Domesticity and a Little Crunch

For some reason I have a whole bunch of pictures of Zane being domestic this week. I think it is the gloomy weather keeping us inside. Above we have Zane hosting a tea party using parts from Grandma Gibson's golden samovar; guests include two monsters and the Rabbit of Caerbannog (partially hidden).

He likes to use the "blue soap" in the kitchen. I figure it's a great way to keep things like the floor clean (although his tray gets washed after).

We've also been getting domestic with some garden chores. The leaves are coming down and Zane has actually been a help with raking and sweeping. He needs to come to grips with the untidiness of nature, though. One windy day he ran a far distance up the sidewalk shouting "No! No!" while chasing individual leaves that were blowing away. We planted a bunch of crocus and snowdrop bulbs in a part of the lawn that stays pretty short late in the spring. Even though we read a book on bulbs, I'm sure Zane has no idea what we were doing. The digging was fun, though! I hope he remembers in the spring so I can remind him that he helped with the flowers.

Since Halloween Zane has asked to go Trick-or-Treating several times. That sure was a big hit of a holiday! We're still working our way through his chocolate bag, so that helps keep it in mind. I'm really looking forward to how much he'll enjoy Christmas this year.

I finally caught sight of Zane's first two-year molar. He says it doesn't hurt, and in fact informed me that he doesn't want new molars. I let him know they come anyway, and then he can eat more stuff! I am finally sure that he really has been doing some growing lately. I've had to put away some pants and un-hem others. I recently raided a stash of donated clothes and was able to pull out more pants that now fit him, although that means a new round of hemming. Zane has a checkup on Monday, and we've been reading books on doctor visits to try to make this one go better than the last several. For some reason Zane is scared of being measured, although I'm not sure why. Maybe if Grandma comes, too, it will help.

My Mom will be here tomorrow night! Yay! I can't wait for Zane and her to re-meet, and I can't wait to visit with her myself.

Today on the way to swimming Zane and I were rear-ended at a stop light. It was quite a jolt, but the damage to the car is extremely minimal. Zane and I seem to be fine. Mostly it's a pain in the butt for me in terms of documentation and claims and getting my car checked out. Just this morning I was telling Zane about car crashes because of an article in the newspaper. And then about 20 seconds before our accident he asked to stand up to see something and I was explaining to him why we need to sit tight in our seats with our seat belts. And then BAM! Very startling. Zane was not scared, but did seem a little bit wide-eyed about it all. We talked about it and how the man was not bad, it was just an accident, and when you make a mistake what is most important is what you do afterwards. He said he wanted to go home instead of swimming, but we went ahead anyway and had a wonderful time. Hopefully I don't wake up sore tomorrow.

I will leave you all with the wonders of modern science. A vacuum cleaner a toddler can use! Now Zane can start earning an allowance.

Summer Fun!

Well, we've finally had a bit of summer here! Zane's actually been wearing shorts and sleeping without footie PJs every night. Michael and I have finally pushed back the comforter for a few nights. One hot day Zane had fun cooling us off with the hose.


We also had the pool out one day, but I'm not sure if we'll manage that again. I hope so! It's sad to think of Fall coming after such a mean Spring and Summer.

Zane and I have been trying to get in our outside fun while the weather lasts. On one zoo outing we made a special stop to feed the giraffes; I loved it so much I wanted to get right back in line and do it again! We definitely need to go back for more another day. It's too bad the elephant feeding time is right during nap time; I guess we need to save that fun for another year. We went to Carkeek Park one day and spent an hour on the beach and an hour in the playground. We played with other kids, held crabs, stomped in the creek outflow, fed a scruffy crow, made sandcastles, watched trains go by, and slid through the belly of an enormous salmon over and over again. Zane's water shoes got pretty gross in the creek, and since they were really too small anyway, I tossed them. His new blue water shoes are his current favorite shoes to wear anywhere.

We just went to Zane's two year check up, and he is still a pipsqueak at 23 pounds and just under 34 inches. But still, I think Zane has been growing lately, and I need to replace more of his shoes. I've been looking at the consignment store with no luck, and I just need to grit my teeth and pay for new ones. I noticed some of his pants are starting to get a bit short, so I'll need to let the hems down; still plenty of life left in them! We think Zane may also be working on his two year molars as he's got his hands in his mouth a lot and is drooling more than usual. I can't feel any teeth yet, but they could be on the move. I've been explaining tooth growth to Zane, showing him mine, and asking if his mouth hurts, but he doesn't seem to understand what I'm talking about.

Another exciting new development for me is Zane's new bed! He hasn't actually slept in it yet, but he really likes it and we pretend to sleep in it. The bed is in a downstairs room, so my goal is to get him used to it and eventually in his own room. Maybe we'd all sleep better then! We'll work on having naps there first. I guess I need to get some heavy drapes to make it nice and dark.

Zane is starting to understand stories now. I've actually been able to have him sit still for me while I read a book instead of just talking about the pictures. This morning he sat all the way through Miss Rumphius! I soooo love to sit snuggled up with Zane reading books in the morning. I can't wait for more real stories. He has also started to tell stories, so I guess his brain is figuring out event sequences. One day he and I went to see a fire truck and ambulance up the street, and when we got back he excitedly (sorta) told Michael all about it. A boy in his daycare moved away, and one evening he told me that Allen moved away -- in a rocket ship (complete with sound effects)!

Zane's latest physical project is learning to jump. I'm kind of excited about that one, although I'm not sure why! He hasn't actually caught air yet (except when he "jumps" off something high), but he's working on it and will get there soon!

Fun In the Sun

Tomorrow is my birthday, so I get this week's front page photo. Mom asked if I had a photo of myself in the sandbox from Texas, and here it is! This is from May 1969, so I would have been 14 months old and Aaron almost 3. I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday today with Michael and Zane!

We had a pretty fun week! The weather has been quite nice a few times, and twice Zane got extended sand box time. He loooooves the sand. He likes to talk about it afterward, mime the pouring motion, and say "Sssssss" like the sound sand makes when it pours. He didn't get the idea to get in the box, but he has been having a wonderful time distributing it all over the back yard. His bulldozer broke, so I bought another one, but Michael fixed the first one, so now he can have a permanent sandbox bulldozer . I've been enjoying the sand box because I can work in the yard while he plays!

Zane keeps amazing us with his vocabulary and the speed at which he's getting more. This week he learned the concept of fixing, and asks Mama to "Fik it." If I say I can't, he decides Daddy will fik it. In one book, sheep wreck a Jeep, and on the last page is a picture of the wreck. For some reason Zane always say "Man. Fik it." When he gets older we'll work on the definition of "man"!

Friday I needed to take Zane in to the doctor to see about a rash on his hands. The rash is most likely just eczema from dry skin, so we're just lubing up. The good news is that Zane gained 2 lbs 2 oz and a half an inch in the last 5 weeks, so we got to cancel our next weight check up appointment. No more check ups or shots until 2 years! Zane is going through an almost visible growth spurt with his hair and nails growing quickly, too. Many clothes are all of a sudden not fitting! Before when he went through a growth spurt he got skinny and then gained weight after he stopped getting taller, but this time he's got fat cheeks, too. Cutie pie!

Brain growing, getting taller, getting fatter, and also new teeth! His first canine tooth has started to poke through. I hope that since these are pointy it will be an easier event than the molars.

Today we all went to the Seattle Children's Museum and had a great time! I think Zane's favorite thing was the mini Metro bus. He loves to see the buses on the road, and this one he got to get in and out of! We spent a lot of time in the construction room where Michael helped some bigger kids build some walls; Zane walked around industriously moving things around. We finished up with the art room, and Zane got to paint for the first time! He watched the girl next to him for cues on how to do it. Next time we go I think I'll hit the art room first, and then we can take a painting home with us after it has dried while we visit the rest of the museum.

Here's Zane creating his masterpiece. At first he got worried because he got a tiny dab of paint on the easel, but later he was more free spirited.

A Sense of Self

This week Zane has really showed us that he has a sense of self. Twice when I've asked him if he wants to do something himself he has said "self." He will also now point to himself if we ask him where Zane is, or who is that baby in the picture. He's been saying Zane now for awhile, but we weren't really sure he understood that was himself. Along with this sense of self have come tantrums; I read that this is a common connection. He knows what he wants and how he wants things to be and recognizes that he does or does not have a choice in how things happen. This can lead to emotional meltdowns over the silliest things (or at least they seem minor to us).

He's also been starting to want to do things for himself, like trying to put on clothes, zip a zipper, or brush his teeth. I think sometimes the wanting to do something and not quite being able to yet has led to some of the meltdowns. Otherwise, it's fun to help him learn to pull up his pants, carry things, use tongs, zip zippers and snap snaps. He loves to do what we do, so lately I've been having him "help" me cook a bit. Here he practices his skills.

It seems that he is starting to recognize colors, too. On one walk he said "Daddy" for all of the black or blue cars we passed, and "Mama" for the red cars.

Lots of drooling, fingers in the mouth, and a little bit of biting seem to be telling us that more teeth are on the way. The fangs are next! With this round of teeth Zane has been able to tell me a few times that his mouth hurts, rather than having it be a total guessing game.

I've worked a lot this week, and on Saturday Zane got to go to the Aquarium with Daddy. This time they saw several animals being fed, which was new and fun. And a train went by again when they were coming from the car! Thanks Pa Jim for the family membership -- it's really been wonderful!

Molarity

Poor Zane is getting even more teeth. His first lower molars are burbling up, so he's now working on four molars and two incisors all at once. Luckily the two incisors are through and about halfway up. The molars seem to be taking forever, though. The good news is that Zane is not otherwise sick, and he's a tough cookie, so we just have some crankiness but not much more.

As a result of the teething, I think, Zane has been constantly asking for "boob" (I swear to you that for months I tried to teach him to say "nurse" or make the sign for it -- when I finally said it was a "boob" he immediately picked up on it). It's pretty cute when he goes into the bedroom and starts dragging the Boppy to the living room chair. My milk production has slowed to a literal trickle, so I don't think he's getting much out of it other than comfort. I hope he's not just asking to nurse a lot because he's not getting enough -- that makes me kind of sad. Pumping at work has almost become an exercise in futility; I realize I'm going to have to give it up soon. I guess Zane can just nurse in the morning and evening when I'm home with him. I think that's pretty normal for second year nursing, but it's a little hard for me to let go of something that was so crucial for his well-being for so long.

This week I signed Zane up for swimming lessons and dance lessons that will both start in the first week of January. The "dance" class is really just a movement class, and I think Zane and I will have a lot of fun: "Parents/caregivers and children explore the joy of dance together through fun warm-ups, games, folk dances, music, instruments, and other exciting props." Both lessons are just a few blocks from home, which is one of the benefits of living here in the metropolis!

Next weekend we will be on our way to Maine, so there is a good chance there will be no posts for a while. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

A Rash of Teeth

We've had a cold week -- I thought Zane looked pretty cute in his toasty sweater, flannel lined jeans, and wool socks.

Zane continued to have a rough time earlier this week. After having a fever all last weekend, he acquired an itchy rash all over AND started erupting four teeth! Two of them are his upper first molars and so are very big and painful. The other two are his second lower incisors. In a week or two he should have a new smile! The rash went away in a couple of days, and by Thanksgiving he was happy again. Just teething is OK after all the other stuff!

This week brought real stick-on-the-ground now. We tested out Zane's snowsuit and boots. It was a bit of overkill for our snow, but I wanted to know if they fit well before we go to Maine. Good thing I did, because his snow suit is really too small. I thought Zane would have fun in the snow, but he was so miserable health-wise that he did not like it at all. Maybe next time.

Because of all the snow I put out trays of seeds for the poor little birdies. I put one on the back porch which is right next to a big window where Zane sits and has his meals. We have had lots of squirrel and bird visitors, and as a result, a frequent cat visitor. Zane has been really, really excited about this! After he got over being sick, he's been eating more because he stays in his chair to watch the animals.

Zane has had some nice developments this week. He is now giving very nice kisses; not slimy open mouthed ones, but sweet little smacks. I've even heard him say "kiss." He can now ask for help ("hup") when he needs it; it's fun to have him ask for what he needs. His word for book is now "cook," and once in the middle of the night when he couldn't sleep he asked me for a "cook", which I thought was pretty funny. This apple did not fall far from his trees!

Twice this week Zane has "hupped" me do a bit of cooking. For Thanksgiving I mixed up a bean casserole, and on Friday I made banana bread. You heard right. I squished up bananas. The things I will do for love. Michael says it is very good, and Zane has eaten some, too. For the cooking I let Zane tip in some ingredients, and I had him standing on a step stool next to me. I think climbing up and down the little ladder was more fun for him than cooking.

Michael bought Zane his own little laptop-esque toy, and right now Zane can use the music feature. Too bad the music bits are so short, 'cause he was starting to get a little cha-cha going:

Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk

Zane has had a pretty exciting week full of adventures. Monday morning we biked down to Golden Gardens beach and park. It was a nice long bike ride, and when we got to the park we got to see dogs and kids and ducks. Zane also got to have his first experience of walking in and feeling sand. Unfortunately it was cold and blustery, so we didn't stay very long.

Wednesday we got out some crayons and tried to do drawing, but Zane was not that interested. He made a few marks, but mostly he wanted to figure out how the crayons came out of the box and how they fit back in and how they tasted. The result was some very purple teeth!

Later that afternoon we went to the zoo for a short visit, which is extra easy now that I have a membership. The zoo is nearby so we can just drive over for a short walk. Zane loved the penguins and the big cats most of all. At a bear exhibit he spent more time looking at a man with long red hair and a bushy red beard than at the sleepy boring bear.

Saturday we went to two parties! Such a social whirl we live in. Zane's friend Uma turned one, and we went to her party and met up with two other babies Zane knows from story times. Zane helped with the birthday gifts and of course refused to eat any cake or any food for that matter. He did have his first orange juice and his first drinking straw experience, both of which were very good. That evening we went to a neighborhood party to say goodbye to some long-time neighbors who are moving out. There are a bazillion little boys on our block, and most of them were there. Zane loved it, and I felt bad making him leave early, but I knew he really needed to get to bed. He was tired but had a very hard time going to sleep, I think due to all the excitement in the day.

This past week has seen a big improvement in walking and talking. Zane had been saying a few words but not always in the right context. All of a sudden he seems to be using them correctly more often than not. He definitely says Momma, Daddy, JoJo, and up. He says boo for balloon. I'm pretty sure he also says car. One day I was changing his diaper, and he was looking intently at it. He's been paying attention to what I do with them these days, especially while the contents are getting flushed. I said, "Zane! Oh, you pooped!" Zane said, "Poo." I got excited and said, "Yes! Poop in your diaper!" Zane said, "Diapah." I was floored. He never said those sounds before, so I don't think it was random. He hasn't repeated the performance, but it shows how much he is paying attention these days.

Zane is also surely a toddler now. He can walk quite a ways on his own and no longer needs sticks or hands, although he still likes them. Saturday I scored a $2 mini scooter that converts to a stroller/walker, and he loves it. Two short videos of his prowess!



And finally, we leave you with a little bit of dancing and singing to the B52s.