Owen & his Thomas obsession....

GO AWAY MAMA RIGHT NOW!!!

GO AWAY MAMA RIGHT NOW!!!, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

Owen is currently in the midst of potty training. I have had the little potty out for months, and we have acknowledged it...but I decided not to push him too hard, as I think maybe I started a bit too soon with Lily. What can I say?? I was TIRED of changing diapers. But she tried my patience over and over telling me 700 times a day she had to go potty until I just stopped believing her all together, because it rarely ever ended in her actually going potty. One day she just decided. And that was pretty much it.

SO now Owen has newfound interest and on 1/8/10 he DID it! He really actually went in the potty. He was sitting eating breakfast and he stopped and said "Go potty Mommy!". I took him over and was helping him get situated when he said, "GO AWAY MAMA...RIGHT NOW!". I was skeptical when I closed the door behind me, but low and behold a minute or two later I heard him yell. "I DID IT!!!".

I opened the bathroom door to see him lift the lid and closely inspect his work. He proudly proclaimed, "I SEE IT!!!". We gave a flush and he earned himself a Hershey's Kiss as a treat.

As a sidenote we started offering chocolate treats for #2 on the potty with Lily and she suddenly started going 4-5 #2s a day...just to earn multiple chocolates. But shoot...it worked! It never ceases to amaze me how smart the little ones are!!!

What a nut!

07_09_i_go_to_knotts
Originally uploaded by mdwinell

Owen the menace!

This is sooooo typical!

Dancy Dance!

DSC00354, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

Owen is so into "dancing" which consists of spinning around in circles. He couldn't resist running on "stage" while Taylor and Lily were putting on their show. He is really into singing and dancing right now. He loves to sing PUFF the magic dragon. He even has started to say dragon!

It was quite a Mother's Day complete with entertainment by the kids, homemade cards, and King's Hawaiian salads to go along with the teriyaki chicken and pineapple that Darren grilled. We also shared the company of Gail's Aunt Evelyn and her daughter Linda Lee and husband, and her daughter Vicky and husband.

It was nice to hear some stories from the past and reconnect with some of Dar's family.

Owen digs on the sandbox

Messy Boy!, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

This is the first time I actually let Owen crawl into the sandbox and he enjoyed it very much! He also liked throwing the sand everywhere. BOYS. We had a lovely BBQ for Great Grandpa George's Birthday and the kids had a great time playing together in the yard. It was a beautiful day!

UT-OH!

Yes we have a giant hole in our ceiling, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

I came home on Saturday night to find THIS in our ceiling. Dar lost his footing while putting some boxes in the attic and he punched a rather giant hole in the ceiling. Lily wanted to know whether a witch lived up there and all Owen could do was point and say UT-OH!!!

All wet!

I DO THAT!, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

I went to take a few photos at the Aquarium in Long Beach of Lily, Annika and Ang and I turned back around to find Owen elbow deep (with his long-sleeved jacket on) splashing in the stingray petting tank. He was soaking wet! All he kept saying is I DO THAT! I DO THAT! What a nut :)

Oy!

This is just a glimpse at our daily lives here in the Dwinell household. Owen is just starting to get a few phrases down and he and Lily are duking it out on the sharing front. We never have a dull moment!

that's my dog!

that's my dog!, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

owen thought that this dog we encountered at wilson park was katie or daisy (grandma and grandpa's dogs). he was puzzled as to why these other kid were walking HIS dog?!?

he had a blast running through the accessible treehouse and then playing with cousins kailie and taylor on the playground after their torrettes performance at the relay for life.

Owen fed himself with a spoon!

Tonight we gave Owen a cup of pudding and let him have at it with a spoon. For awhile now we have realized that we taught Lily much earlier how to eat with silverware, but Owen is just a bit more wild...and he happens to sit much closer when he eats to Darren's other "baby" -- the stereo equipment.

He was very proud of himself when he managed to get the pudding in his mouth as he smiled and proclaimed "I DID IT!!".

Owen's First Haircut

during haircut, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

We took Owen "Einstein" Dwinell in for his first Haircut at FIRST CUT at the Promenade in Palos Verdes. He watched the Backyardigans while sitting in a spaceship and amazingly managed to sit still enough that he didn't lose an ear. Mama fretted over the fact that the haircutting lady kept cutting and cutting all of the curls away. She was worried that they wouldn't sprout back in...(but they did!)

oh mother...

oh mother..., originally uploaded by mdwinell.

we had yet another exiting new year's celebration. owen was a good sport and took a photo with the cheesy new year's antennae. mom has antennae headbands for just about every holiday! lol. we opened up the instant snow that santa left in the stockings...lily and owen enjoyed it very much!

after the kids went to bed mom and dad grilled their surf and turf and ate at their traditional (past) midnight hour. mom waited in line at albertson's for crab legs for over an hour and then decided to go with miniature lobster tail. this is a tradition we hope not to continue! :)

Yes, Owen is up to no good!

lily_owen_xmas004, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

This portrait session at Clix Portrait Studio was one that will not soon be forgotten! Owen was at his all time nuttiest...running throughout the entire studio and actually breaking one of the giant styrofoam snowflake props in half. The staff there could not have been more wonderful and patient thankfully, so we managed to get a few decent shots. What a day!

don't just sit there, lily - save me!

don't just sit there, lily - save me!, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

Apparently Owen is terrified of Santa. We went to Costa Mesa (South Coast Plaza Mall) just to visit the jolly fellow and ride the special Reindeer Carousel. Owen was not amused! Of course, he was probably ripe for a nap at that point, but the photos say it all!

owen walks!

heading for the slide, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

This is the day we officially count Owen as starting to walk!

Owen by the pool

Owen by the pool, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

Here he is enjoying a poolside party at Grandma's. He really enjoys swimming and being in the pool. Also, he LOVES to play in the saucer at Grandma's. Yes, he has 2 now!

Owen loves the doggy!

love the doggy, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

He cannot get enough of Katie and Daisy...he loves to curl up with them, pet them, follow them around, give them kisses and "loves".

Here he is on the sofa curling up with Katie...

asleep in the pool!

asleep in the pool!, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

Nana came to visit us and took us on vacation to "her house" at the WESTIN Mission Hills in Palm Springs. The kids had a GREAT time. We had alot of crazy adventures there including weather that varied from 110 degrees to snow. That's the desert for you! Nana actually lulled Owen to sleep in the pool at the resort. Here he is crashed out on the noodle...

Sisterly Love

DSC00387, originally uploaded by mdwinell.

It is great to see Lily and Owen start to interact with eachother now. They are finally getting to a point where she can make funny faces at him and he will crack up. I let them "play" together out in the driveway and Lily drew pictures with her sidewalk chalk. Owen is WAY more into the Saucer than Lily ever was. He loves to explore all of the toys and figure them out. He laughs at the sounds and swats at all of the hanging toys. Silly boy!