Signs of Summer

If slices of watermelon and trips to the pool don't epitomize summer, I don't know what does! We still have a full day left of a wonderfully relaxing weekend! We worked in the yard, we went on walks, we played outside, we went to the pool, we ate watermelon and we slept in. Not much more you can ask for.

Elephants on Parade!!!

Last weekend was excellent! We had "weekend 'o Lancaster", which started off with meeting Uncle BF and Aunt Cheryl at the KofC. He had them special order a bottle of Ketel One for his nieces. Too funny! He knows we like martinis, and wanted to be sure we were well taken care of. So sweet! We had a great time reconnecting. After that, we headed to Chris Boyden's 30th birthday, to meet up with 50 of our nearest and dearest. This was an especially cool weekend for Mia and Poppy, since they got to babysit Emerson all evening! They showed him off at a cookout with some of their friends. They had a ball!



Sunday is when the weekend got really cool. We headed back to Columbus after a baby shower, to start one of the coolest traditions, ever. Following the circus closing on Sunday, they walk the elephants from the arena district, to the train cars. They walk down Goodale Avenue in Grandview, to sidewalks lined with people and strollers. One of the coolest things we've seen!

Emerson hanging with his new friend, Cormac

I see cruisers...they are coming around the corner!

A strange, yet super cool sight to see!

Breathtaking creatures

OMG! They are so close to us!!! We loved the "trunk to tail" walk...just like in Dumbo!

Auntie Jessi worked out the details...a tradition we'll continue!

We scoped it out for an even better spot next year!

And there they go...

Baby muscles

So, Emerson joined the gym. He can now come with me when I work out and hang in the kid room (which is AWESOME!). This also means he can use the pools, inside and out. There are three outdoor pools which we'll be frequenting this summer! HOORAY!

I cracked up at his ID when they printed it...

he has his own picture ID at nine months old!!!

9 months old!

Emerson is having a great ninth month! He has a total of three teeth, one on top and two on bottom, and loves to brush them! He has completely transitioned to a sippy cup. Such a big boy! He’s working on some words like “kih” (kiss), “dah dah” (dada), “doh” (dog), “nananana” (no), “muh muh” (mama), and consistently shakes his head no when he means it! We still do ASL and I am positive he signed “all finished” in the high chair recently. He chatters non-stop and loves to have conversations with people. He always gets in the last word (grunt)! He waves hello and goodbye and will show you “How big is Emerson?!?!”…”So big!”

He plays with all of his toys, but a few of his favorites include any kind of ball that he can throw, from a baseball to an exercise ball. He loves anything with wheels that he now pushes around and follows. And he still loves the cardboard wrapping paper tube. He often puts items in his mouth while he crawls around from place to place. SUCH A BOY! I’ve completely re-arranged our kitchen cabinets since he is getting into them now. Lots of bibs, towels, and Tupperware down low. It’s really funny when I do this and don’t tell Jason, and then watch him try to find something!

Emerson is eating table food regularly, although we’re still working in some additional fruits and vegetables with purees. He loves cheerios, crackers, and yogurt and will eat anything as long as it’s served on a fork. He gets bites of whatever we are having and likes most everything! He even enjoyed some won ton noodles from my soup last night.

He shows interest in walking, and cruises around furniture like an expert. He has mastered crawling, and will huff and puff with excitement and speed toward any open exit.

He loves to play outside, and will try to climb anything he can get to. He will now climb a full set of stairs (with Mom and Dad hovering).

This baby never ceases to amaze us. What an amazing nine months it has been!

More of Mother's Day and weekend in Toledo

Auntie Jess stopped by yesterday to see Em, and stayed for Chinese food!

She gave me a mother's day gift, (salt scrub at the spa!), and gave Em an ADORABLE, "just because" gift. Check out his shirt!

Emerson and Jason talking back and forth through the tube

Just a cutie profile pic

Jason and Em...both napping at Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Z's house...Jason's Uncle Steve was having fun! Emerson and second cousin Austin

Macy helping Emerson with his cup

Jason, Spencer and Macy watching an old video of Jason and Melissa playing baseball

Kendall helping Emerson with his cheerios

One of the soccer stars!

A day fit for a mother

What a perfectly lovely Mother's Day weekend! There are pics at home that I need to upload, but here's the quickie, with more to come later.

Friday afternoon we headed to Toledo, and had a casual cookout at Auntie Mel's. Saturday morning, although super windy, was spent at the soccer fields watching Emerson's cousins Macy and Spencer at their soccer games. Two amazing little athletes! After the games, we grabbed some quick lunch, and then headed to Emerson's Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa's house, where he got to play with his second cousin, Austin. We got lots of great playtime in with Kendall, Macy and Spencer, too. They are so sweet, and adore their little cousin. He, of course, adores them too. One day soon, he'll be able to keep up! I love watching them all interact.

After dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Z, we headed back to Columbus on Saturday night. A tough drive for Jason, with us not getting in until almost 11, but we wanted a day at home this weekend. Waking up at home can make all the difference, and we all sleep better in our own beds/crib. Sunday was a most perfect day. We relaxed with coffee in the morning, went out to lunch, ran some errands, worked in the yard, and had a really great day with just the three of us. Our weekends for the next few months are so busy, that we all enjoyed a day at home.

We have a few projects going in preparation for the warmer weather that we're really excited about!

Outside Lowe's...test-driving the kiddy bench. Keeper?

And my mother's day homage to my mom...

I can't thank her enough for teaching me the most important thing a woman can teach her daughter...how to be a mom. Thanks, Mom.

9 month check up

Emerson had his nine-month check up at the pediatrician today. He is 25 lbs. 1 oz. and 29 inches long. He's in the 90th percentile for height, weight, and head circumference (looks like his head finally caught up to his body!). He's doing everything he should be doing, and more. His eating is obviously not an issue. He is very active, speaking some, and very interactive. He's transitioned to a sippy cup and feeding himself lots of finger food. He has two very visible teeth on the bottom, and has one top tooth poking through. The poor little bugger had three shots today. The nurse told me afterward that the 9 month shots are the hardest. There's a finger prick, an arm prick, and a vaccine into leg. As soon as he thinks he's recovered from the last prick...here comes another!

We had been at the doc two days prior with a temp of 100.8, to find out he has a double ear infection! He's a couple days into antibiotics and doing great. He really is a trooper. I think he must have a high threshold for pain.


So, basically, all is well in the world of Emerson!

I'm always so impressed with the crafts that he does at school. Ms. Sylvia has them doing all kinds of fun stuff, which is great decor for the fridge. My favorite so far, is the one I received for my first mother's day. My baby giant has the most perfect "little" hands I've ever seen. It's amazing how much a hand print can mean to a mother. (Thanks Ms. Sylvia!)

He also has recently mastered "How big is Emerson!"...where he throws his hands up. And he's beginning to wave hello and goodbye!

Rainy Friday - the traditions continue

Although it rained on Friday, Emerson and I found plenty to keep us busy! We usually take a long walk on Friday, but with the weather, we only got in a short walk around the neighborhood, in between clouds.

We started by building a fort. And by building, I mean throwing a blanket over his playmat. He's always loved rough-housing with pillows and blankets, so this was perfect! I took in a few of his light-up toys, and he had TONS of fun! He was giggling like a madman, crawling out the sides, and ducking up and down to play peek-a-boo. My sister and I used to make CRAZY forts in the basement growing up. We would use about 15 blankets and we'd cover the entire basement with mini-fort-rooms and spend the entire day reading and playing in the fort. After we moved, and when Jared was old enough, we'd show him how to make forts in our upstairs hallway. You couldn't get from one room to the next without crawling through the fort. There's something magical about creating a cozy little world of blankets.

And the wildman in action...

I've always loved to watch the rain, especially if there's thunder and lightning! When we were young, my mom used to take us into the garage and open the garage door and we would just sit and watch the storms. It was a little chilly on Friday, so we watched from inside. Still fascinating.

And my favorite...

Tupperware face

How the weeks FLY by! I just realized I haven't posted a blog since last Sunday, and it's no wonder! In addition to Jason and I both working through the week, we seem to have a good amount of events on the weekday evenings, and even more on the weekends! And then you have to find time for things like cleaning, laundry, cooking, mowing, etc. I try to get all of the cleaning and laundry done on Friday (my extra day off every week), so I don't even have to think about it on the weekend.

We have been enjoying the spring weather so much, that we've been neglectful in picture-taking. We had a great night with our good friends Stacy and Jeff on the patio at Jimmy V's last Saturday. Emerson was home with Sylvia and her husband Patrick. Emerson adores her, and she knows him so well from daycare, that we had no worries. Jason and I could really relax and enjoy our night out. Not to mention, the weather was perfect for a few beers and yummy greek food.

Emerson has a top tooth poking through, which has reduced his appetite. This isn't saying much, though. He used to eat like a horse, and now he eats more like a pony. I had almost stopped buying baby food, since he was doing so well with table food. I re-incorporated some veggies and fruits this week. He's been too picky with the table food since his top tooth pushed through. Gotta make sure this baby-giant gets all his vitamins! His new favorite is Cheerios. I buy the multi-grain, and although he eats them all, he makes faces when he gets the grains he doesn't like. The teething hasn't affected his sleep...he's still doing 11 hours solid through the night. Love that!

Friday at home...he loves to play under the kitchen table.

He'll roll his toys under there, and then get low and crawls through, army-style.

YAY for Cheerios!

I got this old trunk at a yard sale when I was in college. The man selling it carried it through the Korean War. He was so flattered that I wanted it, he gave it to me at no charge. We use it to store blankets, and Emerson has always been fascinated with it, and constantly tries to climb in.

While Jason mowed, Emerson swung! He loves to swing, at home and at the park.

I've been a little concerned with Em crawling on the new patio, thinking it would scratch up his knees. His shorts are long enough, though, that he did fine! I have a project this Spring that will give him TONS of playspace in the yard. Now I just need to find the time...

Man on a mission!

All the playing on Saturday afternoon left Emerson (and Jason) in need of a nap.

Emerson LOVES the dishwasher.

As soon as I open it, he comes from wherever he is playing, to get up on the dishwasher and pull things out.

WHAT A HELPER! I give him all the tupperware to play with, and he has a blast!

Of course this is what he does. There's a lot of funny in that "little" body.