Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

Grandma and Grandpa invited us to their house to play in the snow.  The Holmes’ family went too.Zachy had fun until the snow flew into his face, or he fell and his hands got wet.  He should have kept his mittens on! We had good times trying out all the different sleds, most of them were 20 years old…  Zachary’s favorite part was wearing his red snow boots. The neighborhood had a little sledding hill that we experienced.  Jim went down from the steep top, launched off the jump, and landed on a broken sled covered in snow.  The rest of us started from below the jump for a nice, easy ride.

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas Eve Chinese dinner was home made pan fried noodles.  Zachy loves noodles! Zachy loves his new red snow boots!  He says “shoes” and “boots” now!  We love the easy, wide, double velcro opening to get feet and pants in. Rainey gave Zachy the old school Fisher Price push popper.  He loves it, she hates it.Zachy finally understands the excitement and goal of opening presents.  What kind of wonderful toy could it be?  He always hopes for a ball… Grandpa loves his Zachary.  It’s mutual I’m sure. Auntie gave Zachy super smart Scout.  He’s a LeapFrog doggie that can be programmed to Zachary’s likes.  Scout and Zachary like noodles, ducks, and the color red. Elena gave Zachy some tools.  The ones that make noises are the best!The foam building blocks were a huge hit!  Everyone got into the building frenzy!

Santa brought Zachy a remote control car for Christmas.  We think he shops at Costco…

Trains, trains, trains

Zachy loves the train play station at the children’s museum. He says “choo choo” for train. Second favorite: balls!  Putting them in the air tubes, collecting them after they pop out, and putting them in the air tubes again. Elena needs a lot of money so Zachy lends a hand.Third favorite activity: water.  He really wishes he could climb in and splash around.  If he could it would be his most favorite place in the museum :-)

Happy half birthday Zachary!

One and a half years old and still not sleeping in his crib.  Why oh why couldn’t you be a self soother?!?  By the way, Zachy loves this Cars blanket from Aunt Sarah, Uncle Greg, and his three cousins. We sang Happy Birthday just for Zachary’s amusement.  It makes him smile. Crafty Elena made the candlestick holders in her Woodworking with hand tools class.  Love that class and the amazing things she comes home with – bird feeder, mailbox, garden signs, spinning top, and nametag necklace to name a few.Zachary had a successful 18 month visit at the pediatricians.  They were impressed that he hadn’t been sick with any colds or fevers and glad that he had added some more words to his vocabulary.  He says hat, calls Santa ho-ho, recognizes kitty, says up and down, and uh-uh for just about everything else :-)  He finally said Mama after saying Dada and Sissy (Elena) for over a month.

Zachy measured 32 3/8” tall (55%), 24lbs 4oz (30% and just over a half pound increase from September), and head circumference of 19” (60%).  H1N1 was in stock so he got that vaccination and will have to return in 4 weeks to get the 2nd dose.

Zachy’s skinny waist is making it hard to find pants that fit in the waist.  Adjustable waists don’t show up until size 2T and he is too short for those.  We are having better luck with Crazy 8 and Gap than with the Gymboree pants.  If you know of any better brands, let us know!  We don’t like baby plumber butt at all!

Smearing the wall with holiday spirit

Elena let Zachary help put ornaments on the tree this year.  But none of her ornaments, and only ones that couldn’t be broken. He preferred helping get them out of the box to hanging them on the tree. Zachy is full into the climbing stage.  Every piece of furniture is a mountain waiting to be concurred over, and over, and over again. Zachy is playing follow the kitty.  They went around the tree… Then under the table. Helping Mommy decorate with Christmas chains, artwork by Elena, and Santa pictures dating back to 1978! Every time the ladder was vacant he climbed right up!  No fear in that guy and no desire to get down.

Christmas in Kennewick

Daddy is much more efficient at opening presents than Zachary. Ooh, Daddy’s presents are cool too! Zachy’s favorite present was the cash register.  It was probably Tate’s favorite too…  Put the money in, push the button, swing the handle, and “ding!” Nana has all sorts of furniture for her stuffed bears.  Zachy finds a seat that is “just right.” All those matching pajamas, who can tell the kids apart?Zachy likes milk now!  He drinks bottle after bottle of whole milk.  Not a big fan of the sippy cup or milk through a straw, but he is officially weaned.  Hooray!

BBQ sauce lover

A face you could kiss?  I think not. Yes, he finished the whole bowl of Lil’ Smokies.  Ok, maybe Elena helped a little bit…

Indoor Water Park

We went to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound and stayed one night.  Zachy was so excited to put his swimsuit on when we arrived! He loved every bit of the water park.  He was too little for the waterslides, so he had to drool over them from a distance. Zachy liked walking through the shallow areas.  None of the pools we regularly go to have water as shallow as 6”. Riding on the jet skis was fun!  Squirting people with water was a bonus! Getting splashed in return. Elena was nice enough to take him down the little slides a few times.  He also went down by himself. Getting a workout bobbing in the water. “I never want to leave Great Wolf Lodge!” So happy to be in the water!  Time just flew by and before we knew it, we were tired and ready for a nap in the car.

Tree farm

Keeping close to mom – looks like he just woke up!  Watching Daddy cut down the tree is a fascinating show!Zachary is a watcher.  When experiencing something new, he is always staring intently with a serious expression. What is this weird lollipop thing?Tastes delicious and matches the baby blue eyes!