Monday, February 4, 2013

Logan's Day

A few more pictures from Logan's days at daycare:
This is his best bud/ sworn enemy, Devon.  This look about sums up their friendship.


One of his favorite activities, swinging off countertops/ high chairs.  Encouraged by Daddy for building finger strength.

Logan and Tori, at a sleepover in December while Mommy & Daddy were on work travel.
Logan and Gracie. Tammy just gave him his medicine and he wants nothing to do with her.


Where Logan hides when he's done something bad.  Under the horse's butt.

Logan's favorite things, puppy and the Dora car.  All sorts of things get socked away in that seat.



Friday, January 11, 2013

Two

We kicked off Two Year's Eve with our first full-fledged tantrum.  We were at a work ice skating party, and Logan did not want to leave.  We got to carry him out kicking and screaming and sit in the car for 15 minutes until he calmed down enough to get buckled into the car seat.  Ah, two.

At two, Logan is smart and talkative around us, but shy around anybody outside his inner circle of family and daycare.  He takes a while to warm up to people.  He's learned to pull chairs around the house (with a horrible grating on the floor sound) to get up and into whatever he wants.  Typically lollipops.  He likes to walk around the house with our shoes flopping off his feet.  He races around the house on his bike, typically chasing or being chased by Mom, Dad, Kenny, or Buddy. He handles the iPad like a pro and loves to download apps.  (His first purchases, before we corrected the password settings, included Clash of the Clans and a Black Veil Brides album... we think that's Christian Heavy Metal.)

He loves spotting school buses on the way to daycare in the morning, and has learned that he will get to ride one when he's 5.  He knows where his future elementary school is and points it out as we drive by.  He gets great joy out of watching the sun peak in and out from behind the hills as we drive through the canyon in the morning.  He often points out "grandma's" house in Tammy's neighborhood, which is a house with an RV parked out front like last time we were in Oregon.  He wants to know what every road sign and trail sign says.  He has a good sense of direction-- he always knows the exit to our house, and seems to have an internal homing device for the ice cream shop and playgrounds, even those we've only been to once or twice.  He likes going to the park and pool with Daddy, and he likes to go grocery shopping.  His list always consists of lollipops and blueberries. 

My favorite Logan sayings are:
"I farted!  Where'd it go?  Outside!"
"Uh-oh, ding dong!"
"No way Jose!"

Here is the difference a year makes: 
  

                             One




Two
 
 We celebrated with a joint party with the other January babies again this year.  I'm not sure how long we can keep this up, but this is the way to do it... only 1/5th the cooking it would otherwise take, and I'm not due to host again until they're 6!

Here they are at one.
And at two

Logan & Ayla
Logan got a basketball hoop for his birthday

We also had a family celebration at home with Ginny, Kenny, & the Goetz's. Addy, at 5, is the best babysitter.  She pretty much takes over and Logan plays happily (without Mommy!).  That never happens. 
Logan & Addy inside Logan's new Thomas the train tent. 
Opening presents with Ginny
Birthday cake.  I'm going to call this a Dr. Seuss theme.
Logan had a few blowing out the candle opportunities this weekend.  Unfortunately, the first time he got too close and burned his lip, so he refused to blow out any candles after that. "Mommy do it!" 
We spaced Logan's Christmas presents out over a few days, and then did the same with his birthday.  The problem is, he now thinks he should be getting presents every day.  Every day I hear, "One more present Mommy?  Just a little bit?"  (That's his argument for everything he wants that he's not supposed to have or do... "just a little bit?") There are actually several unopened presents in the hall closet from Mark's last minute Christmas shopping spree, but they're waiting for next Christmas/birthday because there's not room for anymore toys in the house.  We've already turned the entryway into a basketball court, the living room into his train room, and the rest of the house into his bike course. We're thinking of building an addition, but maybe we better not... I imagine the toys would just expand to consume the new space. 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Christmas Part 2

Christmas part 2 started on the 27th when Karen & Marshall arrived for a weeklong visit. We got to have a second Christmas morning of presents, plus lots of skating, zoo lights, and Logan-Grandpa time. Logan LOVED his grandpa-- they wrestled, chased eachother around the house, and generally had a grand time. It was fun to see.  

Hot chocolate break during skating at the lake
Logan and Grandpa wrestling
Grandpa chasing Logan as he whizzes down the hall on his bike.  This always started by Logan approaching Grandpa saying "I'm gonna get you"-- which really means he wants you to get him.
Zoo lights!
Logan got to ride the carousel at the zoo, which he loved.
They had lots of cool lanterns hanging at Zoo Lights.
 We spent New Years Eve at the lake, where they had a big party with a DJ, sleigh rides, marshmallow roasting, mini ice golf, skating, and fireworks. The best part was they set off fireworks at both 8pm and midnight, so we only had to make it until 8. Logan usually doesn't last too long at the lake-- probably because we pull him around on a sled and he freezes while we get warm skating. New Years Eve though, he loved it, and he cried the whole way home when we made him leave. I think it was the fireworks he liked so much.
New Years Eve at Skate the Lake.  Logan loved the fireworks.

Watching the fireworks.  I got a new super warm hooded puffy for my birthday!
Ice sculptures at Skate the Lake.  They had some that formed a miniature golf course too, with ice tunnels to shoot your balls through. 

Thanks for visiting, Karen & Marshall!  We can't wait for the next trip!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas Part 1

My mom and Andrew came out for Christmas in Colorado this year! This is only the 2nd time ever we have not travelled at Christmas-- the first was when I was 8 months pregnant with Logan. It sure is nice to have everyone come to us, although I did miss Christmas Eve at Aunt Susie's.  We tried to re-create it by making the Italian dinner (which was pretty successful after a few calls to Susie for eggplant instructions).  The Singers and Burmans joined us, carrying on the tradition of having Christmas Eve with friends. 
Grandma Z arrives!  Grandma and Logan (lured in by blueberries)

Uncle Andrew and Logan on the slide. The twisty slide was maybe not the best choice for a tall guy recovering from back surgery, but Logan sure loved it.

Logan and his friend Andrew at the Christmas parade in Golden.  A glimpse into what its like to have two.  Except Andrew is the most mellow easy kid you'll ever meet, so its probably actually harder than this.

Watching the Christmas parade.  There was lots of candy and lots of animals in the parade to keep the boys entertained.

Logan & Auntie Kenny on Christmas Eve

The Zimmerman kids

Mom, Logan, & Kenny

Kenny, Logan, Andrew

Mark, Logan, Ginny.  And the easter bucket.  Wrong holiday, Logan.

Stockings hung by the chimney with care

Reading books on Christmas Eve with Mark & Ayla.  I didn't manage to get a picture of Katrien and Xander or Kari & Bill.  They were there too!

Not to be left out... Logan and me.

Family pic

Grandpa Z reading the Night Before Christmas from the self-record book.  Logan was excited to hear Grandpa Z but not so sure why we would let this Santa guy sneak into our house in the middle of the night.
Christmas morning!  Logan only got through two presents, the train table and the treasured Dora car.  He was totally satisfied so we just put the rest away for birthday/ baby present/ next Christmas. 
Looking cool in new stocking stuffer sunglasses

Logan discovers his new train table.  Took Santa & his helper 2 hours to put this together.

Pretty pleased with the whole thing

Logan was also very into the candy in his stocking.  He ate several chocolate Santas and 2 candy canes and then later we realized why you don't give kids a bunch of candy at 7am.

We spent Christmas day skating at the lake and playing with our new toys before heading to Kenny's for dinner. 
Christmas dinner at Kenny's


Logan instructing Ginny on how to download apps on the new iPad.  He must have downloaded about 20.  They were mostly free, but I just got a receipt for one he *purchased*.  Fortunately it was only 99 cents.  This time.

Playing patty cake under the dinner table with Grandma
Janie came up from Colorado Springs to visit the day after Christmas, and gave Logan a roller suitcase which he loves.  He promptly filled it with his trains, and even tried to sneak Kenny's iPad in there when it was time to go home.
Thanks for making the trip out, Mom & Andrew!  We had a great Christmas.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

ABCs

Santa

Logan went to meet Santa today. I wasn't too optimistic about this going well, but we prepared by looking at pictures of Santa on the iPad and talking about what Logan wanted to ask Santa for. His list: lollipop, candy bar, blueberries, and an app. We went to the bookstore in town. It was nice because Logan could run around and play with toys and books and pet the resident cat while we waited. The downside was that this Santa spent 10 minutes with every child and we had to wait forever. When it was finally our turn, Logan surprised me by not throwing his typical "I don't like it, I don't like it" fit. Santa charmed him with his sleigh bells and by letting him draw with a pen in his book that all the kids sign. Logan isn't really allowed to use pens, and definitely isn't allowed to draw in books, so I guess this was an offer too good to pass up.

Logan sizing up Santa

Santa one him over by letting him draw with a pen in a book

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

1 year 11 months

At one month shy of two, Logan is starting to watch TV programs.  Finally!  I thought the day would never come.  (I know TV is awful and all, but its a pretty great babysitter too.  And I'm pretty sure he learns stuff from some of the programs.)  Logan's favorite is Super Why, especially the theme song.  We have to rewind to listen to it over and over, and now Mark goes around singing it all day.  Its a pretty nerdy show-- about super heroes who's powers are spelling, reading, alphabet, and words.  Like father (and mother) like son, I guess.  There's a part where all the super heroes introduce themselves, and then turn to the viewer and ask them to say their name.  Logan always hides as I shout "Logan!," as if he's too shy to have the TV characters know his name.  Either that or he's just already embarassed over his dorky mom.   He also likes the part on PBS Kids where they show a birthday cake and the letters "happy birthday" turn into cupcakes, ice cream cones, and lollipops.  He runs up to the TV and pretends to eat them. 

Logan has started to surprise me by knowing things I did not teach him, and telling me about  his day (although I can never really be sure its really what happened).  He has a buddy his age at daycare named Devon.  They do not leave eachother's side all day long.  They also fight all day long.  It continues when Logan comes home (even though Devon is not here).  As he's playing by himself, I hear "Go way Dev!"  "My car!  Mine!" 

Logan has started the Mom, look!  Mom, watch this!  thing.  Over and over as he does the same thing again and again. 


The funniest thing Logan said this month was while I was changing his diaper, and Mark came in to hold Logan down as he was thrashing around.  Logan turned to Mark and said "Go watch TV."