Owen has been trying for about two weeks now to get up on that stool. I use it to reach our cabinets and now he has figured out how to see on top of the counter...and to help mom "organize" the silverware drawer! He has a thing for forks...don't ask me why, but if he sees you using one, he wants to give it a try...either to feed himself or to feed you! If you look behind Owen in this picture, you'll see a white dish towel. It is covering up the bananas because if he sees a banana, he starts crying and saying "ba!" He loves bananas! The last time I tood him grocery shopping he was happy until he saw the "ba's" (bananas) in the cart...then he cried and wanted one. I know y'all are just dyin' to find out what I did in that situation! :-) ...Okay...I broke down and gave him...a cracker instead! I learned earlier how messy bananas can get!

"Hey Grampa Phil! I look like you when I wake up! Bed head!" :-) (I'm sorry, but I remembered the picture mom took of you, dad!)
Owen has to hold the food in his mouth because he tends to take too big of a bite...
Ooh! He's mastered the one-finger hold! :-)
He started crying when I told him to wait to put more food in his mouth...it was already full but he wanted more banana...ugh! the battle with food continues! :-)

Thanksgiving is not the only time to give thanks, but it sure is an appropriate time to express our thanks. God gives and he takes away. Either way, His mercies are new every morning as the sun rises as a reminder. It's just that...when the skies are gray, we feel let down and find smiles hidden away. The sun has been reluctant these past few days and our smiles have been hidden as well. I've experienced yet one more thing I had wished I'd never have to experience in my lifetime: the loss of a child. Our little Owen is as healthy and nutty as ever, but our baby on the way has gone to be with Jesus. I found out yesterday that there is no more development growing inside me, and Owen will not have to share us as soon as we had hoped. It is the 1st trimester still, but the loss is still great. We hurt, we are sad, and we are disappointed because the hope and expectation of number two was so wonderful to have, even for a short time. We still have hope and we continue to praise God for his sovereignty. One blessing we have to hold is that our little Angel is already praising God. We made one more being that can praise Him, and we will meet in heaven one day. I know these kind of things have torn people apart, but I truly see a bond between Roger and I that we have not had before. We are surrounded and loved and truly blessed. Owen is learning to use a spoon, so we have plenty to smile about. :-)

Owen's daddy is teaching him all kinds of stuff about sports! He usually makes it, but I think he is trying really hard to "go up hard," like daddy says. But he sure has the "palming the ball" down! Now he's learning to say, "oh, baby!" when he makes the basket...too funny!

I'm just doing some thinking about time...it moves so fast, and sometimes we wish time away. I get so flustered when I can't get done with my "list" fast enough or efficient enough. I get even more frustrated when something on my list doesn't get done. But, in the last few days of nice weather, I took time to take Owen to the park. I let him walk up the path through the tall trees which make him look so small. Then I let him "explore" in our little patch of woods by our townhome. He picked up pinecones and threw them. He tripped on sticks and felt the prickle of pine needles. He wandered into think parts and I had to "rescue" him and get him on the right path. We took our time. We didn't hurry to get it done with. I took a breath and enjoyed the fresh air and his quiet wondering and wandering. Momentous...I meant to write about it right away...but time got away from me. I didn't even have my camera on hand that day. I did have my camera the other morning when Owen and I were getting ready for school. The hanging blinds looked like they were glowing so I looked out and saw the sky on fire. The sunrise burned the mornig sky into a brilliance that my camera actually was able to capture. Owen wasn't as interested in the sun as he was in his toys that he had left out on the deck... :-) I smile...

At Carrie's Kid Care Owen got to make a turkey with his hand print. Okay, so he had a little help from Carrie, but I think it is darn cute! You can tell Owen's contribution...the blue scribbles. Hey, it's a start! :-) Precious...Thanksgiving...hmmmm.

This is for Grampa Phil...he asked for proof that, after last Sunday's slaughter of the Vikings, Owen is backing the pack. :-) The Reger's were none too happy when we showed up at a party with Owen wearing a Packer sweatsuit!...

Owen had his mouth full of raisins and Roger asked, "does he have to wear that?" as I took this picture...

Uncle Jack, the only other one who married into the Reger family...holding firmly to his true loyalty! Packer loyalty seems to pay off sooner or later!

They let him throw around a football and because he is so darn cute, nobody really picked a fight! Owen did get up the courage to say, "no doggy!" and "down!" to the puppy who was determined to get Owen to play. I was so proud of him! :-) We'll see how he does with Taz this weekend!

Last Saturday night was a late one for the Reger's! We put Owen to bed, had our friend Jeff come over and do homework on our couch while we went out to celebrate Kate's 30th birthday with a whole mess of Hall's (Aaron's siblings) and many of Kate's beautiful friends. How can one person have so many beautiful friends?! Whew! Axel's on Grand Avenue in St. Paul sure is a rockin' place!
We had some appetizers and cocktails, we enjoyed company and music, and were greateful for a night out on the town!
The dualing pianos were incredible! Kate had fun requesting some of her favorites...yes, that is a balloon tied to her waist and a foil sash around her neck. I think she's beautiful!

Last Saturday we went to Walmart and bought owen his own basketball because he brought the dirty one in the house and started to mark up the walls and floors. He loves any kind of ball, but basketball has been his latest thing.


Owen has figured out how to climb up on the coffee table and I've never been able to catch it on video...now I did. I try really hard to not laugh when he is being silly. I have a feeling he is going to be one of those kids who makes me laugh when i am trying to yell at him (Lori Jo!). Notice his dancing skills and his favorite number: 3!

"Captain Stubing" and "Little Red Riding Hood" went to a party last weekend! It actually was a wedding reception for friends of ours so I thought I would share this momento with y'all. Yes, we still have the outfits, so if anyone was to borrow the red cape or little white shorts for any occasion, just let me know! :-)
Owen got to dress up too! Rog worked with the youth while I lay on the in-laws couch...Owen handed out candy one or two times before falling asleep himself. He didn't mind the costume...
And he liked the crinkle of the candy!
The colors are more enticing than the taste because he still craves crackers more than cake!
so concerned...you'll get candy...someday! :-)

Each day that is nice enough to play outside, we do! Taking advantage of nice days helps because I don't know how Owen will take being cooped up inside all the time! :-)
The little horsey still is in the garage along with some other toys so being outside invites lots to do and see and play with!
Including...serious four-wheelin' time! I couldn't keep up with him to get a good picture, but at least you can see...
Next, we'll have to get the steering down! and...figure out how to stop on purpose!
When I said it was time to go inside, Owen was not all too happy. I lured him in with a snack and I moved on to cleaning. Owen found my dustpan and decided to help me sweep the deck. So...we spent some more time outside!

we were trying to call gramma on the video, but she was not on-line. Just last weekend Owen was so busy running around with gramma and grampa! When again???? :-)

Owen is so "good" at combing his hair! He knows it goes onto the head somehow! He combed it so nice for the rehearsal dinner we were invited to on Friday!
Roger and I ventured to the wedding on Saturday...
And Roger sang so beautifully! He sang "I will be there" by Steven Curtis Chapman. What a great wedding song! No one could have done better!

This little boy is a wiz at using the phone! He's been able to open it and push the buttons for months, but he has just recently started opening it up, putting it to his ear, and saying "hi." Monkey see, Monkey do! Owen is so busy! He's become somewhat of a clutz: Friday he scraped his cheek on the coffee table after tripping on the toys I was trying to pick up; then today he was excited to see the "ball" (really a pumpkin that Roger got for him) and ran towards it only to trip and fall into the stem. He's not really a crier, though, and toughens up unless it really hurts (like the coffee table fall). He's a boy who sure knows how to have fun and get dirty (thanks gramma for letting him run around in the yard, throw rocks, and work up a dirty sweat!) He's nice and clean in this picture because Owen was invited to the rehearsal dinner for the wedding we went to this weekend. He cruised around that place until I was worn out! :-)

I don't think I ever did this! Owen has found the paper bags (folded beside the fridge) and likes to take them out and play. I don't know how this game started, but Owen sure had fun when Daddy put the bag over his head! He proceeded to try to do it on his own...hmmm, so silly; where does he get it?????

It's gotten cold enough for Owen to wear his cutest sweater ever again! See Auntie "Jujie!" It still fits! In the car Owen amuses himself with books and pictures (when I am trying to get him to forget about "cacker"). Every once in awhile I'll here "neighhh" from the back seat. He tends to think all hairy animals with four legs that resemble a horse...happen to be horses. :-)I get a kick out of how he wants to walk himself in places. He knows where to go when you say let's go upstairs, out the door, downstairs, etc...His newest word is "open." I taught him this because he likes to close doors, but he can't get them open. So, he would cry or whine. I told him to say "open" and he did!
Here he is arriving at daycare. He loves Carrie and the kids and the toys so much! He reaches for Carrie and smiles when he sees the kids. It makes me feel as good as a mother can...when she's leaving her baby for the day! :-(
Owen is also totally enthralled with getting big enough to step up into the house rather than crawl. Sometimes he makes it...sometimes...he needs a little help! :-)

I think that there is a picture around of me with my t-shirt pulled up over my head like this. My mom said it made Julie laugh so hard when it happened to me. Funny thing is...this made Owen laugh too! He walked around for a little bit giggling that he had his shirt stuck on his head! We too had a giggle and took a picture!

One of the last warm days of the year...we went for a beautiful walk and ended at the park...as usual. Owen was being silly, as usual, teetering and waddling around. I had to snap these few cute ones of him. He doesn't pose like he used to, but he lets me get a good picture every once in awhile! :-) I am loving all the time I get with my little one. Teaching is going fine and I love my students. They really are not tough this year and the curriculum is holding everyone accountable this year: it's tough to get an A, but I'm spending more time planning and grading! Whew! Good thing I have this to come home to!

In the car Owen often asks for a "cacker" (cracker) and for "more" (any kind of food he can shove). He's usually really demanding so I am trying to change the behavior...When he starts asking for food,I talk to him instead. We talk about where we're going, we talk about farm animals, and so on. The other day I taught him how the cow goes. Take a look. :-)

We figured out a video...we'll see if this works!

Gramma Mimi told us Owen did this when she was babysitting...he's now a pro at getting in and getting out. And...notice the toothbrush? He loves to "brush" his teeth! Well, if you call sucking all the toothpaste off and then chewing on the brush for quite some time. At this rate, we'll go through lots of toothbrushes! :-) That's okay!

We took a walk...we ended at the park...a little game of peek-a-boo in the tunnel...
Where's Owen???
There's daddy!
There's momma!

Roger and I went to Melissa and Will's beautiful wedding...

and left Owen with Gramma and Grampa.

It was quite small, but, whew! you never saw a barn rock out like that! :-) The party barn was filled with their closest friends and family; things were kept simple, but love filled the air! Meanwhile, Owen was having fun going to Burger King playland, running around the house with his basketball, giggling with visitors (a few cousins and aunts & uncles came to see the little guy on Saturday night!), and sleeping oh so hard after a day of play. I think he missed us though, because when we drove up he and granny nanny were watching out the window. I got a huge hug and lots of little laughter when I came in the house. Tonight Owen was amusing himself in silly ways...we just watch and are so entertained...I thought I'd share some of it with you...

slapping himself silly?...

Checking his bodyfat???...

Tickling momma's toes???? (yes, new jammies too!)

First time eating peanut butter!! Nope-no alergic reactions, but we got real messy. Owen loved it and asked for more in his cute little pointing "sign." :-) More in sign language is touching fingers together, but Owen has morphed it into just poking one hand with the pointer finger of the other hand. I giggle. I hope you appreciate this as much as I do every day!

This weekend we have one more weekend of travelling: my friend Melissa is gettin' hitched! Roger and I are drivin' to Viroqua, WI, and Little O gets to sleep over at granny nanny and papa steve's on Saturday night...you know that means he will go to McDonald's playland...right????

This weekend we were so busy! We drove 4 hours to Great Grampa Howard's house to help him move a bunch of stuff out of his house. He gave my dad a lot of stuff...a lot! Much of it may be tossed, but the real treasure came when Great Grampa Howard brought out three 1st editions of Jonathan Edward's writings. They are beautiful!Owen had just as much fun with the walking stick that Great Grampa Howard made. I guess each walking stick takes 40 hours to make!
Here's the trailer: almost all packed up. No, that is not sweat around Owen's collar from lifting so many boxes (the rest of us did that while gramma momma was on Owen patrol)...it's water that spilled when he tried to take a swig from his momma's refreshment. He also found that if you throw the water bottle off the porch, it rolls down the driveway!
Daddy had to take frequent breaks just so Owen could get his hugs and high-fives from papa!
Nothin' special here...just self inflicted! :-)
Whew! It's exhausing being gramma! Actually, this is when Owen was "trying" to have a temper-tantrum to get more crackers...it didn't work because it was so incredibly fake that we all laughed. He stopped and gramma momma comforted him. He was fine in the end!