Summer Fun!

We have been having so much fun with Owen this summer that I haven't posted in over a month!  We've been busy going to the pool, playing at the beach, trying out neighborhood parks, and visiting with family and friends.  Owen has become quite the fish and loves being in the water.  He is talking a lot more, still one word at a time, no phrases, but he can communicate with us a lot more effectively which has changed his demeanor a bit.  He is even more laid back than he used to be.  Here are the new words he is constantly using:

• Bubble - loves blowing bubbles outside or in the tub and he can do it by himself, I need to post a video of this
• Water - this is a tough one and it's so cute when he says it
• Bath - favorite time of day, except that he now tries to stand, jump, kick and splash as much as possible
• Cracker and Grrcracker - picture a thick German accent with the 2nd pronunciation and it means graham cracker instead of just a regular cracker
• Ouchie - what he says after he tries to bite you or claw your arms
• Daddy - still no Mommy
• Elbow - random word I taught him one night and he loves saying it
• Quack and Kick - these two sound very similar, both were used in the lake this weekend when a family of ducks swam right by us
• Uh Oh - used constantly, sometimes in the right context, many times not at all

He has been getting into some trouble at home and school for biting, which is not fun to try to discipline.  This weekend he nearly had Ellie's entire arm in his mouth because she tried to touch the tractor toy he was riding. Then when I went over to stop him he looked at me and said, "Uh, oh!".  At least he knows its wrong, now we just need to get him to stop.  Besides when he is a biter, he is really affectionate and is constantly kissing and hugging us or blowing us kisses.  Melts my heart every time!

Here are a few pictures from the past month or so.  We head up to Michigan for our family vacation next week, so I will try and post an update after that.  Looking forward to a week of relaxation at the beach!

Surprised by the camera while playing in his pool.
June

Posing with Dad poolside.

Looking cute in his AMB t-shirt.
"Attsa my boy!"
July

Wishing it was not 100 degrees so he could stop cleaning and go outside.

Glen Arbor, MI trip with the Gates crew.
June

Hiking the sand dunes in Glen Arbor.  So much fun!

More fun on the dunes, it was freezing this day!

Making faces at Grandpa George over lunch.

Checking out the view with Grandpa George.
Love this picture!

Coloring with Aunt Katie and Uncle Adam this week.
So happy! And he kept kissing the Elmo drawing.
August