Pueblo with clouds

also within Wupatki National Monument park, and framed by some of the most spectacular clouds I've yet to see.

Clouds, schmouds - here's the baby pic:

Looks thrilled, doesn't he? Well, in fairness, it was about 90 degrees at this point.

Sunset Crater

Who knew there were extinct volcanoes in Arizona? Apparently there are a lot of them. And yes, I'm sure lots of people knew this already - just not me.

Overlooking the Sunset Crater in Wapatki National Monument, near Flagstaff - 1000 years since eruption, so you'd think there would be a few more trees, no?

Saru, Justin and the ever-squirming Ryan:


And Zach, napping through his hike with Dad:

Zach does Arizona

In case you're wondering where we'd disappeared to (ok, so you probably weren't really wondering)...



We spent the last week in Flagstaff, AZ with the Wades, where Mr. Z spent a lot of time watching in jealous fascination as Ryan crawled in circles around him - stealing his toys (well, till he discovered the joy of hair pulling). Here we are, waiting for the hostess to seat us for dinner...at 5.

More pictures later as I sort through them.

Crumplebutt

Oh, but he looks so peaceful here.

This was in the big hotel bed of the Fairfield Inn in lovely Newark, NJ, several hours after a night poop (4:30am-ish), followed by full-volume screaming while soaking his pj's with pee as I groggily changed him. Sorry, hotel neighbors.

Jeni and the upside-down futon

We spent the last weekend in and around Jersey City, helping my sister get settled into her new apartment there. Zach got to hang out with his cousin Jeni, who starts kindergarten next week (!). When she wasn't baking us play-doh cookies, she entertained Zach in the upside-down futon and bedding (straight off the moving truck - not yet in place), not seeming to notice that it was about 90 degrees without the extra blankets.

Partners in crime?


Zach, while entertained, still wanted to grab an ear, or at least some of those fun curls.

Bon Appetit

Oh, the irony... he'll chew on a magazine about food, but not actual food - other than cereal. (Though, honestly, he's not particular about the content, and yes, the magazine was taken away from him after the photo was taken.)

I'm beginning to think I should've temorarily renamed this blog "we are what I eat."

Holy Hawaiian, Xander!

Seriously, that's a lot of Hawaiian pattern going on. (photo credit goes to Josh, though I think I deserve some credit for tossing Zach's hat on to go with this great shirt...and blanket. But seriously, he was in direct sunlight).

See also: http://thexmarksthe.blogspot.com/2008/07/lol081.html

Oh, and for a few more pics of the Rhode Island BBQ Event (for download etc.), I've posted more here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jsummers/200808Koos31stBBQ

Class Photo (with Mickey)

Just when you thought you were losing track of all the babies... here's the latest assembly, at Koo's birthday bbq in Rhode Island on Saturday:

Josie, Bella (who we just met - she's Zach's age), Zach, Ryan, Lilia and Xander. Under Ryan is Mickey, visiting from the west coast, and not scared off by all the little ones, talk about pumping techniques, dirty diapers, etc. Jeremy had to lunge for Xander as he wanted to squirm off the couch.

Mini Milliken

The newest baby on the block, Lucas - just over a week old, and sooooo tiny, and cute!

Congratulations and good luck to Cate and Jamie! And thanks for letting us come by to meet him.

Stuff

Every now and then I get a picture I like of Zach. ( The odds are decent, considering the amount we take.) A photo that resembles him, I mean, since the smiley pictures tend to look deranged, even though the smile in "real life" is charming. And he gains a few extra chins in when we prop him up in a chair (I swear, they're not always there).

So, here's what he looks like these days:




And, since I have no real reason for posting this picture, other than a baby update, here are some other updates:

Mobility: He rolled over from his back yesterday. He'd been doing the front thing for a little while, so I guess we don't have to worry about him getting stuck. Is it normal to screech like a little girl while hoisting himself over? Anyhow, so much for that honeymoon phase of immobility.

Food: likes his rice cereal. Hates just about everything else. Unless a pre-eaten ear of corn can be counted, which he went to town on.

Sleep: he's sleeping well in his crib these days. Which is great! However, he wakes up a little bit earlier each morning...moving backwards from 7 towards 5. It sucks. Heather, Steve, I feel your pain, as I also am not a morning person.

Hair: it's getting long enough to part. I was worried - since mine didn't grow in till I was about 3, I'm told. Which was especially unflattering, seeing as I'm a girl.