Christmas at Home

Christmas in Dubuque

Merry Christmas Grandpa Paul

Sit & Spin

Zach's New Toy

Zach went crazy over his new toy - he saw me take it out of the bag and wanted it. We decided he could have it early. It is an addition to his Little People's Farm. He is already telling us the goat and the turkey.

Sign Language

The teachers in Zach's classroom all use sign language with the kids. I had Miss Lisa show them to me and we have been using it at home too. WOW - it is really unbelievable how it works!

Zach knows - please, more, all done, bed/nightnight, eat, drink and byebye. (These are the basics they use at school) He probably knows more that we don't even know!

This week Zach has been signing like crazy. When he gets home, he takes his coat off and hangs it in his room. Then immediately signs eat, more, & please over and over and stands by the highchair.

He has also asked to go NightNight the past two nights. He will sign Bed and hold his blanket if it's around.

I think I am going to look up some new signs to teach him!

Adventures w/ Santa

Yesterday afternoon we took Zach to see Santa at the Mall. When we got there, we let him out of the stroller and he walked all around with no fear. When it was his turn, he walked right up to Santa and pointed and talked to him. Once again, no fear. The second Santa picked him up, it was all over! Tears, kicking, the works!






Here he is five minutes later with Dad and happy again!.

Merry Christmas!

Picture from the Daycare Photographer - (about 13mths old)

A Night At The Roxbury

Bundled Up

Snow Day

Since we were snowed in, we decided to put up the tree. Our tree is new this year, therefore, it took all of us to figure it out! Zach was very interested in everything we were doing, but was as good as a 15mth old could be.

I brought in a bowl of snow for Zach to play with. He was surprised at first by the cold, but then kept dipping his fingers in and licking them. We made a tiny snowman, but it melted before I thought to take a picture.

A Tuesday Night With Zach

Monkey??

I am really not sure where he learned this odd behavior. He was monkeying around making a "Grrrr" sound. I started imitating him in the background. Strange Child...

What happens when you step away for a minute?

Here is the funniest part of the story (I have had some issues w/ Blogger and have had to post in sections) - Once I snapped the photo, Zach realized I caught him. He looked up at me and pulled as many wet wipes as fast as he could before I got across the room to him. What a stinker!

Just Like Mommy

Zach found one of my old purses last night. He had a blast walking around with it. He kept trying to put it on his shoulder, but it wouldn't stay. He then figured out how to put it around his neck. I hope this is just a phase :) Hee Hee.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Zach had a party for Halloween at school today. In the afternoon, I took him to Main Street in St. Charles. They had open trick-or-treating for the children. The streets were blocked off and the police were patroling. It was very nice and there was a lot of candy. Zach had fun dragging his bag and picking up leaves. He had no regard for other people or lines (or the street). Lets just say I had a time chasing him! At least he had fun! Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch

We took Zach to a Pumpkin Patch on Sunday afternoon. He immediately was interested in the pumpkins, probably because there were so many. They also had a small petting zoo. Zach got to see calves, chickens, a rooster, a pony, a donkey, ducks, and pigs. I think his favorite was the pigs. We walked through a Hay House and he swung on some tire swings. It was a beautiful day!

Talk, Talk, Talk

Wow does Zach love to talk. It is like a switch went off again and now he talks. Only we can't understand a word he is saying. Lots and lots of babbling. He will look at you dead in the face and say "bloah, was ba da" and look like he expects an answer. Yesterday he started saying "Was that?". Who knows if that is really what he is saying, but maybe it's a start.

PS - Abby & Andy, he is playing with the Little People Farm in the background of this video. It is one of his favorites for sure! Thanks again.

Hungry Kid

Tooth Shot

Here is a great shot of Zach's chipped tooth. (His top right - our left)

I Don't Do Mornings

Gimme Five

Zach giving Uncle Andy "Five" at the Epworth Auction.

GO BEARS!

Zach in his Bears outfit from Grandma & Grandpa Urban.

Gone UpTown

Zach's World

This is Zach in his new classroom eating breakfast. Zach just loves to pull the chair out and climb up on his own. He is such a big boy! Lately, he has been too busy eating to wave good-bye so he just nods me off.

My Baby Is Broken

Yesterday Zach took a spill at school and chipped his front tooth. Poor baby! We will try to get a picture of his jagged tooth, but right now, he will barely let us see it.

I am trying to get him into the dentist to have it checked out - further news to be posted later.

I came home and showed my sister and told her what happened - Her Response "What are you going to do when he really gets hurt?"

That is a good question!!

Heartfelt Moment

This weekend we attended the Tushaus wedding reception. For some crazy reason, we decided to bring Zach along with us. He had an absolute blast walking around the large reception room - just walking and walking and walking.........

At one point he noticed a group of kids playing on the dance floor area. He lit up, squealed loudly, and toddled as fast as he could over to them. He positioned himself in the group and smiled really big. It was such a sweet moment - he just wanted to be a part of the kid group and they took him right in.

What is Mommy's Role

I really enjoyed my friend's blog titled "Piece of Cake". She said it perfectly.

A day or two later, I ran into into this article in Baby Talk Magazine.

So we know we have to have a life other than our children and we know that we shouldn't feel guilty about it - Now, how the heck do we get the guilt monster to listen to the reality monster???

Gross

Chris was busy taking video of Zach screaming at us in the kitchen. Zach was in the front room, but couldn't get to us because of the baby gate. In the middle of his scream, he spits up. This video is amusing because as soon as it happens you can see Zach very confused and Chris didn't even see it happen until he found it on the floor!

Steady - Steady

Zach is getting a little more steady on his feet!

The Deck Project Continued

Contrary to popular belief, our deck project is still not complete. We do not have stairs off the deck yet, because we need to have concrete poured first. We are going to pour a concrete landing from the deck to the driveway. That will give us a place for the trash cans, etc. Here is Chris' progress for getting the ground ready for the concrete.

The Day the Doors Were Closed

Since Zach started in a room with all walking toddlers this week, Chris and I thought Zach would be walking on his own by the end of the week.

Oh No- just two days of the new classroom and Zach is off. His teachers tell me that he can get from sitting to a standing position on his own. I haven't seen this - but he does a lot at school I don't see.

Monday evening we were at the softball fields so Zach didn't have much time to show us his new feat. Let me tell you about last night though - HE WAS EVERYWHERE - not really sure why each room is so different now that he can walk, it must be a new perspective. Anyway, yesterday was "The Day the Doors Were Closed".

Moving On Up

Today is Zach's last day in the Infant Room at Daycare. He will officially be moved into the Mobile Infant Room Monday morning.

This is Zach with Miss Patty. She is his only teacher that has been there since he started! Thank goodness for her.

No more swings and bouncer chairs. The highchairs are out too! What a big boy you are becoming!

1955 Good Housekeeping Article

(Click on the picture - it will open larger so you can read it) All I can say is "WOW"

Walking Videos

Walking

It's official - Zach is now taking steps!

He will walk between Chris and I and he has started trying to walk randomly on his own.

The funny part is that he realizes what he is doing and gets really excited. Most of the time, this causes him to fall down. It really is amazing how difficult it is for them to learn to walk - he has been cruising for about 2 mths, you would think he could "just let go". The balancing act is much different when you are not holding anything.

We will try to get a video, but it could be awhile to capture it.

One Year

Wow - Diddle, I can't believe it has been a whole year already! (Then again, we have had such a great time together that I don't remember when you weren't here!) You are such a delightful little boy. Mommy and Daddy couldn't be any prouder of our little Zach!

You love to talk (your language, of course) to us and I know that you love us just as much as we love you! You have recently learned to give kisses - what a wonderful thing! Just yesterday you saw Daddy give me a kiss good-bye. You really thought that was cool and we all exchanged kisses together!

We thought for sure you would be walking by now - but I guess you decided to save that milestone for later. You are cruising around everything you can hold on to, but you just won't let go! You really like to push things around (anything you can push) and lately you really like your blocks. I just love to watch you put all of the blocks in the basket and then take them all out again. This keeps you entertained for quite awhile. I just bought you a toy box and you really like taking ALL of the toys out of it. Now we need to practice putting them back in too.

You are now eating big people food for all of your meals and you only drink milk (no more formula). You love to eat - when you see the highchair, I know you would climb right up on your own if you could! Right now, your favorite seems to be bananas. If we let you, you would probably eat three in one sitting. So far, there isn't much you don't like. I thought you wouldn't eat yogurt, but that changed. You aren't too excited by cheese, but you will eat it. Graham crackers are another favorite of yours. And, I can't believe it, but you still love Cheerios!

Here are the 1-year stats from your doctor appointment:
29" long (you moved up to the 40th percentile)
18 lbs. 3 oz. (still a skinny little squirt - 5th%tile)
46.5cm Head circumference (still a little big for your body)

You received two shots and did not like it AT ALL! I felt horrible when you screamed out - it was a scared/hurt scream. Don't worry Diddle, you were okay once I was able to hold you! Dr. Buffa says that you are doing wonderful - Keep it up!

I love you Zach,
Mommy

Bye Zach

This morning I waved good-bye to Zach from the door at school. He responded by sticking his finger up his nose.

Zach's Birthday Party

All of the pictures from Zach's birthday party have been posted at Flickr.

What a blast we had. It was so wonderful that everyone was able to come and support Zach. He was very confused when the house started filling with people, but he very quickly warmed up to the idea that everyone was there to give him attention.

Thank you so much for all of the wonderful gifts for Zach - I know he will love them all.

To those of you out-of-towners, we know you were here is spirit!

Also check out the new videos posted at You-Tube.

HAPPY 1 YEAR BIRTHDAY ZACH!