Sprout Takes a Walk: Video Evidence

Here is the video from last night of Zeke walking. Aaron had been keeping the camera on standby for just this moment and that completely paid off. In the background, you can see Grandma Trish on the computer as we were teleconferencing as Zeke was getting ready to go to bed.



Zeke walked a lot today around the house and at playgroup. He still likes to applaud himself after walking a distance and expects others to do likewise. He is already starting to get into trouble now that he can get new places and walk handsfree. For example, today he figured out he could lift the toilet seat all by himself. We've installed locks on almost all the cabinets and drawers and now we might have to lock the toilets? Egh -- where does it end! Still, it's a lot of fun to watch him show off his new walking skills.

Now Walk It Out

Zeke does not yet have dance moves mastered, but the little fella is sure walking! He has been talking little itty bitty steps for a while, standing more and more and "bear walking" or walking on all fours. (And, each time he stands, it is followed by me calling to Sprout Daddy or vice versa "Looklooklooklook!" Yup, lots of sophisticated conversation in our household.) Tonight as we were getting him ready for bed, he walked across the nursery...multiple times....on video! It was so much fun to see. He was loving it, too -- clapping, smiling, laughing.

I had been saying all along that I thought that he probably wouldn't walk until 15 months, largely because he consistently has been hitting major milestones a little later than average but within the expected window. Inwardly I was hoping it might be sooner. Lots of trouble will ensue shortly as a result, I'm sure, but I'm also hoping this might resolve some of his frustrations trying to get around, frustrations that usually result in shrieks that make me feel like my brain is melting.

So, I was off a little on the time and now have lost 20 bucks in a bet with Aaron. To help soothe this loss, Aaron did say that I was right in this regard -- I've been saying that Zeke really learns a lot every time he has prolonged contact with new people. That is, he always seems to have a new skill after a long visit with family. My sister, grandmother and nephew left today after a week of visiting us and within 12 hours, he was walking! Yay, Zeke! (And thanks to the family!)

I can't see how Day Two of walking goes tomorrow. Video evidence to be posted soon!

Bad Hair Day

My child is gorgeous everyday. The same cannot always be said for his hair. Here is a bad hair day from last week.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! I hope that all of the wonderful mothers I know had a great day. On this day, I would like to say that I am very grateful for all the mother mentors, mother friends and mothers we have in our lives.

For our day, we ate a great meal at Cafe Sunflower and then had a nice relaxing day that included a trip to the park playground for some more swingtime. Trish is here for a quick visit and Zeke is so excited to have her here, but he is ecstatic that her two little dogs are with her!

In a lot of ways, this feels like my first Mother's Day, as I have to admit that I hardly remember anything from the first few months of Zeke's life and now I've got a full year of mothering under my belt. As I have said before, what a year! And, I am so grateful for our lives at this moment. We get to spend lots of time with Zeke, we are living a comfortable life and, best of all, Zeke is eating and sleeping well! (And, I've learned enough in the past year to know how important that is.)

These are photos of Zeke finishing his Mother's Day gifts this week. We made plates with his handprint and had them fired. You can see him here putting on the finishing touches and then "helping" pack the plates for shipping. It was hard work to help (though the final product seems worth it), so Zeke had to have something to drink afterwards.

Quite the Swinger

In the past few weeks, we've been spending a lot more time outside, including at the park. Zeke loves the swings at the park. Here is the photographic evidence. I couldn't decide on which photo I liked, so you get them all!

Sprout Takes a Call

Check out the follow up to the YouTube classic "Sprout Takes a Stroll". I mentioned in a recent post that Zeke has taken to "talking" on the phone. Please forgive the silly narration -- I'm trying to learn to be quiet when the camera is rolling. In the first part of the clip, I'm on the phone telling someone about what Zeke is doing. Funny thing, I think Zeke is on the phone talking about what I'm doing.



Zeke found his phone in a box in Aaron's office -- it is our old cordless phone. He is savvy to the fact that it is not one of our cell phones or our house phones. He still prefers those immensely. We frequently unhook the corded phone in our bedroom so that he doesn't take it off the hook. This morning I also had to hide my cell phone and the house phone behind couch cushions when I was waiting for some calls, so that he wouldn't see them and have a meltdown over my wanting to use the phones. Zeke is okay with using the play phone, though. He is actually willing to using almost anything as a phone: papers, a brush, shoes, towel, block, you get the idea. And, if something doesn't work as a phone, Zeke can usually use it as a car that goes "vroom".

Next time your phone rings, it could be Mr. Baby!

Beach Trip: Wrap Up

On the last day of our vacation, we got together with another friend and former coworker for brunch (no pictures to post -- she forbade it!). Zeke was pleased to again eat more breakfast foods.

(Warning: Here comes tangents.) We also visited the park where we ran into our glamourous yet eccentric former landlord who had not aged a day in the time that we have been gone, as well as a handful of Civil War reenactors and some well-dressed Savannahians waving the Confederate battle flag commerating Confederate Memorial Day (I'm sure you all celebrated, too). That's the thing about Savannah -- it is a lot like our former landlady. Beautiful, charming, friendly, restored very well, but always a little disarmingly odd. I may have lived in the South for most of my life, but I still find watching displays such as we saw in equal measures puzzling, awkward and infuriating. The reenactors (which included "widows" in black hoop skirts) didn't necessarily bother me, but the crowd with the flags in a park? Nonetheless, I hope as many years won't elapse until our next visit. I'm also looking forward to when we can take family vacations when Zeke is older. In a few years we are hoping to take Zeke and Zach to someplace like Disney World. I'm also hoping that Zeke will want to travel to places around the world with me!

One of the nice things about this trip is that Zeke did sleep in his pack and play -- a portable playpen of sorts. This was a tremendous relief as he refused to do this when we were in Florida. In Florida, this meant that we slept together (poorly). I was expecting that for this trip and dreading it, but he absolutely defied my expectations. I'm sure it won't be the last time.

A Day at the Beach

We saved the next whole day for going to the beach. The Baby really got into playing in the wet sand and making a mess and after a little while got very interested in the water. He let me help him walk in the surf and towards the end he would just rush into the water without any fear or hesitation. I was tired stopping him from going too far into the water! I was reminded of the nature shows where the baby sea turtles following instinct rush towards the water no matter the obstacle -- Zeke was relentless as those turtles. He was very serious -- look at those expressions. You can just see how much he is thinking about this experience.

At the end of the afternoon, as we investigated a jetty by the light house, Zeke sat in my new beach sling (mesh fabric with sun protection) and fell asleep. Rather, than wake him up by putting him in the car, I decided to walk from where we were to the condo along the beach. (Aaron drove the car back and met me partway through the walk.)

It was an undescribable walk -- beautiful and it made my heart feel so full. As I walked, I watched and listened to the waves, the birds, other beach goers. I collected some shells. I carried my baby who slept with his head and hand resting on my chest. I halfheartedly wished he was awake so we could share it, but as I walked and he slept I told him about everything I saw and heard and felt. It was my favorite part of our trip.

Beach Trip: The Second Day

The first full day of vacation started with breakfast at Tybee's renown Breakfast Club. For the first time, we ordered Zeke his own meal! He ate scrambled eggs and a biscuit, as well as part of my waffle and a banana. (Zeke really likes breakfast foods.) Zeke knows how to eat when he is on vacation!


After breakfast and a quick nap, we took a quick stroll out on the beach in front of the condo we rented. It's amazing to realize that Zeke was seeing and experiencing something for the first time. He got to sit in the sand, watch the waves and even meet a local -- a super fast crab. I was curious about what Zeke might think about the surf sounds as he sleeps each night to a CD of wave sounds. Surprisingly, he did not fall asleep upon hearing the real sounds of the beach.


Later on, we met our friends again and wandered around downtown, even stopping at our old cottage. I'd forgotten how lovely and charming a place old Savannah can be with its moss draped trees and green squares. That was a wonderful time in our lives -- practically newlywed, living downtown, meeting interesting people, and largely being free from major responsibilities -- and it was pleasant to remember that. And, again there was more eating. Zeke was exhausted by the time we got back to the condo, but had enough energy to take a call (one of his favorite activities these days) and play a game of hide and seek in the bathroom cabinet.

Beach Trip: The First Day

Hello -- we've been doing well since the last post -- we're all well-fed, sunned and unpacked from Baby's first trip to the beach. Yes, he has been to coastal Florida three times, but we had not yet made it to the beach! Last week, though, we went back to Savannah for a few days. A whole lifetime ago (i.e., almost six years ago) we lived there, and largely out of inertia we have only been back twice. Friends Space Jase and Mrs. Space Jase (link to blog at right) from the good ol' days were going to be back in Savannah, so we decided we do some multitasking: see friends, see old stomping grounds and take the baby to the beach.

It took us much longer to get there than it should have as an accident had the highway shut down, so it was a relief to finally get there and go to one of our favorite restaurants in one of our favorite places for dinner -- North Beach on Tybee Island. Zeke enjoyed the restaurant and company immensely! He got to try out all of his favorite games including "Baby is so big!" with A. multiple times and "Flying Baby" with J. Zeke did take a break though to investigate J.'s facial hair!