Raising Roan

Casey: We’re going to the beach. Roan: Yay! Can I be like a crocodile and try to snap everyone?

Roan: Dada look. I have a nail on my finger. Casey: Yes, you have nails on all your fingers. Roan: Can you take it off? Casey: No, our nails don’t come off. Roan: Take it off! (biting off a piece of his fingernail) Look, see? There, I took it off.

Roan: Dada, where do you work? Do you have art projects there? Are you going to paint everything like a real kid?

Roan (shouting from the bathroom): I went poo-poo!! It’s like a big volcano!! Lavina (to Casey): It’s your turn.

Roan rode a big yellow bus to school for the first time this morning. He got on kicking and screaming at 8am but returned home smiling 2 1/2 hrs later (see before and after photos below). For weeks, Roan talked bravely and enthusiastically about riding the bus (“the bus driver is going to pull a … Continue reading →

Roan (in the process of waking Casey up): Look Dada, I didn’t hit you or bite you!

Roan: Mama, tie me up. Tie me up! Will you please tie me up? (laying down on the floor wearing Casey’s motorcycle boots, pretending to be the giant in Gulliver’s Travels for the 1000th time). Lavina (thinking): I hope he doesn’t ever make this request in public.

Roan (to Casey): I like you Mister Dada.

Roan (fascinated with Casey’s large translucent fish oil pill): Dada, I’ll get you your vitamin. Can I sit on the couch and pinch it? Can I throw it to you like a football? Can we play catch with it?

Roan (at the park): I’m just going to have to leave. Because I’m not cooperating.

Lavina: Roan, would you like a brother or sister? Roan: No, just friends instead. Lavina: Would you like a dog? Roan: No, I want a cat.

Roan: Mama, what store did this new gum came from? Lavina: I ordered it from the internet. Can you say “internet?” Roan: “Internet.” That’s a hard word to say.

Roan (waiting at the deli counter in Whole Foods): Dada, can I do a zerbert on you? Casey: No. Roan: Does Whole Foods have a rule? (minutes later, still waiting for ham and cheese…) Dada, you’re a good Dada.

Roan: Dada, have you ever gone scuba divering?

Roan (to Lavina’s 79 yr old grandmother Molly): Granny Mushroom, will you take off your glasses so we can wrestle?

Roan: Where are we going? Casey: To see Dr. Stephanie (Roan’s behavior psychologist). Roan (not too happy about that): Well, I’m going to put a pretend mask on me and shoot my web!

Roan (startled and upset, with his lip quivering, after Alphie, Casey & Lavina all shouted “No!” as he put a sharp knife in his mouth to lick off the butter): I wish I had a bunch of knives so I could throw them!

Roan: Mama, I’ll be careful not to freak out when you turn the movie off.

Casey (flabbergasted and disappointed): We’ve read your “Cars” book every night for two weeks. It’s your favorite. Why would you destroy it? Roan: Well, that’s how it works.

Roan: Mama are you listening to me? Do you need to turn your listening ears on?

Roan, in his carseat: Mama, you can’t sit next to me because there’s lots of too many stuff. ———- Roan, in his carseat at night, afraid of the dark: Mama, will you hold my little feetsies? ——— Roan, sleeping in a new place: I’m snuggling with Dada because I need some cuddle time. ———- Roan, … Continue reading →

Casey: After I make your bed I’m going to change your poopy diaper. Roan: I can agree to that.

Roan: AHHHHH! I’m yelling in anger!

Roan: Mama, you’re amazing. You’re good with puzzles.

Lavina: Roan, you are grumpy. Roan: No! I’m not grumpy. I’m just pretending to be grumpy.

Roan: Mama, carry me! Lavina: I can’t. My back hurts. Roan: Yes you can. You’re a big girl.

Roan, trying on his Grandma’s first name on the way to see fireworks: Alphie, look at that crane! Alphie (“Amma”): Yes, see the flag on the crane? It’s our country’s birthday! Roan, suddenly very serious: One day I was going to work. A flag fell down and got stuck in my head! Mama: That’s terrible! … Continue reading →

Roan: Dada, who’s the boss of all the guys who play music? Casey: The conductor. Roan: Do conductors rock out when the guys play music? Casey: Of course they do!

Roan: Mama, I’m just gonna sit right here and think about a T-Rex.

Roan, using his little people to re-enact our last visit with Uncle Albie and Aunt Shirley: Now, mama and Shirley are going to get in the car and get some “Chai-nina’s” (chinese carryout).

Roan, upon entering his room sans crib (we finally broke it down): Good job Mama! My room looks wonderful! (turning around with his arms outstretched). Roan, later, upon learning that his crib would go to our neighbor upstairs: I don’t want another baby to sleep in my crib.

Roan at the pool, pointing to his 5 yr old friend’s nipples: “David, you have bruises?”

Roan: Dada, can I go in the pool with my penis?

Casey (while shaving, with Roan observing him): Roan, do you want facial hair when you grow up? Roan: No. I want a mole instead.

(Driving through the city) Roan: Dada, do you want to see where I work? Casey: Yes, what kind of work do you do? Roan: I did art projects, finger painters, checkers, I fix the building, and all kinds of stuff. I traveled so hard. Mama: How do you travel Ro? Roan: I travel on a … Continue reading →

Roan: Mama, can I be careful not to pee-pee on my boo-ey (blanket)? —– Roan: Mama, can I be careful not to smash the baby’s face? —– Roan: Mama, can I be careful not to chew on the DVD box?

Roan: Where’s me?

Roan: Can I have too much ice cream?

Roan: I need to be careful not to paint Nora. -Prepping himself for preschool.

Roan: Oooouuuccchh! Casey: What happened? Did you stub your toe? Roan: No, I stubbed my head!

Roan (talking to a castanet in Casey’s hands): Pac Man is a nice man. Pac Man, you have no wings? Pac Man has no arms. Just a mouth. Pac Man, I need help taking my bib off. I need help getting down from my high chair.

Roan: I was angry because I wanted to watch FOOTBALL! And the football was not working. -After Casey set up the TV to watch the Oscars (we only plug in the cable for annual or extraordinary events, the last time being the Super Bowl).

Roan: CaaaAAASSSEEEYYY! Casey, you’re in trouble.

Roan: Let’s have a family.

Roan: I want to eat my elbow. Can I eat my elbow? I can’t reach it (running his mouth down his arm toward his elbow). I need help!

At the breakfast table with Casey, Lavina, Roan, and Amma (Alphie)… Lavina: Roan, tell Dada and Amma what you got last night. Roan: I bought a new library card. Casey: So, mama’s got a library card, Dada’s got a library card, and RoRo’s got a library card. Unfortunately, Amma can’t read. Lavina & Amma: [laughing] … Continue reading →

Roan: Mama, did you see that? I just pulled fishies out of my belly button and threw them in the water. 1, 2, 3…18 fishies!

Roan: Mama, I’m not going to hurt you anymore. The first thing he said upon waking, after a hellish marathon of tantrums the day before.

We finally cracked the code on “nooshin gooshing” – one of Roan’s phrases that had us curious and puzzled for months. Apparently “nooshin gooshing” = curly hair. Lavina put 2 and 2 together while reading “The Tao of Babies” with Roan. Every page that had an illustration of a baby with curly hair elicted “NOOSHIN … Continue reading →

Roan (from out of nowhere): I want to drink milk from mama’s breast! Casey & Lavina: [laughing] Roan: I like it! Roan hasn’t breastfed since he was 5 months old. However he did spend the morning looking at his photos from infancy.

Roan: Spider Man and the masked man are my brothers. [Notice in the photo below the 20 yr old tiger blanket from Wal-Mart that Lavina grew up with. This thing is so NOT biodegradable! Nary a stitch is loose.]

Roan: When I get older, I want to get tackled with the guys. -While watching the Super Bowl.

Dr. Gopal needs to fix the light because I broke it. -Roan, after pushing down a floor lamp with a glass shade, which shattered everywhere. Dr. Gopal is Roan’s pediatrician.

Roan: Lobster. Lobster. Lavina: Are you a lobster? Roan: No I’m not a lobster. I’m a fish.

Roan: When I grow up I want to hold a squirrel.

I took the booger out of my nose and I chewed it all up.

[During Obama’s inauguration screening party at the Senator Theater] Roan: This is going to be fun! (sitting down with a tub of popcorn)… Roan: Santa Clause! (as Biden was being sworn in as VP)… Roan: Bob the Builder! (as the crowd began chanting “Yes we can!”)

Roan: I want some!! (cereal) Lavina: How do you ask nice? Roan: Please, can I want some?

Casey: Roan, do you want to cooperate with getting your clothes on or do you want to do this the hard way? Roan: I want to do it the hard way.

Roan: I’m working hard. Please give me space.

Roan: I want some peace and quiet.

Roan loves to smell our coffee and has recently taken to herbal tea. He sometimes enjoys a cup of honey vanilla chamomile.

Upon his own initiation, Roan made the transition to his big bed (a very big Queen size bed which makes him look very small again). We turned his crib into a little blue private fort-like comfy space (seen here).

Roan: I want a computer set. Mama: You know who we need to tell? Santa. He gives presents to kids on Christmas. Roan: Santa is a good, nice man. Mama: Yes. Roan: Santa lives in an apartment. Mama: Oh really? Where? Roan: Right there! [pointing to our neighbor Buck’s door] Santa knocks on the door. … Continue reading →

Although paci time has been limited to naps and bedtime for the past year, it looks like the paci ain’t goin away anytime soon… Lavina: Roan, will you please give Mama your paci? You’re all done sleeping. Roan: I need my paci to see. —– Lavina: Roan, will you please give Mama your paci? Roan: … Continue reading →

Roan: I’m a good dancer! —— Roan: Mama, I fell. Lavina: Did you lose your footing? Roan: I lost my balance. Fell on my ear. Broke my ear. Broke it all to pieces. —– Roan: Mama, Dada’s sleeping. Mama: Yes, Dada is tired. Roan: He works all day long. Mama: Don’t pull Dada’s hair. Are … Continue reading →

Roan’s teachers didn’t believe him when he told them he was going to be a beaver for Halloween (apparently kids say all kinds of things when asked about their costumes). They all laughed in delight when I verified he would indeed be attending his first school Halloween party as a Beaver.

I often ask Roan what he dreams about. One afternoon after his nap, he said: “The polar bear crashed the castle. It was terrible. Crazy. And grosss. And the zebra poo-poo.”

A conversation at the breakfast table on a morning before preschool: Casey (pretending to cry): I’m going to miss you today Roan! (stops crying and smiles) Roan (looking in wonder at Casey, a small smile curling on his lips, like “wow, he really loves me so much he’s crying”): Dada cry! Lavina: Yes, Dada’s crying … Continue reading →

Below are some of the things Roan has been saying these days that get a big laugh from us. And oh we thank God for these not too infrequent moments of unexpected laughter, as we need them throughout the day to balance out the steady abuse he subjects us to (e.g. just today he kicked … Continue reading →

Roan’s communication has gotten so good that he’s capable of telling short stories, and he tells many throughout the day. They are usually very colorful: full of half-truths, dreamlike, and semi-autobiographical. Here’s a simple little story he told the other night (we took notes while he was talking)… Roan: Man crashed a BIG truck (heavy … Continue reading →

Looks who knows everything now, and he’s still shy of 2 and 1/2! Roan has taken to correcting us on all sorts of matters. For example: Casey: Roan, let’s take off your shorts. They’re dirty. Roan: No, that’s pants. ***** Lavina: Roan, look at that red car. Roan: No, that’s a truck. ***** Casey: Be … Continue reading →

Our annual trip to Weber’s Farm included dancing to bluegrass, going on a hay ride, riding tractors, feeding goats, eating apple donuts and slushies, gazing at turkeys and peacocks, getting lost in a haystack labyrinth, and sliding past hay bales down a huge, steep, slippery hill (lined with some kind of vinyl or plastic) sitting … Continue reading →

Enjoing the last days of summer with Roan’s first Popsicle…

We haven’t committed to potty training yet, but Roan has recently been showing an interest. We always encourage his interest, as a way to gauge his readiness and get him on board for the future potty training championship. Many times he has asked to sit on the big potty, but nothing happened. He likes to … Continue reading →

We couldn’t have asked for a better first day of preschool. There was so much energy entering the classroom – the nerves and excitement of parents, teachers, and kids – everyone orienting each other to the room, protocol, each other, and from Roan’s point of view – the wonderland of toys. Within seconds he was … Continue reading →

It was love at first sight. There was alot of hand holding, and there was tongue action. Roan’s first French kiss took place on the wilderness trail at the Baltimore Zoo. A little girl his age (and with the same sized spirit, albeit much less volume) promptly took his hand upon eying him on the … Continue reading →

In Roan’s world, all states of being are relative to “happy.” “Roan, are you hungry?” “Not hongwee. Happy.” “Roan, are you hot? Do you want to take your shirt off?” “Not hot. Happy.”

Roan’s latest obsession is pretending to drive the Subaru. He LOVES putting music CDs in and out of the stereo, pressing all the buttons, and looking in the mirrors. When he’s in his car seat (and painfully not in control), he shouts out requests, referring to CDs by name. Here is a typical conversation with … Continue reading →

Puzzle pieces easily double as phones.

This is Italian-mafia / rasta-Roan speech for, “I want to go hang from that branch” (btw, a ritual, if unsatisfied, leads to shrieking, crying, protest, and mayhem on route between the apartment and the car). He is trying to incorporate articles of speech into his Tarzan English, such as “the.” He is also trying out … Continue reading →

We love Roan’s use of adjectives these days (see previous posts re: “beautiful,” “disgusting,” and “terrible”). He is now using the word “so” in his fragmented Tarzan English to express himself. One night Roan enthusiastically declared to the universe, “broccolis SO good!!” Squeezing his stuffed puppies with delight: “Doggies so sweet!” Looking at a wallet … Continue reading →

This joy ride is a bona fide flashback from my childhood in the 70s. I lived for these rides, especially upon tortuous trips to Wal-Mart and the grocery store with my mom (“I’m only stopping for a gallon of milk” – this was the BIG LIE and bane of our precious playtime – not to … Continue reading →

Let’s see what happens when I try to embed a video… “Puppy Walks Puppy” (flashback to Roan at 13 months) Our friends Jen and Ian kindly allowed Nala to have a slumber party at our house. This was a good reality check for us, as we were entertaining the idea of getting a dog. While … Continue reading →

This morning, we arrived early for a preschool tour at a Presbyterian church, so as we sat parked in front of the church’s cemetery, Casey said to Roan, just to drum up some small talk, “look at all the dead people, Roan.” “Oh, wow,” Roan said. “It’s beautiful” (“bootifool”). And then, “wook, Dada, big sky.” … Continue reading →

Subtitle: Life Beyond Roan’s Wildest Dreams ORUncle Chuck is the Greatest Guy on Earth (after Dada of course) Picture this – while lounging around a scrumptious bonfire and roasting marshmellows, frogs burping in the night, the hills of LaValette, West Virginia suddenly come alive with a bright light, a high-pitched “ERR-ER-ER-ER,” the rumble of gravel, … Continue reading →