Just Another Day

Rowan eats blackberries like its his job. This morning I tried to feed him his berry on a spoon. He pushed the spoon away and picked the blackberry up with his fingers. He's got a little independent streak for sure.


For dinner Rowan ate grilled cheese and strawberries. He seriously loves his fruit. If anyone wants to buy him an orchard for his birthday, feel free. We are going to go broke keeping this kid's fruit needs satisfied.

Life at 10 Months...

... as told by Rowan Christian Baum One year ago today my Mom and Dad found out that I was actually a boy. I knew it all along.

Now that I am 10 months old, life is pretty exciting. Mom says I have to give up my binky pretty soon. We'll see about that!

As I was exploring today I realized that Mom is a lot taller than me but I am quickly catching up to Cooper. I am now over 28 inches tall... maybe even 29!

I can say several words like "hi" and "uh oh" but please don't ask me to say them. I just do it when I feel like it and that's all. Tonight for dinner I ate pancakes and strawberries. I dropped Cooper a piece of pancake and said "uh oh" and laughed really hard.

Mom wanted some cute 10 month pictures of me so she made me stand in the rocks and hold on to this big giant rock. Can you tell by my face that I did not like that so much?

Mom and Dad are really pushing this standing and walking thing. I was standing by myself but before Mom could take the picture I got into a squatting position. Holding up all 19 lbs and 7.5 oz of me isn't easy!

Mom finally got me to smile for the camera because she chased me around the dining room table.

I really like being chased.

I also really like playing with my giant dump truck! My favorite toys are cars, puzzles and balls!

I know this picture is sideways but this is how I felt about Mom's picture taking. I was D O N E. Notice my pearly whites on the top? Three have poked through making my total number of teeth SIX. This teething thing is no picnic though......

Love, Rowan

Pool

Car Seat Safety

This post is going to be a little different than my normal posts. I honestly don't know if anyone reads this except for family and a friend or two but I really wanted to share my view and research on this important topic.

Rowan, currently about 19.5 pounds, rides rear facing a Convertible (can be used forward or rear facing) carseat. At 20 pounds and 1 year Rowan will "meet" the LAW's qualifications to turn him to forward facing. Recently, however, the American Academy of Pediatrics has changed their recommendation that children remain rear facing until at least 2 years. Babies who ride rear facing are FIVE times safer than babies or toddlers who do not.

http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/30/4/12-a

Babies and toddlers have such heavy heads which make up a large portion of their bodies. Their spines are not designed to support that much weight during a car crash. The force placed on the spine while forward facing during a crash can cause serious damage to the spine or even death (internal decapitation). A rear-facing seat is needed to support that large percentage of body weight during a crash and to protect a child’s spine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKIeExpDLDA

This last link is a true story that a Grandpa tells about his grandson. Its rather long but has a lot of important information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8gU9zzCGA8&feature=related

If you made it this far, thanks for letting me share! Rowan is approaching the age where he could turn around so I decided I'd better do my research and I'm sure glad that I did. Here is here in his carseat... this is from about 3 months ago. :-)

A Different Type of Day

Back in the midwest on the first mildly warm spring day, everyone sheds their jackets, pulls out their shorts, and run outside for a little spring fun. Here in Arizona we get excited about an entirely different type of day. We wait for the RAINY day. Then, we suit our kids up in jackets and send them outside to crawl around in the wet world with which they are quite unfamiliar.

Yep, the words "It's raining!!!" can be heard echoing from backyards all through out Arizona neighborhoods as the kids enjoy a rare (for the desert) type of day.

Yes, he's crawling around on the wet ground with raindrops falling on him. If he's okay with it, then so am I!

Until today Rowan's vocabulary consisted of "mama" "dada" "ayyy" and "ah eh" (uh oh) among some other babbling. When I opened the shower door this morning, I turned to make sure Rowan was still secure in his jumper, and he looked at me, smiled and said "hiii." I know I'm his mom, but its pretty stinkin' adorable.

Numbers

I'm not good with numbers, I don't like math. Today, on my way to Old Navy, I was thinking about how much a part of daily life numbers are. Here are a just a few examples of some numbers Rowan and I encountered through out our day.

55: The speed limit in the construction zone on I17.

.99: The price of blackberries at the grocery store. Rowan eats blackberries like its his job.

4: The number of teeth Rowan is getting all at one fun time.

98.0: Rowan's temperature today even though he feels warmer.

2200: The approx. square footage of our house which I had to tell the bug man today.

5: The number of times I filled Cooper's water bowl.

2: The total time, in hours, of Rowan's naps today.

3: The number of poopy diapers I changed today.

7:29: The time my sweet angel fell asleep for the night.

Rowan doesn't watch T.V. Even when I have it on he's just not interested. Today, however, for about 2 minutes, he sat perfectly still, gazing up at the T.V., taking in the sights and sounds of What Not to Wear. Ahh, Rowy, my little fashion bug. :-)

A "Crockin" Good Time

As some of you may have been able to discern from my clever title, Rowan got a pair of Crocs shoes today. That may surprise you since I have always been strong in my belief that Crocs are the ugliest things around. My apologies to those of you who lovingly own a pair. :-) Anyway, I decided that in a small size and on Rowan's precious feet, they actually looked adorable! They also serve a function. See, his feet don't wear flip flops well. When he has a casual look going on or we are outside playing by the pool he needed some comfortable, waterproof shoes. Thus, I purchased the dreaded Croc. I retract my statement that ALL Crocs are ugly. In this baby size, they are mighty cute.

Today was the first day we went in OUR pool. Rowan had been swimming several other times already and LOVES the water. The large blue thing in the background is the solar cover we recently purchased. Our pool gets direct sunlight in the morning meaning that it takes quite a while to warm it to a comfortable temperature. The solar cover (looks like a giant blue sheet of bubble wrap and goes on top of the water) warms the pool 10 degrees in a matter of days. Hideous looking? Yes. Worth it? I think so.

Rowan's New Toy

Rowan's first CAT tractor... following in Great Grandpa Spahr's footsteps!

Wordless Wednesday

Random Rowan Facts

1. He is part fish. Seriously. The kid loves the water. He could stay in the pool for hours. He even puts his face under water and comes up happy.

2. He is stubborn. He has a special cry/wail/scream when he doesn't get his way.

3. He is speedy. I have to plan in my head what I want to get from the fridge or pantry so that I can open the door, grab the item, and quickly close it again. Otherwise, Rowan is into everything and when I pull him away #2 happens.

4. Rowan uses his right and left hands equally. According to several books, a baby's perferred hand should be apparent around 9 months. Rowan's is not.

5. Rowan likes large containers filled with stuff that he can dump out and explore. He especially enjoys my make up basket. Most mornings he can be found with an eyelash curler in one hand, and a tube of lip gloss in the other. I will become seriously concerned if he starts mimicking me and putting it on his face. :-)


RCB just learned how to appropriately use a hammer. Notice he's using his left hand.... Moments before, however, he was using his right hand. I also feel obligated to mention that my voice is quite loud on this video so you may want to turn the volume down. :-)

Mother's Day

our miracle

mommy and her baby (he's holding the card he gave me)

Rowan & Cooper

There are no words:

Grammy & Grampy Visit

Rowan had a fun time hanging out with Grammy and Grampy this weekend. He got to take them Gymboree class and show off his stuff! Rowan was a good boy at all the restaurants we went to. He sat in his high chair and ate and ate and ate! Cooper was a bit depressed when G & G left. He spent the rest of the day lying around, not even overly interested in his dinner! :-)

Waiting at the airport

Meeting Grammy & Grampy at the gate.

Grammy & Rowan doing some shopping (yep, Rowan came with the girls to the mall)

Mommy & Rowan

Rowan, Grammy & Grampy

9 Month Update

Rowan Christian is 9 months already. Can you believe it? He had his check up on Thursday right before Grammy and Grampy came for a visit. Rowan weighed a wopping 18 lbs 14.5 oz. He has jumped from the 12th to the 23rd percentile for weight. His height was 28.5 inches, right around the 50th percentile and his head was in the 90th. Yep, we've got a big headed little guy! :-)

Rowan's favorite new thing is walking while pushing his toy. He loves table food. Some favorites include carrots, pasta, graham crackers, goldfish, cheerios, and Pirate's Booty. He is also drinking from a sippy cup very well now. He loves apple juice and fruit punch (100% juice). Rowan is still sleeping through the night, had his fourth tooth break through, and is still an overall cheerful easy going little guy!