Just some pics

We hardly ever see his lower lip anymore! Always tucked in.

Baby coop in basement

Sunshine in the doughnut cafe

Kitchen playground

He's scrambles to get to the fridge to grab from the bottom shelf and play. He got ketchup today. He is very much like a puppy sometimes and stole a piece of recycling which I let him play with for a couple days because it got so much milage!

Turn the Page

First time on his chair this morning (still in PJs, which are a bit awkward for the Potty) and he went "above and beyond" his usual tinkle for the first time. Impressed, and fewer diapers per day. I don't care that it's accidental .

Wally thinks he's hiding

Dinner out after a hike, trying on Daddy's hat

Our evening clingy Koala

 He's equally rambunctious and active as he is climbing up my legs and needing to be held. The pendulum swings back and forth all day. Lately this has been a typical dinner time snapshot, you can see by we both really needed a beer this particular day.

Finally!

After 9 1/2 months Rowan fell asleep in the crib for the first time! You can tell by all of our crib debris that we'd given up on the idea of using it for sleeping and use it for baby containment as needed.  It was an afternoon nap when we usually have him wind down in the crib and then transfer him to his floor mat because of the intense protests after 15 minutes, but not today.

In other news, we're dabbling with a little pre-potty training. We are just getting him familiar with his little throne and setting him on it before a fresh diaper gets put on with no expectations. Though he has had a handful of successes while one of us reads stories for him on it. The potty is very clean in these pictures (no worries) but it gives a good indication of the cyclone that is Rowan. 5 minutes and he can turn a whole room upside down. Interesting tidbit: Of the last remaining adult books he can reach... and that we have to move to avoid destruction, he keeps pulling out the history of John James Audubon over and over.

Happy Valentines Day

 

We planned this project for immediately before a bath. We tried our hand at "finger painting" which became a bit more intense than I expected for our Valentine's Day cards. I made a paste of cornstarch, water and a tad of sugar..quite tasty according to the artist.

Beating the winter blues

Just doing his thing

Owl wear

18 month size owl shirt from Aunt Heather, paired with homemade owl diaper. He loves to fidget with the googly eyes.

 

 

 

 

loves the ice cube trays

The little bear had his 9 month check up today. He is leveling off a bit, which is normal. He's only gained a pound since 7 months and gained an inch and a half. He's just under 22 pounds and 29 inches tall. He was quiet as a mouse at his appointment. He received one vaccine and didn't make a peep. He came home asleep, napped, woke up a bit grumpy and sore. I got him some tylenol and as soon as I went to rinse the dropper out he crawl-dashed over to the vacuum and pulled it over on himself. He's been fascinated by it all day as I cleaned house and kept setting elsewhere since he wanted the cord so badly. He's not looking at it so longingly anymore.

Pulling up and getting into everything

Rearranging the winter gear in the coat closet

Paper bags are better on the floor than stacked

long strands of hair!

Chairs tied to the table for fewer injuries.

Faucet bra, as Doug titled this baby proofing.

Rowan's Feng Shui

 The rug has been put in the closet for storage...every free moment in his room had become time for bunching up the rug into a mess, and then chewing on the rubber backing...even during a 12am wake-up...no more, little sir.

 

He wanted the dining room chair in a different position, it wound up knocking him upside the head as it folded up and hit the ground.

Thinking about his 9 month birthday in 3 days:
Wow, he's been on the outside now as long as he's been on the inside.
5 teeth
23 pounds on the home scale
Half his hair is 1/4" long, the other half, about 2"

Things we love: 
His floppy, graceless crawling
His dimple smile
His super eater attitude and gourmet tastes
Wrist and ankle pudge
Over the top piano key banging and other passionate percussion playing
The way he happys up outdoors
Smiley staring at nothing between "sips" while nursing
Raspberries
Shrieks of delight while "playing ball"

Things we love less:
Teeth grinding
Nightly 4am solo baby parties (hour long)
4-6 nightly soothes...including the last 5 minutes of Baby Party
Having to endlessly stay ahead of his mischief, which is becoming non-stop
Face sleeping insistence
Wrestling matches to diaper him
Endless face scrapes and bruises with his new heavy handed crawling
Refusal to enjoy the huge "baby coop" downstairs so that Mom and Dad can both work

Rowan's workout routines

Newport weekend day 2

The ocean air is so tiring!

Beach coma

A beautiful Sunday morning

So tired of posing for pictures, squirming away....

Weekend in Newport Day 1

Mmmm, chowder!

Having fun with table games, see his 5 teeth!

A tired and sober afternoon at the bay front....no smiles...

Out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpop.

A booster seat from another era that required a little help from Grandpop and Dad  for safety