Christmas Time!!!

So Christmas at 15.5 months is really still more exciting for mom and dad than baby! He liked our Christmas tree we got at the beginning of the month but pretty much stayed away from it. He was great about not touching any of the presents and ripping them open unless they had fun bows on them. So here starts our Christmas 2009 adventure. First our bath to get ready for the festivities Christmas Eve Eve!!! Yes he gets his baths in the sink as our bathtub leaks into the downstairs. He doesn't care though, he loves bath time!

Christmas Eve day was spent at my mom's house. Since Zackary goes to bed early we headed over to her house after his morning nap and stayed until late afternoon. We had a nice lunch and Zackary had fun opening his presents. I thought he would try and wander away and get bored, nope, he stayed right by me and Dad and watched us all. I could see the wonder, excitement, and intense attention he was feeling while looking into his eyes. I love the picture above because Ben and him are laying the same.

It takes him awhile to completely investigate and figure out each toy and each of those moments, watching him, are precious to me. It reminds me to take a step back and pay closer attention to everything around me.

He's like okay what now! Lately he's had this funny way of walking where he puts his arms in front of him, turns his head to one side and walks around looking bored and like he's thinking, okay...now what! It's hysterical.

Christmas Eve is concluded with Santa coming and dropping off some toys and we were lucky enough to take a picture of the scene shortly after Santa had left.

Banana or Orange...he got to pick which one he wanted for Christmas morning...he had both!

When we brought him in the front room after breakfast he walked right over to Winnie the Pooh and gave him a hug. Present after present he opened while Dad was busy assembling them and he was patiently waiting.

Hugs! We all give Winnie a hug in this household. He makes you feel better. Zackary passes his Mickey Mouse around too for hugs...even to Bentley. If only I knew how good it felt to give a hug to a stuffed animal...I would have bought myself a lifesize Winnie many years ago!

Christmas Day came to an end at my Aunt's house. He had a long day, no second nap and at this point was nearing his boiling point of shear exhaustion. Dad was able to play a little peak a boo with him and Baba and Jedo were able to play ball so Dad could eat before taking him home for the night. He was in a cute Christmas outfit but we didn't get any pictures ( I just realized) because he was very upset when we first arrived and we immediately fed him and tried anything to calm him down. All my relatives wanted to say hello to him but he wasn't having any of it. Once he had food in him and others weren't paying as much attention to him he settled and started enjoying himself for a short time.

Merry Christmas little man. You were the light of my holiday, and I can't wait for next Christmas to come.

More

Back when Zackary was 6 months (March 2009) old we started signing with him. We practiced more, milk, all done, bath, change diapers, book, food, car, juice, and gentle. He has been signing milk for probably 4 months but two nights ago while we were reading our books before bed he signed more. We were so excited. It was surreal seeing his two hands come together and us knowing that he understood what it meant. At his recent 15 month doctor appointment she was concerned that he wasn't saying words yet. But he's starting to sign and that is a word...and it's exciting.
Wonder which word he'll sign next.

Christmas Tree Moments

Zackary is slowly warming up to our Christmas Tree. It's super cute how he just walks over to the tree but doesn't pull on the branches or mess with too many ornaments. He does like a tambourine and ball ornament we have...but for the most part he leaves everything alone.
Next to the tree is a small Santa Claus that plays Hawaiian music and hula dances, and he wants us to play that over and over.

Our annual city walk

Our town had their annual walk where vendors from each store come out and offer free things, and bands play at every corner. There is a beer garden, and free santa pics. We took Zackary in his car and as soon as he got a balloon, he didn't stop smiling. He watched everyone...mostly at his level...so the dogs and kids. Letting the balloon go and then bringing it back into his lap...smart boy!

Off to see the carolers

It was my Baba's (grandma on my father's side) birthday yesterday so on Sunday the family met at a local golf club for brunch. Zackary had so much fun. He not only got to eat his lunch but he ate off of my plate and Dad's! I can't believe how much he packed in...but it kept him quiet. Some carolers came by our table for awhile and he LOVED them. He intensely kept his eye on them (picture above) as they circled the room coming back to us as they enjoyed his reaction.

I was actually able to dress him in his Thanksgiving outfit here because it was cold enough. On Thanksgiving it was so hot outside...he was in short sleeves and this outfit sat in the drawer.

He has perfected walking. All day he walks from one room to the other and checks out whatever is in sight. He begs to go upstairs, which we do a couple of times a day, and he has his favorite things to look at up there too. He's fallen for Winnie and Mickey...so cute...and has started head butting me gentley as his form of a hug/kiss. Melts my heart.

Zackary's Second MOM-Grandma

So cute huh...as you can see they have formed a wonderful bond. Ben and I are lucky enough to have my mom babysitting two days a week while we both work. When she shows up he used to ignore her, but not now, he reaches out for her and is so excited. I love it...it's so adorable. I know what warmth my mom is capable of because as a child I reached out to her a lot and didn't want to let her go. Now it's my babies turn.

Cold Mornings

It's been really cold here in the mornings...and since we don't have central heating we have room heaters set-up EVERYWHERE!!! So we play and walk around the house like we are outside with a jacket/sweater on, warm socks, sweats, and 2-3 layers of shirts/onzie's...oh and a hat! He looks cute no matter what I put on him and I secretly look forward to picking out his outfit every morning because finally after my childhood of playing with numerous dolls I get to have my own real baby...and dress him, and feed him, and sing, read and play with him! I love it. Now my mom has saved EVERYTHING from my childhood. If any of you know my family, they are collectors of you name, they have it. We have slowly gone through all my old clothes, games, toys, and now recently dolls. I have kept some things-mostly toys, but the rest are unfortanetly pawned off to my relatives...sorry! It's surreal looking back at all my old childhood acquantencies. I wonder when was the last moment I played with that toy, or dressed that doll. Well I said goodbye to my childhood now...for real.

Silly Picture Update

Our New Life

Hanging out at the beach...we figure that the grass is a safe place to let him walk all over where he can't slip and fall on toys and hurt himself. We had fun doing that this morning.


Ya...go!!!!

Wednesday 4:10PM

Our first and hopefully last emergency room visit. Our new little walker slipped on a puzzle and came tumbling down with his lip landing on the corner of a hard plastic toy. There was a lot of blood which immediately sent me into life safe mode. At which point everything gets blurry. While I held Zackary, Ben, my sister and my mom helped us get ready for the er room. We waited about 15 minutes when we got there which seemed like an hour to be triaged and then we were taken right into a hospital bed...(private room). Zackary had stopped crying on the way to the hospital and his lip stopped bleeding as well. We just weren't sure if it needed to be sutured. Our room had a tv so Ben found the PBS channel and Zackary's attention went to the cartoons for a few minutes (don't even remember what). At this point we fed him dinner which he ate every last drop and was seeming to calm down. After a short while a physicians assistant came in looked at his lip (which promptly reinstated the screaming crying) and said it pretty much needed to be stitched. We had to hold numbing cream on his lip for 12 minutes...so I held the cotton ball and held Zackary and Ben did whatever trick he could think of to divert his attention away from it. I was getting nervous because I new what was next...and I will be brief. We burrito wrapped Zackary, nurse held his face, PA put in 3 sutures, while I talked to him and Ben held him down in the wrap. On the 3rd stitch Zackary was falling asleep (or passing out)-ughs, and within 4 minutes we were done. He was sweaty...and tired. We all were. So we changed him and got home. We were gone about 2 hours...and after a quick PJ change we cuddled for awhile and then I put him to sleep. He was attached to me throughout the whole experience which was so humbiling for me.
We are still raw from it all. I know it might happen again but it won't be easier. And it's hard to hear that it might happen again...we know that...but this experience sucked as I am sure they all will. I hope his little legs are a walkin' real strong soon...so we can move on to the next worry! He's doing fine. Swollen little lip but smiling and moving along!

14 months

I wish I could have remembered my life at 14 months. Such a wonderful, carefree time in life. I would have loved to have been capable of holding onto those precious memories. I could have known how much fun it was to play with so many toys, have food made for me, sleep, sleep and more sleep, walks in our neighborhood and hanging with Mom and Dad together. But our memories don't start that young and maybe for a reason.

Zackary is at a really fun age right now. His favorites are in some of the pictures I have included. Peekaboo is at a all time high right now. He places his arm in front of his eyes and then moves it away dramatically displaying peekaboo. He will do this with anyone almost as a way of offering peace and figuring out if you are cool or not. His big milestone is walking! My last blog displayed his first steps in a short distance. A couple of days later he had built more courage up to walk across the room. Two weeks later we are walking around the whole house, thinking magically the steps in and out of rooms will disappear if I just keep walking and I don't have to pay attention to what is in my way-that's Mom and Dad's job!!! He is good at it though, a natural-well a clumsy 14 month old natural. It's insane to me to think that it only took him 14 months to become a little boy...walking, saying mama, dada, nana, and more in his own language, feeding himself, giving Bentley treats, waving hello, and so much more. His neurons are working overtime to ensure his proper development...I think I need some of that neuron action-a sort of tune-up!
He is really into flowers. He has to immediately turn to any page in a book that has flowers on it. He will point to certain colors for me and when we walk outside he not only has to touch them but he pretends he is smelling them. It's really precious. His favorite flower....a red rose! Anytime we are walking and he sees one, he points (with his whole hand, not a finger) and if we pass it he reminds me by turning around for a block or two trying to point to the flower...meanwhile whining..."go back!" He will remember those flowers on the next walk regardless of how much time passes in between.
He likes to build with blocks, ride in the laundry basket, climb the stairs and stare at our American flag, play with balls and any grandparent, cuddle with the pillows on our bed, have books read to him (we give him a choice of two and he picks which one he wants...and he is so proud of himself for choosing), stack, climb, go on walks in his mini car and stroller and listen and dance to MUSIC. Music stops him in his tracks. In the morning we bust out a CD of tunes from a music class we went to last spring. He loves it! We wind the night down with some lullabies, and during the day we have different toys with music and a favorite car ride CD...(Elvis Priestly lullabies).
Favorite foods include ANY fruit especially berries, bananas, and pears. He likes meat and most veges excluding green beans and peas, enjoys bread, oatmeal and yobaby yogurts!
Our newest outing is to the local mall where we visit the koi pond, carousel, and all the fountains. He loves the carousel...I get dizzy after one round, he wants to keep going! It's so much fun. Also we live close to a park and if I even mention swings, he knows exactly where we are going and what we are going to do there!

There is a flower page in this book...It's his favorite.


His dislikes include having his face wiped after eating, more and more the afternoon nap (ughs for me), not walking towards the park or to look at red roses when we are out in our stroller, having to wait to eat fruit at the end of our meals, not being able to drink mom's coffee, saying goodbye to Mom or Dad, not being able to go up the stairs several times each day!

We are excited for Christmas...Ben wants to chop a tree down himself-(sounds exhausting)! I just want to magically have the whole house decorated so I can sit drink some hot cocoa and blissfully enjoy my 3 boys company in front of the tree.

And He Walked!!!

He did it. He was standing across from me holding onto our bar stool while I was sitting on the chaise lounge. He let go of the stool and took a couple of steps right for my legs and with two arms in the air and two feet on the ground made it to me! He was so proud of himself as were Mom and Dad who were clapping loudly. He did it again once more...and then moved on to other things. For most this moment is not a big deal, but for us...it was elating. It's been amazing watching his increasing development these past 14 months.

The Skeleton and Spider

Zackary started out with wearing his skeleton outfit (below) for Halloween and then come late afternoon he became a spider. I think he is teething so we knew he wasn't going to last long out trick or treating...so we went out early. Our neighbor offered Zackary their bowl of candy and he would take a piece out and throw it on the ground...over and over. It was so funny! Next year will be even more fun with his being more aware of Halloween and all the festivities.

In Case You Need a Smile

Beep Beep

We bought Zackary a car today! A red mini...and he loves it. Daddy's idea of course. We couldn't stop pushing him or he'd get mad and make a squeal for us to keep going. It was hysterical! He had his hands at 10 and 2 like he'd been driving for years, looking out the window as we drove by peoples homes and occasionally honking the horn!

First Pumpkin Patch

Zackary had so much fun today at his first ever pumpkin patch! This pumpkin was as big as him and he was having fun figuring out what he was suppose to do with it. Pick it up...no, put in mouth...no, pound on it several times...ya!

The patch is at a farm at the entrance of where Ben and I were married. It's sentimental and we try and visit the farm a couple times throughout the year. They celebrate every holiday or you can come for fresh veges, fruits and breads throughout the year.

We started out feeding the goats-of course, my favorite! They loved Zackary. He didn't even have the food, I did, but they decided to check him out. I think I counted 6 around him at once. He was smiling and trying to pet them. After awhile he started pushing them away...hilarious. Then we ate our lunch and watched the other children and families picking out their pumpkins taking pictures, and playing. Ben's favorite part was next...finding our perfect pumpkin. He wanted a bigger one...so we compared stems, size and shape and finally he chose one to his liking. We ended it all with a treat Chocolate Covered Strawberries...so good. Zackary and I shared and he loved, loved, loved them. His face was covered in strawberry when we left. Off to the car with a huge pumpkin, hot dogs-I know me...a hot dog...but it was good, strawberry covered faces and new memories. A good day at the pumpkin patch!

The Beaver and the Bear

Two of Zackary's first birthday presents were Oregon State Beaver shirt's from Laura and Mandy, friends I went to OSU with. So last Saturday for the game (that we lost) we wore our Beaver shirts and represented. We cheered when they scored! Apparently our cheering wasn't enough for them to win. We will see this weekend. But he looked so cute. I loved the shirts!

Zackary loves Winnie the Pooh now. When we visited my Dad last month they had a Winnie stuffed animal there for him and he loved it. He had never been into stuffed animals and then all of a sudden he fell in love for this Winnie the Pooh that my Dad and Kathi had. It was so funny. He would lay on him and cuddle and give hugs real tight. So when we got home I remembered that my sister had bought him a Winnie and Tiger from Disneyland and when we showed them to him he grabbed Winnie and was so happy. So here he is doing his new daily hug, cuddle, something with Winnie. Ben and I laugh every time we look at this pic!

The Spoon

Zackary is learning how to use a spoon. It's adorable. Ben realized it when he went to give Zackary a spoonful of his food and just left the spoon in his mouth. Zackary reached up and took it out and put it back in. We have been practicing this now for awhile but these past couple of days he has been really figuring it out. I put the food on his spoon and put the spoon in his hand. He then eats the food and makes sure there isn't any food left on the spoon and then puts it back in the container holding the food. So cute. He's getting it!

Happy First Birthday

Our little man just turned one year old. Wow how time sure does fly. I remember him at 1 minute old like it was yesterday. The first 5 months were so hard for me they lasted forever but the remaining 7 months of his first year went to fast. He had such a fun time at his park birthday party. So many of our close family and friends were there and it meant a lot to Ben and me. The support I have felt from some has been wonderful and what helped me get through my struggles and also enjoy sharing in the joys. So thank you. He loved looking at his cake but when it came time to eat it...well that didn't go over as well..he just got the yummy frosting all over the place...and I thought, "good boy...sugar bad!!!" My Dad pointed out that I was wearing a white shirt too (not smart mommy) so we quickly cleaned the hands and passed him off to Ben!


Zackary I am doing these blogs to not only share my moments of you with others but for a journal to one day print out and have a memory of all the important milestones of your life. Because it's been a year since I had you I wanted to write about you being born. I went into labor on September 10, 2008 around 11PM. My back had been hurting really bad those past couple of days and know where I laid at night could I fall asleep. So I was on no sleep for over 48 hours. We had decided to rent a movie that night to get my mind off of my aches and of course your Dad fell asleep in the middle of it but I watched the movie 21 and it worked, for a second I forgot I was 39 weeks pregnant. At 11PM I woke up to go to the bathroom and afterwards a little water leaked out. I thought, "hum, what's that, strange but whatever" and went back to sleep. Around 2AM it happened again. I woke up your Dad and he said call the doctor. So we called and she said it could have been your water breaking you have to go in to the hospital. So we packed up and arrived around 3AM and now being September 11th!!! We were excited but at the same time didn't really think it was my water breaking because I had no contractions at all. More than anything we were tired! So they checked me in and laid a pad down in case it happened again and the nurse could look at the fluid. Sure enough 5 minutes later I felt it again and she said yes your water is breaking-slowly. I was only dilated to 3. They started monitoring you with a strap around my belly. Man I instantly got real nervous. My heart was racing, my stomach churning. We called your grandparents and Baba and Jedo and Grandma Goddard were on their way...Grandpa Goddard to come visit later. Then started the waiting process (which actually went by fast). I tried to sleep...but I was way to excited. I was going to hold my little sweet baby in my arms for the first time, something I had only dreamed about. Around 5-6AM the nurse tried to put a IV catheter in my arm. It didn't go well so she got another nurse, and then another nurse. The third one finally got it in after much ouchy pain. The nurses had rounds around 7AM and after that the pitocin drip was started to induce me by making my contractions start. Well, they started and soon after I got an epidural...which was lovely. It took awhile for it to kick in and I kept pushing the button for more and the anesthesiologist came and and would also give me more. He said you were pushing against my spine and labor would be really painful without some medicine. I became very numb from my bellybutton down and then although I wanted to relax I couldn't because the medicine was making me shake and some other family members were arriving and saying hello! I still hadn't seen an OB by now but the nurses were doing a good job. Although the monitor kept falling off which was bothersome cause we couldn't monitor your heart well. At 8AM I was still dilated to a 3. At 10 and 12 same...dilated to a 3. The nurse said she'd be back in 2 hours and at 2PM I was dilated to a 5! I think I had finally relaxed a bit and you were getting ready. And around 3:20 she checked again and I was at a 10 and fully effaced! You were ready! The nurse said lets practice pushing, your doctor is here at the hospital delivering another baby, so I can go get her after we practice. I said, I don't need any practice, trust me...but she didn't and I practiced pushing and she yelled stop...and got the doctor! HA! So Dr. Lee came in and 15 minutes later you were in my arms, crying, small, warm and blueish...but oh my gosh we thought A BOY!!! And then we said it...out loud to others (cause your name was a secret)...Zackary Padraig. It was you, me, Dad, Grandma Goddard, nurse and Dr. Lee in the room and they all helped me a lot with the pushing. You nursed soon after they cleaned you up and checked you out...7.8 ounces 21 inches long...of just purity! I had a feeling everything was going to be alright and it was. You were born without a hitch.

You are such a joy to me and your Dad and SO many others. We love you and wish and pray for many more amazing years of your life and celebrations of you at your birthdays. Happy Birthday Muffin!

To Jedo's and Baba's

Last weekend we visited my Dad and Kathi up north. They were so sweet and had tons of toys for him to play with all cleaned and ready to go...which he loved them all. He crawled all over the house exploring and seemed very happy (minus the ever lasting pain of teething). They own chickens, dogs and two cats. He must be used to Bentley because he didn't really seem to interested in the animals. Their Yorkie got into his face a lot but he would just try to push the dog aside, so funny, like it's a toy!

He went through each toy learning how it works and how he could use it to stand up!

He played really well with Jedo. They sat on the floor a lot together smiling, laughing, building blocks and Zackary knocking them down! Zackary also fell in love with the Winnie the Pooh. Luckily we have one for him at our house too, but he had never been into stuffed animals until this weekend. He would hug pooh and lay on top of him, cuddling...so cute!

So it's hard to see in this picture, but I actually caught on camera his first 10 second stand without holding onto anything. We were all screaming, and he was looking at us like, "what, what did I do, what's going on." It was so funny. I couldn't believe we ALL saw it. I love witnessing the milestones taking place in my muffin man!

As we were packing to venture on home he crawled into his suitcase and just sat there. Isn't he precious in his pj's!!!

On our way home we stopped for a break and had a photo opp. One week away from his 1 year old birthday. You can do so much now. Feeding yourself (doesn't last long though), you know your bib when we ask where it is, and your head, and all our names. You are not liking vegetables as much right now but I just have to start becoming more creative with how we are cooking them, but fruit, well that's another story! You'll eat any fruit. You have four teeth (the top two came in this past week) and have two more coming in on the top too. You like to go on walks in your stroller, like to crawl in the sand, run with mommies help from the waves, swing, flip the pages of your books, babble still only saying DaDa,and NaNa, listening to your elvis prestley CD in the car, and you are very attached to mama right now-which secret between us, it's perfectly ok with me!!!!

Little All Star

Well I have been incredibly lazy about keeping up my blogging. I need to become better at it. It is challenging for me because I am so tired at the end of the night when I usually post something and I just fade into bed and feel entirely to uncreative. But I am determined tonight to post some. Zackary is just growing leaps and bounds. As you can see above he is standing and has been since probably beginning July...but is very quick at it now. All he does is crawl, stand, play, and explore every room in its entirety. We finally baby proofed and that has helped with the cupboards. He loves balls still, any and all. It's funny cause we got a diapers.com delivery in a big box that he throws his toys into and sits with them in it and plays for a good while. We play peek a boo a lot, and hide and seek. He walks Bentley with me in the morning around 7 (an hour after he's woken up). The we eat at 7:30, and soon after 9 he's down for a nap. He get's a snack at 10 (breast milk-am trying whole milk, not going so well), lunch at 11:30, nap at 12-1, snack at 2:30 (yogurt and fruit usually), dinner/bath at 4:30 and bedtime ritual starts at 5:30 with bed at 6. He loves his routine and it is easier for me to arrange my day accordingly!

In this picture he crawled under our bar stools and stood up and could not for the life of him figure out how to crawl out. It was so cute. He finally got frustrated and we helped him, but got to capture those moments, you know!

We were playing peak a boo in our bed covers and he was loving it!

Two weekends ago we had a friend in town, Kristina. She has been very supportive since the beginning and recently moved to another state. So we loved having her stay here and hang with us for the weekend. The first time Zackary ever belly laughed she was over sitting right next to us on the couch and she caught the moment with me. It was so special and I think that minute of pure, raw laughter will bond us together forever. Zackary loves her too, they had a lot of fun playing! He still has a really hard time with other people holding him, so it makes me feel good when he has a good moment sitting in someone else's lap.