A Treasured Day and Some Funnies

I'm trying to stop being so busy doing stuff every day-cleaning, running errands, cooking. Seems like there is always something that keeps me from spending more focused time with Zeke. So, today after breakfast, I shut everything off. No music. No computer. No cleaning. No cooking. We sat on the couch and read book after book. Every day I need to do this. Focused time. No distractions.

Zeke's new favorite word is "stuck". It is sooo cute to hear him say. I think he picked it up from my Dad who was maybe asking him is he was stuck in his highchair. I can't verify that, though. Anytime he wants to do something he is unable to do for whatever reason, he says, "stuck". Down from the high chair-"stuck". Down from my arms-"stuck". Over the gate-"stuck". Funny stuff.

This boy has a sense of humor, I tell you! Yesterday, we were counting. He can count from one to five on his own. We usually have to start with one, though. He repeats after us except when we say one, he says two. After five, he says the same as us. So, I said "six". He said "six". I said "seven". He said "seven". I said "eight". He said "eight". I said "nine". He said "nine". I said "ten". He said "nine"! Oh my goodness. We busted out laughing and I kept saying "ten" and he kept saying "nine". That's funny stuff.

Zeke is eating vegetables again!

Since May or June, Zeke has been refusing ALL vegetables in every form except for tomatoes. About 4 weeks ago, I decided to just offer them to him at least once each day. Mostly he would just throw them on the floor, but we just kept giving them to him. Gradually, he started putting them in his mouth, but would still spit them out and throw them on the flow. Just yesterday, though, Dan, got him to eat carrots and corn. Dan would eat a piece, then Zeke would eat a piece. One for me, one for you! Today at lunch, he ate carrots, peas and corn and I think one green bean! Woot! That took a long time! Hopefully he'll keep it up.

He's so sweet.

Every day I am blown away by just how sweet Zeke is. He is a true joy boy! He's been saying "Mandy"! It's adorable. Sounds just like "my knee". I love it. We were playing in his play room today and he wanted to see his name painting. He was saying "name" and then when we got over to the painting he said "Zeke"! Wow! He's saying so much, now!

I also set my piano up today and Zeke enjoyed playing around on it. He was singing, too. A little maestro!

Molar Month

Zeke has been cutting molars for a few weeks now. Three have popped through, so far. I noticed they take a long time to come fully in. I think finally one is all the way through. Last night we were brushing his teeth and he started crying. It was surprising to us. When I finally got a chance to browse around his gums with my finger-there it was. He has a few more big lumps, too, so there is more to come. :( Molars have been difficult. They interrupt his sleep. He wakes frequently and has trouble going back to sleep. I'm tired, too!

Zeke misses Nana and Papa and enjoys talking with them on the phone. I put my cell on speaker and let him carry it around while they talk with him. He smiles so much and has trouble not crying when they say goodbye. We are going home for a visit, soon, so that will be good for him to see them, again.

Yesterday was Dan's birthday and we realized it was 2 years ago, now, that we found out I was pregnant with Zeke. That was Dan's best birthday, yet. We were reminiscing last night and fully believe that our lives are filled with more joy and love with Zeke in them!

A Lovely Day

Some days just go by so fast and at the end, I am wondering where the time went. Zeke and I went to a mom's meetup this morning and he enjoyed interacting with the other kids. He's quite inquisitive and a little hesitant around other kids, but not scared or too shy. It's fun to watch him. He is sort of in awe of older kids. I always say he'd love to have an older sibling!

Dada was home around 8am this morning, but had to sleep after being on call all night. So, when we arrived back from the meet up he and Zeke went for a run. I have to say I enjoyed my alone time! Then, we all had a swim, Zeke had a nap, we ate dinner and boom-time for bed. Just like that.

We are getting a kick out of Zeke saying "no", right now. He says no to every question we ask him. It's so cute! I did teach him how to nod his head, yes, but he hasn't quite understood when to differentiate between yes and no. So, for now it's all no!

Zeke loves Gee-duh!

So, yesterday, I was playing the IHOP webcast, which for someone who may not know is live streaming worship 24 hours each day. We watch a worship set almost every morning and I hook the computer to the TV. I was in the kitchen cleaning and Zeke was having a snack in his high chair (we have a large pass through, so I can always see him and he sees me). I hear him say gee-duh, gee-duh, gee-duh. What is he saying, I wondered? So, I came into the living room because he was so exuberant. Gee-duh, gee-duh he kept saying. Then, it dawned on me that he might be saying Jesus, so I said, "Are you saying Jesus?". And he was. He's been saying it today, too. Tonight, I reached to the tv to turn on the news and he said Gee-duh! And when I say Jesus, he says Gee-duh, so I'm certain that is what he was saying!

You know that just blessed my heart. I never even tried to prompt him to say Jesus. I've been trying to teach him God because I thought it was easier. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! We love you. You love us!

It was Halloween

We had a wonderful family day today. Zeke enjoys these days when Dan is home. This morning I founda new molar broken through in Zeke's mouth. Little bugger was what has been giving him grief these past couple days. Whew! I thinkthis was the worst teething bout so far. Today was MUCH better!
At lunch, we had grapesand Zeke did the sign for grapes without me prompting him. I haven't seen him do that one before. He's also signing for fish and sort of made up his own sign for toothbrush which is fine cause I know what he means!
We went to a local farm for trick or treating. Zeke looked cute. He liked seeing all the other kids and remembered how to hold his bag out for candy. When they let him grab candy, he gravitated to whoppers and tootsie rolls. I tried to get him going for snickers and three musketeers, though! We walked through the farm and a haunted maze that they told us was not scary. There was some gruesome stuff, though, so we had to hide his eyes. They were giving out candy all through the maze. We really wanted to Precent him from seeing scary stuff, so we tried to rush through.

I haven't enjoyed Halloween in a long time. It's not really a great holiday. But it was lots of fun to get dressed up and go tithe pumpkin patch. I can see why kids and parents enjoy it!

Glad for a new day!

Ok, so I missed a day because it was basically like "ditto" to the last post. Rough. Must be teeth. Today, though, was brilliant! We woke up to the sun shining and the breeze blowing. Zeke hugged my neck and kissed me and I was sooooooo thankful for new mornings, new mercies-thank you, God!
We went for a run on the boardwalk, had breakfast, a little naptime, had El Pollo Loco for lunch and then went to the park where I took pictures of Zeke in his monkey costume. Then, we met Dan for a little tricker treating at a local strip mall. Zeke looked incredibly cute and he loved waddling around in his costume. At first he didn't understand what was going on, but it didn't take him long to figure out that he held out his bag and got to put candy in it. Sometimes he even tried to give his bag to the person with the bowl of candy. Whenever they held the bowl out to him, though, he would reach right over, pick something out, and put it in his bag. It was fun! He got to eat a few smarties and then Dan and I sneaked most of his candy.

On the drive home, Dan taught Zeke how to lick a sucker. Oh my goodness! He thought it was the funniest thing ever. He would stick his tongue on the sucker and then just crack up laughing. Cute, cute, cute.

After dinner, Zeke went to his stroller and said walk, so we took him for a walk. It's so cool that he is communicating what he wants more and more clearly. Pretty soon, he'll be telling us exactly what is on his mind!

Still Awake

Rough day. Must be teeth. Still awake at 11:45pm. Zeke is on my lap and we are watching Praise Baby. I'm tired and trying not to feel overwhelmed. Hope tomorrow is better. Seriously, I'm not sure I brushed my teeth today.

Fun with Food

Zeke's new thing right now is playing with food. He really likes to squeeze his food and throw it on the floor. Last week, he was eating a bagel with cream cheese and got some cream cheese from his hand in his hair. So, I said, "Oh, it's in your hair!". Then, he promptly turned the bagel upside down and literally wiped cream cheese on the top of his head. I think a little scrambled egg got in there, too!

Today, almost all of his lunch ended up on the floor. Just now, the same thing with our snack.

Speaking of snack, we just ate an apple and learned the sign for apple. Zeke is doing 13 signs, right now. Nurse, eat, drink, more, all done, bath, sleep, cracker, cereal, swim, Dada, Mama, and book.

Monday, October 26, 2009

This morning, Zeke woke up, climbed out of the bed and walked out of our room doing the sign for and saying "Dada"! We have just had Dada home for 10 straight days of vacation and today was his first day back to work. :( We were missing him. Zeke's best buddy is his Dada.

We had lunch with Dada at Qdoba's this afternoon and Zeke was a real ham. So happy! He was very animated and made lots of faces. I got a lot of pictures with my iphone. We just sat and watched him and were in awe of his sheer joy. When he is with Mama and Dada, he is the most content and happy.

After lunch we went to the grocery store where Zeke happily rolled down the aisles in the cart exclaiming Da-Da! Da-Da! Today was all about Dada!

Zeke fell asleep in the car on the way home and slept in my arms all the way from the parking garage to his crib. This is quite unusual and has only happened a few times. Guess he was wore out from being in rare form!