Christmas Presents

So, I didn't do a Christmas post.  Mostly because Christmas came and every single camera device we had either needed to be charged or was out of file space on the data card.  Oh well.  It was pretty low key.  We got Zac a few things: some foam blocks (considered wood but then realized my son likes to throw things and felt foam would be safer), a table, a bubble blower for the bath tub (which come to find out terrifies the kid and has only been used a few times).  He also got a few things from grandparents and friends.

The table has been a big hit!  He loves it.  It took him a little while to get used to the chairs (by took him a while I mean he fell out of them a lot...and still does from time to time), but he uses it all the time.  Good purchase I would say.

After Christmas we purchased a few large items.  We got a book shelf for the play room so all of Zac's books could be within his reach and a shelving unit (see background of bottom right picture) to store his toys in to keep the room looking tidier.

We also ended up purchasing new couches for our living room.  The biggest downfall of the play room was that there wasn't anywhere for adults to sit, so you were hanging out on the floor with Zac.  Well, I got to thinking that come April, I am going to have a little baby to be holding and nursing, etc. while also trying to keep track of this kid.  I would prefer to do this in the play room so he is entertained...so we moved the old couches upstairs (the babysitter is not going to complain).

We Like Books

Zac LOVES books!  We only have one shelf full of books, but for now that is plenty.  We will start supplementing with library soon enough.  Zac doesn't care, he is happy with what he has.  I think we spend a few hours a day just looking at books pointing at things and learning what they are.  It is crazy how fast kids learn.

He knows a lot his books by name and if you ask him to get a specific book he will grab it for you.  He can actually call "Hop on Pop" by name (if you know what he is saying), and he knows the story to "The Little Blue Truck" so when you get to the point where the dump truck honks he will honk loud and when the little blue truck goes into the mud to help the dump, Zac will bounce up and down and say "bump, bump, bump" with you.  It is very cute.  Also, if there is something on the page that he really likes, he will love it (see bottom right picture).

Too Funny and Too Cute

So, one day I was talking with Zac, and I asked him what a puppy dog says...and he gave me the sound.  I was so shocked.  Come to find out Ames and our Nanny/Babysitter have been working on the animal sounds for a little while now and I didn't know it.  Anyways I think this is pretty funny...I love it when he does the elephant

Santa is Scary

That is really saying a lot for Zac who pretty much loves everybody.  No stranger danger for this one.  When Santa came walking down the hall, Zac grabbed on to Jer's leg.  As Santa got closer...Zac got closer to Jer until he pretty much had a death grip on him.

 So we gave Zac a minute to check Santa out before bringing him over, but that really didn't do anything as you will see below.

After we were done with the big scary man...Zac calmed down and watched the other children sit on his lap and the world was calm again.

Last year we waited in line at the mall for a little while to see Santa but then ditched the idea before we got up there due to the fact that you couldn't take you own pictures and they were charging like $20 for the pictures.  Zac was not even 6 months old yet and wouldn't know the difference so I didn't care...(BTW...hey University Mall....kids just want to see Santa and parents want a picture.  Stop capitalizing on the simple joys of Christmas..Really?!).  Well a ward Christmas party is the way to go.  Free and you KNOW who Santa is (definite plus in my book).  Maybe next year he will care, but for now Santa had better just stay away.

And...here are more pics of the kid.

Wearing Dada's hat

Just watching the kids play outside...can't wait to be big enough to play with them too.

Just cooking a piece of bread

Family - Does anybody else think this  kind of looks like Syd?  Proof they are related I suppose.

Just talking to Grandma H on the phone (he mostly listened, but there was a point were he mumbled something back)

Still talking to Grandma H...boy can she talk!

Adventures in Independence

November, where did you go?  Oh wait I know, you snuck by while we were distracted by life beating us up. 

It all started on October 24th during that fateful indoor soccer game.  Jer got slammed, hit the ground, and rather than getting up, rolled on the ground grasping his leg in agony.  I knew immediately what happened (though I was hoping it wasn't true) ...his ACL was a goner.  The weeks after that were a whirlwind of activities...Halloween, doctors appointments, stressing over the realization that the current insurance plan we are on is not so great for a family (great for 2 people...not for kids) and the expenses of meeting a high deductible and the costs of a knee surgery (and all the bells and whistles that you have to pay for too), work responsibilities, still suffering from morning all day sickness (yeah...pregnant if you didn't know) and caring for an active child and a gimpy husband (although he did a lot more than I ever expected him to).

Jer had to wait until November 17th to get the surgery, but he had it and is doing well. Christmas this year is going to be very low key and low cost...after all we did just spend a great deal of money on medical bills....Merry Christmas Jer, Santa brought you a new knee!  (Actually, we are not that lame, he got a new laptop for Christmas).

On a happier note, Zac is doing well and has decided recently that he would like to be more independent.  Part of this independence is feeding himself.  As much as I would love for him to always feed himself, I am not loving the mess it creates.  You'll see what I mean below...

And...

Other things Zac is doing:
- Up and down the stairs on his own (on his belly like the pros of course)
- Likes to "brush" his teeth...aka suck on his tooth brush (we can usually get a few good swipes in, but we try.  He loves to do this when we are brushing our teeth.
 - Getting into all the drawers you really don't want him in (you know the ones with markers and scissors)
 - Back to not eating really anything with nutritional value.  He is now on a strict diet of oatmeal, PB&J (or honey), waffles, pizza (LOVES!), crackers, bread, Scooby Snacks (Scooby-Doo fruit snacks) and milk. (if we're lucky he will eat some chicken)...seriously people I am running out of ideas of what to feed this kid and actually have him try and like as well.
 - He says a few words: Dada, Ball, Mama (which I swear sounds like he is calling me Amy, huh?), light, Ozzy, puppy, apple (or bapple because he thought they were balls first)
- When you ask if he is hungry and if he is he will put his hand to his mouth and pat it (very cute) and will run to his high chair
 - Loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...but mostly just the Hotdog dance.  He dances to it and really gets down!
 - No doubts about it...he is a lefty.  He favors his left hand for everything, I don't think he will be changing to his right hand.  We are both right handed and have no clue how to work with a south paw.
  - Since the last post, he has now decided the tub is one of his favorite places to poop!  Disgusting!  I had to change the water 3 times the other night (3 times!)  What's your record?

Those are the highlights, other than that he just keeps us laughing all day long.  He keeps us equally as frustrated too, with this new found independence came deafness (or at least a sudden misunderstanding of the word "no").

Here are a few other pictures of Zac being a funny kid.

Playing with cups.

Just hanging out in the window.

Getting into trouble with Ozzy.  I am sure glad we have a dog to clean up after Zac!

Just one of many nap created hair do's (what does he do in his sleep to cause this?)