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!

My Baby is 4 Months Old!

Wide awake at 5 am!

This has been a great month! I can make Rowan laugh, he can roll over and continues to smile more and more each day.  He officially is a thumb sucker! But he refuses to let me get a good picutre of it. Rowan has started going to the day care at LA Fitness. This as a big step for both of us! I try to take him when he is sleeping so I don’t miss spending time with him. When I go to get him he is sleeping or smiling at the ladies taking care of him, so maybe it is a bigger deal for me than for him!

Relaxing in the tub

Rowan has decided that he likes taking baths. He kicks and kicks splashing water all over then he looks up at me smiling. Last month he discovered his hands, this month he discovered mine. He will hold my fingers staring at my hands mesmerized. He has also started playing with a few toys. He reaches for them and then shoves them in his mouth. He does that with just about anything in front of him, hands burp cloths whatever he can get. Rowan still wakes up happy every morning. Unfortunately he has started waking up at 5 with a smile on his face. Chris is enjoying this because they get to spend a little time together before he goes to work. I usually talk to him for about 45 to 90 minutes until he goes back to sleep.  The other day I decided to ignore him to see if he would go back to sleep faster. I put my back to him and waited. A few minutes later he started pulling my hair and kicking me. I guess I need to find a better way to get him back to sleep.



Happy Mother's Day

This month we celebrated my first Mother’s Day. Rowan and his dad made me some beautiful art.  I love my sweet boys so much. We spent a nice day together and went out to a delicious lunch with Grandma Lynne and Gary.

This little boy still loves sleeping, and for the first three months of his life he took naps with ease. That has changed. Now instead of just going to sleep when he is tired he starts to cry/whine about it. I now have to walk him around, rock him with a binky or put him in his rocking chair. Once he is asleep he is out and takes nice long naps.


On May 24^th at Rowan’s four month checkup he weighed 17 pounds 10 ounces and is 26.5 inches long. What a big guy!

Three Months!

It has been another great month for La Familia Jordan.  Rowan continues to be a happy little guy bringing joy to every moment of my day.  This month brought a big change in our lives. While I was in Oregon last month we got on offer on our house. After 11 months on the market we finally sold it! We made plans to move into the basement apartment of our dear friends Katie and Jonathan. We are so grateful for a nice place to live while we await our new house. It is also fun being so close to the Grove family. The most exciting part of the moth was when Chris called me as I was setting up for my friend’s birthday party to tell me he found our house. I went down to the house and knew it was what we had been looking for. The stress of having to make an offer immediately was a bit much for me, but I got over it and we were one of four offers that came in that weekend.  We got the house and hope to move in by the end of May.

Rowan has been busy this month. He discovered his hands, and holds them up and stares at them. This week Rowan started sucking his thumb. He often has his thumb and first finger in his mouth. Chris keeps trying to get him to stop, but Rowan spits out the binky and puts his fingers back in his mouth. He is “talking” more and more each day. It is taking him quite awhile to eat because he keeps stopping to tell me stories. Rowan, Frida, and I are enjoying the spring weather, going for lots of walks in the sun and a few in the rain. When we are walking Rowan looks around with wide eyes. I love watching him discover the world. We also have been spending time reading and dancing around the apartment.

One of my favorite things Rowan started doing this month is laughing every time his hands are covered when I change his clothes or put him in a jacket. It is really funny. I also love that he will be getting cranky and as soon as I start walking towards him he’ll get a smile on his face. I love him so much!

Rowan sucking his fingers                                   Chris reading to Rowan

One of my favorites

Two Months Old

The past two months have been amazing! My little boy is growing and changing so much. Rowan is getting little chubby cheeks and I can’t wait to see how much he weighs next week at his doctor’s appointment. He can hold his head up for quite awhile and loves to kick and wave his arms around, especially in the morning. One of the most exciting changes is that Rowan learned how to smile. He is so sweet and my heart feels like it is going to explode when he smiles at me.

Two months old and in his first pair of jeans.

 Rowan and I have been busy the past month. Although we are not on a schedule we have established a routine that we both seem happy with. We have been lucky to have spent quite a bit of time Katie and baby Asa. I enjoy and appreciate support from Katie as I figure out how to be a mother.  Asa is exactly one month older than Rowan. They don’t know it yet, but they will be the best of friends. It has been fun sharing this special time together.  Grandma Lynne comes to visit almost every week. Rowan enjoys being held while Mom and Dad get a chance to do chores, go out to dinner or just relax a little.

Two weeks ago Chris had to go to Tampa for work. Rowan and I took this opportunity to go to Oregon and visit family. It was wonderful getting to spend so much time with my parents and watch them snuggle Rowan. One night Grandpa took Rowan and let me go to bed. This was a gift. I was able to sleep soundly knowing that I Rowan was being cared for. Meeting many of his cousins was one of Rowan’s favorite parts of the trips. They were all so interested in him and James was only a little jealous. While in Eugene Shawna, Aunt Alicia and my parents gave Rowan and me a wonderful luau themed party.  We were surprised and happy to see so many family members gathered to celebrate my growing family. Chris was greatly missed, but we still had a fantastic time.  My family if wonderful! Rowan and I are lucky to be loved so much.

One of my favorite parts of the day is when Rowan wakes up.  In the morning we lay in bed laughing, stretching and talking for 20 minutes before we get up. I feel so lucky to have such a happy baby.  Another wonderful part of the day is when Chris gets home from work. I love watching Rowan snuggle with his daddy, they are both so happy.