Happy Thankful

Thursday afternoon we gathered around our family table, began enjoying the best Thanksgiving meal we've ever pulled together, and started taking turns saying what we are thankful for. Mommy had her turn, Daddy had his turn and Baby Zog was next. Not expecting too much, I looked at Baby Zog and said, "Well, son, what are you thankful for?" Every eye at the table turned to my small one-year-old. He looked around at everyone, smiled and just said one word. The greatest single word I've ever heard. "Happy," he said with a grin. What more do I need to be thankful for? That is everything I could want. Happy Thanksgiving!

Dancy Dancy

Anyone with children totally understands that kids don't perform on que, but we did manage to get a few seconds of Baby Zog's new style of dance on video. Prior to grabbing the video camera, he was really shakin his groove thang, but of course he got camera shy and calmed down as soon as we started recording. But I still think it's adorable! Click here to enjoy.

One Month Later - BIRTHDAY PHOTOS

I'm sure everyone has forgotten about First Birthday Photos, but I haven't. So, one month later, I finally present to you Baby Zog Turns One. Click here for photos. Many thanks to my sister-in-law for the fine photography. (For those of you who know her, this also explains why there are photos of the food!)

It's strange to look at these photos from just a month ago. He seems so much more mature than this already. He couldn't say apple then, but he can now! Total maturity, right!!?!

Well, this is going to be a short post. I am quite tired. Poor Baby Zog is finally asleep after a long day of being home with me. He has an ear infection (again) and the croup. Breaks my heart to hear him cough like that. We spent the day laying on the sofa, reading books, and trying to stay occupied. He's finally asleep for the night. I hope he rests well.

Zoggy Love

One day early last week, I hopped out of my car at Baby Zog's school and headed to the playground to scoop him up, cover him with kisses, and take him home. I saw him standing by the fence when a little girl who is seven months his senior - we'll call her M - came over and pushed him to the ground. (By the way, I am NOT cool with that.) A few days later, I was out of town when Daddy Zog called. "I think what you saw the other day between M and Baby Zog might have been a lovers spat," he said. Apparently, when Daddy Zog dropped Baby Zog off at school that morning, M ran over to him, hugged him and followed him around trying to hold his hand. Sure enough, when we dropped him off on Monday she walked over to hug him and the teachers all cooed, "M look, it's your special friend" with huge smiles on their face. The affair must have progressed in recent days because yesterday she came over to him, started swaying from side to side, and then lifted her shirt to show him her tummy. Now, I'm no expert on toddler love, but I think tummy exposure signals this is the real deal. True to his male DNA, Baby Zog is completely unaware of M's advances and much prefers to walk around playing with a ball or a truck. Oh, my son, it's only just beginning!

Halloween

I guess for a baby whose daddy is a PhD student and mommy is great with a glue gun, it makes sense that you should end up dressed as a Greek philosopher for Halloween. We decided it was boring to just be Socrates and so, I present to you... Willcrates.

Halloween was really fun. We enjoyed dinner with some dear friends and their sweet 5-month-old daughter and then we all went to a local church festival. Soon after we entered the church gymnasium, a little girl who was around seven came up to me, pointed at Baby Zog in his costume and said, "Oh, I see. He's Jesus." I was stunned. Then she added, "But without the thorns!" It was actually pretty funny (while I was thinking, "um, no.") Someone else said he was a cute "Cesear." Throw in a few wise men and apostles and we'd have had the entire New Testament! Anyway, the church gym was just the right atmosphere for a one-year-old to enjoy Halloween. Baby Zog really loved the carnival games and even won himself enough tickets to take home a prize. They had a rubber duckie in the image of Frankenstein on the prize table, so the evening ended on a high note for sure. Click here for more photos. If you really want more, click here for a two minute video reel from the evening.

Thursday Thought

Baby Zog and I were having dinner last night and I stopped and thought, "My son is feeding himself ravioli, garlic bread and peas for dinner." Now, that's not a great accomplishment really, but I remember not so long ago when I had decided he would surely be in kindergarten before he would feed himself anything other than Cheerios. As I watched him smash ravioli into his mouth I realized how awe-struck he leaves me. I vowed to always take the time to marvel at him as he learns and grows because being able to experience this is such a gift. I think I've figured out why everyone says being a parent is the most fulfilling job in the world.

Pumpkins!

I love this photo. What you see here is the result of trying to get a mommy/son photo with my one-year-old. A challenging task - especially with a child who never...sits...still and does not want to be contained! But beyond that, I think this photo is a great statement on the phase of life we're currently enjoying. A pictorial metaphor, if you will, for my life with an emerging toddler. Someone told me recently to "hang on and enjoy the ride." I think this photo proves I'm trying my best!

We spent the afternoon with some friends at a sorority charity pumpkin patch. We had a great time with the orange "balls" as Baby Zog called them, running, falling, petting the pumpkins, and protesting when it was time to leave. Click here for more pics of the afternoon.

Driving Man

Hello Readers of Mommy's Blog! Now that I am one, I decided it was time for me to address you on my own. Here is a lovely photo of my Uncle Jim pushing me in my NEW CAR! Papa Rick bought it for me for my birthday and now I am one stylin', crusin' man. Everyday after school I go for a stroll around the neighborhood so I can look for baby women. Unfortunately, all the kids around here seem to be boys. Oh well. I love my new car just the same! I especially love the radio.

By the way, Mommy says to tell you that, as it turns out, most of the photos of my super fun birthday party were taken on other people's cameras. As soon as she has those photos in her possession, she will share them with you.

That's all for now,

Love Baby Zog

Pediatric ER

I apologize for the delay on posting birthday party pics and stories. I intended to work on them last night, but we ended up spending several hours in the pediatric ER at University Hospital instead. Our sweet birthday boy was a trooper all weekend. Then, last night after about an hour of sleep he woke up crying and cried for nearly three hours before we took him to the ER on the advice of the night nurse we'd called.

Let me say here that taking your baby to the ER is not fun. Daddy Zog drove quickly, quietly and safely there. We finally went home several hours later in the wee hours of the morning with a diagnosis of a double ear infection, a prescription for some medication, some ear drops, and a baby finally fast asleep - thanks to some strong pain killers. Poor little man. I hate it when he hurts.

This was the second trip to the ER in the last two months for the family Zog (the first being about seven weeks ago when Daddy Zog sliced off his thumbprint with a mandolin slicer), and we've decided that if you have to go to the ER, the pediatric ER is the way to go. Not only to they take babies back immediately, but thanks to a goody bag that included a very nice stuffed Dog, some friendly doctors, and a tv/vcr playing Bob the Builder and Beethoven in our hospital room, the night was a little more comfortable.

Baby Zog is resting comfortably tonight thanks to his ear drops and some Tylenol. Once I catch up on sleep, those birthday pics will appear. Looks like year two is off to a busy start!

12 Month Check Up

It probably makes me a mean mommy that we celebrated Baby Zog's birthday yesterday with his 12 month "well-baby" check-up, but I wanted to get it out of the way before the out-of-town guests and party-goers arrive today. So, yes, my child had shots on his birthday. (No, not the fun kind of shots...those are saved for my birthday!)

We are very blessed with a healthy baby who still has an average size head (50%), good weight on him (80%), and above average height (97%). He's doing well and the doctor said to keep up the good work. Always something nice for a Mommy to hear.

What I didn't expect was this conversation that took place at the end of the lengthy visit:
Dr. Gush: "So, I've noticed that he hasn't been still since I walked in the room."
Mommy: "Yeah, he's a good baby, but he is only still when he's sleeping. I figure he's just a boy."
Dr. Gush: "I mean, he is ALWAYS moving some part of his body."
Mommy (getting the impression her child is more active than even a typical one-year-old boy): "Yeah, he keeps us on our toes for sure."
Dr. Gush, laughing as she leaves the room: "Oh, you are in for it!"

Uh oh....

Happy First Birthday my Sweet Baby Boy!

October 15, 2007

October 15, 2008

Best Intentions

When Baby Zog was four months old, the planner in me started having elaborate thoughts about his first birthday party. In the months that followed, those thoughts became grander, bigger, and quite exciting. First there was to be a pumpkin theme with a pumpkin carving table and pumpkin flavored food and all things pumpkin, including my homemade pumpkin muffins. Then there was going to be the "nicknames of Baby Zog" theme complete with games and food and decorations that would reflect the various nicknames we've had for him in the last 12 months - BITO, Buddy, Turtle, Doodlebug, Nugget, etc.

Fast forward to October. If there is one thing this mommy has learned in the last 12 months, it's that some plans just aren't realistic for a working, traveling mommy -- and that is okay. As the birthday party is now a few days away, it is quite obvious to me that there will be a very subtle "cupcake theme," some food, some beer and soda, and a birthday boy. Oh, and cake. Of course there will be cake. I'll probably run out that morning and buy some balloons and voila! we have a party.

I've heard from friends that the parties do indeed get grander as the child gets older, so I'm enjoying this simple first birthday. In the end, I'm just excited that our families are traveling from far away to visit my son on his special day. My mommy heart wishes he'll somehow remember feeling loved and adored on his first birthday. My mommy head knows all that will remain for him is a photo with cake all over his face. But I will always tell him stories of his first year of life and how we marked it with cake and a song and plenty of love.

Where's Dada?

Computer Mediated Communication. That's where. Yes, Daddy Zog has class every Monday night until quite late, so Mondays are Mommy-Baby date night. Sometimes we go to the store; other times we just come home and play. Last night baby Zog decided to give Mommy a run for her money. In the course of an hour, he tried to eat my running shoes, mashed nutrigrain bar so far into the rug that it's gonna just have to stay there, poured the entire contents of his sippy cup onto the floor, looked up my dress a little too inquisitively, pulled my hair, coughed green beans all over my face (which he found hilarious), drank his bath water out of his shampoo cup, and stuck his hand into a flushing toilet. All of this while constantly looking around the house and saying "Dada?"

The funny thing is that he did all of this with a happy spirit and I actually found most of it rather amuzing. I'm sure it's becuase I actually got a good night's sleep sunday night, but I thought it was funny to watch him explore how things work. He really was a good boy last night -- just a curious one. It's true that you learn from your children. Mama Zog has now learned to put her shoes away, only eat nutrigrain bars in the kitchen, and to close the lid to the toilet before flushing (which really is safer anyway). I'll have to be sure to pass these tips to Dada Zog before my girls' night out on Thursday!

New Chair

Baby Zog got an early birthday present in the mail this week. His very own chair! It's been the center of attention around here and he understands that he is supposed to sit in it, but he can't figure out how to launch himself backward into the chair. So, most days he tries to sit a few time and then just gives up and piles his toys onto the chair instead. Click here to see a video of Baby Zog attempting to sit in his chair. Thank you Anie! Baby Zog loves his chair and Mama and Daddy Zog love trying to teach him to sit in it.

Missing Photo Albums

For anyone looking for the photo album links that used to be on this site (okay, so this post is really just for Baby Zog's grandmothers) the links were not working, so I've taken them down. I'm switching to a google-based format so the albums I create from now on should always work. For the time being, I threw together an album with pics from the first 11 months of Baby Zog's life to hold you over until the end of September when the September pics will be up. Sorry for the wait!

Please Hold for Baby Zog

Yesterday the family Zog ventured into the cell phone store to take a peek at things. New phones are definitely in our future (especially for Mama Zog since a certain baby broke the antenna off my Treo!). Baby Zog had to touch everything in the store. Yes, EVERYTHING. So, Daddy Zog eventually held him - weedwacker style - and just walked up and down the aisles so he could leave his sticky, nutri-grain infused fingerprints on every product they offered. Why are babies so interested in adult gizmos and gadgets? He never acts this way in the toy aisle at Target.

To Shoe or Not to Shoe

Before Baby Zog was born, I very rarely asked for help or opinions from anyone. Well, times have changed. I need to know the answer to a very important question and I hope you parents of older babies will help me out here. Read closely here becuase this is crucial:

When does it stop being acceptable for my child to go barefoot in public? He wears shoes every day to school, but on the weekends he likes to be barefoot. He's almost 11 months old. So, one would think, he's still a baby so it's okay. On the other hand, he walks now. So does that make him a big boy who should wear shoes at all times? (Of course, if he's barefoot, we don't let him just stroll through Target - yucky!) Then there's the whole "no shirt, no shoes, no service" posting on local establishments. When does that start to apply to Baby Zog? Please post a comment and help me!!!

Humbly yours,
Mommy Zog

Back to School

For anyone who doesn't know, I should tell you that we Zogs moved to a new town back in May so Daddy Zog could pursue a PhD and someday be a professor of Media Law. So, I am now the all powerful breadwinner here in Zogland. Of course with Daddy being a full time student and Mommy being a full time magazine person, some reinforcements are needed to assist Baby Zog in his daily adventures. Since the move, various family members have enjoyed the pleasure of his company. We could not be more grateful for the help they gave us with Baby Zog as it allowed for us to find just the right permanent place for him.

Yes, my boy started School today. (I don't much care for the word "daycare.") I got him dressed in school clothes and his new shoes, made sure he ate plenty of breakfast, packed and repacked his bag, took about a million photos (see video here), and off we went. The fun part of our new routine is that Baby Zog's school is at a church just past Daddy's school, so every morning we can all ride together! Although Baby Zog attended school in our old town, I was still nervous about this new chapter of his life. "What if he starves all day!?!" I cried as we finished our "first day of school prayer." Being a mommy is such a funny thing. Or rather, having a mommy's brain and a mommy's heart is a funny thing. You do your research, make the visits, and know you have found a great school for your son. And yet, when the day comes to leave him there all day, you totally disregard their 40+ years in business and their superior state rating. You fear that they won't feed him, will forget him out on the playground, and will let him scream in the corner during nap time. I was also quite certain any food they gave him would end up on the floor and not in his mouth.

In reality, I should learn to trust my own decisions while also having a little faith in my sweet-natured son. We dropped him off this morning and he happily went to his teacher (whom he has seen a handful of times prior to today) and waved bye-bye to us without crying a tear. I picked him up this afternoon - not as early as I'd hoped thanks to some stupid slow driver woman - and was informed that he was "happy all day." He played, read books, took both of his bottles, drank water, ate snacks, and even ate beans, cheese, fruit and vanilla wafers at lunch. I was even more shocked to hear that he took a 90 minute nap. Not quite as long as the two hours we get at home, but a really good start for his first nap in a new place.

So, as he peacefully sleeps upstairs and I am about to pack his bag for tomorrow, I am slightly calmer knowing that day #1 is behind us and hopeful that day #2 will go well also. Slowly, my mommy head and mommy heart are learning to realax a little and trust God to lead us. I'm working on it. Promise!

Big Boy Walking Shoes

I've been hit in the face this week with exhibit A in the case of Baby Growing Up Too Fast vs. Mommy. Now that Baby Zog has been walking for a bit and seems to have adopted walking as his preferred method of transportation , we decided it was time to get him some big boy walking shoes. So, on Tuesday, Mommy, Baby Zog, and Sitti (it means grandmother) piled in the car and headed to - where else? Stride Rite. I've been told they are the creator of good, supportive, structured shoes for my new walker, so that's where we went. In my mind, we would walk in, have Baby Zog fitted for the typical white baby shoe, pay a small sum, and leave with a happy, walking baby. Hmm...so much for my mind.

I had no idea they had so many styles and categories of shoes! I was actually really impressed with the cuteness of their shoes. Even the basic white shoes have come a long way since I toddled around in them 30 years ago. I also had no idea baby shoes were so expensive. Geez, I can't remember the last time I dropped $50 for a pair of MY shoes! [I should note that Sitti picked up the bill for this inaugural pair. Thank you Sitti!] In the end, we opted for the basic white walking shoes becuase I figured they would go with everything and let's face it, who can afford more than one pair at a time for shoes that have to be replaced every 60-90 days? (If you are the one who can afford it, then clearly YOUR husband did not just quit his job to be a student again.) The nice shoe store lady measured Baby Zog's fat nugget foot, declared him a size 5 1/2 and brought out the wide shoes. He stared at them like they were a foot parasite. We put him down and he was cemented to the floor. Eventually, he took a few huge, Godzilla steps around the store. He's getting more used to them as the days go by which is good becuase he starts his new daycare on Monday and will have to wear them all day then. He'll learn to like them, but my early prediction is that he's going to take after his aunt and always prefer to be barefoot!


Baby Zog inspecting his new kicks.



Baby Zog walking on the deck in his new shoes.


The new shoes make it a little harder for him to cross his ankles - especially when sitting on the floor - but he always finds a way. He's such a proper little man!

Uncle Ross Photo Shoot

My brother-in-law Ross is an amazing amateur photographer. Psychologist by day - photographer extraordinare the rest of the time. He doesn't make his living taking photos, but I think he could. Earlier this month, he and my sister Suzyn came to visit us (well, really to visit Baby Zog, let's be honest here.) Not only did they travel over 1,250 miles to spend a few days in Zogland, but they made the trek by CAR. I am so glad they did becuase the space in the car allowed Ross to bring his fancy-pants camera, some studio lighting larger than my dining room table, some light reflecting thing-a-ma-jigs and enough other photography equipment to turn our house into Olan Mills for the weekend. The result was sent to me in the mail this week. A DVD with over 400 images of my sweet baby boy! I have looked at them no less than 20 times in the 24 hours we've owned the disc. Of course, Baby Zog will probably be in college by the time I settle on which ones are my favorites to print and frame. I love how organic these photos are. Many of them were taken while Baby Zog was in his p.j.s or just playing in the living room. All of them were taken in our home or in our yard. I love them because they capture my darling boy doing the things he does every day, playing with familiar toys, and looking up at familiar faces.

Here are a few of our favorites:

I love this classic headshot, especially in black & white.

Sweet baby boy

Why are babies so cute from the side?

So happy he can't stand it!

Daddy's hat is a little too big, but gee, it's cute.

He loves to roam on the deck!

Perfect little model!

I love the color treatment Ross used here.

Absolutely my favorite photo of my son - ever.

Well, I could keep posting photos for hours, so I'll stop now while I'm still in control! To see what we've dubbed "the top 48," click here.