Baby Owen- 12 months!!

This will be my last monthly post!!! I'll probably do an update at 18 months or so.. but this is officially his last "baby" update. Sad.

Growing

-Weighs 21lbs (61%)

-Height 30.5" (77%

-Wears mostly 18 month clothes.. bottoms are still 12 months because he is still a bit on the little side. 

-Has two top and two bottom teeth!

-We measured him on the growth chart and he's well below where Austin was. My little piglet. I love it!

You can see "AJ" at 1 year is bit taller than "OK"

-He is hitting all his growth and development checks just wonderfully! He's pointing, clapping, waving, using a few signs (mostly "more") and giving high fives! He also gives big open-mouthed slobbery kisses which are the best!

-He has really started to "get" things and follows directions really well for how young he is. We say "bring a block to Momma!" and he will go get a block and bring it to me. He loves to bring things to people. He also follows directions to close doors, put his feet out to get shoes on, or leave things be (mostly). 

-He does NOT follow directions well when it comes to leaving Austin alone or being gentle with the animals. Like his brother, he gets over excited and his affection comes out in hitting, slapping, and pulling. We have to really watch him sometimes or he'll hurt Henry or bother Austin to the point of tears. I tell ya.. this one is a pest!!!! 

-He says "Mama" but doesn't have any other words. He makes this "gmmmm!" swallow kind of noise when he points to things. So he's trying to talk or say "what's that?" he just can't quite yet. He will point and go "gmmm?" at something then look at you with his big inquisitive eyes.. and it's the cutest thing. 

-He's a bit wobbly sometimes with his walking, but that hasn't stopped him from starting to run! And he does butt-up headstands, and climbs. Climbs EVERYTHING. And log rolls around. 

Eating

-We got the go-ahead to wean him off formula. So he gets whole milk in a sippy cup now, and bottles of half milk, half formula at school. Some days he drinks all his bottles at school, some days he doesn't touch them. So it's a process but I think we will be off formula completely in the next month. 

-He is still a great eater and is willing to try anything. Fruit is still a big favorite, so is meat, and hummus...beans, rice, crackers, quinoa, peppers... he seriously likes everything. 

-Getting him to sit in his highchair for meals though is tough. He instantly squirms and wants out, and has about a 5 minute tolerance level, even when he is hungry. He'd rather play and wander around while he's eating.. but that makes it hard for everyone else to eat since we usually have to follow him and watch him. 

-He really likes having a utensil when he eats.. and gets the concept of how to do it but isn't very accurate with it yet. He tries though! And he's definitely left-handed like Neal. Even if you hand him something and he grabs it with his right hand, he'll transfer it to his left before using it. 

Sleeping

-Owen has really turned into a great sleeper. He wakes at night just once and awhile... cries for a bit and then goes back down. It's usually because he's lost his pacifier and has to find it. 

-He is kind of transitioning to one nap a day. At home on the weekends, he still takes two naps. He is about to move full time into the Wobbler room at school (he visits some days right now) and there is one all-class naptime a day (after lunch) and then if a kiddo is acting really tired, then they can go down for another nap later. Well of course the new room and new toys and new friends and new adventures (going outside!!) are too exciting so Owen has only slept during the one all-class nap. So bedtime is a bit earlier and he's had a lot of cranky evenings from being so tired. Once he gets used to the new room and routine, hopefully he will either take one longer nap, or stop playing long enough to get an afternoon snooze in too.

-Mornings are my most favorite with him.. his sleepy face and tousled hair... and he's so sweet and wants to be held and cuddled. Then after 2 minutes.. it's GO TIME!! And the kid is off like a rocket. 

Playing

-Like I said.. this kiddo is left-handed I'm sure. He kicks balls around with just his left foot, he throws balls left-handed and he walks around with a little hockey stick trying to whack things.. left-handed. 

-He is the type of kid that needs to be involved. He wants to know what is going on, what's happening.. if Austin is doing something, he's right there trying to touch or grab or be involved somehow (much to Austin's annoyance). One morning Austin was apologizing for being mean to me (a common thing right now) and Owen had to be part of it. 

-He loves to play peek-a-boo and stick things on his head like hats. 

-He loves blocks and putting blocks and toys into things like baskets and buckets. He pushes cars and trucks along the floor (with his left hand) and likes his play piano. He will actually sit quietly for awhile just pounding away and playing us songs! 

-He is still very sensitive, and quick to get mad or upset if he doesn't get his way. The tantrums have begun!! He will lay down and flop his body (like a fish out of water) or log roll across the room while he cries and screams. 

-He also still has that naughty side. Trying to pack up while he was behind us, taking things out of boxes was interesting. He's into all the things he shouldn't be, all the time. We let him into the bathroom to play with the toilet paper on his birthday though! He was thrilled. 

There is our BoBo.. a whole year of cray wrapped up into one of the cutest bundles I ever did see!!