Ben and Angela's Wedding, part III

Rowan reveals the beast within as Grandpa observes. Amazing what a little gin and fois gras will do.

One of the most remarkable faces I've seen on Ruby. She's like the Mona Lisa in her inscrutability (is she serious, angry, curious, passive--we just don't friggin' know).

Been dippin' into the hooch a little early, huh, Liam. Sometimes, when we snap pictures in half-blink, it's not always very flattering to the subject, but somehow Liam pulls it off with aplomb. Interestingly, there are in fact three people in this picture.

Ben and Angela's Wedding, part II

Above, Winnie with who she wishes were BOTH of her children (alas, she'll have to settle for the one on the left). This was Rowan and Ruby's second meeting, and though no particular glimmers of recognition were palpable, nevertheless the two enjoyed each other's company. Rowan tended to have the habit of grabbing his cousins' heads and gnawing on them for sport.

Nor was this Uncle Ben's first meeting with Liam, though it WAS his first meeting with Rowan. Here, Ben greets bald little Liam being held by hirsute Uncle Andy. We will be watching Liam's head with great interest.

Ben and Angela's Wedding, part I

Seeing as this is a blog about Rowan, I thought we'd start with some baby pictures, then continue with some photos of the other major players. Above is Grandma Sue with Rowan, both extremely happy to see one another after so long a time (I believe Rowan was only a couple months old, if that, when they first met). A close inspection will reveal a bit of Rowan's diaper showing, the first of many faux pas's that weekend.

Next is Uncle Michael with his daughter Ruby at the chapel where Uncle Ben got married to his wife Angela. Mike looks under the weather, and he certainly was, to his great misfortune. Don't worry folks, he got better the day after the wedding.

And finally, we have evil daddy, Uncle Andrew, holding his angelic son, Liam, whom Rowan met for THE first time. Actually, Ben and Angela's wedding marked a number of first meetings, which we'll get to momentarily. In the meantime, hope you all enjoy these first few photos. Many more to come.

Cruisin'

Rowan shows the world what he got, sporting his bib and sunglasses, wearing his coat of many colors, looking on the whole like a teacher I once had in the fifth grade who wore every piece of clothing she had, even in the summer time, and insisted on wearing her sunglasses indoors. Nevertheless, there aren't too many babies out there who look like this (and perhaps there's a reason for that).

Daddy and baby on the move along Loyola Park, skirting one of the many beaches along Lake Michigan. Rowan is starting to get a little too big for his stroller, and he's already a bit too big for his car seat, which is why we've already switched him to the brand new "cow" car seat (so called because it looks like a Holstein cow). Dad's moving at a pretty good clip, and check out the matching diaper backpack (that's not an accident).

Two ways of reading a book...

Rowan and I like to read together sometimes. Usually, I read him something while he tries to grab the book and eat it. In the picture above, we both have our own books (each according to his abilities), reading in our own distinct ways. I find it telling that I'm reading a book about teeth, while Rowan is using his teeth to read his own book. Kinda makes you think, doesn't it?

By the way, Rowan's teeth are finally starting to come in--and they're pretty damned sharp, too.

The elite bunny brigade

The Lapinians are an elite fighting force, as fierce as they are cute. With their helms forged into the likeness of a white rabbit with piercing red eyes and little white feet, and their many-colored armour, the Lapinians don't so much run as "hop" into battle. Many an enemy has been struck dumb by their initial cuteness, giving these darling warriors a distinct advantage in which they drown their foes in drool. In this rare photo of a Lapinian warrior in full battle dress, the commander (or so he seems to be) looks determined, single-minded even, though with a slight tinge of "Awwwww..."

NB: I know the top is cut off, but Rowan IS wearing a bunny hat.

See...

Rowan and Mommy!

Enjoying a day out with Mom at a local establishment. Notice Winnie's not wearing her glasses--a sure sign of vanity, or something more strategic?
Rowan loves his Mommy. Here they are connecting on an osmotic level, with Rowan grabbing giant handfuls of hair ready to yank them out at a moment's notice.
Birth of the cool! Rowan and Mommy kick it old school.
Rowan gives Mommy a big, sloppy wet kiss on the cheek. Really, this is the same technique he uses with Sophie the giraffe, which makes us wonder if he learned it from her.
Rowan has GOT Mommy's glasses, and will not let go! No sir! No way! These are my spectacles and I will do with them what I please. No! Stop it! Let go! Give them back, they're mine! Ahhh!!

Still hungry

Just a little update about Rowan's eating habits. He has expanded his palette to include peas, banana, butternut squash, avocado, sweet potato, applesauce, carrot and pear. Breast milk he's been generally refusing unless it's directly from the source, so he'll usually end up starving himself of milk until Mom gets home from work, then he gorges. His solid food eating, however, has been top notch, taking in half an avocado each morning, plus half a banana in the afternoon and a little cup of peas or squash in the evening. The above picture is a little misleading, since he rarely takes the spoon into his own hand, and if he does, God forbid, it doesn't exactly go directly into his mouth. Usually he'll wave it around a bit in triumph first, as food flies in various directions, then he'll shove it in his mouth and begin to chew (on the spoon, not the food). Nevertheless, spoon-feeding is generally pretty easy with him, and he opens his mouth really wide for his first bite of anything. Just like his Daddy...

Ruminating

You know, one thing I've figured out from being a parent for only 8 months now is that you're going to make mistakes. You may not even know you're making them, but there sure are plenty of people around to let you know when you have. I've also discovered that it's impossible to please everyone all the time, especially yourself, though I sure as hell try every day. Amidst all the worrying about whether I'm doing things right or wrong, amidst the uncertainty that despite all my best intentions, my son may end up being messed up, disobedient, disrespectful, or downright unstable, there are at least these moments (and there are many) where I truly believe I'm connecting with him. I don't know if I'm doing things "right," but at least my child is quite happy now, and I hope he'll remain so as we guide him through all the social, intellectual and societal difficulties that lay in store. Wish us luck, folks.

Daddy cuddles

Hell, you try reading "Daddy baboon cuddles his baby baboon" and not just outright lose it. But seriously, it's a fun book, and Rowan clearly enjoys the subtext about father-son relationships pertaining to "cuddling." Or is that just the text?
A candid moment. Rowan eats his book. The baby koala on the cover looks a little nervous, no? C'est la vie, Joey. C'est la vie...

We are upset!

He has itchy, painful gums with almost no relief in sight. I never got my copy of the anniversary DVD of Krull for my birthday. W...T...F!!

The winter thaw

Believe it or not, this is a warm day. Chicago was experiencing its first winter thaw this year, and to celebrate, people went outside...for fun! The lake had tiny ice-and-dirt-bergs clinging to the shoreline, the rest having melted or formed long curves of ice from the incoming currents. Hardly a cloud in the sky, though the wind was murder.


You can already see the effect that this bright, blustery day is having on our little iridescent wonder, bearing the brunt of the winds lashing the coast, the tall grasses, and Mommy's hair over her insect-like eyes.


Then, of course, we met a friend, this being one of those rare days in the winter time in Chicago when one can go outside for thirty minutes without dying, so it wasn't a total surprise. We ran into our friend Makoto and his daughter Hanako (about a month older than Rowan). Hanako has big cheeks and a pleasant demeanor, and she has been instrumental, as the elder, in teaching Rowan to make new, high-pitched sounds. Thank you, Hanako. Notice Winnie's wind-swept hair lashing at Makoto's face like so many cat-o-nine-tails.

Playtime

Playtime is a time for improving those motor skills, like grasping small objects and banging them on the floor, or forcing them into your mouth in a vain attempt to block out the ever-accruing teething pains, covering the objects, like the deluge, in fountains of drool. Or else, it's a time for experimenting with new toys, like when Daddy turns Mr. Albino Bear Wearing a 50s-Era Bathing Suit into a walking, talking, gyrating pulse of life-affirming horror, taking short, jarring steps one by one toward the child before pouncing on him and mercilessly kissing his chest, each step being accompanied by a "Gung....gung gung gung..." sound.


Or else, it's a time for reflection, as when one looks out into the cruel world and thinks, "This is for me. This is what I have to look forward to. I want to die." Of course, I'm sure Rowan is just thinking something along the lines of "What's all that white stuff outside? Oooh, doggy! doggy!" And you have to admit, the stream of drool is a nice touch.

Daddy's Birthday

"Daddy's 34 years old! That's like, OLD old! He's like, gonna die or something!" I'm sure this is what Rowan might be thinking if he could conceive of our language's syntax. Be that as it may, he shared in the festivities with Winnie and me at a little Italian place in Evanston, just north of our Roger's Park home. It's a little late, but he's extremely wide-eyed and almost as excited about the birthday tart as I obviously am. That's fresh homemade ice cream on there, too, friends, plus a little candle. Unfortunately, Rowan didn't get any, but he certainly didn't mind, since just the idea of being there sent him practically through the roof. I gotta say, it is an absolute joy to be around him! I love him to death!