The Sick Little Princess. . .

This story is too cute to hide in the comments. . .Thank you, Nana for using your day off to take care of Zoey. It really was a huge help!

As told in Nana's words. . .

More info on the Princess:
Nana took on some sick child babysitting today. 1/30/08After a little Tylenol took effect, Zoey got up off the couch and said very seriously, "I want to dance, I need my Princess socks, my Dancing dress and some music. You, Nana, get the music. And I'll get my Dancing dress and my Princess socks." She came upstairs with some socks that had bows on them that looked super tiny. She said, even before the small socks registered on my doubtful face, "these fit me, they do, and I need these to dance." I looked at the socks, slid them on her feet and smiled. (The socks fit perfectly.) Off we went to find a suitable dancing dress. At first we tried another pink dress in the closet but it just wasn't good enough (too small). THE dress was found neatly folded by mom in the laundry room. We also found tights since it was 39 below wind chill outside.We went upstairs to dress the Princess and it was easy as pie. All fitted out - tights over the Princess socks - Zoey aked me to play the piano for her dancing. I don't know how to play the piano...? so... I'm playing Livingstonkowsky Prelude Number 2 while Zoey twirled and did some floor hip hop. Finished with her solo she said, "OK, Nana, now you dance and I'll play the piano!?"Usually I never turn down an opportunity to dance but soloing is not my thing so Zoey played the piano and I rested. We had a short dance lesson in the kitchen and that was the end of that -- the dress stayed on for the rest of the day. No way was that going to come off.About an hour later she realized she didn't have on her Princess underpants. Off came the tights and socks before I turned around and she ran into the laundry room to find the proper underpants. Fully dressed in no time flat she was a happy camper.We did puzzles and I was told, "Nana, you're not so good at puzzles, but I'm good at puzzles." I got lots of help with my puzzle.Spending time with Zoey is an amazing adventure into the bright and interesting mind of a precocious toddler/preschooler. Her understanding and vocabulary is surprising. I find myself having to upgrade my conversation to her level.

Lively Gran

My prince and princess. . .

All right folks, take a good look at this dress. You will see it a lot in upcoming pictures, because Zoey wants to wear it all the time. She has entered her dress phase--it is pretty cute.

Today she wanted to be with Zander all the time. She was in the crib with him for
a while (and yes, she gets in there by herself.) She wanted to lay down with him and
"pretend sleep" on the floor.

She wanted to hold him by herself on the chair.

Zander finally got to be by himself.

Tonight, Zander had baby peas for the first time. He ate almost the whole thing.

I really wish he would smile more. . .

Happy 6 Months, Zander!

Zander went for his wellness check today and was diagnosed as "cute as a button!" My dad and I decided that he is in the 100th percentile when it comes to being cute. His other stats look like this:

Weight: 17 lbs. 9 oz (50th %tile)
Height: 28 inches (90th %tile)

He is such a blessing and everyday his smile reminds me that life is good! (Of course the full night sleeps that I am getting now have helped improve my attitude tremendously). Zander is such an easy going baby and I am excited to continue to watch him grow and learn new things all the time. Zoey and I have been brushing up on our baby sign language. Zoey used to know all the signs in her sign language books and used them a lot. Now if I ask her how to say juice, she just says, "juice."--and looks at me like I'm stupid. She is excited to teach Zander how to use signs though.

Zander is almost 6 months old

Zander will be 6 months this Thursday. I can't believe it! He now has 5 teeth and just today has perfected rolling over from back to stomach to back again. Wow, can he move! I get the feeling that he is going to start learning a new skill a week.

"Here I go. . ."

"Whew. . .that is hard work."

"I am so strong!"

"Watch out Zoey. . .pretty soon I will be able to chase you around and take your toys."

Zander has his 6 month wellness check on Thursday morning. At his last clinic visit he weighed in at 18 lbs. 3 oz.--that was two weeks ago. I am looking forward to seeing his stats.

Sesame Street Live!

Zoey, Grandma, and I went to Sesame Street Live this morning. We weren't too sure what Zoey thought she was going to see, since this was her first show ever. She was very excited though-- so she HAD to wear her Sesame Street Dress--again.

We got to the Target Center a little on the early side, but there was a lot for Zoey to watch and take in. She wanted to go onto the main floor and see the stage--so Grandma walked her down there and took the picture above.

Then the lights went down and stage lit up. Zoey's eyes grow wide and she exclaims, "There's Elmo and Big Bird."

The theme of the show was "When I Grow Up." Elmo asked the audience what they wanted to be when they grow up. Zoey answered in a nice polite voice, loud enough for just the people around us to hear, "I want to be a princess!" It is interesting that the theme was growing up, because all this week, Zoey has been telling us what she wants to be when she grows up. "First, I want to be a princess. Then a ballerina, a baker, and a cow." Today she added teacher--she wants to teach her cousin Kylie how to read. (Something tells me that Kylie will pick up the reading thing just fine, though)

All in all, Zoey had a wonderful day. Tonight as I was putting her to bed, she said that she wants to go see Sesame Street again. Someday. . .

"I slept with the kids from daycare!"

That is the way that Zoey greeted me when I went in to wake her up this morning. Translation: I had a dream about the kids from daycare.

Mommy: What was your dream about Zoey?

Zoey: I dreamed the wolf came and ate Sean's cereal.

Mommy: What did Sean do?

Zoey: Sean cried.

Happy Retirement Great-Uncle Jim!

Zoey has been pretty cute lately. She and Tyler have gotten into the habit of "talking about their days." So at dinner or bedtime, Zoey will say, "Daddy, talk about my day." Which means--tell me about what we did today. Of course many times, we are not with her during the day so we make her tell us about her day. But of course, she is sweet enough to say, "Tell me about your day mommy (or daddy)."

Today Zoey had a lot to tell me. This morning my friend Stacy and her sisters and niece came over to our house to work on a project. Stacy's niece is two week younger than Zoey--so she had a good time showing her around the toys in the basement. Then the highlight of her day--Nana and Poppa came to pick her up and take her to Great-Uncle Jim's retirement party. Before they came to get her, she told me that she wanted to wear a pretty dancing dress that twirls. I found the ONLY dress she has and she was a happy camper. Zander and I stayed home, but Nana and Poppa took pictures of their day together.

Group photo of the retirement party.

Zoey modeled Jim's bus uniform.

Jim's grandkids were at the party. Nana said that the three kids were asked to make a funny face for this picture. What do you think?

Nana and Zoey playing at the party.

Thank you Nana and Poppa for taking Zoey with you. She had a good time and you wore her out. What an easy bedtime it was!

Don't tell anyone. . .

. . .but Zander slept through the night last night! Yeah! Let's all send our good thoughts so that it happens again tonight.

Zander Eats Rice Cereal

Yesterday was the first day Zander had rice cereal. My camera battery was dead yesterday--so these pictures represent the 2nd time Zander ate rice cereal. We did however get the first time on video--so the memory isn't totally lost. Zander ate rice like he has been doing it all his life. We decided to pull the trigger and try him on solids because he drains four 8oz bottles a day and is still not consistently sleeping through the night. We will see what happens now.

Both Tyler and Zander went to urgent care over the weekend. Tyler for a nasty cough and Zander for pink eye/ear infection. Hopefully both of them will start feeling better soon. However because Zander was at the doctor we now know that at 5 1/2 months he weighs in at 17 lbs. 13 oz. Way to go Zander! Here are some of the things that Zander does:

• Rolls from his back to his stomach, in one direction
• Smiles all the time!
• Loves watching his sister be goofy.
• Gives mommy high fives
• Giggles at his own reflection
• Loves bath time
• Hates when we wipe his nose
• Has 4 teeth (two bottom, two top)
• Grabs at his toys and plays with them
  

"Where is my food?!"

Yummy!

"Look Zoey! I am a big kid like you!"

Zoey is very proud of Zander.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! For me the new year means a fresh start--so that means a new look for the blog. It has been a fun break and it will be over all too soon. The kids head back to daycare on Wednesday and I am using the day to get everything put in order and make my own fresh start. All the normal New Year's resolutions are in place--I want my family to be healthy and happy and that means eating better and exercising more. I am planning on taking up running again and Tyler will be doing a lot of refereeing in the next few months. My goal is to do another 5K this year--maybe even more than one.

Here are some pictures from our Christmas this year.

This is what happens when Zoey plays with her little brother.

On Christmas Eve, Zander was enthralled with Grandpa's duck noises.

Yes, Santa brought Zoey her Superbabies!

Santa Baby!

A cute picture of Grandpa and Zander.

Zander got a new ball.

Uh Oh! Zander got a superbaby and is playing "This Little Piggy."

Check out Zoey's new train set! She is really excited about this gift from
Grandma and Grandpa Nyhlen.

Zander enjoyed all his presents this year.

Zoey played Santa for all our gift openings--she really knows how to open gifts now.

While in Grand Forks, we visited an indoor waterpark. Here we are on the Lazy River.