daddy time is play time!

Z gets so excited when Da-dee comes home from work. During the winter, we would watch from the window for the mustang to pull into view, and Z would start yelling, jumping up and down, waving, and blowing kisses.. Our warm weather variation is to go outside and sit on the stairs, or walk around the block a few times to kill off some energy while we wait. Then he runs over to greet Paul, impatiently waiting for him to get out of the car, and over to the sidewalk--because we don't let him go into the street. Zachary tends to be more rough and tumble when he is playing with Paul. More get-you (chasing each other around) and more boom (tumbling over Z's blue chair). So Z and Daddy get their playtime, and Momma gets to have a little break and start dinner. Works out great for all of us!

few and far between

 

It's not very often that I get to sneak vegetables in, Zach is just too smart for that, or lumpy yogurt is as much of a turnoff as it would seem to be. Also, Apparently, cheese sauce didn't really enhance the broccoli experience for Z. He still happily eats all the sun dried tomatoes out of my salads, and he will munch on lettuce when Daddy offers it to him, but Z's veggie list is possibly shorter than even his Daddy's!

play and play alike

take a load off

I think Z and Uncle Ben look an awful lot alike in these pictures--both in appearance and demeanor!

formulaic

These are the moments that I long for when I'm away from my family. Sitting on the porch, enjoying the sunshine, watching Z play, talking about our days, and just being together. It's not an exact formula, it could be all of us in the living room, or gathered around the dining room table. Those that can make it are present, those that can't are missed. 

Here Auntie Lizzie and Nonna were entertaining Z with song and dance. Or maybe it was Z entertaining them, I think it works both ways.

Full.

18 months already. 
 
It's so hard to believe my tiny little 7 pound 2 ounce baby boy is right now walking around my kitchen, and calling for me to come play with him. We had his 18 month well baby check up last week, and Z is impressive. He's weighing in at 28 pounds 4 ounces, he's 33 3/4 inches tall, and his head circumference is in the 40th percentile. 



(Warning, skip ahead if you don't want to hear my proud (biased!) momma bragging) But even cooler is comparing him developmentally to other 18 month-olds. 

The doctor asked if Z has a 10-word vocabulary. Z has more a more than 10 word vocabulary just for food related items! Milk (meh), raisins (ray-rays), hot dog (tahtah), cheese (chee), goldfish (feeshies), sausage (saw-saw), waffles (wah-fah), water (wawa), banana (this one sounds like the spanish bebe), cheerios (chew-yos), pretzels (pahpah), and apple, which he pronounces perfectly. I could keep going just with food, and Zachary has words for his favorite toys like ball (bah). He says read (ree), and down (dow) and up (uppa), and no (no said with a frenchman's accent), and sleep (slee). They say that there is often a vocabulary explosion after 18 months, and it's so true, just ask Zachary to say elephant (ahhfeen) or zebra (aybra or zeebee depending on his mood), or ask him what he wants for breakfast, or to watch on TV, elmo or oso or monster's inc (ah-mo, oh-so, muh muh). My favorite, and I think it's his favorite as well, is outside (ow-sigh), never said with less enthusiasm than a lottery winner.

He's so full of life and energy right now. He wants to run and play and explore. The Z I see right now, seems to have overpowered my memory of what he used to look like. My perspective of Z has grown up with him. It's all too easy to forget how he used to fit in the crook of my arm, and how even the newborn size clothes were too big. The next box of diapers are going to be size sixes, and he's up to a size 7 in shoes. 

We've come a long way little dude. Keep up the good work!!

big head

Hey--if you're head was this full of smarts, you'd have trouble keeping it up too.

tumbleweed

This little boy never slows down. He runs at full tilt, all the time. And I really do mean tilt. He runs so fast, that his feet can't even quite keep up with him--almost like a bull charging head first at something. I find myself holding my breath, convinced he's going to fall on his face. I'm going to be holding my breath a lot in the coming years.

main squeeze

Z cracks me up. He is always getting himself into trouble. Gates or furniture are just an obstacle for him to try to get past, and he never gives up. I often find him standing on top of the coffee table in the living room, or squeezing between the gate and the wall to try to escape. He keeps me on my toes, that's for sure!

blanketscapades

Surprise, surprise. Another version of peek-a-boo. This time made even better with the addition of Poppa and a blanket!

cut it out!

Surprisingly, Z was entirely cooperative for his second haircut. I have a feeling it was at least in part because he was being bashful in front of Jeff, the barber. Poppa was on hand as photographer, while I played barber chair. Z always looks so much older after a haircut, so much more a little boy, instead of a toddler!

ladies man

I think Z would like to invite Auntie Catherine and her friends over to perform for him every night! They are natural entertainers, and when they get together, the house is usually full of singing and dancing. This is currently one of Z's favorite activities. His dance moves aren't as fancy as CSI's, but he happily stomps his feet, and claps his hand, and he even spins around occasionally.

no foolin'

This was a very serious game apparently. Look how intent they both are!