First Word

So, it happened while we were on vacation last week. 

I was sitting on a porch with my mom and Owen was playing in front of us.  He started pulling himself up on his 2 feet near my mom and she helped him.  As soon as he got up on his feet he reached his little hand in my direction and started leaning as if he wanted to come to me....and said "Da-Da". 

My mom looked at me in disbelief and we both said to each other, "Did he really just say that?"  We agreed that he did and in our excitement told everyone as soon as possible. 

We are on a mad mission now to get him to say Ma-Ma.  It's only a matter of time.

Ripley's Believe it or Not

We took a family vacation to the Wisconsin Dells with my family (my mom and my siblings and their families) this past week. 

Here are some pictures of the morning when Em, the Dude, & I decided to escape the resort for a morning and went to downtown Wisconsin Dells and while there we took in the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum. 

Checking out the fountain

 

 

Em and I

(actually this is a statue of a man when he was 18 years old & 1400 lbs)

 

 

Duct Tape Room - Everything (chair, bed, hats, shoes, etc...) is made of duct tape

 

 

In front of large Shark Jaws

 

 

Having a Bite of his first Rootbeer Float

 

A Myriad of Randomness

The Dude and Kendall checking each other out

(No comments about The Dude's pink shoes, please)

 

 

The Dude & Kendall in a wagon in their "play group"

(Kendall wants out....pronto.)

 

 

Grandma Nancy giving The Dude a push in a swing

 

 

Hanging out with Gramps

 

 

Big Chair with Mom

 

 

Big Chair with Dad

 

 

What does this expression mean?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toy Box

The main gift that Em & I  bought Owen for his birthday was a toy box.  However, I found out about 10 days before his birthday that the toy box was out of stock and it wouldn't be back in stock until the day before his birthday party. 

Knowing that he wouldn't be able to open anything (from us) on his birthday we went out and bought a couple smaller items for him to open.  (a walk behind lawnmower & -as Em calls it- a water park....which is a blow up play pool that is enormous.) 

Well, we just received the toy box in the mail the other day, and I finally had time to put it together and wrap it. 

So, he opened his latest 1st birthday present today. 

He's got the whole unwrapping thing down

 

 

One of the few unblurry pics since his hands 

aren't moving as fast as a tornado in this one.

 

 

Getting down to wood

 

 

Speaking of tornados

 

 

Half way done

 

 

What the heck is down there?  (he actually fell in)

 

 

This top moves up and down

 

 

He likes it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Fun with Gen & Wakely

Wakely & The Dude playing in the Playhouse

 

 

Our Yard looks eerily similar to a DayCare

 

 

Playing with their Balloon Animals at the Festival

 

 

Eating corn at the Delafield Festival

 

 

The Dude likes his new Water Table

 

 

 

 

Going to Pewaukee Beach

Aunt Gen & Cousin Wakely came up to Wisconsin to visit us and celebrate Owen's 1st birthday.  They decided to go to Pewaukee beach with Em and Owen one day (while I was working).  Here are some pics from their adventure

Driving to the Beach

 

 

Dude & Wakely having fun after a swim

 

 

These cousins are obsessed with each other

 

 

Sharing a water bottle in an unconventional way

 

 

 

More 1st Birthday Pics

The 1st Birthday Family

 

 

Mom & Dude

 

 

The Smash Cake being Delivered

 

 

Family Photo before things get really messy

 

 

Cousin Wakely helping out a tuckered out Owen with one of his presents

 

 

After his nap, we continued opening some presents (with more help from Wakely)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm 1

We celebrated Owen's 1st birthday the day before his actual birthday.  It was a baseball themed party so we had popcorn, peanuts, nachos, hotdogs, and brats along with other baseball type foods and drinks.  Emily and her sister, Gen, decorated the house and all had a good time celebrating with Owen. 

Here are some pics:

The morning of his party and he seems to know that something is going on

 

 

Em made a baseball wreath for the door

 

 

Baseball Cupcakes

 

 

Em is delivering the "smash cake" to the birthday boy

 

 

Trying a little icing first

 

 

Well that didn't take long

 

 

Good Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highlights / Lowlights

I'm not sure what "lowlights" are (as opposed to highlights) but after seeing The Dude's hair in the sun one day while we were on a walk, I was sure that he would be the envy of half the girls on the Jersey shore. 

 

 

People pay big bucks for hair like that....

 

 



The Dude has it au naturel.

Plethora of Random Pics

Waiting to go in the Pool

 

Taking a photo a little too close to The Dude's grasp

 

He barely needs 1 hand to do this anymore

 

This is what we wake up to each morning when we walk in his room

 

Loves reading books....(now we just need to work on getting them right side up)

 

Bath time with a friend after having a fun time in the pool

 

Playing in his house outside

 

Playing with his truck