More Summer Fun!

We have had another busy couple of weeks here at the Zorio house. About a week and a half ago we took Dawson to the UAH duck pond, and it was a much different experience for him (and for the ducks) than when we took him back in May. This time he decided it was way more fun to chase the ducks than to actually feed or just watch them. When we first got there we had Dawson stay in his stroller and we pushed him around while we fed the ducks. He sat there nicely in his stroller watching the ducks come closer and closer. Then we decided he might like to get out. As soon as we let him out of the stroller he started chasing the ducks, many of which were the same height as Dawson! He had a great time chasing the ducks, and John helped him! :)
Then on Thursday, July 22 Dawson and I loaded up the car and drove to Tennessee. Dawson got to stay at his Lolly, Pop, and Uncle Logan's house for the weekend while I went to Charleston, South Carolina for a bachelorette party for my friend Lauren who is getting married next month. I had a hard time leaving Dawson, as usual, and I missed him so much! But Dawson had a great weekend. While staying in Tennessee he got to go visit his Nana and Grandad (John's parents) and his Great Mamaw (my grandmother). He also got to go on several walks each day around the neighborhood. While I was gone he started saying, "uh oh"! I had a good time in Charleston with my Sigma Kappa sorority sisters from UT shopping, going to the beach, and visiting. I was glad to get back to Dawson on Sunday evening, and Dawson and I were both excited to get home to John on Monday!!
This week we all just enjoyed being home together, and we took advantage of that by spending the majority of our time together in the playroom! Dawson loves books more and more each day and is constantly bringing us a book to read to him which I LOVE! He has also been more interested in his shape sorter again, and he can now reliably sort the square, circle, and triangle. He's even managed to get the heart shape in the sorter a couple of times. Dawson is still dancing to anything and everything that has music or has some sort of rhythm. This includes commercials, tv, radio, the fan, the washing machine, and the dish washer! He is also going through another phase where he likes you to ask him things to point out on his body. Now he will point to his hair, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and belly button. This week as also brought a new obsession....trying to pick up Bentley. Dawson is so interested in trying to pick her up which we don't allow. Poor Bentley just stands there like such a good dog and doesn't even walk away. Dawson is still loving the outdoors, and we go on at least two walks each day to allow him a little time outdoors in this heat. Dawson is at a very fun age and LOVES to play. We're enjoying every minute of playing with him! What could be more fun?!
I have posted some recent photos below. Enjoy!

Above: While John was at work one day last week

Dawson and I decided he needed some gel in his hair.

Check out this cool dude!

Above: Fixing Dawson's hair.

Above: John and Dawson at the UAH duck pond.

Above: John decided to help Dawson chase the ducks.

Above: More of Dawson chasing the ducks.

Above: More of Dawson trying to catch the ducks.

Above: Dawson trying to catch the ducks.

Above: Dawson trying to get as close as possible

to the ducks.

Above: Dawson pointing out a piece of food

that the ducks didn't eat.

The Zorio Family Update: Surgery, Family, and Fourteen Months

We have had another couple of busy weeks here at the Zorio house.
On Tuesday, July 6th I had my periodontal (oral) surgery which I have been dreading any putting off for sometime now. My mom came down to stay with us and help with Dawson the week of my surgery. Prior to the surgery, I didn't think we would need much help because I thought I would be feeling better within a couple of days after the surgery and life would be back to normal. Well, I should have listened to the doctor and everyone else because I am just now feeling better. I started feeling better about 8 days after the surgery. I still have all of my stitches, some pain, and restrictions on what I can eat for a few more weeks, but I am so thankful to be feeling better. It was wonderful to have my mom here to entertain Dawson, and, of course, Dawson loved all the attention and LOVED playing with his Lolly.
While she was here she got to go with him to storytime at the library which he has started to enjoy more than ever! He is comfortable in the room and he watches the other kids and listens to the librarian read the stories. His favorite part, though, is when they do little songs like "Five Little Apples Sitting in a Bowl." He has started to learn the motions to a couple of the songs too. It is so funny to watch him. After the songs and stories, he got to make an octopus for his craft. Dawson also loved his Lolly's visit because she took him for a lot of walks in his push tricycle, and Dawson LOVES going for walks! We were sad to see Lolly go when she left on Thursday, but we knew we would be getting more company (and help) soon!
On Saturday evening, my dad and brother, Logan, came down for a visit and to help me with Dawson while John was working. Dad stayed until Sunday afternoon, and Dawson LOVED his time with his Pop!! He loves to have his Pop carry him around the house. Although dad had to leave on Sunday, my brother Logan got to stay the entire rest of the week. This was his 4th annual July stay at the Zorio house, and this year the timing worked out great for him to help me some with Dawson as I continued to recover. Although I wasn't much fun at the beginning of his visit, I was feeling better and hopefully was a little more fun toward the end of his stay.
While Logan was here we took Dawson to see Ice Age at the Monacco Theater which was part of the Summer Kids Film Festival and went shopping at Bridge Street. We introduced Logan to the yummy food at Moe's (where I managed to eat a little "real food" because I couldn't pass up Moe's!). Took Logan with us to story time at the library for Dawson. Checked out a new store in Madison. Enjoyed some ice cream and some smoothies together. John and Logan had a guys night out on Thursday by going to the Station Two at Bridge Street to eat some hot wings and shoot pool. Dawson enjoyed having his Uncle Logan here, and his very favorite thing to do with his uncle was read! Dawson would bring Logan book after book to read. Then today, Saturday, Logan left to go back to Tennessee.
John and everyone else were so wonderful in taking care of me (and putting up with me) as I recovered from my surgery. My wonderful mother-in-law even sent us down a lot of dinners that she had made so I wouldn't have to worry about cooking for John or Dawson while I was recovering.
But now the house is quiet with just John, Dawson, and me here, but it's time to get caught up on everything now that I am feeling better.
*14 Month Update*
While Logan was here Dawson turned 14 months old....unbelievable! So I thought I would also include the official 14 Month Update in this post.
For the past month Dawson has been an amazing sleeper! He has been sleeping through the night about 90% of the time!! It is awesome! I had forgotten what it felt like to wake up in the morning completely rested after having slept and entire night through. He is still napping during the day, and is in the process of switching from 2 to 1 nap. He has been taking one long nap about 3 days a week, but still taking two short ones the majority of the time. I'm sure he'll get there soon enough though.
At 14 months he has started to like what we call "big boy toys." He has started to prefer any toy that has wheels, rolls, is a truck, ball, or animal.
One of his favorite things to eat right now are peaches. We get them fresh from a local orchard, and they are so juicy that I can't blame him.
He continues to love to use his sign language for "more" and "all done."
He is also learning to be silly. We have a book we read him that talks about making a silly face, so I always make one when we read it. He has learned to make a silly face as well, and loves to do it all the time!
At 14 months he is also very interested in anything we do. For example, the other day Dawson watched me sweep the floor and then lay the broom down. He ran over and picked up the broom and started pushing it back and forth across the floor. I praised him for helping, and he made his silly face (as you'll be able to see in the photos below), but he LOVED helping. Hopefully he'll always love to help me clean. Dawson also knows that when we go to a restaurant I always use baby wipes to clean the table where he will sit. When we were at Moe's last week, Dawson picked up one of the wipes and started wiping his face and then cleaning the table. I praised him, he clapped for himself, and then made the silly face. (I got pictures of this too!) The other day I was standing in the kitchen talking and I leaned up against the cabinets, Dawson walked in, backed his little body up to the cabinets, and tried to lean just like me. He's so funny.
It's amazing to John and I how he suddenly understands so much of what we say. For example, I can say "Let's go outside" without moving, and he will stand up and walk to our back door.
John and I are continuing to LOVE being parents, and it seems like Dawson keeps getting more and more fun!
As for John and I, our past couple of weeks have been consumed with my surgery and healing, entertaining Dawson and our company, and John working. Dawson is definitely our most interesting family member. :) That wraps up the Zorio Family Update!

Above: Dawson helping me sweep, and showing off

his silly face.

Above: Dawson sweeping before he knew I was watching.

Above: More sweeping.

Above: Dawson with the octopus he made at storytime arts

and crafts. (Yes, it looks liked he's trying to color the table.)

Above: Dawson and DaDa working on his octopus.

Above: Dawson working on the octopus.

Above: When we were at Chickfila the cow came

by our table to say hi to Dawson, but when it left

Dawson started crying and reaching for him/her.

We let him get down and he walked up to the cow

and started dancing. It was so funny that he loved

the cow so much. He wouldn't quit.

Above: More dancing with the cow! (Nope,

there is no actual music playing).

Above: More cow....I thought kids were supposed

to be afraid of big things dressed up like this.

Above: More cow. (Yes, that girl is barefoot...

I don't know why...best answer-we're in Alabama) :)

Above: Cruising around in my automobile....

Above: Dawson and his Uncle Logan in the playroom.

Above: Uncle Logan reading Dawson Panda

Bear, Panda Bear.

Above: Dawson at Moe's.

Above: John and Logan at Moe's.

Above: The super-silly face and cleaning the

table like Mommy.

Above: More.

Above: Dawson cleaning his face. (He NEVER

does this!)

Above: He likes to clean.

Above: We took Dawson to the play area at Madison

Square Mall one morning, and he LOVED it!

Above: Climbing at the Madison Square play

area.

Above: More playing.

Above: More playing at the mall.

Above: Dawson's 1st time riding one of these rides.

He loved it and was not afraid at all!

Vacation Bible School & A Trip to Tennessee

It has been two weeks since we last updated our blog, and we have been very busy! June 21-25 our church had Vacation Bible School. Every year since we moved to Alabama I have wanted to volunteer for VBS, but ever summer I have had a conflict whether it be summer school class one year, and internship one year, or having a 4-week-old another year. Needless to say, when I realized I could actually volunteer for VBS this year I was excited, and I was even more excited when I learned that our church also does VBS for nursery age (under 3) children. So every day from 9-12:15 Dawson and I went to Bible School. I volunteered with 1 and 2 year old arts and crafts, and we made some cute projects. Each day Dawson's class had outdoor play time on the playground, story time, arts and crafts, and music. The first couple of days I left Dawson he cried and cried, but by the end of the week he was use to it and would only fuss for a short period of time! :) I think Dawson really enjoyed getting to play with other kids and participate in music time. I got the chance to look in his classroom a few times. I got to see him in music time playing a few different instruments and dancing. We had a wonderful time at VBS, and I am excited to do it again next year!
After a week of VBS Dawson and I packed up the car and drove to Maryville for the weekend. John had to stay home in Alabama to work, and we missed him a lot while we were gone. This was the longest John has ever been away from Dawson and the longest we've been apart since we were married. We left Thursday and returned Monday. We did get to talk John on Skype once though while we were there! :) The reason Dawson and I went to Tennessee was for me to host a bridal shower for one of my friends who I will be the Matron of Honor for in August. Friday was spent setting up for and preparing for the shower. Then the shower was on Saturday. Dawson got to spend a lot of time with his Lolly & Pop and Nana & Grandad while I was working on things for the bridal shower. His Pop and Uncle Logan even got out Uncle Logan's Cozy Coupe from when he was little. Dawson loved his Uncle Logan's Cozy Coupe so much that he got to bring it home. I think that Dawson got slightly spoiled by his Pop and Grandad carrying him around because he has been wanting us to carry him a lot since we got home! :) While Dawson was having fun with his grandparents, I had fun hosting the bridal shower and seeing friends I hadn't seen in a while.
On Sunday we all just relaxed and made a visit to Mamaw (Dawson's great grandmother) before Dawson and I packed up on Monday morning to return home to Alabama. We were glad to be home after being gone for a while, but we had a fun time in Tennessee.
This week John, Dawson, and I all enjoyed being at home together. John set up a "water park" in our back yard for Dawson and Bentley. He put the two kiddie pools (Dawson's and Bentley's) side by side and another splash pad beside it. John and Dawson played in the water park for a while, but I didn't manage to get any photos. Also, John got the chance to go play golf at Hampton Cove with a friend this week and had a great time.
As for a Dawson update, right now he LOVES to dance. He dances to everything...music, the washing machine, the fan, the dishwasher, everything! Dawson has also started walking around with his hands behind his back (which I am still trying to get a picture of). It's so funny to watch him walk that way. Dawson is a lot of fun at 13.5 months as his personality is really showing now, and he loves to play.
On Monday Dawson's Lolly will be coming in town to stay with us and help with Dawson while I have some oral surgery on Tuesday morning, so Dawson will love the extra attention this week. For now, enjoy the pictures below...

Above: Dawson at Bible School.
Above: Dawson hanging his Bible School artwork on the fridge.

Above: Dawson hanging his VBS artwork on the fridge.

Above: Dawson holding the Treasure Chest

he made at VBS.

Above: Dawson playing with his treasure chest.

Above: Dawson playing with his recycling truck.

Above: Dawson playing with Corey Combine.

Above: Dawson playing like a big kid.

Above: Dawson with his Nana and Grandad.

Above: Dawson playing around at his Mamaw's house.

Above: Dawson playing with Pop.

Above: Dawson playing. We gave him one

of our old cell phones, and he LOVES it!

Above: Who me?!

Above: Dawson being silly.

Above: More silliness at Lolly & Pop's house.

Above: Dawson is so happy about the Cozy Coupe!

Above: Dawson and the Cozy Coupe.

Above: Dawson and Uncle Logan's Cozy Coupe.

Above: More Cozy Coupe.

Above: Can you tell how happy he was with the

Cozy Coupe? :)

Above: Pop showing Dawson where to put

the gas.

Above: All the playing with the Cozy Coupe made

Dawson sleepy! :)

Above: Dawson playing with Pop.

Above: Dawson wanted Pop to answer the phone.

Above: The bridal shower with the bride and the other hostess.

(Thanks for making the sashes, Cassandra!)

Above: Everyone in the wedding party at the shower.