Taking the Scenic Route

Computer Nerd Rite of Passage

The day finally came that Zach decided “it was time”.  Time to get Zane his own computer.  Not a new computer or anything, but a computer.  (ever feel like you live in a computer lab?…I know we would have an even larger computer graveyard if Zach had room to store computers because we have had to turn down a lot of offers of dead computers)  Unfortunately, we couldn’t afford to get a desk, so we looked around the apartment for something that would work.  Settled on an end table.  This whole project kept doing the “one thing leads to another” phenomena.  We moved a bookcase (and it’s contents separately) to make space for Zane’s computer in the living room (near our computers).  We decided to put the bookcase in the dining area of the living room so it was still within easy access, so we moved (again, removing the contents) our big craft/art/cookbook pantry to make room for it, and slide the piano keyboard over so it was directly over a plug in (which would make it easier to use).  We went to put the bookcase back in and realized the bookcase was a few inches too wide.  There was no more shuffling to be done anyplace in the living room/dining room area.  It looked like our living room had exploded with the contents of both our pantry and bookshelf on every surface and the empty furniture sitting in the middle of the room. 

Eventually, we hauled the bookcase back into our bedroom, and put the pantry back against the same wall it was at originally, but in a different location.  We also had to dig in our storage closet (packed wall to wall, floor to ceiling)  for the second utility cart to replace the end table I was using that will now be used by Zane.  Zach ended up getting a $20 bookcase so his computer books could be in reach after we discovered we were going to have to move the big bookcase, so we had to put that together in the middle of all this too.  Oh, and we had to re-tether everything back onto the walls.   What a flippin’ mess!  Whew!

Finally, we are back to the original reason for the chaos…getting Zane a computer.  Turned on the computer and it didn’t work.  Wugh.  not good.  It turned on, but kept crashing before Windows even loaded.  He ended up taking the case apart and checking the connections and such.  Eventually, it runs.  Thank goodness.   We grabbed a chair from the kitchen set Phoebe gave us and set it in front of the computer. 

When Zane woke up the next morning, he understood immediatly that the computer was meant for him and started dancing around the room in excitement.  We turned it on and opened up ‘Word’ and showed him he could type things and they would show up.  He was very, VERY excited about the whole thing.  Here are some pictuers of Zane and Zach from that morning:

By evening, he shocked us.  He typed in the numbers 1-19, while reciting them. (looked like “12345678910111213141516171819″)  I have heard him say the numbers about a gagillion times, but seeing him write them out like that surprised me.  He also typed the alphabet in order…but not the whole thing at one time.  He stated at “A” one time, “L” another time….it was cute.  I am looking forward to him learning to use the space bar. lol.  I was surprised at how much he seemed to figure out in such a short time.

It was really sweet.  I think Zach was as excited to set up a computer for Zane as Zane was to have it.  Even with the disaster that ensued.  Now I look over at my two guys and see them sitting near eachother both hard at work at their computers, with Zach occasionally having to scoot over to help Zane after he has managed to throw up a few windows that interfere with him typing.