Inspired by MM, we decided to let Z have full reign of the spoon. I usually hand it to him or guide it into his mouth while he's holding it, because he usually ends up slinging food everywhere. I have to say, he did pretty well, and it's no messier than usual, being that he loves let us know that he is finished by throwing his food on the floor.
The sound effects are all him.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Z, and Update
Since I have stopped doing monthly posts, I feel like I haven't been able document as much as I would like. So, here's an update on the Z man. This stuff is usually fascinating to me, mildly interesting to other moms, and pretty much sleep inducing to all others, so feel free to skim, but I will try to make it as interesting as possible.
He's walking everywhere now, getting faster every day! I have been at home a lot lately, holidays, snow days, etc. When I'm home he follows me around everywhere I go, change clothes he's there, laundry he's there, wash dishes he's there, go to the bathroom, sorry to say... he's there. Well, I can't very well leave him alone in a room. He's liable to climb into a shopping bag, not know how to climb out and burst into tears (not that that has ever happened or anything).
He's saying all kinds of words, some identifiable, some not. My favorite being 'Up' which now is like "uhhhh... pah." He's also says 'ahck' for sock, and picks up anything that looks like a phone, holds it up to his ear and says 'ah-lo.' Okay, that may be my favorite. He's waving and saying 'by-by' and telling full blown Z stories that sound something like this 'acken acken acken ackeeeen aaaacken' with many changes in inflection and complete with hand gestures.
He dances whenever where ever he hears my dad sing his little song. I'm sure I have referred to that once before. Let me just say that the boy has rhythm!
He loves fishsticks and chicken nuggets! I know what you're thinking, but people, I've tried. There are countless posts about how hard I have tried! Heck, I'm still trying, but I've almost lost the battle. There have been many a night that I make a perfectly delectable and healthy meal for him complete with all the food groups, and he won't go near it! Now, he does eat some good things like bananas and peas. And he eats as much cheese and yogurt as I can stand to give him. But, maybe I should cut him some slack, after all he only has 6 and 1/2 teeth, and really how in the world can eat everything with just 6 and 1/2 teeth? The greatest mystery of all in the food department is that sometimes what he won't try with me, he'll eat if Nick gives it to him. And, when all else fails, my dad steps in. He'll eat anything if it comes from him. I have no good explanation for that.
He still sleeps very well, and I am now convinced that as a teenager, I am going to have to coax him out of bed every single morning. Perhaps I created a monster, a very well trained, sleep-loving monster. Faithful readers (if there are any), if I ever complain about him sleeping too much, please remind me of the old days... or slap me, whichever's easier. It really is a blessing that he is such a great sleeper. He goes down without a peep at (and sometimes even before) 7, and we rarely hear from him before 7 a.m., sometimes 8 or later! He naps at around 11:30 and usually until 1:30 or 2, but it can be as late as 3, and mommy loves naptime!
There are countless other fun goings on these days. He is truly changing every day, and I feel so blessed!
He's walking everywhere now, getting faster every day! I have been at home a lot lately, holidays, snow days, etc. When I'm home he follows me around everywhere I go, change clothes he's there, laundry he's there, wash dishes he's there, go to the bathroom, sorry to say... he's there. Well, I can't very well leave him alone in a room. He's liable to climb into a shopping bag, not know how to climb out and burst into tears (not that that has ever happened or anything).
He's saying all kinds of words, some identifiable, some not. My favorite being 'Up' which now is like "uhhhh... pah." He's also says 'ahck' for sock, and picks up anything that looks like a phone, holds it up to his ear and says 'ah-lo.' Okay, that may be my favorite. He's waving and saying 'by-by' and telling full blown Z stories that sound something like this 'acken acken acken ackeeeen aaaacken' with many changes in inflection and complete with hand gestures.
He dances whenever where ever he hears my dad sing his little song. I'm sure I have referred to that once before. Let me just say that the boy has rhythm!
He loves fishsticks and chicken nuggets! I know what you're thinking, but people, I've tried. There are countless posts about how hard I have tried! Heck, I'm still trying, but I've almost lost the battle. There have been many a night that I make a perfectly delectable and healthy meal for him complete with all the food groups, and he won't go near it! Now, he does eat some good things like bananas and peas. And he eats as much cheese and yogurt as I can stand to give him. But, maybe I should cut him some slack, after all he only has 6 and 1/2 teeth, and really how in the world can eat everything with just 6 and 1/2 teeth? The greatest mystery of all in the food department is that sometimes what he won't try with me, he'll eat if Nick gives it to him. And, when all else fails, my dad steps in. He'll eat anything if it comes from him. I have no good explanation for that.
He still sleeps very well, and I am now convinced that as a teenager, I am going to have to coax him out of bed every single morning. Perhaps I created a monster, a very well trained, sleep-loving monster. Faithful readers (if there are any), if I ever complain about him sleeping too much, please remind me of the old days... or slap me, whichever's easier. It really is a blessing that he is such a great sleeper. He goes down without a peep at (and sometimes even before) 7, and we rarely hear from him before 7 a.m., sometimes 8 or later! He naps at around 11:30 and usually until 1:30 or 2, but it can be as late as 3, and mommy loves naptime!
There are countless other fun goings on these days. He is truly changing every day, and I feel so blessed!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Family
We had a great time visiting with family the past week. My brother and his son, Jude came down from Detroit and my sister and her 2 kids came up from Florida. It was insane and SO wonderful! They actually spent the first few nights in our house, which was so much fun. We were honored to host everybody, and we had a blast together. The only people who had more fun were the little ones! Jude and AG (who are very close in age) were running around together making up games and following each other around. Z and his cousin Adam were trying so hard to keep up and fit in, but just couldn't do it. Z would hang around and just start laughing hysterically like he was in on some secret joke, little did he know he was being completely ignored by his 5 year old cousins!
My mom is so good with all of the kids. Every time she walks in the room, Adam runs over to her so she'll scoop him up. Then of course Z comes over and raises his little hands in the air, and says "uhhh." She was able to accommodate both boys this time.
The boys
The week of Christmas was very quiet and relaxing, with a considerable amount of shopping mixed in. We knew we would all be getting together after Christmas and that it would be hectic, so we took the time to enjoy some relative quiet. Nick got his wisdom teeth extracted, which went as well as can be expected. He was well enough to go to the Summit the next day and the Shops at Grand River on Christmas Eve, where we wore Z (for the first time in a while) and shopped the outlets. It was great because it wasn't too crowded, and we found some great deals. Because I am a basket case anyway, I got borderline emotional walking around there with sleeping-15-month-Z strapped to me because it reminded me of the old days. He slept in there for a good 2 hours while we shopped (mostly for Nick) and then we had a food court lunch and headed home. That night we had a pretty decent semi home-cooked meal and watched Christmas Vacation with my little bro.
Christmas Day it snowed like crazy (well, for Alabama, anyway)! We opened presents and stayed home all day. It was wonderful! Then, the day after Christmas, we hit the mall again for the sales. My mom went with us this time, and Nick wore Z again, since it worked so well two days before, and once again, he did great. That day I got to shop more for myself! We went to early dinners both times, which is amazing, no wait, noone cares if your child is making noise and throwing puffs everywhere, and you still get home in time to enjoy the rest of the evening. I highly recommend it.
I had to work a full day and 2 half days the week after Christmas, and my bro arrived on the Monday. Everyone came to our house and we had a great home-cooked (by my mom) meal and caught up. My sister came the next day, and we all had lunch together and hung out at our house. Then on Wednesday my mom, sister, and I left the brave men at home with all of the children and did even more shopping. One would think I would get tired of shopping, and one would be wrong... We had so much fun together. I had forgotten how much fun it is to go shopping with them with no children.
We went to Sylacauga for New Year's, and didn't do much in terms of exciting things. The weather was so amazingly nice, however, we did take the kids to the park. They had a blast and wore themselves completely out! Z was asleep the minute we put him in the car.
My mom is so good with all of the kids. Every time she walks in the room, Adam runs over to her so she'll scoop him up. Then of course Z comes over and raises his little hands in the air, and says "uhhh." She was able to accommodate both boys this time.
*Adam's a bit unhappy in this pic, but it was the best we could do
I know she and my dad love it the most we all get together.
After my sis and her kids left, Z followed Jude around like a little puppy and Jude actually gave him a little bit of attention because AG was not there anymore.
We had planned to take some family photos because it is exceedingly rare that we are all together, and we were still missing my sister and brother's spouses as well as my twin nieces, but it never happened. Imagine that. Oh well, we did manage to get some more group shots later in the week.
Dad and the middle kids, 2 Dr. P's and a Dr. G
Group Shots
The Pacha men and mom
After my sis and her kids left, Z followed Jude around like a little puppy and Jude actually gave him a little bit of attention because AG was not there anymore.
We had planned to take some family photos because it is exceedingly rare that we are all together, and we were still missing my sister and brother's spouses as well as my twin nieces, but it never happened. Imagine that. Oh well, we did manage to get some more group shots later in the week.
Me and my bro
Dad and the middle kids, 2 Dr. P's and a Dr. G
Group Shots
The Pacha men and mom
The boys
The week of Christmas was very quiet and relaxing, with a considerable amount of shopping mixed in. We knew we would all be getting together after Christmas and that it would be hectic, so we took the time to enjoy some relative quiet. Nick got his wisdom teeth extracted, which went as well as can be expected. He was well enough to go to the Summit the next day and the Shops at Grand River on Christmas Eve, where we wore Z (for the first time in a while) and shopped the outlets. It was great because it wasn't too crowded, and we found some great deals. Because I am a basket case anyway, I got borderline emotional walking around there with sleeping-15-month-Z strapped to me because it reminded me of the old days. He slept in there for a good 2 hours while we shopped (mostly for Nick) and then we had a food court lunch and headed home. That night we had a pretty decent semi home-cooked meal and watched Christmas Vacation with my little bro.
Christmas Day it snowed like crazy (well, for Alabama, anyway)! We opened presents and stayed home all day. It was wonderful! Then, the day after Christmas, we hit the mall again for the sales. My mom went with us this time, and Nick wore Z again, since it worked so well two days before, and once again, he did great. That day I got to shop more for myself! We went to early dinners both times, which is amazing, no wait, noone cares if your child is making noise and throwing puffs everywhere, and you still get home in time to enjoy the rest of the evening. I highly recommend it.
I had to work a full day and 2 half days the week after Christmas, and my bro arrived on the Monday. Everyone came to our house and we had a great home-cooked (by my mom) meal and caught up. My sister came the next day, and we all had lunch together and hung out at our house. Then on Wednesday my mom, sister, and I left the brave men at home with all of the children and did even more shopping. One would think I would get tired of shopping, and one would be wrong... We had so much fun together. I had forgotten how much fun it is to go shopping with them with no children.
We went to Sylacauga for New Year's, and didn't do much in terms of exciting things. The weather was so amazingly nice, however, we did take the kids to the park. They had a blast and wore themselves completely out! Z was asleep the minute we put him in the car.
Change
No one likes change, changing schools, changing jobs, changing homes. It's makes us just a little uncomfortable. I am referring to Z's classroom change, which included new teachers and a new sleep location (namely a nap mat on a cot on the floor).Well, you can imagine how it must be for a small child, but as usual he took it much better than I could have imagined. In case you don't remember, I'm a sleep nazi. I am all about some sleep for my child, so naturally, I was very worried that we were going to be facing week(s) of not napping because of the drastic sleeping arrangement change.
Day 1: 2 and 1/2 hour nap on the nap mat on the floor. What? How? Don't know, but he did it, and I'm a proud mama.
He actually has transitioned very well in general. He hasn't cried once on the drop-off, and today he nearly jumped out of hub's arms to get to the floor to play.
Day 1: 2 and 1/2 hour nap on the nap mat on the floor. What? How? Don't know, but he did it, and I'm a proud mama.
He actually has transitioned very well in general. He hasn't cried once on the drop-off, and today he nearly jumped out of hub's arms to get to the floor to play.
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