Thursday, June 28, 2012

Nevermind, the Tanner Version

A teaser:


We decided to start the processing of swimming today with some water play that I know he loves. Enter the water hose; as long as it doesn't touch his hair, he is one exuberant lentil. And since we don't waste water here in droughty-droughty Texas, we fill up buckets to water the plants with. :)








Then, when we headed to swim I think it kind of worked. He seemed less frantic about the whole thing. Here he is swimming like a champ. I always took the picture right after he got a push from Ms. Diana. I want to make it clear that she is not always holding him under water. He just needs a little momentum to get goin. :)









A proud boy after a good swim!


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Mmmmm...paint!

The weather here in Texas has turned unbearable. (Though while listening to NPR DC today I heard it was supposed to get near the 100s sometime soon and then I didn't feel so bad. It may be hot here, but if its hot everywhere, at least I don't have state income tax!)

Anyway, to beat the heat, Zaydie, the Manny, and I have all joined the San Antonio Children's Museum. They have three special activities a week dedicated to kids Z's age and I am psyched to spend more time in downtown proper.

First up, there is an awesome ball room and the lentil was in love. He LOVES to throw balls and he is getting a great arm.





Then we headed for our main event - the weekly Sensory Art project. This week, it was edible finger painting. Num! It was vanilla pudding (the best vanilla pudding I have ever had) with food coloring. Genius! 


Here is a true Zayd action shot coming up. He has this new thing where if anyone cries or seems hurt (including adults and tiny babies) he immediately starts crying with them. It is kind of endearing, what a sweet empathetic boy, but also a little disconcerting since a baby will be arriving into this house by the end of the year and s/he may tend to cry...



The finger painting worked well as paint until Zayd decided to take a bite. (Not a good sign considering he DIDN'T KNOW it was pudding!)

Then we were mostly aiming to get the most "paint" in our mouths as possible. (You can see here that I have already cleaned his face once.)


The lentil is quick witted and figured out an easier way to get the pudding in his mouth. Who needs hands?


Then he found the easiest way and painting was over.


Saturday, June 23, 2012

Surprised?

What's the size of a large orange, just as sweet, an aerobics fanatic and super friendly? The littlest Mammen:

This Mammenita/o will be making their entrance on 12/12/12 and we can't wait. Zayd doesn't quite understand what's going on but he did try to feed "Baby" a cheerio through my belly button. So, we'll get there.

So, I guess Zayd isn't the "littlest" lentil, but he's the only lentil in this family. Baby Z^2 needs a nickname!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

This Lentil Doesn't Float

It's summer and to mama (me) that means pool time! 

I signed Zayd up for swim lessons at our neighbor's house (who just happens to have made the San Antonio paper for her awesome technique and work with kids with disabilities). The best part is that she is two houses away. The worst part is that apparently Zayd hates swimming. HATES. He cried through the first day. The whole 45 minutes. Every time she went to let him "swim" he would look to me and start screaming, open-mouthed, into the water. (He actually got it closed just in time almost every time.) Eek! I was amazed how he could resume screaming the second his head came above water. Doesn't he need to breathe in first? 

On day two, he cried when I put his swim suit on. And on the walk there. And through the class. But he was a lot less stiff and did actually have one 15 second no-crying bout. It's the little things.

Today when we went, he was like a new more confident baby. He sat on the side and watched the 3-5 year olds with interest and a cool collected outlook on the whole thing. Don't believe me? Have you ever seen a cooler baby?


He managed to make it through the first 15 minutes without crying and I was SO PROUD of him. Eventually, he started the ritual and flailing around while trying to sign "all done" and not drown and by the time we were done, we'd spent 15 minutes of him looking like this:

He is definitely the most "vocal" kid in the class. He cries the loudest. And when the instructors dog comes outside he screams "Duh!" in a pitch that you would think only the dogs can hear but which will, actually, pierce your eardrum.

Here's hoping for a better tomorrow. By next week, I have been assured he won't still be crying. We shall see!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Zayd Takes (Central) New York

We just spent a relaxing week in Utica, NY enjoying time with friends, family, and our little guy Zayd. It had been quite some time since the three of us spent 192 consecutive hours together and it was awesome. Zayd and his DaDa were just the cutest and I loved getting to see them enjoy some real "guy" time.

Sam had a week full of adventures planned for the lentil, just like he had planned for me five years ago. First off, the children's museum. It was a crazy place chock full of activities and kiddoes without a whole lot of organization. This was Zayd's wonderland. 


Look at that focus!



 Below you can see Z enjoying some truly manly activities. (Don't worry, his favorite home activity is sweeping so he will make a great husband one day!)

Riding horses. Does this kid look 3 or what?



Racing (and crashing) cars!

 Operating the Central NY train switch system.


Sam and Zayd had a great time passing this old train switchboard phone back and forth. They were so cute, they actually were filmed for the local news. Those must be two good looking fellows.



The next day we braved the weather and headed first to Bank of Utica to let Zayd run around in the check processing room and wreak havoc the way his Daddy used to back in the day. ;) THen, it was off to the Utica Zoo.


Which one do you like more:


We had a separate day spent at Rough and Tumble which I can't recommend highly enough. Mommy, Daddy and Zayd got to bounce in the bouncy house, climb a 30 foot-tall obstacle course, and play with a million baby toys. We were too busy to take photos that day...so you have to imagine.

On another (ANOTHER!) rainy afternoon, we headed to Chuck E Cheese in desperation. I wasn't sure Zayd was old enough and he pretty much isn't. Sam and I had an awesome time and we killed 2 hours so I guess its a win win.


Uncle Jon will be so proud:

Eyes on the prize:

 After the horsey started moving the lentil wanted nothing to do with it so Daddy took over.

The best thing we did was have a photo shoot with Sam's super talented cousin Ambi. But we will have to wait to see those...

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Ice Cream with Zayd

Some mornings are just wonderful.  Last Saturday we ended an awesome morning with fresh lemon blackberry ice cream at the Pearl Farmer's Market!