WildLights

The Columbus Zoo has a winter feature of Christmas lights, called WildLights. We have a family season pass to the zoo, so we took full advantage! He got to see Santa (from a distance), live reindeer, our favorite manatees, and a million lights!

It was a great way to wrap up the long holiday weekend!

Emerson, bundled and ready to go! He left his mittens on the entire time!

The three of us
Em enjoying the carousel (I'm on the other side of the horse)

A little dizzy maybe...

Choo choo!!!

There was a huge area where the lights moved to music...it was so cool!

He was hypnotized!

Emerson's favorite part of the evening was on our way out, playing in mud puddles. Of course!

Here's a quick video of Emerson watching the animated lights...he was completely mesmerized! You can only see him when everything lights up...but I love his little profile watching in amazement.

15 months old

Emerson is doing so many new things right now!

He runs everywhere he goes, and loves to be chased. He giggles like a monkey and runs through the house. He climbs onto everything, including our tall kitchen chairs, kitchen countertop, the top of the couches and living room chair, and anything else he can scale.

He is saying quite a bit, and is constantly wanting to learn more. "Whassa heey" while pointing we've learned is "What's that?" He still signs regularly for more, please, and thank you. He also uses "deet daut" for thank you. He often tells Sheffield to "go" and scolds him with "noooo". While he's known ball, dog, kitty, and other words, it's interesting to see him begin to use phrases and words in context. There are lots of things we're not yet able to translate, although he's very clear and deliberate in what he's saying!

Emerson eats everything in sight. He loves turkey dogs and turkey bologna, and pasta with alfredo or meat sauce, garlic bread, green beans, broccoli, cheese, every kind of fruit and anything else he can get his hands on. We've found that he's not very interested in sweets, though. Like his momma, he'd rather have the pasta and bread over the desserts.

Emerson loves to color and draw, and creates masterpieces at home and at school. While he's starting to show some toddler behavior with "no-no-no" and small fits on the floor when he doesn't get what he wants, he also is a little boy who loves to give kisses and hugs. I can't believe he is almost 16 months!


Although chilly outside, it was a nice enough day yesterday that we bundled up for a walk. We just went a couple of blocks, but the fresh air was lovely.

Giving thanks.

While it hardly scratches the surface, here is a short list of what we're thankful for this year.

1. Two secure incomes that allow us to live very comfortably.
2. A warm house, where we can spend time with our amazing little boy.
3. Emerson's loving Grandparents, who can't get enough of him.
4. Emerson's Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins, who bring such joy to our lives.
5. Happiness, health, and humor.

We have so much.

We spent Thanksgiving in Toledo this year, with all the Zielinskis! What a great time! Emerson loves playing with his cousins and they love to play with him! The three of them are so gentle with Emerson, and love to introduce him to new toys and games.

Kendall and Emerson setting up the track

The Jankowskis
Two of the Zielinkis, Emerson napped through the meal. (No pic of Mary and Ted since Mary was busy finishing the incredible meal!)

The Jankos made place setting cookies for everyone...so cool!

Good nap...now it's time to eat!

Hide and seek with Kendall!

Emerson is not the best hider.

Emerson had a great time tearing through Grandma Z's ads!

Wrestle-Mania!

Emerson loves playtime! Our TV room upstairs has turned into a playroom with lots of toys, and he takes full advantage of the little time we have in the evenings to play and go wild in there! He has recently started wrestling with us! He'll dive on top of our backs if we're laying on the floor, and run and yell, and just get crazy.


I was cleaning floors this morning, and thank goodness I have TWO brooms! Emerson loves to help. And has to be doing whatever we're doing. Fine by me! He must have played with the broom for close to an hour!

Noon games are hard when that's also naptime. He gave in, but was up for the second half. He loved yelling at the TV with Jason and Uncle Andrew.

Go Goooooooooooooo!

Toilet Paper and Turkeys!

Life has been hectic as usual, so I haven't had much time for blogging. Emerson is taking a rare second nap today, so I thought I'd quickly catch up on my posts and pictures! Following my trip to Houston, we had a busy week, with more than usual evening activities. Our evenings are always so short through the week. We are all in the door and eating around 6 or 6:30, add a quick shower for Emerson and a book before his 7:30 bedtime, and the day is done! Also had a busy weekend with me heading Friday to an annual wine and cheese event with a bunch of girls and then Saturday, Jason and I headed to campus to watch the game with a big group to celebrate Jess's birthday.

Mimmy and Dzia Dzia (Emerson's Gma and Gpa Z) came down to hang out with Emerson and watch the game at the house. Emerson wore them out! As long as he's awake, he's going non-stop. Let me repeat. Non-stop. This has become our norm, but for those that aren't around him as much, he's exhausting!

I had a few errands, so he got to play at the mall playground. He has a blast every time! This is fairly representative of the wild thing we call Emerson.

This sweet little girl followed Emerson around for about 20 minutes. Emerson couldn't have cared less. He went about his business climbing and running, with this little girl not far behind. Interestingly, she came with another little boy, but only wanted to play with Em! This was intentional. He would climb onto everything and dive off head-first. (Note the little girl looking to see where he went!)
Emerson loves to rake leaves! And may have actually been a little helpful!

He was running with the roll of TP from one bathroom to the next...
...and back again.

Emerson is now eating most meals with a spoon or fork (15 months)! He loves to use utensils and uses them correctly! He is very careful in moving items to his mouth. He doesn't want to drop any! And by the looks of him, he clearly doesn't drop much.

Emerson, and a tired "Mimmy" after a long day of babysitting.

Who's ready for TURKEY!?!?!?!?

Mom in Houston!

Emerson is at such a fun, and busy, age. Jason and I tag-team most everything. It's always an adventure getting Emerson ready in the morning, feeding him meals, and trying to accomplish everything we need to in our brief weekday mornings and evenings. Then there are the everyday things...laundry, meals, grocery shopping, showers, packing meals for school, cleaning, cooking, etc. Now, imagine trying to do all that by yourself!

Although I don't anticipate much travel with my new job, I did have a quick trip to Houston this week. I left midday on Sunday, and got back at midnight on Tuesday. I never worry while I'm gone that Emerson is well cared for. After a few days as a single parent, we're both always happy to have the other home!

Below is proof positive that Emerson not only ate and wore his green beans, but that they were washed off as well! (Again - no real explanation as to why he has a sippy cup in the shower.)

15-month check-up

Emerson had his 15-month check-up at the pediatrician today, and ALL IS WELL!

He weighed in at a healthy 31 lbs (97th percentile), measured 33 ¼” tall (95th percentile), and has a head circumference of 47.9 cm (75th percentile). I don’t normally include the head circumference, but this is to show those of you who think he has a big head that he in fact does not! It’s actually small in comparison to his body. Either that, or there are a bunch of little egg-headed babies running around that are throwing off the curve. :)

Only three shots today…and not a single tear. He barely flinched. He just wanted his tongue depressors back.

All good things to report. We did find out though that our pediatrician will not get any H1N1 vaccines. Ah well…we’ll have to find another route. Also pending, another renal ultrasound to make sure Emerson’s kidneys are working properly after his little navel surgery he had a year ago.

This baby's strong...and groo-oo-wing.

Water-baby

I may mention this a lot, and blog about it a lot...

Emerson is a WATER-BABY! He loves the pool, the ocean, the bath, and the shower! Following tubes in his ears, we've had to be extra careful about soapy water getting in his ears, so we have nearly eliminated baths. Not to worry, though, he is certainly getting clean in his 20 minute showers! We have a great master bathroom, and Emerson loves the shower in there, b/c with the glass pane door, he can show us what a wildman he is. In the evenings, and often in the mornings, we'll put him in the shower, and he'll play and play for up to 1/2 hour. This is great for the mornings as it allows Jason and I to get ready. He can hardly walk into that bathroom without pleading for a shower. He's fearless in putting his head and face under the water.


I don't have a recent picture of this yet, but here are a few in recap!