Chillin' on the Patio

Wow! A chair just my size!

Don't even think about stealing it! I'm watching you!

Yeah, all these people want my chair, but I'm not moving a muscle!
And if one of 'em tries anything, I've got my trusty hammer.

I Love it Up Here!

Being at the cabin is soooooo fun! Do we really have to go home?

First Lake Swim With Grandpa

Rowan enjoyed his first lake swim on Sunday while we were at the cabin! He kept a pretty straight face, but he didn't seem at all scared or shocked by the cold water (it was a super hot day, after all!). Grandpa Rob loved taking Rowan for his first swim while we snapped pictures from the beach and the doc. Grandpa Rob also blew up Rowan's floating crab so that he could try it out. He definitely liked being held in the water better, but I think he'll enjoy the crab with some more practice.

Well, I guess I'll have to go swim suit shopping before our next trip to the cabin in late June!

Freedom to Flavor!

Rice cereal tastes like paper. I'm serious! Try it for yourself! It's mushy and bland and just plain boring.

So, with the support of our pediatrician, I've been shaking things up around here. For breakfast, we give Rowan oatmeal cereal with cinnamon and stewed peaches or apples. Last night, Rowan had a broccoli and garlic (yes garlic!) puree with a little olive oil and a touch of sea salt. He's also had carrots with dill and a little olive oil and sea salt.

Our pediatrician basically told us that parents don't give our kids enough credit for liking good food (food that adults would actually eat). She says she sees a lot of fussy eaters who will only eat cheese, hot dogs, lunchables meals and McDonalds food. She encouraged us to start shaping good taste now!

Rowan will have several bites of food at a couple of meals a day (I offer food at breakfast, lunch and dinner, but he's not always interested). We don't try to trick or convince him into eating more once he signals he's finished (babies are very good at regulating their food intake). I think we'll try some meats next...

Here's an interesting article for the mamas who read this:
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/tipcurry.htm

A Day With the Ladies

Rowan joined Heidi, my mom, my Godmother Kris and my cousin Mindi on an outing to Norstrom on Sunday. We got our makeup done at the Laura Merier counter (Mindi was searching for a wedding "look"). Everyone looked soooo beautiful. Rowan quickly lost interest and fell asleep in the sling! He continued to sleep for over an hour in the stroller. When it was time to go to lunch, he woke right up. I guess he just wasn't into the beauty portion of the day!

Little Energy Conservationist

It's really important to always turn off the lights...

...before you leave the house. That way, you save electricity!

Oh, and you should close the windows, too. Just in case it rains!

Seven Months!

On May 12, we became the proud parents of a seven-month-old! Can you believe it? Time sure does fly by when you're watching a little one grow up! Rowan has been such a joyful addition to our lives, and we're more and more thankful for him every day.

Rowan is a happy and healthy baby boy. We took him for a doctor's appointment on Tuesday. He weighed 16 pounds, 9 ounces, and measured 27.25 inches long (still long and lean!). He showed off some of his ahead-of-schedule motor skills (crawling, pulling up and even cruising a little bit!). His doctor said he looked great! Very bright, healthy and active!

Rowan's social skills took another leap over the past month. He really hams it up now. He rests his head gently on cushions and pillows until he gets a "Oh, sweet baby" from his audience. Yesterday, he did this and after I alone responded, he looked at Kyle like "C'mon Dad, you're supposed to say it, too!" He also dances! He'll pull up on the couch and start shaking his head and booty while I sing! Sooooo cute!

Sleep has been a mixed bag for little Rowan. He's a great napper, often sleeping for 1.5 to two hours during his morning and afternoon naps. Nighttime sleep can be more challenging, however. We usually put him to sleep around 8 p.m. He goes down fairly easily, but he'll start (still asleep) rolling, crawling, pulling up and (eventually) falling down! His doctor said that because he's achieving his motor milestones so fast, he probably has a hard time slowing down, even in his sleep! He "practices" in his dreams until he wakes himself up, crying and confused about where he is and what he's doing! Poor little guy. His doctor also said Rowan's getting close to cutting his top teeth, so that could be disturbing his sleep, too. He tends to sleep better next to me or Kyle. I think our warmth and breathing help him regulate and settle down.

We're continuing to introduce solids. I offer him food whenever we sit down to eat meals. He usually eats several bites during one meal a day (usually during a late lunch or at dinner). Yesterday, he ate broccoli! I gave it to him a little chunkier than usual and he seemed to do OK (a few gags). He loooooves to drink water from a cup. We're skipping the sippy for now and working with him on an open cup. He enjoys drinking more than eating!

Overall, he's just a wonderul little baby, and we can't get enough of him!

Rest Your Little Head

When Rowan stands next to a couch or crawls up to a pillow, he'll rest his head ever-so-sweetly for a few seconds (just long enough to get a "Oh, how cute!" from his audience.) It's priceless! He's such a busy body that's it's fun to watch him actually take a break for a few seconds!

More Mother's Day Fun

After our delicious breakfast, we visited Kyle's family for Mother's Day lunch. Kyle enjoyed playing baseball with the family, and Rowan had fun exploring a new house. He actually pulled one of the dining chairs across the kitchen floor (with spotting from Grandma Connie)! What a strong little guy!

We then visited my family for Mother's Day dinner (we go where the food is!). When we took this photo of the mom's and children, Rowan demonstrated his favorite new thing: sticking out his tongue. He does it ALL THE TIME!

It was a wonderful Mother's Day full of family, food and fun! We're so blessed!!

Mother's Day Breakfast

I have such sweet men in my life! When I woke up on Mother's Day (I slept in!), I found Kyle and Rowan in the kitchen making waffles. Kyle makes THE BEST waffles! We had a delicious, relaxing breakfast together before venturing out to visit Grandma Connie and Grandma Michelle.

For my mother's day present, Rowan is treating me to some pampering at Spa Bella Casa! Heidi, Scott and I got my mom a gift-certificate to use there as well. So, Heidi, mom and I will be having a spa day together! I'm so excited!!

Welcome to My Lovely Home

Kyle put together the Fisher Price Learning Home Rowan got for Christmas. Now that he's sitting and crawling and pulling up, he's old enough to enjoy it! He loves opening and closing the door and the mailbox. It does things like say "open" when the door opens and "close" when it closes. It also plays some music. It's nice because the noises aren't too obnoxious or complicated. He loves it!

Buddies in Overalls

We had a great time getting together with the other two couples from our natural childbirth class today. Without planning it, we all put our little guys in blue overalls! As the oldest one of the group, Rowan got to show off his crawling and pulling up skills. All the boys seemed to get a kick out of watching (and grabbing at!) one another. They looked at one another as if to say, "Wow, another baby! I thought I was the only one in the whole wide world!" Of course, we all treat our babies like THEY ARE the only ones in the whole wide world. And that's how it ought to be, right?

Post-Nap Sweetness!

Hi mama! I'm bright and cheery and ready to play!

Did We Skip a Stage?

OK, I truly could never complain about my little bud. He's so sweet and cute, and I love him to pieces. But man I could have used a month (a week, three days) of a "sit happily and play" stage. Rowan went from zero to mobile in no time! Now all he wants to do is pull up on things -- EVERYthing.

Today, he actually went from his stationary entertainer to the couch. I wouldn't call it cruising yet, but I'm sure that's the next step on the horizon. Yikes! This is a whole new ball game!

Rowan can stand while munching on a toy. What good balance! He no longer enjoys the "stationary" aspect of his stationary entertainer, so we rarely put him in it. But he enjoys standing up next to it.

Rowan doesn't like to give up his toys even while he tries to pull up.

Despite his desire for almost constant movement, we still have lots of snuggle time in the sling. He loves to ride around and reconnect, especially when he's tired. So sweet!

New Tricks!

Rowan has been doing some new things this past week. He can now pull up pretty well on some furniture. This new-found ability has also led to some bumps and falls -- nothing too bad yet, thank goodness!

Yesterday, Kyle and Rowan were playing in the livingroom while I got ready in the bathroom. Rowan started to fuss like he was hungry and actually crawled all the way to the bathroom and found me! When he saw me he just smiled and smiled. So cool!

I'm not sure how to describe this, but Rowan can click (cluck?) his toungue. He'll copy Kyle endlessly with that trick (or is it Kyle who is copying Rowan?).

He changes so fast! Once he learns one new thing, so many other new things follow. I feel so fortunate to be able to watch him change and develop first-hand. So amazing!

At the Park With Mom and Papa(razzi)

Rowan visited the park last week -- the first of many more visits to come this summer! Of course, we took lots and lots of pictures!

Chilling out. Rowan sat with his mama for a bit at first to check out the scene and watch the kids swing and play.

I dig this! Rowan played with his daddy on the digger. It's hard to say who had more fun!

Little swinger. Although he's still a bit small for the swing, Rowan sat up well and even gave a couple of smiles.

Favorite pose. Rowan demonstrated his one-handed pose, which he often shows off while crawling or pulling up on things.

Please, no photos. Tired of the constant stream of picture-taking, Rowan requests some privacy to enjoy the park with his family. A celebrity in the making?

Cool Dude, Cool Do!

Rowan's hair is really filling in. We can actually style it now after his baths!

AvocaNO

Rowan had a reaction to avocado last night and it wasn't fun. He had a rash on his face and he threw up. So, no more avocado for little Rowan! And, from what I've read about avocado reactions, we shouldn't introduce banana either for the time being (they're related in their tendency to produce reactions.) Oh bother... Banana and avocado are so often recommended as first foods. Who knew they'd make my little bud sick?!

I'll ask his ped about it at his next well check, which is coming up soon. In the meantime, he's still enjoying tasting his sweet potato and rice cereal.

Six Months

Rowan had his six-month birthday on April 12 (yes, we're a little late in giving this report). Six months brought his very first illness -- a cold. He actually fared better than I did with it. It figures -- I make all the antibodies and he gets them in my milk! Oh well, I'd rather be the one who gets more sick anyway. Kyle ended up with it too. He's just getting over it now.

Six months also brought one of Rowan's most significant changes -- mobility. He started effectively crawling just a couple of days after he hit six months. He's already becoming quite speedy, so I'm always on the watch! He also tries to pull up on things already (mostly his stationary entertainer and laundry baskets because he's too short to reach much else).

Rowan got his first taste of solid food at six months, and it's been disgusting diapers ever since (seedy mustard poo suddenly doesn't seem so bad:). He's tasted avocado, rice cereal, sweet potato and apple chunks (in a mesh feeder) so far. He doesn't eat much, mainly just tastes and explores. But he must get something because I am changing some raunchy dipes!

His personality has really blossomed over the past month. He has a great sense of humor. Kyle was juggling his blocks the other night and Rowan would just CRACK UP if Kyle dropped the blocks or if the blocks fell on his head. He chuckles as if to say, "My parents are so silly!" when we do dorky things like sing songs and dance.

He plays new games now. Peekaboo is a current favorite! Tonight he's been playing with a rolled up pair of his socks. He'll sort of toss (drop?) them a short distance ahead of himself and then crawl after them.

He's also very affectionate. He loves to nestle into our necks for a "recharge" cuddle before he goes off on his next exploration (melts my heart!).

He's changed so much over the past six months, I can hardly believe it! It's already hard to remember what it was like when he was so new to us. We've really meshed as a family over the past six months and now it's truly difficult to remember what life was like without our little Rowan. We love him so much and can't wait to see what the next six months will bring!

Rowan Tells a Joke

In honor of Grandpa Kevin's last day of work, Rowan has a silly joke about showing up on time.

So this guy walks into a department store and asks the clerk, "Do you sell potato clocks?"

"Potato clocks?!" cried the clerk. "I've never even heard of such a silly thing."

"Hey," replied the guy, "all I know is that my boss said I wouldn't be so late for work if I got a potato clock."

C'mon, get it? Got a potato clock...got up at eight O'clock...

It's hilarious! Ha ha ha ha!

Have a great last day at work Grandpa Kevin! Happy retirement!

Rowan the Wizard

We just had to get a cute picture of Rowan in this warm little outfit. Kyle actually wore it when he was a tiny baby (his late grandma Corrine made it for him before he was born). It's so colorful, with lots of embroidered flowers all along the hood and zipper. Rowan just smiled and smiled when he looked at himself in the mirror wearing it. The pointy hood makes him look like a little wizard -- so cute!

We didn't get to use it much over the winter because every time you take a baby out nowadays, you need to buckle them into a carseat stroller (things they didn't need to worry about back in the day).

A close-up of this picture also shows off Rowan's two teeth. Believe me when I tell you they are sharp!!

Rowan Wrestles the Easter Bunny

More Easter Pics...Angie's Side

Some of the grandkids and greatgrandkids (and significant others) with grandma and grandpa.

More Easter Pics...Kyle's Side

A pretty lady on my left and on my right...what more could I ask for?

What's everyone looking at? What's so funny?