Somebody blows their nose and you want to keep it?

Zach is currently going through his first big cold. It's not a bad cold, just a cough, sneezing and stuffy nose. It's just really sad and totally pathetic when he coughs and sniffs all the time. We found out it makes us feel better if we say "Awww, po witto Zachy has a coad" Then there is at least a little cuteness hidden within the mucus. Also, as generous and giving as our son is, he has graciously donated his cold to both of us so that we can literally take part in his entire life.

In less gross news, Zach has been really happy this month because it's a "mommy is home" month. He had no idea where she was going when dad had to take care of him in the morning for those last couple months so at the end of her last session, we took him in to "mama's office" and he found that it was more exciting that anyone could have possibly imagined. (To be fair, he thinks that the remote for the fan is also more exciting than anyone could imagine, so his fascination level should not be gauged against your average person).

You may think he's learning, but he's actually listening to his E.L.O. Greatest Hits album

Zach preparing his "my dog ate my homework" defense

Of course he went immediately for the 'Z'...and no it's not because that was the only letter within his height range, how dare you for thinking that

Zach was baptized on April 25 at St. Robert Bellarmine (the same church we were married in) with his uncle Greg and our friend Mary as the Godparents. Greg tried to do his best Don Corleone but Zach wasn't really getting it...maybe the terrifying 'orange peel in the mouth' trick would get his attention. What he did enjoy was having holy water poured over his head. He was apparently feeling the holy fire burning within and by the grace of God was given the power to almost jump out of Kelly's arms and into the baptismal font. Fortunately, he did not succeed. He still had a good time and was very excited that so many people came to see him on that special day.

Zach and Great Nonie

Great grandpa Jack, Great grandma Dode, Great grandpa Ralph, Good Zach, and regular Mom and Dad

Mary, Zach and Vito

Notice the Kung Fu grip Zach has on his mom's arm...well wouldn't you be slightly concerned if someone was holding you upside down and backwards under a guy in a robe holding some kind of mysterious sin-removing liquid?

Visitors to the house keep tapering off as time goes on (we assume it's due to the fact that everyone already knows how awesome Zach is) but we still get the occasional guest. Katie and Victoria's mom and dad (Mike and Marianne) stopped by with their daughters, Christine visited too; and Katie's friend (and mommy of two girls) Gianne came by to go to the park with the group...they took Zach too.

Feeding a baby is like riding a bike with no seat...you can do it, but somehow not as enjoyable as you remember

My focus is immediately drawn to the dude in the back auditioning for the buttercup fairy...seriously, what is that pose?

Someone needs her own baby, stat

Charlotte found our stairs...and TOTALLY LOVED THEM

Here is some video of Zach crawling today. He's been toying around with a few different techniques and typically goes for the "whatever gets me there the fastest" style but this is one of our favorites because it's just....it's just crazy man...

Katie works for Dreamworks Animation (I know, I agree, I like Pixar better too, but when Peanut M&M's aren't available sometimes you gotta just go with regular) and yesterday was "Shrek Day." She invited Zach and Kelly to enjoy the festivities and have "one Shrek of a time" (I can't even guess at what that could possibly mean). They had a GREAT time.

SHREK!

SHREK!!!!!!

SHREEEEEEEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!!!!

shrek

And finally as we skid out and plow through the guardrail of Summer, we look forward to fun in the sun, and water. Zach wanted to prepare himself for the biggie pool so we gave him a taste of adventure right in our own backyard.

No, daddy is not torturing his son in this picture

No, daddy is not standing by laughing as his son falls face-first into the water

Well, that's all for now. Zachary is growing up as fast as ever so I'll (once again) try to produce a few more blogs per month to keep up with his ever-progressing progress.

-pf

Fun Facts:

• We recently found out that Joel and Kim are due to have a baby (hooray) in December 2010, so that will be the first baby cousin born after him....FINALLY someone his own size to pick on.
• Zach had his 9 month check up...perfect as usual quoth the Doctor.
• He is consistently saying 'mama' and 'dada' now (the former more than the latter). We are unconvinced that he understands what he's saying.
• On Peter's "Horrible father scale of intellect" I put Zach above Cat but below Dog and Gorilla at this point in his life, as he can move around and motion at stuff he wants, but still can't understand basic commands or language.
• Next post I'll get some good "Zach standing" pictures....he's about two weeks away from climbing out of his crib so I'm sure we'll have an interesting story about that.