Flights 15, 16 and 17...

We have made it back in one piece!  Finally!


Our flight out to Oregon was ok.  Nothing super good or super bad.  The flight was full, so it was quite cramped.  Zuri sat on my lap the ENTIRE flight (and all of our flights) which can be pretty tiring just doing that part.  She cried about mid flight for a few minutes because she was tired but didn't want to go to sleep, but all in all a pretty decent flight.  While on the flight I noticed that Zuri just got another tooth!  The second to last tooth (her first molar).  It had just broken through, so it does explain Zuri's fussiness the few days before we left.  That makes for 7 teeth!

The hotel in Oregon was awesome because it was a two bedroom suite.  Zuri had her own room and bath, we had our own room and bath and a living room with a full kitchen between us.  Very comfortable for us.  Of course the games always seemed to be during her nap times, but she did very well with little to no naps and going to bed late.

We went and got some amazing ice cream while we were there (Salt and Straw) it was the best I have ever had!  I loved snickerdoodle and the sea salt with caramel ribbon.

Then we had a day where we didn't play until late at night so we went to a farmers market.  The berries were way better than any berry I have had in Colorado.  They were so cheap too!  This half flat cost $10!  We ended up with a whole flat because we ate most of these before we even left the market!  The food vendors were also really good, I had a bowl with a curry sauce that was great.

After being in Oregon a few days her top (right) tooth came in!  She was fussy, but not terribly so. This tooth took forever to come in!  I had been waiting for this one because it has seemed so close for so long.  Tooth EIGHT!


We also walked a park between games, Zuri liked chasing the geese.

Zuri lounged with her Lays chips, she wanted these for all meals.

We also discovered Zuri can easily count, 1-2-3!

Loved her hair with the humidity!

Then we left for Chicago.  Chicago is a LONG way away (3.5 hours).  I definitely learned that flying during a nap time can be a good thing or a bad thing.  Zuri was tired and she cried for about 5 minutes and fell asleep.  She was out cold until a flight attendant was super loud right by us and it woke her up, which led to a massive tantrum.  Not fun, holding a child throwing a tantrum on the plane.  She would scream even more if Pedro even looked at her, so that was nice.  Then someone gave us a sucker (they tasted amazing, Organic Vit C pops or something...I need to find them!), She sucked on that and was chewing on it.  I started thinking another tooth?  Then she fell asleep for a long time, woke up screaming again!  This time I quickly gave her the sucker and she fell back asleep.  The two tantrums and one cry was a lot, but she also slept pretty much the whole flight.  Then the tournament had provided shuttles, it took us almost an hour and half to get from airport to the hotel with stops and waiting for others at the airport.  Miserable at 10:00pm.

Finally asleep...

Enjoying the view..

Portland play area, right before security.  1-2-WEE!!!!

Chicago hotel was a massive ordeal.  Long story short, we ended up with two rooms (for a lot of money).  So Zuri could have her own space.  Very annoying.  Then they said they would bring the crib right up.  The crib didn't arrive for about 1.5 hours at 1:30AM!  Zuri was very tired.  Then the hotel was right on Michigan Ave and we had a nice view of Lake Michigan, but we also had a lot of traffic noise.  When you are a light sleeper like me it made for an exhausting week.



The second day in Chicago I noticed Zuri's bottom (right) tooth had broken through!  Clearly, the issue during the flight.  That makes NINE teeth!

Zuri slept a bit more after this tooth came in and even slept for 15 hours one day (from 10pm to 1pm!).  Pedro stayed back a few times because she was still sleeping then came to our games after she woke up.  One of my graduated players (sister plays) also stayed one afternoon with Zuri while she napped.  I went and coached and Pedro walked the town.   I was basically at the gyms from 9am until 9pm.  Zuri even napped at one of our late afternoon games on one of my players!   My players entertained her while I coached.  She got so good with them that she would even wave at me on the bench!  They colored and drew with her, watched videos, played and had a great time.

The annoying part of the trip was the shuttle service.  We shuttled to and from the gyms and you had to wait for the bus.  Not so bad on the way to the games, but returning seemed like huge issues.

Chipotle anyone?

The last day of the tournament we had one game.  Then our team went to Navy Pier.  It was alright.  We ate at Bubba Gumps and then walked for a bit.  It was a lot of walking (the whole trip).  We rented a stroller for the last two days, which was nice because I was tired of carrying Zuri!

Socializing...

It's a bird!!!

Enjoying the boats

Loved her sword, until she popped it!

Everyone went home and we were still there on Saturday.  We went to the Shedd Aquarium.  I figured Zuri would like it.  It was ok.  We like the big animals, not the small fishes, so it was ok.  Then that night we walked to NikeTown and then came back and Zuri played at Millenium Park.    She had a lot of fun after she figured out the walking in the water.

Blurry...but she is super happy here!

Drawing and talking while at dinner...

Our last flight home, Zuri's 17th flight went fine.  She cried once with about 40 minutes left because she was tired, but she recovered quickly without going to sleep.

Almost 18 months

Zuri will be 18 months in 4 days.  Her language skills have pretty much stayed the same.  Lots of babbling (pretty much non-stop) which I don't understand.  It will be interesting when I know what she is saying, because a lot of it is the same thing over and over.

Zuri's frustration level is very high.  If she is carrying something and someone is in her way, or if she can't do something she wants, or I don't understand she SCREAMS and possibly throws whatever item is in her hand.  Hoping that communication skills will help this because it is quite obnoxious!


We have had a few more firsts this last month.  She rode her first rides at a carnival!  We had watched Grey ride a few rides a few days before and she seemed really interested, so we went back for her to ride.  She didn't love the monster truck ride, which I thought would be pretty simple.  I got bruises from riding that ride because it was really rough.

Then she rode the bumblebee ride.  She enjoyed this more, but I wouldn't say she LOVED them.  Apparently, just looking at the rides was the most fun.

We bought her a little motorcycle to ride.  Zuri LOVES motorcycles, the real ones.  She is obsessed.  When leaving the gym the only way I can get her to leave is by asking if she wants to go look at the motorcycles.  I have no idea what it is about them.

Today is the 4th and we don't have any plans.  Mainly because we leave tomorrow for a long trip.  We are gone 9 days to Oregon and Chicago.  I'm really not looking forward to long flights with Zuri.  It could go "ok" or "terrible."  The flights are pretty long.  I have packed her everything I can think of, including things she has never really done before.  Crayons, markers, dry erase board for the crayons, cars and the leappad.  Of course we will also have our phones and Ipad, hopefully something helps!

At the gym staring at the basketball courts...

Post nap hair...

Zuri now has 6th teeth and a 7th tooth is very close.  She has two front teeth and two bottom teeth, along with one tooth on the left (our left) on top and bottom.  The top right tooth is very close, probably close enough to breakthrough while we are on our trip!! Yay!  Not so much.

Here she is with her elephant, stuffed animals have been pretty fun for her.

Wish us good luck and I will post her 18th month info after we get back!


Check out my teeth!

LOVES her blanket and her favorite sleep position...

A Day At The Farm!

Zuri had her first real farm visit.  Back in January we took her to the stock show and she LOVED all of the animals there.  So, we decided we would take her to one of my player's farms.  They raise animals for shows and for breeding.

When we first got there Zuri got to meet all of their horses.  They have about 8 of them.  When she first saw them she started pointing and trying to run to the barn.  Once we got there she was really excited to pet the horses.  However, she would try and feed a carrot to them, pretty sure she had no idea what I was trying to get her to do.

After the visit with the horses we met the lambs.  She really liked the lambs because they are smaller and probably reminded her of the dogs.

Then we met the steers.  They have two that they are working with to show for an upcoming fair.  They keep them in a "cooler" which helps keep their hair "fluffy".  We pet the cows but they were tied up so they were not as much fun.


After the cows we met the pigs.  They have four pigs kept in a separate area.  She liked the pigs, but I think the horses and the sheep were still her favorite.  Here she is holding the training stick that they use for the pigs.

After the pigs we went back to the horses, where Zuri petted them some more.  After a few minutes of that they saddled up the horse and the mom of my player got on the horse so she could ride with Zuri.  But Zuri didn't want to go up with her.  Since I haven't ridden in forever we decided it was best if someone from their family ride with her for her first time.  The son got up on the horse and Zuri immediately wanted to get up on the horse with him.  We sat there for a few minutes so she could adjust to being on top of a horse and to make sure she was good with it.  She was super happy!

Then we took her out to the ring for her first walk on a horse.  She was having so much fun, they decided to have the horse trot!  She LOVED the trotting.  She laughed and got super happy every time they trotted.

After awhile she decided she wanted me so we took her off the horse and she kept wanting to pet the horse.  Then we headed back up to their house, where Zuri jumped and walked on the trampoline for a few minutes and then headed up to the house with one of the girls in the family.  Zuri loved the kids in the family and would go off with them to see the animals or even play with toys (actually she only wanted a ball that they had).  Then we had some lemonade and muffins.  Zuri had a great day!

Can't wait to go back!

17 Months Old!

A lot of these recent updates there hasn't been anything really new in the milestone area.  Zuri talks and talks, but still most of it (nearly all) I have no idea what she is talking about.  I am really counting down the days for her to make some sense.  At least then I will know what she wants, or what her frustration is about!

The last week or so her teeth have been bothering her.  She will be walking around and then just start crying.  She even took her croc off and started chewing on it! That was a funny one.  I can only assume it is her two, very slow moving, teeth that are causing this issue.  The top front and side tooth (already has one front and side) are moving so slowly.  I can see them and they look like they hurt.  Hopefully, they will just get through quickly!  If you look closely at the picture above, you can see the red inflamed teeth.


Lots of this grumpy face in the car.

I read somewhere that at 17 months their personality and how they handle new interactions with people will probably be how they will act.  She seems to be very good with new people.  Although, my brother said she wasn't friendly to him at all.  Which seems kind of weird because when we go out and about, she goes up to every person and waves.  Or she walks up and grabs their legs.  On Sunday my teams played in a 3v3 and she LOVED being there.  Running around and playing with some of my players.  She even went and sat on some girls lap (a friend of one of my players) for a good 10 minutes just watching games.  Everyone comments on how she has such a great personality and is fun and happy.  I would agree that out and about that is how she acts.  However, at home, since she has my number, she goes through some very grumpy phases with me.  But I will say that we are out almost all day except when it is close to sleep time or eating, both of which can cause her to be grumpy if she is hungry or tired.

At the pool testing the water like I do with her bathtub..

Right now our days have gone something like this:
6:00-8:00am Zuri wakes up, it is a HUGE range and has nothing to do with how much activity she has had or what time she goes to bed--completely random.
7:45am I get up and get Zuri-she has spent her time singing and talking in her crib
8:00am Zuri is mad that I have made her lay back down to change her diaper and clothes for the day.  Sometimes Madagascar helps calm her down for the few minutes it takes.
8:15am Breakfast!  Zuri use to eat a big breakfast, but with teeth coming in, eating has been less.  Today was a banana and a bite of sausage biscuit
8:45am Playing in the house
9:30am Leave for gym -  She has been loving the gym again!  Fruit in the car on the way to the gym.
11:00am Done in day care-  We have had a few stops at the pool before going home for lunch.  Finishes her bowl of fruit in the car
12:15pm Lunch- Veggies from soup, turkey meat/chicken fries
1:30pm-3:30 or 4:30pm NAP! Again length varies greatly (right now she is going on 3hr 20 minutes of nap)
4:00pm Snack-smoothie (spinach, mango, papaya, strawberry, lemonade)
4:30pm Out and about, run errands and/or a stop at the park for fun.  She loves going in her stroller up to the park!
6:00pm Dinner!  Bread, protein, veggie and fruit for dessert.
7:00pm Bath- still one of her favorite activities
7:45pm Bed-  Some nights she talks for a long time before going to sleep, other nights not a peep.


Zuri has also decided that she loves shoes.  It is the first thing she does in the morning, she runs to where her shoes are and tries to put them on, sometimes successfully other times it leads to screaming.  The bad part is that I have to take her pants off to change her for the day and she already has shoes on and so she gets mad that I have to take them off.  Oddly, she always picks a pair of shoes.  The things she knows surprises me sometimes!

She has also decided that taking things to the trash is fun.  While we are at the park she will pick up a piece of trash and bring it to the trash can (How does she know it is a trash can?  I have never said that it was and they don't look like ones we have seen!).

At night she likes to sit next to me in the chair and have the boppy pillow over her legs and drink her milk and read a book.  Such a little adult.

17 month size:
2t clothing
25.2 lbs today at the gym
No idea on length

Likes:
Green Smoothie
Dogs
Shoes
Gym Daycare
Videos on leappad in the car, or videos on my phone
Super Why is a favorite (she tries to sing the theme song)
Music-she will dance or sing with it
Walking down the stairs while holding my hand
Carrying two things at once
Stuffed animals-mainly the dogs and elephant
Sitting by herself in the rocking chair with the boppy over her legs and holding a book
Books
Climbing on to chairs
Breakfast Burritos (seriously)

Drinking her green smoothie on the way to the park!

Dislikes:
Having clothes changed
Having diaper changed
Me not understanding what she wants!
Not having shoes on
Getting out of the pool
Teeth coming in (both of us dislike this!)

I loved her dress!

Post swim snack, while I changed!

Banana breakfast..

My first time away...

For the first time in 16.5 months I was without Zuri.  I left her with my mom because we were playing in a tournament in Kansas City, where we played EVERY hour from 10:15am until 8:00pm.  It was a long day and I didn't want to subject her to that again (I did last year and I think we were both overly exhausted).  So, I decided to let her stay with my mom Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.

I would say the hardest part is actually leaving her knowing that I won't see her for a few days.  Pedro frequently goes from Thursday evening to Monday morning without seeing her when he is working day shift.  But I am never away from her for that long!  Once she was with my mom, I wasn't worried about her being ok, just odd to be without her!


It was the first time in the same amount of time that I could read a book on a plane, although, it was only an hour flight.  I was so busy on Saturday that I didn't "miss" her, but I definitely had a lot of check in's from my mom.  Her days or so inconsistent so I was just wondering, did she have a good nap?  Did she eat like a cow? Or a chicken?  Sadly, Sunday I didn't get to sleep in because we had a game early the next morning.  So both days I didn't get any extra laying around, pretty much busy the whole time.

I don't plan on leaving her again anytime soon.  She loved my mom's because she got to play outside all day long.  At home, we don't do that as much.  Although, she would love it if we did.  My parents brought her over on Sunday once we got in.  She was VERY EXCITED to see us.  She was actually so wound up that when I laid her down at 8:40pm (which is late) she didn't go to sleep until about 10:40pm.  She was talking and singing the whole time.


Both my parents and Kory and Karen (who watched her while my mom was at church) told me that she can say a lot more words than I think.  They said she said: chair, sit down, cheese and some others that I can't remember.  They said it is mixed in with her non stop babble, which is why I probably miss it because I am around it so much and she talks all the time.  I need to pay closer attention!


Of course while we were gone I bought her a few presents.  Some awesome (expensive) Under Armour clothes and some cars.

She is making a vroom noise while driving cars on her head (note she is holding two cars)...

Holding a car and a dandelion, which she proceeded to try and eat (every time!)

Loving her stacking cups, which I sent to my moms house with her..