Pool Party @ Auntie Ginny's!

There is a lot of family history in this pool, and we are happy to keep adding to the newest generation of swimmers! Thanks to Auntie Ginny for keeping up the tradition!

The Swiss, The Swede, and The Southern Belle

Awake, happy, and all in the same place at the same time...The meeting of the babies certainly wasn't easy, but it was so worth it! Zachary, Jayden, and Laura are lucky to have cousins so close in age. Now we just need to get them all back in the New England area, so we can make the grandmas happier!

Coordinating with Nonna

What a good looking pair Nonna and Z make!

another good year.

Nothing better than a good book, and a Nonna

Though the view of the Lake isn't an unwelcome addition...

and he's off...

Zacharized

Zachary must be very well liked by his Uncle Rico. Because by all rights, those Oaklies should have been toast well before they were left at the gas station somewhere between Bemidji and Davenport. If genetics have any role in it, we will have to start using Zacharized as a verb, in addition to Becca-izing...

Z never slows down

Z just had his 9 month appointment, luckily no shots at this checkup!

Weight was 24 pounds 5 ounces, 95th percentile. The nurse looked up where he fell on the charts, and he is as big as the average 15 month old!

Height, 29 3/4 inches, 90th percentile. So he's still a BIG boy, but his head circumference is still in the 25th percentile.

Developmentally, Z is right on track--and it's all happened so quickly. In just the last couple weeks, Z has started crawling, playing peek-a-boo, clapping, waving, mimicking sounds we make, feeding himself, pulling himself to standing, and just now he's starting to cruise along furniture a few steps. He also managed to pull himself up to standing in his crib, cruise over to the corner, reach out of the crib, and open the door to his room! Catherine and I just stood there in disbelief, while Z continued to howl at us to get him out of his crib immediately!

It all starts at the beginning.

A visit to Itasca State Park to see the Mississippi Headwaters is a tradition every year we go up to the lake. This year was no exception, especially since we had so many first-timers! We usually pick the day with the least good-weather potential, and pack up the cars for the ride over to the park. Grandma always has the ponchos ready to go, if the sky decides to open up (which it usually does!) First stop is the the actual headwaters, with a chance to dip your toes in the water, and walk across the Mighty Mississippi. Next is the long climb up the Fire Tower and finally a meal at Douglas Lodge. Next year, Z will be doing the walking himself!