Monday, January 30, 2012

Lydia's first word: Ro-Ro

Last night we were out to dinner. Kristi had joined us, so it was Em, Kristi, Rowan, Lydia, and me. I was talking to Lydia, and I said, "Ro-Ro?" and she said, "Ro-Ro." We were surprised, so I said, "Where's Ro-Ro?" and she turned her head around and reached in his direction and said, "Ro-Ro." I couldn't believe it! She was definitely talking about her brother. She says, "Mama," and "Da-Da," but it's hard to tell if they are just sounds or words, but with this we were pretty sure! It was very exciting.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Rowan's bike!

Rowan got a bike for Christmas this year. He was ready to ride and put on his helmet. We went out in the rain on Christmas Day to ride for a little bit. One surprise is how much of a dare devil he has been on the bike. He rode through the yard, over the monkey grass, through mud puddles, and down the hill at full speed.

Over New Year's weekend, we went to the church parking lot up the hill, and Rowan had a blast on the bike. We realized right off that he was wanting to go off the curb on his bike, so Clarence taught him how to do it (he has the training wheels on...may try to take them off when he's a little taller).









Before we knew it, he was going off the curb unassisted (well with Clarence closeby).







And boy was he excited about it!

Little Blue Eyes

I wonder if her eyes will stay this bright blue. Rowan's were blue until he was maybe 9 months old when they started changing colors, but I'm not sure that they were ever this blue.

She was eating sweet potatoes here and enjoying them thoroughly. She has the best appetite!

Great Grandmother's house

Every year since we were little girls, we went to Grandmother's house on Christmas afternoon at 4:00 sharp. We open gifts and eat Christmas dinner. I am so glad that Rowan and Lydia are able to share in this family tradition, and I hope they will have memories of it for years to come.

Everyone sits in roughly the same places each year. Grandmother in her red rocking chair, Alex and Liv on the couch, Em and I somewhere on the floor in front of the fire place.


Dad sits in the green chair, and Uncle Frank sits behind him. Harry and Sarah sit on the small loveseat on the opposite side of the room, and Gene and Carley sit in the floor near the Christmas tree.





Dad's gifts are always interesting:) Em, below, is trying on this year's gift.



Lydia and Uncle Frank


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Christmas Morning

Rowan woke up early Christmas morning. He was very groggy, and it took him a few minutes to get excited about things.

I know he will probably kill me for posting his picture with Lydia's little pacifier in his mouth. We need to work on getting rid of it, but for now...there it is.


Look at all those presents...








 He got lots of art supplies, and he was very excited about that.


and a Curious George puzzle (in a lunch box). He has a Thomas the Tank Engine one just like it, and he loves it!

Emily gave him this game called "Go Away Monster." It's very age-appropriate and a lot of fun.



Lydia got lots of scrinkly, crunchy, chewy toys -



Rudolph -



Probably the biggest present of all were the radio-controlled helicopters that Clarence and Rowan got.


Also quite fun was this cardboard spaceship. It was huge put together!


We had delicious strada for breakfast that morning. This is a Specht family tradition that we have carried on in our smaller Specht household.


Emily comes over in the wee hours of Christmas morning, and Rowan LOVES it!!



Rowan just couldn't keep his hands off the helicopters;) -