He's Key

Zane will turn 1 in one month. He's all over the place. His affection remains. He has a new way for showing when he's angry -- he turns around and throws both hands down at the same time while snorting and grunting loudly. He likes to control situations, holding out on tricks to prove his independence.

Zane, I love the way you "Ahhhh . . . " over and over as you pat my back and put your heard to my chest. I love the way you jump and bounce with joy when you see your daddy return home from work, giving him tons of hugs, smiles and kisses. I love the way you continue to run things around the house, spending minutes and minutes pushing cars through every room and in circles around big obstacles. I love the way you know what you want. I love the way you eat a variety of food. I love the way you scrunch your nose and smile real big like something incredibly goofy was just said. I don't love how you exercise your voice as loud as you can and before I've had my first Coke of the day. :) But I do love the way you like to play on everything indoors and out. I don't love the way you dive over the edges of things. However, I love the way you like to tease me with "da da" over and over. I love the way you sneak to see if we've left a cabinet open and how now you're not as disappointed when we're sure to latch it. I love the way you play games with your sister. I love that you study things and are persistent and quick. I love that you love to play various finger plays and sing various songs. I don't love when you pull over tables and chairs. Yet I love that you leap and jump on your sister, pulling her with all of your might, just trying to engage her. I love that you're key to our family . . .

Vanessa's 11th Month

Sew what?

Her teddy bear. That's what. Vanessa was very patient and careful when stitching it. It was an exciting project and one she's wanted to do.  She whipped it out carefully in two short sittings.

Thank you Audrey S for her new sleeping mate. :) And yes, the girl loves her PJs. :)

The Wild Artic

Some of our summer "vacations" consist of adventures in the wild. Here Zane daringly hung near an Arctic wolf.  Interestingly the wolf came no closer. The  key: don't move and no eye contact. We were hoping he wouldn't eat the litter just in front of him. He didn't, and when he walked away, we disposed of it.

Fortunately Vanessa had her little brother on this adventure because she had no clue this polar bear was sneaking up behind her while she peered out of her snow cave window.

Zane yelled in the nick of time, "WATCH OUT, VANESSA!"

Shoo . . . that was close . . .

E is for Explicit

Vanessa really enjoys making letters and numbers with her modeling clay.

Taking to New Heights

Zane is very much a climber. Not only does he love to climb slides and play equipment, but he loves to climb stools, sofas and chairs, entire staircases . . . anything he can hike his left knee over. He makes us nervous but it's so much fun to see his adventurous side. He's getting so big and growing into little boy.

Note: This morning Vanessa was hysterical when trying to explain her dream from last night to me. Through sobbing and gasping for air, Vanessa shared "Mommy, I dreamed last night that Zane was just this big." [She held up her pointer finger and thumb pinched together showing about a quarter of an inch.] She went on to explain that it scared her. Last night after working and climbing into my bed with her and Daddy, I heard her start giggling in her sleep and then move on to whimpers and frightened sighs. I think that might've been when she was having her extremely vivid dream. She's a very active and vivid dreamer. She shares her dreams often. This morning I tried to calm her with a reminder of pretend and real. I then went on to relate to her that I also dream vividly, sometimes with almost complete control of what I want to dream (especially if I'm sleeping well.) We talked about all the fun things she can try and do in dreams, particulary when she's beginning to dream something scary. She can fly like Batman in her dreams . . .

Happy Birthday, Rachel!

 

A Caped Crusader

Always crusading . . .

8.19.11: Vanessa: "Why can't I fly? I can't even fly with a cape. Can you teach me how to real fly?"

Measure

A grandmother's love is without measure . . .

Hard

Play hard . . .

. . . work hard . . .

. . . sometimes equals sleep hard:

Zane is very particular about where he'll sleep. For now we can sometimes let him nap in the big chair and get up to do something. :) 



*First picture is of Zane playing with his friend Michael.

Vanessa's Fortune Cookie - 8.7.11

Vanessa just opened a fortune cookie from Mommy and Daddy's Friday night Chinese dinner (August 5, 2011): "You are the mast of everything situation." :) She chose which cookie to open.

Birthday/Get Well Wishes

What a twist to Vanessa's b-day. She's been planning her party all year. In fact, she has the next four or five b-days planned. Unfortunately plans only take you so far. With great resistance, Vanessa surrendered to the stomach flu today, along with her daddy. B-day plans were postponed but there's a lot of comfort knowing she will have another chance. She's tickled with Aunt G and Uncle T's gift of a nightgown -- perfect for a day when one deserves to open a present and stay in her PJs all day!

Nourishing a particular eater is hard anyway -- this just made it more difficult. She's hanging in there well, though. And she's been extra appreciative for everything. Per Grandpa's suggestion and Grandma's help, she's getting plenty of liquids. :) And she's now had toast, graham crackers and scrambled eggs with b-day sprinkles. Well on her way to recovery . . .

And don't fret. After a little yuckiness for Zane on Thursday, he's now carrying on like normal. :)

Happy 4th Birthday, Lil' Buccaneer!

Fantastic Times Fountainside

The Betz cousins enjoyed the cooler and cloudy weather after the storms this morning on the Scioto Mile. It was a perfect time! Celia enjoyed the voices and laughter of kids and the calming sounds of spray and fountains.

Zane especially enjoyed hanging close to Celia.

Friends Daniel and Audrey joined us too.

Mr. Frog was a hit . . .