A special day for a special boy

Today Owen turned 3. Erin and I got up at our usual time, around 5.30am and headed down to the lounge to start with the decorating activities for Owens birthday. We put flags up, blew up balloons and hung up a happy birthday banner. Next came the pressies and all that was left to do was wait for the birthday boy. Owen was delighted with the flags on the banister when he came down the stairs and very excited when he entered the lounge. Brendon was on skype so he could also join in the special days events. Owen got Lego and Thomas and Friends mega blocks, paints and a car transporter with cars. He was in his element. Granny made pancakes for breakfast and then Grandpa helped Owen assemble his Thomas and Friends toys. He played with all his new toys the whole day. After sleep time we got baking the cupcakes. Owen joined in the icing bit with all the sparkly and glittery tiny decorations. Owen loved eating the cupcakes but was not very happy after I told him 2 was his limit. He is now in bed, asleep, after a great day.

Hanging with da daddy

Owen loves time with his daddy. Romping on the carpet is his favourite when Brendon comes home from work.

You know you are a mommy when..........

I have been puked on, poohed on, sneezed on, drooled on, spat up on and bitten by Owen during his 2.5years. One morning Owen woke up with a large crispy bogger in his nostril that was almost reachable. I tried to encourage him to let me get it out with a tissue. He was having none of that. During the day Owen kept annoying me during Erin's feed times by trying to sit on me or Erin. I used the bogger as a decoy. I kept saying "Let me get that bogger" and I would reach for it. He would dart off. It worked wonderfully to get him off us. The bogger was a very stubborn one and refused to fall out for 2 days. It was stuck fast to something. It was disgusting. I even resorted to trying to pick it out with my finger. I really have changed! The next morning I was bathing Erin and Owen came screeching into her room very excited. He had something in his hand that he wanted to give me. I opened my hand while holding Erin with the other and low and behold I was the new owner of the crispy bogger.

Taking a break

It's hard work having one's nappy changed. It's much easier to recline, read a book and let someone else do all the work.

A guy can't have too many shoes

In 2.5 years Owen has collected quite a number of pairs of shoes. They say a girl can't have too many shoes but Owen isn't doing to badly already. But he has outgrown all of them except 2 pairs! We've kept some for Erin, put some in a give away bin for the less fortunate and kept some for other people.

Summer has arrived

Today after Owens sleep he Brendon cycled to the lake armed with a bucket, spade and ball, to enjoy the great summer weather. After dinner Owen helped water the garden and was very happy to see his bottle of bubbles which he entertained himself with for ages.

He also loves to help in the kitchen now and always tries to eats the ingredients before they go in the pot. Food is not his number one priority anymore and there are days when he has a few spoonfuls and then hands me his plate. We have tapered off his afternoon snack and this seems to do the trick. He is still a big eater with all the other meals though. He loves to feed his toy figurines and animals and makes smacking noises with his lips as he feeds them.

Hanging out with da sister

Owen has been enjoying time with Erin while she has her gym & tummy time. He loves patting her and giving her kisses. He can't understand why he also can't be breastfeed even though I tell him his milk comes from a moo cow and he drinks it out a cup because he is a "big boy" now.

He went through a period of getting out his bed and taking Mickey, Hedgehog and Lion and sleeping on the floor between his and our bedroom. It took quite some time for him to stop doing this. Occassionally he still sets up camp until we come and check on him and tell him that it is bed time and he needs to get in his own bed. There were days when he didnt want to get out his sleeping bag or ditch his dummy. I just went with this as I guess it is a difficult time for him.

The social butterfly

Owen loves having visitors, even if it was Erin's visitors. He managed to get himself in between them and enjoy some of what they were eating too (biskuit & pink and white muisjes).

Granny Lynese arrives

Timing is everything. The granny arrived the night before the kraamzorg helper left. Owen was in his element. He had fulltime entertainment. Granny is firmly imprinted on his love map. Lynese catered for the little man's, mommy, daddy and Erin's every need. A real super-granny! Owen and granny spent time watching morning tv, going on walks, playing in the back garden, reading, playing, bathing and watching Elmo's song on the laptop. A precious bonding time between Owen and granny took place.

Owen gets a little sister

On the 16th March 2010 Owen went to bed in the normal way. He awoke on the 17th March 2010 and his world was upside down. The neigbour, Peggy, was there to give him his milk and to change his nappy. Owen was very quick to show her how to put the music on in his room while he drank his milk. He was very happy to see Peggy and by the time the daddy got home from the hospital (to fetch the maxi cosi we had forgotten in the rush to the hospital)Owen was ready for his breakfast and then was off to playschool. After Owen's nap we introduced him to his sister. Initially he was interested and then after that I think it was rather annyoying that someone was sharing his space, time with the mommy and daddy and making such a noise when naked or being bathed. Everyone other than the mommy was on the hitlist. It took 3 weeks before he started to get the concept that Erin was not leaving and this was a permanent change in his life. There was a lot of wailing and knashing of teeth during those weeks. The mommy also did some wailing...........

Owen gets a haircut

This has been the shortest cut Owen has ever had and probably the most economical. He is still a handsome little boy with it, in my opinion.

A day at the Winter Efteling

Brendon's work had a family day outing to the Winter Efteling. It was fun but freezing. Owen was bundled up and snug in his "voetenzak" and was probably the most comfortable of us all. We went to "fairyland" and on a ride amongst the tree tops. He enjoyed all that was on offer and at lunch time even managed a 20 minute nap in the restuarant while the parents tried to warm up.

Owen starts playschool

Today Owen started "peuterspeelzaal" just a short drive away. He attends it twice a week for 5 hours per week. It is lead in Dutch so it should be interesting how Owen adapts to this new stimulation. The start at 8.45am and finish at 11.15am. The morning includes structured playtime, free playtime, if the weather is good this they go outside, a snack is included in this time.

Sled Time

When we got back from the UK we borrowed a sled and Owen enjoyed some sled time. The compacted iced road was perfect for this activity. The Mommy even got to have a ride with Owen and the Daddy was exhausted after having to pull us both along.