It often takes something tough to make us appreciate the beauty of the blessings in our lives. I will say that Roger and I had a fun engagement and wonderful wedding. We've traveled to Hawaii, Jamaica, Canada, Colorado, Ohio, Illinois, and Florida together, not to mention the few short trips within MN...and...we've only been married a little over three years. Owen will be 2 in June and he has not been sick more than a day in all that time...until this past week. His fever didn't go away, I stayed home and held him for two days; Roger stayed home for another two days as well. His fever and congestion held on so we ended up at the doctor on Thursday afternoon. He confirmed a cold...then surprised us by saying he had a double ear-infection...and then...he took x-rays to confirm a bit of pneumonia as well! Poor little guy! I had spent many hours rocking, hugging, praying...Owen was so miserable! He didn't want to play ball. He didn't want bananas. He didn't even want crackers. It took this bit of suffering for me to redefine that Owen is the BEST thing that has ever happened to us, been given to us, and that we've been blessed with. It was in the middle of the night, one night last week, that Owen prayed,

"God...Help."

God heard and healed. Owen has eaten at least two bananas a day the past two days and is running around with his basketball again. Whew! What a champ...here is how it all looked:

A week ago Friday Owen played with his cousins and Auntie Kate while Rog and I went out...he had lots of fun with them!
A week ago Sunday he had a fever and kept me up most of the night...so we took a nap...
I finally got him to sit by himself by popping in "Mommy & Me" playgroup songs and dances (the cheesiest DVD EVER!) The next day we went to the doctor, and...
By today he was climbing on furniture, banging on walls with wooden spoons, and running his football across the room!
Daddy was teaching him to make silly faces...
and Owen picked it up fast, but couldn't hold it without giggling!

He's saying, "see! I can do it on my own!"

Even though Owen was practicing his 3-point stance...
learning to spike the ball...
and even fitting in a little "grill" time... the packers didn't win. That's okay. We are still proud!

Momma didn't have to work on Martin Luther King Jr. Day so we took a trip to Shoreview to see Coach and her family...minus Jeremiah who was at "Young Americans" all day today...
Owen, Madeline, and Matthew played, danced, sang, wrestled...
... said "cheese"...
... and even talked about picking boogers! Here, Owen is making Madeline laugh so hard!
We had a good time and decided that we need to go over to play more often! Thanks, Coach and Mike, for all you do for me without even knowing your doing it! :-) Thank you also for the faithful prayers and support even when we go months without seeing you. You are a wonderful gift from God!

GO PACK! WHOO HOO! Whent the Vikings are out of the running, Papa Steve (Reger) even says "Go packers!" So, I thought it okay to sport our outfit today...Gramma Grampa, it's on! We are all ready to watch Favre throw the ball and run to the end zone when we make a touch down! Blue 42! (that is the cue for Owen to get into 3-point stance). We've got a fresh haircut too! We'll post a picture or maybe a video later!

Two more of Owen's words are "mittens" and "wow!". He used to cry when I put the mittens on, so I stopped doing it since we ran from building to car and car to house. With the temp in the negative numbers and the wind chill even colder, I have him wear them. He doesn't mind at all, and if they fall off in the car, he says, "mittens!". The "wow!" came this morning when he repeated me. Then he kept saying it and it turned into "wowie!". He loves to say uh-oh when he drops something or someone else drops something. It turns frustration into something very endearing. He turns a tough day into an "uh-oh" and makes me smile. One thing about working all day and therefore craving more time with my little boy: when he isn't feeling well or is working on a tooth at 11:30 p.m. when I know I need my sleep...I don't mind sitting up with him and rocking him to sleep. He's my little angel!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! :-) more to come...

What a weekend! I turned 29 today and coultn't be happier about having come this far...time only brings more opportunity to know yourself, change, improve, and learn more. How can it be a dilemma getting older?...ask me in few more years and see if I feel the same! :-)

We stayed in and watched a movie on Friday at my request. Saturday Gramma Momma and Grampa Phil got here and we went swimming! So much fun to blow bubbles and get all pruny. That night Rog and I went out to his company holiday party and enjoyed ourselves while Gramma and Grampa played and played and loved every minute of Owen time! I guess he was up a 1/2 hour past his bedtime...I said it was okay. :-) Gramma Momma started a list of all the words that Owen said in their time together. She is so impressed by his vocabulary! So Gramma...here we go, in no particular order:

Poppa

momma

blue ("blue 42!")

elephant (sounds like evident though)

basketball

poopy

potty

peepee

weewee (you know what that is! no we are not going with anatomical names!)

doggie

duck

bear

no

snack

up

bye bye

grampa

gramma

mimi

tazzy

car

swimming

cracker

cookie

milk

book

horsie

baby

please (peees!)

more

book

apple

blocks

clock

pen

owen

grapes (gapes)

water

crayon

car

fork (usually can't say the r though!)

And that only includes the words that he says without prompting. One of his favorite games is repeating whatever we say. So fun. Today we had a party with Gramma Mimi and a party with the Reger family. We ate, laughed, smiled, and were entertained. Bedtime is calling me early tonight so I'd better rap this up. Thanks everyone for your messages, gifts, calls, and best wishes. I am already enjoying 29.

So we've had a little free time around our house with me not working for two whole weeks (whoopeee!), but now the time is drawing closer to its end (boohoo). I am not saying by this picture that Owen is getting potty trained...I would not be so brave, but when he points to the toilet and says, "potty!" I got a little eager. I bought him a cheap little stool/toilet trainer so he can have something to sit on. Heehee. Now...all he has to do is make the connection between "poopoo" & "peepee" and how it all works...oh yeah, and he has to have a little control and desire, right? :-) Okay, so it may be a year...or...

He's having another rough week with falls and trips and pinching fingers in cupboards. He has a bruise on his cheek from an altercation with the coffee table. No, he was not dancing on it this time. :-) Once again...clutching the monkey!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

(Auntie Julie...recognize the monkey??)

Christmas was a whirlwind with less than 4 days in Wisconsin with the Larsen clan (minus Julie & Todd :-() where we ate, drank, and were merry; we went to Christmas eve service that Owen slept through, had a ham dinner, and opened gifts. Owe also got to get his first molar at Gramma & Grampa's house! This was the first time I was up with him at night with teething, and it was only an hour and a half. Whew! One down...how many to go???

Regardless, there were lots of smiles and giggles and good times had by all.

Auntie Julie and Todd may not have been there, but they wanted to be the ones to give Owen his first bike...even if he can't reach the peddles! :-) Auntie Julie said she would come over and fashion blocks on the peddles this summer so he can learn to ride. She remembered that's what her daddy did so she could ride her little red trike when she was little.
Christmas Day brought us traveling back to Minnesota and just barely beating the snow. We celebrated with the Reger's, but Katy and Aaron were not there. So...the day after Christmas, we gathered at Nanny and Papa Steve's to eat just a little more and open more gifts.
I believe this is Emmi under the table with Owen...being silly!
Owen, Emmi, and Cali sat so nice when Nanny was playing the piano and sang some songs with everyone. :-) Poor little Owen cries whenever we sing Away in a Manger...I have no idea why...it just works every time. We'll see what happens next year. :-)

It didn't turn out super great, but I had to take a few pictures on my cell phone after my camera battery died. Here he is! Rog on Skis. :-) I was so proud to see Rog try and actually do really good! I am looking forward to our next trip skiing...when and where????

Rog took me to Lutsen for our December 18th anniversary for two days to a fantastic condo on Lake Superior. Owen was shifted between grandparents who were not at all put out about taking care of the little guy. He did well, but I know he missed us. Thanks to all who made it possible for us to get away for a few days.

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!