What you've all been waiting for ... Minnesota Trip Photos! Part 1

A little over a month ago, we traveled to Blue Earth, MN, to meet Jennifer's grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. We were welcomed with such warmth and caring, we immediately felt like we were part of the family. And in truth, we are. Not too long ago, Amy and I recognized that open adoption can in a lot of ways be like a marriage, in that Zach's birthfamily is like another set of in-laws to us. And I mean that in the best of possible ways.

Seriously, in-laws = good in our world. When Amy and I first got married, we considered ourselves blessed because our families actually like each other and get along. Well, now we're all exponentially blessed because all of our families have meshed and expanded, and we all seem to get along so well! Of course, we're joined by a common thread, our love for Zachary. Whom I'm sure you want to see pictures of. I mean that's why you're here, right? Not to read my blathering.

So without further ado, Day 1 of our trip to Blue Earth, MN, wherein Zach doesn't quite ride a tricycle, plays with some fall leaves, rides in a John Deere wagon, rides a truck across the floor, stacks blocks, goes to the town library and plays on a computer, meets Great-grandparents Harold and Lorraine, and has a curious encounter with some pretty interesting cats.

Zach was a little too small for the trike. We had to put it awaybecause it ended up just frustrating him.


Zach liked playing with the fall leaves.






Taking his first ride in the John Deere wagon.


A perfect fit!


Hey, where am I?


Who is that? it's Great-grandpa Harold (Grandma B's dad)!


Amy and Zach playing with the kiddy computer at the town library,where Great-grandma Lorraine (Grandma B's mom) works.






Zach loved this truck when we were in Jackson for his first birthday.He loved it even more this time around.


And now he doesn't just knock blocks down He actually stacks them up, too.


Such a cutie ...


... and he knows it!


Playing at Harold and Lorraine's with some of Jennifer's old toys.


Snuggling with Jennifer and the kitties. More of the kitties later ...


Zach and Great-grandma Lorraine eating a little ice cream.


Jennifer, Lorraine, Barbara, Zach (and Kitty), Harold and Jay.

Zach loved - LOVED - these toy kitties at Harold and  Lorraine's.

The one he's holding is supposed to be a cat trapped in a burlap sack.

 The other is a normal enough looking cat. Watch the video below

to see why Zach couldn't get enough of them:

more fun Zach pics ...

this was actually from early september. they painted everyone's face at Zach's daycare. not sure if there was a reason. Just to have fun, i suppose.





A few days later, Zach found mommy's sunglasses and decided to try them on:

Breakfast with Enzo!

Pat & Kathie visited in early September. We went to the neighborhood center on Saturday morning to listen to a children's musician, Enzo Garcia. I think I've posted about him before. We go semi-regularly and have taken Jen with us when she's visited.

It took Zach a little while to warm up, but once he did ...


... he had a great time!




That night, Papa read him a story ...






... and Grammy did, too ... btw, Zach is making the sign for "frog"



Night-night, everyone! 

Zach is on the ball

oh well, for awhile there (a few days anyway), I was keeping the blog up to date ... but now I've fallen behind again and I've got A LOT of photos to post. sigh. Here are a couple of videos from late August, when Zach was really on the ball. ha. I kill me.

Zach doing his Pilates and yoga

MA Trip - Part 2: At the Beach

It was a little gray and windy, but Zach LOVED being in the water, and was utterly fascinated by the waves.

Amy, Zach and Nana

Massachusetts Trip - Part 1

Back in late July we traveled to New England for my dad's birthday (happy 70th "'Pa Bob"! as Zachary is now saying). My mom rented a house on Cape Cod so Zach could get his first taste of the Atlantic. On the drive down to the Cape, we stopped at my Aunt Martha's house for a bit of a family gathering. Though we'd traveled to Massachusetts last year, there were still some family members who wanted to meet Zach. Auntie Martha was delighted to give Zach his first taste of cake and frosting.

Nana showing Zach the soda bucket (that's "pop" toall you Minnesotans out there ... you know who you are!). This is when Zach started his love affair withice.



Zach playing with a key fob. He quickly found the"panic" button and learned how to make the car's hornbeep ... over and over and over .... Cousin Marysa
is in the background

Zach and Nana playing Peekaboo through the dog door

The cake and Zach's hand going in for the kill. Did I forget to mention

it was my birthday, too? Silly me.

Zach, Auntie Martha and The Cake



Great Grandma Connie, Auntie Martha and Zach

Jus' chillin'

nuff said

July Playgroup

A few photos from our July playgroup with Emi and Atti:

Zach was having fun feeding the dog, Mulder


Amy, Emi and Zach




the whole gang

At the Beach

If you hadn't already guessed, I'm a big fan of the beach. Not so much the laying out in the warm sand and soaking up the sun - though that has its merits, no doubt - as the just being in the presence of the ocean. There something truly awesome about it ... for me it's similar to looking up into a sky full of stars and contemplating our place in the universe ... anyway, we went again to the Marine Fitzgerald Reserve in Moss Beach, about 30 min from home. We brought our new sun shade (which rocks!) and Zach had a great time playing in the sand, watching the waves, checking out the harbor seals, the hawks ... and his belly button.

June Playgroup

This photo and video are from June, when we hosted our almost-monthly playgroup. It's incredible that just one year ago we could set the kids on the floor and they wouldn't move, and now they're walking, crawling and climbing all over the place.

Mark & Emi, Larry & Atti, Jon & Zach

Visiting the Neighbors

Zach was enjoying walking down the hall when he decided to knock on Anne's door to see if Benito, her mini-Doberman, could come out and play. Anne's friend, Kathy, opened the door and ... well, why am I writing all this when all you have to do is press "play"?