Celebrating Winter

Our little leprechaun

Zach - Of Note

• On a snow day, we walked together to the Metro. It took 1.5 hours; there were lots of snow plows to distract us!

• We've started watching Fireman Sam in Spanish - El Bombero!
• Zach has a had a couple good playdates with Christian!
• Zach knows that a zombie is a super-scary monster and how it walks?! What!?

Zach is the tallest
in his class!

• We had a blast buying birthday gifts for Evie and Ava at Michael's.

Zach came away
with Beulah.

• Then, he had a great time at the party, particularly playing with Madison and Mikayla. Madison got so SWEATY.
• Zach has been in to noticing things that match - the big pharmaceutical mugs in New Hampshire; Michael, Benny and Sisi's dad, and the store, Michael's.
• Zach got to meet the conductor on the Metro, and he let Zach honk the horn, after he'd honked it. It was SO LOUD.
• Spilled milk on his Fireman Sam shirt at dinner and bawled, “Is he ok?” He was so upset.

Find Zach's photo on
his Fireman Sam shirt

• He found these photo stickers from when he was 18-ish months old, and I wore one of them on my shirt to work. Fannia noticed!
• We got really into Hand Clap again and chased each other around the kitchen. Frank throws Zach's socks at him!
• Zach is currently obsessed with baby stuff. He wants me to pretend to be a baby and say “goo goo ga ga,” and “wah.” This morning he wanted to pretend to give me a bath. He wanted to be "changed" again on his diaper changing table. So funny and weird!
• And at the same time he is also lately obsessed with dressing himself and doing things by himself, like peeling an orange. Impressive, and he proclaims, "I'm big and strong."
• Zach still loves soccer and dance at school!

Sleep Update

• He's still going to bed late, though he did better going to bed between 8/8:30/8:45pm in NH. That helped with the time change, but he's crept back to 9pm-ish -6/6:30am-ish
• He still starts sleeping in his bed (as long as someone stays with him until he falls asleep) and then comes to my bed in the middle of the night.
• Part of Zach's current bedtime routine is an appearance from the Tissue Monster (a shadow on the wall that sneezes)
• Zach sleeps sideways often
• He always digs in with his feet, legs, head....

Zach's Words & Songs

• Lots of hugs, kisses, "My Mommy," "My Zacharoo," and "Piggy" for Frank
• Zach said something about me “deserting” him. That seems like an awfully big word!
• He also said a few weeks ago, capiche and comprende, which he learned at daycare are other words for understand
• Zach watched something on YouTube and said, “I love this one b/c they try and try and try, like me!” Adorable!
• A couple of times now he's said big kids, and I've heard "biscuits."
• Zach asked this morning for me to “read Mommy, read Daddy, read Zach.” I told him the stories of Mommy growing up with Gamma and Bob and 
• He has started saying, “I told ya (not you) that.”
• He calls it maple syr-i-up!

Susan & Frank

• Skiing weekend at Lapland Lake
• Date night! Ocelot and Passion Fin
• We're trying the one car thing. Week 1 went well. I enjoy walking Zach to school!

Good Food

• Zach made cookies at school!
• Fire cider; wow, that's acidic!
• Wolf Hollow Brewing for dinner in Amsterdam, NY
• Mod Pizza is a weekly tradition, which is fun
• Territory Meals: tuna, black beans and collards (add chicken and salsa), lentils and rice, bbq pork. Yum!
• Chips and dip and a St. Patrick's Day donut from Founding Farmers

Zach at Route 11
Potato Chip Factory

Visits with

• Zach spent the weekend with Gamma and Bob and Frank and I went up to Lapland. The first day was AWESOME. Day two my skis died, and the rentals were a real challenge. We were exhausted driving home.
• Brunch with Auntie Em at Lake Anne Coffee House. Yum!
• Emily and Andrew invited us to Lake Anne Brew House. We met Taylor and Patrick, Jen, and Thora came. Fun! Met up with Stella, Hope and parents, Gina and Brian.
• Grandad
• Raubia
• Call with Kathleen
• Gamma, Bob, and Auntie Em met Zach and me at Vanish. That place is INSANE!

  

  Zach driving the plane
  at Vanish

Fun (and Not-So-Fun) Stuff (Personal and Professional)

• Recorded webinars for SCORE on the final two critical success factors for onboarding
• Nice final goodbyes from SCORE: Jasmine, Candice, Sandra, and a walk with Kathryn on my last day!
• My Giving Tree card!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kathryn shared with everyone that she wouldn’t be at SCORE if it weren’t for me. Aww… Thanks to Betsy, Candice, Kayla, Madeline; Doug and Erin; Steve, Kathryn, and Jenifer who came to my party. And Frank!

• Enjoyed reading Charity: Water
• GoCanvas start has gone well, and so many of my friends remembered my first day/week and checked in on me. So sweet!
• Researching GC's leadership training is very fun! I get to take Brene Brown's Courage to Lead program!
• Chatting re: leadership with Jeanne (ND) and Julie (SCORE)
• Said goodbye to Ann Whitty, one of my most special SCORE volunteers

• Starting some training convos at work, and they've been great so far with Bryce and Teresa.
• GoCanvas coordinated a visit to the Smithsonian's African American History Museum. Love it!