Little Boy 10

10 months here already!
Zane is cruising a bit. He's taken a couple steps here and there. He pushes toys and many other things.
He loves water. We keep a close eye on him since he tends to hang over the side to play in it. He was quick to play in the toilet the other day . . .
He's grown a tad recently and is discovering that he can reach new things -- keeping us on our toes.
He yells at cabinet doors when he can't open them. He loves the pantry door and every so often will check to see if one of us left it open. Sometimes he gets lucky. He empties everything.
He eats finger foods and nearly refuses baby food. His favorite foods are diced sweet potatoes, grapes, red plums, frozen mixed veggies, wheat bread. He recently tried yogurt and Mommy is going back to drinking milk, just in time to think about his first birthday.
He yells A LOT! He shows his temper by squeezing his fists and shaking a tad. :) He'd rather grunt for most things instead of using signs.
He lights up when he sees Vanessa.
His affection is awesome and brightens any day.
He sings the sweetest little songs.
He naps in the big chair in the playroom. We're breaking all the rules for him.
He LOVES balls and will play with them for a good bit of time, throwing and bouncing them.
He has 6 teeth and is working on more. We LOVE his new little teeth-filled grin! :)
His hair is beginning to grow -- sort of fuzzy in the back . . .
He's just plain awesome!

For those that like to scroll back through the archives to remember Vanessa at this age, here's a shortcut to her Month 10: Vanessa - June 2008

On a COSI trip a few months ago, we saw a little boy about the same age as Vanessa. He made me think Wow . . . he's the boy version of Vanessa! His hair was the same color but with only a few waves. I was so tempted to sneak a picture of him but decided his parents might be freaked by that. I did happen to notice they were looking at Vanessa with a seemingly similar interest. We may have chatted about it if I weren't in a hurry to chase her while carrying Zane. Anyway, I think the little boy might've been a glance as to what Zane might look like around 4. I'm sure you've heard (and sometimes on more then one occasion) about how you look like someone. I heard that a lot with my best friend in late elementary -- we could be sisters. Well, the little boy at COSI may have been one of Zane's twins. :)

Accommodating Cousins

All of Vanessa's cousins and many friends have been so very awesome to always share with her.  She's very blessed. With Hannah leading Vanessa in age and size, she shares so many cool and fun things. We talk about her on an almost daily basis due to the number of things we've acquired of hers. Vanessa often asks "Mommy, who gave this to me? My cousin Hannah? [higher pitched voice] Oh . . . that was too sweet . . . "

Vanessa wanted to show her appreciation by giving Hannah a dress made by her friend Erin. It's perfect for Hannah! But aside from all of that, Hannah shares tons of love. She's oozing affection. :)

Ben, Zach, Andrew and Hannah are all so wonderful to wait patiently while Vanessa shares her energy and stories. And Zane is good to share their attention with her. :) 

"A cousin is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost." ~Unknown

Country Kids At Heart

Vanessa and Zane visited their cousins Carson and Keldon recently. It was a first meeting for Keldon and Zane. It was a more adventurous visit for Carson and Vanessa. They're both daring.

Vanessa went swimming in her drawers. Aunt Tammy will be happy to see we photoshopped a bathing suit. :)



Carson is a hoot. Vanessa isn't used to little boys putting up their dukes to box. She used very strong words and motions to defend her space and to say she doesn't like to play like that. :) Once they figured each other out, though, there was a ton of fun to be had.

Keldon and Zane stayed far away from the wild ones. But they were up to their own no good.

Carson had tons of affection to share.

And there was lots to do but not enough time to do it all. We watched logging on the property. We checked out major renovations on the couple-hundred-year-old family home. I can't wait to see it finished!

We rode the mule. After the first ride, Vanessa was convinced she could drive it.

She settled for just sitting on the tractor in the barn, though. :)

Although one might consider Zane and Vanessa as city kids, they're all the time proving they're country at heart. It's nice to go back to where Mommy proved it too-- where she shot her first gun, went hunting for and prepped deer, hiked adventures on acres and acres, buried beloved pets, ate down home cooking, trembled going up and down very narrow and dark gravel roads as a child, saw and heard amazing wildlife, learned to swim, first realized that cats and dogs can be both boys and girls, and has memories of her amazing stepgrandmother working her magic . . .



The Best Brass Family Bash

Cousins Tucker, Vanessa and Audrey rehearsing . . . music to our ears!

Puddle Jumpers

Dribble, dribble . . .

Dash and splash!

Kersplat!

Ah . . . . . . . . . . .

Vanessa and Cousin Tucker bring the hoopla!

Refreshing to see in the middle of a heat blast, right?!

*Pictures courtesy of Grandma Jan. They loved their fun time together last week.

Slate Run - Run Over

This week we'll share about recent adventures, visits and fun with lots of cousins (and some friends). We revisited Slate Run recently. These pictures don't fully represent how 11 children of the McCleeses, Mollohans and Betzes could run the farm. But Zane and Vanessa alone were able to accomplish a lot.

 

 Zane liked bathing himself.

The calf was granted tender loving care.

The horses were only slightly intimidating.

Nobody wanted the job of tending to the pigs . . . :) (Seriously, click on the picture to see the three walking away holding their noses. It was rank! Hence why I'm nowhere close to them when taking this picture. I don't know how the pig farmers do it . . .)

But boy each poult was extra cute!

Happy Birthday, Zach!

The Blues

According to Hoda and Kathie Lee, Canada was the place to be this last week. Yes, I was granted the rare opportunity to watch the 4th hour of the Today Show this last week. It happened to be one where Hoda and Kathie Lee were wrapping up their visit to Canada. (And that reminds me -- I meant to ask Adam/Daddy to bring us back Beaver Tails -- a yummy-looking dessert highlighted on the show. Maybe next year . . . instead, we settled for Sugardaddy's brownies. :) Anyway, although Hoda and Kathie Lee made Canada sound like extra fun, we were left feeling blue waiting for Daddy to return. Grandma afforded us special time together, and for that, we're extra thankful. 

When Vanessa doesn't like something or she's extra sad, to cope with the blues she'll pretend she doesn't care or she'll refuse to talk about it. I remind her that we all feel blue at times . . . and we painted our nails to reflect that . . .

Along with Hoda and Kathie Lee this week, our AAA magazine boasted about the beauty and awesomeness of Canada. TIME actually gave us reason to discourage Daddy from going, unless more farming of fish is established. But even so, we're thankful Daddy gets this extra special time with his brother and dad. I know he misses us . . .

The day after Daddy left, Vanessa packed her bag and threw on a hat and then stated that in a dream Mommy would drive her to where Daddy is at in Canada and she would go fishing and sleeping in the forest with him. In a dream . . .

And because a week or so ago Zane stood on his own for a short while, Daddy feared Zane would begin to walk while he was away. I assured Daddy that Zane wouldn't move that fast. However, yesterday Zane took 1 to 2 steps all on his own. :) But forget walking -- Zane has missed Daddy so much that he put on a cape and swore he would fly to where Daddy is at.

We've missed you so much Daddy . . . but so happy you'll be home any minute!

A Fourth of Firsts

Zane got in G&G's big pool for his first time over the July 4th weekend. Then we had 4th fun with our family and friends. This was Vanessa's and Zane's first time seeing an entire show of fireworks. Zane was busy until we packed up to head home. Vanessa enjoyed the running, playing and tumbling.

Not the best picture of fireworks, but I do like Vanessa's silhouette in this:

I loved these pictures because of how they captured the kids spinning with their glow sticks and necklaces.

And we would have been prepared if we had decided to be closer to the fireworks. :)

Some things just aren't cool . . .

But if you thirst, . . .

 . . . quench it!

*From beginning of June

Happy Birthday, Seth!