16 months

OK, you're right, officially Owen turned 16 months yesterday... but these photos will do just fine. He's just so handsome in flannel! I love the fall weather!

Car

For no real reason, Owen's "car" has been hiding in the garage for a couple weeks. We brought it out yesterday and Owen was beyond thrilled. Today he would climb into it, and say "please please". He even brought his cell phone for the ride. This photo was even before breakfast, so our first ride was after we got dressed. Here he is, the man around town. (the car is also a convenient mail carrier)

He'll honk the horn and go "beep beep"

You can hear him say beep beep if your careful. Of course, he's not squealing with delight, rather, he'll wait until the camera is off!

We took him out to stretch his legs, and try to catch a cat.

Salem

This past Saturday, we went to Salem to spend some time with my mom and dad. Lucas and dad went to the driving range to hit some golf balls. Mom, Owen and I went to a very cool bridge that you can walk across the Willamette River, and we went to the carousel.

Owen would point below and say "duck" and "dog". (there were ducks and dogs below) After the adult speed walk, we took Owen out for some Owen speed walking. He loved looking out to the river.

It was very windy, as you can tell by the sound of the video. Owen loved it. And you know real grandma love when she brushes away cobweb after cobweb between rails, so Owen didn't have to touch them!


Owen on mom's shoulders. He LOVED it! Though he kept throwing his balance all over the place which made mom a little bit nervous.

Onto the carousel. I love his look. "you got me right mom?". We chose one that didn't go up and down for our first ride. Mom was on the horse next to us.

Petting the pony.

Most the time, he had a nice grip on the pole. He smiled mostly... but just occasionally looked worried.

After we all played, we met up back at mom and dad's house. We had a great dinner, some good laughs, then back home!

Slide

Owen has been working on figuring out how to slide. The slides at Munchkinland are pretty easy... big steps, slow slide. The one at home is a little trickier. A little steeper up, a little steeper down, and no platform to get your feet going in the right direction.

He's really good at climbing up... though I love the face of "should I really be here?" "mom, you're close right? just in case?"

Very proud to get one leg in the right direction... then he'll get stuck. "What about leg number two?"

Seems pretty far up... now what?

Then, up until this morning, I would bring the other leg through and he'd slide on down. Run around and do it all over again. This morning however, he figured out how to bring leg number two around AND not fall off! Two great accomplishments!

Oceanside

To quote The Decemberists, "Oh, If I could only get to Oceanside..." and that's just what we did today. While it was rainy in Portland, it was beautiful at the coast. I'm so glad we decided to go. Even if it was rainy, we would have had a great time... but add the sun and a nice breeze, it was perfect. Owen was quite happy on the blanket. I kept trying to get him to stand up in the sand... but he had none of it... too unstable.

And the fact that Lucas was busy feeding birds... he was content to hang out with me... for a bit.

So happy to see the birds... he even would make the sounds of seaguls!

Self-portrait... Look at my Oshel gum smile!

Lucas took Owen to feed the birds too... Owen just kept saying "duck, duck"... close enough.

He had a great time... I was a little nervous... birds being so close to Owen's delectable toes and all...

After we were out of bread, we walked to the water... Owen loved to walk on the wet sand... much more stable.

And while we thought he may not like the water... he LOVED it! Hated it when we lifted him up. Wanted to sit... but mostly stood and walked in it.

Lucas and Owen.

Camera switch... me and Owen.

Owen may have been looking at the Coast Guard helicopter that was flying overhead.

Dipping our toes.

Owen only plopped down once... he didn't even mind his wet bottom...

Family Portrait... all four of us.

We might make it...

Owen is literally making leaps and bounds towards his "walking deadline". We might actually make the four week limit (we have until October 1st). He still won't stand up on his own... but if you STAND him up... he's officially walking. He has also figured out that if he sits on his "block box" he can stand and get going himself... smart fella.

Lucas' best day

We went to the Hood River Fly-in today. It's where/when a bunch of antique airplanes fly in and fly around for a weekend, and you get to go look and ogle. There was much ogling from both Lucas and Owen (and me too). The best part was that a a bi-plane ride was available. So, we got there first thing and signed Lucas up. They said we could take Owen, and while he likes airplanes, he hates the vacuum... so it seemed like a safer idea for Owen and me to stay on the ground.
Here's the plane.

Different view, same plane.

Owen enjoying string cheese, while watching planes. He would just squeal and point at each plane... and there were a LOT of planes!

me and Owen

family self-portrait.

Lucas and Owen.

Lucas had to wear a "pilot hat". In theory to keep his hair in place (insert laugh here) but it would also make it a wee bit quieter.

Owen liked Lucas' hat more than his own.

Lucas had a safe take off, and noisy flight. This is him up in the sky.
This is him coming back.

Look at that smile! Lucas just kept saying, "that was INSANE, AMAZING, like NOTHING I've ever done"

Still smiling, Owen happy to have daddy back on the ground.


Watching more airplanes.

After the bi-plane, we went to the helicopters. The owner of the helicopter was the same guy that hired nine year old Lucas to wash his helicopters at the Hillsboro Airport. He wasn't there, but the helicopters were... Blades going, Lucas had to duck to get in AND keep his head!Owen's hair blew being so close, he thought it was so funny.

Getting ready....

And take off.


Somewhere, in the in airport/museum/runway/hay ride/gift shop, Owen lost a shoe. No reason going back and looking... last time I saw it, we were at the bi-plane rides. That was two hours before we noticed. With a kid that is still willing to ride instead of walk... who knows when he lost it.

Owen had a great time... slept the entire way home... dreaming of airplanes, and daddy flying the helicopter. Lucas had a great day too. He counts it in the top ten days of his life... not bad. Not bad at all!