Roly Poly Zachary

That's right. It's official. Zach's mobile - if only by rolling. It started a few weeks ago, but we finally witnessed it for ourselves the other day. AND I got it on camera. Don't mind the "mommy voice."

Monster baby

My dad is scared of Zach.

Why? Because last week he discovered how to growl. It's not a soft growl... it's a loud, in your face growl.

When my parents came over to visit, Zach was pretty quiet. My dad was holding him in his lap and Zach was happy as could be. He was looking around, smiling and then (out of nowhere) Zach slowly turned his head toward my dad and let out a deep, possessed growl.

"Straight out of the exorcist" as my dad put it.

There's nothing like tiptoeing through a pitch black room at 4 a.m. and hearing a freaky growl come from my baby's crib.

We've decided that he must love the feeling of a growl in his throat. Last week he's pterodactyl boy. Now he's a monster baby. Ah, the many noises of Zach.

Zach's pearly whites

Zach passed yet another milestone this weekend when we discovered his first tooth! I guess everyone was right -- he has been teething! Maybe we'll start solid foods sooner than we thought. Who starts teething at 4.5 months?! What a big boy!

It has barely poked through and still has a ways to go, but it's started. It's hard to see because of all the shiny drool, but check out the bottom right of the photo above. What a goofy little smile.

The sunshine state. Florida!

On the plane, ready for takeoff

It took a while, but we're finally back on a routine after our trip to Florida.

Zach was great on the plane. We lucked out and planned everything just right. On the way down, Zach ate his final meal while the plane took off at 7 p.m. After finishing his bottle, he fell asleep and slept most of the plane ride, waking only once to cuddle.

On the way back to Minnesota, we had a noon flight. He was awake for most of it, but didn’t seem to mind the changes in pressure. He fell asleep before the plane took off, woke at about 12:30 and ate then wanted to play. Luckily, since we were coming from Orlando, there were tons of kids and babies on the plane. It was by no means quiet.

Zach discovered his voice while we were in Florida. He now realizes he can talk - loudly. Amanda described it perfectly when she said he sounds like a pterodactyl (not that I have any idea what one of those sounds like).

It was a long, but fun weekend in Maitland (just north of Orlando). Zach met all of the great aunts and uncles on the Voss side and made it into several family photos - families he doesn’t belong in. Apparently he’s too cute to put down, for even a minute.

My favorite part of the weekend was at the rehearsal dinner when Jamer’s cousin, Taylor, was given the burp cloth. She was excited and approached Jamer’s aunt, Tina (who was holding Zach at the time). Tina simple looked at her and said, “Just because you have the burp cloth doesn’t mean you’re getting the baby.”

It was hilarious. Don’t worry. Eventually, Taylor did get to hold Zach.

Zach and Taylor Rentz (his first cousin, once removed)

 

Happy Halloween!

My little chunky monkey

We had a fantastic time celebrating Zach’s first Halloween this weekend. On Saturday we went trick-or-treating to Grandma & Grandpa Burke’s house and to Grandma & Grandpa V-G’s house. Zach wore his costume like a champ and didn’t really seem to mind once the velcro was attached and not rubbing against his skin.

On Sunday he dressed in his presents from Auntie Bear (a vampire teeth pacifier) and Great-Aunt Bridget (googlie eye headband) as we carved pumpkins.

He watched, squealed and flailed his arms in delight as he sat in his Bumbo. He seemed to enjoy touching the pumpkins while they were close, but was moved out of reach after he knocked one from the island onto the floor (luckily, it didn’t break). The best part of the entire experience was allowing him to touch the “pumpkin guts.” His face and the look of utter disgust was hilarious. It perfectly expressed what everyone thinks when they carve pumpkins.

This weekend we’re headed to Florida for Jamer’s cousin’s wedding. It will be Zach’s first plane ride. Wish us luck!