Zackery The Chunky Monkey....

Self-Recognition

2010-11-10T21:06:00.001-08:00

There was a picture of a monkey on the computer.

Zack says, "Mom!!!! MOM!!!! That's ME! It's Zacky!!!!"

And the beauty of it all.... was that he was very serious.

: )

Madagascar PENGUINS!

2010-07-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

We are BIG Madagascar fans in our house and the penguins are certainly one of the hightlights of the show. I found this giveaway with their new movie!

Best part about these penguins? Their hilarious quotable quotes!!!!!!! The writers give them the BEST lines! So funny!

"It Happens"...

2010-07-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

So we're trying to load up all the kids in the car on the way home from camping, and Zack is our last one to tackle into his car seat. Me and Blaine are both standing outside of his door and I just get him buckled it and I see that his shorts are wet. (He's been pretty good potty trained for SEVERAL months now.)

"ZA-ACK! Did you have an accident?!" I say.

Blaine, "AW! Zack?! You peed your pants?!"

Zack, very matter-of factly, almost reassuringly, but not at all apologetic, as he nods his head yes, "It happens!"

Me and Blaine just look at each other and back at him and we couldn't help it. We had to smile and laugh. Little stinker. REALLY? "It happens?!" LOL I don't know where kids come up with these kind of responses. LOL

Middle of the Night Tears...

2010-02-20T11:30:00.000-08:00

I heard Zack crying about 11pm, so I went into his room to check on him. He was sitting up in his bed, still looking very tired, and sobbing. I sat down on his bed and pulled him into a hug.

"Zack, what's wrong?"

"A bike!" he sobs.

"A... bike?"

"Yeah... bike, Mommy," still sobbing.

"You... want a bike?"

"Yeah!..." more hysterical sobs and throws his arms around me, "my bike... a bike..."

"Oh, honey... it's okay. It's okay."

I guess no one likes waking up from a good dream and realizing it's not real. : )

The hazards of eating pudding...

2010-02-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

Zack's position: sitting at his little Winnie the Pooh table eating a chocolate pudding with his feet tucked under his bottom (so Max can't climb up his legs)

Max: jumping around by Zack's chair and wagging his tail far faster than seems possible for such a teeny pup.

Zack, "No, doggy. No, dog. No! Mine. Go way. Go way, doggy. No! Pweez! Go way, dog. PWEEZ!"

Self-Appointed... Troublemaker?

2010-01-28T20:56:00.000-08:00

from the living room I see him leaning over the kitchen table, but can't see what he's doing...

"Zackery George... What are you doing, mister?"

hurries and sits in the chair, looks straight at me with a look of guilt...

"I did it. I did it, Mom."

"What?"

"I did it."

"What did you do?"

"Yup." (nods solemnly) "I did it. Me.... Zacky..."

?

"Okay, get down."

"Okay, mommy. I did it."

30 seconds later... he's by the wall pulling a clorox clean-up wipe from his pocket (the item which he had gotten from the table) and was washing random walls throughout the house.

Well, okay then. LOL

"Nasty Kiss!"

2010-01-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago while I was in the act of 'tickle torture' with Zack (a mother's favorite game, is it not?), I'd give Zack great big kisses all over kiss head and cheeks, to which he would giggle uncontrollably, reminding me once again why I love being a mother.

During this particular episode, when I took a break to let him breathe in between giggles, he got this sly mischievious grin on his face, wiped off his cheek with his hand, stuck out his tongue, scrunched up his face and said, "Ew! yyyyuck! Nasty kiss!"

To which I of course responded incredulously with, "What?!?! Mommy's kisses aren't nasty!!" followed by more tickling and kisses all over his little chubby cheeks.

This little game of his telling me my kisses are 'yuck' (come ON... that's not supposed to happen til at least kindergarten right?!) continued. He thought it was hilarious and I'm sure I egged it on by the tickling and more kisses. (Well, I couldn't just let him get away with such things, right? Mommy kisses are like sacred!) : )

Tonight as I put him to bed and started to leave he said, "Mommy! More hug!" So I gave him another hug. "Mommy! More kisses!" So I gave him another kiss.

"Do I get another kiss?" I ask. He puts his arms around my neck and gives me a big kiss on one cheek then a big kiss on the other. Then he leans his face in to mine and whispers, "Mommy... Zacky kiss nasty?"

"No! I love Zacky kisses. Your kisses are good. Are mommy's kisses good?"

Pause...

Mischievous grin and busting into giggles, "Mommy kiss nasty!"

And of course... I HAD to respond with more kisses and tickles. Mommy kisses are NOT nasty. : )

Big Boy Potty Time...

2010-01-21T23:25:00.001-08:00

About a week ago Zack learned how to use his stepstool to be able to sit on the toilet by himself. I must say, it was quite nice. I could just open the door, turn on the light, and Zack could go potty by himself. All I had to help with was finishing up (washing hands, putting on a new diaper, etc).

A few months ago when he first started wanting to use the toilet (mostly from watching Kadan and of COURSE wanting to do everything like big brother) he REALLY wanted to stand up. But he really was just too short and lacked the motor control to 'aim'.

Well, today, he stood on the step, facing the toilet, hesitated, and said, "Mommy... pee like this?"

He seemed to be at a better height, so I figured, eh, why not? "Yes, you can pee like that."

Zack, VERY excited, "Like THIS?" ("really mom?!?!? you're going to let me? holy cow!!!")

Me, "Yes. Go potty. Hurry."

After Mr. Zack finished his business he clapped for himself and bounced up and down a bit SUPER super excited about his fabulous accomplishment. He was now a 'big' boy like Kadan and Daddy and could pee standing up.

It was good day for 2 1/2 yr old Zackery. A mighty good day. : )

Well, Good Morning!

2010-01-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

The kids are my alarm clock in the morning. Being pregnant I am nearly always exhausted and I'm up a ton at night lately and there is no possible way I can take a nap during the day, so I sleep as long as the boys will let me. Zack cannot open his bedroom door, so he'll yell for me when he's awake and if Kadan wakes up first he comes right in to our room first and cuddles with me for a few minutes and I wake up then.

Well. Today the rules changed.

Zack's bedroom door did not get closed quite all the way last night. This morning, when all was quiet, Kadan wanders into my room half asleep and crawls in bed next to me. As I wake up I hear voices... like a radio... hmm, the kids have music on at night, but it's a little different than the radio... "Kadan, did you turn on some cartoons?" I ask him. "No, I just came in here by you," he says (still half asleep).

Hmmm... I get up, pass the boys room. Door still 'looks' (keyword) closed. I go use the bathroom and the little cup that holds the boys toothbrushes is on the counter... containing only ONE of the two brushes it is meant to contain. Hmmm... very odd...

I walk into the living room and there is little Zackery. Sitting on the couch. Wide awake. Happy as can be. Watching The Little Mermaid (which he had to have turned on by himself) and brushing his teeth! LOL

"Well! Good morning!" I say.

"Hi! Mommy! I brush! See? A mermaid! a fishy! ha ha, is funny." he giggles and replies.

Yes, Zack. You are funny. : )

Toddler Talk

2010-01-01T19:53:00.000-08:00

Here's our little monkey, age 2 1/2. He's quite the talker now. And it's SO much fun to teach him new phrases. I bet he picks up at least 5 to 10 new words everyday!

We taught him to say "Yeah baby!" after he gives us a 'high five'.

He also says "yeah baby" after he's finished playing (and grooving to) a song on his little toy guitar.

SO awesome! : ) I love this age!

Avoiding Bedtime...

2009-12-02T18:50:00.000-08:00

A good portion of the time Zack climbs into his bed, says his prayer, gives me a hug & kiss, eats his vitamin, and lays down quietly to go to sleep. Rarely a peep after I close the door.

On occassion... after the above happens and I am about the close the door he sits up quick and....

Zack, "Mommy! A dink!" (drink)
Me, "You have a drink." He looks down, in his arm is a sippy cup of water.
Zack" Appoh! Me Appoh!" (apple)
Me, "You can finish your apple tomorrow. Na-night."
Zack, "Cheese! Mommy! A cheese!"
Me, "No more cheese. Tomorrow." (this kid is obsessed with string cheese)
Zack, "Pop-kik-oo!" (popcicle)
Me, with a little laugh, "No, your not having a popcicle! It's bedtime! Na-night."
Zack, "Mommeeeeeee!... Appoh?...." (apple)
Me, "No apple. Goodnight, Zack. Love you."
He sighs and pouts a little, but lays back down. I hear a few more hollers after I close the door, but after about 20 seconds he realizes it's not helping.

I guess he figured he had to at least TRY. : )

A little cuddle time...

2009-11-12T19:00:00.000-08:00

silence...

sudden out of nowhere screaming/crying from Zack's room...

"Zack!? Monkey, what's wrong?" I sit down by him on his bed.

"Mommy!... Mommy, I hold you." pats his pillow. "Mommy, you na-night."

"Zack, I can't go na-night. This is Zacky's bed. Mommy has to sleep in Mommy's bed."

Puts his cute little chubby hands on my cheeks and tries to put my head on his pillow. "Na-night, mommy. You na-night. A bwanky? Here go." Puts blanket on my legs. "Na-night, mommy."

Sigh. "Zacky..."

"I hold you, Mommy! Peez! I hold you!"

Sigh. "Alright, I'll hold you for a minute."

I rub my hand across his forehead and hair and he presses his cheek next to mine and puts his little arm around my neck.

"Na-night, mommy."

After a few minutes I get up to leave. He looks up at me. "Goodnight, sweetie. Love you very much."

"Na-night, mommy. Wuv you. A much." He roles over and closes his eyes again.

I guess sometimes everybody just needs a little bit of extra cuddle time... : )

Kisses... or no kisses...

2009-11-12T14:36:00.001-08:00

I'm doing dishes while Zack's playing in the kitchen.

Me, "Zacky.... can I give you a hug?"

Zack, in his cute little teasing-I'm-going-to-say-no-cuz-you-want-me-to-say-yes voice, "No!"

Me, "Can I... spank your bum?"

Zack, "No!"

Me, "Can I.... give you a kiss?"

Zack, "No!... Daddy kiss you."

I'm busy mom. Daddy can give you a kiss. Leave me alone. : )

Today's Potty Training Episode...

2009-10-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

We have not been pushing potty training (he's only a little over 2), but he has shown interest so if he ever asks to go potty or tells us he needs to, we'll stick him on the toilet.

Zack, "POTTY!!!!!!!!!!!"
Me, "Okay, okay, let's go." We hurry into the bathroom & I set him on the toilet.
Zack pushes and grunts, "Potty?"
Me, "Yes, go potty."
Zack, confused, "No potty..."
Me, "You have to push it out."
Zack pushes and grunts more, shakes his head at me and says informatively "Oh, it no work!"
Me, "It doesn't work?"
Zack shakes head, "No, pee broke."

: )

THIS is where I found my boys the other day. Sheesh...

2009-10-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

Yes. Yes they are inside the ferret cage. (the cat also sleeps in there) INSIDE. They climbed through the opening (maybe like 10in.X10in.). I heard them giggling and came into the living room to find THIS.

Stinkin' little monsters... What am I going to do with them? Funny thing is... Zack was totally the mastermind of it all.

Some Recent Pics of our Little Man...

2009-10-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

His 2nd birthday. We had a little mini-party at each grandparents house, since we were going to be in both places right around his birthday. On his actual birthday it was just the four of us. We had cupcakes cuz we were going out of town and didn't see the point in leaving an entire cake sitting at home! Look at that grin. It's all about the 'cheese' with this kid!

This was a random pic I snapped one day. I was looking through pics on my camera memory card and he was right in my face, "MOMMY! Mommy, cheese! CHEEEEEESE! Mommy! Cheese!" LOL He's such a goofball. A personality all of his own, that's for sure.

This was at Bear Lake. Once again... "CHEESE!" I have to be quick if I want a candid smile. Once he spots the camera it's all about posing.

This is one I took the day we got our family pics done. I know he's not smiling big, but I really just love the genuine look on his face. He was so content just swinging away...

Chips? A mine.

2009-10-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

We had this big package of mini-bags of chips on the kitchen table. (We had just went grocery shopping.) I was finishing up some homework then I went into the kitchen to get the kids some dinner. The package had a suspicious empty space in one corner... hmm....

"Kadan? Did you take chips?"

"No, I didn't!"

Hmmm.... I walk into the living room.

Zackery is sitting on the floor leaning back against the couch watching cartoons surrounded by about ELEVEN bags of chips... looking as innocently as he could.

"Chips? A mine." (said very matter of factly, like he hadn't done ANYTHING wrong.)

Bedtime Kisses...

2009-09-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

Zack had a rough time trying to fall asleep last night. So I cuddled with him for a bit til he calmed down. He puts his hands on my cheeks and his face inches from mine, turns my face so he can look at my eyes and says, "Mommy! Mommy! I kiss you." And then he turns my head and kisses me repeatedly on one cheek.

"Oh, thank you, baby. Love you. Na-night."

Two seconds later...

Chubby little hands on my cheeks turning me towards him again... "Mommy! Mommy! I kiss you." And he turns my head to the other side so he can repeatedly kiss that cheek, too. : )

"I Yuh You, Mommy."

"I love you, too, baby. Na-night."

"Na-night. Shhhh...." he says.

"shhh..." I say.

Talk, Talk, Talk...

2009-07-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

What a big boy I have! I swear this chunky boy was just born!! He has started picking up words left and right. I'm sure that most people probably wouldn't understand half of it, but living with him you learn what he's talking about quick.

Some recent favorite phrases are...

I tell Kadan (when he's being a goof and steals the binkies), "You are not a baby, you don't get binkies." So now when Zack is ready for bed (& a binky) he say, "Where beenty? I baby."

When it's about time for a meal or a snack we ask Zack if he's hungry or if he wants some food and he says very enthusiastically, "Hun Hungee!!"

When he looks out the front window waiting for Blaine to get home from work he says, "Where Daddy go go? Daddy! Kuh hom!!!" (translation: come home)

When he's playing peekaboo or hiding behind something peeking out at me he says, "Where Yacky?.... Pah boo!!!"

Oh, man... I love this baby. : ) He's going to be 2 years old in just a couple weeks!!! I can hardly believe how fast the time flies...

Oh... Monkey George

2009-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

We've changed his name. He is no longer Zackery George... he is Monkey George.

Me, "Zackery! You get down off the back of the couch. You will fall!"

Zacky (with a mischievious grin), "Det Down! ha ha ha!" And he climbs up higher. "Det down! he he."

Zackery (PHOTOS!)

2009-05-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Chunky Monkey... Fat Chunker... Chunky boy... Yacky.... Yackers... Smacker... Smackery... Yackery... Chunkery... Chunky George... Baby Baby Chunk Baby Baby Fat Chunk... and many many more combinations of the above are my baby's nicknames. He was SO chubby when he was first born, although since he started crawling and walking around he's thinned out a lot. But... the nickname and its variations stuck. Kadan couldn't say his 'z's when Zack was born, so Yacky came from him and the variations evolved from there. Not really sure how 'Smackers' got started... but that one stuck, too. I actually have to make a concious effort to call him by his actual name throughout the day, cuz I figure he probably shouldn't be writing 'Smackery Chunkers' on his papers on the first day of Kindergarten. : )

Here's some recent pics of the baby we love...

Zackery & Mommy on Mother's Day 2009

Zackery on 'Cow Day' at the Harris farm. He just got to watch while the older (meaning ages 3-5) kids rode the 'buckin' bulls' (aka: running calfs). He was actually a little afraid of the horse and cows. But he stayed pretty happy as long as I was holding him.

This is at Grandma Minnie's house over Easter weekend. At our last visit he was scared to death of this little rocking horse. But this visit he liked it.

My little Easter baby. He loved riding in the passenger seat while big brother Kadan drove the John Deer. But he REALLY thought it was cool when his brother parked it and hopped out for a minute and he slyly slid over to the drivers seat and proudly held the steering wheel for a few minutes.

Grandma Minnie & Zackery on Easter morning.

Grandma Harris & Zackery the week before Easter. We had our Harris Easter party this weekend. Zack colored his first eggs.

Zackery, April 2009, 1 yr 8 1/2 months old

Zackery tickling his little 4(?)month old cousin Rhett with a stretchy snake. Good think Uncle Lee and Grandpa are paying good attention to the baby's huh? : )

The little boys (my boys and their cousins) wore these spiderman masks for Kadan's birthday.

Shh, my baby... let mommy hold you just a little longer...

2009-03-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

What time is it?
sigh... 2am
I'm wide awake.
Drink of water... check.
Peek in on the boys... still sleeping? warm enough?... check.
Leave the room to go back to bed.... che-.... well...
Maybe I'll just watch them for a minute longer...
My beautiful boys.
Perfect little noses. Sweet pink lips.
Long eyelashes on peacefully closed eyes...
I brush my hand over Kadan's cheek, then lean into the crib to pull the blanket up over my baby Zack.
Oh... my baby. Already so big. He stopped wanting to be rocked to sleep at about 6 months.
Wasn't that what I wanted? For him to sleep on his own? So we wouldn't have to spend time putting him to sleep? Hmm... the things you miss when they're over...
I carefully pick him up and cradle my sweet little bunch of baby as he quietly sleeps... resting my cheek on his warm soft hair.
I should put him back and go back to bed... sigh... well... maybe just a few more minutes to cuddle.
I lay in my bed with him cradled next to me, holding his little hand, watching his face.
My sweet baby.
Such tiny little fingers... and tiny little toes, but already so much bigger than before.
You're growing so fast, my baby. Almost... almost... not a baby anymore.
Shhh.... don't stir my baby. Sleep a little while longer. Let Mommy hold you. Shhh... it's alright. There now. Sweet dreams my angel. My beautiful baby boy with your soft rosy cheeks and deep dimples. Sleep a little longer. Mommy needs to hold her baby for just a little longer, before her sweet little baby isn't such a little baby anymore...

I love you my Zackery. Thank you for being my baby. I love you so much.

P.S...

2008-12-30T13:00:00.000-08:00

Just thought you'd like to know that later (after the event of the last post occured, and I had taken the pictures), Zack got into my scrapbook chalk. So he was about 100 times WORSE than those photos in the last post! Green, black, orange, and red... EVERYWHERE!!! He looked like a little troll or goblin. I should have taken pictures of that, but I was just in such a hurry to clean him up before he got the chalk on everything else in the house!

My Chunky Monkey Jungle Baby

2008-12-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

I have taken to giving Zack a new nickname... chunky monkey. We have always called him chunky. He's really not that chunky anymore since he started crawling and walking, but when he was born his face was so fat he could only open one eye at a time! : )

And now the little rugrat climbs over and onto ANYTHING! So he is our chunky monkey.

These pictures should explain why my project of cleaning and organizing the computer room/office will never be done. Because everytime I get things out to organize, they get destroyed. Zack found some markers (washable thankfully) and threw everything else off the table (after he drew all over himself). In his camo jammies top, he looked like he was off to the jungle in his war paint. : )

Silly Chunky Monkey...

ZACKY IS WALKING!!!!

2008-11-07T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hurray! During this last week Zack started walking! He is still pretty wobbly and he falls a lot, but he thinks its fun and enjoys falling into a big hug when he gets to someone! : ) And, since we finally found our cord to our video camera, hopefully I'll get some video footage of his cute chubby baby legs walking around... AND! everyone can hear what a cute lil giggle he has. : )

Stay tuned! Video coming soon!

Woo-hoo!

2008-10-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

About four months ago, Zacky stood for a few seconds (if you put him on his feet) and took his first few steps. He did this several times over a couple weeks. And then our little mister chunky boy decided walking was overrated. And he quit. (Little stinker). He had absolutely no interest in standing or walking unless it was behind a toy he was pushing or the couch he was walking along the side of.

A few days ago our little family of four was sitting around the living chatting and playing with the boys. Zack looked around at all of us... put his hands on the floor in front of himself and push and stood up. All by himself! Then he raises his hands in the air, smiles and shouts "Woo-hoo!" and sits back down and claps for himself. :) (Do I have a cute baby or WHAT?!) He repeated the sequence (stand, woo-hoo, sit, clap) about 15 times within that hour, and then he was worn out for the night. We were all laughing and clapping and 'Woo-hoo'ing right along with him. We never could get him to take a few steps, but I think he's definitely getting interest in it again. I couldn't get any great pictures... but here is a few from that night.

Here are some other cute pictures of my baby shouting "Woo-hoo!" in his high chair eating ramen noodles. He's still learning the whole 'spoon & fork' thing, and we've learned from experience that bowls and plates are pointless... yet our baby still prefers to feed himself. So... ramen noodles (minus the broth of course) went on the high chair tray and this is what happened... "Woo-hoo!" says Zacky.

In these ones Daddy was tickling baby's feet. Dinner AND entertainment! What a night! : )

The first one here is "Here, Daddy, you try some, too." Zackery is ALWAYS willing to share (whether you want any or not!). The second pic is "Okay, mommy, I'm done eating now.... P.S. please clean these squishy noodles off my lap... and my belly... and my legs... and I think there may be one or two under my bum..."

Sleepless in Pocatello

2008-05-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

We recently moved Zack's bed into Kadan's room. So far, it's not working out too great. We're not really sure how to make it work. I really wish that 3 of the bedrooms were upstairs in this house. Downstairs we're not really using one of the bedrooms, except for storage, so each boy could have their own room, but I don't want to put either of them downstairs. Hopefully Zack will get used to falling asleep in that room and then Kadan will be able to go to bed on time as well. Kadan hasn't been sleep well lately anyways, and this has just thrown his schedule off further because I can't exactly expect him to sleep when Zack's in their crying trying to fall asleep himself. Oh, boy. Any advice? How do you get two kids to share a room? Apparently I did it will my baby brother just fine... wish I could remember how... (20 years was too long ago!)

Chunky Boy

2008-05-12T22:14:00.001-07:00

Growing Up Fast

2008-05-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

Zack is getting SO big! He is growing up so fast we can't hardly believe it! He is crawling very well and very fast now. He wanders from the kitchen to the living room to the boy's room finding new toys to play with and new obstacles to climb around and under. He is clapping now, too, which Kadan finds very funny. He can pull himself up to stand and he's even taken a few steps while holding onto mine or Blaine's hands. I can't believe how fast they grow! It truly seems like just yesterday he was born. I can tell that I've babied him a little more than I did with Kadan. I didn't intentionally do it, and I really have tried to help him gain his independence as much as I did with Kadan. But I think what happened was with Kadan, I didn't have an older child to compare his size with, so he always seemed to be getting so big and he always seemed so much older than he was the week or month before. But with Zack, even though I definitely notice him getting bigger, I always have him next to Kadan and so he still seems so little. I think I encouraged Kadan to grow up faster because I was always so excited to see the next fun stage he would enter into. With Zack, I know what's coming, and I know how fast it goes by, so it's more fun to just enjoy the sweet baby stages that he is in. Anyone else realize they ended up treating their children differently without meaning to?

Just Like Grandpa

2008-05-05T20:23:00.001-07:00

Zack has always looked so much like my baby pictures, we didn't think he had very much Harris in his looks. This photo of Blaine's dad as a baby proved us wrong, though!

Funny Faces

2008-04-07T23:42:00.001-07:00

This was so funny! I was trying to feed him and he would only take a couple bites and then he started blowing raspberries. These pictures don't even do it justice! He would pucker his lips so big and blow so hard and so long (and loud!) that his face would start to turn dark red and he'd have to stop and take a breath. And every time he would stop, he would get this look of amazement on his face like, "Wow, that was the coolest thing I ever did!" ... and then he'd start blowing raspberries again! Me and Kadan were both laughing so hard. I had to grab the camera.

A blog for my baby...

2008-04-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Kadan just got a blog of his own, so now it is Zacky's turn. Photos, stories, and hopefully a video will be posted soon.

P.S. Thanks to my cousin, Alli, for giving me the idea to give each boy a post of their own.