Closing the deal

For the longest time now, Zachary has been rolling from his back to almost his front. He is oh so close to getting to his tummy. This morning I told Phil that Zachary doesn't seem to have a career in sales, as he just can't close the deal. Zachary disagreed! He made it all the way to his tummy for the first time! Here he is, contemplating the final movement.
Let's see if he remembers how to do it tomorrow!
Oh, and I realize that this picture is really really loud!

Christmas Day

looking cute in matching jammies

When Alex came downstairs and rounded the corner of the chair and saw the tree with all the presents under it, he stopped in his tracks, yelled "presents!" and ran over to start tearing the paper! It was great! We managed to stop him and had him and Zachary open up their stocking items first. After that and a (really) quick breakfast, we were into the present frenzy. Zachary likes to pull a piece of wrapping paper off, wave it around a bit and then eat it (here, he forgot about his binky and the tape stuck to it). Alex just likes to tear the paper off as quickly as possible (I love the action shot).



Their contrasting styles meant that Alex was often trying to "help" Zachary finish opening his packages. In the beginning, Alex was all about open, open, open. But soon he started to become more interested in what was just opened and wanted to play with everything! I really didn't expect that, and I definately didn't expect to still have presents to open after his nap. But, we did.

a look at the mayhem

After all the excitement inside, a walk seemed like a good idea. I say seemed because when we got out there, the wind was still whipping and the air was really cold. We still had a nice time saying hi to the other crazy folk out walking and gathering sticks. This picture of Zachary sums up how we were all feeling.

Christmas Eve

After dinner, we took a walk around our neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. I was disappointed in the lack of light displays, but we still enjoyed our walk. Because of the cloudy and rainy weather, the airplanes flying into and out of Oakland Airport were "going the wrong way". They usually take off heading north, but in bad weather they take off south and land from the north. The sound is different and when they are landing, they are over our house much lower to the ground. This allows Alex to see them better and he really liked watching them fly by. Even though it was cloudy, the rains held off for our walk. Once we got back home, there was time for one gift before bed. My mom's tradition was (is?) to have us open a gift on Christmas Eve that was jammies. I found cute matching jammies for the boys and decided to borrow this tradition (for this year at least). Zachary and Alex both enjoyed opening up their present and looked super cute in their jammies!

Because of Alex's present opening talent, we didn't put the presents under the tree as they arrived, but kept them in the pack and play and out of harm's way. So, after the boys were in bed, Phil and I put out the presents and cleaned up so we would be ready to go first thing in the morning. Here's a picture of our tree and of our stockings. I didn't quite get Zachary's stocking completed for this year, but I took the partially completed face and lazily basted it together so that Santa could leave presents. There had been a blank spot on the fireplace (yes, it is hidden by a bookcase) waiting for it, and I was so happy when I hung it up, even if it isn't perfect yet.

Togetherness

Here are a few pictures of Alex and Zachary having fun together.

playing together at Wee play.

decorating with window clings.
check out that sitting action!

hanging out at home.

Today at Wee Play, Alex took a pretty big tumble. I gathered him up and had both boys in my lap. As Alex was crying (more from being scared than hurt), Zachary reached out and touched him on the head. It was so precious. I feel so lucky to have these two little boys in my life!

Shout out

I have to give a big Thank You to the Walmart at Supermall in Auburn, WA.
Back at Thanksgiving, Alex lost his shoe at the store. Phil and then Phil and I spent hours and hours at the store looking for it and asking everyone working there if they had it. Many of the workers thought they remembered seeing it, but it was not to be found. Before we returned to CA, we gave the shoe department and the lost and found department my parents' phone number and a description of the shoe.
Yesterday they called and said they had found the shoe!!! After a month of shoe sadness, my dad went to the store today and left with Alex's shoe.

I know some of you are probably thinking "why get so caught up about a shoe" but you don't recall my slight obsessive-side. Besides, they were (are!) really cute shoes!

Work party

Phil's office had a little holiday party that families were invited to. It was a fun potluck with raffle prizes and the always entertaining white elephant exchange. Zachary tried out a high chair and found it quite to his liking. His chair at home is reclined, but he sat upright in this one very well.

During the white elephant, Alex and his friend Brook helped everyone open up their gifts and Alex was even a proxy for someone who had to leave early. One of the funniest gifts was a pirate hat and accessories....it was made even funnier when the Captain choose that gift and had to wear the hat for the rest of the party!
Ever the helper, Alex helped clean up afterward, and wound up with a bow on his bum!

Trim the Tree

Phil and I are trying to establish some holiday traditions for us and the boys. That said, we have decided that the 2nd weekend of December will be "Trim the Tree" weekend. Alex was a big help in putting up the ornaments, and Zachary enjoyed sitting in his chair watching the excitement. Next year I'm sure we'll have all the help we can stand! Alex found a school bus ornament when we were out shopping (imagine that!). When I asked him if he wanted to put the bus on the tree, he was surprisingly willing, and then he decided that some other vehicles should go on too....and maybe a ball or two!

It's a party!

Most of our playgroup friends have their birthdays in November and December so we decided to celebrate! The group rented out Ruby's Tumbling for a couple of hours of fun. We had a chance to see some of our friends who can't come out to play on Wednesdays too! It was so much fun to watch the kids explore and try out the gymnastics apparatus. There was a balance beam, a "high" bar, rings, a climbing rope, trampolines, and lots of mats! Alex's favorite was the trampoline, complete with a toddler sized Pooh Bear, and Zachary enjoyed the rings.

Of course there were cupcakes, baked by our own ace of cakes, and some yummy food too. I think all of the kids had a great time!

Happy Birthday to all our friends!

What a gorgeous day

The boys and I went to the zoo today with Dominic and Kristin. The weather was perfect! And the zoo was practically ours alone. As usual the monkeys and giraffes were a big hit with all the boys. We even saw something none of us had ever seen before, an elephant drinking. When he (?) would suck the water up into his trunk, it sounded just like one of us sucking the last bit of drink through a straw, and then the rushing sound of water as he poured it into his mouth. It was really cool, although the boys probably weren't as impressed. Alex was disappointed that he didn't get to see his friend Tarantula. But strollers aren't allowed in that building and I couldn't just leave Zachary outside! We spent a bit of time just playing in the children's zoo play area. What a fun, fun day!

Wee Play again

Playgroup decided to invade Wee Play again this week. As promised, I remembered the camera and have documented the mayhem. Alex enjoyed riding the roller-coaster this time, in addition to pushing and riding everything he could get his hands on. Zachary even got in on the fun and joined the music circle with Dominic and his Mommy, Kristin.

How old are you?

That's right Zachary, you are 5 months old!
Zachary's doctors appointment went well, aside from the crying jag caused by his vaccines. He is 16 pounds 15 ounces and 26 inches tall! Those numbers put him in the 50-75 % range for both categories, a very well proportioned boy.

Did I win?

Alex competed in his first road race today! Phil took him along in the jogging stroller for a 5K along the water trail. Zachary and I were their official cheerleaders. Despite getting trapped behind a wall of walkers at the beginning, the guys posted a very respectable time, and beat out the other stroller-runners. Not bad for a first-timer!

A comparison

Alex 3 3/4 months 5/27/2007

Zachary 4 1/2 months 11/30/2008

Going Home

We have come to the end of our vacation. Our trip home was kind of a fiasco, but we all made it home safe and sound.
Thank you Gma and Gpa! We had a fun time and miss you already.