Bitter Sweet Firsts

Sometimes as parents we get so wrapped up in wanting our children to accomplish the next big step in life that we often forget how sad that feeling can really be upon reflection. I catch more and more glimpses of a little boy rather than my toddler these days and my baby is just not a baby anymore! With Cruz fully walking everywhere now and on the move, I knew deep down it was only a matter of time before the bumps and bruises would arise. He had his first big fall and nearly scared me to death this past week. I love watching a new walker; their teetering and tottering back and forth like a confused penguin! Cruz is still working on good balance and usually falls to his bottom, but this time he slipped and fell forward, hitting his noggin on the hinge of a storage ottoman in our entryway! Of all things to hit, how he managed that one is beyond me. No stitches or concussion, but a nice-sized goose egg and lots of tears. I miss the crawling days already!

Zane got to ride a horse and pet baby bears for the first time while visiting Cub Fest at Bear Country USA. It was an exciting day for him and us. The simplest things can sometimes really tug at your heart. I watched Zane and Sean from a distance as they rounded a corner to complete their horse-riding trail. Luckily, I had my zoom lens on my camera, so I was able to really see the joy and laughter of a moment to remember shared by father and son. It was so touching and I knew our little boy was one step closer towards independence. Bitter sweet..

Hoppin' Down the Bunny Trail..

Easter Bunny Trail of eggs...

led to the baskets of goodies!

The eggs had hidden treats inside too!

WOW! Look Mommy!

Love the bunny ears!

Open it please!

Oh cool! Monster trucks and basketball!!

The Candy or the Egg?

Egg Hunt with friends

Discovered the candy inside!

Look at my basket

How many eggs did you find?

Zane's hair has a mind of it's own!

Caught eating candy

Squadron Easter Party

Surprisingly, the boys didn't mind the scary-looking Easter Bunny!

Yummy!

Fishing for treats!

Egg Ring Toss

My little cuddle bunny!

Zane won a door prize!

Yep, we hunt eggs indoors in the Dakotas!

I found one!

First Haircut...Finally!

It only took 14 months, but Cruz finally received his first haircut! Granted, it wasn't very much, but scissors and the trimmer were used! He was such a big boy and sat in the seat all by himself. He seemed very amused looking at the mirror and making faces. I must say it was a little difficult to see the small curls come off the back, but, like a lot of moms, I kept them for the infamous baby book! In the end, he received a nice, little certificate and the choice of his very own comb... which we chewed on the entire way home.

Dinosaurs Eat Peas

The mind of a two-year-old never ceases to amaze me. Our "Zaniac" is quite the talkative, imaginative character. You can always tell when he's deeply focused on things or concentrating on new concepts because it's the only time he's ever quiet! He even talks in his sleep! He said his first word just before he turned 7 months old and had about a 25-word vocabulary when he turned one. I always thought this was more advanced for his age group, but didn't realize how unique Zane really was until Cruz came along. (He's 14 months old and barely says 2 words!)

Zane often asks you to say things in a certain tone or voice. He is very curious about life and it's surroundings; a two-year-old sponge. He seems to enjoy the act of conversation, but doesn't always know how to carry one. Zane: "Mommy, say 'Do you want to snuggle with Zaney?" Me: "Zaney, do you want to snuggle with Mommy?" Zane: "Yes, I want my blanket. I DO like my blanket to get snuggly. You can snuggle with Zaney."

Today's questions seemed to center around animals and what they eat. "Mommy, what do elephants eat? What do lions eat? What do frogs eat?" After about 15 or so similar questions, I was growing tired. Then Zane wanted to know about his favorite animal at the moment, "Mommy, what do dinosaurs eat? Roar!" I started to answer in teacher mode that some eat plants and grass and some eat meat..then the mom side of me had a better idea. Like many toddlers, Zane is at the stage where he feels that any green veggie is sure to kill him. So, I decided to tweak the truth a bit and told him, "You know what dinosaurs really love to eat? Green Peas!!" To my amazement, he was convinced and continued his "roar" and pretended to eat peas.

For tonight's dinner, we served those wonderful peas on his dinosaur plate. We did manage to get some of the peas down in between roars, but it was abruptly put to a halt when he said, "You know Mommy....dinosaurs eat ice cream too! ROAR!"

Luck of the Irish!

St. Patrick has blessed us with a few nice, warm days of sunshine! Snow is expected tomorrow, but as for now..we're loving it!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!