Introducing Owen, Child Two of Two

Then there were four... people, that is. Little Owen joined our family 23 months after Natalie was born.

9 lb. 4 oz. of pure love! Yes, I know he was a BIG BABY.
Pretty much every person who ever saw him told us so!

I could tell from the first time I met him that he is an old soul. He just had this look about him that said, "Yeah, I know what's going on. Been there, done that." He even resembled a little old man. When he got old enough to walk, he would often saunter around with one hand in his pocket. He's intuitive, and curious, and so, SO smart. He's also the funniest kid I've ever met, and he comes up with at least one crazy question or comment or observation every day. A random sampling:

"Mom, I'm so tired I could sleep on a bed of nails!"

"How do lice go on vacation? Wait for it... They go to the hairport." 

"Mom, what's the scientific name for the word "booger"?

"Don't ever lick your lips when you're getting a haircut."

"I need to go take a shower. I do some of my best thinking in there."

"Mom, are there wild cows? Like, where do cows come from? Are they native somewhere?" Me: "Um, I have no idea. We'll have to look that up." Owen: "Okay. Hey, can we get some spray-on jeans?"

"Uuuuuggggghhhhh! Why is it that summer is like a rocket but the school year is like an old lady running a 5K!?"

"Mom, can I have a toad?" "No." "A parakeet?" "No." "Salamander?" "No." "Ant farm?" "No." "Tree frog?" "No." "Okay. How about a toad?"

Owen loves playing sports (soccer, in particular) and being outside. He's a big reader and we often have to make him turn off his lights at night because he'd stay up all night reading if we'd let him. He's really into learning about science and nature and animals, and he is the proud father to a bearded dragon named Fireball. He has more energy than any other child I know, and he is always hungry. Seriously, always. He's stubborn and clever. He's adventurous and curious and absorbs new information like a sponge. He is a good friend to his classmates, an annoying little brother to Natalie, and the best son I could ever ask for. He's my little buddy.

Owen, third grade, age 8 1/2. Still my little buddy... for now, at least! 

I'm dreading the day when he no longer wants to climb into bed and cuddle and chat before school. (I did go to school today to volunteer and got a hug from him, however, so I'm hanging onto the hope that maybe it will continue for a little bit longer at least.) Every once in a while, I'll catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye and I think, "WHOA, when did he get so tall?!" It's funny, because I think I still picture him as my little preschooler who'd hang out and go shopping with me when his sister was gone all day, but he's grown a lot since then. This child has so much potential; I can't wait to see what he becomes when he grows up!

Until then, I'm just trying to savor every minute.