In the past week or so...B has realized that he is gaining control of his fingers...he has started to play with toys, balls, blankets etc. It is so much fun to watch his eyes light up when he sees a toy or holds something that has bright colors and makes noise. He has gotten over his extreme dislike for tummy time and will play on his tummy and has started to be able to sit up (with help). Ella is having to learn that she can show interest in tummy time and B's toys..but cannot take B's toys away from him...a little "sibling jealousy"...tennis balls aren't quite as exciting as baby toys!B loves to be "Super Owen" when his Grandma J comes to play!

How great is this face? Chad captured this the other night while B was playing...I love those precious lips...

This photo makes me laugh...there is some serious work going on! My mom is on the phone, B is on the phone and working at his "laptop", and Ella is making sure that everyone has had a pedicure!

Chad got his guitar out and B was completely enamored with it, he enjoyed laying on his tummy and kicked his little legs while Chad played...What a great way to wake up from a Saturday nap!

We went out for dinner the other night, and B enjoyed sitting in his "Big Kid" chair again...we got smart and attached a toy to the chair for him to play with while we ate. He has started to watch us eat...he gets pretty fascinated with watching food go from a plate to someones mouth...you can just imagine the wheels turning inside of his head...wondering if he might be about to get a bite!

I think B looks so grown up in this photo...it is fun to imagine that he is about to lean over and ask Chad what he might suggest on the menu. I think he is getting a little bored with his rice cereal and ready to try something exciting like carrots!

This photo is of B sitting at the table with us...B's cousin, Mia, has a "big kid chair" like this and enjoys participating in meals when their family goes out to eat. B is finally old enough, and has enough head and core control to sit in his own chair. Last week, B sat at the table with us and played with a couple of his toys, while we ate lunch. The funniest part of our lunch was not watching B in his chair, but was when Chad picked B up to hold him and B grabbed Chad's glass of Dr. Pepper...consequently, Dr. Pepper spilled all over the table, floor, Chad and Owen. Chad was a really good sport...we learned our lesson that everything on a table needs to be out of Owen's reach!
This photo is in honor of B's Uncle Jeff who is getting ready for his first day of Boat Building School. B hopes that Uncle Jeff has a great first day...B wanted Jeff to know that in life, a shirt is always optional...though he may need to wear one for his first day. (Jeff gave B these overalls as a gift.)

This life size golden retriever stuffed animal was a gift from B's grandparents before he was born. We have understandably named the stuffed dog, Ella, in honor of Ella...and she "sits" at the end of Owen's crib in his nursery. For the first 18 weeks of Owen's life, I took "week" photos of him laying next to "Ella" to capture his growth...taking the photos each week got somewhat tedious...so I have decided to take "month" photos instead. This is our five month photo...he looks so grown up! He is not standing on his own, though the photo looks like it...however, he does love to stand with help. The sandals that he is wearing have some rubber on the bottom of them, he really enjoys standing when he has these shoes on...I think it is because it prevents him from slipping.

B's Gram (my mom) has been in town for a visit...it is such a gift to watch her interact with B and listen to her share how she thinks he has changed since her last visit. I don't notice the changes as much because I have the opportunity to be with him each day. Since B was born, it has been especially difficult to live away from family, ...we are learning how to treasure all the bits of time that we can get. During this visit, my mom has taught me how to quilt in between B's naps. I have really enjoyed learning from her and can't wait to make a quilt on my own!

Let's Eat Video

Here is some video of Let's Eat in Bluff Dale where we ate with some good friends last weekend. I would highly reccomend this place.

Uncle Jamey

My brother, Jamey, stopped by for a quick visit on his way down to school last night. It had been about a month since B had seen his uncle...he was quite enamored by Jamey's voice and all the different whistles and sounds that Jamey made in effort to get Owen to laugh.

B noticed that Jamey had a new hat and figured that he would try his new hat on to be just like his uncle...In this photo, the two have their hats mixed up...

I love the way that B is looking at Jamey in this photo, he looks like such a big kid!

Is there any family resemblance?

We can't wait to spend more time with Uncle Jamey (and hopefully Jeff too) this fall!

Friends...

We have been blessed with the opportunity to see some dear friends and family throughout the past week or so...it has left B exhausted...as you can see in this photo! His little legs looked so funny as he slept with them in between the crib rails during an afternoon nap. We went with some friends to Granbury to visit the Barking Rocks Winery and eat at Let's Eat for dinner. B wasn't able to take advantage of the awesome food that Let's Eat had to offer...however, he was content with his bottle. Let's Eat was so much fun...it is a little house like structure that has two sittings for dinner each night...you basically sit in the chef's kitchen and get to watch him prepare your meal...there was fantastic food, great company, hysterical people watching...all in all a great night! We will definitely go back!

On Friday, I was able to enjoy a "girls" night with some dear friends from college, while Chad got together with some friends. We enjoyed a low key evening filled with great food and even better fellowship...it was topped off with Sopapilla Cheesecake (one of my new favorites)! B was awesome, he had missed his afternoon nap, so he slept while we all caught up on the recent happenings in each other's lives. This was our attempt to use the timer on the camera...I need to work on centering the photo better next time.

This photo is of B getting ready to ride in his stroller to see his friend Ms. Kim at the bakery down the street. As I have mentioned before, we have so enjoyed becoming "regulars" at this little bakery. We look forward to seeing the same people each week, Chad and I realized that we have been "regulars" for more than a year. This is B and his good friend, Ms. Jennifer. Jennifer was sweet to keep be entertained as we waited for our dessert at Let's Eat...fried peanut butter & jelly & pecan pie...interesting, yet delectable!

B's friends, Trip & Jovie, invited him over for an impromptu quick play date last week. Jovie was born two weeks before B and Trip was born one week before B (almost to the day). It was so fun to see all three babies together...it was in between nap times...hence the lack of smiles...but still really fun!

Grandma J & Grandpa B came over to play with B last week. We were grateful for the opportunity to have a night out to spend time with friends without the stroller and the diaper bag...don't get me wrong, I love having B along...but it is a gift to have a "date" every once in awhile! B enjoyed a walk and a trip to get ice cream!

Middle of the Week B

B has started to enjoy his "Tummy Time"! This is a welcomed change from a couple months ago. He lays on his tummy and does a sort of swimming-like move on the blanket as he plays with different toys. My mom made this quilt with a variety of textures on it for him to play with, I think he likes the tassels and satin because he grabs both with his little hands and of course...tries to put it in his mouth. B showed incredible interest as his friend, Ms. Leslie, read his favorite book, "Who Loves Owen?" to him. At one point, he even tasted the book...that's how much he enjoyed it! Our friend, Megan, made him this book. It is a flip book with photos of all of our family, we have been reading it before bed every night...thanks Meg! We officially tried the high chair out this week...B is still a little small for it, I think we will stick with the Bumbo chair...but we had to capture the "first" with a photo. He continues to love his rice cereal, to the point that he grunts in between bites! He is in the middle of a grunt in this photo!

B's Grandma J found this hat for him on a "field trip" to the TCU bookstore this week. The hat actually fits...so he is ready for football season to start! Chad thought we needed to capture the fact that he is wearing a TCU hat and a #1 Minnesota fan onesie...he may be slightly confused as to which team he is supporting, but he is ready for the season to start! The Minnesota onesie is a shout out to all of our Minnesota family and friends (thanks to Mackenzie) and B wears it with great pride! I think the hat makes him look like a little boy as opposed to a little baby...I wish I could press pause...he seems like he is getting so big, so fast!
Go Frogs! Go Gophers!

B's Favorites

It is so sweet to try to experience each day through B's little eyes. As we continue to fall into more of a routine with our little guy, we have been able to identify some things B really dislikes and likes...

B is not a fan of...
-His car seat (unless he is actually moving in the car)
-Burping after he eats
-Realizing that all the milk in a bottle is gone
-The tail end of the afternoon before Chad comes home
-The bright sun
-Being tired


B is a fan of...
-Watching baseball with his dad in the crook

-Pretending that he is a sailor..."I'm a sailor, I like to sail, I let the boat do the work"

-Eating his big kid rice cereal

-Hanging out in a diaper and his tennis shoes (socks)

-Spending time with friends

-Playing in his excersaucer...standing with help (the tennis shoe socks make me laugh in this photo)

-Playing with his friend's toys...they seem to be novel, even to a five month old

-Riding in his jogging stroller while Chad, Ella and I run

Simple Joys

I really am trying to look for the little simple joys in life that are so easy to take advantage of and overlook...Like B's single dimple...We still don't know which family member this came from, neither Chad nor I have dimples...be we have come to love it!

Like watching B have "Tummy Time" on the floor (in his diaper)...it is so fascinating to watch him play and wonder what is going on inside of his precious little mind...

Like being regulars at our favorite little bakery each weekend (these two photos were taken last weekend as we ate breakfast)...knowing that our donut orders will be ready and waiting for us the minute we walk in the door...

B's little onesie sums it up...Life is good!

Take Me Out to the Rainstorm

We headed out to the ball park to watch the Rangers game last week with some friends, Clint and Melissa. We had grand plans to watch the game and stay to watch the fireworks afterwards.

B enjoyed the bright lights and the people around us cheering...however, he wasn't a fan of the whole stadium breaking out in pure elation over a home run being hit...

Chad enjoyed the opportunity to plow his way through a bag of peanuts & and heckle the opposing team's players...

I enjoyed catching up with Clint and Melissa & people watching...

Until our plans were thwarted by a huge rainstorm!

We had purchased tickets for the "cheap seats" so we were up near the top of the stadium. Prior to the rain, we noticed the sky start to turn a deep dark shade of blue and other fans made their way to the top of the stadium to look out west...the pointing fingers should have been our first clue! Then the wind picked up...the temperature dropped...Melissa and I moved downstairs to the bathroom to take cover...Chad and Clint stayed put to cheer the Ranger's on...the rain started...and the game was delayed...

After waiting about an hour for the rain to let up...Chad and Clint decided to get the cars and call it an evening. The two drove laps around the stadium in effort to pick us up so we could stay as dry as possible. It was a failed effort, they learned that you can't drive up to the stadium when a game is in progress, so the they came back to the stadium to meet us and we all walked back to the cars in the rain. We said our good byes...got in out respective cars, drenched and figured the game would be called.

As we drove home...we saw fireworks at the stadium in our rear view mirror...and the next morning we learned that the Rangers had completed the game shortly after we had left....

Even though our plans were slightly altered, we enjoyed a fun, exciting and wet game at the ballpark!

Photos

Megan took some awesome photos of Owen while we were visiting...I haven't downloaded them yet, but she posted some... www.batesbrigade.blogspot.com


I wish I could push pause...it feels like he is getting so big!

Thank you Megan!!!! You have quite a talent and a great eye for capturing our little guy's personality.

Our Drive Home

B and I stopped by Chad's grandparent's house on our way home from Houston to say hello...B's Great Grandma Mimi enjoyed giving him a bottle for the first time...

And Great Grandy was amazed by how big he had gotten!

Aunt Meg & Cooper

B and I traveled down I-45 last week to visit our dear friends..."Aunt" Megan & Cooper in Houston. Megan was one of my roommates in college and a School of Education confidant and Cooper is her adorable son.

Meg and Cooper were so sweet to host us. We enjoyed getting a glimpse of their world...and had some great time at their house to relax and catch up.

B and "Aunt" Meg had quite a bonding moment one night...I was playing with Cooper and Megan heard B start to fuss. Megan went over to pick Owen up and discovered that he had quite a dirty diaper. Megan picked him up and was surprised to find that Owen's diaper was leaking. Megan was awesome about the leak and found the humor in it...despite the fact that poop truly cascaded down her arms...we all laughed so hard! I was able to get a photo on Megan's camera of the moment check http://www.batesbrigade.blogspot.com/ for your own laugh!

Megan and Cooper love to take walks around their neighborhood. B and I enjoyed taking a walk with them one evening after it cooled down a little outside. Cooper couldn't understand why he wasn't able to push Owen's stroller...so he pushed his own...it came in handy at the end of the walk when he sat in his stroller and asked Megan to push him.

We brought some famous Bluebonnet Bakery sugar cookies down for Cooper to enjoy. He picked the cowboy boot cookie with frosting to eat first...

Anytime that Owen would get fussy or upset, Cooper would get quite concerned. In this video snip-it, Owen had been crying...trying to tell all of us that he was not happy about being in his car seat...Cooper went to Owen and started rocking his car seat and told him that it was okay...he was so sweet!

I wasn't going to post two videos, but after watching Owen's facial expressions, I decided I needed to post this one too. It is so fun to watch him wiggle and "talk", this video captures some of his developing personality.

It was such a sweet trip, we made lots of memories and are looking forward to seeing our dear friends again this fall!