I Love Surprises

Especially surprises that make me happy while saving me time, energy and money. So a big THANK YOU goes to Baby Zog's Sitti. She stayed with him this past weekend while Daddy Zog and I went away for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. As if that wasn't enough of a gift, Sitti also managed to take Baby Zog out for a surprise photo shoot. Oh what a great gift to come home to! Thank you also to Baby Zog's Aunt Deenie for chasing him around the studio and getting him to smile. I know from experience that is one heck of a workout!

Here are my favorites from the shoot. (Grandparents, aunts, uncles - don't worry, your copies of these photos are in the mail.)

Sixteen

Baby Zog is 16 months old today! I can't believe he's not a helpless baby anymore. It seems overnight he turned into a snack-requesting, sentence-speaking, ball-kicking, peek-a-boo-playing, hand-washing, picture-coloring (well sort of) BOY. Every day he says or does something that I had no idea he was capable of - like today when he said "triangle."

I told Daddy Zog that I think I'll remember the year between 12 and 24 months as my favorite. Other parents say every year gets better. If that is true, than I am going to have the most wonderful life any mom could have. Sure, life after Baby Zog is busier, but did we really need to spend four hours every Sunday afternoon watching Food Network? Life after Baby Zog is more frugal, but was it necessary to dine in style four nights a week when we now know that La Hacienda has the best $9.99 fajitas I've ever had? Sure, Valentine's Day was a little less eventful, but Daddy Zog cooked the best meal I've ever enjoyed, we drank way too much Castle Rock Pinot Noir in the comfort of our own home and I can't think of a better evening with the man I love. (Baby Zog did his part by going to bed at 7:05 p.m. and not waking up this morning until just after 8:00 a.m. - considering our wine consumption, we were most grateful for his generosity.)

So, here's to the first 16 months with my awe inspiring son. He amazes me every day and melts my heart with his. Kinda makes me want another one...

(Daddy Zog will choke when he reads that!)

Mini Monica

Anyone who has ever lived with me, spent the night at my house or just "observed" me will appreciate this story. It seems Baby Zog is at the age where it's becoming apparent that he inherited certain traits from his mother. While climbing up the stairs toward his room for nap time yesterday, my meticulous boy stopped at every piece of fuzz, lint, or other non-vacuumed item, pinched it between fore-finger and thumb, handed it to me, and said, "thank you" in a voice that made me wonder if I should curtsy and call him Sir. Who needs a dirt devil when you have a child like this? :)

Two Bits

We can agree that he doesn't need a shave just yet, but Baby Zog's first hair cut is a topic of much conversation in Zogland. Daddy Zog is firm on the "no cutting" rule. I waver back and forth. Some days I think his long, uneven, unruly hair is adorable. And then there are mornings like the one you see photographed here. No, we did not put his hair up in a giant hot roller. He just woke up this way -- with a full WAVE on top of his head. I tried water, magical mommy saliva, and hair products. Nothing would tame the wave.

For now, he is clear of the shears, but check back with me in another month or two.

For more closeups of his hair that morning and other pics from the month of January, click here.