Another Day in Paradise

Happy Boy!
All Smiles!
A Boy and his remote control
Mommy and me
Zachary tickling mommy's foot
Kitties still can't figure Z out


We have been on the go this week...as usual..and it's been a good week. Zachary seems to get more active every day and finds something new to get in to. He is definitely 100% boy!! He is also a remote control hog. lol I have attached some pictures. I'm telling you God chose a child for me that is exactly like me. He is so independent. When I'm feeding him, sometimes he'll start shaking his head no. I finally figured out that he wanted his own spoon. He is eating all kinds of things. I try not to feed him junk. I'm trying to keep it healthy. Every now and then I'll give him something with a little sugar in it...like vanilla ice cream or a popsicle. He LOVES to eat. I swear he has grown so much since we got home. He is very strong too. I am going to have to start working out again just so I can handle him.

He has now started talking. He says mama....and no! I have to say no to him all of the time so he walks around saying "no, no, no, no, no all day. It's SO cute!!! He also has been sleeping through the night for the last week...which I am VERY thankful for. We are on a schedule now and I really try to stick to it. He goes to bed between 9-9:30 every night and gets up around 9 or 10 am every morning. He also takes a nap at noon for about 2-2 1/2 hours.

Some of the things that he loves are: drinking about of a big boy glass, babbling on the cell phone, playing and hiding between the curtains, playing in the bathtub, eatinggraham cracker cookies and crawling around trashing the place. ;-)) Those are just a few.

Ok, I'll go for now. I need to jump on the treadmill. I am on a major healthkick. It's time to get seriuos!!!!

Hugs!!

Memorial Day Weekend

We have had a great weekend. Friday we got our portraits back from. Zachary looks SO precious in the pictures. I went out and bought frames and I have pictures of him all over this house. While I was out shopping for frames, I decided to buy some shelves. I got them installed and now I can keep stuff out of those curious little hands.

Yesterday morning we got up early to attend a funeral out of town. Our friend's mom passed away this past week. Once we left the graveside service, Zachary and I went to eat at Cracker Barrel (one of mommy's favorite restaurants.) After that we ventured back to Charlotte. We got home and relaxed for about an hour and then we went to our neighbors' house for a cookout. We had a great time. They were all playing with Zachary, which gave me a break. He was SO good...just smiling and talking to everyone. (Ok, babbling) We got home around 10:30 pm. That was good because I put him to bed and again, he slept through the night until I woke him up for church this morning. We made it to Sunday school and church and then we went to visit our friend Grady and his wife. Neither of them are doing very well right now. They are both in their 90s and are very close friends of mine. It's SO hard to see them going downhill so quickly. I know they have lived long and happy lives but it's hard to just sit around and wait on the inevitable.

After we left there, we came home and took a long nap...about 2 1/2 hours. During this nap, I had a very frightening nightmare. It involved the stairs and Zachary. You can figure out the rest. Needless to say, when we got up from our nap, we headed out to look at baby gates. I stayed in Babies-r-Us for one hour looking at gates, this is after I had already researched them at home. So I bought three. 2 of them I really like but the third one is going back. It was the most expensive and I looked online to see the reviews and they weren't too good. I decided that I'm taking that one back and find a different one. I got the one two installed and they both look nice. My cats aren't very happy about these gates but they'll just have to get used to them.

That about the extent of our weekend. We stayed on the go...as usual. It was basically just a typical mommy and baby weekend. Zachary was in a good mood most of the time. He is really exploring these days. He is about to walk...I'm just sure of it. He has a toy that he walks behind and I've noticed that over the last week, he's moving a lot faster. It won't be long now.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Hugs,
Rebecca

Fun at the Park

Today was a really good day. Zachary took a three hour nap and after that I took him to the park. We played on the swings and then I had him posing for pictures. I'm sure he just LOVED that!! ;-)) I'm breaking him in early. After we took some pictures we walked around the lake. The path is about a mile. I think we are going to go back tomorrow so I can walk around it 4 or 5 times. I really need to get back in to my exercise routine. It is amazing how much better you feel when you exercise.

After we left the park, we went to meet some of mommy's girl friends in Ballantyne. The weather was beautiful, there was live music and we just sat around, laughing and talking, and of course gloating about Zachary. He was charming as always.

The little man is finally in bed so I'm heading that way myself. I am exhausted.
I have attached some pictures from today. Enjoy!!!

Hugs,
Rebecca

Baby Shower at Mommy's Office Today

Today was a very exciting day! My co-workers gave us a baby shower! There were lots of people there and we got lots and lots of GOODIES!!!! Zachary made out like a bandit. ;-)) He got about 25 outfits, the majority of which are for him to grow in to...18 months and 24 months. He also got lots of toys, stuffed animals, socks, puzzles, money and gift cards. They had a really beautiful cake for us too. It was huge and the theme was Noah's Ark. I have posted some pictures below.

Tomorrow we have another baby shower at church. We are looking forward to this too. People have been SO generous with their gifts. We appreciate everyone's thoughtfulness and kindness. ;-)) Zachary has no idea yet how much he is loved!!!

I have decided to return to work the week of June 11. I already have Zachary enrolled in daycare so we are set. I will probably work part-time that week. I know it will be really hard to leave Zachary but I feel sure he will be fine and will enjoy himself.

Enjoy the pictures!

Hugs, Rebecca

Busy Week

Today was not an easy day for sure. Zachary had a follow-up doctor's appointment this afternoon. Since it appears that his ear infection is cleared up, the doctor wanted him to have his one year immunizations. So he had to have three shots, two in the leg and one in the arm and then he had to have a hepatitis check. It was a nightmare. He cried and cried and it just BROKE my heart. I don't know which of us was in the worst shape when we left. As soon as they finished giving him the shots, I picked him up and just held him and hugged him for about 5 minutes before we left. He was so upset. We have to go back on Friday so they can do the reading for hepatitis. Poor little guy!!! Anyway, we left there and I had to run 2 errands. He was fine in about 5 minutes but my nerves were SHOT. We got home and went for a walk and then came in and played for a couple of hours, ate dinner, took a bath and then he went to bed around 9pm. He went straight to sleep. I know he was just exhausted.

I believe that it's very difficult to find a good pediatrician. I believe that we have a good one. He came highly recommended by one of the attorneys that I work with. They have been seeing him for 8 years. This doctor has a very good reputation so I feel fortunate that we found a good one. I have heard some horror stories. Today I was talking to him about the immunizations and the concerns that I have about them....especially after some of the things that I have read. He gave me all kinds of information to read and a few websites for reference. We also talked about what Zachary should be eating right now and about his milk/formula. He said that we could start him on whole milk now since he's reached one year. He also said that Zachary can start eating real food now and learn to feed himself. He tries to do that already. It's just challengine trying to figure out what he will and will not eat. So far I haven't had much luck with him eating green beans. He did eat some grits this morning and seemed to like it. He absolutely LOVES the apples and chicken baby food. I am thinking about making some homemade for him. He also loves oatmeal. I don't want to feed him a lot of fatty foods or foods with a lot of salt or sugar. I am tring to feed him really healthy stuff. I also have started giving him vitamins every day. I'm lucky because Zachary LOVES water, orange juice, apple juice, prune juice, etc. He is pretty easy to please with drinks.

Zachary has been sleeping in his crib most nights that we are home. Sometimes when he is really restless, he may cry so then I pick him up and put him in the pack and play in my room. He usually goes right to sleep. He is waking up around 4am and cries a little. I usually give him a bottle but I think I am going to try to stop doing that. We'll see how it goes. I guess tonight will be my first "test" run.

Tomorrow we have a few things that do. I want to find a wagon for him so we are going to look for one. We also need to go to Sam's Club and to Target. Whatever I do, I have to make sure that he gets his nap in between 12-1. I learned how important it is to keep him on his schedule. It makes my life so much easier.

Ok, well that's all for tonight. I am exhausted so I think I'll head to bed.

Hugs, Rebecca

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACHARY

What a wonderful day!!! Zachary had a great time at his birthday party this evening. There were about 7 of us and we had a really good time. Zachary was totally eating up all of the attention from my girl friends. He was charming as always. ;-)) We got some really good pictures. He is such a little honey. He had a great first birthday and mommy has lots of pictures and memorabilia. He got lots of cute stuff for his birthday and some of our friends gave us gift cards..which was really sweet.

The little man was really tired tonight. I gave him a bath around 9:45 pm and then put him to bed. He was OUT within minutes. I cleaned up from the party and I'm getting ready to go to bed now too. Mommy is SO tired. ;-))

Thanks to all of you for the gifts, cards and sweet wishes.

HUGS,
Rebecca

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY ZACHARY

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY ZACHARY!!!

Z's birthday party and Happy Mother's Day

Today was a BIG day for Zachary. We went to McDonald's around 1:30 to get everything set up. The theme was "Curious George" and we had the cutest cake ever! We had about 25 people there...including both of his nanas and papas, his great granddaddy, great aunts and uncles, cousins, godmother and godsister. Unfortunately Uncle Dave and Aunt Happy couldn't be there because they had a prior commitment. We really missed them but we knew that they wished they could be there. ;-))

Zachary had the time of his life. After we passed him around to everyone we decided to sing happy birthday and cut the cake. Zachary had his own little cake and after we sang to him, he planted his face in the cake. He was covered with icing. I kept turning the cake so that he could get more and more on him. He played in his cake for about 30 minutes or so. He was quite a sight but he was having SO much fun. We cut the other cake and passed it out meanwhile Zachary was still eating "his" cake. He was laughing and smiling the whole time. He loved it! Finally I took his cake away and got him cleaned up so that we could open presents. He got lots of great gifts, including a new high chair, money, building blocks, new books, sandals, a blanket that our aunt made for him that is just adorable, some bath toys and all kinds of other goodies. He has quite a stash of money now. It's all going in his college fund. I think he's up to $350 now. ;-)))

We have LOTS of great pictures and THANKS to Papa Sease we have an awesome video too. I will have to wait until I get home to post the pictures because they don't have the right connections here. I'll post those by Tuesday...I promise. ;-))

We have to head back to Charlotte either tomorrow evening or early Tuesday to get ready for his other birthday party with our friends. We are lookiing forward to that one too. Some of my friends are meeting Zachary for the first time. It will be very special.

This was the BEST Mother's Day EVER!!!! Hope all of you moms had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day!!!

Check back soon for pictures.....

HUGS,
Rebecca

We've been home 3 weeks

Today has been a good day....despite Zachary still coughing a lot. He somehow manages to be in a good mood anyway. I feel very blessed. We stayed at home all day until this afternoon. Zachary woke up from his 3 hour nap and I took him to the doctor about his cough and his ear. The doctor determined that he has an infection so he is on antibiotics for 10 days. Yuck! Luckily, he is ok with taking medicine. It's strawberry flavor so that helps. ;-) We left there and went to get his prescription filled. Then we went to dinner at mommy's favorite sushi place. He was such a baby doll at dinner. There was a couple with their little girl sitting next to us. Zachary was flirting away. It was so cute. The little girl started talking to us....introducing us to her parents and herself. She was maybe 4 or so. She asked where Zachary's daddy was. I told her that right now he doesn't have a daddy but that we are we are trying to find a good one for him. She said "Why". I told her that not all daddies are great like her daddy. ;-)) She just smiled from ear to ear and so did her dad. I thought it was cute. I could tell that at first her parents were a little embarassed but after I responded they were all smiles. I personally thought she was just adorable and so did Zachary. ;-)

Well, tomorrow morning we are leaving to go see our family. Nana and papa are VERY excited about us coming home. They can't wait to get their hands on Zachary. Friday night we are having a birthday get-together for Zachary's great granddaddy and great aunt. That will be lots of fun. He will finally get to meet the rest of his family. Then on Sunday we are having his birthday party with the family at McDonald's. We have a really big family with lots of babies near Zachary's age. We have 4 near his age (the triplets and one other baby boy who is almost one year old), a 3 year old, a 4 year old and an 8 year old. Zachary will have SO much fun playing with them. Then on the other side of the family we have one little cousin. She is SO precious and he just loves playing with her too. She will also be at his birthday party. It's going to be lots of fun!!!

OK, I'll go for tonight. I need to finish packing and then get some sleep.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!! I will be posting pictures from the birthday party when we get back home next week. For now here are a few that I took this week. ;-))

HUGS!
Rebecca

Beautiful Day

We have had a really good day today. We went to church this morning. We had homecoming today. We had lunch afterwards and they said that we had about 545 people in attendance. Zachary was quite the center of attention charming everyone with his precious little smile.

After lunch we came home and took a nap. I rocked Zachary to sleep and then I fell asleep. We slept on the recliner for about 2 hours. After that we got up and played for a while and then we went to our neighbor's house and visited with her. We decided to go to Cracker barrel for dinner. Zachary ate some mashed potatos but that was about it. When we left there we went to another neighbor's house to see their new puppy. He is SO precious. He was sniffing around Zachary's feet and Zachary just laughed and laughed. One day we are definitely going to have to get a
puppy. ;-))

Tonight I put Zachary to bed around 9:30 pm. He went right to sleep! ;-))) I am SO glad because I desperately needed to clean and put up some clothes. I got a lot done tonight and I feel so much better. It is amazing how much better you feel when your house is clean. Zachary and I have gotten in to a routine and I have learned one very important thing. He never needs to take a nap after 4pm. If he does, he is wound up at night so I try to get him to nap around noon or 1pm. I am going to have to try to stick to this a little closer. I need to stop the broken naps too. I think they make him cranky. Last week we went shopping a few days and he fell asleep in the car a couple of times and then I had to wake him up. This week, I think we'll limit our shopping to no more than 2 hours at a time. We do have some running around to do this week. We will probably leave on Thursday to go home. We are having one of Zachary's birthday parties on Sunday. I can't wait!!! Tomorrow morning we are going to a church daycare where I am considering putting Zachary while I work. We are going to meet everyone and spend a little time observing.

Zachary's cough is getting much better. I am So glad. I was worried about it for a few days. He is now able to sleep better at night and I'm really happy about that.

I think now I'm going to take a hot bath and relax. Zachary will probably wake up around 4 am and want a bottle. I will be able to get several good hours of sleep in before then. ;-))

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

HUGS!

A Challenging Moment

This morning I went in to check on Zachary at 9:30 am and he was standing up in his crib smiling at me. What an angel. ;-)) We got up, I gave him a bottle and rocked him for a while. I knew that today I was going to have to go get the dreaded blood work done. We got ready and ran a few errands and then it was off to the hospital. He actually did pretty well but he cried a little, I think really just because he couldn't move around, and he got mad. It tore me up inside. I was about to cry myself. There were four nurses in the room with him and he was smiling and charming all of the at first. Then he got upset. Finally it was over. I sat in the waiting room for a little bit comforting him and trying to make him feel better. It took me longer to get over it than it did him. Anyway, we left there and went to Party City to get some balloons and some supplies for his birthday party. His theme is going to be "Curious George". It describes him perfectly. ;-))

This afternoon he took a nap and then we played with his toys on the floor. I also took a nap. ;-)) After we played for a few hours, I fixed Zachary some dinner. He ate green beans and apples and chicken baby food (one of his favorite). He had a really good dinner. ;-)

Tonight I gave him a bath and then put him to bed. For some reason he had a really hard time going to sleep. I rocked him for about an hour and then he was OUT. I think I'm getting ready to head to bed too. This has been a tiring day!

Tune in tomorrow....

HUGS!

Home 2 weeks

It's hard to believe that we have only been home for 2 weeks. I feel like he's been here with me for a lot longer. Zachary and I are having a wonderful time together. He is such a little sweetheart. Today we had lots of visitors. He just smiled and smiled as soon as each one came in. He is charming everyone with his sweet smile. I expect that he will be walking in the next couple of weeks. He is trying hard right now. I can tell that over the last month he has really advanced. He is pulling up a lot faster now and actually learning to balance himself. WATCH OUT!!! When he starts walking, I am really going to have my hands full.

Today we went shopping for mommy. ;-))) That's hasn't been the norm lately. Seems like every time I go shopping lately it has been for Zachary. Today, I decided that I needed some new clothes. Zachary was a complete angel while I was shopping. Of course, every minute he had to see what was going on. ;-))

Tonight we went out to dinner to my favorite restaurant, Red Bowl. I was having a sushi craving. Z ate his whole jar of baby food. He just loves the chicken and apples baby food. We were right in the middle of eating and SPLASH....Z reached over and grabbed my glass of tea and it went everywhere. Luckily, most of it was on the floor. He and I neither one got very wet from it. There were 2 people sitting at the table across from us. Z actually turned around in his high chair to look at them. He just smiled and smiled at them. They went on and on about how cute he is and how well behaved he is. I'm telling you, I am SO fortunate to have such a good natured baby!!!!!!

Here are some pictures. There is one of Zachary and me from last Sunday at church. You can see the rose in the background. It was placed on the alter in honor of Zachary by the children's ministry. ;-)))) So sweet. Everyone at church just adores him. We have decided to have his baby dedication on June 10. That will be a very special day. Our pastor said that there won't be a dry eye in the whole church on that day. I know for sure that my eyes won't be dry. We had a baby dedication last Sunday and I had tears streaming down my face. It will be SO special.

Hope everyone has a great Thursday!!

Love and Hugs.....