Christmas 2009

We had a very Blessed Christmas this year! We had Grandma and Grandpa Ken and Carol here with us Christmas Eve and Day. Grandpa Ken made us a great breakfast after opening presents Christmas morning then it was down to Tucson to Uncle Don and Aunt Kathy's home. This season as we reflect on the past year we thank God for all he has provided for us. We are looking forward to 2010 and the arrival of Rowan's little sister!

December Fun

We have been having a lot of fun this December! The pictures above show Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo. Rowan loved it! He rode on his first carousel ride, the lion of course, and LOVED it. It was a beautiful night and the Christmas lights were so pretty. Theo thought Rowan looked like an old man in his sweater and shirt (sans pants) and gave him the coffee cup to hold for the picture. Later, we went to Bass Pro Shop to get a free picture with Santa. That store is like an amusement park in itself and we had a blast looking at the fish, bears, fox, raccoons, moose, skunks, etc...scattered throughout the store. The line for Santa was super long, but they gave us a card to come back at 5:30, 2 hours later, and we could go to the front of the line. We did make the trip back and Rowan screamed as we sat him on santas lap. You could not take your own picture, but rather they took a pictures for you and printed it on the spot. It will go in the baby book and hopefully Rowan will get a chuckle out of it someday.
Rowan is doing great. Walking and talking/babbling a lot. He keeps me on my toes and I am usually ready for bed when I put him down at night. He has pretty much dropped his morning nap as of this week and I am looking forward to getting out of the house in the mornings. He loves to cook with his little cooking set, tries to tie his shoelaces and put on socks, waters plants with water can, and feeds Ramsey. He loves to help! He has finally started to feed himself with a spoon and is pretty good at it....freedom (for me!!). This morning he surprised me...he patted my belly and said "baby".....is it possible he gets what is going on?????

Halloween

Rowan had an eventful Halloween weekend! Friday night we were at Doug, Sarita, and Braydens house. Saturday night we went up to cousins Teige and Tenae's and went trick or treating with them. It was loads of fun and Rowan found his sweet tooth, thanks to Daddy letting him sample just about everything! Daddy dressed up too, so it was Rowan the Monkey and Theo busted out the famus Mullet wig and became the Plumber named Ken.

WALKING

Rowan officially started walking on Monday (10/12/2009)!!!!! He is still a little off kilter at times, but when he falls he gets right back up and keeps on going. He had been taking steps here and there for the last few weeks. Theo and I were talking last weekend and we thought, "geez he's really stalled out with the walking thing." I got a call from Sarita, his babysitter, on Monday that he just got up and walked 10 or so steps and continued to do so throughout the day. I am still amazed when I see him walking around the house like such a big boy!!!!

Rowan's 1st Birhtday August 22, 2009

HAPPPY FIRST BIRHTDAY ROWAN!!!

How can you already be one year old, it seems like just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital. You have brought more joy to Dada and I then we ever imagined possible and we love you more than anything. Your personality has really begun to shine. You love to make everyone laugh.....for no apparant reason you will just start laughing until everyone in the room is laughing with you. You love to jump and fall face forward into the couch, this is the funniest thing in the whole world to you. You are a monkey in everyway...climbing on everything and your favorite fruit is banana. Your two favorite words are "Hi" and "Up". You want so badly to walk but we think it will be a couple months until you can do it on your own. Your "scootch" is the most precious thing...I get a sense you'll be coming up with your own ways to do things in life instead of the way everyone does them. You love Ramsey and I often find you playing and jumping on him....luckily he doesn't seem to mind. You love to point to things and say "b". The other night Dada and I went in to check on you while you were sleeping and you pointed up and said "b" in your sleep....we were beside ourselves with laughter. We love you so much Rowan and can't wait to see you continue to blossom this year.

Dawg Days of Summer...Minnesota

Many THANKS to Gretchen and Mike for hosting us in MN and Congratulations on your beautiful new baby boy! What a great end to our trip. It was so great to have the whole Chamberlain family together....and isn't it so beautiful how our family is growing? In true Chamberlain fashion we played many a games....usually it's Pinnochle but we have found a new game....Settlers of Catan. We were all hooked and stayed up into the wee hours playing most nights. While we all love this game and eachother, it may turn out to be a bad thing for us.....you see, it's quite competative and well, there were a few fights!

It was great to see Allie, Emma, Grace, and Savanah...Rowan had fun playing with his second cousins.

All in All it was a great trip....two whole weeks! We came home to 116 degrees and wondered why we came back!!!!

Dawg Days of Summer...Iowa

Many THANKS to Larry and Dianne for hosting us in Iowa and Thanks to Gretchen for surprising us with you and Calvin's presence!! Cal is so adorable and your are such a trooper for making the trip to IA a week after giving birth...you are my hero! Rowan had so much fun hanging out with everyone. There was never a dull moment and he was constantly entertained. He even got to go to the Allamakee County Fair. It was the staging day for the animals, so the fair actually wasn't going on yet, but we got to see lots of cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep. Blake and Uncle Hall had some animals they were showing...steer and pigs. We got to see GREAT Grandma's Ramona and Marge and GREAT Grandpa's Clarence and Wayne....what fun it was to see their faces light up when Rowan and Calvin were near! Thanks to Grandma Ramona for hosting a dinner party with all of the relatives, Trudy and Rowan had fun stealing eachothers toys!