Ack! It's been almost two weeks!

Hello from Lazytown, also known as our living room. Zachary and I have had a pretty miserable day with colds, and though he took two naps today, I couldn't breathe well enough to get comfortable. So this is just a quick hello, to let you know that we are still here, doing our thing. Like going to playgroup (twice a week now-Zach has friends!) and trying to watch reality shows before we hear about the results online. Seriously, with our delay of getting some shows, I avoid MSN.com like the plague. And I'm sorry I have no photos (well, you know I have tons of photos, but no new-ish ones). They are still on my camera while we wait for my new computer with more memory. I know, in the last two weeks I could have moved some stuff around, but remember I said that I was in Lazytown? Maybe once this cold blows over...

My favorite gift

The best of many things that Frank gave me today: a two-hour nap. Made this tired mama very happy.
Zachary says Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!

Today is the day I'll say it

He's really walking now.
He's been toddling non-stop all day, falling along the way and getting right back up. And he's fast... I think we're in trouble now!

My visit with Jen

It seems that so much has been happening lately with Jen, and not so much here, so I thought I would post a few photos from our last visit. I left the boys in St. Louis and hopped a plane for Jen's house, if only for a brief 72 hours. As always, though, we were able to do quite a lot in that time:

We celebrated New Year's Eve with Andy's sister and brother-in-law, ate fondue, and watched the ball drop.

We found time for a craft project or two...

There was even a surprise baby shower!

And of course there was lots of time for talking, catching up, showing off pictures, and most of all, taking pictures. Jen was happy to let me practice my photography on her belly! Over the few days we must have taken hundreds of pics, and some of them are on her blog. These are a couple of my favorites:

We had a wonderful time focusing on everything baby!

Oh, and if you want to know what she and Andy are naming the twins, check out her blog here!

Just a trim, please

A couple of weeks ago Zachary got his first haircut. He'd been getting shaggy for months, so on our holiday vacation we took him to a shop Frank had been to before. Just called "The Hair Shop." About the most exciting thing that happened was that it wasn't very exciting at all. A good haircut and no drama. Maybe he was still in a milk and banana coma? Don't be surprised if you can't hear much (but me behind the camera) on this video...like I said, not much happened.

So, if it's even possible, Zach looks cuter than ever. The other day he let me take some pics of the new 'do, freshly brushed, of course. He didn't quite understand why I was brushing his hair while he was eating lunch, though.

When he was done eating he wanted to have the brush, and he does a fine job, for a one-year-old. Seemed pretty happy about it.

Ahhh, he looks more like a boy and less like a baby!

We Are Fam-i-ly!

We had such a good time in St. Louis over the holidays! Frank is lucky to have a job that literally closes down for two whole weeks, so it was a no-brainer for us to take Zach-man to visit family. I know some of you we've not talked to wonder about the plane ride, and that, frankly, is a whole other story. Let's just say that I wouldn't recommend flying that far with a one-year-old. Now, I'm sure if/when we are blessed with another child we will be forced to do it again... But as far as Zachary goes, it can only get easier from this point, right? {I can just hear moms out there laughing.}

So, of course, I have lots of photos from family gathering and just general "hangin' out", which I finished sorting through yesterday. I think these are the winners for the immediate family group photos:

I'm seriously thinking that I should make flip-books for the series of photos that were taken in an effort to get "a good one", which doesn't really exist. I know the latest photoshop elements that I have advertised the ability to take multiple photos and (I can only assume) combine the best heads for a great composite photo. But, really, do I have the time to figure it out right now? No. Seriously though, a flip-book of Frank's family photos would be hilarious. First of all, we couldn't get our camera remote to work (or something wasn't set right, we never did figure it out). And I had an excuse (wiggling baby), but for some reason everyone felt the obligation to move between each picture, so the outtakes are kinda crazy. And not just fidget, I mean move around the room!

And my family photo is conclusive proof that, if a flash is used, Frank will have his eyes closed in the photo. Well, it's the best we've got.

I'm aiming to soon get an e-mail out to family and friends with a bunch of pics (and a disk in the mail for Grandpa!). And post a video of Zach's first haircut...good stuff!

Funny

I have SO much to update about from our holidays, but here is a quick video of our funny guy from yesterday.

I hope to share some photos and videos from the past few weeks soon, little by little. It is my resolution...um, intention, to blog a couple times a week this year. Now that I've told you, my dozen or so readers, maybe I will stick to it!