So, it's been a while....

The last time I posted was on Row's 2nd birthday. Rowen is now 2 1/2, so I guess it is time to post again. The last 6 months have been a very time for us, but we have made it through the storm, and looking forward to the holidays. In a nutshell:

1. Rowen turned 2 in May.
2. I went to visit Steph and Nate in Arizone, where we got to see President Obama
speak at Nate's law school graduation.
3. I finished my worst school year ever in June
4. We started the summer strong, attending minor league baseball games and enjoying
the outdoors. Forth of July was great at Storm stadium.
5. Jon broke his leg playing softball.
6. Jon had surgery on his leg where they repaired it and his ankle with lots of
screws and pins.
7. Jon recovered in his recliner for the next 8 weeks, while I tried not to lose my
mind.
8. My brother got married :)
9. Rowen started preschool
10.School started again....

Happy, Happy Boy!

Rowen went to take his pictures for his 2nd birthday today. Take note of the new super-short 'do. His daddy chopped off his hair the day after his birthday, so his mommy had to go to the little kid barber today to get it fixed before he took his pictures.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Row!!

It's been two years since Rowen inflicted pain on me that I never thought was possible, but the joy this little boy has brought into our lives far out weighs the pain of that day. With the lagging economy, and a death in the family, we decided to skip the big birthday party event and have a small celebration with our immediate families. Rowen had a chance to play with his cousin, and eat cake. What more could he want??

Highlights:


Rowen gets ready for his cake.




Rowen blows out his candles.




Rowen upwraps his presents (sort of).





Rowen tries to rip out my hair.


Rowen took a nap.

The Turtle Whisperer

About a year ago, we got a turtle. Jon found the turtle at an abandoned house that he was appraising. Shortly after that, our turtle was stolen. We were disappointed, but we planned on perhaps getting another turtle someday. It seems however, that we do not need to seek out turtles, because Jon is apparently a turtle whisperer. Turtles find him.

Yesterday, he was driving down that road and spotted a turtle crossing four lanes of traffic. He turned the car around, picked up that turtle, and brought him home. So far, he seems to be enjoying his new home. We're holding off on naming him until we're pretty sure that he will hand around for a while.

I was going to post a picture, but I figured everyone who reads this blog has actually seen a turtle before, so no picture necessary.

What have we been up to?

Rowen celebrated my birthday by crushing my balloons and using them as a pillow.



We took goofy self-portraits while celebrating in Vegas.



Rowen went for a walk.... on a leash....a dog leash.



Avoided going to bed by playing in the Jeep.



Had a happy meal in the carseat.



Aunt Chris came for a visit and went to the zoo.



We all went bowling with Papa.



Rowie loved bowling, but didn't quite finish a whole game :-)

Top 10 things you do NOT want to find in your shower.

10. Mold/Mildew
9. Crickets
8. Spiders
7. Hair
6. Cold Water
5. Clogged Drain
4. Soap Scum
3. Low flow
2. A stranger
1. Poo

Rowen loves to shower. The other day we were taking a shower when I closed my eyes to wash my face. When I opened my eyes, the horror I found was unbelievable. Row decided to use the shower as his potty. Do I need to say more?

Got Milk?

As I was getting ready for school the other morning, Rowen sat in my closet drinking his morning cup of milk. I actually have a rather large closet, so it is very easy for Rowen to disappear to the back of the closet where I can't see or hear him. He likes to hide behind the clothes- maybe he is looking for Narnina. Anyway, he was quietly (this should have been my first clue) drinking his milk in the closet, and I was relieved because I could put on my mascara without him tugging at my arm, so I didn't go looking for him. Then, ever so slowly, he came wandering out of the closet, clearly a little dazed. As I looked more closely at him, I noticed that he was all wet. As I looked even more closely at him, I thought that he had spilled his milk, but the cup was lying on the floor completely intact, and empty. It was then that I realized that he was covered in regurgitated milk. He had vomited in my closet, all over the floor, and all over my clothes, not to mention all over himself. Instinctively, I felt bad for him, assuming he was sick or something, until he demonstrated for me what had happened.
You see, Rowen has a funny little habit of gagging himself. He likes to stick his fingers down his throat and feel that gagging reflex. It makes him laugh. This time he stuck the shoulder part of a plastic hanger in his mouth until he gagged, and eventually puked up all of the milk he had just enjoyed. Don't get the wrong idea. This was not a choking episode, but a deliberate act on his part to gag. I think the throw-up surprised him, but it didn't bother him. Lucky for me, Mom appeared just as all of this happened, so she was able to clean it up while I finished getting ready for work. Thanks, Mom!