Playing at Home

OK, this was supposed to be posted at the OTHER site but I thought they didn't do video (until I saw the big yellow button) too late...so the whole "chapter" will be on this blog. I don't know why I find this video so funny. It makes me chuckle every time I watch it. She's trying so hard to make it happen and she seems a little surprised when it actually works. Now she's obsessed with it...lucky for me. I was blowing so many damn bubbles I alternate between feeling faint and hyperventilating.

Update

Blogging time already? Holidays already come and gone and here it is...2009?!

Well, blogging is what I did for New Years Eve...over and over again. Yeah, I'm a serious partier these days, huh? I would finish selecting then editing photos, upload them, write comments, press publish and all my work (regardless of how often I saved it) would vanish in to blogging cyberspace. I went to bed last night very ANGRY with blogger.com!! I haven't sworn so much since Zoey started repeating my words!

Milo's still got 6 teeth (although I thought in a previous post that there were more. He says lots of the usual baby babble stuff but I'm pretty sure his first real word is Zoey. He kinda says "Dzh Dzh". It not only sounds really adorable but it seems to be a great way for him to rid his mouth of excess saliva. We finally started to let Milo cry it out. I was revisiting some old posts from when Zoey was this age and it seems my tolerance for no sleep only lasts for about 8-9 months. Still, it's not fun. He's cruising a little but likes to crawl and climb like Zoey did.

Zoey has become very vocal in her opinions...mostly declaring what she doesn't like. Most of the time she loves her "Lil Brudder" but when he cries she'll look to whoever is listening and commiserate by saying "I don't like babies". Or if he might spit up she'll do the same and say with an air of superiority, "Babies are so messy". Ugh, speaking of messes, we're still not even close on the potty training yet. She tries though, but I'm pretty sure that's mostly because of the candy she gets while camped out on the potty waiting for the miracle to happen. I always joke that I'll probably wean and potty train them both at the same time...sadly, that may not be too far off.

Christmas Day & Stuff

Posing together just after we put up the tree. It's a live one. Isnt' it cute? I'm hoping we'll get a few years use out of it before it outgrows us.

Pre mayhem...

Good morning...
Post mayhem...

Milo playing with a cool wooden drum from Grandpa Don and Judy. And Mom, you were right, Zoey was glued to the TV during "Goodship Lollipop".

She loves this toy. It's called Marble Run or if Zoey's asking for it she'll say "Nardaballs". But we can't play it unless Milo is napping because there's a zillion little parts...not to mention it takes all my concentration to set it up. As soon as Milo's asleep she gets all giggly and asks for "Nardaballs". Yesterday he didn't take his 2nd nap and she was miserable because she couldn't play with it.

Christmas Day outfit and on our way to a party at Ed Francis' house. The whole way we were warned, "I don't like parties!" And she didn't for the first half hour...but we all stuck it out and she did great. To her credit, she and Milo were the youngest by about 18 years in a very non-kid-proof home.

Unwinding after Christmas Pictures

If only they'd have been this candid for the actual photoshoot in the studio!

Bedtimes and Bathtimes

Hey, isn't it bathtime soon?


Yup!


Love blowing raspberries on Milo's belly.

Watching Bugs Bunny.

Pressing buttons on the TV in my jammies.

Playing outside...

January and the oak trees in the front yard are still trying to shed their leaves. Many of the trees in our yard are still green. Must be the "global warming" LOL. I scooped up a nice big crunchy pile of leaves for the kids to play in. Milo usually has no problem with playing and/or eating leaves but I think he became overwhelmed with all the possibilities when he saw them all in a pile. Zoey had no problem figuring out what to do.

It's hard to get Zoey to sit still very long for a picture and poor Milo usually has a big drool on his chin and closes his eyes in anticipation of the flash. But here's two for the book (or blog) except there's that drool still. It makes for some very wet and sloppy baby kisses though. 'Tis the age I guess.

This was an early Christmas present...and a total hit! Except Milo eats sand. The other day at the park he got so tired of me interrupting him from shoving fistfuls of sand in his mouth. He got creative and did an intentional face plant just to get a taste. That move was so unexpected for me that he got just what he wanted and he didn't seem to mind at all unfortunately.

Our big rain storm of the year. Milo was sleeping or he'd have wanted to be out there crawling around just to be with Zoey. The neighbors must've thought I was nuts to let her run around because it was really cold too. But she was running around so fast it was like she was trying to soak up every rain drop and hit every puddle...or maybe she was just trying to keep warm. This is the only picture I got of her standing...the rest were a blur of action shots. We're still getting a lot of use out of the rain gear that Uncle Kevin sent for her 1st (?) birthday.

Rolling around in the grass before dinner.

Christmas Pictures

Vince and Zoey waiting in the LONG line for Santa...while she told us the whole time that she didn't want to see him anyway. "I don't like it that one" is about what she kept saying over and over. What is it about the white bearded one that freaks kids out?

Looks like they're having a deep conversation.

He was fine until he heard Zoey wailing.

But we got a picture anyway.

Milo's 8 months pictures. What a little stud in his leather biker jacket!

Our family Christmas pictures.

Designer Gal

OK family & friends...you gotta check out this site...I had hours of fun creating caricatures of you all. You can order all kinds of fun stuff customized with the images you create. I made the image (on the right) of Me, Milo and Zoey (of course Milo and Zoey aren't that old yet but they'll grow into it) and sorry, Vince is missing for now...I couldn't find a dude in the stock images who would work. Anyway, http://www.designhergals.com/ was nice enough to let me use the image on the blog for free! Thanks Gals!!! Just click on the picture to check out their stuff.

This Month's Photoshoot

Too bad I wasn't dressed better for the picture. This was my attempt at lightening her mood...she's really not been keen on being around strangers lately. And I quote in Zoey speak, "Ee want no" means "I don't want any part of... (fill in the blank)". But you'd think she'd be pretty familiar with the portrait studio by now. Even still, the girl can never take a bad picture. She was running around like a maniac and the poor (elderly) photographer was literally chasing her around...so was I. Thank goodness for digital and fast shutter speed.

He's my little "Nugget".
Look what I can do now?! I'm as surprised as Mom was!

But I'm much more comfortable like this these days...not that I don't like to stand up if someone wants to help.