People have been asking us whether or not Rowan is aware that he's going to be a big brother. He's 14 months old this week, so I don't think he comprehends that his life will be changing soon. He hasn't given us any clues into his understanding that Mama is getting rounder each day because there is a baby growing inside of her. He hasn't acknowledged that the reason he's now sleeping in his big boy room is because his baby brother is moving into his nursery. He's just not there yet. Understandably.

But he is comprehending other things. Like Elmo's voice. He glows at the sight and sound of Elmo.

And he knows to pat my belly when I say, "Say hi to your baby brother, Rowan." But he also slaps Kenny's shoulder when Kenny asks him to say hi to his baby brother (when I'm sitting next to them). He must think that "baby" is a body part that is different on Mama (the belly) and Daddy (the shoulder).

I wish I could better capture on camera, and in these entries the really cool relationship that Kenny and Rowan have. From the moment Rowan wakes up in the morning, to the moment he goes to sleep at night, Daddy is right there with him. And he knows it. He knows that Daddy is the one who gets him in the morning from his crib, and who pats his back to sleep at night. He also knows that Daddy is the cool, fun parent (well, for now, any way...when I'm just a rather large bump on a log). Daddy comes home from work and gets the biggest giggles from Rowan, and then Rowan gets to wrestle with Daddy. FUN! After dinner, Daddy takes Rowan to the park where he gets to wade in the fountain, crawl under the sliding board, and run after the dogs. Daddy also gives Rowan a bath every other night.... Yeah, they're best buddies.

The only thing I'm concerned about is that Kenny is teaching Rowan that raccoons are loving, cuddable animals. You can see in the picture below that he teaches him through stuffed animals, cute children's books about sweet little raccoon characters, and his childhood raccoon puppet, that raccoons are just as loveable as the family dog or cat. I'm worried that Rowan will bring one home as a pet one day. And Mama will have to be the one to tell him that they are rabies carriers.

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