Grandpa!

Z is so enamored with her grandpas these days! She has a special connection with both Grandpa M*ike and Grandpa S*teve. She says "ba ba" with a wave to most people when they leave now, but the first people she said this to were Daddy first and then Grandpa S. With Grandpa M, she has an amazing connection through touch - she needs to reach out and touch him when she sees him. Here is Z with Grandpa M on a recent visit. 

Little feet

Grandma Ju*dy came to visit Z recently. Z got such a charge out of having her feet kissed, that it, like so many things these days, turned into a fun game! 

Cousins play together

For those of you who read my sister's blog, you know that she returned to work the beginning of January, and we now have a new crazy but wonderful childcare situation involving cousin A*ugust. Crazy because every day of the week is a bit different. Wonderful because Z is still cared for only by family (grandma, grandpa, Aunt E*mily and Uncle S*cott, mommy and daddy) during the 32 hours I work and the 40 hours D works. Also wonderful because Z and A are together 3 1/2 days a week. They can both get a bit jealous at times especially on the days one of their mommies has both girls. But they are also starting to have some fun together. (Notice they are actually holding hands in one of these pictures.) They are 4 1/2 months apart, which is a bit of a challenge at times now but won't always be in the future. I took these pictures today - the day of the week that A comes to Z's house. We are all enjoying one another's company but we, like so many Minnesotans are getting cabin fever. We are SO ready for spring when we can actually leave the house and all get some fresh air!

Our little cowgirl!

Z's great aunt, Ka*thy made this rocking zebra for Z when she was born. Not even two weeks ago, Z was not interested in it. Then last Friday during her weekly afternoon with daddy, Z fell in love with it. She can't even reach the foot pegs yet, but when she got on the first time, she began to bob her head back and forth indicating she not only knew it rocked but wanted to do that. By the second or third time, she was riding it like this!

Babies and Kitties

When I was pregnant with Z, a few people asked if I was worried about our cats, Id*gie and M*ilo, interacting with a baby - jumping in the crib, scratching the baby, etc. We weren't worried - our vet reassured us that cats usually have a tolerance for the baby early on. Unfortunately, we did not have the chance to find out with Idg*ie because she died less than a week after we came home from the hospital with Z after contracting diabetes 3 months earlier. Id*gie had been a stray and came to live with us after my sister in law took her in over 8 years ago. She was a bit persnickety at times, but we loved her dearly. (I have posted a picture of Idgie here.) At 3 years, Mi*lo has always been a bit of a wild card and a lot like a kitten. We weren't sure what would happen for Mi*lo between Idg*ie's death and having Z. But he has risen to the changes and the challenges. He has mellowed considerably, and as you can see, actually enjoys Z's attention to him. (I think he actually thinks she is petting him - which we are working on with her.) When M enters a room, Z gets very excited - she has a special way of talking to other babies and she uses this same tone and "words" with M. She notices him in the next room and drops what she is doing to chase him. She actually "leap frogged" over him after this picture was taken - I wish I could have gotten that on video! Its amazing to me how this kind of relationship happens and it is fun to see. Growing up, we had a dog, but I married into a serious cat family. It is fun to see how this love for cats is now be passed on to Z already. Oh, and M only jumped in the crib once - it was before she was born and right after we set it up. I think he just wanted to check it out. He lost interest when he realized it was harder to get out than it is to get in!