Zac - 9 months

Oh Zac…this past month you have conquered the world of mobility! It was only a month ago that you started out with your wobbly crawl and now you crawl like a champ, pull yourself up to standing on anything that you could get your hands on, you started to cruise around the furniture a little bit, and made it up two stairs the other day (cue other baby gate going up). Sometimes, you try to let go of things and it looks like you want to take off walking. The head bumps are fierce around this place now that you’re moving so much!

You say Mama and Dad a lot now and sometimes I think you know to call us Mom and Dad like when you want me to pick you up and a Mama comes out. Other words you seem to be trying to say are “more” which is “momomo” as you try to do the sign for more when you’re eating and “Bye”, which is “bubububu” and you wave your hands bye. Your new tricks are clapping and waving Bye Bye. Your first 2 teeth came in two weeks ago. They’re the 2 bottom middle ones and they came in together while you were fighting a virus all week (good times for sure!)

We were having a hard time with you drinking your bedtime bottle, which meant you wake up about once a night to chug a bottle and then go back to sleep. We’re working on this nighttime waking thing (and might just be making progress at the moment). I think we got it figured out and for the past few days you've had 3 bottles a day total, so you drink the bedtime one and it seems to be working because you're sleeping well and through the night about 8pm to 6 or 7am. Fingers crossed...

You still eat really well and seem to prefer to feed yourself and you don't really like baby food anymore. You had spaghetti for the first time the other night and last night you had breaded chicken and corn just like the rest of us. This morning you had pumpkin roll for breakfast and you love pancakes. Your absolute favorite is wheat Ritz crackers and you would survive on them if we let you. Unlike your brother, who we thought would choke on everything we gave him (first-time parent syndrome) we’re much more laid back with you and give you pretty much anything to eat. Pays to be the second kid sometimes.

At your 9 month visit on Monday, you were 18 lbs 3 oz (26%) and 27.5 in (20%) and head size was 17 in. (53%). We went to the dermatologist and urgent care last week and you were 28.5 inches (68%) at both places so again I’m not exactly sure of your exact height. I know that you’re growing great though because you’re moving on to 12 month clothes and size 4 diapers. Speaking of dermatologist, your hemangioma is doing great and that’s why I don’t ever write anything about it. It hasn’t grown in a long time and we still use the glaucoma medicine on it, but it will disappear on its own.

I say it every time, but you’re a joy be around. You win everyone over with those blue eyes and smile of yours and I’m pretty sure you’ll use that to your advantage with me when you want something when you’re older. I could gobble you up!













And off he goes up the stairs...



Then tyler decided that he'd try and help him up. This picture looks much more dangerous than it really was :)

Thanksgiving

Turkey days 2012…we have more than one turkey dinner over more than one day so it’s an extended celebration for us. We’re thankful everyday around here. Every night Tyler says his prayers and says “Thank you God for my family - Mommy, Daddy, Zac-y and Me” and one time he got his words mixed up and it came out “Oh my God, my family” (yes child, in the years to come you may hear yourself saying that one more than once about your embarrassing parents) and sometimes he says “Thank you God for letting me pet Barclay”. However it’s said we’re thankful and here’s some things we’re thankful for this year…

For showing people what our real life family photo shoots turn out like and for a wonderful Gram, Pop and cousins









For sisters making funny looking faces



For my partner in crime



For a warm home, yummy food on our table and a healthy growing baby who is ready to eat



For healthy growing kids who love being around each other



For musical chairs after turkey dinner



For a family who plays freeze dancing and has a dance party with Justin Bieber after turkey dinner









Yeah, check out the moves on Sydney in the background



For Dad still being able to get on the soccer field with guys from his 1997 state championship team and win the alumni soccer tournament. They played the current high school team and the guys from the 2000-2010 teams and won it all. These 30 something’s still got it.



For girls who like to dress their cousin up with headbands





For sunshine and soccer



For having a great-grandma around to play bells with and for her cool hat :)





For having a brother to share in the fun and for being able to watch my kids laugh with each other



For Grams and Pops who don’t mind if their couch cushions get played on



For a Gram who gives great horsey rides



And for more growing cousins who are now as tall as me and giving me a glimpse in to my future with two boys

What's going on...

Let's start with how my two year old played me last night...

Me: Tyler, clean up your toys please (I asked him over and over for about 10 minutes)

Tyler: Let's sing the clean up song. I'll be the teacher. He started saying ring, ring and was shaking his fake bell in the air. Then he started to sing the clean up song and was telling me to clean up.

Me: Ok, I'm the student. Teacher, can you please help me clean up.

Tyler: No, the teacher doesn't clean up.

And that's when my child became smarter than me!

I was in the kitchen and Tyler yelled "Mom, I'm taking Zac for a walk!" and that he was. He took the tie from my robe and tied it around the exersaucer and was dragging Zac around the room :)



Reliving old times in the exersaucer...



This house is like a circus sometimes (or wait I think it's actually most of the time). With an energetic little boy and a baby that has become non-stop and is on the move there's never a dull moment. But, believe it or not, there are peaceful moments here. Like this. Where they sit and eat breakfast and laugh at the funny faces Tyler makes.



Uncle Ry ran the Philly marathon this past weekend. Yippee for him finishing 26.2 miles! He did awesome! So, we bundled up, loaded up the stroller and off we went in to the city to cheer him on. The boys had their first train ride to the city! The train was a big hit!

I might have the itch to do a marathon...just a teeny tiny itch that comes and goes though. Dave did the CA International marathon. Ryan did this one and maybe, just maybe one day when my life permits me to train a little they'll be cheering me on too. No promises though. I think the Olympic length triathlon will come first. We'll see. Until then, I will run after the kids and be happy with that :)

Picture overload now...