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I started reading a book called "Healthy Sleeping Habits, Happy Baby" which Ana loaned me a very long time ago. I wish I had picked it up earlier because I have learned a lot about Rowan's sleeping habits and let's just say, the book has made me a believe in the early bed time. I hate putting the little guy in his crib around 7pm, but he wakes up smiley and ready to learn more about his surroundings and his naps are getting longer now too just like the book said they would. He also sleeps from about 7:30pm until 3 or 4am which he was not doing before because I guess he was overtired and not able to stay asleep. I thought we had a good sleeper to begin with because he was relatively easy to put down at night and would go back to sleep immediately after each nighttime feeding. Now we have an amazingly bright eyed happy snoozer who loves to suck his fingers and thumb to soothe himself as he falls asleep not only at night, but during the day too.
I don't think I mentioned that we completed the soy challenge and failed. I had 2 slices of bread with soybean flour and a little soya sauce for lunch on December 4th and within an hour the pooping began. By dinner there was blood which confirmed that he is intolerant. I am praying that the milk challenge on Christmas day will be successful because I really miss cheese and ice cream but I am certain that it will continue to be an issue. I guess I will be happy with one day of going hog-wild on milk containing goodies. In the end, eating this way is better for my shrinking waist line anyway...
I have posted a picture of our well rested bumbo tolerating little guy...
On Saturday our little 3 month old started swimming lessons. He was by far the youngest child in the pool which had me slightly anxious and a tad embarrassed because I imagined all the other parents thinking to themselves "oh my god, look at those first time parents!". I quickly got over the stupid self-talk and was proud of Rowan and Daddy for getting right in there and playing. Of course Rowan couldn't participate in the ball games or the singing but he did float on his back, enjoyed licking (lapping) up the pool water and dunking. Yes--DUNKING. Daddy was more brave than I would have been that is for sure but now that I have watched them having so much fun, I think I will take my turn in the pool too. I just have to find a bathing suit that fits which even on a skinny good day is not an enjoyable task.
30 minutes of swimming flew by. I was stunned when the instructor said it was time to get out. I could have spent the whole day watching my boys. Rowan had his first wrinkled feet and hands at the end. Unfortunately we didn't get the best photos because we figured taking pictures might be highly frowned upon in an area full of half naked babies and so this is the only one I have. It was taken in our private family change area with my phone. Next time I will take a better one with my real camera.
As I mentioned, Rowan got to see Santa and Grampa got to see Rowan sitting on Santa's lap today. The picture John took of Rowan shown here before we left to see Santa turned out better than the picture we got at the mall. But it was a ton of fun nonetheless.
This perfect outfit was purchased by grammy and poppa for this very day.
Our trip back from the UK was more difficult than our trip there. Our flight was canceled the night before we left and we were put on an earlier flight connecting through Toronto. I was completely stressed right out. I figured we would miss our connection and wind up with a screaming unhappy sleepy baby. The screaming unhappy baby part did happen even though we made it on to our flight from Toronto. I can't blame him. I felt like crying too and I am 34 years of age and what I would consider a "seasoned" traveler. I HATE Air Canada on the best of days. I still hate them even if they gave us a travel voucher for close to 1K in value. They gave a man in the line up some lame story about the plane not arriving the night before. I am sure it didn't arrive because they canceled the flight to combine 2 half empty flights to save money. I can't really blame them for that because it does seem stupid to flight to Ottawa and Toronto an hour apart with 2 half empty planes but they should tell the truth and not make up silly lies that they think will appease their clients. Anyway, we survived. We survived to find the city covered in snow. The only thing I like about winter so far is Rowan in his winter coat. He is enough to warm even the coldest travel-weary-fed up winter-hating-heart.
Our trip to Bath is coming to an end. We leave tomorrow morning at 8:30am. I am happy to be going home although I absolutely loved my time here. It is a beautiful friendly city and I'd come back in a heart beat. I believe Rowan enjoyed his time too. We certainly put a lot of miles on his stroller and on my feet. We explored every day. However, the nice part about being here for over a week was that we were able to pretend we were in Ottawa and see the sights at our own pace. We would get up in the morning (usually after sleeping in until 9am), eat, play, get cleaned up, nap and then go out to do some shopping. I didn't really feel like a tourist. Maybe that's because I didn't do any of the touristy things? I am not sure, but I am leaving here feeling as though somehow this is partly my city now...I believe we will be back.
Last Sunday J took us to London where we saw the Parliament buildings, the Eye, the Aquarium (which was a disappointment because one of the main areas was closed off),Trafalgar Square and Big Ben. We didn't make it to the Palace but that didn't matter. We had a great time navigating the city by foot and subway. I enjoyed the train ride to London as well. The train ride home on the other hand was difficult because we didn't have a seat. We were lucky enough to find a car that had enough room for the stroller but we stood for quite some time before a very nice young woman gave up her spot for us. I guess there is something to be said about pre-purchasing your tickets especially when you have a 2.5month old with you. Live and learn! All in all the traveling has been quite easy and I am proud of J and I for not only sailing through it, but also managing not to get into any kind of tiff while moving about.
Rowan and I also took a side trip to Cardiff Wales on Thursday. Because of the potential difficulty in storing the stroller on the train, I decided to only bring the Ergo Baby and to carry Rowan the entire time. Again I thoroughly enjoyed the train ride. I didn't even care that Rowan had a major Poop Explosion on our way there and I had to change him on the seat next to me. We saw a castle which was interesting. I wish we had gone on a tour of the place but the timing was slightly off. I arrived close to feeding time and didn't want to start the tour and then have to find a place to sit down with the baby and so I planned to go back after he ate. The problem is I started shopping and well, hours went by and by the time I was making my way back to the castle I was tired and my feet hurt. We did find a few Christmas presents though which is more than I expected to accomplish anyhow.
Not only did we get to see and do a lot of fun and different things on this trip, but we learned a lot too. Both Rowan and I hit some pretty important milestones together. Here they are (again in no particular order):
Rowan's:
- He pulled himself up to a standing position while holding my hands.
- He held on to his toy and brought it to his mouth for the first time.
- He rolled from him back to his tummy (and did this more than once just to prove to us that it was deliberate).
- He outgrew the Bonkie (boohoo) and slept through the night unswaddled.
Mine:
- I learned to just whip out the boob and feed. I didn't care what anyone thought. I have been pretty good really all along about feeding but now I am a seasoned pro.
- I traveled alone with my child and not only did okay, but loved it.
- I spent many consecutive days alone with Rowan and got showered, did my hair, cleaned the place up, and went out to have some fun each day.
- I changed a majorly dirty diaper on a rail car seat and a toilet seat in a public bathroom all in the same day.
- Carried my baby for hours, got the ergo baby on and off alone, navigated a strange city and only spilled my wine gums!
- I baked a milk/soy free banana bread by modifying a recipe I found on line and using limited cooking equipment.
- I asked a complete stranger to help me clip the Ergo Baby.
All of these things may sound minor to others but they were very big accomplishments for Rowan and I. I am especially proud of my little man. Although, in some way I am also sad to see him already doing so much because I know that he is going to grow up too quickly. Someday that adoring look he has on his face when he stares at me when we play will be gone and he won't need me anymore. Parenthood is the most beautiful and in some ways the cruelest thing anyone could ever experience. I guess accepting that he is his own person and not MINE will be another milestone...one that I am not ready for and that I will delay for as long as I can. Selfish? Of course it is but that's okay for now. 
We received a sample of some of the photos we had taken of Rowan earlier this fall. I absolutely love the shot of my baby and man together. Just one good photo of the two of them was well worth the money in my mind since I can't seem to take any myself. Here they are: Daddy (36 years) and Rowan (7 weeks).
Loves of My Life
