10 Months



My happy baby

Last Saturday you turned 10 months old! Every day you look more and more like a little boy and less like a baby. You have been speeding down the sides of the couches. On November 2 you finally let go of the couches and took two steps towards your daddy. I think we were so excited we scared you! We are just so amazed at everything you do. Last Sunday, after hanging out with your cousin Corbin, you just started walking. We call it the “zombie walk,” because of your arms up and out in front of you. It is so sweet. In just a week you have gotten a lot more balanced and we know there is no stopping you now.

Your 1st Halloween with
Grandma Lynne

We celebrated your fist Halloween this past month. The celebration consisted of dressing you up, taking some pictures and passing out a little bit of candy. Grandma Lynne came over and we just hung out trying to keep Frida calm as people knocked of the door.



With Grandpa wearing your 1st
pair of mittens

Two weeks ago you and I went to Portland for a little mini vacation. We got to hang out with Jill, Eddie, and baby Max on Friday and then spend the rest of the weekend with Grandpa and Abu. It was a beautiful fall weekend. We walked around a little but mostly just hung out eating delicious food. I was so proud of you for trying new foods. You loved tabouli and every other new flavor you tried.

This weekend we celebrated your 1^st Thanksgiving. We were so happy to have Les, Elvia, and Corbin visiting. You and your cousin had fun playing together. It is too bad that they live so far away.
 

You and Daddy with Uncle Les
and Corbin

You are teething and got a little virus this week. On Thanksgiving you had a temperature of 103. Luckily it went down fairly quickly and it didn’t seem to affect you too much. There were a couple of difficult moments. It was really sad when you were crying and tossing around. You don’t have the words to express yourself, so you were just crying with such a sad look on your face. We are so happy that you are back to your smiley self. I see tooth number 5 popping in and number 6 is about here. We’re hoping that you won’t be bothered by them too much.

We love you baby boy and can’t wait for winter break so we can have a full two weeks of spending all day with you!

 

Likes: playing peek-a-boo, the freedom of walking, being tickled on the feet, counting to 5

Dislikes: being put down for a nap, diaper changes.

A Little More about Month 9



Four teeth and covered in drool!

I forgot to mention a couple of important details of your ninth month. You finally have four teeth! The top two came in and the drool dried up for a few days. It is back, so some more teeth are probably on the way. You often stick your thumb in your mouth and feel your teeth. It is very cute.



Peeking at me from behind the couch.

Our new favorite game is when I peek out from behind the couch. I’ll say your name looking over the top, then duck down and then peer around the side. You laugh and laugh. Sometimes you fall down you are laughing so hard!  You are so sweet and make me so happy.

Getting ready to walk.

Last weekend we got you a little car that you can walk behind and push. We can’t believe that you are about to walk! My amazing boy, you are growing so fast.




9 Months

Today my baby boy you are nine months old. You have grown a lot this month! You were sitting playing in the living room the other day and when I looked at you and I couldn’t believe it has only been nine months since you were born, you looked like a toddler not my baby. You are getting so tall that you can reach up and grab toys, books, and papers, all of which you promptly put in your mouth.

This month you have really started eating solid food. Beans continue to be your favorite food, of course! But so far you haven’t turned away any food that we've offered you. This week you actually used a spoon by yourself.

 

The last weekend in September you and I went to Eugene for your cousin’s birthday. You loved getting to play with James and well as hang out with your grandpa and abu. We stopped in Portland to eat lunch with Jill, Eddie, and sweet little Max. I thought that a two hour break would help you make it home happy. I was wrong. You fell asleep just outside Portland and made it until Olympia. That seems to be your limit. When we got home your daddy came out to get you, I grabbed my bags and then came in. Inside you were laughing and swinging your shirt around, happy to be out of the car and playing with Dad.

For some reason this month you have decided that you don’t really like taking naps. What this means is you are frequently tired when I pick you up in the afternoon. You frequently fall asleep in the car, so I will drive home slowly weaving through the neighborhood letting you sleep. On Friday I stayed home with you. We slept in until 7:30, which was very nice, but you only slept 45 minutes that whole day. Luckily it didn’t seem to bother you until 8 at night. This is just another example of how you are such a good happy baby.

When you get excited you grab one of your left fingers with your right hand and shake your arms up and down. It is so adorable!

 

Likes: eating everything, peeking in and around chairs, dancing, being tickled, splashing in Frida’s water dish

Dislikes: Having your nose wiped, being woken up (same as last month), long car rides

Waking up the last week of September ~ Happy



Waking up mid October ~ Still happy!




8 Months

Last Monday you turned 8 months old. Another month has flown by. This month I had to go back to work. It was a challenge finding the right place for you to go during the day, but after some stress, and a couple of tears (from me) we did it. You have a wonderful daycare close to the house. I think the transition was more difficult for me than for you. After spending everyday with you for the first 7 and a half months of your life, if was hard to leave you with someone else. You didn’t seem to have much trouble adjusting. You love playing with the older kids and are usually excited when you arrive in the mornings. They love you too. Rebecca says you are one of the happiest babies she has ever known!

Since school has started the whole family is adjusting and figuring out our new routine. It has been a little challenging at times, but I think we are getting it. We get up around 5 am, Daddy usually takes you to daycare in the morning and I get to pick you up in the afternoon. We hang out in the evening and then you go to bed between 6:30 and 8:30. We’re working on getting more consistent with a bed time.

 

You are getting taller and seem to be losing a tiny bit of your chub. You love to crawl over, on and under everything! You had your first big fall this month. Well actually you didn’t fall very far, but you had a big bruise. Unfortunately I think you are going to bruise like me. You were sitting down at daycare and were turning to watch another kid when you leaned and just fell. Luckily you didn’t cry too much and the bruise didn’t last very long.

You have started eating solid food. I think beans are your favorite, but I could have guessed that! You often make faces when you taste a new food, but then you reach for more. You are getting better at feeding yourself but are working on picking things up with your fingers.

You still only have two teeth. The top two are bothering you, but they are still below the surface. Some days it looks like you have two blisters in your mouth. I hope they come in soon because they are making you cranky! But even a little grumpiness can’t change the fact that you are still the sweetest little baby with the best smile.

 

Likes: Crawling between the couches and under the chairs and tables, singing songs, watching Mommy and Daddy dance around the living room, dumping the laundry basket

Dislikes: Having your nose wiped, being woken up

Seven Months

1st time riding in a cart.

Rowan, every month you become more and more amazing. There were a lot of developments this month! The last week of June you were in the living room talking to Grandma Lynne and I came in to see you just sitting there. I was so surprised! There was no stopping you after that. You stared crawling across the room stopping to sit up and make sure we were watching. If you see something across the room that you want, either me or a dirty shoe, you squeal and then crawl as fast as you can until you get there. The next week I was watching you crawl and you went right up to the couch and pulled yourself up! I couldn’t believe it. The problem then became getting down. For two weeks you would pull yourself up on something and then wine until someone helped you down. Well this week you learned how to sit back down after standing up. For a day you would stand up then sit down over and over.





1st time brushing your teeth!



The other big development is you now have two teeth! As they were coming in we had a couple of cranky evening. You also started waking up during the night again. Hopefully we can get back in to a sleeping routine before the next tooth decides to come in. You seemed interested in my brushing my teeth so we started brushing yours. Of course you think it is funny!

Last week we took the train to Eugene. I’ll admit that I was nervous traveling alone with you, but I shouldn’t have been. You did great. The train wasn’t too full so you got your own seat. You woke up around Albany and weren’t too happy. Luckily the guy sitting in front of us was happy to talk to you smiled all the way to Eugene. We got to spend the week with Grandpa and Abu.  You also got to spend quite a bit of time with James. You could play soo much more with him this time than you could just three weeks earlier. He was happy about that!

Last weekend we headed to the coast for the Mejía family reunion.  You enjoyed meeting so many family members and playing with your cousins. It was so nice getting to relax, play games, laugh, and enjoy family time. Everyone thought you were adorable!

You are still not too interested in eating solid food. You still think everything is funny, and have the best laugh! Your daddy and I love to make up silly songs to entertain you.

Likes: Chasing Frida around the living room, being tickled, besitos, standing up, brushing your teeth, eating books

Dislikes: Being alone, long car rides, me not letting you stand in the bathtub



Happy Half Birthday!

My sweet little boy you are 6 month old today. Wow! It seems like yesterday I was filled with anticipation waiting to meet you. Yet at the same time it feels like you have been a part of our family for a long time.

 You continue to grow like crazy! We have to get you a new car seat already. You are about to grow out of your baby seat. This month your hair grew back. You have soft fuzzy hair. We are a little confused about the red tint you have to your hair, but I looks like it is going to be thick. You are still scooting around and can now military crawl. If we take our eyes off you for a second you are chewing on a shoe or headed towards a computer cord. Just in the past few days you have started getting up on you knees. You rock a little then get down on the floor to move.




The cutest passport photo ever!

This month you became an international traveler! I had a conference in Vancouver BC and you and your daddy got to come with me. You two got to explore the city during the day and we got to hang out in the evening. You went on a suspension bridge, a walk in the woods, and to a few museums, including a Matisse exibit. Too bad you are not eating solid foods because we had some delicious meals!









Cousins sharing a bath.

This week your dad is at a conference and we are hanging out in Eugene. So far we have gone for a couple of walks and tired some new places to eat. We are spending a lot of time with family. You and your cousin James are getting along well and James can’t wait for you to get a little older so you can play with him.



You have also started sleeping through the night. One morning about two weeks ago I wondered if I had fed you in the middle of the night. I thought that I must have but I was so tired I just didn’t remember. But the next morning I knew that I hadn’t fed you during the night. You have started going to bed a little later, but it seems to be working. You are now sleeping 10 pm to 5 am. I feed you at 5 and sometimes you go back to sleep. If we get up you usually take a morning nap around 7:30. Now if I would start going to sleep at 10 we would be in good shape!

1st taste of avacado

This week you started moving your mouth like you are chewing. I’m not sure if you want to chew or want to talk. Since you are six months we decided to try solid foods. So far you have tried avocados and mangos. I think you accidently swallowed a piece of avocado. The mango you enjoyed more, but it still ended up on you shirt!






One night you were not sleeping well. I tried rubbing you back to help you go back to sleep. Unfortunately you are so ticklish that you started laughing and really woke up. Your dad and I make up silly songs for you and you give a huge toothless smile and laugh. When I gently poke your side you squeal. You make Daddy and me so happy. We love you little boy and are excited to see how you grow and change this month.




The Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

Waiting in line at the Vancouver Art Gallery

Walking in the Japanese Garden



Five Months

To my sweet baby boy:




Smiling with Abu

It has been another busy month. Two of the major events this month were us moving into our new house and me going back to work. Our house is amazing, and thinking about how you will grow up here makes me so happy! I had to return to work for the end of the school year two days after we moved. It was difficult leaving you every morning, but you had a wonderful time with Abu. You didn't take as many long naps like you usually do, but you did pretty well. Your Daddy and I are so grateful to my mom for staying with us for 2.5 weeks to take care of you. Grandpa Jay got to come up for a few days also. You had a lot of fun reading, singing songs and dancing with your grandparents. You are one lucky boy!

Dancing with Grandpa

We did have a few difficulties to deal with this month. You got a urinary tract infection. You did not sleep well for a few days and one night screamed for over an hour. This was difficult for us because there was nothing we could do. But once you started the antibiotics you felt better. The doctors were concerned that the fluid on your kidney and this infection were related so you had to have a VCUG. This test was uncomfortable for you and unbearable for me. Luckily I had my mom with me for support. The nurse tied you to a blank (using Velcro) with your hands above your head. I held your little hands as you cried. Even thinking about it now is making my heart race. They gave you dye through a catheter and took x-rays to see what was going on in there. Thankfully the next day we were told that you do not have reflux and that the fluid in you kidney is just how you were born, it is not urine. This was great news. I was told once again that your kidney would heal as you grow. Until then you will have ultrasounds every six months to make sure there are no other issues.

Upset because you are going backwards

You desperately want to crawl and are frequently frustrated because you are not moving in the direction you want. You can roll, scoot backwards, and rotate well. But so far when you try to crawl your butt gets in the air and your face is on the carpet! We have to keep a close eye on you. Yesterday I left you alone for about 20 seconds and when I came back inside you were creaming because you had rolled across the living room and hit your head on the leg of a chair.

Grandpa brought you a jumper and you are loving it! You jump up a few times then look at us and smile. It is very sweet. Your rocking chair is still your favorite place to relax. Because of all of the changes  your routine is a little off, but you still love taking naps in your chair.



Napping in your favorite chair

This month you discovered your feet! You grab them and stare at your toes. You even suck on them! When I kiss your feet you laugh. Your laugh is the BEST sound in the whole world, and have to laugh too when you are so happy. You know how to blow bubbles and stick out your tongue. You get the biggest smile when you see your daddy or mommy. You love watching Frida walk around the room, but her bark startles you. We have some pear trees our side our living room window, you like watching their leaves blowing in the wind, especially when you are tired. I can’t feel any teeth, but you like chewing on everything! You chew on your hands, toes, blankets, clothes and anything else you can get into your mouth. You have even tried to get my toes!

We celebrated Father’s Day on your 5 month birthday. Your mom and Abu made dinner for your dad, Grandpa Jay and Uncle Rick. We had nice relaxing day at home. You bought got you dad a subscription to Atomic Ranch magazine. He is very happy.

Rowan, you are an amazing little boy and I love you so much!