February 22, 2006

Flashback...almost


Where are Zach's drawers?

Here is a photo from January when Zach went to visit Ashley (pictured) and Meghan Weiss. Ashley's parents are Lynn "My Twin" (formerly Sudyka) and Mark. They live about 45 mins from us, and unfortunately we don't get together enough.

But we plan to go to the zoo when the weather gets better!

February 20, 2006

First Steps!

Zach just took about 10 steps!!

His first step was Friday (February 17th). Just one step between handholds. He did that several times.

Then a couple of steps together over Saturday and yesterday. Last night Scott saw him take about 4 or 5 to get to the dishwasher.

Then this morning, he was holding onto something, and took about 3 triple steps to get to his exersaucer – step-step-step, rest, step-step-step, rest, step, step, step, step.

He’s going to be motoring soon!! Big boy!

February 14, 2006

Happy Valentine's Day!

May you eat lots of roses! And enjoy the company of loved ones!
(Click the posting title above for more photos.)



February 13, 2006

February 09, 2006

Scott's 40th


On Superbowl Sunday, the Ives clan came up to help celebrate a belated 40th for Scott. He got some great loot (can you count to 40 packs of gum, Old-Timer?), and we had a great time visiting and watching commercials (oh, and the game too).

Click on the title for some more pictures. And scroll down to the four audio posts in a row to hear the kids singing.

Zach's favorite elephant toy

this is an audio post - click to play

February 07, 2006

Discipline

We're getting to the time when we'll need to work on disciplining Zach. Mom sent me the advice below


Tough Love vs. Spanking

Most of America's populace thinks it very improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control our kids when they have one of "those moments."

One that I found very effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk. They usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our little car ride together. I've included the photo below of one of my sessions with our son, in case you would like to use the technique. It's very effective!


February 04, 2006

BIG Night!

Green or Blue...or Brown?
Well, Dad left this afternoon in Mom's Malibu (thanks, Great Grandma!) for the final time. Mom didn't even say a proper goodbye. He took it to the Subaru dealership intending to trade it in for an Outback.

When the dealer didn't have the exact car we wanted, I had to come up with alternatives. I suggested one with danglies hanging from the ceiling. After several hours/days/weeks of online research (thanks Daddy!), test drives, matrices and calculations, it came down to a couple of Subaru wagons. I've ridden around in so many cars lately!

We knew if Dad did make a purchase, it was between a blue XT (which had some giddy-up!) or a green LL Bean. It all came down to the negotation, and Daddy did a stellar job. Good thing he took that Negotiation class!.

While Dad was with the dealer, Mom and I hung out all day. I was a little bear, pulling everything out of all the kitchen cupboards and complaining because my other tooth is almost through. Mom tried not to ignore me, but she was busy cooking soup and a cake and frosting and dinner. At one point, I did escape. I was sneaky. I made enough noise for her not to be too supspicious. When she came to check for me, she found me with my Diet Rite can, on the landing all the way upstairs!

So, about 5 hours after he left, Dad called to say he was driving home a new blue Subaru! When he got home, we all hopped in for a quick spin.

Not to be outshined, I decided to show off a new color in the tub during tonight's bath. There's a first time for everything...

To see all the pics, click the title of this post)



February 02, 2006

Weather Calls for a Gusty Boppin


This photo was taken before dinner "flew" (a la Auntie Laura) all over his face, hair, and - gasp! - Gusty sweatshirt.

Newest Project - Staples Collection

Well, I'm keeping myself busy!

Many of you received an email invitation to take part in my "Staples" collection. :)

If you're interested in sharing/receiving a few recipes to broaden your repertoire of dinner meals, please post a comment below here, so I know to send you the email. Basically, I've asked friends and family to send me their 3 favorite recipes, and I'll compile them all into a document I'll send back out. Of course anyone can participate, so if you know some sous-chefs who may share their secrets, PLEASE invite them to participate!

So far, there's been a lot of interest. My mouth waters at the recipes I've been sent. So hop on the wagon!

10 months - Update

Wow, well on the 23rd of January, Zachary turned 10 months, and so I thought it was time to do an update of his current passtimes and interests:
(Check back in the next few days to see 10 mos pictures - you'll be able to click the title of the post to get to the KodakGallery album)

These days, Zach:
- crawls WAY too fast.
- has learned to pull himself up to a standing position AND "cruise" along furniture and walls, etc.
- zips into the bathroom at every opportunity, and is thrilled to dip his fingers into the toilet bowl water...ERG! (we need to get faster, obviously).
- enjoys opening the cupboards to the entertainment center and pulling out all the CDs and DVDs.
- LOVES Sumo! He chases him around the house, crawls under the end table and up to the chairs to get at the kitty.
- goes for walks on the sidewalk and inside, round and round the living area, using his push-car (or an empty diaper box).
- eats all the jarred baby foods (without preservatives) as well as cut up ham, turkey, fruit rolls, apples, and whatever he can pick up off the floor.
- is working on getting is 2nd tooth! (The first came in on Sunday, the 29th of January; see future post.) Poor guy is drooling up a storm, and the moisture on his chin and under his pacifier has caused little patches of dry, red skin. :(
- LOVES bathtime! He stands up in the tub, walks around the sides, and has fun pulling toys out of the water, hanging them over the edge of the tub to watch the water drip to the floor. He even tolerates Dad's dunking and squirting water in his face!
- romps on our bed after baths. He does little baby gymnasticalisthenics or something, rolling onto his head and flopping around, etc.
- wears #3 diapers, though we've had a few "incidents," so maybe it's time to move to #4s.
- drinks apple/carrot (yum?) juice like a fiend.
- wakes in the morning at about 7:00 takes a good 1.5 hour nap in the morning, and another 1.5 to 2 hour nap in the afternoon, eats dinner, has a bedtime bottle in time to drift off to sleep at about 8pm. Can you hear his parents' more fitfull ZZZs these days?
- plays with all his noise-making toys. He especially loves his piano/tambourine/drum/horn, his giant block organizer cube, and his bedtime elephant, "I am your elephant, flopping my ears..."
- sneaks in some TV watching - he especially likes the [Honk] You can store all this at public storage for just one dollar.... commercial.
- spends time oogling all the other cute girls (and boys, and moms and dads, and grandparents, and balloons) at the grocery store, "eeeh-ing" if they don't notice him.
- goes to lunch with Mom and her friends, although the experience isn't quite as quiet as it used to be.
- is a rocket climbing up the stairs. (Gate is in place now)
- likes to be tickled (and giggle) on his ribs, thighs and under his chin.
- can grab things off the kitchen table!
- has learned to stand, unassisted, for a few seconds at a time.
- may know "Dada" but is nowhere near knowing "Mama."
- rides in his (still rear-facing) new carseat.
- is entertained by the doorstops and air intake grids on the walls.
- can hang onto a big, heavy Calphalon pan while Mommy relocates him away from the pan cupboard...
- is like the cat, and motors his way over to the fridge when the door opens. There are so many colorful containers in there!
- has pulled the garbage out of the can, dumped a carton of barley on the floor, and of course pulled cookie sheets, tupperware, bowls, the rice cooker, and the sifter (it DOES make a lovely echoing sound when you gahhhhh into it) out of cupboards...oh little boys!
- somehow remains darn cute, in the eyes of his parents.

January 23, 2006

Mysterious Snow Tracks



Pre-Birthday Office Decorations






Zach wanted to decorate his dad's office for his birthday. So, who was I to intervene?







Scott was surprised when he got into the office today.

SNEAKY ZACHARY!!

(Click on the title of this post to see more pictures, including the flashback to Scott's days behind the counter at McDonald's....)

January 22, 2006