Before I get to Zander I just want to say I have FOUR weeks left of my pregnancy! Wow that kinda went by fast, but slow at the same time. I am so ready to meet this little guy though; I'm getting anxious about it all. The past several weeks I've been going back and forth being excited to nervous and scared, but now I am more excited than scared, mainly because I'm sick of being pregnant and not being able to do a lot around the house and play with Zander the way I should be able to.
I'm still rooting for a natural delivery and expecting it all to go just like it did last time, but I know all pregnancies and deliveries are different. I just hope this one is quicker. Baby boy and I are as healthy as can be. My belly keeps getting bigger; I thought it'd stop by now, but he and I are still gaining weight!
Zander is 18 months old! I have a love/hate relationship with this stage because he's so much fun to watch as he learns new things and becomes increasingly independent and cracks me up, but then there are the melt downs with hitting, biting, and scratching, and bigger messes, and the constant "ignore everything mom and dad say."
He starts nursery this Sunday! We can't wait! Stephen and I get a whole month to go to class by ourselves before I have to cart another one around. Zander already does a really good job getting along with other kids and having mom and dad leave him with someone else. Since I'm in the primary presidency I get to see him second hour during singing time, and he loves to sing and do all the actions to the songs he knows. He's also pretty good at staying in his chair too, although last week he fell out of it somehow, but he didn't cry!
Zander is learning new words every day. Most of them all sound the same, but at least he keeps trying to say new words. Some of his newest ones are: cheese, string cheese, blueberry, shoe, and ouch. He mimics us more and more everyday.
He is getting four new teeth--both canines on top and bottom.
He likes to take a bottle of anything and pretend he's putting mousse in his hair or lotion on his face since that's what I do to him in the mornings when we get ready for the day. He likes to sit on my lap and watch me put my make up on. He then takes my comb and brushes my hair and likes to help me brush my teeth.
He's been sleeping in the basement on a twin bed for the past two weeks, and has done marvelously well, much to my surprise. He doesn't get out of bed to play with toys or cry or anything. He just lays in bed when it's time for nap or bed and falls asleep. Simple.
Zander doesn't really play much with toys. He'd much rather play with everyday objects like kitchen utensils, tools, or anything that Stephen or I left laying around the house. He likes to play in the laundry baskets and the desk drawer downstairs with pens, batteries, paper clips, coins, etc... You know, the things he's NOT supposed to play with.
He loves playing with tools--especially screwdrivers and pliers. He pretends he's fixing things around the house with the screwdriver, and the pliers he likes to grab mom and dad's noses with.
He loves to be chased around the house, and still loves a good game of peek-a-boo.
He still loves to be outside, albeit with someone to play with. He has to have anything we have in our hands when Stephen or I try to weed or plant things in the flowerbeds. He likes to push the stroller for a while when we go for walks around the neighborhood. He'll lean out of the stroller with his hand outstretched to feel anything we pass by like bushes or fences or trees--anything he can touch. He loves to watch the birds and dogs and cats outside and point to them.
Zander loves to watch dad mow the lawn every week. As soon as Stephen steps outside he cries until I lift him up to watch Stephen out the window. Zander will go from one window to the next then to the door and knock on it to get dads attention and wave at him saying, "hi dad!"
He still beats on the cat only he's getting more harsh with him from stomping on his tail and pulling it, to sitting on and rolling over him and finding an object to hit poor Toby with. Toby is a trooper though; we can't believe how well he takes each beating without scratching or biting Zander. We try to help him out as best we can.
Zander has recently become fascinated with bugs. We were out weeding the other day when I pointed out a worm to Zander so he could watch him crawl around. He was afraid of it at first and wouldn't touch it, but after I put the worm back on the ground he picked it up, and ever since he loves watching anything that he can find moving in the dirt or the sidewalk. He gets down flat on his belly with his eyes inches from the ground watching and playing with the bugs. He chases earwigs, beetles, and rolly pollies around the garden trying to catch them.
He still loves unloading the dishwasher, and vacuuming the floor. He also helps me wipe off the table with the washcloth after he's done eating. He likes to help me get dressed in the morning pulling up my pants and putting my shoes on my feet. (I'm actually quite grateful for this extra help since I am super slow at getting dressed and can't bend down to put my shoes on). He is one helpful little boy!
He is such a boy doing what all boys love to do from the bugs and tools, to the rough housing and wrestling when Dad gets home from work. He is such a sweetheart who also has a compassionate side. He likes to give hugs and kisses.
The other day at institute there was a little boy who started crying because he wanted his mom. He ran and hid under a bench until someone came to get him, but Zander had a very concerning look on his face as he watched this boy cry, so he walked over to him and gave him a hug and a pat on the head.
We are so in love with Zander, and love watching him grow up. We are also very excited to see him become a big brother in a few weeks!
