Oscar explores the zoo

Oscar and I went to the MN Zoo last week for an outing with our neighbors Laura and Alice. This was the first time we've been to the zoo since Oscar has started walking. We explored the tropical forest and he walked the whole path! He excitedly checked out each animal and was quite surprised that they moved (especially the Gibbon). I think his favorite was the turtles... he recently started saying "tur-tl". We are so looking forward to the warmer days to ahead and many more afternoons at the zoo!

silly O's

Olive and Oscar have really been enjoying each others company lately. Oscar immediately gets wound-up around her... and they just get silly. It's contagious!

GG comes to town!

Last weekend, "GG" (aka. Great-grandma Amaro) and Grannie came to visit Oscar. It was a very relaxing weekend hangout at home and just getting to spend time together. GG came ready to cook and get our freezer stocked with her homemade deliciousness. It was a great chance for her to share her kitchen wisdom and pass along some of our favorite family recipes. Oscar thoroughly enjoyed all the attention and loved getting to spend quality time with GG. It was so nice to get to have my Grandma visit, she doesn't really travel, so this was a huge treat for all of us. I think she really had fun getting out of town! Hopefully she will get back to visit us once the weather warms up and there isn't 3' of snow on the ground.

making meatballsenjoying meatballsGG shared her pizza with Oscar... and he LOVED it
"my new wagon... when can we go outside?"
dancing with Grannie
"bye-bye"

Happy Birthday to Oz!

Oscar turned ONE!

Matt and I are amazed that it has been a year since this little guy joined our family. It seems like he has been here forever. We spent the day reflecting on February 2, 2009 and the events leading up to his BIG arrival.

cake #1

"look, no hands!""I have to open ALL these presents?" (mini) cake #2

It seemed as if his birthday celebrations were going to last forever. The week afforded him the opportunity to taste 4 cakes! He quickly became a fan of dessert, especially the ice cream. We will have to practice blowing out candles for next year, but he loves the birthday song... and cheerfully applauded each performance.

"GG is funny"

cake #4Oscar has accomplished many of the typical milestones over the last year... but a few of the current highlights are:

• Weighs in at 22 lbs, 29in, on his birthday
  
• Has 6 teeth, and possibly 2 more on the way soon
  
• Started walking January 10th (about 3 weeks before his birthday)
• Knows about 6 very useful signs and uses them to let us know his wants and needs
  
• Says "Mama", "Dada", "Hi", "Up" and can "moo" like a cow... he has lots of words and phrases that he tries out and is starting to get pretty close to a few
  
• Will give us kisses and hugs when requested

• Consistently sleeping through the night
• Busily practices stacking and sorting his toys
• Loves music; listening and playing
• Sits quietly and attentively while we read to him - and will even bring us books he wants read to him
  

Our little guy has become a toddler! He is very busy these days. He has such a sweet and happy personality! We are thoroughly enjoying watching him learn, grow and change.

Happy Birthday little Oscar! We are looking forward to what the next year will bring. We love you so much!

trip to the beach

We went to Florida for the weekend to visit my dad and Cindy. It was a much needed break from the cold, and a great way to spend my birthday weekend!

We had a lovely birthday dinner on the beach and got to enjoy the sunset.

It was Oscar's first time at the beach and ocean. He wasn't sure what to think of it all at first. He wasn't too sure he wanted to touch it or even walk on it. Eventually he got used to it and was happy to scoop the sand into his mouth.

A pail of water + sand + shovels + Grandpa = fun!

Oscar also got to have a practice run at birthday cake. It was a huge mess and lots of fun... and he really liked the cake!

It was a very relaxing weekend. The warm weather was just what we needed and will hopefully get us through till the spring thaw.

Let's go for a walk!

After months of seeming to be on the verge of walking, Oscar took a walk today. He's been very steady walking with a little support from a hand or piece of furniture but seemed reluctant to let go and walk unassisted. There have been unsubstantiated reports that he's taken a few steps, but at last we have video proof!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve by the fire

We had a wonderful Christmas up at the cabin. Lots of snow and cold weather. It looked as if we were inside a snow globe at times. It was very peaceful and everyone was healthy and happy this year.

Christmas Eve day we occupied ourselves with a "little" project. A full day of cookie making! It was a team effort making Grandma Amaro's Fig Cookies. Final count was nearly 200! -I can't believe she has done this on her own all these years, as well as 5 or 6 other kinds of cookies!

Oscar enjoyed his first Christmas! He had fun with his cousins, opening his stocking, and some gifts too! His favorite was a wooden toy from Santa, with a mallet and balls that get pounded through holes... big hit!

loves the malletThe whole Zabel crew went on a sleigh ride through the woods that included a pause for hot cocoa by a fire. It was very picturesque and Northwoodsy.

that is a cold face

We finished the 2009 off here at home for our 3rd annual New Years Eve party. Yummy food, fun games, surrounded by friends and family, good times... what more could we ask for?! Oscar enjoyed playing host until his late bedtime... then he slept soundly through the rest of the party despite all the party noise (except for a little shout-out at midnight).

Wii dancingoh, you guys.We are excited to see what 2010 has in store for us all. Oscar will be turning 1 in just under a month! He is getting very close to taking those much anticipated first steps and is just about to get 2 more teeth! Exciting, exciting!