Silly Zachary...

I sometimes wonder what people thing when I call him "silly" in public.  Really this kid makes me laugh all day long.  Here is a peek:

What a good helper

He was naked because he got applesauce all over his clothes and his shoes are on because  he asked me to put them on

I picked up the baby tub at a consignment sale...for some reason I don't think he understands it's not for him

rubbing bubbles on mommy's legs

"What?  The saltines on your bedside table weren't for me?"

His favorite thing to do climb up and turn up the AC

"How do you use your music table?"

"I did not see that coming"

"maybe if I stand on it..."

wearing daddy's "toose"

...and mommy's purse.  He came up to me with the purse, waved "ya ya" (bye bye) and tried to walk out the door (thankfully I locked it...you don't open the door and run out more than once in this house)

I don't know where he got this but he wants me to wrap his blanket around him  like a skirt.

The best part of rain...

I'll admit I am not one of those people that enjoy the rain.  You will never catch me say "the plants needed that"...really sprinklers do the job.  I don't garden or farm...I would love to be the kind of person that has fresh tomatos growing in her yard and picks fresh basal for some homemade pesto.  The reality is I don't enjoy that kind of work and the grocery store sells everything I need.  The cost is totally worth not having to dig, weed, plant and hope for the best. 
I used to teach 1st grade and kindergarten so rain to me means cooped up children.  As a mom it means no pool and a miserable trip to the grocery store (anyone else hate pushing a grocery cart and loading groceries in the car on a rainy day?). 
HOWEVER...the day after it rains means PUDDLES!

not just puddles, wet shoes and socks.  Oh yeah and wet little bums.

And maybe a wet mommy because someone decided to snuggle after his dip in the puddle.

This is my favorite.  I love that my phone takes nice pictures.  I would have hated missing this moment.

Basically Zack's only pair of shoes that fit are covered in mud from the last day after rain play, his almost too small shoes are soaked from today, and I think we may have left his crocks at my parents house. 

My Little Fish

It's hard to believe that this kid was afraid of the water not even a month ago...

We were invited to our friends pool and Zack loved it! 

He was running (toddling fast) in and out of the pool and went all the way to the "deep end".

While his friends took breaks he would not leave the water. 

Is he not adorable in these glasses?

I thought he was so cute that I had to get pictures and rather than bring my SLR to the pool I used my phone...which also took a bit of a swim.
I was so afraid I would lose pictures of this day.  I have never broken/lost/dropped a phone...and I usually opt for the free phone.  In September I finally got a "big girl" phone and in the pool it went...along with my whole life (schedules/grocery lists/pictures/contact info/GPS (which I can't get anywhere without)/Pinterest (don't laugh...it's  important).  Thankfully (even though I tried turning it on several times Adam was able to open the phone and we let it dry for several days which totally fixed it.  I could replace the phone (CHA CHING) and all my lists and information but would I have another chance to take a picture of my little boy wearing his sunglasses (honestly I'm surprised they were on longer than 30 seconds) looking so grown up in the pool.  Answer...NO...now the phone stays in the car when we go to the pool.  Enjoy these pictures because unless I am brave enough to bring a phone or camera to the pool this could be it.

At The Mall

The other day Zack and I went to the mall to get some energy out without having to worry about sunscreen.  I have a feeling we will take a lot of mall trips.  We don't shop we just walk and ride the elevator and escalator and run around the play area.  I am teaching Zack to stay near me and it works...sometimes. 
At the play area we noticed several kids with balloons and rather than let Zack steal balloons from other Children I hunted one down at the Nordstrom Kids Shoe department.

Helium always confuses and frustrates Zack.  I usually tie a balloon to his belt loop but this balloon had a weight.  unfortunately it was still put the balloon a little out of reach.

I love how he carried the balloon around the mall...again the string would make it easier.

My favorite is the string following him.

Zack's Words

Because this is my baby book and Zack seems to be learning so much I figured I would make a list so I don't forget.

ma ma ma ma - (always 4) Mommy
da da da da - Daddy  (sometimes just da)
ba - ball
daw - dog
goose - juice
toose - shoes
bu - boo (as in "I am jumping out from behind the couch to scare you"...we don't do peek-a-boo anymore)
wa wa wa - bye bye (only says it sometimes but waves for both hi and bye)

He also makes some animal noises
When you ask what a dog says, or if he sees a dog he says "pfffff"
when he sees a sheep in his book he makes the "baaaaa" noise
sometimes a monkey makes him say "ah ah ah" in a really high pitched voice
and any other animal makes him "roar" we are working on that

I am really excited that he understands what I am saying. 
When I say the word outside he runs to the door and points to the cabinet with his outside ball and says "ba ba ba..."
When I say shoes (if we are near the door) he will bring me his shoes sit in my lap and say "ba ba ba..." pointing to the outside ball cabinet.
When I say snack he gets really excited and runs into the kitchen and stands by the pantry.
When we say bath he runs into the bathroom and puts his hands under the faucet waiting for me to turn it on.

First Pool Trip in 2012

As you may remember Zack wasn't a fan of the pool last summer...

Well this year I decided we need to nip this because little man wants to spend all day outside and where I love taking him outside I am not ready to be outside in the heat all day everyday this summer.  I really need Zack to like taking a dip in the pool to cool off every once and a while. 
The first few seconds looked a lot like the photo above.  After he learned to splash he held on to me as if his life depended on it with one had and splashed with the other.  If I held him out at all he would freak out.  The nervous laughter gives me hope that sometime he will LOVE the pool. 
I didn't get any pool shots because it was just the two of us but after we spent 5 min. in the pool we played...

Zack's version of sitting on a chair

"gis" His word for anything he doesn't know the word for...pointing to an airplane

Is that my kid walking on the grass?  Maybe there is hope for the pool!

After pool relaxation with Sesame Street.  I see London I see France...

Getting the mail

Everyday Zack and I take a trip to the mailbox around 5:00...the time Zack is done with the day but not ready for bed or dinner.  It's a great time of day to go out around the apartment because it's the time people get home from work and walk their dogs...or "daw" as Z-man says.  He loves dogs.  Not touching them but getting close to them and barking at them ("pffff" is his version of woof).  As they walk away usually because the owner figures: ok...this kid really doesn't want to be near this dog...and Zack chases it.  No we will not buy him a dog!

I think the trade off for having a small living space and play area is having the biggest sandbox ever!  And is there a better time to stop and play in the sand than when you are on the way to pick up the mail.

 I can't believe this picture actually turned out alright...you can see we have the same eyes, smile and crazy hair.

 Zack is a big helper.  He always carries my keys.  At first I was afraid to let him thinking he would throw them and I would be stuck somewhere but he holds on to those keys for dear life.  He will even hold the keys through a whole grocery trip. 

I really don't need to check the mail everyday because all our bills are electronic but I enjoy our 30 minute (should be about 30 seconds) daily trip to the mailbox.

A day in the life...Zack 13 months

After breakfast Zack makes me put his shoes on then he waits by the door...no I don't let him go out like that.

We do some cleaning

We go at least one place everyday...Zack likes to read in the car.

After we get home we go for a walk and usually end at the volleyball court AKA biggest sandbox EVER

Dinner

and yes because of dinner he has a bath every night

A boy and his "ba"

Zack has a favorite toy.  Not one in particular but something he prefers over anything else.

Anyone who has been around him will hear "ba" over and over...in fact I walk into his room in the morning and say "good morning" and Zack points to the living room and says "ba".



 Should I be insulted that he no longer says "mama" unless he is tired? 



 After I change his diaper and give him some cheerios we like to have playtime in our pj's...or should I say we DID like to have playtime in our pj's. Now Zack brings me his shoes, sits in my lap and holds up his foot and says (something like) tsu...I have a feeling shoe will be his second word. 



 After I put his shoe on (Adam and I aren't indoor shoe people but this isn't a battle I choose to fight) he gets his outdoor ball and off we go. 

How cute is a little boy in overalls?

12 Months

3 weeks late is better than not at all...
This is my last monthly update!  I figured if I would post an update at 18 months and then at 2 and so on and so forth. 
Zack is HUGE...I never though I would say that since he was so teeny tiny as a new born.  According to his 12 year appointment he is 70% in weight (23 lb) and 75% in height (31 inches).  I am really surprised that he doesn't weigh more...the kid is SOLID! 
Not only was this his last month as an under 1 (free entry to marbles) baby, but this month he went from crawling

to walking...

I am thankful that it has slowed him down a bit...I know it won't last but I like that I can put him down, get the groceries out of the car and still catch him before he gets too far.  Its a "fun" game we play every time we come home with shopping bags. 
He always seems to know where he wants to go...I have tried picking him up turning him around and he heads back in the direction he wants to go...usually out a door or toward anything that looks like a ball.
He went from being an amazing eater...once I figured out what he liked...pasta covered in cheese and sauce, to not wanting to eat anything but fruit, PB&J, cheerios, crackers and yogurt.  I loved his pasta phase...you can mask any veggie or meat in pasta sauce and cheese.  I am pretty sure the stomach bug is to blame for his appetite change...it was the first thing he threw up.  I totally understand since there are still things I can't eat that made me sick while I was pregnant. 
I know I say this a lot but I'll say it again...we really have a fun kid.  He may not sit still for story time, he may try to run away, and he may scream (in a happy way) at everyone we pass in the grocery store, but everyone he sees is his new best friend and usually people stop and talk to him or laugh with him.  Although I am sure couponing would be easier by myself but Zack tends to keep the people in line behind us entertained if there is a coupon issue or a mispriced item.

Despite his new "walker" status he has to crawl sometimes to get a ball that rolls away...and he typically gets stuck.

We started with milk and it didn't bother him at all...we figured it would be an easy change since he switched from breast milk to formula easily and didn't seem to care if we switched formulas. 
People say "I can't believe it's been a whole year."  Honestly I can't believe it's ONLY been a year.  I feel like Zack has been with us forever, I don't ever think about life before Z.  He is truly a blessing.

A year of Zack!

1 Day Old (5 lb. 11 oz)

1 Month...already standing up...sort of (8 lb. 9 oz)

2 Months...finally fitting into clothes (11 lb 5 oz)

3 Months...GO PACK!

4 Months...bouncing away! (15 lb)

5 Months...first time in the USA

6 Months (18 lb 2 oz)

7 months...crawling and standing up!

8 months...loves "helping" mommy in the kitchen

9 Months...loves the tunnel (19 lb. 9 oz)

10 months...loves reading

11 Months...walking (with and without help)...it seems like most of my pictures are blurry now.

YAY 1!!!