12 Things About Z

I’ve decided to do a little series called 12 things you didn’t know (or maybe you did) about my children.

1. Z is really into superheroes and Star Wars (still). He also loves Power Rangers, many mornings he wakes up declaring he is the red ranger today, or Batman, or Spiderman, just depends on the day. And if you call him Zayd, he will be sure to correct you!

*Baba, you have to get these!!

2. He’s gotten so much better at coloring, and can somewhat stay inside the lines. He is still working on writing his name, right now it just looks like 4 or 5 lines going in different directions.

3. His favorite color is red.

4. He still sleeps with his 2 winnies, right now they are joined by Mario and Luigi. And, they have to be in the right “pattern.” Winnie, Mario, Zayd, Luigi, Winnie.

*They’re both pretending here

5. Speaking of, he LOVES video games, especially the Lego series, like Lego Marvel Superheroes and Lego Marvel Batman. That is usually the way we get him to leave Nunna and Jido’s house without crying is to tell him he’s going to get to play Lego Marvel Superheroes with Baba and the “black nin-trollers” (Playstation).

6. He saw his first ever theater movie yesterday! It was Frozen, which according to Nick bored him a bit and he is referring to as “The Princess Movie.” I guess it is geared more toward girls. On the bright side, he loved the previews and can’t wait to see How to Train a Dragon 2 (after he sees How to Train a Dragon, which lucky for him is coming on TV on Christmas)

7. He’s been really wary about having bad dreams. So, we tell “stories” every night to try and fight that. They are the same stories, although we recently replaced the beach trip story with the “going to the hotel” story (about when we stayed at the Opryland hotel). We also have to talk about going to the “blue store” (Walmart), is he a southern kid or what?! Particularly about how we go to the toy section and pick out toys. These things obviously make him happy.

8. He is taking swim lessons all through this winter so hopefully we’ll be a little more comfortable in the pool this summer. They are going pretty well, he’s not as freaked out about going under, but he doesn’t really want to do it a bunch either. He has started using the paddleboard and the noodle somewhat unassisted, which I think is progress, and he doesn’t dread going anymore either. He actually likes it now.

9. I don’t really think he has a favorite food. He’s just not that into food. He does LOVE blackberries and macaroni and cheese and pizza (who doesn’t?).

10. He loves playing Candy Crush with Jido. He commentates and his little toes are going crazy the whole time they are playing.

11. Nick has started reading more complicated chapter books to Z at night, and he really likes them, he even recognizes some of the words like in, is, and the.

12. He loves to look at “people pi-chures” (instagram). He asks me all of their names and when we don’t know one, he says “Paddison!” I have NO idea where he got this from, but it is an ongoing thing, and one night when we already had a lot of Paddisons, he threw in “Pacha!” So, if he doesn’t know your name, don’t be surprised if you are called Paddison or Pacha.

Bonus Fact: He loves music and dancing! He really has his own taste in music, but he also takes a lot of cues from us. If he hears Nick or me singing loudly to a song, he immediately starts to like it. He likes “Don’t Stop Believin,’” “Safe and Sound,” and wait for it, “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line. That may be his favorite! (Nick would want me to clarify that Cruise comes from me and NOT him).

This list had to be totally boring for anyone not related to Z, and even those of you who are probably skimmed it. I’m sorry, I just wanted to stop and dedicate a whole post to each of my babies. After all, that’s what this thing is supposed to be about anyway.