It's Happened...

See the mischievous smile?  Yep, it's happened.  I knew it would.  I just wasn't sure when he'd be able to put all the pieces together.  Sunday David took Buddy out of the crib to give to Zack.  Zachary saw him and ran up to him screaming-"MINE!"  Now that's what he says.  Callahan was over for like 5 minutes yesterday and he just took things away and said "mine."  We have to get some books on sharing...

5 Years Baby, yeah!

David and I celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss on Saturday!  Since we have a lot of home renovations in the works, we decided to do a one-night getaway to the city.  Just the two of us.  My sister, Amber, was so kind to take Zachary for us!  Thanks, Amber! 

Before we started off our day with breakfast as a family, David gave me his top secret gift.  He had finished our wedding album!  After we were married and moved to CA, we didn't have the $ to pay for a big album, so we spent the $ on prints and decided to do it ourselves.  It's harder than we thought and it just got pushed back.  Well, he finished the whole thing by himself!!  It's awesome!  Then, we headed downtown to do some shopping.  It was cool out, but sunny.  After check in we relaxed a bit and got ready for the night.  We had reservations at Japonais (awesome!!) for dinner.  We love sushi and it was the first time David had been.  After dinner we just kind of walked around the gold coast area and called it an early night around 10-10:30ish.  We are old and need the rest!  

Breakfast at the Rock n Roll McDonalds rounded out our trip to the city and upon return we found our child happy and tattoo'd with a skateboarding Pluto on his inner forearm.  We gotta watch out for Aubrey.  We've heard her mom lets her put tattoos on her feet...

Overall the weekend was great.  God has blessed me with such a wonderful family.  AND-the most incredible husband in the whole wide world!

Zack drinks from a regular glass!

Drinking from a regular glass from Amelia Hendryx on Vimeo.

Zachary has started drinking from a regular glass!  And, he does really well with it.  He rarely ever spills.  Seriously.  He seems to do better with our glasses than child sized ones.  He takes it really slow until he figures it out.  He's just growing up so much!

Floor-it's the new plate.

So, Friday morning I decided I would go all out for my baby boy and actually make us scrambled eggs for breakfast.  I usually put shredded cheese in our eggs.  Well, being the coordinated master I am, I spilled the cheese.  Zack was so hungry that he didn't care where it was, he was going to eat it.  Then, Sage decided to join in.

Potty Advise

OK, so I need some advise...  A couple months ago when we were at the Children's Museum with Amber, Aubrey, and Benjamin; Zack saw Aubrey going to the bathroom.  Since then he has become more and more curious about the toilet.  It first started with just lifting his shirt and the lid.  When I tried to sit him on it he'd freak out.  Well, then he let me sit him on it, but he'd have to have his diaper on.  Then, he let me sit him on it without his diaper.  This past Friday I decided to buy him his own training potty.  At first he didn't really know what to do with it.  But, tonight he let me take his diaper off him (he was naked) and he would open the lid and sit all the way down on it.  He'd kind of giggle then get up and close the lid.  We did this for about 5 minutes.  He didn't want to leave it for pj's.  Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think he's ready to be potty trained.  My question is, however, do you think this is making him think that the potty is just a toy/game and when he's really ready it will be harder for him.  OR, is this a great first step?  Zachary is 20 1/2 months old.  Any thoughts on this or maybe suggestions of other things to keep encouraging him to use it would be helpful!  Thanks!

Dance Dynamics Dance Company ROCKS!

So, our last competition came and went this past weekend.  Our girls did amazing, as they always did!  They have grown so much!  While I'm sad that I won't get to see the girls rocking it out on stage, I am looking forward to more weekends at home.  Albeit, David and Zachary were very understanding and actually came to two of the competitions.  Zack always did so well.  He'd clap and go "Yeah!" for all the teams when they were done performing.  Now I just have recital season to look forward too!!  

Ali, Patricia, Morgan, Rebecca, Emily, Martyna, and Tibet-thank you for an awesome year!  I look forward to more to come!

So much to say, so much to do.

So much has gone on since the last time I blogged.  A week ago (yes, that long) a childhood friend came up with her daughter.  Suzanne and I have known each other since middle school.  We cheered together in high school and were roommates in college.  We seriously talk almost everyday on email or text.  BUT-I have never met her 11 month old daughter, Sophia!  I was so happy that they were able to come up and stay over night with us.  It was a short visit, but I'm so glad there was a visit!  On Thursday they were here by the time I got home from classes and we just hung out.  Zack was in a very non-sharing mood (of course) and that got Sophia upset, but by Friday morning he was will to let her take the wheel on some things!  On Friday we took them down to the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville.  Well, I forgot that there was construction on it, so it wasn't very scenic for them!  But, we did get to feed the ducks and geese.  And, Zack smudged his hand in goose poop and Sophia ate dirt and trees.  Overall, a good morning!  Luckily Suzanne was able to make it back to Indianapolis even though I gave her the wrong directions all weekend!!

Sunday was Mother's Day and even though I was finishing up my last competition it was a great day.  Dad and Pauline were in town, so I got to see them for a few hours in the morning.  I got some very nice anti-aging stuff (lame?  not so much for me) and a new bottle of perfume.  It smells great.  

This weekend David has a wedding in Indianapolis and since he has to leave on Friday, we have decided I will stay home with Zachary.  Who can afford the gas??  Even though I'll miss David, I am really looking forward to having so much time with Zachary and some alone time!

We have a busy May!  Next weekend is David and I's 5 year anniversary!!  We are going downtown on Saturday night while Zack stays with the Stefanski's.  We are looking forward to sleeping in and spending some hard earned $ on ourselves!  Then on the 31st I finally tunr 21 (;p)!!  I can't wait.  And, if you did the math that made me 16 when I was married...  When I tell some of my students, they believe me...  Oh well, It changes between 21 and and 25, but 21 is more youthful, so I'll stick with that!

Oh Toodles!

Zachary loves to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  It's his favorite show.  Thank goodness it's On-Demand so we can have it anytime we need!  Well, starting last week when he was watching it he started calling out "Toodles!"  It's great.  He'll say it along with the show and then just randomly during the day.  I try to incorporate "mouse-ka-tools" into our day.  Usually, they are just diapers and wipes!  But hey, those are great tools!

Also, I have started working with Zachary to be able to memorize and recall certain objects in books.  Each afternoon before nap I will read the same book and have him point out the same object to me.  I just started this last week.  We have a team sport book about football, so it has a football on each page.  Everyday we would read it and I would ask him to point to the football.  It wasn't always easy because sometimes the kids were holding it or throwing it.  By Friday he was able to show me every picture of the football!  It was great.  So, this week (and maybe next) I am working on animals in his favorite book-"Going To Sleep On The Farm."  At the end of each animal's bed time routine they show all the animals on the farm, so it's a great way to continually see all the animals.  I'm excited about this new connection he's having.

We have friends coming into town this Thursday/Friday.  So excited!  Suzanne and her daughter Sophia are coming up from Indianapolis to stay with us Thursday night and then we'll have the morning together on Friday.  I have a competition in Waukegan, IL and she has plans to meet with other friends, so it works out perfectly.  I haven't met Sophia yet (10 months!) and I'm excited for Zachary and her to play.  I'll have great pictures after the weekend!