11 1/2 Weeks

Yesterday Owen weighed in at a whopping 14lbs, 10oz.  I looked at the growth chart and this is around the 70th percentile for age.  I can't wait to find out his length, because he seems hugely longer than before.  His swaddle blankets barely fold over his toes.  Owen's hair is starting to come in, and so far it looks like it will be brown.  He started producing copious amounts of drool this week. 

He has gotten really good at getting his thumb into his mouth now.  He's also great at lifting his head up--check out his latest tummy time videos!  He can hold his head very steady when he's leaning forward about 15 degrees from vertical, and he's not slumping in the car seat at all.  On his 11 week birthday, he rolled over from his tummy to his back!  He hasn't done this again though, and doesn't seem like he's trying to, so maybe it was just an accident. 

Although his favorite activity is still watching the mobile swing around, it is beginning to lose its charm.  It only entertains for a couple of minutes, and then only when he is in a happy mood to begin with.  He is getting into rattles and things that jingle.  He still has not made the connection that those things on the ends of his arms are good for grabbing, but I bet it's coming soon.  He loves getting his cheeks and chin tickled--this almost always produces a big smile.

Last Friday, Owen got to see President Obama!  We walked over to the nearby USC campus, which is about a mile away, and attended a rally for Senator Boxer and other democratic candidates in the upcoming election.  We did not arrive anywhere near early enough to get into the rally itself, but I found a rise to stand on where we could see the proceedings.  When we saw the President, I was pretty sure I could tell which guy was him, but it was hard because they were so far away.  His speech was excellent.  We also got to hear Senator Boxer, Jerry Brown, Mayor Villarigosa, and several other political candidates speak before Obama came on.  I carried Owen in the Baby Bjorn which is my new favorite carrier (so much more comfortable than the Ergo--for both of us).  We stopped in at the Natural History Museum on the way to the rally and visited the live spider exhibit they have set up for Halloween.  It was creepy--there were some really big spiders.

In the next few weeks we are going to see big changes.  Owen is nearing the end of the "missing trimester" and we expect to see him waking up to the world, making sounds, grabbing things, and generally acting more and more cute!  And also more and more challenging as he starts to really become a little person.  Noah is currently working 5 days a week, and this past week was my first one flying solo with Owen.  It was a challenge.  I find myself bored and frustrated to be around the house yet unable to DO anything around the house.  Owen doesn't really interact much yet requires constant attention.  Even eating lunch is usually a production involving several stops and starts.  I found it helps (both of us) feel better when we get out of the house, so we're trying to do something every day--Mommy & Me classes, walks, etc.  I hope to get him on a better nap schedule so that he's less fussy as the day wears on, and so I can get some breaks!