This and that

As you can see above, we only have 1 day until we leave for Disney!  We were supposed to leave on Sunday, but moved it up to Saturday.  Mostly b/c we don't think it's a bad idea to have a travel day with a 2.5-year-old.  Especially one that is still potty training (argh!) and is prone to car sickness.

I usually have an allergy attack this time of year, but I decided to get checked out before vacation.  Glad I did b/c I have a sinus infection and had to get three prescriptions.  Owen is going to the doctor this afternoon b/c he's had a runny nose/coughing/fever for over a week.  I just hope Dr. P can give him something to take care of this.  I wonder how old he has to be before they will let him take something???

Here's a pic from a few weeks back...Every now and then, Brig brings home Krispy Kreme when she has to go to Columbia.  Take a guess at how long this paper hat lasted...about 2 minutes.

We put out our Fall stuff last week and look what's already happened...turns out Mr. Scarecrow is a streaker!  It's always the ones who have nothing to write home about.  We expect to get a call from the Home Owner's Association any minute.

First day of school 2010

Yesterday was Owen's first day of school.  Last year I didn't realize how late his school year started. I wasn't able to go, but Brigette was.  The night before we talked about how he needed to be brave and how important it was to share.  He's not used to sharing his toys with anyone, so we didn't want him to take toys from another kid.  We also talked up the potty, playground, etc...I called before they left the house and he told me how brave he would be and how he intended to share.  Things are starting to sink in!

Brigette dropped him off and he went right in and started playing.  She peeked through the window on the way out and he was just smiling away. 

Starting with this class, the teachers prefer for you to wait in the car line and they will bring your kid out.  When they brought Owen out, his hair was completely drenched with sweat.  He told Brig what a great time he had and how he couldn't wait to go back.  Success!  He also didn't have any accidents (that we know of) and went on the potty.  Success again! 

Here's a couple shots of his first day last year...

And this year...such a big difference!

Meet the teacher(s)

Owen met his new teachers on Friday.  We had been telling him all week we would  be doing this and he kept saying, "I don't want to meet my teachers".  On the way there he was really quiet and I explained that we wouldn't be leaving him, but would just see his new teachers and some friends from last year.  He wouldn't leave our sides for a few minutes but finally jumped in and started to play.

 
I also wanted him to use the potty there so he would feel comfortable.  It is a pint-sized version of a regular toilet, and he called it "just my size".  After he was successful he climbed right up and washed his hands like a pro. 

Before we left, we went by his old classroom to see his teachers from last year.  I thought that might help him feel more secure.  By the time we were heading to the car he said he would like to come back and play.  I think this year will be much easier than last...for him and me.  Thank goodness since school starts tomorrow!

That will be way fun

That was Owen's response last night when I told him about going to Aunt Jamie's house to play with Parker and Roby today. 

Yesterday afternoon it wasn't a zillion degrees outside, so I didn't feel so bad about Owen playing in the yard.  Here's a few pics (long overdue) I snapped before the mosquitoes and gnats got to us.  And yes, I have caved and Owen will be seeing Kim next week for a haircut. 

Owen at (almost) two-and-a-half

I used to do updates on Owen every month, but time got away from me.  Those updates were normally late, so when I thought about doing a new one, I decided to do it early!  He isn't quite two-and-a-half, but will be in two weeks.  These are incredibly random and are in no particular order.

1.  Every night while Owen is getting undressed for bath time, he wants to leave his shirt like this.  He thinks he's a pirate and has to go stand in front of the mirror and say things like "Argh Matey!"

2.  He is really interested in watching Disney movies.  We sort of encouraged this since we will be heading there at the end of September.  His current fave is Robin Hood...of course there is no Robin Hood ride at WDW...I don't think.  Sarah, correct me if I am forgetting something!  

Sidenote:  He was watching either The Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo a few weeks ago while I was in the shower.  I don't remember which one...both have "scary" sharks.  Anyway, I came out of the bathroom and he had tears in his eyes.  I asked if he was okay and he said yes.  I asked if the shark scared him and he said, "no, it can't hurt me".  Such a brave boy!

Any time we get ready to go somewhere he thinks we are going to WDW.  I can't blame him, I am getting really excited too.  I can't wait to experience it with him.

3.  A few things he said recently:

-Earlier this week he said, "Oh my god, what are we going to do?  Let's shoot him in the face."  I almost fell over.  We constantly correct him, tell him it's not nice to say things like that, but when will it sink in?

-We had black bean quesadillas for dinner last night and Owen loves sour cream.  He was a total mess and I told him he was a dirty bird.  I call him that all the time, but last night he said, "No, I'm a clean bird".

4.  Owen listens to every word we say during dinner and asks us what we are talking about.  He also wants to know what everything means.  Last night he said, "What does family mean?" and I said, "Well, you and me and mommy are a family".  He said, "Oh, and Crashy and Milo?" and I said "Yes, they are part of our family too".  I guess him asking what things mean is his equivalent of "why?".

5.  I hope we are in the midst of the terrible two's and it ends by the time he's three.  He is very strong willed and really likes to put up a fight.  He enjoys telling us "no" and it takes us forever to get him to do something in a hurry.  The other side of that is how sweet he is.  Most of the time it's genuine but he also tries to work us.  When we are upset with him, he (eventually) tells us how sorry he is and wants to hold us. 

6.  Owen loves to sing and dance.  At bedtime he usually sings right along with me.  And he has an amazing memory.  I told Brig he gets that from me.  I remember everything and she can't recall things that happened last year.

7.  The potty training saga continues.  It has been two months and he is doing okay.  We had great success right out of the gate and I really thought he would be 100% by now.  He still has accidents, but they mostly occur when he is really busy and I guess he just forgets.  When he does have an accident he always says, "Sorry about dat".  He routinely wakes up from nap completely dry, so he can obviously hold it for a few hours.  So far he is really great about going out in public.  I may jinx us here, but he hasn't had any accident in a store or restaurant.  I was a little bummed to learn he has to wear a pull-up when he's in school.  I felt like that was taking several steps backwards, especially since we've worked so hard all summer.  And if I had known that was a requirement, I would have waited and not pushed him.  We'll see how that goes.

 

Stride Rite

We just left the Stride Rite store, and our 2.5 year old is now wearing size 10 shoes.  SIZE 10!  

No wonder his size 8-9 Crocs are getting tight.  Unfortunately the size 10-11 Crocs seemed really big last weekend at Palmetto Moon.  We may have to switch to the Crocs that are single sizes instead.

Preschool starts back in 4 weeks and we are getting ready.

Our weekend

On Friday, our good friend Elisabeth had baby numero dos a few weeks early.  You can read about it HERE, but Happy Birthday Hollan!

Yesterday we celebrated my mom's (Grammie) birthday.  We ate dinner at Vickery's and it was great as usual.  We had to move tables before our food came because the sun was blinding us.  The waitress wasn't pleased but that's too bad.  Hopefully our food was saliva-free.

This next shot is from bath time last night...and is really just to show how long Owen's hair has gotten.  We may let it grow and get a little shaggy...or not. 

Today I finally took the time to make a faux roman shade for our home office.  Milo destroyed our old drapes and the window has been naked for far too long.  It didn't take long and it turned out okay.  At least there's something up there for now.