Monday, February 27, 2012

My favorite dining companion!





Sunday, February 26, 2012

This IS his first rodeo!

Zayd and I escaped for a little mother-son afternoon. And it was EXACTLY what we needed. There is nothing better than spending the afternoon outside with a million things to look at all while snuggled together in a wrap. I am so glad to have this boy and so glad to hav discovered babywearing!

The first shot is just because its hysterical.

Baby goats!

He looks like a three year old here!

Baby sheep!
Saved the best for last!


Monday, February 20, 2012

Mohawk Monday


You know how much I love traditions and we may have made a new one today. Mohawk Monday to celebrate President's Day. I could see it being fun to look forward to three day weekends with the promise of a full day mohawk on the other side of Sunday!

Also, this might keep Sam's desire to have a full-time mohwaked child at bay!



Wednesday, February 15, 2012

I Mustache You

To be My Valentine!

Zayd had a bit of a blue Valentine's Day as the beginnings of a nasty cold were nipping at his Valentine nose. Nevertheless, we headed to the Mahncke Park Baby Valentines Card Swap (skillfully planned by one dedicated Mahncke Mom). There was cardstock to make cards for the daddies, make your own candy bracelets, treats, and a bunch of kids dressed in their Valentines best.

Here are some photos from Zayd's FIRST Valentine's Day!

First, a shot of the Valentines that Zayd helped mommy make.

Zayd wanted to bring a rose to his little girlfriend up the street - she is a younger woman of only 7 months. So, armed with cards, cheesecake stuffed strawberries (make these!) and a pink rose, we headed to the playground.



When he realized his love wouldn't be able to make it to the park because her nap ran long, he shredded the rose!




We got a little playtime in, as well. You can see in those glassy eyes that a cold is comin'. My poor lentil!


Zayd had quite a spoil from the event. Here is his card holder that he showed little to no interest in.

On the ride home, the little lover read over the cards he received from all his friends. (And repeatedly threw his card carrier on the ground. Can you find it?)
Doesn't he seem like such a little man? Its because HE IS! Ah! My little Pepe Le Peau.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Co-Sleeping

We are pretty much a co-sleeping family. Zayd goes to bed alone every night and joins our bed around 11. Not because we have failed to teach him to sleep alone but because we want him to sleep with us. It's not for everyone, but it works in this household.
Here are some of the things I wouldn't know if I didn't share my bed with the littlest lentil.
  • The calm, tiny, surprisingly cool breaths my baby takes while he is sleeping. I might forever need a tiny baby next to me after a year of sensing baby's breath on my face. It is like a drug. Its funny because I can remember when my dad would go out of town and I would sleep with my mom in her bed. I was much older and it was more about watching the late show together than about needing to share a bed. Anyway, I would try to position myself so no trace of breath could get to me. It seemed gross to breathe someone else's air. I wonder how long I have before Zayd is afraid of my breath.
  • The smell of his hair when he presses his head to me.
  • The way he wakes up and discovers every morning. Some mornings he wakes crying. But on mornings when he wakes slowly and with surprise to see my face, I could just eat him.
  • The way he will sigh and roll over, throwing his arm on to Sam's chest. If he were a full-sized person, he would throw his arm around Sam but at his size, just his hand makes it.
He's the best. And I can't wait until 11pm tonight when I get to bring him to my bed.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Zayd and the Zoo


I am not sure if I have mentioned this before but we have started going to the zoo a LOT. Like every week or every other week. We just pop in and check out one section or sometimes one animal and then walk home. I have never been the biggest fan of zoos (all those wild animals in such an unwild setting) though I do love to see Zayd discover what the world holds and there is lots of information about the preservation the San Antonio Zoo is doing so we go with it.

Zayd and I had an excellent time yesterday at the zoo. First of all, we were there when the gates opened and didn't see another patron for a full 45 minutes. It was a lot more like being in the wild than being at the zoo. The animals all had sleepy eyes and were just getting on with breakfast. It was as wonderfully intimate as a zoo trip can be.

We discovered the Africa Live (and Africa Live 2) sections and man was it cool. I thought it was crazy that Zayd couldn't have cared less about the elephant. The elephant was feeding himself hay and Zayd wanted to play with my keys. His favorite (as is always the case) was probably the birds. We have fallen for Cranes of the World, have a strong affinity for the Amazon Bird Paradise, and now can safely say that the weird duck and crane looking birds native to Africa are also on our list of favorite stops.

He also laughed and laughed at the Cheetahs. They weren't doing anything in particular other than standing around being spotted. Maybe its the spots?

And I suppose if we are honest his real favorite was the fake hippos.





Thursday, February 9, 2012

Lovies for All

Zayd has kind of taken to his monkey men. I think we have a lovey in the making.



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

False Advertising

Here we are enjoying cheerios from our new spill-proof container. Yep.


I *have* successfully taught him to concept of sweeping. He is horrible at it but at least I can wield the full size broom while he "plays" with the handheld one. He thinks he is helping. It's adorable. It's amazing how at this stage I can see him understanding.

And for those of you who haven't made a visit to Mammen Manor lately, there is the 1950's butter yellow dresser that we have lovingly repurposed as an island. It needs its chalkboard top but I need a few hours and a trip to Home Depot before his home improvement project is wrapped up.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Walkin on Sunshine


Walking is imminent. He has taken a quite a few solo steps today.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Ten Months

What's new with the lentil:
  • He hasn't gotten much bigger lately. He is squarely wearing 9-month clothes. His 6-9 month onesies still fit fine and he (strangely) owns a 3-6month jacket that fits great. He's healthy and his head is pretty big, but his belly is gone.
  • He can stand! He does pretty good but would much rather hang on to something.
  • He can walk holding only one of your hands, sometimes one finger.
  • He says "mama" "dada" and knows the difference. He has also figured out the POWER of calling you by your proper name. He is a heart melter and he KNOWS IT. He repeated Nani this weekend much to Nani's delight.
  • It takes between 4 (typical) and 15 minutes to get him to fall asleep for naptime. His nighttime sleeping is still atrocious but the Queen of Baby Whispering would approve our naptime ritual. :) I call it a success.
  • He has gotten great control of his ten fingers! He has the pincer grasp down (only a milestone if you are a parent) (maybe only if you are a parent that reads a LOT about learning through play). He does high five, claps "very vigorously" (as one Baby Storytime Mom commented to me), waves bye bye (with both hands), and *almost* can sign milk but that is only in response to me signing milk not an actual form of communication.
  • His new wakeup time is 6 or 6:30. I suppose it is fine. He is going to bed earlier (6:30 or 7) so we just greet the sun a little earlier every morning.
  • He is devouring books and likes the ones with fluffy puppies in them.
  • He can almost stack his rings.
  • He loves to play ball and throw it back to you. Sometimes his throws end up behind him.
  • He wants more than anything to climb inside the dishwasher. Its a problem.
  • He loves his songs. He remembers some of the movements for a few of em - Shake your Sillies Out, Wheels on the Bus, Patty Cake. Mostly, he is down with the clapping. He's really blossomed at Baby Story Time. Whereas he used to sit in my lap and maintain eye contact, now he explores the other babies, climbs in OTHER mother's laps, and pulls on the teaches skirt to get her attention. It's a lot more work, but so fun to watch.
Ten Months down and a new BIGGER hat was definitely in order.
Here is Zayd trying to get a peek of his pops mowing the backyard.
On our morning walk!
The fruits of our labor. Zayd and I have spent a lot of time getting this flower bed so flowery.
We enjoyed a nice brunch with Nani. Brunch and eating out is actually getting a little easier. Zayd can eat FOOD now and he likes the experience of seeing new people and things. Especially if we can eat outside on a closed patio - done.

And finally, a little grocery shopping.


He really hates this hat. It might be a one-month debut to retirement run.