Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Update

It's back from the dead! After over a year of not posting I decided to update everyone on how we are doing, when we are moving and all that Jaaazz. (you can't tell but I'm doing spirit fingers)

I'm sitting on our red couch typing away while August grunts out a poop at my feet. I didn't even get 3 sentences in before having to run off to change a nappy. I'll be right back.....

AND I'm back.

Let me start with August since he's the one who is awake and wriggling at my feet. He's pretty much the easiest baby I've ever encountered. He's a great eater, sleeps like a champ (most of the time), and has this perma-grin that will melt the sourest of moods. He has two bottom teeth and whole heck of a lot of fat rolls. Oh the glorious fat rolls. Rowan was always so skinny with his reflux-hating to eat problems that I didn't get to experience the loveliness of a baby that is so squishy you just want to have a cuddle every time you get near him. Dude is 6 months old in 9-12 month clothing. He's so talkative, well, when I say talkative I mean he squeals constantly. It's a super happy velociraptor type shriek. He's most happy on his tummy doing pushups and getting up on his knees.

I have a confession, he's started doing that rocking on hands and knees thing and every time I see him do it, I tickle him. (to make him fall back down on his belly)

I'm so happy right now putting him down and knowing he has a 360 degree radius (unless he starts his rolling thing) and not having to worry about him crawling. I want to stay here, in this stage for a while. Rowan crawled at 6 months and walked at 9. I'm not gonna let that happen again.

Momma didn't raise no fool. Let the tickling commence.

Rowan is a bruiser, and by bruiser I mean he constantly has bruises all over his body. (Yes i'm aware that's not what bruiser means) He's a dare devil that loves climbing and rough housing. Poor Gus gets jumped on at least 4 times a day but takes it like a champ.

He is tall and skinny (still hates eating most of the time) and the most lovely little man there ever was. He's getting more and more fun the older he gets. He is pretty obsessed with cars, trucks, busses, trains, and Daddy. Really, the kid talks about his Dad on the constant and when he gets home it's a mad dash to the door screaming DA DA HOME DA DA HOME. Raymond eats it up. It's so much fun watching those two together.

Rowan's other great passion is Music, which makes his Mama very happy. He is a dancing, pretend guitar playing machine. I'm sure my neighbours think I'm nutzo because they see me dancing in circles and Rowan is too short to be seen through the window.

Truth gun: Sometimes I pick him up and dance with him so people will see I'm not dancing alone.

When in fact, most the time he's fighting me to be put down so he can shake his own booty. Close the curtains you say? Heck no, we get so little sunlight I'll take every tiny ray that makes it's way in our natural light deprived flat.

Rowan is on the slower end of talking but has new words every day and is pretty good at communicating what he needs. He's the best sleeper in these parts and is so very sweet, always ready to give out kisses, hugs and pats.

The ADULT SECTION

Well that didn't come out the way I wanted...

ABOUT the ADULTS

There we go. Nailed it.

I'm doing great. Love being a mom of two amazing boys. I have SO many amazing friends that the prospect of moving this summer is really sad but I'm looking forward to what God has in store for us. Wherever we do end up moving I really want to try and cultivate a community like the one here in St Andrews. Here is a quote a dear friend posted a while ago that nails this community on the head. THANKS ELISSA

"The word community has many connotations, some positive, some negative. Community can make us think of a safe togetherness, shared meals, common goals, and joyful celebrations. It also can call forth images of sectarian exclusivity, in-group language, self-satisfied isolation, and romantic naiveté. However, community is first of all a quality of the heart. It grows from the spiritual knowledge that we are alive not for ourselves but for one another. Community is the fruit of our capacity to make the interests of others more important than our own (see Philippians 2:4). The question, therefore, is not 'How can we make community?' but 'How can we develop and nurture giving hearts?'" Henri Nouwen


Raymond is finishing up his PhD and should be done in the next several months. This time learning under N. T. Wright has been really amazing and he's learned so much. He is really going to be an amazing teacher.

Raymond is currently on the Job hunt. If you know of anyone looking for a New Testament Scholar let us know!!! For Real... We'd like a job. If you refer him to a job and he get's it, Rowan and I will do a little musical number for you. Song and Dance the Mother Son Duo!

He's applying for positions teaching in Higher Education as well as teaching High/Middle school. We are applying all over the US now but not opposed to moving to other parts of the world.

We will go where God wants us, wherever, whenever, we want to follow where He leads. Amen.

If we don't have a job by July we are going to be moving back to Charlotte where I will be looking after my sweet little niece (LAURA'S DUE IN JULY!!!!!) when my twinny goes back to work. So if you know of a place that needs House sitting? or an affordable place to rent in Charlotte let a sister know!

Ahhhh you made it all the way through my book long post! Congratulations as a reward here is a video or Rowan playing his duplo guitar. Please don't look at his haircut, I'm learning. Also, sorry for the copious amount of drooling. New teeth for everyone!!!



Much Love to all,

Later days.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

1 Year Old, A Reflection

I can't believe that next week will mark Rowan's 1st birthday. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were anxiously awaiting his arrival. Little did I know I would end up being 10 days late. I started contractions on Christmas Eve and FINALLY Rowan decided to make an appearance on Boxing Day (The day after Christmas). THUS ended the WORST Christmas EVER! I am very much looking forward to this Christmas and not being in labour during one of my favorite holidays.

Here is my sweet husband painting my toes a few days before Christmas.



We have had a busy year to say the least. Trips we made with Rowan:

  1. St. Croix USVI
  2. Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro 
  3. New York/ North Carolina (and Canada for a day)
  4. California



He is a well traveled baby. 1 yr and has seen 6 countries. 

Additional Trips Raymond made:
  1. Rome
  2. Vienna
I'm still in the mindset that I never want to travel anywhere ever again, but I know we'll be back in the States in September/October for dear friends' weddings. I'm sure by then I'll have the travel itch once again. I'm going to write a separate blog on traveling with an infant. I'm pretty sure I'm an expert by now. 

Now on the sweet, sweet Baby Rowan... or is it Toddler Rowan? When does that switch? He's been toddling around since 9 months... I'm so confused. I think I'll start calling him a toddler when the drama bombs start dropping in full force.

Rowan is an observer. He will walk to the middle of a room and watch everyone. He's very intrigued by older kids and will follow his cousins around anywhere! 

When people meet Rowan, we always hear, "Is he always like this?".  The answer is YES. He's a dream baby. He can entertain himself, he's super sweet and smiley, and he isn't much for screaming in public. He can fall asleep pretty much anywhere so we can stay as late at friends' houses as we want. He has more or less slept through the night since he was 8 weeks old. 

We have family that assure us that when we have more kids they will NEVER be as good as Rowan. I'm hoping they are wrong but will brace myself non the less. 


Rowan LOVES:
Dancing/Music
Anything with Wheels
The Washing Machine
Climbing
Playing Chase
Playing Pee-Pie

I can't believe how much joy he has brought to our family. I don't remember how I filled my time before he arrived. Being a parent is so awesome, and I am so grateful and blessed that God entrusted us with this sweet little boy.


Thursday, April 24, 2014

3 Months: Ahead and Behind

I though I needed to write down what Rowan has been up to in order to remember and also to share his development with friends and family!

Things Rowan enjoys:


  • Playing with Mr Cow and his bear named Hamish
  • He's obsessed with his play mat/baby gym 
  • An off brand Johnny Jump-up called Tippie Toes. 
  • Standing
  • Smiling in the mornings
  • Grabbing his toes
  • Kisses on his tummy (See Video Below)




At 3 months and 5 days Rowan accidentally rolled from back to front. Then, deciding it was so terrible (he mostly hated being on his tummy), he spend the rest of the afternoon practising this new trick screaming the whole way through.  Now I realise that babies are suppose to roll from front to back first but no one explained this to him. He does it all the time now and he's even started to nap on his tummy, on occasion. I once found him on his belly with his feet curled up underneath him, butt in the air. He's pretty cute.

This is the part of the blog where Rowan is ahead of the curve. He's so active. HATES to be laying down unless he's sleeping or on his play mat. The rest of the time if you aren't helping him stand he is NOT happy about it. (save me the lecture on how standing this early is bad for him)

Behind:

Rowan's weight is still a problem. The medication for his throwing up has helped but his weight just isn't improving. We thought things were getting better but at the last weigh in he dropped back down to the 9th percentile. When he was born he was in the 75th. He looks so dang skinny because of how crazy long this little bugger is. He's in the 91st percentile for length. Still looks like a lollipop. We had a Pediactric appointment on Tuesday and they have put him on another medication that will hopefully help his pain.
Rowan's first time swimming with his Aunt La

Rowan did so good in St. Croix. The 24 and 27 hr travel days going and coming back were rough but he was a total trooper. I love this kid.


First Beach Trip
He makes me so happy!

Later Days