It’s been a few months since we last reviewed Owen’s progress, so here it is:

• Has a “mouthful” of teeth: 8 teeth in total already, 4 on the top, 4 on the bottom.
• Can move from point A to B: We have two options.  Option #1) The snake/worm crawl where Owen’s tummy drags along the floor as he inches forward.  Option #2) The sit and crawl movement.  This is when Owen alternates between the sitting and getting-on-all-fours position.  As he does this, one of his legs - the leg of the side that he is turning towards - ultimately gets caught underneath his butt; baby has not figured out how to pull the “caught” leg from underneath his little bottom yet, but does nevertheless manage to drag the “caught” leg along and move this way.
• Exhibits leadership: Now that Owen has mastered the art of clapping, he shows passion in leading/coaching others as he loves to grab each of your hands in his tiny hands and show you how to clap.
• Kisses Mommy when asked to do so: When Mommy now says “kissy” in Chinese, Owen will “kiss” though his version of kiss is quite different - he opens up his mouth as if he’s about to eat something. ;P Hey, I’m still honored because he won’t kiss anyone but Mommy right now!
• Performs acrobat when being held: This only started 2-3 days ago.  He sticks his butt out, straightening his legs and then seems to climb an imaginary ladder - your body - by first stepping on your stomach and then like spiderman, walking up vertically (well, ok, at 45 degree angle).  Initially, I thought he only does it when I hold him since I have a “tummy” for him to easily step on, but the nanny told me tonight that he’s been “climbing” on her too! (note: she’s got a tummy too! ;P)
• Mastered the “go-fetch” game: Contrary to what you may think, Owen is the one who dictates the fetching.  His version is: “Let me drop everything on the floor, one by one, now you go and pick them up, one by one.” He especially loves to do this when we take him out for a walk in his stroller…it’s as if he’s Hansel & Gretel, leaving a trail of “crumbs” so he won’t get lost!
• May eat “normal” rice: No more bound to soggy rice cereal, Owen can now eat normally-cooked rice with shredded meat or fish or soft veggies.  It still takes him much more work to digest these though as he will inevitably give the gagging expression sooner or later, so he mainly eats congee and Gerber 2nd Foods.  Owen continues to love fruits and eat fresh fruits (1-2 kinds) every morning.
• Graduated to a “no-hump” bathtub: where his tummy down is entirely immersed in water.  Mommy has also improved her baby-bathing skills and can now take on Owen all by herself - hair washing and bath all inclusive - by sitting on her tiny stool inside the “real’ bathtub.

On Sunday, it was humid but not much sun, so we took Owen into the pool for the first time and he had a blast! It was a monumental “first time” experience so we took our camcorder, even at the risk of losing the $1K equipment.  We have actually “prepped” Owen beforehand by slowly but increasingly exposing him to the pool.  I never thought that babies would be afraid of pool until I saw Owen’s reactions the first time I took him to the pool;  he was so tense and did not want to be near the water at all! When I dipped his feet in the water, he cried and whimpered.

From then on, almost every day after dinner, we would take Owen to the pool so he would get used to it.  The first few times were just dipped his feet in the water, then allowing him to kick water as Daddy swings him, and finally, have submerging his feet in the water.  Even with all these drills, I had still anticipated some level of protest or cry when we take him into the pool. 

However, to my surprise and amazement, baby Owen did not make a sound when we put him into his baby float.  Now granted, his eyebrows remained locked for the next 15 mins or so, he did not cry or whimper.  Kind of had this blank expression on his face throughout the whole time - even when a little 8-year old boy came by and greeted Owen with “Hello little guy!” and exclaimed that he is cute - until a transparent flowery beachball came his way; then he got a little more excited and wanted to chase after the ball in the pool.

Because the float we got him had two circles and Owen’s hands draped around the inner one, he really did not have free hands to play in the water.  However, when we removed the float and carried Owen, he got real playful, splashing nonstop with both hands (I am thinking baby must have been thinking, “Wow, what a HUGE bathtub…where are my rubber duckie and squirting animals?”) and actually grinning.  Although he got water all over his face, he was happy.  Think we spent too much time in the pool though because when we got home, I discovered that Owen had wrinkled skin from being in the water so long! ;P

Daddy was too lazy to take care of me today, so Mommy had to take me to Walmart and grocery shopping.  At Walmart, when Mommy went to pick up my shopping cart cover, the Walmart person kept talking to me and trying to make me smile by tickling my little feet.  As usual, I was cool and did not react - just stared at her and gave her my famous I-have-a-blank-expression-right-now-because-I-am-observing-you-intently look (which is reserved for strangers only).  Only when we were about to leave the area did I started talking - she was so excited!

On the ride to Grand Asia, I was too tired and fell asleep.  Mommy ended up having to put me on my stroller so I can continue my zzzzzz.  She was paranoid about someone taking me so she kept me by her side at all times.  I don’t know this, but Mommy told Daddy that many at least 5 people told Mommy how cute I was.  They all thought I was 1 year old (and not 9 months) and about half guessed my sex right.  Mommy actually noticed an uncle looking at me as she was waiting for her fishes to be cleaned, and the uncle exclaimed, “I was just looking at him - he’s SOOOOOOOOO cute!” Shortly before we were about to leave the store, I woke up and as Mommy held me to buy dinner for Daddy, a young auntie commented to her boyfriend or husband, “Look at that cutie handsome chubby boy!” As they played with me, another auntie also made a similar comment.  *Grin* Mommy had a big smile on her face during the whole time - she was so proud that God had blessed her with a people magnet like me!