Saturday, May 19th I graduated for the third time. I don't think I realized how exciting and monumental this day was until I was on my way to the ceremony. I am so glad I was able to don my cap and gown and wear a hood that signified my masters degree completion. "Southamericansara" flew all the way from Rio just to walk! We briefly chatted and reminisced for a few brief minutes. It was so good to see her again.
Roger was my sole fan at the ceremony itself, but my support has surrounded me this entire journey. God has been my strength through, over, and around all the obstacles, especially in this past year. I've never felt so carried as I look at where I've come. I have so much hope and peace about where God can take me because He's been faithful--as a good friend who was immersed in challenges said to me..."God is always good."

SPECIAL TIMES WITH FRIENDS... We call him "Big Guy" for a reason! Owen loves being held up so high, but John is willing to come down to Owen's level too.
If you take a look back in the archives in July, you'd see Owen and Cullen "playing" last summer. Cullen is just 9 days younger and these two are very close is all they like to do!
When we went to visit Cullen on Wednesday, Parker came over with his mom too! Parker is 18 months and is showing Owen how big boys climb the stairs.
On Thursday we went to visit Coach and the kids. These three had so much fun talking and playing with little O. I can't believe Jeremiah is 9! I remember when he was born!
Here Owen is the center of attention...just where he loves to be! The kids thought it hilarious when Owen drooled on the floor. I can't wait to play more over the summer. We'll have to take special trips to see them more often!

"Yummy! Toast!"

Owen is getting over his aversion to slimy things and likes to suck the butter out of the little toast bites. It's really yummy, homemade bread from the bread machine. Owen loves it! You can see him sucking on the crunchy part. So fun to have breakfast together! :-)

Time to Gee-Up, Daddy!
Owen snuggles his lamby and
sits on his daddy, who was taking a nap on the couch.
Too cute! No, Owen didn't crawl up there...I put him there!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!...A FEW DAYS LATE...
Owen and I went over to see Great Gramma Mimi on Mother's Day since Gramma Mama was in WI and G-G-ma Mimi was alone. It worked out great! We played and talked and had some fun.

It's such a blessing to be so close...Gramma, I'm sorry I don't come by more. I live 4 miles away...there's no good reason not to make it a habit. We do love you and I don't think Owen minds your smiles and games of peek-a-boo! Besides, you know more nursery rhymes and songs that rhyme than I do! :-)

Owen is finding his way around and through, up and over, and in and out of trouble. This week he got two new teeth...Gramma Mama is dyin' to see them. Can you see them here?...
Can you??? Can you imagine how I got this one? Yes, Owen is so ticklish and loves the tickling fingers song. His giggle is enough to make anyone smile! Gramma, Grampa...if i would have known it was going to be this long before we saw you, I would have planned better. I am sorry. We miss you...

Owen's other little friend, Caleb, was over the other night for Bible study. They played so nice and Owen shared his toys like a good little boy. Caleb's mom and dad, Wendy and Zach, just announced that they are expecting #2. Little Caleb will be a big brother! I can't imagine saying that about Owen!

After Owen went to bed, Caleb could not find his pacifier. One of Owen's toys looked similar to his orange pacifier...hence, this picture.

On Wednesday we went to see Melissa's little boy...very little boy! Keegan was born a bit early and weighed 5 lbs. at birth, but very healthy At his last Dr. visit he was 5.14. Owen didn't really notice him until we had to say good bye. Then he was so intrigued!
Owen forgot how much he liked the bouncy seat! He tried out baby Keegan's...

But...he's a bit big for it. :-)

I forgot to say it here, but Grampa Phil turned 60 on April 30! A huge milestone in the road of life. So, to see Owen's greeting...scroll down to Peek A Boo picture posted on the 30th...
Sorry Grampa Phil!

Owen and Aaron...

Owen's newest friend is Aaron.

They met in the nursery at church and decided that they could be friends. :-)

Aaron is almost exactly 1 year older...hence the size difference. These two napped while the parents ate some lunch today after church...then they got up and we all watched them play!

Happy Birthday Granny Nanny! Yeah, try to get all 5 of them to turn AND keep their eyes open! :-) We had pizza and cake for 55...stayin' alive! Here we have Cally, Maely, Granny Nanny, Owen, and Emmi. Obviously Owen had no idea what to think!

Owen "helped" with the laundry again...this time he didn't dive-roll into the pile, but he did attempt to "fold" a few things. It actually ended up more spread out by the time he was "done." He found he'd rather throw it around than stack it neatly.

Owen takes a ride on "Big Guy" with the help of Auntie Emmy! This is the closest thing to a horsey that Owen has been on...he is big...but not that big! :-) Owen gets to take a trip to see Auntie Julie for his first birthday. Maybe then he'll get to ride a real horsey!

Okay...watch closely!
I have to concentrate really hard to play this game...I just learned it yesterday...
up over the head, cover the eyes...no one can see me...
PEEK A BOO & HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMPA PHIL! Heehee-too much fun, I tell ya! :-)

Grampa--You are 60, but you still crawl on the floor with me! Maybe next time we can play my new game!

"Just hangin' out before church. Mom let me have a cracker because I got cranky...hmm, get cranky, get something in my mouth. hmmmm, I think I see how it works. It's warm this weekend so I got ot wear shorts! I love it! The less clothes the better, right G-G-ma???"

I also tried to give Owen a little bit of a haircut...when he's eating, he's very focused...that's when we trim nails too. :-) Maybe today we can go for another walk or go to the park! Fun times, happy times,...we are blessed.

Fun times for Owen...I was trying to fold laundry and Owen was cruisin' around, finding new things to play with. He tucked his chin and bee-lined for the pile of laundry. He made a dive and rolled in the pile. He found a wash cloth and giggled like mad. I tried to capture an ounce of the fun he had...can you see it? He is entering into that "busy" stage...how long with it last? years? That's what I hear. He moves from toy to toy, chair to couch, remote to phone, daddy to mommy...cruisin' cruisin' little hippo! He is attempting to stand on his own and walks around our toy chest. It sure must be fun to be a baby. Owen, you make my day! He was up past his bedtime, but went down wonderfully at 8:15. What a great kid...

This is my little boy! He got a bath and went to bed with this hair-do...you can imagine how he woke up! Love...it continues to grow!

"Yea! Daddy and I made it!"

I left for three whole nights and left my boys on their own! It was a nice respite to find time alone, but it sure was hard being without them. It was not all rest and relaxation for me, though. I was at a training for school and am really excited about the things I learned that I can use in my classroom.

I just learned today that I will be teaching all 8th grade next year-one prep! Whoo hooo! I am also dropping off the final copies of my masters capstone on Monday. Man! What a feeling!

Owen got together with Brenna over the weekend. You'd never guess that she is only two weeks older than him! She has always been so tall and long...Owen? not so much. He still has that golf ball...watch out!
He defends that ball...I'm tellin' ya, watch out! :-)
There we are, playing nice. :-) He's still got that ball!

We really should visit more often with Brenna and her sweet pair-o-nuts! :-)
Brenna lives across the street with her mommy and daddy, Renee and Jeremy. Yeah, I tried to get both of them to smile at the same time...yeah, not so successful. But good times were had by all!

Only my dear Aunt Karen would notice there are teeth marks on our gate. :-) Those are not from Owen--Owen only has 1 tooth(kind of, maybe sorta two teeth) anyway. The gate was used before with Taz, who is now living with gramma mama and grampa phil where he gets to run around...they have a few gates up regardless! :-) I think everyone is happy with the current arrangement. Thanks gramma and grampa!

We had to put up the gate cuz someone is cruisin' around! I was talking to Auntie Lori on the phone when I took this picture. Sorry for being so distracted, Lori, but you gotta see how cute he was trying to get through the gate. :-) Auntie Emmy saw Owen tonight for the first time in about a week. She thinks he grew! I'm sure he has. He's not a big fella, but he's healthy! That is all we ask for...

It has been so nice outside lately that Owen and I have gone a few times to the park that is right next to our house. Owen got to ride in the swing, go down the slide, and play in the grass! You can see in this picture that Owen is clutching something quite tightly...it's a plastic golf ball. Of all his shapes and toys, he grabs and holds on to this little ball for dear life! He won't even drop it to hold his bottle! Hmm...golf player???

Hey You...
Guess what?...
I had a monthiversity today!
I'm 10 months old! My mom and dad are my favorite things, and I love crawling around naked! I can pull myself up on just about anything, and I only have 1 1/2 teeth! My eyes are the brightest blue that the ladies just love, and my hair is blonde. I love to ride the swing at gramma's house and eating sweet potato puffs. heehee!

Here he is! Climbing and reaching...having a ball! He doesn't care what is in his way; he wants what he wants.

Some adorable moments: he finally reached for his blankie last week for the first time. He wraps his fingers through the holes and buries his face in the softness. He giggles and smiles like he is utterly satisfied! He fell asleep hugging it tonight. Also, grampa phil wanted to give him a big bunny for Easter, but gramma mama made him get Owen a small one. It is perfect. Owen smiles when I ask him if he wants "Bunky." He grabs the little bunny and "kisses" it. What a little snuggle bug!

Easter weekend was fun with lots of family. Owen crawled and climbed and kept everyone on their toes all weekend. He's working on his second tooth and can't seem to eat enought these days. He "found" his Easter basket, but I won't let him have any candy yet. :-) We saw all the Hall's, including baby Maely, the girls, and Kate and Aaron, of course. We love time with family, and we miss them when we don't see them.

I'm sorry! I started this 2 days ago, but Owen has kept me from punching the right keys. He does like buttons, afterall.

Baby Hall number three: Maely Lu, 8lbs. 9oz., 21 inches long. We visited Kate and Maely in the hospital-of course, ,both looking as beautiful as ever! Tomorrow Owen gets to meet this new cousin. Should be lots of fun in years to come.

Today I met baby Asher: our friends Bill and Jill had their number two. Jill met a few of us out for lunch, toting both little ones. Children sure can be tiring and demanding, but we want to do this: have and raise our own. I guess that is reflection of God's sense of humor and goodness, rolled into one great miracle: Growing Life...

I have so many pictures of Owen in the sink getting his bath...but here is one of him crawling out! Yep, today was the first morning I found Owen standing in his crib and at daycare he learned how to crawl up the stairs! Yikes! Being naked is definitely Owen's favorite thing! He's realized that he goes peepee...he is startled when he accidently pees on the floor...

Last weekend Owen and I travelled with Auntie Emmy, Sash, and Diego to Gramma mama's and Grampa Phil's house to play! We had so much fun laughing and giggling and being a perfect boy. Gramma Mama did so much sneezing (just to watch Owen laugh) that she woke up with a sore neck! I'm seeing more and more of Roger in Owen these days. Hmmm...