our week with zeeke

Zeeke's been obsessed with time lately, running back and forth between rooms to find discrepancies between clocks.  And of course it's one more issue to make bed time harder.  

Monday, there was no school, so Steve & Zeeke met up with Nick, Nadine & Zoe at the art museum.  Zeeke enjoyed making a card to donate and seeing Zoe's favorite artwork.  That night, Steve glanced upstairs at 11:15 pm to find Zeeke sitting at the top of the stairs waiting to be noticed.  We so miss the crib.  

A blizzard hit Friday night, so Saturday morning Zeeke was super excited to get out and play in it... until the wind blew snow in his face and made him howl to go back inside.  Instead, Steve & Zeeke spent the morning painting and snuck out later in the afternoon to build a little snowman once the wind had died down. 

Sunday, Karen and Zeeke went out for a snow trek and to decorate yesterday's snowman.

Zeeke's adjustment to the big boy bed continues.  Monday, after we put him to bed, he decided to try and stay up all night.  First he read every single book in his room, then he sat down in front of his clock waiting for it to tell him that night was over.  All this while yelling down a running commentary of what he was doing.  He finally fell asleep around 10:15, only after Karen agreed to lie down next to him. Of course, on Tuesday he demanded that she do it again.  They compromised that she would sleep in the chair next to him.  It's been like that ever since.  

Saturday, Steve & Zeeke made some art and played some cards.  Zeeke was a big fan of the game War.  A game of pick-up sticks revealed the depths to which Zeeke would sink in order to win.  

Sunday, it snowed a little.  Zeeke had a good time catching snowflakes.  We tried sledding at the meager hill we call Purple Flower Mountain, but Zeeke wasn't a fan of his clothes getting wet.

Conversations with Zeeke:

On the day David Bowie died:
"Daddy, that guy singing said he's an alligator. That's so funny."
"Yeah, and now he's a space invader. He was really good at becoming different things."
"I'm going to draw that alligator."

"Daddy, if you don't turn on the TV, I'm going to get angry.
"Not going to happen, pal."
"Daddy, if you don't turn in the TV, I'm going to fire you!"

"Look how many snowflakes I can catch! Everything is cold in my cold collection!"

This was Zeeke's first week in his big boy bed.  There's been a lot of wake ups and calling us in, but at least he waited a few days before he started falling out of the bed.  

New fears have started popping up, like this time last year.  Currently the big one is the taillights of cars ("Scary car, daddy!  Scary car!").

Saturday, Steve & Zeeke rode into work with Karen.  They took a tour of her new department and then headed off to the Academy of Natural Sciences to see dinosaur skeletons and butterflies.  Unfortunately, the animatronic dinosaur near the front door so terrified him that they had to leave fairly quickly.  The had some time on their hands, so they checked out the ice skating and then went to a free music class.  Zeeke enjoyed the class but doesn't want to sign up for any more.  

Sunday morning, we met Tara, Matt & Moira at P'unk Burger.  Zeeke did a great job letting the adults sit at a separate table and eating all his food.  Unfortunately he decided not to aim in the bathroom and soaked his pants, so we had to borrow an extra pair of Moira's.  Afterward, they came back with us and hauled away Zeeke's old crib.  After his nap, we popped some corn and watched a movie together. 

Conversations with Zeeke:
"One of Anita's babies was shooting bunnies."
"What?!"
"Shooting bunnies means being stinky, Daddy. And I can still smell that baby in my nose!"

Advice from Zeeke:
"Never let a guinea pig inside your head."

"Daddy, do you want to play City Monster? That's when the policeman tells the airplane driver to lower him down over the monster that's very far away over in that corner."

"I'm drawing cute guys. Look at this little guy! Isn't he so cute?"

Zeeke has been super accident prone this week.  Falling off of things, walking into them, dropping them.  He's also been complaining that his legs hurt lately, so we're chalking it all up to growing pains.  He's definitely looking bigger all the time.

Monday and Tuesday, we kept him home from school because he had a bad cough and a low fever.  His illness did not affect his happiness or energy level though.  

After six days off, Zeeke was reluctant to go back to school Wednesday, but he had a great, fun day.  And best of all, his pal Lettie came home with us for an after school play date.  They had a blast making music, having a tea party, and playing with Lego.  

Thursday was New Years Eve.  In the morning, Steve & Zeeke braved the cold playground, but were only there a few minutes when Zeeke tumbled forward and banged this mouth on the jungle gym.  He was quite upset and didn't report that his teeth felt better until the next morning.  After his nap, we headed to a sleepover party with Jen & Kim, Jack & William, and Dena.  He finally got his long held wish to sleep in a bed with Mommy and was very happy about it.

Friday morning, we played with the twins all morning.  They had fun in the bouncy house and playing trains.  We got home just in time for his nap, then had a lazy afternoon. 

Saturday morning, Karen & Zeeke went to a cooking with kids class at her new library.  He didn't do a lot of cooking, but had a wonderful time stirring chili and then drawing in the little notebook they gave him.  He also got his first library card!  He fell asleep in the car on way home, but for the first time in years actually stayed asleep when we move him from car to crib.

Sunday, Steve & Zeeke went to Ikea and bought him a big boy bed.  After his nap, he became super focused on making cool art by drawing shapes on a brown paper bag with markers and colored pencils, then cutting them out (sometimes with help) and gluing them to other drawings.

Conversations with Zeeke:
"Wait! Daddy, who's calling my name?"
"I don't think anyone is, buddy."
"Yes, they are. I can hear them..."

Zeeke had a great Christmas.  So great that we're having trouble convincing him that it doesn't last all winter long. 

He has become obsessed with this new Disney show, The Lion Guard, about the son of Simba from The Lion King.  Only two episodes are available so far, but he wants to watch them both at least twice a day.

Wednesday, after dinner, the three of us went to the section of 13th Street where the residents take their Christmas decorating extremely seriously.  Zeeke adored it and dubbed the neighborhood "Christmastown."

Thursday was a very rainy Christmas Eve.  Steve & Zeeke stayed in working on arts and crafts.  They did some watercolors, made a faux stained glass window, and drew lots of pictures.  After his nap, Nadine & Zoe came over for a play date.  

Friday was Christmas.  We had a quiet morning at home.  Santa gave him gumdrops, which he'd been fantasizing about since reading about them in one of his books.  We played with his new Paw Patrol toys and had a tea party with his new tea set.  After that, we headed out to Jersey to spend the day with Karen's family.  Zeeke had a blast with his cousins Riley & Bella.  Zeeke got lots of great gifts including a Lego firehousr, a Play Doh cookie kit, Blaze and Superwings toys, cool new sneakers, and a shirt with glow-in-the-dark dinosaur bones (that he insisted on wearing non-stop from the moment it was out of the box until he spilled juice on it thirty hours later).

Saturday morning, Steve & Zeeke went to the playground, where he played with schoolmates Lettie, Zooey, & Amelie.  Then they went to Franco & Luigi's for pepperoni pizza with Jen & Amelie.  Zeeke was feeling sick he woke up from his nap, so we ate some popcorn and watched The Lion Guard.  

Sunday morning, Zeeke woke everybody up super early with coughing fits.  He and Karen let Steve try to sleep in for a couple hours and then Steve & Zeeke went to Target so that Karen could get some rest.  After a short and fitful nap, he threw himself into his new scratch art pad, squealing in delight as he revealed pictures of jungle animals for over two hours.  Thank you, Pop Pop & Gigi!

Conversations with Zeeke:
Drawing a picture...
"This guy with the orange hair drives the spaceship and he's the bad guy. Frankenstein is going to stop him."

"Daddy, my phone says giraffes eat grass."
"You have a phone?"
"Yeah, but not anymore."
"Did a giraffe eat it?"
"No, I just threw it away."

As Karen was buttering his roll, Zeeke started singing...
"Lippy lippy Lipitor... more butter!  Lippy lippy Lipitor... more butter!"

After months of declaring over and over that he only likes turqouise, purple, pink, and yellow, which he calls "the pretty colors," Zeeke made a full reversal this week.  He now says he doesn't like the pretty colors at all, preferring instead orange, green, brown and black, which he calls "the difficult colors."

His holiday obsession continues.  Zeeke & Karen read a stack of Christmas-themed books every night and every song is a Christmas song.  He is madly convinced it's going to snow on Christmas day.

Wednesday was Zeeke's school christmas party.  He had a great time, ate too much sugar, sang songs for the parents, and took some nice pictures with Santa.  After school, he brought home all of the decorations he made in school.  He cried big tears when he broke a glass ornament by admiring it too much.

Saturday morning, we took a family trip to Target for some last minute holiday shopping.  After his nap, we went to his pal Asif's birthday.  Zeeke had a blast running amok, eating cake, participating in a treasure hunt, and playing pin the treasure chest on the desert island.

Sunday morning we finished off our Christmas shopping with a trip to the bookstore.  We might have bought just a few books for ourselves as well.  Zeeke didn't eat any of his pancakes when we brunched at Bridget Foy's, but he had fun playing there.  After nap, we headed out to Jersey for an early Christmas with Steve's family.  As usual, he gobbled up lots of Gigi's delicious cooking.  He playe with his cousin Jackson and built a pillow fort with Aunt Cathy.  Zeeke got lots of great gifts, including a Hess firetruck, magnetic blocks, cool pyjamas, and loads of great art supplies.

Conversations with Zeeke:
"Daddy, did you know that Clarice is Rudolph's girlfriend?"
"Yes."
"And in the sequel, she comes home and says, 'Rudolph! What is that gingerbread man doing here?'"
"Oh my."
"And Rudolph says, 'There is no gingerbread man here.' And then the abominable snowman came and he melted."

Zeeke's new best friend at bedtime is a tiny stuffed Octopus named Ollie.  Unfortunately, Ollie is small enough to slip through the bars of his crib and does so frequently as Zeeke is falling asleep, prompting panicked cries for help.  He's also been insisting on wearing knit hats to bed because he claims his head is cold. 

His new favorite writer/illustrator is Richard Scarry and he's been insisting on reading at least one of his books every night.

Saturday was Zeeke's final music class for the year (at least).  He and Steve got there early, so they watched the ice skaters at Dilworth Plaza for a while, which was very nice.   After his nap, they made Christmas cookies.  They even made their own decorative colored sugar although Zeeke was really into mixing colors, so most of it ended up dark shades of purple.  Tasted good though.   After Karen got home from work, we all strolled down Passyunk Avenue for a display of ice sculptures on a very warm December night.

Sunday morning, Steve & Zeeke hung out at the playground with Nick & Zoe and Jen & Amelie.  After nap, all three of us went to a David & Steve's Christmas party.  Zeeke had a great time, snacking, dancing, playing ping pong, hanging out with Diane, and telling everyone he was drinking whiskey.

Conversations with Zeeke:
"Daddy, you are a crazy appetizer! All of Mommy's doctors say you are a peach on a wall. They say, 'What are you doing with that crazy appetizer?'"

"Mommy! Are you talking back to Daddy?"

Zeeke is officially obsessed with Christmas.  It's the subject of every song he sings and every picture he draws.  He has lots of questions about everything he learns on the subject.  And he's very excited about attending to the advent calendar Grandma Joy gave him.

While decorating the tree, we watched Christmas specials and Zeeke loved them all, especially How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Frosty the Snowman.  Zeeke insists that the Grinch disguises himself as Mrs. Claus, rather than as Santa (probably because he has no beard).  Whenever Frosty the Snowman "dies" (loses the hat or melts), Zeeke takes it so to heart and sadly asks if the show is over.

Wednesday, after school, Steve & Zeeke went to the tree lighting at the fountain.  A lot of his friends from school were there to dance with and when he found out Santa was giving out lollypops he even got his picture taken with him.

Saturday, we we had music class in the morning and decorated the tree in the afternoon.  Zeeke did a pretty good job decorating and only broke one ornament (so far).

Sunday morning, we went to visit Jen, Kim & the twins.  Zeeke had fun bouncing, running, and dancing with William & Jack.  The boys made Steve take them exploring in the little patch of woods behind their house.  Unfortunately, at one point Zeeke got jealous that Steve was pushing William in the swing so he stuck his head in the way and got clobbered.  He was fine, but had some nice bruises for the next week.

Conversations with Zeeke:
"Ho ho ho!"
"Daddy, are you Santa Claus?"
"Yes, I am. Have you been a good boy this year?"
"Daddy, are you joking?"
"No, I'm Santa!"
"Ok, then I'm a snowman."
"And have you been a good snowman this year?"
"Oh, Daddy, snowmen don't talk..."

In an amazing turn of events, Zeeke has forsaken his favorite show Paw Patrol for one called Blaze and the Monster Machines.  It was such a sudden transition that Karen and Steve almost have whiplash.  Despite being cruelly forced to watch Paw Patrol dozens of times per week for as long as they can remember, they almost miss it now that it's gone.

Zeeke's recent massive appetite has shrank back down to bird size, ironically just in time for Thanksgiving.  Each meal is once again a challenge and we have to remind him to keep eating after every bite.

Tuesday, he cracked up his teachers by proudly declaring, "Sure I would eat bugs, they are full of protein."

Thursday, we went to Jersey for Thanksgiving with Steve's family.  Zeeke was unusually shy there, but he did open up towards the end and even had a tickle fight with his cousin Jackson. 

Friday, Steve & Zeeke went to the playground with Jen & Amelie, then they all went out for pizza. 

Saturday, we went to Maryland for Thankgiving with Karen's family.  Zeeke was in heaven seeing Riley & Bella two weeks in a row.  He really enjoyed hiking through the woods to the creek.

Sunday afternoon, Tim & Lettie came over for a play date.

Zeeke loves competition.  He's faster than you, bigger than you, and his birthday is even sooner than yours.  He's so excited when he gets home from school before Karen arrives from work, gleefully taunting her with "Mommy, we beat you!"  One day he told Steve, "Daddy, my yawns are better than your yawns."

Zeeke's been eating an insane amount of food this week and it's starting to show.  He's not quite so skinny, and his face is starting fill out.  

Saturday morning, we went to music class.  In the afternoon, Karen brought up a lot of his old toys from storage and he had fell in love with them all over.

Sunday, we visited Karen's sister's family and went to IHOP for Omi's birthday.  Zeeke had a blast hanging out with his cousins Riley & Bella.  He cried when we dragged him away from them (and from their ipads).  That afternoon, Zeeke was obessed with puzzles.

Conversations with Zeeke:

Getting Zeeke ready for nap:
"All right, Zeeke, let's see who can get upstairs first?"
"Me!"
"Good job! Okay, let's see who can get their shirt off first."
"Santa Claus!"
"What? When did Santa Claus take off his shirt?"
"Santa Claus comes every night while I'm sleeping and gives me presents."
"With his shirt off?!?"
"No, Daddy! In a red suit!"
"All right...."

"Oh, Daddy, this is a beautiful card! It's beautiful orange and it's beautiful pink! I really like this card, Daddy! It's from Momo."