Dear O,
Sweet O is so patient with Nosy, being sure to walk slowly so Noah doesn't fall down.
Does it look like he's laughing at me...because he is!!
He's a goner!
The chase is on!
There they go, off on a grand adventure!
Ever so carefully, O helps the wagon down each step.
Another safe landing. He was so gentle with his babies!
This is fun!
Time for nap, so we head back into the house. Oh no! Both babies spill out of the wagon onto the hard concrete!
O tenderly places them back in the wagon and makes sure they are comfy. No one was hurt. That was a close call!
All is well. Back inside for a nice long rest!
O, garbed in an old t-shirt of mine to protect his fave football pj's, was not too sure about the sliminess. Evidently, the pudding was also very cold. He kept a washcloth close by so that he could keep his fingers as clean as possible. He had fun painting, but he could not quite get past the messiness.
I was wondering if he would sample much of the pudding. I had let him lick the spoon after mixing a batch. He exclaimed, "Yum! It tastes like we are baking cookies!" (He's never had pudding before.) However, that was the only taste he took. He did not even try a finger full of beautiful pudding.
His very first reaction was to dive in double fisted and make a bee-line for his mouth. He wasted no time at all swirling the pudding around in any way. How could he possibly have known it was a yummy treat?! That Boy can just sense it, I guess! 
I can almost hear him saying, "Mama Mia. This is a little taste of heaven!"
He was literally dripping with pudding by the end of it!What a fun way to spend a rainy morning! It is definitely something we will do again!
It started out with O pushing Noah. Pretty fun stuff! Nosy is sure getting a kick out of it!
Soon it led to this. Owie's weight on the push toy slows the speed down (especially on the wood floor) to a more comfortable pace for Noah, and O gets a free ride.
Sometimes O "helps" Noah by pushing with his feet. Then Nosy races to keep up with the faster pace. No matter how many times Scooter falls over, he always pops back up ready for more!
O got this great easel and new paints for his Birthday. Quiet, please. He is hard at work fashioning his first masterpiece!
Such concentration!
The finished product. Looks like something wonderful and abstract to me...definitely worth a fortune!
A funny story about the easel: It has to live in O's room because there just is not space for it anywhere else. We stuck it an empty corner, easily accessible for whenever the artsy bug bites. Well, if you know O, you know that any disruption to his space can be traumatic. That night, a few minutes after we tucked Owie in, we heard quite a rucus coming from his room, some screaming and crying and banging. We didn't know what to make of it, but both Jeremy and I raced to O's rescue, sure to find blood and all sorts of trouble. But no (thankfully)! The culprit was the horrible easel, daring to sit right out in the open where it has never been before. And so, we folded up the menacing easel and tucked it behind his dresser, completely out of the way. O was only partially appeased (He wanted it completely removed from the premises), but at least he was able drift off to dreamland...and we can still get at the easel rather readily when we want to.
Nosy, you seem to have grown up quite a bit this month! You are now 13 months old!
Some of your faves:
Hide the ball under a cup or in my hand. You will guess which cup/hand the ball is in, with incredible accuracy, I must add!
Throw food off your high chair tray. This "game" prompts you to throw back your sweet head and laugh and laugh...until the stern "No, No!" that comes from Mommy. Then your little face crumples with tears.
The fake hiccup game. Once, when you got the hiccups, you made such funny faces that Owen and I couldn't help but get the giggles. Now you muster up a fake hiccup just to get us laughing.
Throw the ball. You could literally play ball for hours without tiring. It has been a bit of a challenge to teach you that while tossing a soft ball is acceptable, tossing anything you feel like is not.
The old stand-by: peek-a-boo. Sometimes I catch you hiding under a cloth diaper or behind a church bulletin. What are you doing, crazy Boy? Then you pop your head out with a mile-wide grin! Peek-a-boo, I see you!
You have added a few more words to your repertoire this month: 
You make our days such fun, Noah!
Owen's third birthday dawned bright and early. What's the best way to start the day? By getting bucked off your trusty pony! 
After being give the choice of whatever his hungry tummy wanted for breakfast, he chose chicken nuggets, applesauce and OJ. He passed up cinnamon rolls or waffles for chicken nuggets? Who's kid is he?
After Scooter's nap, we headed to Aunt Julianne's house for a cousin birthday celebration. We were greeted with wonderful homemade art on the front door and b-day banners throughout the house. O felt so special!
Then it was time for a quick wardrobe change and the vocal part of the performance.
Owen was having the time of his life! Not only was he being lavished with attention from his cousins, but he also got to jam with the band!
Rockin' Ally. This girl was born to be a star!
Maddie got a big hug from Mom.
Swaying to the music with Mia
Will and Gigi clap along
Julianne tried to coax Noah to take a step. No luck, but he sure had fun!
Thanks, Julianne and kids for making Owen's birthday so extra-special! He felt so loved, and we all had a great time!
Then it was home for a quick nap followed by a pajama/pizza/movie party with Daddy!
Owie got to pick any movie at Blockbuster that he wanted. He chose a Dora movie about stars. What a treat!
Your personality, although bigger and more developed just like you, has remained true to how were even as an infant. You are mostly quiet, reserved, an observer. You are very much like me, so I can relate well to your shyness and hesitancy in new situations. I can remember my parents talking to me about "letting my light shine" and allowing people to get to know me, but I never understood what they were talking about and remained in my safe shell for many years. Now, as I watch you in a room full of kids, I long for you to just let go and be your wonderful self. You are one amazing Boy with so much to offer and anyone would be blessed to know you. I am so thankful that once you become accustomed to things, you do start to open up. When you are around your fun, crazy cousins, you are much more likely to jump in the middle of the madness along with them, and at Awana Bees, you shyly answer questions and sing softly along with the songs. The funny thing is, although you are shy, you can't wait to be around kids and talk non-stop about the experience once you are back at home. 
A few funny things that you have said lately:While playing Wii tennis, when the Wii says the score is "Deuce": "Juice? I am thirsty for some juice!"
To me while looking at my stomach: "There is a ball in there. That is why it is getting bigger!" (I must be putting on some weight!)
After tasting some cheese and crackers I had made for you: "This is the best food ever!"
"Please don't pull on the shower curtain, O." "It is not a shower curtain! It is a bath tub curtain!"
"Jesus keeps warm down in my heart!"
Your heart for God amazes me! You have memorized your first three Bible verses recently, and you hunger for more. You sing praise songs all day long and ask countless questions about God and Jesus. You love to pray and will often request that I say a prayer for people we see in need. (Ex: Whenever we see an ambulance, you ask me to pray for the sick or hurt person.) You spontaneously thank God for all sorts of little things throughout the day. Yesterday, after we were blessed with a close parking spot in the freezing cold weather, you yelled out," Thank You, Jesus, for the parking spot!" 
You do love that Brother of yours! Sometimes he annoys you by being too affectionate with you (You can only take so many slobbery kisses!) or by wanting to play with your toys, but you genuinely love him. Sometimes, when I am in the kitchen cooking, I can hear you cheering Noah on from the other room: "I am so proud of you Nosy-Posy! You are doing a great job!" You rejoice in his accomplishments and lavish on the praise:"No-nos is standing! Great job, No-nos!" You are such a wonderful Big Brother! I can't wait to see how much closer you Boys become in the next year as Noah is able to interact with you even more!
Often heard phrases:
You remain a sports fanatic. You love any sport from football to golf to soccer to rollerblading. You had such fun this year watching your cousins play sports. Hopefully it will be your turn soon! I tell you, I have had to sharpen my ball-catching, slow-pitching, racket-wielding, hoop-shooting skills just to keep up with you. Thankfully, I can learn right along with you!
Owen, you have grown up so much this past year. What a joy you are! It delights me to see how you allow God to mold your heart into something that is pleasing to Him. Daddy and I are so proud of you and love you more every day! 
Relaxing with Daddy after a wonderful day.
