Afton Takes Some Pictures

On to Years

Rowan will be a year old next month. Yikes! July has seen her sharpening and honing her skills. She crawls like a pro, mimics sounds, dances in rhythm, and can point to your nose. She has started standing for a second or two and can squat to pick things up (as long as she is holding onto something). She has such strong legs. She has even climbed half way up the stairs! 

Her hair is getting longer and it has the start of the cutest lil curls. Still she has no teeth, but her bottom gums have started to swell. She continues to be a great eater and likes many different flavors. She even likes salt and vinegar chips and has eaten some of Afton's PB&J (that she stole while I wasn't looking!). I guess she isn't allergic to peanuts. Whew! She also still nurses, which I am extremely happy about. Mostly because I love the closeness of it, and how it is just her and I for those moments. 

Rowan is such a love bug. She is already hugging her dollies and dragging them around with her. If you say "awwww sweet baby" she will lean her head in and snuggle/hug you. She also gives really great wet, open mouth kisses. Ha! 

To balance out all that cuteness, she has a wicked temper. If you do something she disapproves of (i.e. changer her diaper, tell her no) you will hear about it. I guess it's good to know what you want. Right? Luckily she is quick to recover and is right back to giggling and getting into stuff. 

I just love my girl so very very much and am so happy I get to be her mom. It's so enjoyable watching her learn and grow. I wish I could just freeze time for just a little bit.

Let's Go Do Something...

...is what Afton declared, in a very whiny voice, the other day. So we did! I gave him a few choices and he decided that we should go to the Air and Space Museum. This time Rowan was able to join in the fun.

She went to the moon.

Explored air pressure.

And went on a helicopter ride.

Afton has been really into pretend play these days, so he had fun with the new space toys they had set up.

Of course I had to get a picture of Rowan in this little plane.

Just like the one I took of Afton when we first visited the museum.

After finishing up at the museum Afton was not ready to go home, and surprisingly Rowan wasn't sleepy. We decided to go to Pepper Grove Playground in Balboa Park. It was such a beautiful day and the kids had so much fun. I think they could have spent the whole time swinging. Too bad there are other kids that wants turns. Ha! While Afton climbed and ran around (as well as getting his shirt drenched whilst trying to drink out of the water fountain), I let Rowan crawl around in the grass. There may or may not have been grass eaten.

Ridiculousness

Pearly Whites

On Monday Mr. Afton went to the dentist for the first time. He went with me to my appointment last week to check it out and see what it looks like to have your teeth cleaned. He liked it at first but then got extremely bored (it does take a while, especially with friendly and chatty hygienists) and a little scared of the sounds. Needless to say, he wasn't very excited to come back until the hygienist informed him he would be able to pick a prize form the treasure box after his exam.

Waiting for his name to be called. He changed seats probably 10 times. The boy couldn't sit still he was so excited.

All ready for his exam. Trying out the dentist chair...up, down. So cool mom!

They didn't let me stay in the room while he had his x-rays, cleaning, and check up but I did got back and talk to the dentist and find out how he did. AND he did wonderful! Zero cavities! They did say he might have overcrowding when his adult teeth come in since he has a small jaw. This isn't much of a surprise since Nippon had the same issues. They will keep watch and may have to pull a few baby teeth if space is needed.  Afton said he picked out cherry flavoring for his cleaning and that it tasted "yummy." Haha!

This picture was taken while he stared at his x-rays. He was pretty amazed at what his teeth look like (and so was I), especially the adult teeth still growing in his jaw bone.

I forgot to get a picture of the treasures he picked out; a sparkly bouncy ball and a sticky hand. He also received a new Spongebob toothbrush and toothpaste. His response..."how did they know I love Spongebob?!" How indeed Afton. Ha! I had also promised him that he could pick out a prize at Ross, which is close to the dentist office. He was pretty happy to find some Pokemon figures.

I'm so glad everything went smoothly. He has a fear of loud noises and very strong gag reflex, so I was totally prepared to have them make a referral to a pediatric dentist. Yay for not having to do that. And another yay for clean and healthy teeth! Good job big boy!

Favorite People, Favorite Place

Some pretty great people came to California on vacation last week. I was so excited to meet up with my aunt Lisa, cousin Claire, and Claire's boyfriend Daniel at La Jolla Cove. We spotted some sea lions, felt the cool ocean breeze, and did a little tide pooling. Rowan even let Lisa hold her for a good amount of time. And Afton remembered that they had been at his 4th birthday party at the bowling alley in Safford. How could he not, they gave him his favorite Yoda gumball machine!? It is always nice to be with family. Now, if only we had more time!

Thanks to Claire for sending me these pictures. :)

Okra!

The okra is finally ready!!! I can't decide what I want to do with it....jambalaya, fried, or pickled. Since I've pickled the green beans, and jambalaya will require me to go to the store and pick up ingredients, I think I will be frying up these beauties. Droooooooool.

They are humongous! 

Addendum (7/21)

I don't know why I thought humongous okra was such an awesome thing. I should have known better! Luckily there are enough smaller, more edible, okra still available for consumption. Silly me. *slowly shakes head*

Bahama Buck's Rival

Ok, so we went to Wahine Kai Shave Ice a while ago but I dream of it daily. When we moved to San Diego there were several eateries that I knew I'd miss, Bahama Buck's being one of them. I have to report that I no longer have to pine over their yummy shaved ice. Wahine Kai is, dare I say, better. I got a Bird of Paradise which is mango and pineapple ice sprinkled with Li hing mui (a salty, sour, sweet dried plum powder that is insanely delicious) and placed over pineapple and coconut ice cream. It can't put into words how wonderful it tastes. Afton picked out a simple, yet also yummy, blue raspberry one. We both left with smiles, and blue teeth.