for those of you still trying to follow along at home. :P Cheers!