The Dude is Mobile

He isn't close to crawling yet.  He can't even roll over, but the dude has found a way to get around.

While laying on his back, he pulls his legs up to his butt and then he straightens them.  As he straightens his legs along the ground he actually pushes himself backwards. 

We've found him in odd positions after we place him on his play mat.  After a couple minutes, he will be half off the mat, or like below, decide he'd like a snack.  (He started out in the center of the mat.)

Emily found Owen chewing away on his play mat.

The New Windex

If you haven't seen "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" I'm not sure what to say to you.  It was pretty popular. 
In that movie, the father of the bride was obsessed with Windex as a cure-all.  He used Windex as a zit remover, wart remover, and everything in between psoriasis to poison ivy.  If there was an ailment.....Windex was the cure. 

Emily has her own "Windex" and it's called Aquaphor.  She uses it for everything "Owen related"....and more.  If Owen has dry skin....Aquaphor.  If he has the makings of what might become a rash down the road....maybe.....Aquaphor.  Dry lips....aquaphor.  Hair messed up.....Aquaphor.  Clothes on too tight.....Aquaphor.  (OK, I made that one up.)  But I have even been asked to grease all of the door hinges in the house with .....Aquaphor. 

Someone is seriously way too obsessed.

I will step in before Emily does to Owen what happened to this person:

It's gotten bad, but not quite that bad.......yet.

Favorite Things

If you think this post is going to be about whiskers on kittens or raindrops on roses, then you have watched too many musicals in your life....like me  (thanks, mom). 

Yesterday, I got to thinking about the different stages of my life and how my favorite things have evolved over time.

I don't remember too many of my favorite things when I was really young, but I do remember some things:

• 8 years old (1984) - The summer olympics was in Los Angeles and my mom and sisters were obsessed with watching them (especially the gymnastics -- Mary Lou Retton & Mitch Gaylord among others).  I loved going outside and recreating events as best as possible.  We borrowed my dad's sawhorses (there were only 2) and tried to set up a hurdle event.  We got a large stick and pole vaulted over my mom's flower gardens.  I loved it, and I remember being outside until we got called in when it got dark.
• 9-15 years old - Chad and I grew up loving sports.  The first sport that we really got into (probably because of Little League) was baseball.  Much to the chagrin of our 2 next door neighbors, we constantly were hitting the ball outside of our yard (for a homerun).  I loved mimicing batting stances and swings of professional baseball players and trying to even master switch hitting. 
• 11-18 years old - I was obsessed with basketball.  If you were looking for me during those years, I was probably either at school or outside playing basketball (or some other sport).  If I was in a good mood I played basketball.  If I just had to get away, I played basketball.  I worked on trying to dunk...until I could dunk, then I worked on dunking better.  It never stopped.  Even in the winter, I would play basketball in the snow and would only come inside enought for my fingers to thaw out....then I would go right back out. 
• Post college - One of my favorite things to do with Emily is to go to different restaurants and try new food.  We have tried many different restaurants and different ethnic cuisines.  (I hope I never get sick of doing that.)
• But yesterday, I found my new favorite thing to do..... I love sitting in a chair with my son on my chest sleeping.  It is just so relaxing.  I love just looking at him and try to envision the future with him.  You can't help but feel very "big" in that situation.  But not only big, I think the main feeling I get is a sense of responsibility for a life.  (The only downside to it that I have determined is that I think I'm a little too comfortable for Owen.  If I was ripped like an olympic swimmer or gymnast, Owen probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep quite as fast as he does with my physique.  But that's ok.  I'll take it.)

1 Month Pics (and 2 others)

Normally, when I post pics I won't post more than 1 of the "same" pic.  But this was a little different.  I must've opened these 3 pics on my computer 100 times each.  I just love the different expressions that Owen makes in each one.  I just couldn't decide which one to post, so I am posting all 3.  (Believe me....this won't become a habit.  I will get better in my editing.)

What's not to like about this pic.  Happy boy.

Emily is off camera getting his attention.

I love when he pulls his lips back like this.

Hanging out on his playmat

Emily says often that Owen looks just like me, however at least he shares with his mom a similar facial expression.

Dad & Owen

A few people have commented that I don't put many pictures of myself up on the website. 

To that, I say, "That is correct."

I do that on purpose because the only pictures that I like of me are the ones that were taken when I was 3 years old or younger. 

I'm breaking that tradition right now (for this one blog post only) to show that I do hold Owen on occasion and he doesn't always scream & cry when I do. 

I already hear your complaints.  I'll photoshop my mug out of all future photos.  I promise.

Full Circle

36 years after my grandfather saw me napping in the crib he made for me, I got to see my son in it.  I can't help but have thoughts of my grandfather knowing of this occasion.....and smiling.

Here are some pictures:

Just Like Dad

Owen is 5 weeks old, but Emily noticed today that Owen's feet have outgrown the 3-6 month outfits that he wears that have feet in them.  Now, I'm not saying that he has completely outgrown 3-6 month outfits because he hasn't.  He is getting too tall for them, and his feet are too big for them, but he swims in them in terms of width. 

Pic that shows how his foot has outgrown the "foot area" in a 3-6 month footie pajama

I'm afraid that this is more proof that Owen has gotten the majority of my genes.  (Poor kid.)  I grew up having to constantly wear "slim" pants and outgrew shoes every year (or earlier, but we only replaced them once a year). Now I'm 6'4" and wear size 14 shoes (but I don't wear "slim" pants anymore).  

A Couple Pics

Very Alert

As Uncle Chad said:  This is Owen's "Blue Steel" expression (from the movie Zoolander)

Making Eye Contact More and More Every Day

Growing Up is Hard to Do

....At least it is for Emily.

I thought I was in for the water works when Emily sadly told me that Owen no longer fits into "newborn" clothes".  That wasn't my first clue either.  Last week, we were asked by a stranger how old he was when we were out and about.  Emily answered politely, "2 weeks", and immediately turned to me with a sad expression on her face.

I swear I think this is how Emily sees him now:

I wasn't prepared for that reaction.  I didn't read anything that told me that mothers don't like to see their kids grow up.  None of my friends informed me of this bizarre motherly reaction, but I guess that it is fairly common.

Do they really want to keep them in THIS stage forever?  Not sleeping through the night, diapers, not being able to talk....or walk, diapers, the crying (Owen really doesn't cry often), did I mention diapers?

I don't get it.

As a dad, I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't think everyday of the day when I would be able to take him to the zoo (and he'd appreciate it), play catch with him, or joke around with him to see the joy in his laughter. 

I get that he's incredibly cute at this stage, but isn't the goal to have him grow up?  To enjoy every stage? 

(Emily has a book that she reads to Owen when she feeds him, but I think it is more for her benefit.  It's entitled, "If I could keep you little".  It's a cute book that basically says that If I could keep you little....I'd miss out on all the fun things that happen later on as they grow up.)

  I might make it mandatory nightly reading for Em.

Let's just enjoy every day and every stage (and even every diaper) that we are blessed to share with him.

Nicknames

They say that the best nicknames are organic.  They can't be forced.  If you sit down and say to yourself that so and so needs a nickname, you probably won't think of a good one right then. 

I pride myself on my nickname giving abilities.  There are still several people that I know who go by the nickname that I gave them.  (That makes me smile.)

I guess I must've had the movie "The Big Lebowski" in my head unknowingly because Em has now taken to calling him "Duder".  When I asked where she got it from, she said that she heard me call him "Dude" & "Duder" while I was changing his diaper. 

For those of you who haven't seen the movie, here's a picture & the quote that I'm referencing:

"I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing."

The Littlest "Browns Backer"

Most of you know that I watch the Cleveland Browns games with a bunch of other Browns fans in the city of Milwaukee (and surrounding areas).  (I'm proud to even admit that I'm the vice president of the chapter.)  I have even received facebook messages from several of the members making sure that Owen had enough Browns gear to kick off his brown & orange life. 

I can't wait till the day when Owen & I will go downtown together to share in watching the game together.  (Maybe they'll even be respectable by then.) 

Owen is officially a "Jr. Backer" now.  He has his own membership card and everything. 

The Cleveland Browns treat their Jr. Backers right.  We will be expecting a welcome package for Owen in the next few weeks that will include:

Cleveland Browns Lunch Box

Binoculars with Case

Autograph Book with Pen

Rally Towel

Sunglasses

Decal

One FREE child's ticket to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
*with the purchase of one adult ticket

Contests & Sweepstakes

Exclusive Invitations

This kid will be raised right! 

Necessity?

I think NOW we have everything possibly made for a baby boy.  My house is overrun by vibrating chairs, swings, clothes, pacifiers, diapers (clean), etc...  But until we had this.....we just weren't complete. 

Now Owen will no longer have the fear of accidentally peeing on himself, the wall, Em, or more importantly.....me when his diaper is being changed.