Owen's First Year... a Recap

This is a recap of Owen's first year. If we're missing something, please let us know! Also, if something is incorrect, please let us know! This has been a whirlwind year and while we try our best to document/remember the past, things are bound to slip. Not only do we want this to serve as a trip down memory lane for us, but for Owen as well... when he's old enough to appreciate his history.

Born October 5, 2005 at Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, New York. Mom & Dad are beyond thrilled. We never imagined it possible to feel the love we do for Owen.

First car ride home Oct. 7 from the hospital. Slept the entire way. Met Zoey, Asia & Misu. While Owen got to meet Grandma & Grandpa Mitrano in the hospital, he met his other grandparents on this day. He also met his cousin Daniel, Aunts Marybeth & Christine. Owen met his Aunts Liza & Sara a couple of weeks later.

October 31, 2005, Halloween: Owen wears the cutest outfit to mark this holiday - a pumpkin hat, bib and orange pajamas with a green collar.

Thanksgiving 2005: Met Uncle Mike for the first time a few days ago. First out of state travel to Middlebury, Vermont to visit with Dad's family & family friends. Zoey came along for the ride. Owen and Zoey were perfect! Owen got to meet May Ling, our old cat who now lives with Grandma & Grandpa Quintana. He also got to meet his great grandparents!

Beginning of December 2005, First plane trip to Vancouver, Canada with Mom & Dad. Was a perfect angel. Then Mom goes back to work. Owen has Dad all to himself!

Just before Christmas: Dad gets offered a job at EA Canada. Mom & Dad buy a minivan.

Christmas 2005: First Christmas in Rochester, NY. He got clothes & toys. His gift to Mom & Dad was to let them sleep in a little bit. We celebrated the rest of the day at Aunt Fannie's.

End of January 2006: Mom quits full time job. Owen has Mom all to himself! We put our Rochester home on the market. Owen has his Shotgun Baptism on the 22nd. He looked so handsome in his Dad's baptismal outfit! Aunt Sara is his Godmother, and Uncle Mike is his Godfather. Grandpa Mitrano stood in for Uncle Mike since he couldn't make the trip from Texas.

February 2006: Dad moves to Vancouver, B.C. on the 8th for his new job as an art director at EA. Owen sent Dad a birthday card and photo on Feb. 20th to mark the occassion.


End of March 2006: We have a buyer for our Rochester home. Mom & Owen start planning Owen's 2nd trip to Canada.

April 2006: Mom, Owen & Zoey fly to Vancouver to meet up with Dad. It was a very happy reunion. Owen gets his first taste of cereal.We found our next home, a townhouse in the village of Port Moody about 45 mins. from Downtown Vancouver sans furniture from our old home. Mom & Owen fly back to Rochester to deal with closing up the old home and get our things moved. Special thanks to our families & Owen's grandparents for ALL their help!!! We couldn't have done it without you.

May 2006: The moving truck delivers our things and the townhome officially becomes ours on May 12th. We celebrate Mom's birthday on the 1st by eating out to dinner. We have fun exploring our new surroundings.

June 2006: By now Owen is eating more foods... cereal, fruit, & veggies. We discovered Owen's first tooth (lower right)on June 7th. It's SHARP!!!

July 2006: Grandma Q comes to visit and stays for 2 weeks starting on the 5th. We had a wonderful time. Owen got LOTS and LOTS of attention and love from Grandma. He went on his first train, gondola & boat ride. Before she arrived, we discovered a 2nd tooth on the bottom. We're lucky he hasn't been complaining too much about teething. Owen participated in a Boogie Babies music class. He seemed to like it. Owen likes pureed beef, but we can't get him to eat chicken. He HATES it!! On the 31st, Owen gets into a sitting position all by himself.

August 2006: Owen is 10 mos. old. This is a big month. A lot happens. The 4th: Uses the couch to stand up on his own. The 9th: Owen says "bye". He can also say "mama & dada". He also waves. The 10th: Owen finally crawls!! Tentatively at first and very gingerly, but by weekend's end, he was very proficient at it! The 11th: Our old next door neighbor from Rippingale, Roz, is in Vancouver prior to her Alaskan Cruise. Mom & Owen have dinner with her and her daughter. The 13th & 14th: We discover Owen's 3rd & 4th teeth. He looks like Dracula! The 18th: Mom & Dad celebrate their 6th wedding anniversary. The 26th thru the 28th, Sarah & Art Nadeau come to visit us! They're close family friends on Dad's side. Owen starts eating table foods this month.

September 2006: The family goes to Secret Cove at Sunshine Coast, B.C. for a wedding. It's Owen's first wedding. Then we celebrate Labor Day by attending a carnival at Vancouver's Playland at the PNE with a couple of friends.

September 5, 2006: Owen crawled up the stairs! He freaked Mom out because she wasn't exactly watching him. By the time Mom found him, he was already on the 4th step up. It's time to put up the gates!

End of September - October 14, 2006: Grandma M and Aunt Christine visit! They give Owen lots of love and attention, and someone other than Mom & Dad to spoil him! During their visit, we took them to Granville Island, Chinatown, Stanley Park, Capilano Bridge, Ikea, Butchart Gardens, Buntzen Lake and so on. We all celebrated Owen's 1st Birthday on Oct. 5th!! It was a nice quiet little party. Owen had his first taste of cake & ice cream and enjoyed it a lot. Daddy helped him open presents. And this wraps up Owen's First Year!!!