Zack's Blog

The Life & Times of Zack · 2012-2015 · 191 posts

<p>October 27, 2013</p> <p>Fun watching TV – Z, S and John have this new set up on the floor for watching TV. Z doesn’t actually watch the TV much but he likes being included in the pillow fun. He’ll even go get the pillows if they aren’t on the floor and set them up :-)</p>

February 16, 2014 · PHOTO

October 27, 2013

Fun watching TV – Z, S and John have this new set up on the floor for watching TV. Z doesn’t actually watch the TV much but he likes being included in the pillow fun. He’ll even go get the pillows if they aren’t on the floor and set them up :-)

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← Earlier<p>17 months!</p> <p>For me, Z’s most memorable development this month was saying mama with intention :-). Before, he would point or wave at to me if you said “where is mama?”. And he definitely would babble my name and had been doing that for a few months. But it was memorable for me to actually get my name this month (funny thing (and headache inducing thing) too is that I am reflecting on this development as I write this and now it is February 16th and he *yells* mom, almost exclusively. But he says “mama” in his sweet and quieter voice)</p> <p>We are still working on animal sounds and snake, bear, pig, dog, cat, monkey were added to the list this month. He wrinkles up his nose and blows out a bit of air for pig (instead of oinking) – too cute!</p> <p>Other communication developments: he can say eggs, bug, light, eyes, and down. Also signs banana, bread and cheese well. In Mandarin: he understands the words for nose (鼻子 or bízi (“bee tzuh”), eyes (yǎn jīng 眼睛), and clap your hands (Pai pai shǒu – “pie pie show”).</p> <p>ZBL is crazy for all things peekaboo and SPL loves this! SPL peeks around the corner @ Z, Z covers his face (instead of his ears as he used to) with his hands or his shirt, and their babysitter will start a game immediately upon arrival to our house by going from one baby gate entrance to the kitchen to the other. ZBL laughs and laughs!</p> <p>Molars– without much fanfare, ZBL’s molars arrived. I noticed them one afternoon during the week of Oct. 21st while I was putting him in his carseat after picking SPL up from school. Hey! Where did you all come from?? Makes eating a whole lot easier too so now he can try more varieties of food. </p> <p>One of the bummers this month has been we have had a bajillion fruit flies in our kitchen! :-(. Yuck. I think it must be due to purchasing so many fresh fruits and veggies @ the farmer’s market (a routine we now have as we live 10 blocks from the Sunday market :-). So I am constantly clapping my hands forcefully and trying to reduce the number. So Z figured this out and has been imitating me :-). </p> <p>ZBL has mastered the use of his fork and spoon and is great about feeding himself. I credit the book Baby Lead Weaning that was recommended to us by our friends Erin and MIke Schroepfer. We never fed him pureed foods, only bite sized foods that he could pick up and feed himself. Now that he’s 17 months, the size of the food has increased, as has the variety. He uses a spoon to eat yogurt too – leaves some on his face and bib but not as much as he used to!</p> <p>ZBL has started sitting still for longer periods of time and even has been sitting on couch reading a book by himself. It’s so fun to look up from the kitchen and see him sitting across the room on the couch silently looking at the book (sometimes it’s upside down but he doesn’t care :-)</p> <p>Challenges for the month:</p> <p>— Z has figured out how to unlock & open back door that leads to 3 stone stairs and down to the back yard. The other problem is that these stairs have no railing! Now for some quick thinking as to a strategy! We don’t want to bolt the door as they are artisan made and practically works of art – seriously. (we ended up buying some more fence sections from a neighbor and blocking him that way. He still has access to the kitchen door but that’s a bit easier to manage).</p> <p>– Kitchen implement obsession: Z is OBSESSED with spatulas. Seriously. And the draw that has all the kitchen tools is not locked and within his reach to open, but he can’t see into it. So this creates a fussy toddler who is getting more and more demanding re. which tools he will and will not play with. I give him options but eventually have drawn the line at the pancake/grill spatulas as they have become whacking implements more than the “scraping the bowl” spatulas. He also like measuring spoons and cups. </p> <p class="p1">– Just in time for 1) our beloved babysitter to get sick therefore creating a need for a substitute babysitter and 2) his grandmothers visit on separate occasions, ZBL became highly affected by separation anxiety. And here’s where his new found identification and use of the word “mom” is a drawback as he stands at the gate and sadly cries “mom” as I get ready to go volunteer in SPL’s classroom or other errands. "This too shall pass" but it’s always a challenging time. This is the first time Z has had it too which is a blessing but it seems to be here with a vengeance. I remember SPL having it more frequently: once at 9 months or so and then again at 14 months and then again at 18-20 months or so. </p> <p class="p1">As you can see from the photos above, Z is developing quite the personality. He laughs a lot and loves playing games like “where is Koda bear” in the morning (SPL or John will hide this bear we got @ Disneyland in August and Z will look for him first thing when he gets up). </p> Later →<p>October 31, 2013 – ZBL does one of the oldest gags in the books (on his own!)</p> <p>The Bananaphone gag!</p> <p>His great uncles Andy and Alan plus cousins Pearce, Drew, and Blake would be so proud! What a funny moment! Glad the camera was nearby.</p>