Monday, July 23, 2012

Sunday, July 22 ... THAT kind of mom

A few months ago Chris admitted to me that he never thought he'd be the kind of parent who made his own baby food. I felt the same way, and I've heard that from a lot of parents. "I didn't want to be THAT kind of mom", they say in a whisper. I had an example of that this weekend.

Rowan brought home his first piece of artwork a few days ago. I was SO PROUD!!! 15 months old and already painting!!! hee hee

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Anyway, I realized that we didn't have any paints or anything, so on Friday I decided I would stop on the way home and get some. I started looking, and I got a "ewwws" when thinking about him putting any kind of paint in his mouth (which I KNEW he would do). I started looking for toddler-friendly, non-toxic paints. While looking however, I started thinking -- if i KNEW he was going to put it in his mouth, and I already felt uncomfortable with all the ingredients in Crayola, why am I trying to find Crayola that works. What do I always say? ...

... I can just make that!!!!

A quick googly search (and an even quicker Pinterest search) found several recipes for home-made finger paints. Brilliant. I chose the one made of corn starch and sugar, both ingredient I had in the cabinet. It worked so well!

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The next morning we tried painting. And by painting I mean he took it and rubbed it all over his body. And because it was made of corn starch, I was totally cool with it. I was all, "You go, Rowan. You make that performance art! It doesn't matter if it gets on the paper! Way to think outside the box!"

Finger Painting

Finger Painting

I also made play dough. Yup, THAT mom.

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This time he actually played with it.

Play Dough

Play Dough

Bravo to me. I gave my kid the opportunity to be artsy without poisoning him! YEA!!!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Wednesday, July 11 ... 15 months

Dear Rowan,
You are 15 months today. It's getting weird to talk in months. The backup daycare you're in this week (normal daycare is on Summer Vacation) said to me "He's two, so he's in the toddler room!" I almost shouted, "HE IS NOT TWO!!!" You act like it though, so I may as well get used to it.

You like to play "imitate daddy". I often come home to both of you wearing only shorts and running around screaming. That's a game, I guess. You like to play with your "house" blocks, stacking them high, and then taking them down carefully, nesting them in each other, then taking them out and stacking them again. You like to play in the drawers in the bathroom, put on my headbands and play with my makeup.

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You like to clean, which is weird. If we give you a rag or a tissue you will wipe off the table tops. You try to pick up all the cleaning bottles and carry them around, which scares mommy half to death. You also like to push trash in the trashcan and clothes in the hamper, and you almost always know the difference. The other night you even cleaned the floor like mommy does, by stepping on a rag and walking around the kitchen while listening to Pop music.

You have a thing for shoes now. You bring me my shoes, to hide Daddy's shoes, you touch other people's shoes (gross). Yesterday you took your shoes off half way to daycare, and then threw a fit when I tried to buy you new ones. We got a new bench to sit on while putting on shoes, with little drawers for everyone's shoes. See? We're even decorating with your love of shoes in mind.

You haven't liked being worn on my back so much, so we've been trying "Robin's Hip Carry".

Robin's Hip Carry

I'm also trying to get you to wear your baby.

Babywearing Baby

You've learned to say "No", though I don't think you know what it means. I give you something and you turn away and so "nah nah nah nah nah", shaking your head and holding your hands close to your body. But 10 seconds later you cry because you don't that that thing I tried to give you, because I stopped trying to give it to you because you said "No". You'll learn.

You are getting more and more clear about communicating what you want, even though you still don't say real words. You point a lot, and you come over and grab us and bring us over to what you want. This morning I was having trouble understanding what you wanted, and you were so patient. You just kept asking, and I just kept guessing until I got it.

Father's Day at the Zoo

You LOVE dogs. SO MUCH!!! You give Gipper hugs and kisses, you chase her and pretend she's chasing you (she doesn't). Whenever we pass a dog on the street you tell and point. We're working on just waving at the dogs instead of reaching out to them, since Mommy is afraid you're going to lose a finger or two one day. "Dah!" is one the few words that sound like what you're trying to day ("Dog"); that and "Buh!" ("Bus").

Rollin with my homies

You still eat everything. Everything. We've been trying to find things you don't like. Daddy tried coffee ... you loved it. We almost had it with fried plantains, but that was one of those "nah nah nah nah" moments, when you immediately ate it. You've also learned to dip things -- dip chips into hummus, and dip spoons into soup.





You give kisses to Daddy at bedtime, but you have to be in a really lovey mood to give kisses to Mommy.

And you love LOVE Blue's Clues. Really you love TV, but I put on Blue's Clues for you and you point and yell and sit down on your TV-watching pillow.

Rotting his brain

You yell and point at the screen when there's a Clue, and you dance when the music comes on.


We're still nursing, despite a very difficult week last week. In the morning and at bedtime. You get very distracted nursing during the day, popping on and off and on and off, and Mommy doesn't like that. I'm able to distract you, which makes me think you're not really into it anymore (during the day) ... I'm not ready to give him morning time.

You also had your 15 months check-up, and everything is great. 20 pounds (which seems little, but you were only 18.5 at your 12-month, so that makes sense). 29 inches tall. Head 19-ish. You were completely freaked out by the medical assistant. Ok with the doctor for a few minutes. Dr Newman checked my eyes and ears and heart before checking yours, which made it fun!

Sunday, July 1, 2012

July 1, Weekend with Gramma and Grampy

This past weekend Daddy and I flew to Columbus, OH for a friend's wedding, and you spent the ENTIRE weekend with Gramma and Grampy! I was so nervous but you did great!

Gramma sent me pictures every day!

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So while mommy did things like this ...

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You did things like this ...

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With Grampy at the park



And while mommy and daddy were stuck at the airport because of this ...

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you were like this ...

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When we finally got home you were asleep and I was so sad I had missed you.

When you woke up the next morning and I went in to see you, you were SO MAD!!! You cried and cried and cried because you were so upset that I had left you. It took HOURS, but eventually you forgave me.