And so it begins...

Where's your nose?

Where's your belly button?

He can also show you his eyes, feet, toes, shoes, head, hair (what hair?), mouth and tongue. He likes to find Jagger and Gracie's eyes, nose and mouth too; they don't seem to enjoy it nearly as much as he does.

Speaking of body parts, he can also show you where daddy's nipple is, and he thinks it's pretty funny to lean in and pretend that he's going to try and get some milk. He gets real close, then smiles and makes a gagging noise. We have offered him daddy's milk before and I guess he deduced from our laughter that it was a joke, because now it is his joke.

He also enjoys looking for other people's belly buttons...

Sleepy baby...

We were at a La Leche League meeting when Roman fell asleep nursing. He had been playing all morning with other babies and had also awoken quite early that morning. When he fell asleep, I handed him off to my mom so I could show someone how to use their Moby Wrap; he didn't make a peep. At one point he opened his eyes and looked up, made a little sigh as if to say, "Oh, ok, you're here," and went right back to sleep.

Wear your hat to stay warm!

Family nap!

Daddy likes to come home from work and take a nap with Roman. He's always so cuddly when he first wakes up. In fact, he usually won't let me put him down for at least 20 minutes.

Reading on the pooper

Care for a spot of tea?

This was so funny; Roman was sitting on my lap and reached over and grabbed my tea bag off the plate, then grabbed my cup and started dipping the tea bag into the cup. I guess he's been paying attention to what I do!

Sharing with Daddy

15 Months!

The last few months Roman has really blossomed into a toddler. He sings and walks and makes jokes. He also screams very loudly in protest when you do something he doesn't like. But his tantrums are short-lived, usually about 3 seconds flat and he's onto something else.

Yes, this goes on from 7 am until 7 pm, non-stop! Potty training is still going great, but pooping has become more of a personal endeavor with his favorite place being under the dining room table; but, we're usually able to catch him in time and take him to his potty, and he doesn't protest.

Both Grandmas got to visit him this month; they learned that "I'm gonna get you" and "tickle-tickle" are his favorite games. He also likes being carried around and shown and told about everything he points to. He has stopped eating his books and loves being read to more than ever. He likes to turn the pages himself and read, "da, da, la mmm -da-da, mmm, hmmm, ahhh, ohh, ugh..." etc...

Cozy was able to go with him to his 15-month checkup. I think she enjoyed hearing to doctor say how impressed he was with Roman. He weighed in at just under 20 lbs. and almost 33 inches; he weighs a little less than average, but is all-around an extremely healthy little boy. The doc doesn't know any other babies that age who have never been sick, had pimples, excema, dry skin, gas or constipation. It is sometimes difficult to stray from the pack and not give all the usual stuff: rice cereal, jars of baby food, rice puffs or meat and cheese. But, he is as healthy as can be, so we feel pretty good about what he is eating; and he likes it too!

He loves eating different kinds of fruits and vegetables. For a while he decided he no longer liked his favorites, avocado and banana, but he likes them again now. Other favorites are "taco" meat made from almonds, strawberries, green smoothies, "chips" made from tomatoes, almond milk and granola and he really likes sweet potatoes and peas. We have also been making him quinoa/almond butter cookies that he LOVES, oh, and don't forget his very favorite, macaroons! He can't wait to get more teeth so he can try even more new and exciting things! Yesterday we found out he really likes dried oranges; they came in a gift basket from Grandma Cozy and he keeps begging for them; those and the tangerines Aunt Ginny sent seem to be his favorite this week. Sorry Aunt Nancy and Mom, he can have your home-made toffee popcorn and almond roca next year, (maybe). : )

He doesn't say a whole lot, mostly just mimics us, but he still says mama, dada, Jagger, banana, avocado, apple, no, and has starting saying nose and touching the cat's nose (which she does not appreciate, but tolerates). He uses a lot of signs though. He knows animal signs and noises for duck, bird, chicken, rooster, mouse, elephant, pig, cow, snake, spider, monkey, gorilla, tiger, and lion. He also signs mom, dad, more, finished, please, water, bath, ball and helicopter. He can show where his nose is and his head, ears, eyes, feet, toes, shoes, shirt, underwear and hat. And he gives a lot of hugs and kisses and started blowing kisses too. He makes the "mmmmm" sound when he hugs you, so sweet...

Click here for a slideshow of his recent activity, and I mean ACTIVITY!

Early present from Grandma Cozy

Roman had a wonderful visit with his Grandma Cozy. Although he had not seen her since June, he warmed up to her very quickly and was asking to sit on her lap within just a few hours. They had a great time playing and he wished she could have stayed longer. She did get to go to the doctor with him and enjoyed hearing the doc say how impressed he is with Roman. She also witnessed his first somersault and got to see him make all his favorite animal sounds. He also showed her the "hot" fire, many, many times...

She knew just what she wanted to get Roman, so off we went to the store to let him try out all the riding toys they had. It was clear which one he preferred, so she brought it home and wrapped it. He has been having so much fun with it. At first, he enjoyed being pushed on it and standing behind it pushing it, but now he has figured out how to scoot it all over the living room. This could not be a better house for that sort of thing!

1st somersault

We had never tried this before, but that day he was playing on the bed with me and Grandma Cozy and I flipped him over once or twice and then he just went and did it. He thought that was so much fun! Gene says it is fitting that he become a gymnast since I insist on making him wear those silly leggings. I realize they're not very manly, but it's cold and they're perfect for easy-access pottying.

Our little elf helps to trim the tree

Roman had such a good time digging through all of the Christmas boxes. He was very gentle with everything and surprisingly, has not had any trouble not touching the tree. He does like sniffing it though, and sometimes he will gently touch an ornament and then look at us, shake his head no and say, "ah-ah." So far, he has not taken any of them down, I guess he is just content with looking; Cozy told me Gene was perfect as a baby, I guess I am finding out what that was like. : )

Also, every morning when we come downstairs he goes over to the plugs for the tree lights. At first he tried to plug them in but we asked him not to, so now he just goes over and sits on the step and waits for you to plug in the lights. I guess he really likes those tree lights. He doesn't remember it, but he really liked them last year too, sitting on our laps and staring at them, only 3 months old. And don't worry Nancy, Gene has told him the names of all the Star Trek and Star Wars spaceships.

Picking out a Christmas tree with Grandma Cozy

Not sure why, but all 3 pets decided to go sit with Grandma Cozy by the fire. She must have had liver in her pocket....

The Potty Chronicles

I don't want to forget a single detail of Roman's life, especially his exciting potty-training adventures! So, here is a summary of the last six months:

Although we officially started late with what they call Infant Potty Training*, or Elimination Communication, for the first 8 months we would make a psss noise when Roman peed, say the word potty and make the ASL sign for bathroom. We noticed he liked to pee when his diaper came off or when we blew on his willy wonka, so we would often use the cues then. If I was to do it over, I would definitely start around 3 or 4 months. In the beginning, I thought it was very difficult and was sure I wasn't doing it right, but now I look back and think the whole thing has been so much fun, and such a learning experience, for both of us.

*It is interesting to note that in most cultures babies start potty learning between 0-6 months and are typically potty trained between 12-18 months. It used to be like that in this country too.

Around 8 months, I started sitting him on the potty first thing in the morning and within two weeks, he was going every morning and holding it longer at night. I noticed that in the middle of the night, sometimes after nursing he would be restless and if I took him to pee he would then drift quietly back to sleep. As long as I took him to the potty once or twice between 7 pm and 8 am, he usually kept a dry diaper all night long.

We also started trying to catch him pooping, which was pretty obvious, and get him to finish his business on the potty. He quickly learned to crawl over to me when I asked, "Are you pooping?" He realized that pooping in the potty felt much nicer than in the diaper. By ten months, mornings were going so well that I decided to start putting him on the potty after naps and sometimes after he ate.

It was around 11 months when we starting taking the little blue potty with us in the car. He was starting to get it and would give out a high-pitched scream when he needed to go, or if he did pee, he would come and tell you right away (by crawling over and climbing up your leg and whining).

By one year, things seemed to be going great! He was getting pretty predictable, actively trying to tell us, sometimes, and experimenting with using his potty sign language. Here's a picture of his T-Rex using the potty; this seemed to be good encouragement for getting him to like sitting on his potty.

Around 13 months, after that darn tooth came in, we seemed to be back on track, but it was kind of hit or miss, perfect days alternating with days with 2-3 misses. He mainly lets me know by his high-pitched scream or by grabbing his crotch. Also, it's weird how he's almost completely trustworthy when we're out and about, traveling or at someone's house; last week we spent a week at my mom's house and he barely had two misses the whole week!

Then 14 months rolled around and I guess he decided enough was enough, because the last week has been amazing!

Last Sunday: While playing in the living room, walked over to potty, sat and peed (with diaper on).

Monday: While playing (in the nude) walked over to potty, sat and peed twice today. Also, trying very hard to make potty sign.

Tuesday/Wednesday: Peed in diaper and on floor several times. Ughhh.....

Thursday: Decided that he likes being held over the big potty instead of sitting on his little potty. No accidents for several days. After getting out of the shower, walked over to big potty, lifted the lid and peed all over the floor; good try!

Saturday/Sunday: Consistently giving the ASL sign for potty every time. Enjoys being held over big potty, but will sit on little potty, sometimes independently and without prompting.

Monday: Today, we are working on peeing like a big boy. When he needs to pee, he will let us know by signing, or he will just walk into the bathroom. We help him get his pants down and he pees standing up into his little potty. I am surprised we are this close to being potty-trained and I am SO excited for the day he pulls down his own pants! I just ordered him some new pairs of tiny underwear from an EC site, so we'll see.....

Below is a video of his first time standing up peeing in the potty and him using his ASL sign.

Fire, hot!

Gene has been making fires these last few days, and so we told Roman that it was hot. He knows the word hot and the sign hot because this is what I say if he reaches for my hot tea. I let him dip his finger in once so he would know what hot felt like and he hasn't touched it since.

All day long he walks by the fire and raises his hand (like the sign) and says, "ha, ha" which means hot and he never gets any closer.

So, last night we were reading Good Night Moon and he suddenly started pointing to the fireplace in the book. He wouldn't let me turn the page, he just kept pointing to the fire and saying, "ha, ha." I was really impressed that he could notice that the tiny fireplace in the book was the same as our fireplace. I think that was pretty smart! And, I'm not easy to impress. : )

It's going to get loud, 1, 2, 3!

My pile's bigger than yours Dad!

Roman ate too much!

Dance, dance!

Apparently, Roman likes Usher. I was skipping through the highlights of the AMA's and when Usher starting dancing and singing, he ran over to the TV and started rockin out! Then, he turned it off; his new favorite thing to do, turning the TV on and off. Thankfully, when he turns it on that way, there is no sound and no picture and no way to turn the Dish receiver on, so we're good. He only sees a black and white message, so I think it has almost run its course, I hope.

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

This was our first Raw Thanksgiving. I wasn't planning anything big, but Gene said, "I wonder how much raw stuff we could make?" So, off I went exploring Thanksgiving Day recipes. Actually, it turned out wonderfully! Gene was very impressed, as was I, especially since I was unsure of the outcome. We had Turkey casserole and green bean casserole with stuffing, biscuits, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce. Then, for dessert, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cranberry relish and spice cake. Everything was absolutely delicious, and I felt very good that Roman got to stuff his face with such healthy, delicious food- nothing but fresh, uncooked vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. He loved it! But, the pumpkin pie was definitely his favorite.

And, the after party...cleaning the baby.

Have wagon, will travel...

Fun at Grandma's House

Roman had a great visit with Grandma Jan, whom he calls, "Ga-ga." We surprised her for her 70th birthday and they had a great time together; (he especially loves her giant whirlpool tub). They had a blast on the riding lawnmower, it was maybe the best thing ever!

At almost 14 months, he decided to start walking full-time, wants nothing to do with bananas or avocados and instead prefers sweet potato; he is using several ASL signs, incl: milk, more, please, bath, finished, mom, dad, and occasionally, potty. He also went the entire week with only a few wet diapers, and pooped on the floor just once. He also shakes his head no when he knows he's not supposed to do something, like bite or touch an outlet, or when he doesn't want to eat something. It is so much fun to watch him "work." He wants to do everything the big people do; his favorite is pushing buttons to see what happens, on his toys, the tv/stereo, my cuisinart, whatever. He pushes, pulls, tastes, bangs, or whatever else is necessary to figure out what something's purpose is. He laughs when we laugh, loves hide and seek and he pretty much thinks that he is hilarious, which he is. Another favorite is waving bye bye ALL the time, to everyone, including passing cars, strangers at stores. If we're at someone's house or a meeting, he will go over to the door and look back and tell everyone, "bye-bye," as if to say, "Mom, let's get out of here!"

Busted!

Roman had a great time digging in mom's fridge. He tasted a red bell pepper, an onion, a date, asparagus, cilantro, and then... he found something wonderful....


This was the chocolate lava cake I made for my mom. I know, he shouldn't have cocoa, but at least the other ingredients were walnuts and dates, and he only had a little, and it was glorious!

I kissed a girl and I liked it!

Roman's First Kiss

Roman is no stranger to luv-a-luv, but usually he's doing it to unwilling babies who are too small to resist his charm. Today, however, he met his match; an older woman, Zoe, who is 15 months, decided to kiss him back! He leaned in for a hug and she planted the sweetest kiss on him, which he returned, open-mouthed of course.