Big News!

Zack is going to be a big brother!  I'm 12 weeks along and due July 14th.  We are all thrilled.  I got Zack a baby doll for Christmas and he pretty much has ignored her.  I'm not expecting too much more with the real thing (LOL).  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Zack and Grandma Jude with her new bag set from the kids.

Jacob, Emma, Jack, Abby, Zack, Audrey and Grandma Nene

Zack opening his kite.  We plan to fly it at Lake Michigan this Summer.

Zack and Grandpa Scott - reading The Night Before Christmas.

Zack, Mommy and Santa - Maybe I'll like this big scary man next year?

Wow, this Christmas really went by quickly!  We had a wonderful time in Iowa.  The weather was crazy (always).  What a magical time of year for a two year old and his parents.  We really had a great time watching Zack discover all the treasures of the holiday season.  He wasn't real thrilled with Santa.  He literally tried to crawl over me to get away from him.  He did enjoy talking about Santa and reading about him.  He just wanted nothing to do with visiting him.  In fact on Christmas morning when I went to get him out of bed, I told him Santa had come.  He no longer wanted out of bed and only would come with me after I assured him that Santa wasn't still here.  I found this quite funny!  We wish you all a very Happy New Year!

This white stuff is awesome!

Zack enjoyed our first real snow of the year.  He and his buddy Connor had a great morning in the park.   Every time we walk outside Zack says "it's snowing."  I remind him that it snowed.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a white Christmas.

Lil' Mr. Terror

As you can see, Zack continues to be very active. Aunt Ally bought him this very appropriate t-shirt. He certainly is Lil' Mr. Terror! We are not model parents by any means. We find it pretty amusing when he decides to launch from the coffee table to the couch (picture above). Hum, I wonder why he thinks it is okay to climb on other people's tables?
In other news, Zack got a haircut this morning. He sat in the car chair and watched a video while the lady cut his hair. I also bribed him with two lolly pops. Wow, another example of our model parenting! We're on a roll. Zack continues to do really well at potty training. Stop reading if you want to be spared the details..... he now has gone poop in the potty twice. Very big news for this family. He does really well with going potty, but is a little resistant to going poop . I've just been timing him and putting him on the potty every hour. He has been wearing underpants and pull-ups during the day. Keep your fingers crossed.

Trick-or-treat

Luke the Punk Rocker, Connor the Disco Dancer and Zack the Pirate

Happy Halloween! We had a wonderful night of trick-or-treating. Zack ate the candy before it even made it to his pumpkin. His sugar high kept him up about an hour past his bedtime. At one point in the evening he was literally spinning in circles. We enjoyed Halloween night with our neighbors - Brandy, Coby, Connor, Trish, Jeff and Luke. We took the boys out for a couple hours and then we all ate appetizers and chili. The boys had a ball playing together in costume.
Now I'm just hoping to find a good hiding spot for the candy.

Arrr.....Matey!

Mommy, Zack the Pirate, Anna the Bumble Bee and Karen

Zack looking tough

Mommy, Pirate and Daddy

Last night we went to a Halloween party with our friends Dan, Karen and Anna. Zack decorated a pumpkin and danced the hokey pokey with his dad. We have a busy week of Halloween activities planned. I just hope his costume will last the week. He isn't real gentle.

Little Piccaso

Ms. Cheryl and Zack

Zack stamping

Zack painting with a marble

Zack using an excessive amount of paint

Zack is in a painting class through the Chicago Park District on Fridays. He seems to really enjoy this class for about 30 minutes (the class is an hour). He has a pretty short attention span and for those of you who are around him, you know he likes to get into whatever he shouldn't be in. His favorite part about art class seems to be the birds in the cage and washing paint off of his hands. He really enjoyed making the Halloween mask above, but was very upset when he went to pull it off and it snapped back at his face.