ONE YEAR + and so much change

I think it is safe to say we have a toddler now.  It's crazy to think that Rowan crawling was big news just two months ago - now he walks all over the place!  This past month we have been very fortunate to be able to all be home as a family much more than usual.  Good thing, too, because if either of us had missed much of this month we might not recognize this new kid!

(He is a lot steadier than that now, but this video is just the best.)

Rowan started walking with our encouragement back in late June.  Ben and I would sit a few feet apart and he would take tentative steps and we would catch him if he stumbled.  We practiced this way a lot and slowly his range got farther and his steps more confident.  Then while we were on vacation he learned to stand up unassisted and then his skills really took off.  He recently figured out that he can walk wherever he wants, not just to one of us.  He is pretty steady on his feet and doesn't freak out as much when he stumbles anymore.  He walks very carefully - he kind of looks like a little old man shuffling around.

Oh, hello.  Just walkin' here.

Still patching, but just the left eye - also working on solid foods. :)

We went to Ithaca a couple weeks ago and Rowan was reunited with his pal Dakota.  He really gets so psyched watching Dakota play. I really do hope we can get him a dog one day, preferably a collie mix like Dakota.  He is really calm and gentle, but still has plenty of energy and loves to play.  This time we managed to get some good pictures:

We spent a bunch of time chilling at Camp Barton.  Rowan enjoyed meeting some new kids, hiking down to the the falls, and taking a quick dip in Cayuga Lake.  I am so glad that he is so good about meeting new kids and he is gradually starting to get over the separation anxiety, too.  He is definitely outgoing and I think he will adjust well to daycare one day (if we can just get him into regular napping ... we're working on it.)

Gazing into each others' eyes ...

Psh whatever, Nature, I just want my puffs.

We had Rowan's first birthday party at our house last weekend.  I think I showed remarkable restraint and I only had one or two minor meltdowns over pulling everything together. :)  Our house and yard can really get quite cozy when we clean up and throw open the doors.

Yup, handmade.  But I'll use it next year, too!

What? I was hot.

Yaaaaaaaay party!!!

Rowan generally does pretty well with crowds, as long as Ben or I are with him.  He had a good time at his party and was in a good mood basically the whole time.  He was definitely basking in the attention and enjoying having some kids to play with, too.  The only part of the evening he did NOT like was his birthday cupcake ... he did not understand why he couldn't touch the flame and he definitely did not care for the singing.  But he got over it very quickly once he was munching on his very own cupcake. :)

WHY?!

Oh, that's why.  Okay. :)

Monster Cupcakes!

For the birthday boy

In other news, Rowan continues to grow and grow.  We went to the doctor today and he is still doing great - 86th percentile for weight, 96th for height (32 inches tall!!!), and 92nd for head size.  He is going to be one brainy beefcake. :)  He already has several words - good, kittycat, mama, dada.  He also still says "I did it!" and when we praise him with a good job or good boy he responds, "Thank you!"

There is just SO MUCH I need to tell you!

Starting to get a little more snuggly - some love from Mama.

Rowan's Likes: Homemade banana biscotti (thanks for the tip, Grandma Judy!), bananas, yogurt, playing in water (pool or lake or tub), running after the kittycats, opening and closing drawers and doors, the Muppets (especially Mahna Mahna), Sesame Street, most music, books
Rowan's Dislikes: Getting his diaper changed, putting on pants, going down for naps (but he is getting a lot better - we're working on it), most solid foods (it seems to be a texture thing, his doctor says that is normal)

11 ( and 1/2 ...) months + we're East Coast gypsies now ...

Well, Rowan is closer to twelve months than eleven now, but I do have a good excuse for being behind on posts - we spent last week living like nomads along the scorching Eastern seaboard.  We took Rowan on his first Big Trip and drove to the Annapolis/DC area to visit friends and family.  I was anxious leading up to the trip and nearly canceled it several times - I just wasn't sure if we could all handle it.  However, everyone did extremely well; we were very impressed with Rowan's ability to cope with the constant changes.  We joked that the drive down broke his spirit, but really, I do think the whole experience was great for building character.  We have noticed a definitive improvement in his overall coping abilities - he is still sensitive, but seems to be less easily upset.  We hope he continues to grow braver while still enjoying lots of snuggles. :)

Scenic view of the Susquehanna that we found on the way down.

We went to Annapolis first and got to hang out with Ben's cousin Cody, his wife Jamie, and their one year old son Colin.  Colin is big and strong like Rowan and he is already walking really well.  I think he had a good influence on Rowan because just a day after watching Colin stand up independently, Rowan did it for the first time!  He had already been taking a few tentative steps back and forth between Ben and I, but now he can stand up and lurch, I mean, walk independently!

Waving to the dolphins at the National Aquarium in Baltimore

Jellyfish!

We also stayed with Ben's brother David and his wife Liz in Annapolis.  They have a border collie mix named Dakota and he is the best dog ever!  He and Rowan are BFFs - seriously, they just love each other!  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the friends playing; they both move awfully fast.  I hope we can get Rowan a dog when he is older because he really loves them.

We stayed with David and Liz through the 4th of July and went to a swanky party - Rowan charmed everyone, of course.  He is SUCH a flirt.  It is very cute and it makes me glad to see how social he can be - he is far from a shut-in, but he doesn't go to day care so his daily social interactions are fairly limited.  We also took him to the big National Aquarium in Baltimore and that was a big success.  Rowan seemed really interested in looking at all the animals, including the people.  He made several friends, both swimming and non-swimming. :)

Seriously?  ANOTHER place to stay?

Hey, Girl.

We left Annapolis to spend the weekend in Washington, DC.  We stayed with my college roommate Sue and her boyfriend Brian.  Rowan loved both of them - he also loved their cat, Bauer, but unfortunately those feelings were not reciprocated.  Bauer spent much of the weekend in hiding.

Unfortunately, last weekend in DC was one of hottest ever recorded - it was 105 on Saturday!  So that somewhat limited our choices of activities.  We went to the mall to stay out of the heat and Rowan had a great time playing with the other kids on the indoor playground.  He is so funny - he was practically chasing the kids around with this goony smile on his face.  He is definitely friendly, but I think he came on a little strong. ;)

HI! BE MY FRIEND!!

We spent a lot of time in the pool at Sue's apartment complex.  Rowan had been in a pool before, but hadn't been completely excited about it.  However, maybe he just needed to get used to it, because now he is turning into a little fish!  He was practically throwing himself out of our arms and trying to swim.  And he definitely doesn't mind getting his head wet.  If the weather holds out, we're hoping to take him to Canandaigua Lake this week.

The heat broke on Monday and it cooled off to the low 80s so we went into Washington, DC.  Rowan took his very first train ride and did a great job.  He enjoyed checking out the scenery as well as the other passengers.  We walked around the National Mall and visited the Museum of American History.  Rowan was pretty interested, especially in anything he could get his hands on.

First train ride!

Thank god for the Ergo!

Cool day in DC.

OMG THIS SLINKY IS SO COOL!

We ended the trip with a quick visit to Manassas to see my friend Kelly, her husband Brett, and their new little girl Ella.  Rowan was starting to lose it by this point and took a little while to warm up to yet another new place.  However, Brett is a natural and quickly charmed Rowan.  We hope to spend more time with them the next time we brave the drive.

This month Rowan started walking.  At this point he is pretty much just tentatively lurching back and forth between Ben and I, but he does so with great enthusiasm! :)  He has been cruising for quite awhile, but while we were on this trip he stood up independently (without pulling or holding anything) for the first time.  We are pretty sure he learned it by watching Colin.

So overall it was a very successful trip.  Of course, now we are ACTUALLY on vacation - home and recuperating from our week of living like gypsies.  Rowan is spending his days playing with his toys, playing in his little backyard "beach" (a sandbox and plastic pool), and constantly practicing walking.

In other news, Rowan continues to meet his cohorts - it seems like everyone I know had a baby in the past year or so.  My friend Adrienne and her son Eden happened to be in Fredonia when we were a few weeks ago and the adults got to visit while the boys played together (sort of - Rowan is about three months older than Eden.)  It always cracks me up how beefy Rowan seems next to other babies.

It is hard to get two little boys to look :)

Rowan, the Miami Mob Boss

Rowan's Likes: Swimming, Puffs, graham crackers, dogs, meeting new animals (friendly ones), meeting new kids and friendly adults, ice cream (salted caramel appears to be his favorite)
Rowan's Dislikes: Diaper changes, getting dressed, most table food, being hot, being bored, not getting enough undivided attention