Silence isn't golden...it's white

(Title credits:  Gail Spain)

Well, Owen has his intermittent bouts of self-entertainment, interspersed with bouts of severe mommy-clingy non-independence.  Lately we're in a self-entertaining period, which is pretty nice!  That may be mostly a result of having more people around to do fun things with him and then he doesn't get bored and just start hanging on my leg whining in anticipation of me entertaining him.  The safest independent play seems to involve him going and engaging with a toy or project, and running back and forth every few minutes checking in to tell me about what he's doing, or to get help where he's stuck.  The other type of independent play involves engagement in a task that he knows is probably not endorsed by us, but not so out of bounds that he will get in major trouble.  These playtimes are absolutely the most fun, most engaging ever for him, and whenever they are happening...SILENCE!  A conspicuous lack of Owen-sound anywhere.  This morning Dad and I were at the table after breakfast chatting, Asher was playing in his high chair, and I realized I hadn't heard Owen for a while.  Called upstairs and he was there, and I asked if everything was OK and he said, 'Oh yeah, Mommy!' (his new phrase of late).  As we continued to sit and not hear a peep from him, I knew it was trouble, but chose to enjoy the childcare break anyway.  Then I heard a yelp and ran to see what was up...mouthful of shaving cream.  He was NOT enjoying that part of his little project.  Here's what we found:

Well, it involved some cleanup and a dollar's worth of shaving cream, but I guess I still don't mind a few creative projects here and there (even though I didn't tell him that). 

Owen and naps...nightmare.  Done with the crib at naptime, and that's meant no naps for 2 weeks.  He was about to fall over exhausted today but did he fight his nap as much as ever...YES!  Tooth and nail.  Finally after 2 weeks of losing I won today and got him to sleep by staying with him (I don't think he'll ever do it on his own again at this point).  Of course, as soon as that was all over I came downstairs and now Asher woke early and is crying.  Will he wake up Owen?  Ah well, life with little ones.

A couple more great pictures taken by Reuel: