Ezra-isms, Updated

Our little guy celebrated his half-birthday this month.  It seems a good time to give an update on current Ezra-isms:

• Ezra talks with his hands.  As his pediatrician put it, "He looks like he is conducting the orchestra when he babbles."  He seems to do this most when he is excited or trying to show off.  At any rate, he is fairly dramatic!  
• He has recently become a broken record when he wants something, but has to wait.  For example, now that the weather has warmed up, we go outside most days for a walk.  After his morning milk (and still in pajamas) his only desire is "side" (outside)--right then.  Explanations about first eating breakfast, or getting dressed are pointless.  He will repeat his request endlessly hoping I will at some point give in (or go crazy).  
• Although he has a huge interest in verbalizing, there has been a fair bit of miscommunication between Ezra and I.  He says a word, but I am clueless as to what he is referring to.  He repeats it; I am still clueless.  And we circle around until he is nearly in tears for trying.  Improvement needed--for both of us!
• The nursery leader reports that he loves singing time, and dances around the room, kind of hop-skipping whenever songs are sung.  Current favorites include "The Wheels on the Bus", "Old McDonald", "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam", "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes", and "We are a Happy Family".  But, actually, if you sing to him, he is all ears, no matter what the tune.  He loves music. 
• On those occasions when Ezra is frustrated and hits, I have found it effective (thus far) to say what I like, rather than what I don't like.  For example, instead of just saying, "No hitting", (which usually means I will be hit again), I say "Mommy likes hugs.  Can I have a hug?"  Ezra likes hugs too, and he usually recognizes that a hug from mom is better than hitting.  I am so grateful he is so tender and teachable!  We are trying!  
• Ezra loves his bedtime routine.  It seems to me that he appreciates the consistency and safe feeling of always closing the day in the same way.  After pajamas, milk, and brushed teeth, we head for his room for prayer and Book of Mormon reading.  When we enter the room, he immediately plops down on the floor, folds his arms, and says (expectantly) "pay" (pray).  After prayer, he will pull down The Book of Mormon, chanting over and over, "Mormon".  We read our five verses, and then he is ready to get in bed.  No fight, no fuss.  He snuggles with Bear, assures that the heater and humidifier are on, and then wishes us, "ni-night."  I know it won't always be so pleasant; I am trying to fully appreciate this stage for as long as it lasts!
• Books are still a constant in his life.  He now loves the Gospel Art Book, published by the church as a spiral bound compilation of pictures from the Old and New Testaments, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants/Church History.  Ezra sings songs about Jesus and hears stories about Jesus, so any picture of Jesus is his favorite.  He can be happily occupied for 15 minutes straight looking at pictures of Jesus.  Sometimes, I go through the entire "New Testament" (in pictures) and give a short two-sentence synopsis of each story, which he will sit through of his own accord.  I consider it pretty miraculous, but he really loves hearing the stories of Jesus.  
• We love our sweetie boy!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

It's the little things ...

Over the stairway and through the wall, to grandmother's house we go!

The Picture of Contentment

Ezra, lover of books, with daddy for a second dose of the good stuff.  I think daddy was home from work three minutes when Ezra pounced, book in hand.  He just can't get enough.

p.s.--We made a great find at the public library.  If you are searching for an authentic boy book, try Demolition by Sally Sutton.  There are plenty of large machines that Smash! Bang! Clank! and Rip!  Entertainment value for little boys? Very high.

Talkie

Ezra has a new favorite mode of communication: conversations via cell phone.  He found a little blue harmonica case that resembles, in size and shape, a real cell phone.  He and his imaginary caller have much to talk about!  (Dallin thinks the tongue clicking comes from him.)

About the only time our little guy isn't jabbering at this or that is while drinking his beloved "ma"(milk), usually snuggled with Bear, and often while looking at a book (or in this case, the newly arrived issue of The Friend.).  We subscribed to The Friend magazine about five months ago, and Ezra looks forward to each new issue.  We read the magazine cover-to-cover all month long, and by month-end it is ripped and crumpled. 

Whispers of a Little Boy

Earlier in the week Ezra and I were at the public library.  A fellow mom with a toddler or two approached me and asked me Ezra's age.  I responded that he was almost fifteen months.  "Hmmm," she mused, lost in thought for a moment, "Whispers of a little boy."  How true that is!  I am seeing more and more of little boy and less of baby all the time.  It is quite an exciting transformation!

Some little boy whispers I have noticed lately:

• Ezra understands our conversations.  For example, he likes to go in the basement with me to do laundry.  But, I can't juggle laundry basket and Ezra and straddle a baby gate, so he has to wait.  I explain the situation, and assure him that I will be right back.  Little gem that he is, he waits perfectly still and patient, peering through the holes in the gate for my return--no crying, no throwing a fit.  When I do come "right back" he is all grins.  He is learning to listen to me and trust me.
• Ezra means "the helper", and I am beginning to see little helper behaviors come out already.  After every meal dropped/discarded food needs to be cleaned up off the floor.  I usually take a rag and get down on my hands and knees to clean it up.  After a meal, Ezra goes straight for the kitchen towel hanging on the refrigerator door handle, pulls it down, and helps me mop up in a squat position.  What a sweetheart!  He is so aware!
• When I am reading a book or working on the computer, or just involved in something other than him, and he wants my attention, he will take his hands and turn my head to look at him, pressing my nose to his nose.  Ezra will lock eyes with me and give an intense look, as if to say, "Don't forget about me.  I need your time too."  He seems to understand how important eye contact is as a nonverbal cue for interest in another person. 
•  At bedtime, and sometimes at nap-time, if he is tired, he will scurry upstairs when it is time to put on pajamas, go anxiously to the fridge for his cup of milk, and then go up to bed quite willingly.  He is recognizes his physical needs!  
• When Ezra needs my help, he will try and communicate that, rather than just cry.  For example, Bear often gets misplaced in the house.  This is rather traumatic for a little guy.  He will come to me with a worried look, shoulders shrugged, arms bent and close to his ears, palms upturned  and parallel to the floor, which translates into "Where's Bear, Mom?"  We go looking together, and with an extra pair of eyes, it is usually quick work to locate the lost friend.       

 

Happy Halloween!

 Lion, and tiger, and bear--oh my!  It's a zoo at our house, but oh so much fun!  We found the lion costume first and wanted to somehow coordinate with our little Ezra.  I turned Dallin's brown Breckenridge hoodie into a bear costume and I found tiger fleece (on sale!) at JoAnn's and made pajama pants, ears, and a tail.  Ezra was super excited to wear his costume, first to the ward trunk-or-treat party and then again tonight.  We went out for a little bit to our neighbors on the cul-de-sac so Ezra could get a sense of Halloween.  I think he was a little confused, but very interested in all the costumes, lights, pumpkins, music, etc. that accompany the trick-or-treating.  We love our cutie boy!

First Snow

Ezra loves being outside.  It is his all-consuming goal to be outdoors as much as possible.  Many of his melt-downs are because he can't go outside (it's pouring rain, it's bedtime, we are going in the car to run errands, etc.)  Recently, we had our first snowfall, and wouldn't you know, he wanted to go outside.  I bundled him all up and we went, but he didn't really understand snow.  He wanted to touch the snow, but was quite upset when the white, fluffy stuff turned out to be very, very cold.   

Processing...

What is this?!

I'm not so sure, Mom.  Maybe we can go inside?

The unexpected reality.  (trying to hold the snow)

We went inside about here.  He had his fill.  We tried again a few days later, with gloves.  It turned out much better, although Ezra still isn't especially keen on the cold experience yet.

Autumnal Adventures

Fall is here and so are cooler evening temperatures.  A favored activity in the fall are corn mazes, which abound plentifully along the front range. The Denver Botanical Gardens at Chatfield hosts a good size maze and ample space for picnics.  What an excellent way to start the weekend.

Team Kuzmich embarking on their mystical journey.

Along the way were sets of clues and questions testing our agrarian knowledge.

Within the domain of the herbaceous labyrinth, thick walls of corn stalks taunt passers-by.  The whistling wind sways the tassels to and fro as their shadowy figures dance in the moonlight.

Upon success passage of the maze, we gave in to the excellent marketing techniques of nearby kettle corn vendors. So here's to making memories, one kernel at a time.

Splashy Fun

 Hot August day and splashy fun in the backyard = One contented, perfectly happy boy.  Enough said.

The Thrill of "Open and Close" & Other News

 Ezra, now eleven months old, is a joy to watch.  He is all learning, exploring, and experimenting.

He can be extremely focused.  For example, I recently gave Ezra an empty, cleaned-up apple juice container and lid.  He took the jar and the removed lid and sat for 15 minutes, in intense concentration, trying to understand how the lid fit onto the bottle.  Only after he mastered the skills of screwing on the lid, and then removing the lid, did he move on to more active pursuits.  In a similar way, he was all concentration when I introduced a set of twelve nesting cups.  He was fascinated that some cups fit into each other, and others did not.  He very deliberately tested every cup on their in-and-out capabilities, as thoroughly as a little scientist.

Lately, doors are quite a fascination.  He doesn't like to be alone in a room with a completely shut door, so he will mostly shut a door, and then quickly open it again, assuring that he hasn't been left alone.  Here is a little photo sequence of his open-and-shut game:        

Off to the upstairs bathroom, a favorite place to play.

Mr. Bunny is banished...

...bathroom door is shut...

...door is opened for a quick Mr. Bunny check...

...enough with the door; baby and bunny reunite.

Wisconsin Bovine

 Aside from all the bigger thrills of Wisconsin, the sibling reunion, Circus World, lots of fun family, more cousins, root beer, surprise parties, and fireworks, Ezra and I met some local cows.  A skip, hop, and a jump from Aunt Reva's front door is a cow pasture, and many a-spotted beast.  Ezra was fascinated and then highly entertained by their antics.  One cow took a particular interest in us.  The cow was nuzzling her nose through the fence and sniffing us with great curiosity.  Ezra thought that was hilarious.

    

Cousin Meet-and-Greet

 Ezra met his cousin Camryn (in-person) for the first time during our road trip vacation to Iowa.  Camryn is a perfect lady; she crosses her ankles every time she sits down.  She likes to pose for the camera, and she loves to dance.  She is just precious, and I think the two cousins enjoyed the interactions.  Camryn is quite the mover, so pictures of both cousins together was a little difficult, but we did get a few.   

Just Because

No reason in particular for the photo shoot.  We had an overcast day and the muted sunlight (good for picture taking when you are an amateur like me) seemed a good enough reason.

Here are some of the best ones:

That smile took some serious work (teething again...) 

Sophie, the giraffe, has ears--who knew?

Love the flower.

Eat the flower.  That's my boy.

Ezra-isms

Ezra is a nine-month old baby, which is hard to believe!  I thought this might be a good opportunity to chronicle some of his funnies and personality.

• He adores avocado.  He will eat an entire half right out of the skin in one sitting.  He also likes it made up as a baby guacamole with some cumin, lime juice, and green onion.
• Baby cereal (oatmeal) is a favorite too; just the sight of the box produces a big grin.
• Ezra can say "mama", and mama is code for "Mom, giver of milk, I am hungry.  Can we eat?"  He knows I am mama, and mama = food.  So, my name is associated with some angst (sigh).  
• Speaking of sigh, Ezra loves to copy me when I sigh.  I started letting out a happy, contented sigh as a game between us two, and he would copy me.  Now, sometimes, he initiates so I can copy him.
• He is starting to understand the concepts of "in" and "out" and "open" and "close."  One of his favorite toys is a little red bucket with colored shapes and wooden blocks.  A few weeks ago I showed him how the shapes went in, but he would just observe.  Now, when we play "in", he will help, but of course, "out" is much more fun.
• When Ezra is scared or unsure of a new situation (and I am holding him) he grabs the inside of my upper arm and squeezes.  Apparently, I make a good stress ball.
• I am trying to teach Ezra how to wave good-bye (the open and close fingers kind of wave), but the learning curve is steep right now.  Occasionally, when no one is around, he will practice it to himself, but he has yet to use his new trick to communicate hello or goodbye.
• Ezra loves being around children.  He isn't so interested in babies smaller than him, probably because their entertainment value is low.  He is a regular flirt at church, though, when any little people come into view.  He especially lights up whenever his six-year old cousin comes for a visit.
• Ezra has a distinctly different personality than his baby cousin (of the same age).  He is cautious, mellow, observant, a thinker/daydreamer, and snugly.  Physicality and speed are not his strengths, but he is keenly aware of people, sights, smells, and sounds.   

Cause and Effect

I was hoping to catch some of Ezra's cute babbling, and instead got this (happy accident).  He is making connections!  It is fun to see his little brain processing.  I didn't include the entire video here, but in about three minutes time, he unintentionally (and sometimes intentionally) dropped all his toys and books off the edge of the couch and seemed fascinated every time they fell.  He seemed to be saying with his eyes, "Mom did you see that?!"  Yep, gravity still works.  

Mashingly Good

Ezra is developing his taste for a number of fruits and vegetables, mostly because I am enjoying the homemade baby food thing. I recently discovered that our bamboo steamer makes quick work of several vegetables at once. (Dallin would be proud, I am learning efficiency!) Thus far, I have made butternut squash, apricots, asparagus, applesauce, pears, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini, plums, and spinach. Zucchini is only thing Ezra turned his nose up at, though he will still eat it, grudgingly.
A highchair tray that is remove-able and plastic (ie, easy to clean) is a godsend. The catch-all silicone bib (ie, ridiculously easy to clean) is GENIUS! (thanks Becky!)

Playing in the Park

Hurray for warm weather!
Yesterday we enjoyed the sunshine on a walk and a park play day.
Ezra (and Mr. Bunny--trusted companion) loved swinging!

Avocado

Ezra and I are having a hard time waiting until his six-month check-up to start baby food. Often, when I hold him while eating something, he opens his mouth wide like a little bird. At dinnertime, Ezra watches us intently and grabs for our food.
Yesterday he was particularly interested/upset by my food so I made a quick avocado puree. Initially, I think it was a shocking experience, but he kept opening his mouth for more, so I guess the faces were for dramatic affect.