A Few New Words and A Trip to the Zoo

It is midnight and I can't sleep so I thought I would at least do something fun and put some cute pictures up on the blog. We have had a fun few weeks with lots of visitors. We have been so blessed this year by how much we have gotten to see family and by how they have all really gotten the opportunity to know Zach. He is still crusing around the house from one piece of furniture to the next and when he doesn't have furniture to grab he uses his little push toys to get around. He says "Hi" "ball" and "uh-oh". Uh-oh is definitely the new favorite and he will continuously throw things on the floor just for the chance to say it. He still loves to read books and listen to music. It was a beautiful day today and we took him to the zoo. We had a great time and he really liked the zebras and the sea lions. He was most entertained however by the other kids at the zoo. We have been going to the park a lot more with the nice weather that we have been having and his is really having fun learning about all of the different things to do at the park, but again he is most excited about the other kids that are there. He loves to go outside and watch Maggie catch the frisbee. When we are in the house he likes to throw things for her to catch and she is being so great with him by gently looking out for his fingers before she picks up anything he is tossing her way. He loves to look at the door with her and check out the exciting things that are happening around the neighborhood. He will be 1 year old in a week and I truly can't believe it! Time just goes so quickly. I will often find myself getting so nostalgic about this past year. But then I remember that I truly did enjoy and savor my moments with him swaddled up in my arms as a baby and now I am enjoying our time together as we start off into the toddler years. With Zach every moment is fun and it is hard to imagine life without my precious little boy!

Zach and Maggie checking out the birds and squirrels in the backyard.

Playing with his cousins Nina and Forrest. 

On the slide with daddy. 

Zach and his friend Stella playing in his ball pit. 

This is the sign he does for "hi". He associates hi with the cell phone so there you have it.  

Clapping

How big is Zach? SOOOoo big

Okay mommy, I am ready to get down. 

It's the teddy bears turn to sit in my chair. 

Zach and Grandma Lois (his Great-Grandma)

Grandmom builds the pyramid...

...Zach knocks it down. 

Hi again

Zach and daddy at the zoo. 

Watching the waterfall. That was another highlight of the zoo trip for Zach. 

Zach and mommy at the zoo. 

Playing at the Park

Zach and I went to the park this week with my friend Clara and her son Eric. They always have lots of fun together and Zach LOVED the park! 

Eric coming in for a hug...the next picture would have been both of them on the ground, Zach under Eric, but I decided to rescue him instead of capturing the moment!

Checking to see who is pulling on his hood. 

A little drummer boy. 

Climbing up the slide...already breaking the playground rules!

Zach's friend Ben came over to play and he brought his parents Dave and Catherine. 

Zach and Ben playing in the kids area at the coffee shop. 

Zach's new tricks

Zach is doing so many new things these days. He is 11 months old and is reminding me everyday that he is only 1 month away from being a toddler. That is amazing for me to realize as it feels like just yesterday that he was born, but then I realize how worn out I am after playing with him all day and it is a reminder about how much has changed. 

Zach loves life and he wants to go go go. He loves to get out of the house and go places where he can watch other kids. Whenever he sees other kids he gets very excited and starts to squeal and clap his hands. He has some good little buddies his age that we try to spend lots of ti

me with. In fact, 5 of them are coming over tomorrow afternoon to play! 

Zach is eating everything he can get his hands on. This favorite thing is chicken. He loves chicken which makes Andy and I laugh since we are sort of always trying to eat vegetarian. He talks a lot now too. He says Da da, which I have decided now officially refers to Andy. He says it only when he sees him or when it is obvious that he is looking for him. He also says hi! He loves to play with our cell phones and has made a few prank calls to the people on my speed dial. You never know...the next time you get one of those heavy breathing phone call it could be Zach! So since he is familiar with the cell phone he will

 now say hi to us and hold his hand up to his ear like he is talking on the phone. He loves to clap his hands and that is always the sure sign that he is excited. Often he will look up at me and smile and start clapping his hands whenever I walk into the room. I couldn't ask 

for a better greeting than that! 

He has also started cruising around the house using his push toys on w

heels. He does circles around the house looking so proud of himself, however he doesn't know how to turn so he will run into a wall. Bang the toy into the wall a few times and then start "calling" for us to come help him. 

Sorry, these pictures are a bit fuzzy because they are from the camera on my phone.

This is the "How big is Zach" game. 

Playing in the tupperware. 

Droopy eyes...nap time, but still showing "how big he is" 

We filled his extra pack n play with balls so now he has his own ball pit!

He likes to throw the balls over the side and watch us run around and chase them.