PlanetZaya

Whale of a Day

2009-03-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

Apparently Mom can't sit still long enough to write. So I've hired Dad as my personal videographer. Someone's gotta help me keep up with my adoring fans. (That means you, Angie).

Zaya's Whale Of A Day from Jonathan on Vimeo.

The Sandlot

2009-02-25T16:28:00.001-08:00

A Moment With Zaya - Winter Training from Jonathan on Vimeo.

StoryTunes: The Next Generation

2009-02-17T07:12:00.000-08:00

All Dressed Up With No Place To Go

2009-02-08T16:12:00.000-08:00

Don't you love those lazy afternoons when you get to put on last year's Halloween costume, grab the remote and hang out, watchin' a little TV?

Maybe it's just me...

Rainy Day Schedule

2009-02-07T19:39:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've probably guessed by now that I'm one of those get-out-there-and-experience-the-day kinda kids. No matter where we've been, whenever we're on our way home, one of the things I always say to Mom and Dad, "I want to go someplace eeelllllllllsssssssse!" Sure I'm learning a new appreciation for quiet time, thanks to the Surprise Box, but there's just so much out in the world to see and do. I don't want to miss a minute.

And as far as I'm concerned, things don't change when it rains. I say I've got a jacket, Mom's got an umbrella...let's hit the road! So this morning the three of us bundled up and headed out to breakfast at Corner Bakery. I love that place. They make the best oatmeal and muffins in town. Don't take my word for it, just ask Mom. I think she could eat there everyday too, if she had the chance.

After enjoying my nice hot oatmeal (with all the toppings) and the pumpkin muffin I was supposed to share with Mom (I think I accidentally ate her share), we hopped back in the car. The plan was to go back home, until Dad mentioned going to the toy store to buy a game. I didn't really know what he was talking about, but I wasn't about to pass up a trip to the toy store. So the next stop was Toys'R'Us.

Mom and Dad seemed to think we should just go straight to the game section and leave, but I couldn't stand for that. So I made sure we got to see all the different sections of the store. I spent some time (briefly, thanks to the anxious kid next to me) with some kind of a video game exercise bike before going straight to my favorite section of the store...the trains. I had to stop and stare at the Polar Express train that I visit every time we go to the store. I keep trying to tell Mom and Dad that we should take it home, but they keep insisting that it's a "birthday" or "Christmas" type of gift. So I'll just have to settle for the occasional visit at the store until then I guess.

When we got home dad pulled this game out of the bag for us to play. I have to admit, it was pretty fun. There was a mat with all these colorful polka dots and a spinner! How can you not love a spinner? I'm still not clear on the point of the game, though. Seems to me you just get your hands and feet all twisted up until you fall down. After awhile I just started falling down on purpose to avoid all the unnecessary hand and foot confusion.

Mom and Dad seem to really like that game, though. They were laughing so hard, talking about how they used to play it a long time ago. I guess this game is kinda famous. I can see why...It was pretty entertaining watching them try to hold their hands and feet in place and then tumble onto the floor. I thought I was the only one who liked to do that.

Hmmmm...rainy day oatmeal and muffins, trips to the toy store, fall-on-the-floor tumble games...maybe the parents are a little cooler than I thought.

Maybe.

Rails and Tales

2009-02-05T22:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wished for a day that didn't end? That's what Sunday was like for me. I mean, think about it...trains rides, story time, music, new friends, blue skies and sunshine...what more could a kid want? (Except maybe a brand new Speed Racer helmet, but Mom says that's a little off-topic, so just forget I even mentioned it).

I have to say that Mom and Dad's re-introduction of StoryTunes to the public was a big success. Tons of people came out to Wilson Park to ride the rails of Southern California Live Steamers and to sing along to some pretty cool train songs and stories. This here computer savvy train fan checked out their website and found that they had 1,966 passengers on Sunday! Of course, I think that includes the folks who hop back in line again (and again) for more free rides. I guess that means they counted me four times. Me and Papa are gonna have to look into some kind of frequent rider program.

Anyhow, even though they're my parents, I have to give Mom and Dad the proper credit...they really rocked it. They had all these kids out there singin' "Down By the Station" and shakin' their cabooses (so to speak). Heck, I'm the hardest to impress, and even I didn't get tired of reading along with "Clickety Clack" after three performances.

And from all the smiling faces I saw that day, I think it's safe to say everyone had a great time. Mom said she even talked to someone from the Lomita Train Museum and some kindergarten teachers who want us to come do StoryTunes shows for them! Hmmm...I might have to invest in a second set of train pants if we're gonna take this show on the road.

Our day in the park ended on a high note when I finally got my hands on some ice cream from the ice cream truck that had been sitting in the parking lot, taunting me all day. When Mom took me to the truck to choose an ice cream, it was a little overwhelming. I mean, there's all these pictures of Spongebob, Spiderman and all kinds of colorful sweet treats. I settled on a Dora ice cream, which Mom seemed pretty pleased with. Until she opened it and found out that Dora's eyes were made of black gumballs. And she said it didn't help matters that I was spending more time looking at Dora than eating, so most of her ended up melted all over me and my train pants. But you didn't hear me complaining.

I was pretty sad when we packed up to leave for the day. Who likes having to say goodbye to friends and fun times? But later Mom said that the train club liked us so much, we get to go back once a month! Talk about good news. After hearing that, I didn't even care anymore about not getting a new Speed Racer helmet. (Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to mention that...)

Helmet? What helmet? (Just play along, Mom's watching). I don't know anything about a helmet. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta wash my train pants and polish up my singing voice. Being part of a famous storytelling team isn't easy.

...and sometimes you don't.

2009-01-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

So the verdict is in...after a visit to my new friend Dr. Buchsbaum this morning, I can officially say I'm allergic to peanuts. He also said there's a good chance I'm allergic to pistachios and cashews as well. I don't even think I know what either of those things are, and I guess I won't be finding out. He said it's best for me to just avoid all three of those pesky nuts.

These results came after Mom explained everything to the doctor about my recent trip to the ER. He spent a few minutes asking questions and typing all of Mom's answers into this cool little computer. He said something about his office being "paperless." Maybe some people are allergic to paper! Who knows, but I could swear I saw some paper in that place.

Mom must have passed the test with all those questions because next thing I knew we were headed down the hall to a different room where this nice nurse asked me to take my shirt off. I thought that was awfully forward of her, especially in front of my parents. But they didn't seem to mind so I figured...why not!?! She asked me to lay down on my tummy on this little table. I was glad I brought Froggy with me...found out he makes for a very comfortable pillow.

I was confused about what was going on because then the nurse took a rubber stamp and stamped me twice on the back. Now I know I've only got four years of experience in this wacky world of ours, but this did not seem like normal medical procedure to me. Mom said that she stamped numbers on my back. If this was supposed to be some kind of educational tool, I couldn't figure out why she would put it on my back where I can't see it. And what the heck did any of this have to do with peanuts, anyway??

After the nurse put the stamp away, she came back and poked me in the back with a funny little white thing. It felt weird and tingly, like she was poking me all these different places at the same time. It didn't hurt though, so I just hung out there, laying with Froggy and showing off my muscles. I was a little insulted however, cuz the nurse said the doctor would come back to check on me and then she left. But then I realized she probably just went to tell all of the other nurses about her really cool and cute patient. Who could blame her?

When Dr. Buchsbaum came back, he talked to Mom and Dad about the results of the test and explained all the little numbers on my back. Mom said I had a few bumps, which made sense because I did feel kind of itchy. The doctor said these bumps were important because they show what things I'm allergic to. Then he gave Mom a piece of paper (must have been some kind of new "paperless paper," obviously) with all these instructions on it and some stuff about medicines. I wasn't really paying attention. That is, until the doctor told me what a great job I did and laughed when I gave myself a thumbs up. He said I certainly deserved it.

The doctor said we have to always remember, everywhere we go, to warn people about my allergies so they don't give me anything to eat with those three nuts in it. I figured a good way to start would be to broadcast it here. So while I really do appreciate your offers for Peanut M&M's or sandwiches made with cashew butter, I'm afraid I'll have to pass. Trust me, it's nothing personal. Just doctor's orders.

That's alright, I'm not too worried about missing out on the nuts. Now if it were pizza I was allergic to, that would be a whole different story.

Mish Marsh

2009-01-28T22:18:00.000-08:00

Nana said something once about how there's no grass growing up under the feet of the Pascuals. She said that means we don't stay in one place too long. We're always on the go, looking for new adventures and always ready to trying something new.

I'm glad she explained that because I had quite a bit of grass underneath me the other day when Dad took me to the Madrona Marsh. It was my second trip, but since the first one involved a nighttime tour with a guide who didn't even bring his own flashlight, I was basically seeing everything for the first time.

The marsh is this really cool place right in the middle of the city, but when you're there it feels like you're in the forest. I remember the tour guide saying that people come to the marsh for all kinds of reasons. To see birds, to shoot movies, to paint and to take pictures. That was all I had to hear! Dad must have felt the same way because he said we should both bring our cameras and see what interesting things we could find.

The first thing that interested me was this pair of red work gloves on the ground. I guess they had been left there by the people who help take care of the marsh. At first, Dad didn't think there was anything special about the gloves, but I quietly started snapping. Then he decided to help me "frame the shot." Just like Mom did a few weeks ago when I was working on my ceiling fan series. Ah, parents. They're so helpful sometimes it hurts!

Anyhow, Dad and I moved on. It was nice to just take a walk at our own pace and stop whenever we felt like it. The sun was out, it was quiet. Almost like we had run away and taken a vacation. We both took pictures of the trees and the water in the marsh. Of course, I tried to be a little more artistic than just shooting photos of tree after tree. I even got a few of the path we were walking on. Hey what can I say, I'm a deep guy.

Dad says we can go back to the marsh whenever we want. I like it there. I mean I don't want to live there or anything, but every once in awhile it might be nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of gymnastics and the auditions and helping Mom with the chores and keeping up to date on all the latest DVD's. With all that going on, it's good to know a guy like me has a place he can go to unwind.

Behavior in a Box

2009-01-25T22:27:00.000-08:00

The parents are stepping up the structure in this house, and I'm not sure yet how I feel about that. What started out as a fun family trip to the teacher's supply store has turned into a whole new system of tracking my "good behavior." Apparently it has something to do with me getting older, needing to learn routine so I can get ready to go to school. And, ok...maybe it has a tiny bit to do with my occasional tantrums. But I don't really think you can point the finger at me for that. I mean, they're the ones who let me watch "Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory" everyday. They should have known I'd take that "I Want It Now!" song to heart.

Anyhow, I have to say that they're being pretty nice about the whole thing. They put up this cool new chart on the refrigerator to keep track of my good habits and behavior. The more good things I do, the more stickers I get. And the more stickers I get, the better my chances of getting a SURPRISE! (Meaning a new Hot Wheels car...they don't realize yet that I've got that part figured out, so it's not really much of a surprise). It's been kind of exciting for me to get to choose which stickers I want and to see that big "surprise" box on top of the refrigerator. So I've been trying to lay off the naughty-guy role as much as possible. But it's hard sometimes, y'know? Especially when they expect me to do irrational things like brush my teeth, take showers and try to use the potty (!). I'm an incredible kid, but I'm not super-human.

One of the categories on the chart that I've pretty much got down to a science is the "quiet play." They like it when I spend some time during the day playing quietly on my own. And I love it too. Who doesn't appreciate some good down time reading a book or listening to music, right? Dad has also helped me out by putting some cool games on his computer that I can play. Of course then they go and complicate things by putting time limits on my computer play time. Dad says it's cuz he has to work, but I don't know how much "work" he gets done on Facebook.

This afternoon's quiet play involved my Caterpillar train. I've had train on the brain ever since last week's trip to Wilson Park. Papa joined right in the excitement and ordered me a new set of engineer overalls, which I haven't taken off since he gave them to me. Mom insisted that we had to wash them today, so I agreed. But I didn't realize that meant I'd have to wait so long. Ten minutes in the washing machine and then over half an hour in the dryer! Of course I had a tantrum about that, but who can blame me? Eventually I calmed down and she said they'll be fresh and clean for me to put on in the morning. So I just have to get through the night without them. *sigh*

I wonder if that'll get me a sticker for patience.

Through the Lens

2009-01-23T22:42:00.001-08:00

I think I'm ready for a Nikon.

Bedtime Stories

2009-01-21T21:33:00.000-08:00

I don't know how it works at your place, but none of us around here make it a practice to leave the house in our pajamas. So you can imagine my surprise when Mom said she was gonna get me dressed for bed and then we were all heading to the library. Not that I'm embarrassed or anything. I mean I am a pretty stylish guy, even when I'm sleeping. It just seemed a little odd. But I decided to go with it, seeing how the three of us always seem to find our way into some entertaining adventure.

On the way to the library, Dad said we were going to a special story time where all the other kids would be in their pajamas, too. Sounded like a cool party to me! But when we got there it was really quiet (I mean, even moreso than usual for the library) and I didn't see anyone else who looked ready for bed. Mom said we had a little time before the story time started so we went to look at some books. I knew exactly what I was looking for...my favorite book, "I Read Signs," by Tana Hoban. But I was pretty sure Mom wouldn't remember where to find it on the shelf so I helped her out by consulting the catalog on the computer.

Within a couple of minutes I was sitting at the table with the best book ever and having a great time. Even better than that, I found another book by Tana Hoban..."I Read Symbols." So I was really enjoying myself when the very nice library lady came over and asked if I was ready for story time. I wanted to say, "Well that's what I came for," but Mom and Dad have been drilling all this stuff into me about politeness and good behavior (that's another blog entry entirely), so I just went with the simple, "Yes."

Laura, the library lady, tried to round up some more kids to join us. She did find one little boy who was there with his mom. He wasn't in his 'jamas, but I didn't hold that against him. They came over to sit at the table with me and Laura started reading her first story. You can tell she likes books a lot. And what a great job, to be around all those books all day long! She read some of her favorites to us. I think I took her off guard during her rendition of "Down By The Station," when I joined in and knew all the words. She obviously didn't know who she had in her audience that night.

I'm not sure what happened with the other little boy, 'cuz he didn't stay for the last story. I'm guessing he was embarrassed about being improperly dressed for the occasion. Anyhow, Laura finished up her last story and told me I was a very good listener. I didn't tell her that storytelling is in my blood. Just smiled and gave her a big hug. Then we said thank you and headed home.

Hmmm...I wonder where else I can go in my pajamas...

Full Steam Ahead

2009-01-17T20:41:00.000-08:00

My family never seems to do anything the simple way. I'm sure when other parents wake up on a Saturday morning and tell their kids, "We're going to the park today," it means there are swings and slides and sand involved. Not my parents. This morning I got all dressed for a trip to the park and ended up sitting in a one room clubhouse for what Mom called a "bored meeting" (appropriately named, I must say) of the Southern California Live Steamers at Wilson Park.

But I have to admit, what started as a lot of talking ended up to be a really cool day. Turns out the reason we were there is because Mom and Dad are gearing up to be back in business with StoryTunes, this fun little storytelling gig they used to do before I came along. According to Mom they were really big with the three to five year old crowd. "We had a following," she told me. Frankly, I'll believe it when I see it, but I figured why not humor the old folks.

I do have to give them credit for using their smarts, though. They decided that a good way to relaunch the storytelling gig would be to offer storytime once a month at Southern California Live Steamers when they give free train rides. I'm all over that! The place is so cool. There's a real tunnel, a working railroad crossing sign and some very nice railroad engineers who take you for rides twice around the track.

All of the club members seem really excited about the idea of hosting storytime and they want to give StoryTunes a shot right away. So it was decided that Mom and Dad will do the first one on the next train "run day," which is February 1st, and if it goes well (of course, I'll be there to make sure it goes well), then the club members might decide to do it every month! This also means that our family is now a member of the club, so we get to go to more meetings (which I guess aren't all that boring) and help keep the train park looking nice.

I even made a new friend today. Daniel is a member of the club. He's eight years old and comes to club meetings with his grandma. They were both really nice. And Daniel already knows a lot about trains. I think he was excited about me being there because he took me for a ride and showed me how he drives the train. And his grandma said that they can't wait to help us with storytime.

Dad says this is my first experience with "fil-am-pro-fee," whatever that means. He said it's important for us to help out where we can in our neighborhood. I just think I'm pretty lucky to get a backstage pass to the trains and to make new friends.

I'll catch you later...time to ask Mom to wash my engineer hat and dig through the toy box for my train whistle. I wanna make sure these train folks know I'm serious business.

It's In The Jeans

2009-01-16T16:22:00.000-08:00

People are usually quick to point out that I'm a cool kid. But I can't take all the credit. I mean, my family, nuts as they are, have a certain cool factor as well. The queen of them all is my Auntie Rachel. She plays in the marching band , she's a Guitar Hero master and she's one smart cookie (which runs in the family, obviously). Mom says she's the only person that can wear those super-ultra-skinny jeans and still look good. I've never really paid much attention to her pants, I just think she's lots of fun to hang out with.

Last November we took a trip back to Mom's old school, Carson High, where Auntie Rachel goes now. It was exciting because the Colts were playing the Gauchos from Dad's old school, Narbonne. But my favorite part was seeing my Auntie out there on the field playing with the band. She was right up front where everyone could see her, which made it easy for me to point out, "That's my Auntie!" She plays the piccolo now, but Mom says that she's played the flute ever since she was a little kid. She's even played at the Kodak Theater two years in a row! Yes, that Kodak Theater, where they choose a new American Idol every year. I mean, seems to me Auntie is just a few steps away from super stardom.

Lucky for me Auntie remembers where she came from. She came over to spend some time with me while she was still on her winter break from school. Mom, Dad and I took her to Long Beach for some shopping at a "vintage" store and dinner at Super Mex. Then we stopped off at Nana and Papa's house on the way home so we could borrow Uncle Chaka's Guitar Hero game. I needed a real pro to show me how it's done.

When we got home and into our jammies, Auntie went straight for the guitar. I didn't know anyone's fingers could move that fast! She worked on that game all night and the next morning, and she was a lot of fun to watch. In fact, she inspired Dad to pull out the real guitars and the three of us held a jam session. I think that we would make an excellent band. Especially because we've got great hair. Well, at least two of us do...(sorry Dad).

I've gotta get Auntie to come hang out with me more often. Not that I need the help or anything, but having that much coolness around can't hurt, right?

Me and my (medical) crew

2009-01-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

I just got the news that I'm offically allergic to peanuts. Those words didn't mean all that much to me, but you should have seen Mom's and Dad's faces while Dr. Lee was explaining how "each exposure can get progressively worse" and "it can be life threatening." Then I thought I was going to have to prop them each up from falling over when he showed them how to use this thing called an Epi-Pen.

I have to admit this doesn't sound like a big ball of fun to me either. Apparently the way it works is that if I start to get all swollen and itchy again, they have to take this pen thing, stab me in the side of the leg, call 911 and I get to be escorted to the hospital again. Not my idea of a great time.

I guess I just have to steer clear of peanuts and peanut related stuff. So for any of you nice people out there thinking of making me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I hear somebody makes an equally tasty cashew butter...I'd go with that. It shouldn't be that hard to avoid peanuts, right? I mean I've done it for four years already. Mom was thinking the same thing, until she went to the pharmacy to order those little medicine daggers that she has to carry around now, and the really nice lady there kept telling her about how "peanuts are in EVERYTHING."

When we left Dr. Lee's office, he said he'll be sending me to see another kind of doctor, an "allergist," so they can take some tests and see if I'm allergic to other stuff. I'm a smart kid, tests don't scare me. I just hope they don't find out that I'm allergic to Mickey Mouse shaped chicken nuggets or the orange chicken from Panda Express!

The good news is that my teeth are 100% healthy. I went to the dentist today and after they took some special pictures inside my mouth and cleaned my teeth, they said I'm in good shape. I did such a great job at the dentist, in fact, that they let me pick a toy to take home AND I got TWO balloons!

Maybe I should have the dentist call the allergist to sweeten 'em up for me.

Sometimes you feel like a nut...

2009-01-12T16:28:00.001-08:00

You've probably guessed by now that dull moments around here don't happen often. Mom says if there were an extreme sport category for life, we'd be in the world championship division. So in keeping with the extreme theme, I had quite a weekend.

It started out innocently enough with a trip to cousin Miles's 7th birthday party. It was at a park, so you know I was all over that. When we first got there, Mom went inside to see what was going with all the set up, but Dad and I went straight for the basketball court. Miles is on a team, so he's got some pretty smooth moves, but I couldn't let him show me up. I went for that ball every chance I could get. Pretty soon Jeremiah was out there with us, and together he and I are a pretty powerful team. The family refers to us as "The Prophets."

Anyhow, Mom came out and cut my fun short because she said the party was starting inside. Looked to me like I was having a fine time outside, but I heard there were M&M's involved so I followed the parents into the party room. We said hello to everybody, got a look at all the cool dance party decorations, saw the DJ setting up and soon it was time to eat. I told Mom I'd hold down the table (meaning eat the M&M's) while she made me a plate. Seemed like a fine idea, until something funny started happening in my mouth.

I walked over to Mom because my mouth felt weird. My lips were itchy and my eyes hurt and I couldn't figure out why. Mom could tell something was up with me because I was making funny faces. She asked if my tummy hurt, which wasn't the case at all. But since I couldn't figure out how to tell her that my lips were on fire, I decided to throw up, because that usually gets attention. She took me into the bathroom and by then she could see my mouth was all swollen. She said we needed to go to the hospital and mentioned something to Dad about peanuts. I wasn't ready to leave, I mean, the party had just started! But pretty soon my whole right eye was as puffy as my lips and I figured, that can't be good.

So what started out as a party day ended up as a trip to the ER. While we were waiting, my mouth started to get better, but my eye got worse. The nice ladies there brought out all kinds of funny machines to check me out and make sure I was ok. It didn't hurt at all, but all I could think about was the fun I was missing with the cousins.

They took me to a room with Mom and Dad. Different nurses and specialists came in to check on me. Mom had to explain the whole story to each one of them over and over again. When the doctor came in he said it looks like I have a definite allergy to peanuts. I'm no doctor, but I think I have to agree with their diagnosis, considering I didn't even eat one single nut! Mom said something about "nut dust" and that just made Dad laugh out loud for some reason.

The good news is that even though I had to wait for what seemed like forever, the doctor gave me some medicine and I got to go home. And other than a slightly puffy eye, I'm back to my old self again. I'm pretty disappointed that I missed the party. I heard it involved people wrapped in plastic and a pudding eating contest!

Maybe Mom won't mind if I reenact that part of the party in our kitchen...

Photogenic Froggy

2009-01-09T13:19:00.001-08:00

I'm gettin' pretty good at this camera business...

"Tee" and Cookies

2009-01-05T21:59:00.000-08:00

The Christmas joy continues to spill over into the new year for me. Especially because I'm still breaking out gifts for the first time. Today the weather was nice so Mom and I headed to the backyard to try out my new bat and tee (courtesy of Uncle Craig and Auntie Christine). After Mom was done fumbling with putting the thing together (I thought grown-ups were supposed to know how to do this stuff?), I turned into Zaya the tee ball machine!

For the most part, I'm pretty focused when it comes to sports. I like taking a serious approach to the game. That is, of course, until I find out how fun it is to be a little reckless. Like today, after I had hit all eight of the balls out into the yard, I had to go pick them up and bring 'em back. What a chore. Until I realized how fun it is to kick them back or throw them really hard. Dad says I've got quite a pitching arm.

After tee ball practice, Mom and I went across the street to see the girl. I mean, I just found out she has a name...Amanda. But for the past couple of years she's just been "the girl" to me. Every time I look out the window, or come home and climb out of the car, I'm always trying to get Mom to let me go see "the girl." Until a few days ago, the answer was always no. I don't care that she's in high school, I'm positive she wants to play with me. Thankfully Mom and the girl's dad struck up a business conversation the other day, so that got my foot in the door. Then last night when Mom and I made our last batch of sugar cookies for the season, Dad suggested I take some to Amanda. (Gotta love that guy, he's always got my back).

Mom and I walked (she wouldn't let me run) across the street and I yelled out "HELLO!" right away as I pulled open the screen door. Mom made me close it, she said you can't just go barging into people's houses. But who wouldn't be thrilled to see me? Anyhow, in just a few seconds, there she was. I said hi and handed her the cookies. She was really happy and she thanked me. Mom gave her some stuff to give to her dad, then I quickly pointed out, "I'm Charlie Bucket." Mom and Amanda laughed, but I think she was charmed because as we were leaving she said, "Bye, Charlie Bucket."

Looks like I'm gonna have to come up with some good excuses for going across the street. Like learn how to work a lawnmower or rake leaves or something. Oh! Maybe I'll offer to teach her how to play tee ball!

If you'll excuse me, I've got some batting practice to attend to.

Life moves fast...

2009-01-04T22:38:00.000-08:00

...and I've got a new way to catch it!

Cameras are big in my house. Dad's a videographer (which seems to give him the green light to document, well, everything). Mom got her new camera last Christmas and carries it with her everywhere. I kinda felt like I needed to be in with the in-crowd. The parents must have picked up on it because Christmas Day made me the proud new owner of a Little Shots Digital Camera.

Mine looks a lot different from the other cameras in the house, but I've determined that Mom and Dad just haven't reached a high enough cool kid status to have purple and green stars on their cameras. Plus, my camera has these big blue shock-absorbing rubber handles! But Mom made me promise I wouldn't use it as a basketball, so that's out. She's such a killjoy sometimes.

Anyhow, there are so many interesting things to see in a day. For example...

The Tournament of Roses Parade

This roll of tape

My Darth Tater Potatohead

Today I tried to get some candid shots of Mom in the kitchen, but I think my heavy feet gave me away, cuz she caught me.Then she tried to help me "frame the shot," (as if I don't know what I'm doing) so I ended up with this:
I didn't have the heart to tell her I was trying to get a shot of her apron. I mean I love her face and all, but can't a guy have some artistic license around here?

I do owe Mom some credit though. While she was helping me, she managed to capture this:
What more can I say. I think the camera speaks for itself.

2008 was great, but 2009 is mine!

2009-01-01T22:41:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! Wow, what a year. 2008 deserved to be closed out in style, and that's just what I did.

After Mom came home from work on New Year's Eve, I spent the day with the parents. We took a trip to Vons to stock up on some things. That's where I was introduced to this magical stuff. Mom kept calling it "apple cider" but I'm a smart cookie. Anything that comes in a fancy bottle like that has got to be a toasting drink, which could mean only one thing...PAR-TAY! (The chips and salsa were also a dead giveaway).

When we got home, Dad cooked up some of his famous chicken tacos and we sat down to eat. I guess the tacos are more famous than I realized cuz just a minute later the neighbors were knockin' on the door. Amy and Becky came over to invite us to their New Year's Eve party. So after finishing dinner, Mom and I went next door, where I was greeted by a dozen or so young, fun-loving party-goers and a "Happy Anniversary" banner hanging in the dining room. (Yeah, don't ask. I didn't get it either). We hung out there for awhile, long enough for me to snap up some of the party fun on my new digital camera. I caught Amy with a lime in her mouth and Mom eating a little cup of jello. When I tried to get in on that action, I was informed that this was jello for "big people." Whatever that means.

Mom and I said our goodbyes at the party and headed back home. Dad said we should get comfortable and watch some of the parties on TV. Apparently this New Year's Eve thing is a big deal because it was like a different party on every channel. So we all got into our jammies and robes and danced (and snacked) the night away. Mom thought for sure I'd fall asleep during the party fun, but I couldn't go out like that. When it was almost midnight, Dad poured us each a glass of Martinellis and I closed out the year with one of my well-known "Dear Friends" toasts.

The next morning I didn't exactly wake up gracefully, but Dad made sure I was in the living room just in time to watch the Rose Parade. We ate breakfast and lounged around until it was time to head to Papa's house for a taste test of the family's first attempt at deep-fried turkey. Then I put on my USC football gear and hopped into my new big-boy booster seat and we were off.

When we got to Papa's house, the turkey goodness was right there waiting for me. Papa was finishing up the carving and Uncle Chaka was sampling the turkey in his own special way. I knew when I saw Dad tearing into it that the fried turkey experiment must have been a success.

A day with no agenda, that's exactly what New Year's Day should be. Eating, laughing, talking to old friends, playing video games, watching the Trojans beat Penn State, remembering all the great things that happened in the year. Who could ask for more than that? Just before I fell into my New Year's Day nap, I overheard Papa talking on the phone to relatives in Oklahoma, telling them about my acting debut in 2008. And I remembered again what a lucky guy I am.

When I woke from my nap all fresh and recharged, Mom, Dad and I went home. Christmas brought me lots of toys to play with and new DVD's to watch, so home is a pretty cool place to be. Not to mention that Dad frequently breaks into song on his piano or guitar, and I can't resist joining in. We teamed up for a powerful performance of "Pure Imagination" before going to bed.

I can see why people get sentimental around this time of year. It's amazing to think about how much can happen in a year. The good stuff, and even the mistakes. But today reminded me that we should be excited because 2009 promises to bring much more. So raise your glass of toasting drink, your cup of jello, or whatever you happen to have nearby, and smile as you toast the new year. Here's a tip...it's always good to start with, "Dear Friends."

Christmas 2008, brought to you by Jesus and Santa

2008-12-28T21:06:00.000-08:00

Since I know you're all waiting with great anticipation...yes, that nice, big, red-suited Santa man did in fact bring my little monorail set! After waking up Christmas morning and being greeted by the mountain of gifts from Santa, Mom and Dad, I was pretty excited. He ate both of the reindeer cookies I left for him, drank the apple juice (something told me Santa isn't much of a milk drinker) and left a cool note just for me. He even went the extra mile and filled my Christmas stocking with not one, but TWO real-life Wonka bars!

I must admit, I had some doubts for awhile. I opened present after present without any sign of the monorail. But because there was so much other neat stuff, it didn't bother me too much. When I got down to the last gift, Mom said she'd double check the Christmas tree and sure enough, one more box with my name on it. So here's a shout out to Mr. Claus...you really came through for me, man. I owe you one.

That pretty much set the tone for a great day altogether. We got dressed and headed out to visit the family at Great-Grandpa's house. I couldn't wait to show cousin Alyssa my monorail. But as soon as I got there, she was handing me even more gifts, so it was a paper-ripping party all over again! Then all us cousins huddled up for some Rock Band action, featuring Dad as the lead singer. That must be where I get my stage presence from.

Soon we were on the road again, stopping for a quick visit with Ama and Auntie. I owe a lot of my style points to those two, who keep my wardrobe well stocked for Christmas. And they sure came through again this time.

When we finally settled at Papa's house there were (I bet you guessed it by now)...more presents. But not until after I sat in Papa's lap for the annual reading of the Christmas story from the bible. Nana, Papa, Uncle Chaka, Dad, Mom, Kaitlin and I all listened as Papa read about the baby Jesus and then we prayed. It was a nice, quiet moment before I got to tear more paper!

By the end of the day I was still happy about receiving the monorail I had asked for, but even more thrilled to have such a big and loving family. Sure, the presents are always fun, but each one of those packages represents someone who loves me to pieces, and it's pretty hard not to smile about that. So my biggest thanks go out to YOU! You all really know how to make a guy feel special.

I hope your Christmas was as filled to the brim with goodness and love as mine was. And if you ask real nicely, I'll let you come over and play with the little monorail set.

It's beginning to look a lot like...SANTA'S COMING!

2008-12-23T09:51:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you've all heard about this, but apparently there's this man who lives on top of the world, wears a big red suit and once a year flies around the world in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, delivering presents to all the children. Why didn't someone tell me about this sooner? I mean yes, there are some criteria I guess. Like you have to be good and cut down on the tantrums and climbing on the furniture. But still, this is the greatest thing I've ever heard!

Mom and Dad have told me all about the real meaning of Christmas. I know about the baby Jesus. In fact, I tell Mom all the time that He's a friend of mine. And since He's the one who gives us all that we have, including our family and friends (even the crazy ones), I'm glad that celebrating His birthday is a really big deal. I wish we could throw Happy Birthday Jesus parties all year long! Cuz everyone seems to feel so warm and friendly and loving at this time of year. It would be nice if that lasted more than a month.

But getting back to this Santa character, I'm completely intrigued. I mean, the physics alone for this big man and a sleigh full of presents flying all over the world...it's baffling! How does he do it all in one night? How does he get into the houses with no chimney? Does he have to GoogleEarth all of the addresses? Sheesh!

Since it's all too much for me to figure out right now, let me just say what I'm really hoping is that he was paying attention all those times I told him about the little Monorail set I want. Like when I sat in his lap at the Tree Festival. Or when I yelled it out while he was riding by in the Holiday Magic Parade at Disneyland. I'm sure he's a smart guy, but he must get requests by the billions, so I had to make sure I was clear. It's not the big Monorail with all the little people and the elevated track. I just want the little one that I can hold in one hand. And I'm being very clear here because Mom says that Santa is always watching, so if you're reading this, Mr. Claus, sir, it's the LITTLE Monorail set. I would be most appreciative. And I'm sorry about that time I threw a tantrum refusing to wash my hands. I hope you won't keep that on my permanent record.

Ok, now that I've taken care of the business portion of the program, here are some pictures from all my fun Christmas adventures. I hope that you have been enjoying the season as much as I have. And I hope that, most importantly, you give and get lots of hugs and smiles this Christmas. If you're running low, just give me a call. I've got plenty to spare.

Merry Christmas!

Would You Like Fries With That?

2008-12-04T08:22:00.000-08:00

It's been pretty exciting around our house lately. Mom got a call from the agency about an audition for a McDonald's commercial! I was ready to hop in the car immediately, I thought for sure Ronald McDonald himself would be waiting for me. After Mom explained that Ronald wouldn't be there and that it didn't involve an all-you-can-eat french fry buffet, I decided I could wait until the next day to see what it was all about.

Getting to the audition was quite an adventure. Thankfully me and Froggy had the back seat to ourselves while Mom and Dad attempted to navigate Hollywood. It was a pretty close call but after a couple of phone calls to the agency and some "discussions" between Mom and Dad, we finally found the place. We waited awhile and made friends with some of the other kids that were waiting. Then when it was my turn, I jumped up and headed into the audition room with Billy, who was standing in as my TV Dad. Everybody seemed pretty happy with me and before we left, Billy told Mom, "He's done this before, I can tell. He was smooth." Was there ever any doubt?

A few days after the audition, the agency called Mom and said that I was "on hold" and they wanted to check my schedule. I remembered some of this kind of talk from the Target commercial. Mom seemed to handle that one pretty well so I left all the details in her capable hands. Right after Thanksgiving, we got the call that I was booked! There was new talk this time about this being a "union job." I don't really know what that means, but Mom and Dad were pretty excited about it.

The day of the shoot involved a lot more waiting around. Mom, Dad and I sat on the couch watching all the actors and actresses for the commercial come in and try on lots of clothes. We thought I was going to have to do the same thing, but it turned out all they needed me to do was stand in front of a green screen and take pictures. And I was ready for them! I did really well...until I noticed the big, cool Christmas tree of lights on top of the Capitol Records building. You can't blame me for being distracted by that.

No news yet on when the commercial will air or where you'll see my picture in it. But I'll have my people call your people when we have details.

To Infinity and Beyond

2008-10-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

Mom's always said I'm a pretty amazing guy. So I thought it only appropriate that my Halloween costume should reflect that this year. No offense to Tyrone, Mickey Mouse or Nemo...you are all really cool guys and I'm a huge fan. But I think you'll agree I make a darn good Buzz Lightyear (if I do say so myself).

I'm sure it's not a big surprise that we attended Mickey's Trick or Treat Party at California Adventure again this year. But I do have to say that I think I raised the cool factor this year. I mean, last year I had the Mickey costume with the one floppy ear and the high water pants. That's to be expected from a three-year-old I guess. But at age four, you've gotta raise your game.

I had a great time with Mom, Dad and big sis Kaitlin. We hit all the Treat Stops, rode some rides and watched Goofy and the gang shakin' it during the parade. Kaitlin even bought me a balloon that looked just like me! She was by far the hit of the park in her peacock costume. Everywhere we went people took notice. So I had to be on guard, make sure everybody knew to keep their distance...step back, fellas, she's with me.

I'm already working on my costume for next year. Mom won't let me be Pippi Longstocking, so I guess that's out. Though I do have a year to work on her. Keep your eyes open for a red braided wig and long striped socks, just in case.

...and eat it too.

2008-10-15T05:13:00.000-07:00

Mom says I'm a "miracle." I don't remember all that well, but apparently I faced a lot of challenges pretty early on. As she tells it, I was born two months early and had to spend my first few weeks outside of the belly in the hospital. She says babies are supposed to grow inside their moms (which is a wacky concept to begin with!) for nine months so that they're fully developed and healthy and ready to meet the world.

But I beg to differ. I mean, look at me! Do I look any worse for the wear? The way I see it, I must have been ready. As far as I'm concerned, four years ago today, I got wise to the fact that I was missing a lot just swimming around in that belly and I decided it was time to make a move. See some sights. Live a little.

And just look at me now! I can jump backwards on the trampoline in gymnastics class! I can pick up piles of dirt with my dumptruck and move them to...uh...other piles of dirt! I can read tons of words, I can sing, and I'm an excellent dancer. Oh, and Nana called yesterday to tell Dad that she saw my Target commercial on TV during Oprah!

So I say I'm doin' alright. Four years ago today was the perfect time for me to make my grand entrance. Besides, I'm anything but typical. Mom says I look for the hardest way to do things, so I guess I've just been a challenge seeker since day one. As a matter of fact, today, on my birthday, I decided I can squeeze in a commercial shoot for Google and FirstBook on my way out to Disneyland! I think the line that Dad's been teaching me is appropriate for this situation..."That's just how I roll, kids."

Life is good, folks. God's been watching out for me every step of the way. And from what Mom and Dad tell me, so have all of you. I'm a lucky guy to have such great friends. So thanks for making my first four years such a blast. And stay tuned...Mom says we never know what surprises are in store. Exciting stuff, huh?

Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta get started on my day. Don't wanna keep the big mouse waiting!

Ladies and Gentlemen...

2008-10-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

...may I present...MYSELF!!!

As if I wasn't cool enough before...

2008-08-10T22:34:00.001-07:00

That's right, people. Meet my new Chucks. Those of you long time readers may remember these.

Back in Business

2008-08-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen (but especially you ladies)...I'M BAAAAAAAAAACCKKK!!!

Don't touch that dial. Do not attempt to adjust your screens. This is the real deal. After taking a two year hiatus, my blog has returned. After much negotiation, some legal consultation and the batting of my eyelashes, my personal assistant (sometimes known as "Mom") has agreed to resume her position. So thanks to her swift fingers and my quick wit, I bring you the rebirth of PlanetZaya. Please hold your applause until the end.

I hope you didn't come looking for cute stories about drool and baby wipes (though Mom would have me tell you that I'm still in diapers, but I see no reason to get into that here). I'm a big boy now, those are things of the past. These days I'm all about french fries, Pippi Longstocking and rock 'n' roll.

I've taken a liking to a little something called gymnastics. Have you heard about this? You get to run around and around, tumble, jump, stretch, bounce...pretty much everything I like to do. I'm still getting adjusted to the taking turns thing. And Mom insists that when Coach Marcy tells me to sit down, I have to stay seated for more than two seconds and quit running around like a "mad man" as she likes to call me. But other than that, gymnastics is a pretty cool deal.

The biggest news I have to report is that I'm a working man now. Yes folks, as of yesterday I am officially a wage-earning, tax paying citizen. Thanks to my good buddy Robert (ok, maybe he's Dad's good buddy, but he still deserves a shout out) I was signed to a talent agency in November. Mom and Dad weren't too sure about it. Frankly I can't say I was surprised that they pulled out a contract right then and there. Since then I've been taking trips every now and then to the studio. Mom calls them "auditions." She thinks they're a big deal, but basically all I have to do is stand there, look cute (which comes pretty naturally for me most days), say my name and jump around a little. Piece of cake!

Last week Mom and Dad were talking pretty excitedly about an audition for a Target commercial. I didn't really know what that meant. We headed out to Beverly Hills and everything seemed like business as usual. Stand on the blue line, say your name, smile for the camera. Then the next day, Mom gets a phone call and tells Dad I'm "booked." I'm not too clear on the details, but what I can tell you is that yesterday was pretty much the coolest day in the whole three and a half years that I've been on this planet.

It started with a long ride on the freeway to this place called "Encino." We got to this park, got out of the car and right in front of me was a truck and lots of tables full of food. Mom mixed me up some of the best oatmeal ever, topped off with almonds, berries and brown sugar. I never knew you could get such good food in a parking lot.

Before I knew it a van pulled up, we hopped in along with some guys Dad called "the crew," and we were on the road again. The van took us to a little street where some big trailers were parked. They looked like regular trailers from the outside, but inside is where my star treatment began. Right away I got to see James, the other little boy who had been "booked," and his mommy and we met this cool guy Jeff, our "set teacher." He played all kinds of games with us and kept us pretty busy all day.

It wasn't long before I was hopping from trailer to trailer...had my hair and make up done, got to put on some brand new clothes. Then next thing I knew we were in another van on our way to a house. This was not your ordinary house though. It was all done up with lights and cameras and there were people everywhere. Most of the time we were in the house I just played games with Jeff and James. But then my new friend Bob (Dad says he was the "1st A.D." which apparently makes him a pretty important guy) came over and said, "Are you ready Isaiah?" and he took me, Mom and Jeff to another room of the house that everyone kept calling the "set." It looked like an office to me.

Everyone paid a lot of attention to me on the set. Bob said all I had to do was run into the room, bang on the desk, shake a toy duck around to distract George, my TV dad, and then run away. Running, shaking and distracting? Those are pretty much my specialties. So I did that over and over again while all these very important people standing around watched on a screen and murmured to each other. But everyone kept saying I was doing a great job so I must have done it right.

The rest of the day involved a lot more playing with all my new friends and some more "working" on the set. I almost lost it once when they walked me through the backyard right past the coolest playground I'd ever seen and told me I couldn't play on it! But all in all it was a really fun day.

Oh, Mom and Dad want me to tell you to watch for the commercial. It's supposed to be on TV all over the country so everyone should get to see it. I think it's gonna be one of those Target commercials with the happy music. It's called "New Day, New Ways to Save." Mom says my scene advertises an office chair. And here I thought I was the star of the show.

Anyhow, it's been an pretty exciting week. My friend Chris at the agency is excited and says hopefully I'll get to do a lot more cool jobs like this one. Sounds good to me...I'm always ready for my close-up!

New and Improved

2006-07-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

Remember this guy, folks? That's right, it's the Zaya you all know and love. Well get ready...allow me to introduce you to...Zaya Version 2.0!

Is it possible? Could this guy actually get better looking? Just throw in my very first haircut and voila, the new and improved Zaya appears, right before your very eyes.There's a bit of controversy over my first haircut. I realize that many of you were particularly attached to my soft, silky curls. I thought I was too, but one look in the mirror after today's trip to the barber, and I can't deny this big boy look really suits me.They even gave me an award for bravery and courage. It says I've graduated from Babyhood! I don't even remember attending. But I graciously accepted anyway. Even though they spelled my name wrong.

Look out, ladies. I may have a clean cut image, but I'm still wild at heart.

Life's a Beach

2006-07-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

That's right, I said BEACH! Why didn't anyone ever tell me about this place before? WOW! There's sun and water and, my personal favorite, sand. I know you're dying to ask and the answer is yes. I'm not ashamed to admit that I took a taste of sand. C'mon, you know we've all done it. But if you're anything like me, you only tried it once. Not so tasty.

Whenever the weather seems intolerable inside the house, the folks and I head for the shore. I was a little worried at first because that water can be pretty loud. Sometimes it sounds like it's coming to swallow me up, so I have to keep a safe distance. Mom and Dad both gave it their best shot, gettin' me in that water. Mom was pretty sneaky, she was holding my arms, letting me jump up and down. Then next thing I know, my feet are wet! I quickly said no thanks and headed back to my spot on the sand. I just don't know what that woman is thinking, sometimes.

Dad says he thinks I'm destined for a career in demolition. He was trying to build something called a "sand castle" but I kept knocking it down. I couldn't help it, the sand was calling to me. It wanted me to dig it up and smash it down, I swear.

What's great about summer is that you are not limited to daytime beach trips. Sometimes Mom will pack a picnic dinner and we'll head to the park just above the beach. It's pretty neat to watch Mr. Sun go to bed in the ocean. I never knew that that's where he sleeps.
As you can imagine, the beach is a popular place this time of year. I can sure see why. It's kinda like escaping to a different world. I don't have to think about all those stress factors, like putting my toys away or getting my diaper changed. Blech...who needs that? I'd much rather drift off in Dad's arms, listening to the waves.

As long as we don't get too close.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

2006-07-06T21:39:00.000-07:00

Here's what you've waited for all winter, folks. You wanted it, you got it. Me in my swimsuit! Aww, yeah. It's the season for bare skin and waterplay, and I'm game for both. Grandma Aida got me this cool "splish splash" pool, which as you can tell is no ordinary water toy. But then again, I'm no ordinary guy.But summer is about much more than just water. Take a look here, for example. The park has all this neat stuff that you can climb up and slide down. I used to think it was just grass and trees. Maybe Mom and Dad thought I was too little for all the playground stuff. As you can see, that's certainly not the case.Another great thing about summer is that there are lots of opportunities to get together with other kids. The Folks recently took me to something called "StoryTime." I overheard them talking about it ahead of time, apparently Mom, Dad and this "story time" thing go way back. There was this lady who sang silly songs and read some books and made funny faces. But for me it was all about the kids, man. A guy's gotta have friends, and this was a good place to find 'em.

So if you've been loungin' around the house, take my advice. Get out there, get active. There's a huge world to see.

And who knows, you just might catch a glimpse of me in my swim trunks.

The Many Faces of Me

2006-05-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

Candid

Joyful

Contemplative

In Charge

Don't Mess With Me

Playful

Thrilled

Annoyed

No Autographs, Please

Carpe Diem

2006-04-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the weather? I sure am. Trips to the park four days in a row ain't half bad. There's a new treehouse there. I've made it my goal to fully test it out for them. Consider it my contribution to the Parks & Recreation service.

So far so good, guys. Even Dad likes it.

Spring into action

2006-04-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Hey, did you hear? Spring is here! If I sound excited it's because, well, I am. I mean I loved Christmas and this past winter was a pleasant one, but I for one have been cooped up too long. The warmer Spring air means only one thing that I care about...I can get outside and see the world. Running in the sunshine, watching shapes pass by in the white puffy clouds, yep, that's for me. I never did like staying inside much (which is what caused the whole preemie thing, as I'm told).

Apparently Mom and Dad noticed the change in the weather too because we've been heading out on more adventures. This week we went to a new park. Not just the same old kind of park I usually go to, but a special place where people bring their dogs to run and play just like kids do! It was great. There was one section for little dogs and another one for the big guys. They were having so much fun, chasing balls and running free. It was inspiring. In fact, it inspired me to do a little running myself.

Watching those dogs made me realize a little more freedom would do me some good. I mean, I am a big boy, after all. I don't always need a hand to hold. Plus it's good to get out there and stretch my legs...literally. Especially because we're gonna be doing a lot of walking later this month for WalkAmerica 2006. Mom says this year me and my buddy Trenton get to cross the finish line on our own! That's a big step (so-to-speak) for two preemies. I guess that's appropriate, we're sorta what the whole WalkAmerica and March of Dimes things are all about.

The cool thing about walking is that it takes you places. We were just going along, enjoying the blue sky and cool breeze when all of a sudden our feet were moving through sand. I looked up to see a playground that was so inviting I couldn't pass it up. I went on the swings, down the slide a few times and took a ride on the back of my friend froggy. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.

If this season has lots more days like this in store, I'll be in good shape. Speaking of good shape, I just overheard Mom say that the WalkAmerica course is five miles long. I'm not really sure how long that is, but Mom's face looked tired just talking about it. I'd better get back to running my training laps around the living room.

Public Service Announcement

2006-03-22T05:22:00.000-08:00

Hello there, friends. After another new experience yesterday, I feel it is my civic duty to inform you about a particular breed of scam artist out there, inconspicuously called "the dentist." I haven't quite figured out what the scam is, exactly, but take it from me, these guys are smooth operators.

The first thing to remember is not to be fooled by the pleasant nature of the dentist's office. Mom, Dad and I went to one yesterday that was painted in fun pastel colors. It had toys on tables that were just my size and a train suspended from the ceiling that went around the whole place. There was even a little-guy sized door between the waiting area and the next room. And everyone there was so smiley and sunshine-happy. I believe this is how they lure unsuspecting kids to their establishment. But don't fall for it, it's all trickery. Smoke and mirrors.

I fell right into the trap and got more excited when they called my name and I went into the next room. This place was even better than the waiting area 'cuz it had two of my favorite things - cartoon animals painted on the walls and lots of machines and equipment. I couldn't wait to get my hands on some of that stuff, but the farthest I got was a big funny looking chair. That's when things started to take a turn. Dr. Hamilton (he called himself "doctor" not realizing that I had already heard he was a "dentist"...sounded shady right from the start) talked with Mom and asked if I had any health problems or stuff like that. He even mentioned that preemies sometimes have more problems with their teeth than other kids. This guy obviously hadn't done his homework on me.

So one minute I'm sitting comfortably while the big folks are chatting, and the next thing I know, I'm being held down against my will while the "doctor" pokes around in my mouth with some crazy mirror on a stick! I know, scary, right? And all I can think is, "Hey, Mom's a smart gal, she'll catch on," but she cooperated with the whole thing. In fact, I discovered later that this whole deal was pre-planned and Mom scheduled for them to do this to me AGAIN in six more months! Aren't there laws against this type of thing? Sheesh.

After Dr. Hamilton brushed my teeth a little (his toothbrush wasn't nearly as cute as my own at home), I was thankful to be done with that place. He did say that everything looked great and I did a good job (naturally). And he said I should keep brushing my teeth twice a day and then he gave me a new toothbrush to take home. That part wasn't so bad. I mean who doesn't like a free gift now and then?

But seriously, I'm convinced this dentist place is just a new way for the parents to attempt some control. And they took me off guard for this first trip, but boy will I be ready next time. Yesiree, you can't get one past...(yawn)...Isaiah....I will be alert.....zzzz.......and prepared.........Dr. H is no...match for ...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

360 days later

2006-03-08T17:31:00.000-08:00

Here I thought that all the time Dad spends on the computer, he was working. Apparently he's really just fooling around, and the results look a little something like this.

Believe it or not, the Zaya on the right was taken March 13th, 2005 and the Zaya on the left was taken today, March 8th, 2006. Yes folks, that is the exact same shirt. As you can imagine I'm pretty proud of my slim and trim physique. Mom says we'll hang onto this shirt to see if I can still fit into it next March.

All I have to say is, thank goodness my hands are free from those awful mittens. Definitely a fashion no-no.

Nature AND Nurture

2006-02-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

My house is like a corporate headquarters these days. Dad's busy working on his new business plan and Mom is having meetings and writing grant proposals on deadline. So today was an unexpected treat when we took the afternoon off to visit the Hopkins Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach.

Who knew there was so much nature in our own backyard? One minute we're driving on a main street and the next we're lost in the woods! It was pretty neat. Our first stop was a campground table for lunch. I tried my hardest to get my hands on that huge cookie for dessert, but I had to make do with animal crackers.

After lunch we hiked the many trails that run all through the park. Actually, Mom and Dad did most of the hiking, I was pretty much along for the ride. There were lots of trees and birds and...well, you know, nature stuff.

My favorite part was when we found a pond with ducks. Those guys crack me up the way they hide their heads in the water and then pop back up. I tried calling them by name, but apparently my "duck" sounds just like "dog" so they weren't paying much attention to me.

As we were leaving the pond to head up another trail, Mom spotted a little family of turtles. That was really cool. It looked to me like the littlest one (who really wasn't all THAT little) was trying to get out on his own and show some independence, but his parents were following close behind. Boy, do I know how that is.

I have to say, though, that hanging out with the folks isn't all that bad. I mean, they live for my every word (even my mumblings) and smile. So if I can keep them entertained, it's worth it. Plus (I can't believe I'm going to admit this), they're actually kinda fun...in a goofy sort of way.

Honorable Mention?

2006-02-21T15:13:00.000-08:00

Mom just informed me that we did NOT get the call from Regis & Kelly. You can probably see the shock written all over my face...my Most Beautiful Baby face, that is. So there will be no flight to New York City...no photo shoot for Parents magazine...no cash prize. Big deal. Personally, I think they were just afraid of the stiff competition. It wouldn't exactly be a fair race with a Super Preemie in the mix, now would it?

This works out way better for me anyway. Now I don't have to find a sitter for Noah's animals.

All you need is love

2006-02-21T15:03:00.000-08:00

Nothing says Valentine's day like...a nice card,

a thoughtful gift,

and dinner at a place just for big boys!

Ain't love grand?

Leaps and bounds

2006-02-13T20:08:00.000-08:00

As Little Bill would say, "I'm a big kid!"This is a picture of me at the doctor's office today, finding out that I'm HUGE! I mean, I knew I was a big boy, but Dr. Sergis says if I grow any more, I'll be OFF THE CHART! I'm not sure what she meant by that, but it sure makes me sound cool.

While Dr. Sergis was talking to Mom about development and motor skills and all that mumbo jumbo, I was daydreaming a bit...

"In this corner, weighing in at 26 pounds, 33 1/2 inches tall, the Gerber heavyweight champion of the world, Biiiiig Zaaaaaaayyyyy!"

All I need now are some big puffy gloves and pair of satin-y shorts. Then lookout, world, global domination.

Anyone know a good seamstress?

Climbing the walls

2006-02-10T05:25:00.000-08:00

I've gotta tell you, the big people around here have been mighty excited lately. I think it has something to do with me (as usual). I've been experimenting with my vocabulary and I finally got a word to pop out, "dog." Though when I say it, it sounds like "gog," but Mom and Dad must know what I mean because they get all happy and clappy. It's certainly not the first word I've thought, but the first one I've been able to wrap my mouth around.

I'm discovering lots of other new things as well. I think it's because I've got new perspective...especially when I stand on the couch. You can see a lot more stuff from up there, have you ever tried it? Mom and Dad only use the couch for sitting, but climbing up and standing is way more fun. Of course Mom's not quite as pleased as I am with my climbing abilities.

And just this week I learned a new trick with stairs...Mom calls it the Zaya-shimmy-shake. Whenever I get close to the stairs, I turn around, flop down on my belly and wiggle down the stairs. Sure, I could probably just walk down like anybody else, but what fun would that be? Plus, it's worth it to see the proud faces on the parents.

Not to mention, I have a very unique reputation to live up to, y'know. I am, after all, a preemie schmeemie.

No Contest

2006-02-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Here's the photo that Mom submitted to the Beautiful Baby Contest on Regis & Kelly. She says that thousands of other pretty babies will be in the running, so the competition is pretty stiff. I guess she just wants me to remain the modest guy that I am. But it's ok, even if we don't get that call from Kelly Ripa, I think we all know who is REALLY the most beautiful baby around here.

No autographs, please.

Out and About

2006-02-01T21:52:00.000-08:00

In a bold attempt to maintain the image of parental control, Mom and Dad decided to take me out today...without the stroller. That's right, nothin' between me and the cold, hard ground by my own two legs. It was kinda cute, actually. You see, the parental units believe that they run the show, so they get these funny little ideas in their heads like, "let's go to IKEA." But it doesn't take long for anyone to figure out who really wears the pants around here (even if they are a little bulky around the rear).

This was my first trip to the big blue box known as IKEA. Apparently, Mom and Dad have been there before and were just there today for some "window shopping." Oddly enough, I did not see one window for sale there. While they walked around looking at couches and tables and funny picture frames with names like "RAMMA," I was paying close attention to those big arrows on the floor. As a matter of fact, I made it my goal to touch each and every one. I would have been successful too, if Mom hadn't gotten in my way. She kept talking about how dirty the floor is, how many people walk there...blah, blah, blah.

I guess Mom and Dad figured out that there weren't any windows to be bought because we left there and headed to a new place. I had no idea where we were going and wasn't particularly interested. Little did I know we were going to a very special place. Yes folks, there is a little piece of heaven right here on earth and it's called the lighting section at Lowe's. I've never seen so many ceiling fans in my life! All those lights, and the spinning...I get excited just thinking about it. We had to pause so I could take it all in.

After my adventurous day out, I was pretty exhausted. But as soon as we got home, I started formulating a plan to get back to those fans. I figured out that if I break something around the house, we'll have to go back to buy some stuff for repairs.

I will pause while you admire my genius.

No Strings Attached

2006-01-08T08:49:00.000-08:00

What you are seeing is real. It is not an illusion. No strings, smoke & mirrors or camera trickery were used in these images.

I'M A WALKER!

I've been steady on my feet for awhile now, and the new big boy shoes sure help a lot. But check this out...

I CAN WALK IN SOCK FEET TOO!

Go ahead and beam with shock and surprise, I'll wait. To tell you the truth, I could have done it a long time ago, but I chose not to. Basically, I've just been enjoying keeping everyone in suspense. You all get that same look of excitement and anticipation on your faces whenever I even look like I'm going to take a step.

Yes, like it or not, in the palm of my hand is where you are. It's great.

Now if you'll excuse me, while you're enjoying each step I take, I'm going to get to work on my driving skills.

What's old is new again

2005-12-31T21:56:00.000-08:00

That's right, it's party time. Out with 2005 and in with 2006. From what I've observed so far about the whole concept of a year, it seems the beginning is for looking forward with eager anticipation and the end is for looking back with reflection. Apparently, there's also a choice involved when looking back. Some choose thankfulness, others choose regret and most people mix a little of each.

I, for one, can say it's been a great year. Granted I don't have any other years to compare it to. But hey, my parents have managed to keep me in one piece and my diaper's clean, so I can't complain. Not to mention that Christmas was very fruitful. Yes, that smile you see is sincere. I am one happy guy.

As you look back at 2005, I hope you get a big smile, too. Hopefully the New Year holds much health and happiness.

And if nothing else, a clean diaper for all.

Zaya's Holiday Top 10

2005-12-21T15:46:00.000-08:00

Things I love about Christmas time:

1. Our house looks way cooler at this time of year.

2. Napping off all that holiday stress.

3. Showing off my winter attire.

4. Clowning around at fancy church dinners.

5. All the trees get dressed up.

6. Loungin' around the house in my Santa hat.

7. Pretty paper. You get to tear it up! And there's cool stuff inside!!

8. That fun and festive feeling...it almost makes you feel like singing.

9. Family fun-time.

10. All those holiday parties, oh yeah.
(Don't panic ladies...there's plenty of Zaya to go around)

The thrill of victory

2005-12-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

My team may have lost, but my cuteness remains triumphant!

Turkey and stuffing and legs...oh my!

2005-12-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

First things first...let's have a moment of silence for Bob the pumpkin. Here I thought Mom had just put him away somewhere safe until next Halloween. He was, in fact, "disposed of." I don't really know what that means, but it just sounds ominous. Mom tried explaining to me that I'll get to go back to the pumpkin patch next year and pick out a new pumpkin, but I wasn't hearing it. There will never be another Bob. Maybe a Joe, or possibly a Bill, but Bob was one-of-a-kind.

Now, onto the next holiday report. I trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. While this was technically my second Thanksgiving, I basically slept right through my first, so this year had a lot of new experiences for me. Auntie Rachel slept over at our place and fed me my morning cereal. This was a very relaxed and pleasant dining experience. Let's just say Mom sometimes moves faster than my mouth can keep up.

After breakfast, Dad, Mom, Auntie and I sprawled out across the living room to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Why didn't someone tell me about this before? All that music and dancing, not to mention those amazing balloons. It was like a party for my senses. And then, I saw them...like a dream, they came to me. The Radio City Rockettes. I couldn't take my eyes off the TV. Wow. That's just about all I can say. WOW.

In the afternoon, we headed over to Nana & Papa's house for the big meal. Up to this point, a big meal for me has consisted of two jars of mush instead of just one. But on Thanksgiving, I got to eat it all...turkey and stuffing, peas and smashed tatoes. It was great. It was a meal fit for a king (or a charming prince, like me).

And I don't know what they put in that food, but pretty soon I started to get really sleepy and had to take a nap. Dad said it had something to do with "trip-toe-fan," whatever that means. I didn't see anyone trip over anything, and why would that make me tired? Sometimes I'm not too sure about those parents of mine.

Anyhow, it was a great way to kick off the holiday season and I'm starting to understand why people get so excited about this time of year. It's cold outside, but warm feelings are all around. There's a lot of color and good food, family and friends. We have so much to be thankful for. And I have a feeling each year will be more amazing than the last.

Especially with those Rockettes. WOW.

Ready for my close-up

2005-12-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

This is my good friend Christie. She happens to know her way around behind a camera. Which is great for me because, as you already know, I have some expertise in front of the camera. So we make a great pair.

Christie invited Mom, Dad and I to come down to her studio in Marina Del Rey. So a few weeks ago, the three of us went for a drive and ended up at a place called Bikini Islands. I thought for sure the folks were lost until we saw Christie and she told us the studio was upstairs. It was really cool. She's got a neat space right near the beach with windows all around.

We got there around my usual nap time, so I wasn't quite as playful as I could've been. But I think Christie managed to get some good shots anyway. I'll let you judge for yourself.

Don't be alarmed

2005-11-21T21:11:00.000-08:00

I'm here folks, alive and well. Not that you could tell from my almost MONTH-LONG hiatus from blogging. Apparently, Mom would have you believe that nothing much is happening on Planet Zaya, but that's definitely not the case. Since she doesn't seem to have the time for a full report, let me sum it up with the following:

I got a new hat.
I've taken about 3 steps on my own (I can actually handle more, but I don't want to overwhelm the folks).
My favorite thing to say these days is DaDa.
I have seven teeth.
With those teeth, I've tried lots of yummy new things like ravioli and strawberries (not together, of course).
I sleep all night, thanks to my tranquil waterfall, cool mist humidifier and floor heater.
Mom and Dad stay up all night worrying about the electric bill.
I've become good friends with Dublin, the big black beast in the backyard.
I can turn the lights on and off in every room of the house.
I love talking on speakerphone...give me a call sometime!

That brings you up-to-date, sorta. To fill in the blanks, just imagine lots of my cute smiles, giggles and an occasional scream (maybe two.)

Gobble, gobble.

Last post in the fish costume, I swear

2005-10-31T21:38:00.000-08:00

Well, I made it home in one piece. And I have to say this whole Halloween thing was a lot of fun. Tonight Grandma Aida and Auntie Rachel came over to go trick-or-treating with me. Thankfully Auntie wore a costume too, so she collected candy for both of us. Yes, I am aware that I don't eat candy, but that's beside the point where trick-or-treating is concerned. You all know as well as I do that it's a competition. At the end of the night, the one with the most candy wins, and I'm not about to sit this one out.

We started off paying a visit to our neighbors, then headed over to Old Town Torrance. For those of you devoted readers of Planet Zaya, you'll remember we took a walking tour down Old Post Road not long ago. These houses there were decorated with ghosts, skeletons, orange and purple lights and yes, jack-o-lanterns. I have to give these folks a nod for their carving skills, but I think a moment of silence is in order for the poor pumpkins who gave their lives for the sake of holiday decor.

While going door-to-door, all of the people handing out candy were very nice. And apparently this Nemo guy is one popular fish because everyone was excited to see me. Even other kids were saying I was cute. And we saw lots of kids in some very interesting costumes. But from my first trick-or-treat experience, I believe there should be some standard regulations. So I've come up with my own list of Halloween do's and don'ts:
1. Have some respect for the little guy. Just because you CAN cut across the grass doesn't mean you SHOULD.
2. Wearing your pajamas is not a costume.
3. Wearing your work uniform is not a costume.
3a. In fact, if you're old enough to work, you're too old for trick-or-treating.
4. The buddy system is good, but if your trick-or-treat group is too big to fit on a porch, consider breaking up into smaller groups.
5. Take a hint: if the porch light is off and you've waited a few seconds after ringing the bell, move on. Handing out candy is a nice gesture, not a requirement.
6. If your bag is full, go home.

I think my rules would make for a very pleasant and efficient Halloween experience. I'll have to do a little marketing before next October.

Anyhow, after the hunt for candy, we took a drive over to visit Nana and Papa and then headed to what Mom called The Great Pumpkin. You drive into this refinery where they have a big tank painted to look like a real pumpkin. I have much respect for this idea because no pumpkins were harmed in the process. There's music playing and nice people in costumes throwing bags of caramel corn into your car. And it's free! Reading this back I realize this sounds very strange, but it's cool, trust me. Granted I can't eat caramel corn yet either, but I have to give credit for good effort.

I came home from a fruitful Halloween with candy in my bag and a smile on my face. But I do have a request for the parents.

Next year, no tights.

Pumpkin? What pumpkin?

2005-10-31T16:30:00.000-08:00

I've just been informed that pumpkins are cut up and used to make PIES! Yes, like the kind people EAT!

There is no cause for alarm, however. I have taken the necessary precautions. Bob is hidden away someplace safe.

Now if I can just figure out what to do with all these dirty diapers.

Pumpkin Envy

2005-10-30T21:10:00.000-08:00

This time of year is interesting because I'm picking up on all the things I missed out on while I was in the NICU. Take Halloween, for instance. Last year, one of the nice nurses at the hospital taped a happy little ghostie to my incubator and that was the extent of the festivities. See it up there in the corner? Nice gesture and all, but nothing to write home about.

Apparently there's much more to it. At this time of year, the weather is supposed to get cooler (hasn't happened yet), people decorate their homes with lots of brown leaves and scarecrows (not sure why) and on the big day, kids roam around neighborhoods dressed up as some strange character and beg for candy. Hence the fish costume. I'm still trying to figure out if this is all socially acceptable.

Anyhow, the unifying factor for the month of October is pumpkins. I'm sure you've seen them, they're these big round orange things for sale on every corner. I was totally confused by the pumpkin concept because when I was born, Mom used to stand over me every day in the NICU and call me her little punkin (note: "punkin" is some kind of cutesie-mommy slang for "pumpkin"). I had assumed this was a name she reserved just for me because I'm so special. That was my first lesson about assumptions.

Mom, Dad and I recently took a trip to the pumpkin patch. This was quite an experience. There were lots of families there with kids of all ages, some even about my size. And pumpkins as far as the eyes could see (and I've got good eyes). There were big ones, small ones, even white ones and some gray ones. Mom and Dad said that I could pick one out to take home. This was a lot of pressure considering my lack of experience with pumpkins.

We cruised around for awhile and stopped by to say hello to the sheep. They were cute, all cozy warm in their sweaters. I saw kids feeding them, but Mom said that I should just look from a distance. Something about filthy animal germs. So we made our way to the long lines of pumpkins and I began my search for the perfect one.

Now I imagine for some there is a scientific approach to choosing a pumpkin. I'm more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-diaper kind of guy, so I was pretty casual about it. I just slapped them all until I found one that sounded about right. Don't get me wrong, this was no easy task. It took a lot of time and thought and good listening skills to find the pumpkin with just the right size and tone. But I was up for the job. And I was successful.

Everything was fine and dandy until I found out that many people bring their pumpkins home only to carve funny faces into them and dump out their insides. They even put candles inside to make them light up. From what I understand, they call these jack-o-lanterns. Not at my house, no siree! My pumpkin is staying a pumpkin. After all that hard work it took to find him, I'm not changing his name to jack-o-anything.

I think I'll call him Bob.

Preemies Unite

2005-10-23T20:27:00.000-07:00

Last year around this time, I was hangin' out in the NICU, getting annoyed with all the wires hooked to my body and the tube in my nose. Thankfully, this year was way different. As official graduates of the NICU, Trenton and I were invited to attend their 27th Annual Reunion.

I have to admit I was excited when I first heard about this party. I knew it would be pretty neat to meet all the other super babies who started out so tiny and grew up big and strong. And yes, I MAY have wanted to show off a little. But my dreams faded a bit when Mom and Dad put me in a fish costume (against my will, I might add). I mean, sure he's a cute Disney fish, but still. I had to wear tights, I think that says it all.

When I had worked through my feelings of humiliation, Mom, Dad and I along with Trenton and his Mom headed to the party. As soon as we got close to Torrance Memorial, we saw tons of kids in costume on their way as well. When we got inside, there were lots of families and kids of all ages. It was pretty cool. We even ran into a new friend, Max, with his mom. Max and Trenton were both in super hero costumes, which brought back a little of my fish anxiety, but I got over it quickly. I make a darn cute fish, if I do say so myself.

We arrived just in time for a special trick show with Chloe the wonder dog. She's a therapy dog that visit the patients in the hospital to cheer them up. Chloe is a very smart dog. She even jumped through hoops...literally!

Right after Chloe's performance, we watched this guy blowing bubbles. Not your standard bubbles, big ones and small ones and others as tall as people. The guy was a little goofy, but the bubbles were kinda cool. But by this time I was getting tired of sitting in the stroller, so Mom and I went around the room to say hi to some of our nurse friends who I hadn't seen since last year.

When we heard the announcement for the crawling races, I knew I had this one in the bag. But when the lady in the Tigger costume yelled, "ready, set, go," I just froze. One might say that it was all those people standing around, making me nervous. But I prefer to say that it was just my gentlemanly nature, letting little Gigi win. And apparently the chivalry worked because just as she approached the finish line, Gigi turned right around and came back to say hi to me. She couldn't resist, and who could blame her. While the two of us were preoccupied, another little boy sped past and won the race.

I was a little bummed out after that loss and Trenton was getting tired, so we decided to head home. On the way out, we each got a new teddy bear and a video. I tell you, that NICU staff not only knows how to take good care of us preemies, they also throw a great party.

Next year, look out toddler race, cuz I'll be ready for you. Gigi or no Gigi.

Corrected age, my foot

2005-10-23T16:12:00.000-07:00

I made it, I've crossed over. I can officially call myself a one year old now. I think the thing that makes me most happy is that I don't have to count my age in months anymore. That got old really fast.

The other great thing is that I get to ride in my car seat facing forward now. I don't know why it took Mom and Dad and year to figure this one out, but thank goodness they finally did. I was starting to get so confused, I didn't know which way was up...or back...or front.

Naturally, the day of my birth was really monumental. Not only did I make my entrance in a grand fashion, but October 15th is also a special day to remember other babies, like my sister, who were strong little fighters but didn't get to stay long. On my first birthday, I got to go to a service with other families of angel babies. Some people might think this is a sad thing to do on a birthday, but I look at it as a celebration of life, mine included.

The next day was my real shindig. Mom explained to me what a barbecue is, so now I understand a bit better. It's really all about the food. Of course I didn't get to eat any of it. I'm not sure how that works, it's your birthday but you don't get any of the food. I think everybody should have enjoyed their own tasty jar of Gerber's and washed it down with a bottle of formula. It seems only fair.

I'm not being completely truthful, I did get some cake. Cupcake, that is. Always trying to be different, my family decided to have cupcakes instead of a big fancy cake. The idea underwhelmed me at first, until I saw the spread. Great work, Nana. You win the prize for most creative use of gummy worms.

And I have to say I was totally wrong about the whole box thing. It actually was worthwhile to open all the boxes because there was neat stuff inside. I got a learning table that plays all kinds of music, two drums and some other instruments and a hippo that eats blocks. Mom says all this stuff will keep me busy, but for some reason she had a funny look on her face when I opened all the noisy toys. Maybe she was jealous. I guess I'll have to share my drum with her.

Now that I'm one, maybe I'll gain some credibility. Mom's always been so careful with me, watching every move I make. She doesn't understand that I'm an independent guy. But now I can just tell her "Hey, I'm a big kid. I'm one!"

Guess I'd better work on my verbal skills, or this won't be very effective.

Stick your neck out

2005-10-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

Meet Gerry. He's been rooming with me in the Pack 'n' Play recently. I guess Mom and Dad rescued him from some zoo somewhere or something. They said they got him from Disneyland, but you can't fool me. I know none of Mickey's friends are giraffes. I mean, I'm still not sure about that Goofy character, but I know he's no giraffe.

Anyhow, I kinda like having a companion. The nice thing about it is that he picked up on the rules real quick. I do all the talking, he keeps quiet. And he stays out of my way, most of the time. A couple of times he got caught underfoot, which wasn't so bad because I discovered that if I stand on his back, I can get a little closer to climbing out. This could really work in my favor.

I highly recommend getting yourself a giraffe.

Just not mine.

T Minus Four Days...

2005-10-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

...and counting. It's almost here. I'm turning one. As you saw from a previous post, I watched it happen to my buddy Trenton, but I don't think I really "got it." This is huge. Not only because I'm growing and accomplishing so many things, but frankly, because of the boxes.

Yep, you heard right. Apparently birthdays are all about the boxes. The other day this nice man dressed in brown brought a big box to our house with my name on it. It was from Nana and Pampy in Portland. I was thrilled, I mean one whole big box just for me? And then, much to my surprise, mom opened the box and inside were more boxes! These ones individually wrapped in bright colored paper. How does a guy get this lucky?

Mom has been all giddy lately talking about how she can't wait for my birthday "Barbie-Q" on Sunday so I can open 'em. I don't understand that at all. Why would I want to open the boxes? I love them, just as they are.

Unless...wait a minute...could it be? Is it possible that maybe inside these boxes are even MORE boxes? Wow, now I'm really excited. I can't even think about it. It's too much for me. I need a moment.

Let's just pretend that I never had that thought.

(Hee-Hee!)

Auntie Papa

2005-10-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Yesterday, after my morning cereal, I went with Mom and Dad to "run some air-rands" (I don't really know what that means - we basically drove around to a bunch of places and didn't stay at any of them very long. I didn't get it.). The weather is cooling down again, so we had some nice breezes.

Then we got home and had another family visit. Auntie Papa and Tres came over to practice singing with Dad. They said they're getting ready for a special service on October 15th. (Yes, that is my birthday as well, but I told them I was willing to share it with Sister and all of the other special little babies - click here and you'll see why).

Anyhow, you're probably wondering about this Auntie Papa person. Well take a look. I had to do a double take myself the first time I saw her because she looks just like my Papa, but a girl version. I thought they were twins, like the little ones I remember from the NICU who looked so much alike, but Dad says no. They're just brother and sister, like me and Sister.

The day took a turn when Dad and Tres were singing this one song. It seemed to have magical powers over me because I couldn't keep from falling asleep. I really tried, but something about this song made my eyes slam shut. I overheard Mom saying something about keeping this CD in my room for bedtime. Unfortunately, I think I've already lost the battle because the past two nights I've slept in my crib the whole night through. And that was without that magic song.

I guess my Auntie Wendy was right...I have met my match(es). These Mom and Dad people are smarter than I thought.

Excuse me while I go revise my plan for world domination.

Times they are a-changin'

2005-09-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of Dad and me in happier times. Before the mutiny. There's a power struggle going on in this house and I don't think I like it very much. Up til now, things have been the way they should be - I'm the cute one and everyone loves to look at me and see all the new things I can do, therefore, I've been in the driver's seat. But for some reason Mom and Dad are trying to change up the rules on me.

So what if I like to be comfortable. Is that a crime? I'm sure you do, too. I had been sleeping in the big, cozy bed but you heard about all of my base-jumping adventures, so you know how that turned out. Then Dad started blowing up these inflatable mattresses that we slept on in the living room. Those were soft and I could sleep pretty much all night there, with one of my parents next to me. Plus it made it convenient to wake up and watch Little Bill. But there have been whisperings lately that this arrangement isn't working out for everyone. Something about backs hurting and stuff. So out of nowhere last night, I was blindsided when they put me in my CRIB! Can you imagine? Expecting me to sleep in my own bed, in my own room that is set up and decorated just for me? The nerve of these people.

Well, I certainly wasn't going to go down without a fight. So I let 'em have it at full vocal capacity for a good four hours. And would you believe that no one came to rescue me! I had to be screaming loud enough for even Papa to hear me from his house, but he didn't come either. That's when I knew they weren't only trying to challenge me, they think they can WIN. I couldn't let that happen, I mean, I have a reputation to uphold. But apparently my body does not have the stamina that my mind does because I found myself reduced to a slobbery, sniffling heap and that's the last thing I remember.

I overheard Mom and Dad talking about how they have to keep this up for a couple of weeks to "break" me. Frankly, I don't know who they think they are. The Mighty Zaya will not be broken!

If the shirt fits...or not

2005-09-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

It's becoming clear that I'm going to have to become a much more independent guy. Mom can't even seem to get my clothes on right these days. I really don't know where her head is at. Of course, she says it has more to do with MY head, getting bigger I guess. I just think those darn clothing manufacturers aren't measuring neckholes the way they used to.

Oh well. Guess I'll just have to revolutionize the textile industry myself.

Let 'em eat cake

2005-09-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today's post is dedicated to my good buddy and fellow preemie Trenton who turns the big O-N-E this week. As most of you know, Trenty and I go way back, months even. We met shortly after birth and spent a month dorming together in the NICU. Good times.

Anyhow, last Saturday we celebrated with Trenton's family and friends. Man, that guy sure knows how to throw a party (though I'm sure his Mom and Dad helped, at least a little). He picked the perfect sunny, breezy day and he must have known how much I was itching to go to the park. As soon as we got there I kicked my shoes off and headed for the green grass. It was like a dream.

Believe it or not, the day just got better and better. We spread out our blankets in the grass, had some snacks, relaxed with a good book and laughed with our friends. I tried my hardest to get my four teeth into a piece of pizza, but Mom wouldn't have it. She stuffed me full of those Gerber puffed rice things instead.

There were lots of other kids there. Trenton's a pretty popular guy. Mom and I were walking around and I caught a glimpse of a cute girl nearby. She was walking (unassisted, I might add) with her sippy cup. I started walking straight towards her, but for some reason Mom turned us in the opposite direction. Apparently she wasn't getting the hint.

At one point, Dad took me over to this big, colorful thing with kids bouncin' all around inside. I wasn't too sure about it until I got close enough to grab on, then I was positive that I wanted to have the full experience. Unfortunately, it was Dad's turn to rain on my parade when he told me I was too small. Watch who you're calling small, Daddy-O.

The best, and totally unexpected, part of the day came when Trenton's Mom cut a big piece of cake and sat it right in front of Trenty. I thought for sure this was just a tease and I was cheering for the little guy to grab some frosting before they snatched the cake away. Oh, he got some frosting alright. But the surprise was that everyone let him dig in. They didn't even try to stop him! It was right about this time that I started to think that I haven't been giving this birthday business the full credit it deserves.

Thanks for a great time, Trenton. Way to kick off the weekend. It reminded me that I only have to wait three more weeks for my own bash.

I can feel the frosting on my cheeks already.

Howzit, Bra?

2005-09-21T20:49:00.000-07:00

Look who's back, everybody! Didja miss me? Actually I've been here all along, but Mom, my assistant, has been slacking. I'll give her a break, cuz I know she's been working hard, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a tad bit annoyed.
Anyhow, back to business. Yesterday I had quite an exciting visit. Cousin Jordan from Honolulu is here on vacation (I guess if you live in Hawaii full time, you have to go somewhere ELSE for vacation) and he stopped by my place to play. He brought along his Mom and Dad and even cousin Maliya and Auntie Lorna. Jordan is a cool guy. He was born just ten days before I was. It was a lot of fun to spend some time with someone who likes the same things I do. Jordan and I, we really see eye to eye.

I was a little intimidated by the full head of hair, though. I mean, I know my curls are coming in nicely, but this guy has already had two haircuts! The playing field was leveled though when I found out Jordan doesn't have any teeth yet. I've got him beat in that category for sure.

After playing at my house awhile, we all went out for dinner. Granted I wasn't able to eat anything, but a good time was had by all. Jordan's Mom and Dad are really nice. They invited me to visit the island sometime. Dad says maybe Jordan will teach me how to surf. I'm not sure what that is, but I sounds like a lot of fun.

Maybe I can get him to share his hair growth secrets, too.

Thanks for a great day, Jordan. From the cutest boy on the mainland to the cutest boy on the big island...ALOHA!

Backstage Pass

2005-09-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

As I'm sure you've picked up from reading previous posts, I'm at the point in my life where I'm enjoying lots of firsts. Today was another one, and all I can say is, I hope there will be more like this one.

I had heard Mom and Dad talk about how we were going to some show, but I really didn't know what to expect. We drove up the hill to South Coast Botanic Gardens (my first time there). When we got to the entrance, this really nice lady had an envelope with tickets waiting for us. No waiting in line and no charge for the tickets. I knew then that this was a good day. The lady's name was Ronnie and apparently she's not only a friend of Mom and Dad, but she produced the whole show. Anyone who runs a company named Bubblerock is alright by me.

So we get inside and there's this huge grassy area with a stage set up and tons of kids running around. Man, this was exciting. I was itching for Mom to let me out of the stroller so I could get in on the action. We found a spot, set up our blankets and then Mom must have read my mind because she took her shoes off, took my socks off and away we went running through the grass. We walked by kids with soccer balls, kids blowing bubbles, everywhere...kids! It was like heaven.

Pretty soon, our friend Shirley came walking up to introduce us to (you'll never guess) the star of the show! Her name is Joanie Bartels and she sings and plays music for kids concerts all over the country. Joanie shook my hand and said she was happy to meet me. Dad told her it was my first concert ever, and she said she was honored that I was there (I think I'm in love). Mom said it was like we were VIP's, but I haven't figured out what that means.

I looked around and everyone had their picnic dinners out, so I decided to have a snack myself. Since Mom says I'm doing so well with my "self-feeding," she let me have an apple flavored Wagon Wheel. That really hit the spot and gave me some energy, which I would need plenty of during the show.

Next thing I knew, the music was starting and there was my friend Joanie up on stage. She started off with a fun, fast song and Dad and I danced. The second song was my favorite because it was all about jumping (something I've recently mastered). Song after song had all the kids dancing and clapping, it was great.

After the last song, we went to say thank you to Joanie and she signed a photo for me...my first autograph. Could this day get any better?

I asked Mom if Joanie could come over to our house to play sometime. Mom said she didn't think so, cuz Joanie is so busy traveling and doing concerts. But she said it sure was a good idea because that lady is probably the only person who has the energy to keep up with me. I think I may be insulted by that comment. But I won't let her rain on my parade of firsts.

I'm just wondering, with firsts like this, where do I go to get seconds?

The Man Chair

2005-09-07T22:34:00.000-07:00

What do you think of my new chair? Actually, I've had it for a few weeks now, but I neglected to mention it before. Maybe that's because I'm a little underwhelmed. It has this fancy name like "Infant to Toddler Reclining Feeding Chair." I think they should call it what it really is...the "Another Way to Keep Isaiah Strapped Down" chair. Granted, this one is lacking those shoulder straps I hate so much, but it's still no fun.

I've heard big people say that every man needs his chair. But I was under the impression that it's usually a big comfy one, with a special holder for the remote control. Not in my house! Dad spends all his time rolling around in his computer chair and then there's me, sitting on the floor in jail.

That's ok. I've got Papa on my side. I'll just ask him to fashion a little motor and some wheels for my chair.

And you thought I was fast in my walker.

Hermosa Beach, 90254

2005-09-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

Big weekend, here. Summer's coming to a close, kids are headed back to school (except for me, of course). And from what I understand, Labor Day is everybody's last ditch effort to get out into the sun and squeeze every last drip of summer into a cold beverage and a hot dog.

Mom, Dad and I spent Labor Day at something called "Fiesta Hermosa." From what I can gather, "fiesta" translates directly in English to "crowded." There were tons of people, most wearing very little (and some should have been wearing much more). I don't think my parents realize that when I'm in my stroller, I am riding directly at butt level, so it's not so enjoyable in a crowd.

We did see lots of neat stuff, though. There were all these booths with artists selling their paintings, sculpture and some stuff that could only be loosely classified as "art." Of course Mom spent the day running from one jewelry booth to the next, collecting business cards. (I think she was secretly trying to get away with working on Labor Day...I'll have to have a talk with her about that). I don't know if I quite understand art, yet. I think I need to do some more research. I saw some things today that I could have made myself, so maybe I'm an artist, huh?

Heard from Uncle Chaka. He arrived in New Zee-land safely. He said he went to KFC to eat and they call their french fries "chips." Those crazy Zee-folk. Uncle didn't mention anything about the flying Z's, though. Maybe he's waiting to surprise me by bringing one home.

Godspeed, Chaka. I'll hold down the beach while you're gone.

Relatively speaking

2005-09-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Families are interesting things. You've got the Mom and Dad, who seem to hang around all the time. Then you've got the Grandmas and Grandpas, who you don't get to see as often, but they're fun because they let you get away with much more than Mom and Dad. And then there's the others, like cousins and great-grandparents. I'm still trying to keep it all straight.

I don't know about you, but I have pretty cool Aunties and an Uncle. Some of my Aunties live up in Oregon, so I haven't had the chance to meet them yet. But I do get to spend lots of time with my Auntie Rachel. Well, until now. Mom told me that Auntie has to go back to school this week, so I won't get to play with her that much. I'm not sure what I think about this "school" business...sounds like it's gonna put a damper on things for me.

And then there's Chaka. Everyone else calls him Reuben, but I named him Uncle Chaka, so they just need to get with the program. I get to play with him a lot, too. But Mom and Dad said that tonight Chaka got on a big airplane and is flying to someplace called New Zee-land. Sounds pretty interesting. I imagine a colorful place with lots of letter Z's flying around. I sure hope he takes lots of pictures. He's supposed to stay for two weeks, so Nana's on her own with babysitting. Good luck, Nana...you'll need it.

I'm gonna go work on my standing and climbing. Wouldn't want the grandmas to get bored with me this week.

"Labor" Day?

2005-09-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

Let the weekend begin. Enjoy, everybody. Enjoy.

I'm a bleeder

2005-09-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

That's what the nurse lady said at Dr. Sergis's office today. She said this after she poked me in the finger and this red stuff started coming out. I went through a few cotton balls but the red stuff wouldn't stop, so then Mom tried to put me in the sink and run water over my finger. What a mess. And all of this so they could check on the "He-Moe Goblins" in my blood. If I were those goblins I'd run and hide from that nurse lady. But apparently, they found the goblins and they're doing just fine.

Dr. Sergis said I weigh 22 pounds and 2 ounces now, and I'm 28 inches long. Mom told her about how I climb everything in sight. Dr. Sergis said I'm advanced (not like that's news to anyone). She also said that I can start eating "finger foods." That made me nervous...I would like to keep my fingers, thank you very much! Mom said she'll explain it to me later.

Before we left, I picked up some very useful information. Dr. Sergis was giving Mom some safety tips. She said at my age, kids can get into the toilet and can even start to reach things up on counters. What a fool I've been, I've ignored the kitchen and bathroom all this time! Come to find out the toilet has some fun water to splash in. Now they tell me.

The next time I visit Dr. Sergis I'll be one year old. From listening to Mom talk, this is a pretty big milestone. Maybe by then I'll be able to walk without holding on to the furniture. That's sure to be my ticket to the toilet.

Life's a beach

2005-08-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

Top ten things I saw (most for the very first time) at the pier on Saturday:
10. Seagulls
9. Cheese on a stick

8. Colorful kites against the bright blue sky
7. Lots of people holding poles with strings, staring into the ocean

6. Oh yeah, the ocean
5. Ice cream cones
4. Old Tony's on the Pier
3. New Tony's on the Pier
2. Mini Chinese Food

1. Tourists

I'm afraid. I'm very afraid.

2005-08-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

I often wonder what Mom is doing clicking away on that funny machine she calls a "computer." But I think I just figured it out. She's been doing some internet shopping and she said if I'm not more careful, she's going to order me one of these.

Guess I'd better shape up. This could ruin me.

The tracks of my tears

2005-08-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

You see what these people do to me...YOU SEE? I give them nothing but happiness and winning smiles, sunlit days and moonlit nights (Ok, yah, there's the aching backs and poopy diapers too, but I think we all know what carries the most weight here). And what thanks do I get? Shackled and chained in this jail cell disguised with comfy padding and silly animals.

WELL. I can take a hint. I know when I'm not wanted. But be warned, I have not yet begun to fight.

This next diaper is going to be nice...and...full.

If climbing you is wrong, I don't wanna be right

2005-08-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

Mom looks tired. Maybe it's because all day long, from noon to 9pm, I'm doing this:

and this:

and this:

and lots of this:

and I rarely do any of this anymore:(And neither does she - hee hee!)

Forgiveness is a choice

2005-08-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

Do you forgive us Mom? Don't be mad. We weren't being naughty on purpose. Dad was just trying to get some work done and I was playing Super Zaya. I thought for sure I could reach that pretty green light on the baby monitor without taking a tumble off the bed again. C'mon, everyone makes mistakes, right? And I'm fine, really. The Pack 'N' Play broke my fall and I just hit my bottom. It didn't hurt at all. Ask Dad, I only cried for a minute.

Just look at these faces...we're really, really sorry. Either that or we just know how to work the camera.

Gadgets and Gizmos

2005-08-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Being the cute guy that I am, I can always find someone to share their lap with me. People are always clamoring to hold me and if I flash them a little smile, you'd think they had struck gold. But it's a bit more of a rare occasion when I get to snuggle in with my great-grandpa. That's why today was such a special day.
Great-grandpa and I are buddies. That guy really understands me. We play, we laugh, we nap and he tells me stories about great-grandma as a cheerleader in the war of 1812, it's great. What better way is there to spend an afternoon?

But much to my dismay, our bonding time today was invaded by a little fuzzy creature. He just decided that great-grandpa's lap had room for him too, so up he jumped and the next thing I know, I'm face to face with a Gizmo. I was none too pleased, as you can imagine. I mean, sure this Gizmo is cute and all (relatively speaking - remember, I know cute). But I thought it was little rude and assuming of him to just join us without asking first. My time with great-grandpa is precious - take a number, Gizmo.

And apparently it wasn't enough for him to be in my personal space. He had to go and show off, too. I was minding my own business, untying great-grandpa's shoelace, and sure enough, Gizmo goes and grabs the other end. Of course, I think babies who can untie shoes are much more impressive than Gizmos who can untie shoes, but maybe that's just me. Anyway, I was annoyed, to say the least. But I tried to remain diplomatic and refrained from causing a scene. I didn't want to upset great-grandma, she really loves that Gizmo.

After an ongoing tug-of-war, I was just about to make it known that enough was enough when Gizmo decided to focus his attention on great-grandpa's other shoe. I think he figured out that it was really in his best interest to do so. He really wouldn't want to experience the wrath of Zaya. Don't let the adorable face fool you.

When Gizmo was tired of trying to show me up, he jumped back down to the floor and found some other people to play with. To tell you the truth, I was happy he was outta the way. But every now and then, out of the corner of my eye I could see him sneaking back, looking for an opportunity to jump up again. So me and great-gramps had to keep a lookout.I don't know if Gizmos can read minds, but he seemed to guess that what I was thinking was, "Don't make me use my jedi powers, you ball of fur." And he was right.

History in the making

2005-08-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

I'm learning a lot these days about family, history and heritage. Remember that family party I mentioned earlier? Well, it was much more than just cake and balloons. Today I learned that there's a whole lot that was done in years past to put me where I am today. And there's a whole lot more people in my family than I realized!

Today we went to the Fillon Family Reunion at a little white church not far from where we live. But what looked like an old, tiny building on the outside turned out to be busting at the seams with memories made over 30 years ago. This was the church that my great grandpa Fillon built, where Nana & Papa were married, where Dad went every Sunday when he was my age (and apparently acted naughty so he could leave to get some french fries...some things never change, I guess).

From what I heard today, the building itself hasn't changed much at all. Everyone remembers it being bigger, but I think that's just cuz they were smaller. Everyone had a twinkle in their eye as they looked around at the windows, which apparently were cause for controversy at the time they were put in, but now seem to represent so much more than just windows (Wow, I can be a pretty deep guy on occasion).

Each of the family members who attended this church got up to say a few words about their memories (I got to go up to, but I decided to let Papa do the talking). Listening to everyone speak, I realized that it's really important to remember where you come from because it seems like it has a lot to do with where you're going. I paid close attention because I've got a lot of "going" to do. I also listened closely to the stories about my Dad because it sounds like he was pretty sharp from the get go. I'm thinking I'll try that crawling under the pews trick at church tomorrow morning.

I also got to meet cousins of mine that I had only heard about. I tried to get Mom to let me run around with them, but she kept saying I was still too little. Who's she kidding? I think I'd fit right in with these guys.

Now I'm not sure if this has anything to do with heritage or not, but there was this odd part of the day when Auntie Rose painted my foot yellow and then made me stand on a bunch of T-shirts. Maybe you can help me, has this ever happened in your family? Does this sound normal? Wait, nevermind, our family is far from normal.

Anyhow, Mom said today was another one of those days that will be even more important to me as I get older. I guess I'll have to wait and see what she means. I asked her when we were going to have a reunion for her side of the family and she said something I didn't understand...something about not being sure if I wanted to open up that can of worms. Who said anything about worms? Sometimes it's like Mom speaks a different language.

Yet again, I kicked off the weekend with a very full Saturday. Now if you'll excuse me...

Office Space

2005-08-20T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is my shy face. This is the one I put on yesterday when I went to visit Dad at work. He wanted to introduce me to his friends there, but more importantly, he wanted to show me off. And who can blame him for that?

The office was kinda weird. It was so quiet when we walked in and there were all these little gray boxes. As soon as I came in the door, heads started to pop up out of the boxes and all these people started to come toward me, saying how cute I am. Not that I disagree, but it was a little overwhelming. Everyone was really nice, though.

Then Dad wanted to show me his box, where he sits all day. I don't think I could work there...I need my open spaces. I don't like being confined.

Oh, did I mention that I'm actually remote blogging right now? I'm at Nana & Papa's house. Had another sleepover last night. And I heard someone say we're going to a family party today so I'll post about all that later. Right now I've got to do some chowing down. I am a growing boy, you know. A really, really cute one.

What's good enough for Uncle Wade...

2005-08-17T22:42:00.000-07:00

...is good enough for me.

Welcome to global domination.

Welcome to the Planet Zaya Store.

Cha-ching.

Quiet Schmiet

2005-08-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Mom and Dad took me to this place that was literally wall-to-wall books. I always thought there were a lot of books in my room, but this place that Mom called "the library" had WAY more. There were lots of people there, some sitting and reading, some studying at tables, some on the floor. But the main thing I noticed was that it was so quiet. Mom was afraid I'd blurt something out into the silence, but I decided to follow suit with everyone else. That is, until we got upstairs.

Upstairs had much more of what I was really interested in...other kids! There were signs everywhere that read "Quiet Zone" but far as I could tell, everyone was ignoring them. Sure there were lots of books, but of course I managed to locate the toys. I mean, I like a good story as much as the next guy, but I really like stuff that has pieces I can move around and parts that make clacking noises. There's nothing better.

I tried to make friends with a little girl at the library, but she was way too fast for me. I couldn't seem to make my legs go fast enough to catch up. Maybe this is what Dad means when he says that girls are always one step ahead of the boys.

Oh well. I can settle for clacking noises.

Got Chucks?

2005-08-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

My rank on the cool meter just went up by at least two notches...I got my first pair of Chuck Taylors. Just ask my Auntie Rachel, she'll tell you that only the coolest of the cool sport Chucks. She came over to help with babysitting today (I don't know why they call it that...sounds dangerous to me) wearing her multi-colored pair so I just had to go put mine on.

Getting my first pair of big-boy shoes was a lot of fun. While Mom, both grandmas and Auntie Rachel were at a bridal shower on Saturday morning (which I didn't understand at all...Mom usually showers at home), me and the fellas went shoe shopping. I haven't been into footwear much, but when I saw this pair, I knew they were made for me.

Look out world. You thought I was cute before...get a load of these babies.

10 kinds of wrong

2005-08-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are these or are these not girls pants? I mean, I'm not trying to be picky here, and I haven't voiced any complaints about the hand-me-down clothes thus far, but come on, guys. This just isn't fair.

The thing about being a kid is that you are subject to the (good or bad) judgement of your parents. So when Mom says all of my pajamas are in the laundry and she decides to throw on "any old thing," I end up looking like a little girl.

It was bad enough earlier this afternoon when Mom stuck this funny little brush in my mouth and started rubbing it against my teeth and gums. Apparently it's some kind of cleaning device...isn't that what my tongue is for?

I'm beginning to question the parenting skills in this house. I'm not sure these people really know what they're doing.

I gotta go, Mom's putting me to bed. Maybe that will give me an opportunity to wiggle out of these pants.

Mover and a shaker

2005-08-12T16:36:00.000-07:00

This has been a week of epiphany for me. I was just doing my normal one day, playing with the hippos, watching the ceiling fan spin, when it hit me (an idea, not the fan). I think I've been a bit too stagnant. I mean, sure I was a preemie, had to develop, all that jazz. But I'm big now, a capable, "can-do" guy. No more sittin' around for me. I'm on the move. I've got places to go and people to see!
So I figured I'd give this crawling thing a try. I've been scooting and rolling around a lot, but crawling is so much more efficient. I can get around faster than scooting and have access to way more things than I do when I'm in my walker. I could get used to this.

Then I realized that crawling really limits me. I'm only able to see things on the ground level. I needed to elevate. So I decided to find the nearest object to climb. The couch worked fine, it was just tall enough for me to grab on and pull myself up. It was fantastic! I literally had a whole new perspective on things (particularly all the things in the house that I shouldn't be touching - Mom will be so pleased).

Speaking of Mom, I'm not sure how she's handling all of this. She keeps talking about how fast time goes and how big I'm getting. I mean, I know she's proud and all, but I sense that I'm just advancing too quickly for her.

Today she even gave me a speech about how important it is to be still sometimes and enjoy the little things. I tried to oblige for awhile. I wanted her to think I was in "the zone" so I just stared at my feet. Surprisingly enough, sitting there in the quiet really gave me time to think about what's most important, what I really want.

And what I really want is to get back to that couch.

Marketing genius

2005-08-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

My uncle Wade is a pretty smart guy, much like myself. And, as I recently discovered, he's an artistic guy, too. He designed the picture on this shirt, which I happen to think is very cool. Granted, I am partial to elephants, but still.

Being the entrepreneur that he is, Uncle Wade has made this design available on many useful items, like shirts, hats, mugs and bags (I'd like to get my hands on one of those bibs, myself). Just click here and enter the House of Swag.

No, I was not paid for this gig, but I am entertaining reasonable offers. Just click the "comments" below to submit your proposal. And make it a number I'll like. (Hint: The bigger the number, the more I'll like it).

Everyday is my day

2005-08-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Dad's birthday. He turned 34 years old. I haven't quite figured out the concept of years yet, but near as I can tell, that's old. It was a Monday so he had to work, but he came home for his lunch break and didn't go back! If that's the way it works, maybe the whole getting a job thing isn't so bad.

Anyhow, I gave Dad a card that I made by myself (again, I'm the designer, mom does the manual labor). He had a hard time reading the envelope, for some reason. It can't be my penmanship...I think I write pretty well for an almost ten-month-old. Maybe he just needs glasses (I hear that's part of getting old).

After the card ceremony, we went to the mall because Mom and Dad each had a gift certificate that they had never used. Dad needed a few things so we figured we'd look around. We looked at things for the kitchen and the bathroom. They didn't look too enthusiastic about anything. I got tired and took a nap. When I woke up, there were two bags of clothes in my stroller and all of the clothes were definitely too small for Mom and Dad. So somehow I ended up with Dad's birthday gifts. He says that's the way it works when you have a kid.

I have to sign off now because my friends the hippos are ready to play with me and I hate to keep them waiting. Don't let the goofy smiles fool you, hippos can be SO temperamental.

A great big world

2005-08-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to realize that there's a lot more to this place than just Noah and the animals in my room. Mom and Dad have been taking me out on a lot of adventures lately, and the more I see, the more I want to see.

This was my dad's birthday weekend and it was the first time that there wasn't a party. But there was a lot of fun. Early Saturday morning (more early than I care to remember) Mom, Dad and I drove down to a place called Rancho Santa Margarita. When I first heard we were going there, I got excited because I recalled that this was the place where my pal Trenton was getting settled into his new home. I had a sneaking suspicion we might end up there at some point.

But first, it was off to a soccer tournament. Cousin Sammy from up north in Lodi (don't worry, I don't know where that is either) was down playing with his team, which I hear is the team to beat. After Mom lotioned me all up (something to do with blocking the sun) we sat and watched all these guys run really fast back and forth on a grassy field. At first, I wasn't so impressed. But then, I saw some of the guys kicking the ball and even hitting it with their heads! I couldn't believe it! Mom spends so much time protecting my head, she even talks about getting me a helmet. And here were these guys hitting their heads on purpose, and everyone was cheering. It was great. I've gotta figure out how to get in on this soccer business.

After the game, Dad drove around looking for something to eat. He and Mom didn't get to have oatmeal and bananas like me, so they were pretty hungry. After hunting for awhile (apparently, people in this Rancho place don't eat much) we stopped at a bagel place and then did some shopping at Borders. And the next thing I knew, we pulled up in the driveway of Trenton's house! I was so excited. Trenton is a big guy now, too and he shared all his toys with me. I checked them all out right away by putting them in my mouth. I always have to check everything for chewability. Trenton's favorite toy was this crazy looking ball with a dinosaur inside...I have no idea how that got in there. Trenton and I played for a long time and I showed him how I crawl around and stand up now. He looked like he was ready to crawl any second. Pretty soon, we both got hungry and had to take a lunch break.

After visiting for a little while longer, I was pooped out and it was time for us to head home. I napped the whole way and was looking forward to a quiet evening at home with the folks. You can imagine my surprise when Mom and Dad started packing up all my stuff and Nana and Papa came to pick me up! They said I was having my first "sleepover." Well, I was a little upset that I was not consulted first. It reminded me of that episode of Little Bill when his parents needed "private time." I didn't understand this at all, I mean, who wouldn't want me around? But I got over the insult pretty quick because I really love spending time with Nana and Papa. Mainly because they have this little black dog, and I'm determined to run her over with my walker. She's had a couple of close calls already.

I decided that since this was my first sleepover, I'd make a good impression so I let everyone sleep...for most of the night anyway. At least, I think they slept. Now that I think about it, Nana did look a little tired this morning. But I don't think that had anything to do with me. It must've been that silly dog.

Let me at her.

Hangin' with my homies

2005-08-03T21:56:00.000-07:00

I'm a pretty lucky guy. Mom and Dad adore me...despite the fact that I've learned to spit my dinner at them. I get to see two of my grandmas several times a week and play with Uncle Reuben and little Auntie Rachel. And I've got this really diverse group of friends, from all over the place. Most I've never met in person, but they send me e-mails, it's great. So I thought I'd introduce you to some of them.

This is Jonah. He's a little older than me. I like hearing about his adventures because I can get a sneak peek into what I'll be doing next.

This is Milly. Mom says she lives far away from here in a place called the "UK." Sure wish I could go there because it would be lots of fun to play with Milly.

I miss Gavin and Conor. They used to live nearby but moved away to the East Coast. I'm really looking forward to seeing them when they visit 'cuz I think Gavin could teach me some neat tricks.

Isabella is very cosmopolitan. She lives in the Dominican Republic and already works as a billboard model. I'm wondering if this means Mom's gonna make me get a job.

This is my buddy Trenton. He and I like to get together and relive our days in the NICU. Ah...good times. Trenton moved away, too. But luckily he's not too far. Next month is his birthday and I'm guessing there will be a party!

This is Kaiser. His Mom and Dad used to work with my Mom at a bookstore, but now they live in St. Louis. What's up with everybody leaving California, man?

My cousin Jordan lives in Hawaii and probably looks nothing like this now. He was born just 10 days before I was, so I'm sure he's a big guy, too. He's coming to visit me next month and I can't wait. Maybe he'll teach me to surf.

Becca and Natalie live right across the street from Nana and Papa's house. I have to get a little bigger before I can play with Becca. I hear she plays kinda rough. They haven't moved away...yet.

Excuse me while I go tend to my abandonment issues.

My big sister

2005-07-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

I have a sister. Her name is Elena. You don't see her in any of my pictures. She was born three years ago but she didn't get to stay with Mom and Dad very long. She was too tiny, even tinier than me when I was born. But I love my Sister and I know she loves me and watches out for me.

Tomorrow is Elena's third birthday. Mom and Dad took me up to Sister's place today so we could all spend some time together. Mom showed me a pretty book with Sister's pictures inside and Dad played some songs on his guitar. We even brought a rose and a balloon for her. I like Sister's place because it's so quiet and there's lots of grass to roll around on. Mom says it's "peaceful" there. I just know I like it there because I feel closer to my Sister.

Happy Birthday, Elena. We all love you very much. Mom and Dad have told me so many things about you, but I still wish you were here. Thank you for making a way for me to be here. I really love my family and you'll always be a part of it.

Party on

2005-07-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

It must be something in the summer air...lots of parties. I went to another party yesterday for cousin Christopher's "promotion." I guess that's what they call it when you leave one school and go to another. I don't know, I'm kinda glad I don't have to deal with that for a little while. Anyhow, we had lots of fun. I played with cousin Elle quite a bit. Mom says we're basically the same age, since I wasn't due to be born until December. But I have to remind her that I AM, in fact, two months older.

Here's Mom and baby Elle. They had some playtime together, too. Of course, I didn't find this out until much later because I was napping on Papa's chest. And it's a good thing too, because I would have had to give mom a good scolding for paying attention to somebody else's cute baby. And that would have been embarrasing for her...in front of all those people and everything.

I also spent some time hangin' out with the boys. Everyone keeps saying how much I look like my Dad and Papa. They are both pretty handsome guys, so I guess that's true. What do you think?

By the end of the night, I was really tired and no one would let me have any cake so I really saw no point in hanging around. I had to put on my "I'm outta here" face. It worked.

On thin ice

2005-07-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

Did you see the date? I haven't blogged since Tuesday, and I think that's pretty unacceptable. I may be looking for a new typist soon, since Mom can't seem to keep up with my blogging needs. Apparently she's "busy." Blah. I say, what could be more important than me? I mean, sure she feeds me, changes my diapers, bathes me, washes my clothes and generally entertains me, but, come on. I have journaling needs as well.

She'd better get it together or I'll be asking for resumes.

Don't bother me...

2005-07-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

Can't you see I'm busy?

Whose-story?

2005-07-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

Today I did something new. Mom, Dad, Uncle Reuben, Nana and Papa took me on a walking tour (or for me, a rolling tour) of historical downtown Torrance. We started out our tour at the museum of the Torrance Historical Society. To the right, you'll see me with a bust of Jared Sydney Torrance. Then again, according to our tour guide Mike, there really aren't any existing photos of Mr. Torrance, so this could just be a bust of the guy who made the bust.

I did learn a lot. I found out where the names of the streets in our neighborhood came from. I learned about all of the different styles of homes in the area. And I learned that eight blocks is a lot longer than it sounds.

Here are some more pictures of our educational afternoon.
That's Mike, the tour guide. Sorry, I mean docent. He's on the board of directors of the Torrance Historical Society, works for the Torrance Public Library System, but lives in Gardena. I don't get it either.

Here is a mural by some famous guy who did murals all over Los Angeles of some not-so-famous people. This was painted in what Mom called "the seventies." Not sure what that means, but I did notice the people in the mural were dressed kinda funny.
Across the street over there is a cool plaque marking the original place where Torrance Memorial Hospital stood. My ears perked up during this part of the tour because I was born at the current Torrance Memorial. And none of this really means anything because you're only admiring my big toothy smile anyway.

I can't even tell you what I was looking at in this picture. But it was something. And I wanted to go get it.

What I really learned was that taking tours is exhausting. I'll probably appreciate this sort of thing a lot more as I get older. Mom and Dad thought it was really neat to find out what the city was like in 1921 when it began. I thought it was really neat to go home and take a nap.

Summer Fantasy

2005-07-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Isn't it picture-perfect? A breezy summer day, my feet swinging through the air and up to the sky. Mom grabbing at my toes each time I swing toward her and me letting out great big belly laughs. All is right with the world...

...or so it would seem. That's what I wish I were doing today. Instead, Mom and Dad took my life in their hands and dragged me to Costco on a Saturday! I thought I'd never get out alive. And just when we pull up in front of the house and I think I'll get a rest, they unload the car and then take me to Ralphs! More people driving carts, not looking where they're going. Just what I need.

Thanks a lot, guys. Happy Weekend to you, too.

Learning the Ropes

2005-07-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

I stood up all by myself today. Just put my hands down and pushed myself up. But mommy didn't have that happy twinkle in her eye like she usually does when I do something new. In fact, she didn't look happy at all.

Maybe I shouldn't have done it four times in a row...on the changing table...while she was changing my not-so-fresh self.

Horseplay

2005-07-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

Guess what? Dad has his own walker! All this time I thought it was just something for him to sit in while he works on the computer, but tonight, after dinner, he started rolling around and chasing me! It's a walker in disguise! Of course, his is nowhere near as cool as mine.

It's so plain and doesn't make any horn or laser sounds. How boring. It must be the big people version.

Anyhow, today was a very nice day. Before racing time with dad, Mom pushed me in my tree swing. I was cracking up because I could see someone else swinging right next to me until the sun went down and then they were gone. Pretty weird, huh? I think mom said it was someone named Shadow.

I must retire to the bedroom with my bottle, now. Nighty-night.

Do you poop out at parties?

2005-07-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

I'm exhausted. We just got home from my cousin Matt's 30th birthday. This being my first party, I wasn't sure what to expect. According to my calculations, parties are lots of people and noise. Oh, and a bunch of food that I can't eat. I have two teeth already, how many more do I need before I can chow down?

It was fun to see my cousins though. Last time they saw me I was much smaller, so I was a surprise to everyone. I saw Maliya and Makana, cousins Chris, Tina, and Paul, and many others. But after all that visiting, I got pretty tired (and so did mom and dad).

Happy Birthday, cousin Matt! Thanks for inviting me to your party. Next time, how 'bout some pureed foods for the little guy?

Baby Proof

2005-07-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling pretty annoyed at the moment. Dad rearranged the house yesterday...just when I was starting to figure out how to zoom around in my walker and grab things. And this morning he put up some kind of white blocking contraption so I can't get into the kitchen. Doesn't he know that I NEED to get into that big bag of dog food?

Parents...sheesh.

Breakin' the law

2005-07-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

Apparently I'm illegally blogging. When I was trying to set this whole crazy thing up this morning (I dictate, mom's the typist), I was filling in my profile and couldn't get it to save. Tried a couple more times and then finally paid attention to the red lettering that said "You must be at least 13 years of age to use Blogger." It seems I had filled in my birthdate and the darn program figured out that I'm only 9 months old. It was like Big Brother or something.

I feared for the future of my blog until I deleted my birthdate and everything saved just fine. There's a helpful safety feature for you. I showed them!

I may look young, but I'm far too sly for you, Mr. Blogger. Far...too...sly.

I should be in pictures

2005-07-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

People keep saying that I have the face for commercials. My grandma Aida thinks this face could sell anything (can't say I disagree with her). Yesterday I had my first taste of a Zwieback biscuit and mom pulled out the camera.

So here ya go, Nabisco! Come and get me! Make me a star!

Blog?

2005-07-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

So this is what a blog looks like, huh? Not so exciting. I'd really rather be chewing on my keys, but whatever. Mom and dad seem to be into this blogging thing, so why not? This will give me a good way to keep everyone up to date. Sure wish I had thought of this a couple of weeks ago, I could have documented my "fall" off the bed (don't tell the folks but actually, I jumped).

I turned 9 months old yesterday. I didn't really notice a difference, except that another one of those funny little white things in my mouth popped out, so now I have two. I think mom calls them "teef." In any event, I'm really glad it poked through because that thing had been buggin' me for weeks! Hey, now I can chew even more stuff...I'd better go get started.