Lots of new skills + the great march to toddlerhood

I have started to write this post in my head several times over the past few weeks.  Then something else amazing would happen; Rowan has gone through so many huge changes this month.  As recently as October I was stressing out because his eating and sleeping habits were going haywire - then a few weeks ago, Rowan basically weaned himself and then decided he was thrilled with a simple bedtime routine of saying goodnight, brushing teeth, turning out the lights, and calling it a night.  We're STILL a little weirded out by how easily he goes down now ... most nights he is literally EXCITED to be going to bed.  Occasionally he will cry a little (like when he is overtired), but it never lasts for more than a few minutes.

New Rowan is MUCH more cuddly!

Despite the weaning and increased independence, Rowan has become much more affectionate.  When he was an infant I was often frustrated by how clingy yet not affectionate he often seemed.  Rationally, I knew better than to take that personally, but it still hurt when he screamed to be picked up but then, bizarrely, continued to scream because I was holding him.  He is definitely still a sensitive kid with often ineffable wants and needs - but at least now he gives us some hugs and kisses, too.

The Christmas season came and has mostly gone.  We did go get our tree at Powers Farmer Market early in December with Rachael & Jake like we always do - but it was rainy and Rowan was grumpy so we didn't get any pictures.  However, we did have a fun time decorating as a family ...

Yaay! Lights!

And kitty!!

Our cute little tree :)

We (but mostly Ben) have been working on sign language with Rowan.  It has become a fairly common practice among parents these days.  Rowan does use some of the signs, but moreover it seems to have really increased his vocabulary.  In early November, his discernible words were Mama, Dada, kitty, doggy, hey, and yeah.  Now he has added the following words: baby, berry, bread, eat, more, night night, girl, boy, banana (and he can recognize those last three in books, too), neee (honey), oh no, all done, and his favorite: thank you.  He started "singing along" with some of his favorite songs, especially "ding dong" (the Muppets singing Ringing of the Bells.)  He also signs eat, more, and light.  We often sign light off/on, please, thank you, help, gentle, eat, drink, more, good boy, cat, dog, boy, girl, and milk.  And of course, we still get plenty of baby babble - he talks to himself and us in babble a lot, and often talks himself to sleep.  It is great that he is starting to communicate so much more and he is SO pleased with himself. :) 

Weeee! Still loving slides!

Oh, hi! I sure like this Dad of mine.

Despite the fact that he basically took himself off the bottle, Rowan is still pretty anti-solid foods.  We're pretty sure it's just the textures because he has tried and liked a lot of strong flavors (blue cheese, spicy sausage, chili.)  So he still relies on purees for a lot of his proteins and fruit-veggie-grain smoothies for more nutrition.  He does love yogurt and he tears through raspberries and blackberries like there's no tomorrow.  He eats chevre (soft goat cheese) by the handful but refuses almost all other offers of cheese (although today he did eat a piece of espresso-rubbed cheese after turning down the other two more mild cheeses.)  He does drink milk, but usually only 8 ounces or so a day, and he drinks a lot of water.  He also snacks on graham crackers and cereal bars and the occasional bit of bread.  And he is just OBSESSED with honey - if he even hears the door to the cupboard it's in, he comes rushing into the kitchen shouting "NEEEEE!"  (See above, vocabulary.) I'm sure he'll start branching out when he is ready.  He does occasionally go nuts for unexpected dishes - like the saffron rice pilaf with leeks and spicy sausage I made last week.  He ate three bowlfuls over two days.  Then turned down pancakes for the millionth time.  Weirdo.

Jogging down Lambert Ave.

Rowan really loves stop signs.

We did our usual Christmas split - we went to Ithaca for the weekend before Christmas, then drove to Fredonia on Christmas Eve.  Rowan was definitely a little more into it this year - he opened presents, played with new toys, and had fun with his many cousins.  It's always a little tough to be on the road (nap time is especially perilous), but this year was definitely smoother than last ... at least in my not-too-reliable Mommy Memory.  He is much more comfortable in louder, more crowded spaces now.  Rowan didn't try too many of the fancy Christmas foods - but he did enjoy many goat cheese-stuffed raspberries, one of his favorite delicacies.

So big! (with the Duliba cousins)

Rowan is thinking, What is this guy doing?

We are trying to take it easy for the remainder of Winter Break.  There's always a lot of stuff to do around the house ... but there is also a new cheese shop in Rochester and the ice cream shop we love right next door.  So that's what we did this morning.

Rowan's favorite is Salted Caramel.

Did I get every last bit??