Owen has a new girl cousin

Brendon's sister, Evelyn had a little girl yesterday at 12h15. All is well with both mom & Evangeline. Dad, Henrik, is besotted with his little girl too. We look forward to meeting the new edition when we go to South Africa again next year. It is the week running up to the EK and the Dutchies have gone mad in support of the Nederlandse elftal. Houses are decorated with anything and everything orange and there are festivities all over Holland. Let's hope that the team does well.

6 month check up

Today we went to the clinic for Owen's 6 month check up. The paediatrician was pleased with his progress. His weight is 9.440kg's, length 72cm & head circumference 44.7cm. He is still above the average line but in proportion. The lady said that he has the statistics of a 8.5 month baby. She did all the usual prodding and poking and had to extract Owen's foot from his mouth a number of times. At least this time he didn't pee on the scale!

6 Months Old

Horea Owen is 6 months old today! The time has flown by so quickly although month 1 and 2 are still etched in my (mom's) brain. The days get better and better. He is so much more interactive, smiles & laughs a lot and sits up so well now. In the morning I give him a top and tail and as a bonus he gets a trendy hairstyle with his hair lotion. At lunch he enjoys playing hide and seek with me and peers over the edge of the carseat to see where I am. It is too cute. This is much more interesting than eating the next stage food that I so thoughfully prepare for him. He does not like to lie down anymore and wails when he is having a good time with his toys and I have to take him and change his nappy. He mostly misses out on his 3am feed and sleeps longer in the morning now that we put him to bed one hour later. Dad and I love giving him cuddles and it is tug of war when dad gets home so he can get a bit of Owen love that I get every day.

Another trip out of the country

Last weekend Brendon and I packed 2 suitcases (20kg's each), one stroller, a baby car seat and took Owen to Edinburgh for a couple of days. Owen was so excited once we got to the airport he could hardly contain himself. Lots of smiling, babbling and craning his neck to make sure he took in every detail. Mom and dad were so last season, there were so many new things to take in. Once on board there was little fussing and a short nap. On arrival we took a taxi to the hotel - still there was no sleep. By the time we put Owen in bed it was 10.00pm NL time. He crashed and we did not hear another peep until 6.30am the next morning. Our day was spent at Edinburgh Castle. It was magnificent. Owen was quiet the whole day. Must of been the big night out. Brendon had a work function the next day so Owen & I took a trip to the Zoo. It was very easy to get around by bus and people were so friendly. On arrival, with the little cherub still catching some shut eye, we orientated ourselves and headed off to see all the animals. One thing was omitted from the zoo literature - the zoo is built on a hill! While Owen cruised around like a lord, mom was pushing the odd bead of sweat getting him up that hill. I could not be beaten. I had to get to the top of the hill to see the zebra. Owen was not overly impressed with my effort and found Mr. Banana more entertaining than the stripey beasts wandering around. The penguins and the monkeys brought him much joy as did the hoards of other little children that were also enjoying the entertainment at the zoo. Wednesday saw us doing a spot of shopping and enjoying fish and chips before hopping in the taxi again and catching the plane home. What an enjoyable time especially when the time zones stay relatively the same!

Owen is starting to sit up on his own

Today was a landmark day. Owen has started sitting on his own but not without some wobbles. We went to the shop to buy creche toys for the church. When we got back I tried the 100 balls out in Owen's camp cot and he loved it. So tomorrow I will have to go back to the shop and by Owen his own. He enjoys his two outings a day, as do I. One walk in the morning to the shopping centre and either a walk to the nearby farm fields (with cows and sheep and tree-lined paths) or a drive in the car in the afternoon. This gets us through the day and helps our sanity. The days are warmer and longer now and a lot more pleasant than when Owen was first born. It is a joy to go out in the morning without our coats on. Owen is enjoying playing with his feet (a challenge on the change table) trying to roll completely over (half seems to stay behind!) and chewing everything in sight. He is a little treasure and an absolute joy, when he is not trying to get his own way.