A Little of This & A Little of That

I just had to start out this blog with the picture

above of Dawson. I took this tonight during bathtime. I

thought it just looked sweet and innocent.

So, I'm sure you're wondering what those Zorio's have been up to lately since it's been a little while since the last blog update. Well, the answer is a little of this and a little of that. This will be a fairly random post updating you on all things Zorio. :)

Let's see, where to begin...well, Dawson has still been doing WONDERFULLY in his toddler bed. He is such a big boy, and we're continuing to be amazed at how many new words he learns each day and how much he understands. The other night while John was at work, Dawson picked up the cell phone and said, "Da-ddy, Da-ddy, Da-ddy...come back, come back!" Then he looked at the phone and waved before putting it down. He is such a sweet boy.

The past two weeks at toddler storytime at the library they have had puppets tell the story, and Dawson LOVES this! He sits quietly and listens and claps while the puppets are performing. I was talking to one of the librarians after storytime last week, and they are planning to continue with the puppets every Wednesday for a while. I was excited about this since Dawson loves it so much.

We had a playgroup at our house last Thursday, and several of Dawson's friends got to come! Ethan (2 yrs), Austin (2yrs), Jude (2yrs), Jasper (6 months), and Georgia (still in her Mommy's tummy a few days after her due date, but she's since arrived!), and, of course, their moms, Sara, Blakeley, and Julie. Dawson loves the playgroups now more than ever. For a while, at playgroups he was still really clingy with me, but he is a lot better about this now and having even more fun!

Last Friday, Dawson's friend, Connor, came over to play while his mom had a meeting. Dawson had a ball playing with Connor. He was here during dinner time so the two boys got to sit side by side and eat dinner, and Dawson thought this was fabulous!

Also last Friday, my family came down for the weekend. They brought Dawson's train table that they had given him at Christmas and we had left in Tennessee because it would not fit in the Jeep on the way home. Dawson saw the train table and remembered it immediately. He kept pointing and saying, "mine? mine? mine!" We had a good visit with family, and Dawson enjoyed getting to see his Lolly, Pop, and Uncle Logan. Dawson has been having SO much fun with his train table this week!

Monday night was John's work's Year End Party. They don't have a Christmas party because it is such a busy time of year for them, so they have the Year End Party in January after things have slowed down. This year they reserved the Privee Area at Monacco Theater where we had delicious food and then got to watch a movie. We saw Dilemma which was good. We had a great time (even though we couldn't :( take Dawson). It was fun to have an evening out.

Speaking of work, one thing that most of you do not know is that I have been working...outside of the home. To make a long story somewhat short, the company I used to work for contacted me back in September to see if I was interested in coming back to fill my old position which was open. It felt good that they thought of me, but I am nowhere near ready to leave my baby and work again! So I told them no, but they were in an interesting spot and really needed someone in the position that knew what to do. I decided to pitch an idea to them which I thought they would decline. I offered to work approximately 20-24 hours a week, 8 of those hours in the office, and the rest from home for about 3 months. During which time I would take care of everything that needed taking care of, then help hire and train someone to take the position. Well, this offer I made them which I thought would be declined because it seemed too good to be true for my end of the deal, they accepted. So, this had been keeping me EXTRA busy since October since I was doing the majority of my "at home" hours after Dawson went to bed since John was working and not home. I managed to squeeze in my 8 hours in the office during times John was at home before he went into work. Well, I finished up last Thursday, so I'm back where I belong as a full-time stay-at-home-mom, and I couldn't be happier. I like the company I worked for, the people I worked with, and the job I did, but none of it compares to taking care of Dawson!

As far as John's work, he has continued to stay busy, but thankfully not as busy as during Christmas season. When John's at work Dawson misses his Daddy. Randomly during the afternoon and evening Dawson will ask about Daddy. I think it's so sweet. With John's schedule, he has to sleep during the daytime for a few hours and Dawson cannot wait until it's time to wake Daddy. When I tell him it's time he runs to the bedroom door and knocks. Then he runs in and jumps on John. I love that Dawson gets so excited to see John.

That does it for the Zorio Family update! Now that I'm back home full-time, I hope to keep the blog update about once a week like before rather than twice a month. Expect more pictures soon because we're headed to Early Works tomorrow and it's supposed to be a nice weekend so maybe even a visit to the park!

Enjoy the pictures below...

Dawson coloring with both hands at the library
after the puppet show.

Now that I'm back to having more time at home,

I finally got to make bread which I had been wanting

to do for sometime. This was my first loaf. It is whole

wheat and yummy!

Dawson and his friends, Ethan and Austin,

during the playdate we had at our house last week.

Dawson and Ethan moved all the toys out of this corner and sat down.

They look like they're in trouble, but they were actually happy,

I promise!

Dawson helping his friend, Jude, with the car.

It looks like both boys are yelling. Maybe "No more pictures!"

I think they were just having fun!

We've had snow a couple more times since "the

big snow" two weeks ago. This was about a week ago we

got a little over one inch (it was still snowing when I

took this).

Just a picture to show what a ham Dawson can be.

This was first thing in the morning, so he's still

in his pajamas.

Dawson figured out his Sit and Spin and loves it!

Then he came up with another use for it...

a chair!

Dawson and Connor playing with the fire truck.

Dawson and Connor eating dinner side by side last Friday night.

Also, check out our new kitchen chairs!! I am beyond pleased

and excited to have the perfect chairs for our kitchen table.

Dawson and Uncle Logan.

Dawson and Pop.

Our family before leaving for church on

Sunday morning.

Dawson with Lolly before they left to go back

to Tennessee.

Dawson playing with his train table!

Dawson realizing that he can tunnel under

the train table.

I don't know who is more jealous of their Daddy's attention,

Dawson or Bentley!

(This was first thing Monday morning).

Check out that hat made of bubbles!