Final Days of Summer I - WALKING!

We are back after a bit of a hiatus - the second half of August and first half of September have been very busy to say the least! (Culminating with the most exciting event - Mea*gan's wedding - last night!)

So for this post, I want to share a bit of what has been happening for Z. The biggest news in her life (apart from having a new uncle Ph*il) is that she can walk! Z began walking at just over 16 months - we assumed this would happen much much sooner since she rolled at 2 months, crawled at 6, has been on the move since birth, and is just quite advanced, frankly :) 

However, true to form and after a few weeks of literally practicing how to fall, one day Z just went from no steps to running (like a drunken sailor, I might add!)

On Gpa and Gma's boardwalk...

Being goofy...

 

 

Or the "open road"... (don't worry - actually an empty parking lot - except for that big rig!)

But not too independent to still hold hands sometimes...

Cabin memories

I have many fond memories of summer trips to "the cabin" as a child - that cabin, belonging to my paternal grandma, was on South Twin Lake, approx 35 miles west of Itas*ca Sta*te Park in northern MN. (Itas*ca boasts the mouth of the Missis*sippi for you geography buffs.) Unfortunately, the cabin was sold after my grandma's death in 1989.  Da*ve and I now frequent the cabin that has been in his stepmother's family for 50 years. Interestingly, it is near Be*midji, a town in which my mother first developed her social work skills and where she married my father.  (This cabin is also less than 70 miles from the cabin of my childhood.) While we have been going to "the Patrick Cabin" for over 10 years now, my childhood cabin memories have new meaning for me these days as I begin to re-live them through Z. 

One memory I have is of bathing in the kitchen sink - my mother tells me that she bathed all of her children in the kitchen sink every night at the cabin amidst a few random comments regarding 'taking a night off.' But she says there was just something special about this ritual, and swears we slept better too. (I'm guessing we had sand, etc in places we shouldn't as well.) I get that now - but with no running water at our island getaway, I prefer skip the kitchen sink (we do have one!) for the old-school washtub. It will be bittersweet come Labor Day when it's Z's last time in the washtub - I'm pretty sure even little Z will be too big for it next year!!! 

The next trip we tried the bath with 2 tubs - one wash and one rinse - Z loved this, especially after she realized she could climb back and forth!

 

The Cabin

Its a whole new experience this year compared to last year at the cabin. Here are a few shots from Memorial day weekend. Confined to the playyard... and loving it! New chair from Grandma B and Grandpa M for Happy Hour (a cabin tradition) Feeding myself... Feeding grandma...

antique?

Z's sweater in this picture is a bit of an antique. One of Da*ve's mom's (J*udy) coworkers made this for D when he was a baby. We took this a month ago because we wanted to make sure we got pictures of her in it. Every time we wore it out this spring, someone commented. I have an appreciation for the sweater as an heirloom and also because of the detail and precision of the knitting (especially since I have only mastered the scarf and just recently moved on to the hat in my knitting abilities). It also makes me think about the gifts I give and receive - how often do I put this much effort into a gift for someone else. My other question lately is... who was this woman who knit this sweater 37 years ago???

More of "That Face"

This may be the last post about this goofy face that Z makes because we are seeing it less than we used to (we posted about it once before). So I just had to share about it one more time! The face at dinner time... The face "around town"...

Animals

Z is fascinated by animals these days - all kinds in all places. She loves reading books about animals, going to zoos, playing with her Aunt Emily's spaniels, and especially playing with her cat, Milo.

She has also learned how to make many animal sounds - some sound very accurate and therefore hilarious while others just sound hilarious! I believe her favorite is growling like a tiger, a very gutteral, deep noise that sounds like it couldn't possibly come from such a tiny person. This picture was taken at the Forest Park Zoo on our trip to Springfield, Mass area back in April. Como Zoo in St Paul

Hanging out together

Z and her cousin, Au*gust have lots of fun together these days - 

Acting silly...

Strolling along...

Swinging...

And hanging...

Visiting old friends and new ones!

A little over a month ago, Z and I (mommy) took our first plane trip together to Massa*chusetts to visit my dear friend from college, Ann*e and her family. A and I have been friends for 18 years now (which means I am getting old I guess!). In that time, we have managed to get together every few years. But this trip was a new one for us - the first time we have gotten our children together. A and her husband, T*om, have two adorable girls - G*race (age 3 1/2) and Kath*erine (age 1 1/2). The trips was so wonderful for both Z and I as I reconnected with A amidst a barrage of sippys, sticky fingers, Snack Traps (see pic), sunscreen, Cheer*ios, parks, diapers, naps, and even one night out alone (thanks to her wonderful husband, T). Z loved watching "the big girls". We really felt that she left Minne*sota a baby and came back a toddler because she learned so many new things while gone, including learning how to climb stairs from the time it took to get from the bottom to the top! I could go on and on about my dear friend and our wonderful week in Mass - I think instead I will just post a few pics!

 

That Face!

Shortly before Z's birthday, she began making this face at random times (mostly at daddy). We honestly don't know where exactly it came from (both Daddy and Gma K are taking credit). However, it has stuck because it is so funny - it still makes us laugh aloud! Now we just say, "Z, where's that face?" and she turns to us and does this! These pics are a bit blurry but they still give you the idea. Quite the goofball already!

That crazy hair!

This is the comment we have received since Z was born. At one year, Z has had 3 hair cuts and can wear several hair styles well, including the Pebbles hairstyle pictured here. I bought hair ties after seeing a baby with a cute little ponytail on her head and thought, "oh, I bet that would work for Z". Yeah, you can see it works - and maybe next time we can braid it or throw it over her shoulder too! 

Z Turns One!

We are sorry for the delay in posting - Life has been so busy lately now that Z turned one (on April 4)! Z had a beautiful party with about 30 family and friends at the house. She did the ceremonial stuffing of chocolate cake in her face as well. Several people said, "oh, she is going to cry through her party - its too many people" but not Z - she loved the excitement, seeing so many people who love her, and of course, the chocolate cake (gluten free no less, and still mighty tasty!!!)

Thank you to all who came to show Z your love! 

ROCK!

"The beat's gotta be faster, Daddy!  Its heavy metal, not elevator music!" 

Busted!

I had to post this picture.

I think grandma K said, "Got caught in the cookie

jar."

We love Her "little" skirt.

It looks like the side door of a '68 Buick welded

onto a '84 Honda Civic.

If She didn't have a big ol' cloth diaper on, it would be around Her ankles.

She's Our little Piglet.

Little Dutch girl?

Not actually, just dressed like one. Z is sporting an outfit that was given to her cousins from their Omie (grandma). The outfit is from the Netherlands and E*lisabeth, Mi*nke's mom purchased it there while visiting her family, who still live there. I think Z looks like she could pass for Dutch, don't you? (Actually, she is Finnish, Scottish, Irish, Norwegian and a mix of several other things). Also, you may notice Z's two front teeth - they came in around Halloween and we have not seen any more since then! However, the doctor is not worried and it certainly doesn't stop her from eating lots of finger foods. So messy and so fun!

Cousins at the park

Z loved the park so much last time that sheand her mommy invited her cousin A*ugust and A's mommy to the park. We all enjoyed the swings, but the real hit for Z was the slide. The snowsuits don't slide real well, so Z tried to help A get down faster.  After all that swinging and sliding, both girls were pooped and ready to go home and nap (A actually started her nap before she got home!)

Spring fever - Round 2

Spring fever in Minnesota also means that as soon as it gets above 20 degrees, you take the baby to the park. Actually, not all Minnesotans do that I am told, but I don't know why not! (D says its because some people are wussies!) Z took her parents to the park one Sunday afternoon a few weeks back to try it out for the first time. It is a park just a few blocks from our house that we recently discovered. We are beginning to view our neighborhood through the lens of "where can we go with Z this summer?" Don't let that pink nose fool you - Z had a blast swinging, sliding and staying warm in her big down snowsuit!  

Spring Fever!

This winter feels like it has been the longest winter of my life. Maybe it is because of Z and I am dying to get out with her. Maybe its because we have had so many separate cold snaps throughout the last couple months. Maybe I'm just getting old - I don't know. Maybe all of the above. Whatever it is, I broke down and bought a few summer items for Z at One Step Ahead online a few weeks ago, including these sunglasses. My mother commented, "you don't think she will actually keep those on, do you?!?" I suppose not - but honestly that is not what I was thinking of when I saw the adorable 1 year old model walking the beach in the online store as I sat in my turtleneck sweater right after paying my outrageous heat bill (that Jan bill is a killer if you aren't on the yearly prorated plan). Nor did I think of that when I took this picture - all I thought is how absolutely adorable Z looks in them (I think you might agree) and how much fun we are going to have this summer at the park, at the island (where our cabin is), or even just in the yard. Oh I can't wait for spring!!!

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!