Just a quick walking update...

It was definitely not a fluke, Rogan is a walker now. Started walking first thing this morning. He can go anywhere from 10 - 30 steps depending and the falls and continues on his journey crawling. We went shopping and he really liked walking the clothing isles, grinning at everyone who looked at him. I was trying to hold his hand, since we were in public and the floor was dirty, but he was having NONE of that. Two days ago all he wanted was my finger to walk around. Today, I got shoved out of the way!! I don't need that silly finger, MOM! Haha. I love my TODDLER so much!

WALKING!

He did it! We've been doing lots of practicing. He's exactly thirteen months old today.

Learning to Talk...

It’s so amazing to me. I don’t know what I thought it was, but learning how to talk is much different than I expected. People always talk about their child’s first words. Well, what is a first word? Is it when they say the word, or is it when they say the word and they understand what it means. These are two very different things, and the first comes much before the second. For Rogan, his first word, saying the syllables, was Dada, followed by Mama. And he said it around 8 months. But he didn’t know what he said, or that it meant anything. He says Mama and Dada still pretty consistently, but I can’t tell that he knows what they mean. Sometimes I think he gets it, othertimes he’s silent. But there is one word he knows. Without a doubt. “Bella” (ee-wa).

Rogan says “Bella” (ee-wa), before we walk in the door every day after I pick him up. He knows that Bella will be on the floor, meowing, ready to greet him. He LOVES her. She likes him for the most part, but is quick to run away now that he wants to chase her and literally fall on top of her if she’d let him. Whenever he sees her he says “ee-wa”. Though on the rare instance that Patton comes strolling by, Rogan also calls him “ee-wa” as well… oops, my bad. Looking back when playing with Bella throughout this past year saying “cat” might have been more useful. But oh well, every cat right now is an “ee-wa”. And I’m just fine with that. He will learn that they are all “cats” eventually.

But even though he can’t talk too much, he is getting better and better. He is starting to repeat our syllables, which I think is amazing. When I buckle him in I usually kiss him and say “there you go!”… and occasionally now I get a 3 syllable response “a-a-oo”. He can’t figure out how to say it yet, but he’s mimicking me the best he can, and I love it. “Hello” is “a-ooo”, and various others. It’s so stinking cute. I know eventually the a’s and oo’s will be replaced with the real sound. He’s very verbal, he’s never been a quiet kid, so I’m not surprised. So I’m having a lot of fun watching him learn.

Random Post from A to Z

Several blogs I read used this as their post the other day and I thought it was fun.

A. Age: 26

B. Bed size: King!!! (up until a month ago it was a queen)

C. Chore you dislike: Vacuuming and dusting

D. Dogs: nope. Cats rule.

E. Essential start to your day: Kissing Ryan goodbye when I go to work.

F. Favorite color: Blue

G. Gold or silver: White gold.

H. Height: 5'8

I. Instruments you play(ed): I think I had 3 piano lessons, violin for a year, clarinet for a year, saxophone for 5 years. And I used to play a mean recorder.

J. Job title: Quantitative Analyst / Assistant Trader

K. Kids: Rogan Wayne

L. Live: Illinois

M. Mom’s name: Judy

N. Nicknames: Trace, TJax, From college days: TEE-racey, Racey-T

O. Overnight hospital stays: Age 14: 2 nights diagnosed Type I Diabetic. Age 26: 2 nights, Rogan’s birth.

P. Pet peeves: People who come to work sick and then mope around the office.

Q. Quote from a movie: I have a lot of favorite movies. "happiness isn't happiness without a violin playing goat".

R. Righty or lefty: Right

S. Siblings: My little sister Kara is the best ever.

T. Time you wake up: Weekdays: Alarm goes off at 5:10am… I rarely get out of bed before 5:30. Weekends: Rogan wakes up between 6 and 6:30am.

U. Underwear: Victoria’s Secret

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Beets and asparagus

W. What makes you run late: I hate being late! If I am it is because of traffic, or failing to get Rogan (and all his stuff) packed and in the car on time.

X. X-rays you’ve had: teeth and back

Y. Yummy food you make: I love to cook. I make pretty good enchiladas. Also corned beef hash.

Z. Zoo animal favorites: I like the weird stuff. I’ve always been a fan of the reptile house, not sure why. They fascinate me.

UNASSISTED WALKING!!

We have steps!!! Rogan can take about 3 steps unassisted. Kara and I got back home this afternoon, and he walked to me twice... then I ran to get the camera. I got a little of it on video, but it was hard to since I was trying to keep eye contact with him. These are some of his first unassisted steps ever.






My handsome boy... I missed him so MUCH!

Quick update

Kara and I are in VEGAS!!! We got in yesterday morning... Then we had brunch, took a walk down the strip, laid by the pool, had a great dinner, and caught a show. Today will be more of the same I'm sure. Very relaxing. We come home tomorrow in time for me to get Rogan in the afternoon.

Unfortunatly Ryan is sick! I feel so bad he had a fever last night and is still achy this morning. From what he's told me Rogan doesn't have it, so that's good. I think Rogan went to bed early last night, and slept well, hopefully letting Ryan get some much needed rest. I am also thankful that Ryan was able to take Rogan to our awesome daycare so he can get the rest he needs. Hopefully he will be feeling better tonight.

Multi-Tasking

I want to walk...
but I also need to push the buttons at the same time...
here is the solution.
-Rogan

Eating Habits of a 1 Year Old...

Rogan can have all foods now, nothing is off limits. Since he was 9 months we’ve tried to be very open with him about food. If he showed an interest in something, and it didn’t contain honey, fish, peanuts, or plain egg, we gave it to him. I think he’s had a very wide experience so far. Whenever we take him out, he gets bites off our plates, and same goes at home.

But now that he’s 12 months, I gave him peanut butter on a cracker this past weekend. That went well, he is not allergic, but he was definitely more interested in squishing the peanut butter in his fingers than putting it in his mouth. Oh well. At least I have added another good snack option.

While Rogan still eats baby food jars, it is recommended that he be offered table food first and then supplement with baby food if needed. And by 15 months at the latest baby food should be a thing of the past. So I’ve been trying to think of things he will eat well enough to merit a meal. He hasn’t liked meat (doc said most don’t because of the texture). He’s done alright with grilled cheese, fruit. He does great with pasta, cheese, and now EGG.

Last night Rogan had a scrambled egg with cheese for dinner. I couldn’t cut it up fast enough for him. Once he saw cheese I think he was sold. He ate every bite. Half with a fork, half with his fingers. That’s another “now that you’re 1” thing we are working on… FORKS. He is great if I load up his fork… he picks it up correctly and eats it. THIS AMAZED ME. He does it so well. Such a smart little dude.

The rest of his dinner was gerber cheese puffs, and an all natural turkey hotdog… MEAT!! Gerber makes “chicken sticks”… they look like mini hot-dogs in water. Rogan doesn’t like them at all. I tasted one and they are mealy. So last night I thought turkey hot dogs might be better than the gerber stuff, and a good transition to meat. He probably ate almost half a link cut up into little half moons. Again, sometimes with a fork, sometimes with his fingers. But I’ll take it. He did great. He even ate a piece of mine with ketchup and mustard… I thought he would cringe at the new flavor, but he seemed to like it. Wash it all down with some whole milk in a sip cup and call it a day.

ONE YEAR PHOTOS!!

Crawling and cheesin'

GIGGLES!!
Playing Peek-a-boo
Walking with Mom and Dad.... I love this one.

Almost a Walking Boy...