Twins

Ryan usually picks out Cael's outfits the night before so we don't have to waste time in the morning trying to decide what he should wear. I thought it was pretty funny when I came downstairs and Cael and Ryan were dressed like twins. I pointed it out to him and he said he didn't even realize it until about three seconds before I said something. It was too cute and so of course I had to take a picture (much to Ryan's dismay). Ryan was actually trying to put Vaseline on Cael's face and as you can tell he wanted nothing to do with it. I was hoping to take a better picture (with the two of them smiling and sitting in the chair), but as usual we were running late and there wasn't time. I am sure it will happen again and to be honest I can't wait until Aveyn and I have the opportunity to be twins :)

The weekend, etc

I figure that people prefer to read a blog with pictures, but I need to get over that as I created this blog so we will remember our life during this chaotic and crazy time (and sometimes you just can't capture everything with a photo). The weekend was a great one and although I don't have any pictures to post that ISN'T going to stop me this time ~ as it has in the past. The wind was HORRIBLE on Saturday morning, but Potter and I still went on a 30 minute run around the neighborhood (yes, I said a RUN). I have always wanted to be a runner; one of those people who craves running, who runs to relieve stress, who runs for the sheer joy of running (I work with a few so I know what this looks like) and time and time again I am told it is an 'acquired taste'. Well, here is to acquiring :) We also took a trip to Home Depot, planted some flowers, fixed the mulch in the yard and confirmed Aveyn has a tooth coming in (poor baby girl, but that is a different story all together).....and that was just SATURDAY! I took another run with Potter on Sunday morning (woohoo ~ and so far I am LOVING running outside ~ not so much on a treadmill ~ been there, done that) and then we spent the majority of the day inside doing laundry, watching movies, feeding the kids, changing diapers, letting them sleep (they both seem to need more sleep on the weekends). We went to Super Target to pick up a few things, Ryan cooked dinner (yummy burgers on the grill) and then the normal routine of getting ready for work tomorrow (boo). The weekends go by way too fast and to be honest, this post doesn't even begin to capture the fun.... Cael charming the Target cashier, Ryan doing like seriously 20 loads of laundry, Aveyn fighting the evil tooth, Potter and I taking on the park, the family photo gone awry....you get the picture (well, maybe not this time). Hey, I can only capture so much on camera! Toodles!

Just another Friday evening....

...in the Zikas house. Ryan doing laundry with aid from his little helper, a beer for the man of the house and a glass of wine for me (the lady of the house) and a cute little girl playing with kitchen utensils (and sporting an adorable ponytail).

So, imagine my surprise when I went into daycare to pick up Aveyn and saw that her hair was in a cute little ponytail. I asked who had styled her hair for the day and the gal in the room wasn't sure (I have an idea!). Either way, Ryan and I both had the same reaction: ponytail = cute, but makes her look much older = no bueno. I still think it is cute regardless of how much older it makes her look. Leave it to the people at daycare to be the first ones to 'style' her hair! She has so much you would have thought I'd have done it months ago. Oh well.....all in due time.

TFIG friends and family!! Hope you have a great weekend.....I have a feeling it's going to be a good one!

Daddy Bear

We got a note from daycare requesting a picture of Cael (and Aveyn) with Ryan to hang up on their community board. I am guessing that each room gets a chance to decorate the board with whatever they want and in honor of Father's Day, T2 (Cael's room) chose to use pictures of the kids and their dad's. Ryan is actually going in for a minor surgery today and probably won't be able to hold the kids for a few days while he recovers. The pictures are due on Monday so I thought it best to take a couple this morning before leaving for work.

Ryan looks unhappy, but I assure you he isn't (not this time anyway!). I love how the boys look less than thrilled to be having their picture taken and Aveyn is all smiles. She is her Mama's baby!!!

Sunday Funday!

We went to the park on Sunday afternoon, but the fun didn't stop there. The weather was so beautiful that we couldn't bear being cooped up inside so the four of us went outside to play in the backyard. Cael played with his T-ball set and kicked around the soccer ball while Aveyn sat on a blanket and played with her own ball (and the cord to Mommy's camera).

Our neighbors were outside doing yardwork, which abruptly came to a halt when all of the houses in the area lost power. Cael wanted to jump on their trampoline and although not sure what to do at first, he soon caught on and was having a blast jumping from one end to the other. The adults sat around and talked about sports, the weather and everything in between. It was honestly the most perfect Sunday ever. Here are to many more 'Sunday Fun-days' in the future!

Love the park! Love it!

The weather has been a little weird here in Denver lately with snow on May 12th (yes, actual accumulation on our yard) and then again on May 13th (SERIOUSLY?). The weekend promised to be warmer and Ryan and I were intent on getting the kids out for some fresh air. We tried to go on a bike ride yesterday, but it was just a little too chilly so we headed home after making a quick trip around the neighborhood. We attempted another bide ride today, but Aveyn really wasn't enjoying herself so we opted to head up to the park instead.

I love having a park so close to our house because not only does it give us a chance to get some exercise, but it also allows us to meet our some of our neighbors. Today we met Carla and Todd and their yellow lab, Tank (very fitting as this dog was HUGE). We also met Brian, Heather and their three (yes, three) little boys, Liam, Brayden and Declan and their labradoodle, Cinder. Liam is about a month older than Cael so we made plans to get together and let the kids (and the dogs) play.

Aveyn was all dressed up for a bike ride!

I am loving the warmer weather and the chance to socialize with some of the people in our neighborhood. I don't realize how much I miss having other couples to hang out with until I meet people that I wouldn't mind spending more time with and getting to know better. I am looking forward to lots of neighborhood BBQ's, block parties and more trips to the park in the near future!

Sitting pretty

Ryan and I have been anxiously waiting for Aveyn to sit up on her own. Cael was sitting up by himself at 6.5 months, which made it hard for us when Aveyn wasn't sitting up on her own at 7.5 months. We knew everything was fine and that she would sit up when she was ready, but that still didn't stop us from worrying. It didn't help that one of the doctor's at her pediatrician's office said that it wasn't a concern (at 7 months), but if she came for her 9 month check up and still wasn't sitting up then we would need to 'talk'. All of a sudden 9 months didn't seem that far away and we both felt like we had this deadline hanging over our heads. Regardless, despite all the worrying and wondering she is now sitting up on her own. She still falls over, but has really gained a lot of strength in her little core and it is obvious as she catches herself before toppling over sideways and even when falling backwards. She has so much fun playing with her toys and I am sure she loves the new perspective sitting up gives her. Not to mention it gives her more leverage when Cael bestows upon her his version of brotherly love, which usually involves a lot of 'hugging', 'kisses' and bodily contact.

Happy Mother's Day - 2010

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day. Here is to celebrating a day dedicated to all the wonderful mother's out there. My day was perfect despite the fact that Aveyn didn't sleep and I spent a good portion of the morning on the floor with her cuddled in my arms (please don't ask why I didn't just bring her into bed with me, I don't have a reason other than I don't like the idea of a 'family bed'). I woke up to purple tulips and cards from my three favorite people in the world.....life doesn't get much better than that :) We spent a nice relaxing morning at home and then headed out to the park for some fresh air and exercise in the afternoon (I think all of us were going a little stir crazy). Ryan cooked dinner and we ended the evening with a movie starring our favorite fish, Nemo (courtesy of Cael). Here is to hoping Aveyn sleeps through the night as a late Mother's Day present, but I am not holding my breath (we are past that point). HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

*Aveyn's shirt (the one with the rainbow) says 'I Love Mommy' - fitting for Mother's Day, don't you think?

**I have decided that although it is nice to have the self timer option on our camera so we can take a family picture, I really don't like how they turn out :(

***In the second picture the kids are having A LOT of fun playing together, BUT at Mommy's expense!

Shutterfly book for Ed Zikas: 9.25.1945 - 1.5.2010

Click here to view this photo book larger

Lil' sweetie

I am constantly torn when it comes to the blog. I want to make it about Cael AND Aveyn, but let's be honest, at this age, there is only so much you can post about an eight month old. Cael is just doing so much more than Aveyn in terms of things I can write about. However, this doesn't stop me from taking pictures so everyone can see how cute she is and that even though she isn't talking, walking or even crawling, she is growing up and getting so big. She loves her jump-a-roo and is so easy-going (thank goodness). She is fascinated by everything and I mean EVERYTHING that Ryan and I pick up, throw away, eat, hold, etc. She has a mean grip and once she gets a hold of something, watch out ~ you might not get it back. She has the sweetest smile and can melt your heart with one look. She is so tiny and I love how she gives little open mouthed kisses any time you pick her up. She is content to sit with Mommy and Daddy doing absolutely nothing as long as she is being held. Those big blue eyes combined with her laid back personality make her absolutely impossible to resist. I love how she kicks her little legs really fast when she spots you and that she reaches out with her arms to be picked up. Ryan doesn't like any reference to 'princess', but she is our little princess.

Peek-a-boo, pushing and more......

It is so much fun watching the relationship between Cael and Aveyn blossom as she becomes more aware of her surroundings and Cael becomes more aware of her. It doesn't hurt that she follows his every move and laughs at his every antic. Recently they have started playing peek-a-boo in the car and it is the cutest thing ever. Cael loves to make her laugh and she loves to accommodate him! The other day the three of us were hanging out in the playroom when Cael decided he wanted to push Aveyn around in his dump truck. He pushed her all over the house (under my close supervision of course) and she loved it. Eventually she started crying, but I assume if I could have made her more comfortable she would have let him push her all night long. I love observing their relationship as it develops and grows. It absolutely warms my heart and makes me want to both laugh and cry. These two kids (and their dad) are my life!

I ended up putting a blanket down in the dump truck hoping that would make it a little bit more comfortable for her. When Cael decided he wanted to push her around on his push toy he covered it up with the blanket first. I thought it was really sweet because he kept trying to take the blanket off of the truck (it was getting in the way of his pushing), but I kept telling him that we had to leave it on so she would be comfortable. I think he picked up on the concept although it didn't work as well on the push toy as it had on the dump truck.

Cleaning machine

I can't speak for Ryan, but I think it came as a bit of surprise to my parents that I ended up being such a clean freak given that wasn't so much the case when I was younger. I do remember wanting my room to be pristine any time I got something new (i.e. clothes, bedspread, furniture, etc), but other than that my memories are that of a normal kid....messy room, bed never made, clothes everywhere and my parents constantly wanting me to 'clean my room'. Obviously I was a bit older, but it still makes me wonder because on the flip side, Cael seems to be a bit of a neat freak (not sure if all kids go through this phase). He wants a wet paper towel to clean himself up when he eats and insists on cleaning up the table and sometimes the floor once he is done. Now don't get me wrong, he is also quite happy to make a huge mess and leave it for Mommy and Daddy to take care of, but he also exhibits 'Ryan and Jori' behavior in that he likes to be tidy and understands the importance of cleaning up. The other night, he requested his usual wet paper towel, but took it a few steps further when he started cleaning everything in sight - the refrigerator, dishwasher, floor, cupboards, coffee table, oven and even Potter (not kidding) - you get the picture? So I can't help but wonder if this will continue into adult-hood or if this means he is destined to be a slob....guess time will tell. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures (keeping in mind, I didn't capture ALL of the cleaning that took place).