I think I like this present thing!

Back at work

The reason I haven't posted in an entire week (!) is because I went back to work this week. I was really worried I was going to be missing everything with Zachary but Charles assured me I wouldn't miss a thing. So, the first day Charles called me to tell me Zachary had been laughing for 20 minutes! He wanted me to hear it but he stopped as soon as I was on the phone. I told him not to make me cry at work anymore. The second day, I came home at lunch and Charles showed me these pictures he had taken. He put Zachary down in his chair like this:

then turned around to see this!

He is just dying to get up and move around. He is growing so fast! At least we have a camera. :-(

And yes, those are Halloween pajamas... they were the only ones that fit and were clean. :-)

Anyway, we all survived my first week back at work none the worse for wear. Thanks to Aunt Kathleen and her boys for helping us out.

Hanging out with Daddy

First playdate

Zachary and I went over to see Carolyn & Dave and Tabitha the other day. I think he will be her bodyguard someday!








It's crazy to think how close we were to not being here ourselves just three years ago, and now these little children are here!

Smiley boy!

Zachary voices his opinion

Four month check-up

Zachary was four months old on Sunday but we went for his four month check-up today. His official weight is 20 lbs, 6.4 oz. He is 28 inches long. All his measurements are >97th percentile, which is as high as the chart goes.

Just in the last couple of days he has started having conversations with me - he'll talk and talk, then I'll talk, then he'll respond.

He can grab toys with no trouble now, and will hold them with both hands but doesn't transfer from one to another yet. He can roll from his back to his side and does so frequently.

His favorite thing is for Charles to fly him like Superman - that gets a giant grin every time!

Zachary's new Barcalounger

Zachary's new carseat arrived the other day so today we broke it out and plopped him in it. It seems to be comfortable - I got the straps all adjusted and was reading about how to install it, and the next thing I knew he was passed out!

Decorating the tree

What have I done to deserve this?

Frolic Friday!!

Ehhh! :-)

It's Toad Tuesday!

All dressed up

Here is a picture of me with Zachary on one of the rare occasions during the last six months where I am not wearing sweatpants with my hair in a scrunchie. Zachary seems to be thinking 'who is this woman and what did you do with my mom?'

We were on our way to Jaime's bridal shower - it was fun to spend an afternoon with the girls!

Zachary stayed home with the boys - Dad, Grand-dad, and Uncle Robert. I wish we had taken a picture of their faces as we drove away!

Monkey toes

Zachary likes to hold his book with his feet when he's not reading it with his mouth.

Happy Birthday Uncle Robert!

Zachary and Daddy at Uncle Warren's

Four generations

First laugh!

Zachary has been very vocal for quite a while now - he squeaks and grunts and chirps and coos and gurgles all the time. But today for the first time we got a full out laugh! I had him on his tummy and Tootie ran up to lick his face like he always does, so Charles hollered at him and snapped his fingers, and for some reason Zachary thought it was totally hilarious. We don't know if he was more amused by the dog or his daddy -we spent the rest of the day trying to replicate it but no luck. That laugh was so beautiful though; I can't wait to hear it again!

Going to see Santa

We figured we'd try to get a jump on the holiday crowds and went to see Santa this morning. I was hoping everyone was out buying turkeys, and sure enough, we were the only ones in line! By the time we left the mall it was a different story. Thanks to Aunt Kathleen and cousin Andrew for letting us borrow this cool reindeer hat. We did get a picture with Santa, but are not releasing it at this time. :-)

Playing can be so exhausting!

Sports Center

Yesterday for tummy time Zachary watched Sports Center with Daddy.

Emmitt Smith won 'Dancing With the Stars?!!!'

Sad news

I've posted about both of my old black kitties here, The Kitty when he had his chin problem (which cleared up with antibiotics, by the way), and Rupert in his pot.

Well, about two weeks ago, the night before Halloween actually, we left the garage door open by accident. We had installed a kitty door to the garage and put the litter boxes out there in preparation for the baby, and apparently The Kitty decided to take the opportunity to explore the great outdoors. We didn't realize he was gone when we shut the garage door, and haven't seen him since.

This is a cat who had never set paw outdoors. We posted flyers around the neighborhood, checked neighborhood vets, the pound, the cat lady down the street, everywhere. We got a few calls and Charles would run out to check them out, but still haven't found my Kitty.

Then there's Rupert. Rupert (nee Rufus) has been living happily on the porch since about June - we knew he explored at night but was always back in the morning yowling for his food, until this past Friday. Now he's gone too.

I had The Kitty for almost 13 years and Rupert for 8. I have to imagine that they are running around together having fun, because the alternatives are, well, I just can't go there.

Timmi and Tootie are sad, but they seem to be getting used to the absence of their cranky old uncles.

Tootie, however, didn't waste any time co-opting the pot.

Happy Birthday Aunt Kathleen!

Granddad

Ready to sit up

The last few days, Zachary has been pulling himself up to a sitting position anytime I put him down reclined on his Boppy. I don't know if I'm ready for this!


He still has a ways to go before he can sit up unassisted, but he is now happy as a clam in his Bumbo. I just don't know how much longer he'll be able to fit in it!

Firefly

This is Zachary's favorite toy right now - he likes to look at it and listen to it rattle. Thanks Auntie Yvette!

Three months old!

Zachary is three months old today. He doesn't go back to the doctor for another month, but by our unofficial measurements he weighs 19 pounds and is 27.5 inches long. We've been taking him out a lot more now, and everywhere we go people comment on how well-fed he looks!

He is sleeping really well now - he usually goes down at about 9:30, then wakes up at about 3, then again at around 6, then gets up for the morning around 8 or 9. Last night he went to bed at 9:45 and didn't wake up until 5! When he wakes up in the morning, he is really cranky as he wakes up (definitely Charles's kid!), but then he is all smiles - that is his favorite time of day.

He is still sleeping in his playpen in our room. I've been putting him in his crib a little bit at a time to let him get used to it - he likes watching his aquarium in there.

He really likes taking a bath - even if he has been crying, when he gets in the bath he is instantly happy. When we put him on his changing table in his room he just beams and laughs.

He likes to hold his burp rag and look at his firefly rattle. I also printed out some black and white interesting patterns that he likes to look at.

He is really drooling a lot, and will gnaw on my knuckle like crazy if I let him. I don't really feel any teeth yet but he sure seems to be working on it! He also just recently figured out how to get his hands into his mouth whenever he wants to, which makes him very happy.

He can now hold his head steady when he's sitting up, and can sit in his bumbo chair for several minutes. He's getting much better on his tummy, and can push up on his forearms (like in the picture below). The doctor says it takes big babies longer to push up, which I can understand!

He is a blessing and a joy!

Tummy time breakthrough

Today I put Zachary down for tummy time on the barbecue blanket. He stared at it just like this for probably a good five minutes. I've never seen him so happy on his tummy! He really liked the colors and contrast with the black border. Of course I'm sure Aunt Kathleen had that in mind when she picked out the fabric, but Mom is still a little slow in this area. :-)

Finally he tore himself away and said 'Mom - this blanket is awesome!'

He also likes to watch 'Ugly Betty.' It's really colorful too.