A B C D

I have to spell important words like beach and bike around little man so as not to upset the natural disorder of my life. This morning we were making plans for the weekend over the phone. Every time we spelled b.e.a.c.h. Zaky was sitting on the floor and looked up at me and said "Take Zaky to the A.B.C.D?" "Mama going to the J.K.F?" I think we have a few more years to use this handy tool of covert talking, but it seems maybe not as many years as my parents had.

These shots he "take all by myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Sleepers

These shots were taken on the same night at the same time. Bill will suffer insomnia on occasion, not able to fall asleep, or falls asleep then wakes with the inability to fall back to sleep. But one sure thing to make him fall asleep (EVERY TIME) put some pillows on the floor and an episode of 'Castle'. Zaky, who knows what that boy does to fall asleep, I would rather not know. All I know is he goes to bed around 8/ 8:30, and doesn't come out except for the occasional potty/ juice/ I found my sun glasses/ Jonas needs his clothes, excuse. But we find him in the weirdest places, and with all sorts of things in his bed.

Happy Birthday Jonas

(Bill is watching the Eagle /Atlanta football game, so I have the computer and a free evening, below are several new updates)

Our little man is 1!!!!!! He is our little raccoon we call him (he loves digging in the trash and toilet) one day we caught him standing in the toilet, but could not get to the camera in time). He is WALKING, pointing, saying mama, baba (not specifically to us Yet), darting point when he wants something, stacks blocks, tackles, trows balls, holds a bat, holds his own in the bath tub, takes a lick'n a keeps on tick'n, eats everything without any teeth. He is such a sweaty with his smiles and energy. We love you Yo!

Daddy's little "not"so helpers

Fixing the refrigerator took a bit longer, but the bonding was worth it.

Attention all shoppers

All aunts and grandmothers reading this blog. Little man could use a baseball mitt for Christmas. He is resourceful and using Jonas' peek-a-boo kitty book as a mitt. This is fine for now, but could result in some teasing in the future. And given the current economical crisis, our current Plan B for retirement is a future Philly pitcher.

WWF preschool style

A hiking we will go!

Hiking has never been one of Christy Ludlow's hobbies. But after many years of breaking Christy Bowers now enjoys it (to a point). We had the great privilege of hosting Bill's friend (his family) and 4 single guys from Iraq. It took me several days to understand the different dialect, the noisy van and kids didn't help, but seeing people swim in the ocean for the first time was wonderful. These guys have worked so hard over the last year it was nice to be able to help them have a nice vacation. They are not hikers, my Bowers training kicked in as I pulled along their little girl singing the theme song from 'Dora'. We stayed in a monastery on the side of a cliff. The milestones: being there as they walked on the beach for the first time, and enjoyed their first McDonald's ice cream. Zaky was a bit sick and slightly cranky, but game for whatever we threw at him as long as he had his water bottle.

Jonas' First Year

Our little guy is One year old! He is such a special little man. He is passionate and expressive. He seems to not have taken after his mother's mellow tendencies. He loves everything Zaky, Zaky's toys, food, attention. He wants to cuddle until he doesn't, he wants to be carried until he doesn't. He is happy until he's not, or until he is hungry. He is a good little eater without one tooth in his head. His eyes are turning green like his daddy, his hairline is completly his dad and grandad, but he has his mama's nose. We are so proud of him. His smile lights up his face and anyone who sees him.

Catching up

Both boys LOVED to jump on Gramma Wanda while she "woke up" in the morning.

This summer has not gone by quickly, but as has been said by someone other then myself, the days go by slowly while time goes by quickly. After two months of moving, illness, poor internet, and a husband that uses the computer 95% of the time I am now committed to catching up on blog updates. Where to start? I never posted pictures of my mom's first or second visit. She came to visit in June and the end of August. She offered a nice distraction for the boys and gave me plenty of excuses to spend money both mine and hers: ) There was McDonalds and playgrounds galore. When Gramma Wanda came in June she bought Zaky a recorder and harmonica, and went with me to buy his first bike. When she came back in August he could play both instruments (he knows now how to blow into them not just spit) and on his bike he can "pedal real fast" (as he says it). Gramma Wanda "went on the airplane" but we will see her again "in America".