Owen Turns One!

My sweet boy is one. 
And sweet he is.
He's just the love of my life and always always just makes me smile.
A mama's boy through and through.
He finds me in the kitchen and hugs onto my leg.
In my arms, he's learned how much I love when he rests he head on my chest or shoulder.
He loves to please me so he'll cuddle against me, seeking my adoration.
He also knows how much I love when he claps, so when he does it, he looks at me and I smile so big for him, and he's happy, too.
When he can't find me, he goes to the gate at the steps and cries, knowing I'll come to him.
In a room of strangers, he's content just sitting on my lap, his little hand often grasping onto my shirt, saying "don't let me go, mama".
And yet my favorite moments are probably those when he is just waking up in the morning or from a nap when I am laying there beside him.
He looks over at me and just smiles, and I spend the next few minutes smothering him with kisses as he squeals with delight.

Even his sisters are awestruck by him.
Now that he's more on their level with walking and playing, they can't get enough either.
Constant, "aww, you're so cute" and "come here, Owen" just melts my heart.
And their nonstop kisses. 
I just die every time.
He adores those girls.
He's so content playing when they are around.
He's also quite taken by their wrestling games.
If they are lying on the ground, it's so much fun to climb over them.
And he never wants to be left out of the rough housing with daddy.
He gets right in there, crawling and climbing all over him, being hung upside down, and tossed over daddy's shoulder.
He loves it!

His favorite toy is a ball.
As it's also the one true word that he says.
The other night he and Molly were rolling the ball back and forth, and I was amazed.
He also has taken to rolling himself over balls, and he squeals all the while, loving it.
And last week at church I was shocked when he picked up a ball and took it to the basketball net and put it in.  (how'd he know how to do that??)

And this little peanut, is just that.
Little.
10th percentile for height (28.5 inches), 5th for weight (18.5 lbs)
He gained a pound and a half since his nine month appointment but hadn't grown any taller.
I'm pretty open to letting him try most foods as long as it's not too hard since he still only has his 6 teeth.
But he's proving to be a true Rush kid with his pickiness.
He's still a better eater than them, just not an eater. 
If that makes sense!
He really likes blueberries and strawberries.
And if Brian is eating a whole apple, he grunts and fusses until daddy lets him have a bite, too.
He's unfortunately also a freak about juiceboxes.
When he sees one, he goes crazy until he gets it. 
And if he doesn't get it, he lets out some serious cries.
And the boy never cries!

As sad as I am that my baby is basically a toddler now,
I'm excited to watch his personality bloom.
It's been an amazing year.
My heart just explodes with joy being in his presence.
He's truly a blessing, and I am so so happy to be his mama.