For the first time in my parenting history (ok, it isn't that long of a history, but still) I dropped the ball* and forgot to schedule Max's 1 year check-up. And since our doctor books up quickly, the soonest I could get in was this week making Max's 12 month check-up come at 13 1/2 months instead. Thankfully, he's a healthy boy and seems to be growing and developing very well.
Weight: 24 lbs, 75th percentile
Height: 32 3/4 inches, 97th percentile
Here is some of what our little guy likes:
Favorite foods: Paper, followed closely by cardboard. Oh wait, that's not food. Ok, then cheese and grapes (cut up, of course)
Favorite game: "Mr. McGreggor & Peter" (Chase)
Favorite book: Counting Colors
Favorite toys: Mommy's cooking spoons, balls
Loves: Music & dancing, playing outside, pulling things out of Mommy's bathroom drawer while she's trying to get ready in the morning, reading books
Dislikes: Diaper changes, wearing shoes, coming inside after playing outside, waiting for a meal
Vocabulary: Still won't say "Mama" or "Dada" but has a nice little repertoire of words and is adding more everyday: Ball, Dog, Spoon, Balloon, Uh-oh, All done, Stuck, Banana, Book. Sometimes he'll combine a couple of his words into a little mini sentence..."Ball stuck," for example.
Max is a fun-loving little guy. He is very independent and likes to explore any new drawer, cabinet or box he's let into. He thinks his big brother is pretty cool, but sometimes finds torturing him by hitting to be more fun than playing nicely. He loves to look at books and is a great little communicator, even with his limited vocabulary. He understands a ton of what we say to him and will follow simple commands like "Put your cup on the table" or "Put that paper back in the trash." Most of the time Cole thinks Max is a great little play-mate, and I look forward to seeing their friendship grow through the years. He's a joy and a blessing, and we are so thankful for our sweet little Max!
*Let it be said that I am not claiming this to be my first parenting mistake ever, just the first one in regards to scheduling an appointment. Needless to say, there have been plenty of other mistakes!!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Unexpected
You never know what you'll find in the everyday flow of life. Sometimes it's pretty, like a rainbow in the sky. Sometimes it's sweet, like a son giving you a freshly picked flower. Sometimes it sad, like the news of a tragedy. Sometimes it's gross, like spit-up on your shoulder. And sometimes it's funny, like a baby in the dishwasher.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
September
So, what has kept the Rowden Family so busy that there has been only one post in the month of September? Lots and lots! Here are a few highlights:
**Max's 1st Birthday**
Our little munchkin is 1! We had a nice little celebration with family at my in-laws' house (to save most everyone a long drive to our place), and enjoyed the usual birthday festivities...cake, ice cream, presents and lots of family fellowship. Max had fun opening the first few presents but didn't put up too much fuss when Cole insisted on "helping" with the rest. For the first few, we restrained Cole, obviously to let Max have his fun. But when it became apparent that Max was done with the tedious task of unwrapping, we let Cole lose, and he had a blast. After a fierce battle with screws, wires and weird plastic connectors, the toys were set free from the packaging and some serious play time began. Fun times!
**More Birthdays**
September is a big month for birthdays on Derek's side of the family. Besides Max, there is our nephew, my father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and grandfather-in-law. That's a lot of partying!
**Family Pictures**
We decided to have an annual family portrait and take care of all our pictures at one time instead of taking the boys at different times during the year. There is good and bad to this...good because there's only one picture day a year, bad because it's a long time to be taking pictures with 2 little boys! Over all they did great. Well, let me rephrase...Cole did great. We got lots of great shots of him. Max, well, not so much. Our normally smiley little baby (I should say toddler, sigh, he's growing up), didn't want to have anything to do with the camera. We finally got one really great shot (see right) of him smiling, but that was it!! Of course, there were lots of other cute ones, because, really, Max can't take a bad picture (ahem, no biased mom-talk here). Our family picture is ok, but when the adults have to sit smiling at the camera for an unknown amount of time waiting for the goofy assistant to pull faces and toss stuffed animals up in the air trying to get the kids to smile, it's hard to keep it fresh, you know? Anyway, over all it went well.
**Bathroom Renovations**
We added a second sink in our bathroom, and with that came a new counter top, sinks and faucets. While we were at it, we changed the cabinets for more storage, and hopefully soon, I'll paint. I won't post a before and after picture because, well, I completely forgot to take the before pic, and it's not quite finished, so we don't have the after. So, I guess you'll just have to imagine that it's a big improvement!
**Morning Sickness**
Yes, you read that right. We are expecting baby #3! I'm 11 1/2 weeks pregant, due mid-April. We are thrilled! And, to answer the two questions that seem to be the most popular with this announcement, no, it wasn't a surprise, and yes, we would love a girl, but we would also love another boy, so we'll take what we get! It would be very fun to have a little girl to help balance out all the testosterone in the family, but I love my boys and they are so very sweet that I'd be thrilled with another. And, we have all the boy stuff. So, either way, we just pray for healthy!
Well, I guess that about sums it up. Lots going on in the Rowden household these days. Now that I'm almost out of the first trimester, I'm feeling LOTS better (the fatigue just about did me in), so hopefully I'll be able to post a little more regulalry. Then again, maybe not. Only time will tell!
**Max's 1st Birthday**
Our little munchkin is 1! We had a nice little celebration with family at my in-laws' house (to save most everyone a long drive to our place), and enjoyed the usual birthday festivities...cake, ice cream, presents and lots of family fellowship. Max had fun opening the first few presents but didn't put up too much fuss when Cole insisted on "helping" with the rest. For the first few, we restrained Cole, obviously to let Max have his fun. But when it became apparent that Max was done with the tedious task of unwrapping, we let Cole lose, and he had a blast. After a fierce battle with screws, wires and weird plastic connectors, the toys were set free from the packaging and some serious play time began. Fun times!
**More Birthdays**
September is a big month for birthdays on Derek's side of the family. Besides Max, there is our nephew, my father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and grandfather-in-law. That's a lot of partying!
**Family Pictures**
We decided to have an annual family portrait and take care of all our pictures at one time instead of taking the boys at different times during the year. There is good and bad to this...good because there's only one picture day a year, bad because it's a long time to be taking pictures with 2 little boys! Over all they did great. Well, let me rephrase...Cole did great. We got lots of great shots of him. Max, well, not so much. Our normally smiley little baby (I should say toddler, sigh, he's growing up), didn't want to have anything to do with the camera. We finally got one really great shot (see right) of him smiling, but that was it!! Of course, there were lots of other cute ones, because, really, Max can't take a bad picture (ahem, no biased mom-talk here). Our family picture is ok, but when the adults have to sit smiling at the camera for an unknown amount of time waiting for the goofy assistant to pull faces and toss stuffed animals up in the air trying to get the kids to smile, it's hard to keep it fresh, you know? Anyway, over all it went well.
**Bathroom Renovations**
We added a second sink in our bathroom, and with that came a new counter top, sinks and faucets. While we were at it, we changed the cabinets for more storage, and hopefully soon, I'll paint. I won't post a before and after picture because, well, I completely forgot to take the before pic, and it's not quite finished, so we don't have the after. So, I guess you'll just have to imagine that it's a big improvement!
**Morning Sickness**
Yes, you read that right. We are expecting baby #3! I'm 11 1/2 weeks pregant, due mid-April. We are thrilled! And, to answer the two questions that seem to be the most popular with this announcement, no, it wasn't a surprise, and yes, we would love a girl, but we would also love another boy, so we'll take what we get! It would be very fun to have a little girl to help balance out all the testosterone in the family, but I love my boys and they are so very sweet that I'd be thrilled with another. And, we have all the boy stuff. So, either way, we just pray for healthy!
Well, I guess that about sums it up. Lots going on in the Rowden household these days. Now that I'm almost out of the first trimester, I'm feeling LOTS better (the fatigue just about did me in), so hopefully I'll be able to post a little more regulalry. Then again, maybe not. Only time will tell!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Bedtime Antics
Getting Cole to take a nap has never really been much of a problem. He usually goes down without much fuss and goes straight to sleep (This is after many sleep battles as a baby...but that's another story for another day).
Anyway, bedtime is another story. He's tried every excuse in the book to get out of bed after he's been tucked in. He comes out of his room, all squinty-eyed from adjusting to the light and walks ever so slowly, as though he knows he's on thin-ice. "Will my excuse work this time?" I can just see his little mind ticking.
For a while it was the typical "I'm thirsty" or "I need to go potty." But as Derek and I have wised up to his schemes, he's running out of excuses and is forced to get more creative. Most of the time it's easy to keep a straight face. In fact, I'm not amused at all. It drives me crazy that he won't STAY IN BED. But every once in a while he comes out with something so ridiculously desperate, I struggle not to laugh out loud. Here are a couple of our favorites:
Not me.
And so, the bed time antics continue. I guess we'll get past this somehow, but in the mean time, Cole sure knows how to entertain!
Anyway, bedtime is another story. He's tried every excuse in the book to get out of bed after he's been tucked in. He comes out of his room, all squinty-eyed from adjusting to the light and walks ever so slowly, as though he knows he's on thin-ice. "Will my excuse work this time?" I can just see his little mind ticking.
For a while it was the typical "I'm thirsty" or "I need to go potty." But as Derek and I have wised up to his schemes, he's running out of excuses and is forced to get more creative. Most of the time it's easy to keep a straight face. In fact, I'm not amused at all. It drives me crazy that he won't STAY IN BED. But every once in a while he comes out with something so ridiculously desperate, I struggle not to laugh out loud. Here are a couple of our favorites:
"Cole, get back in bed."And, my personal favorite:
"But I need something."
"What do you need?"
"I need help staying in bed"
"Cole, what are you doing up?"Now, who can resist a giggle at those lines? Especially when delivered so sincerely by an adorably cute, pajama clad little boy whose too smart for his own good?
"I don't have enough energy to go to sleep"
Not me.
And so, the bed time antics continue. I guess we'll get past this somehow, but in the mean time, Cole sure knows how to entertain!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Maxinator
One thing we've learned about Max in the last 11 1/2 months is that he's resourceful. He can turn virtually anything he comes across into a fun activity or afternoon snack.
For example, the curtains are perfect for a riveting game of peek-a-boo.
The kitchen chair and trash can make great push-toys.
And as for the snacks, well, I don't have pictures of everything I've fished out of his mouth, but here's a partial list: strands of carpet, sand, toilet paper, tree bark, dried up bits of food from places in his highchair only he knows about, and door stoppers. Yes, he wiggles the door stopper until it comes off the wall, and then puts the little white rubber part in his mouth.
The good thing is, he's not a picky eater. Pretty much anything I put in front of him, he'll eat. Except carrots. Which I find a little strange. I mean, he'll eat cardboard, but not carrots? Oh well, to each his own, I guess.
Our little Max is such a joy, full of smiles and sweetness. He's a handful sometimes, but we wouldn't have it any other way!
For example, the curtains are perfect for a riveting game of peek-a-boo.
The kitchen chair and trash can make great push-toys.
And as for the snacks, well, I don't have pictures of everything I've fished out of his mouth, but here's a partial list: strands of carpet, sand, toilet paper, tree bark, dried up bits of food from places in his highchair only he knows about, and door stoppers. Yes, he wiggles the door stopper until it comes off the wall, and then puts the little white rubber part in his mouth.
The good thing is, he's not a picky eater. Pretty much anything I put in front of him, he'll eat. Except carrots. Which I find a little strange. I mean, he'll eat cardboard, but not carrots? Oh well, to each his own, I guess.
Our little Max is such a joy, full of smiles and sweetness. He's a handful sometimes, but we wouldn't have it any other way!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Cole's 3 Year Stats
Height: 39 1/2 inches, 90th percentile
Weight: 37.2 lbs, 90th percentile
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, Potty Power
Favorite Toy: Blue (Dinoco) Lightening McQueen
Favorite Activities: "Whacks" (Baseball), Chase, Hide and Seek
Other favorites: Reading, Riding escalators, Counting
Favorite food: Dessert
Little Quirks: Likes to speak in clues. For example, instead of saying "Let's go get in the van," he'll say, "Let's go get in the big blue thing in the garage. Do you know what that is, Mommy?"
Cole is a very sweet, loving boy. He's incredibly cautious and thoughtful, and doesn't like to try new things very easily. Socially, he's coming out of his shell a little, perhaps out of necessity, since we have people over from church so often. He still loves to cuddle, much to my absolute pleasure, and he's eager to help around the house. He loves his little brother, Max, and likes to try and make him laugh. We are so thankful for these 3 wonderful years with this amazing little boy, and eagerly pray for and look forward to many more to come.
***I am keenly aware that 3 of my 4 posts have been about Cole. I guess it's because his birthday happened to fall the same week I started a blog, but as a mommy, I want all things concerning my boys to be even. So, little Max, don't worry, I'll make up for it in the next few entries!
Weight: 37.2 lbs, 90th percentile
Favorite Color: BlueFavorite Shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, Potty Power
Favorite Toy: Blue (Dinoco) Lightening McQueen
Favorite Activities: "Whacks" (Baseball), Chase, Hide and Seek
Other favorites: Reading, Riding escalators, Counting
Favorite food: Dessert
Little Quirks: Likes to speak in clues. For example, instead of saying "Let's go get in the van," he'll say, "Let's go get in the big blue thing in the garage. Do you know what that is, Mommy?"
Cole is a very sweet, loving boy. He's incredibly cautious and thoughtful, and doesn't like to try new things very easily. Socially, he's coming out of his shell a little, perhaps out of necessity, since we have people over from church so often. He still loves to cuddle, much to my absolute pleasure, and he's eager to help around the house. He loves his little brother, Max, and likes to try and make him laugh. We are so thankful for these 3 wonderful years with this amazing little boy, and eagerly pray for and look forward to many more to come.
***I am keenly aware that 3 of my 4 posts have been about Cole. I guess it's because his birthday happened to fall the same week I started a blog, but as a mommy, I want all things concerning my boys to be even. So, little Max, don't worry, I'll make up for it in the next few entries!
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