The Results...

Apparently The Big O is not as big as we all thought. Although still above the 90th percentile, he has gone down from 97th to 93rd in both weight and head circumference. His height is now 90th and Mike is regretfully thanking my genes for that one.

Owen measured in at 30 inches long.

His weight is what surprised me the most. As you can see it was 25 pounds and 9.2 ounces. Crazy really, the kid feels like he is fifty at least, ok maybe thirty, but definitely more than 25! No matter what though, we love him just the way he is and always will!

Thanks to all that participated in the "Just How Big Is the Big O" contest. We are all losers, and yet all winners in our own way. Let that little bit of wisdom be your prize!

JUST HOW BIG IS THE BIG O?

Just how big is the Big O is a question we often get. Well, tomorrow we are going to the doctor because we had to reschedule his nine month appointment before the holidays. I have been waiting for this appointment since the sixth month one, just to see how much this big baby weighs. I thought it would be fun to ask all of you how much you think he weighs and how long you think he is now. Or you can tell me what percentile you think he is at. Then I will give you the results in a couple of days after everyone has had a chance to guess. Maybe the winner will get a prize? We'll see... good luck guessing!

Although this picture doesn't really show Owen in his full glory, I thought it was a cute picture of him helping Mike put the groceries away. At least it shows you how big he is next to his big daddy.

Almost Walking...

Lately Owen has been walking holding on to things, and he has even taken a few steps from one thing to another. However, today he stood on his own for a good ten seconds, Mike says eight, but I'm giving him the full ten! Then he realized I wasn't holding on to him anymore and he quickly sat himself down. It was so surreal to see him standing there on his own like he had always done that. He is becoming such a big boy! I know he will be walking sometime soon! We are so proud of him already for his many milestones and party tricks!

Friday Fika

Leave it to Babs, (aka Barbara Nordlund), to start "Friday Fika". Originally intended to get together a group of her girlfriends for what the swedes call fika, and my scottish family would call afternoon tea, Friday Fika has evolved into a playgroup that I am thankful for. Although not all that attend have children, the majority do, or soon will. I am thankful for this monthly meeting of the minds. It is a time for us to get together and talk about nothing that has to do with the babies, and then focus on nothing but the babies. We laugh, learn, and rejoice in this amazing time in our lives. We share stories, recipies, update eachother on our day to day, insight on being a new and young mother, I almost always give a little speech about cloth diapers trying to be an advocate that I think is so important, and just share giggles from the little ones. Here are a few pics of the babes, although some left before we brought out the cameras.

SNOW DAY!!!!

Owen, Diesel, and I went for a walk after our little snow storm the other day. Then Ralphy, I mean Owen, begged me to make snow angels. So of course I let him. I wish I knew how to download the video of him on the ground, but it isn't working.

Then we went inside for a nice warm bath.

Mama & Papa Seall's House

Last weekend we went to Mama & Papa Seall's house to see baby Rya and watch football. Nicole is a natural mother and I am so proud of her. It is so exciting to be sharing this part of our lives together.

Owen had fun playing with the older boys.
(Don't tell Nana that's a dog toy, oops!)

Thanks Mama & Papa Seall for a great time and incredible food as always!

Great Grammy Helen's Hat

I love this picture Nathan took of his cat Stina and Owen, wearing one of the hats Great Grammy Helen made.

Here is Owen showing off one of his new party tricks in baby Nordlund's room.

The Best Present Ever

We have been truely blessed with a little Angel!

A Quilt for Babs!

I am excited to show you my second quilt, which I made for Barbara's bun. This quilt is truely special, not just because I actually made another one and it turned out pretty good, but because of the significance behind it. I am so happy for Barbara and Nathan that they have overcome their infertility, and proud of their courage and love as they continue "processing the process". What extraordinary parents they already are!


Thank you Angela for your help with this quilt and everything else you do for me!

What You've Missed...

A couple of days before Christmas, Mike and I packed up the car with as much stuff as possible, the dog, and of course Owen, and headed out on a roadtrip to the east coast. This trip was filled with so many different things from job and house hunting, to relaxing by the fire and Christmas tree. We just got back this weekend, so here is a little of our trip and what you've missed...

Owen no longer needs us to play the game of Peek-a-boo, except to laugh along with him as he does it himself over and over. I love his new "party tricks", or milestones as some would call them.

This trip was filled with many "firsts" for Owen, including Christmas. He had so much fun opening his presents, and we had fun watching his face light up with everything that was going on around him. Diesel loved getting in the action too.

Although Owen received many wonderful gifts, I think this is one of the best! Grandpa Bruce made this amazing train for Owen out of a tree that he cut down on the property. It is truely beautiful in every aspect!


Our trip wouldn't be complete without visiting the Great Grams! Here is Owen with Great Grammy Louise. It was so nice seeing how rejuvinated she was whenever we stopped by. She loved holding Owen, feeding him some of her baked apples, and reading an Italian children's book to him. And we loved every minute of it too!


Here is Owen with Great Grammy Helen. Owen loved exploring her family room and getting into things. And we loved hearing more family history and her reading of one of Grandpa Bruce's favorites, Pussy Willow.

I had to put this shot in because it is so classic. It reminds me of one of my old baby pictures. Owen is crawling around with one of the hats Great Grammy Helen made him and his snaps kept coming undone because of his big butt cloth diapers. I am sure he will love this picture later on in life!

Owen is wearing a sweater that Great Grammy Helen made for him. It is incredible!

While we were in Rhode Island we stayed with Pat and Amy Greene. Here is their adorable son Riley. He will be three this month. The entire time we were there he kept calling himself, "The Biggest Guy". It was too perfect that Angela had bought these T-shirts for Owen and Mike.

Owen really started crawling while we were in Rhode Island. It was amazing. One day he was doing his army crawl and the next it was like he had been crawling his whole life (even if that is only nine months). I guess he just needed "the biggest guy" to show him how. By the end of our trip Amy had Owen walking pushing a chair.

Back on the Willard property, Owen loved riding in the woods in his new wagon that Grammy and Grandpa bought for him. No sled needed this year.

GO PATRIOTS!!!!


Just before we left to come back to Chicago, Uncle Timmy and Auntie Sadye came in from South Carolina. We were so glad we got to see them even if it was only for one day.

We met them in Boston and had dinner at a great Italian place on the North End.

What a great trip! Thank you to our east coast friends and family for making Owen's first Christmas and New Year so special. We are truely lucky to have you all!