Keep Going Until Monday the 4th

Well, it's Tuesday December 29. 29th right?? I keep a calendar near but I haven't looked at it today. At least I know what day of the week it is. I guess when you're counting down you can't forget the week day.

I'm enjoying my free time to sleep in (although I am awakened at 6:30 to put the baby on the monitor), read, eat quietly, watch movies, play Rush Hour, play guitar, work on the blogs, and geez what else? That makes for a full day! I've learned to enjoy my hobbies and interests while I'm here since obviously I don't have control over going home or running the house. It has been hard to not be in control of those things and I really miss being with my family. I'm so glad Zachary is and will continue to be in good hands over the next couple of months.

I've not contracted except for those normal braxton hicks. If my test comes back negative next Monday I can go home to bed rest. I am allowed to sit up, stretch, shower, all that. So I do plan to have meals at the table with my family again, fold laundry sitting on the couch, do crafts with Zachary, play music, and enjoy being at home without being a crazy Mommy as I was turning into before entering the hospital.

I just had too much on the schedule for both Zachary and I. Not that I didn't enjoy the schedule. I was loving it. But I will definitely enjoy the time at home relaxing. Whomever is with Zachary will still have to help him do his baking projects, pick him up for anything he needs, help him go potty, take him to gymnastics and such. Mom's day out will still happen two days a week so they can have a break.

On another positive note, my glucose test came back fine so I don't have gestational diabetes and I got the rogam shot because of my negative blood type. So I'm getting things accomplished while being here. Might as well while I'm lying around!

Christmas Eve!

I didn't picture myself having such a fun time at the hospital on Christmas Eve. Having the family here for food and presents made the evening very exciting. The nurses were very accomodating, loaning us a cart to bring things inside the room. There's not a lot of patients on antepartum and they allowed them to stay as long as they wanted. It is still a memorable Christmas Eve celebrating family, love and life.

Christmas Eve at the Hospital

It's Christmas Eve and today was a very peaceful and relaxing day. Acceptance really makes all the difference in the world. I took my time eating/listening to music, praying and getting myself ready for the day. I did yoga and relaxed with a good book and was plenty entertained until lunch arrived. It's nice also knowing how to take myself on and off the monitor. I enjoyed my guitar for a couple of hours this afternoon. I'm going to make a lot of progress if I keep practicing this much. Something I've not made time for between my home duties and work. There were some carolers who came by today too. It was nice to hear the cheerful sounds of "Hark the Harold" in the hallway which is one of my favorite Christmas carols.

I was grateful that my dad's plane from Lafayette/Houston made it in this afternoon. There was some rainy weather and a delayed plane coming in to take him. But even though the flight was late he made it to the hospital by 5:15 or so. He arrived safe and sound without many problems and he got to spend time with his family there. Mom, Scott, Zachary and Marilyn made it here about 6:30 and we had a wonderful meal that they brought and opened our presents while listening to Christmas music. The atmosphere was beautiful and the nurse loaned us a cart to help bring things in. I didn't know I would enjoy my Christmas Eve this much at the hospital.

My nursing staff has been wonderful to me and I'm thankful for their positive spirits each day, especially on Christmas Eve.

The Best Gift to Adelyn

I'm reading the book "Day's In Waiting" by Mary Ann Mccann. This is an excellent resource for anyone who is on bedrest. She offers her story, questions, things to consider, emotional support, exercises and more. A great friend loaned it to me.

It brings up a point that a good friend of the family, Trisha (a tertiary nurse) and a nurse practictioner from the nicu told me too.

Every day you buy your baby one more day. Right now you are doing all of the development work for the baby. If she is born she will have to learn to do it herself. Every day in the womb is a gift to our baby and every day I need to do everything I can to keep her growing in there.

It puts into perspective that nothing else is a priority. My son and my husband are important but I have family at home to help love and care for them too.

Coming to Acceptance Every Day

Every day here at the hospital presents challenges but also has moments of me being okay and finding many positive things.

I've created a schedule for myself. Wake up when they put the baby on the monitor at about my usual home wake up time. Wait until they take her off while I pray and think. Listen to music while eating breakfast. Shower, yoga, read, project for the day, parents visit with Zachary, lunch, read, etc. I played my guitar after dinner tonight for two hours. It's good practice and I was entertained. I need to watch my sign language dvds too while I'm here. Husband visits at night currently to fit his work schedule. It gives us time to ourselves too even though I love Zachary with all my heart and want to be with him all the time.

Some moments I think the next two weeks will be very long and I just wish my doctor would tell me she's changing her mind. But it's okay. I have a lot to do here and I have wireless, wow! That's amazing to me and I feel so much more connected to everyone with my phone and computer.

I also have access to the daily readings to prepare myself for Christmas and thinking about a real meaning of the season. I remember that Mary didn't have the comfortable Inn she probably wanted to give birth in. She made it work (not that I'm giving birth but you know, being in this place I don't want to be in). I think of the attitude she would take.

Today's readings were helpful to me also. Hannah presented her son Samuel to the Lord after the Lord gave him to her. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.”
I hope to be grateful to the Lord that I am here, healthy, with a healthy baby girl still in my womb. He gave her to me when I so wanted a child.

I want to teach my children the symbols of advent- hope, peace, joy, and love just as the Lord is those things and gives me those things.

The magnificat is also in the reading of today's Gospel. And at the end it says that Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months. This reminds me again of myself today. I have three months left to remain and wait for our baby Adelyn Sophia. A perfect fit for the season of advent when we are waiting for Jesus and I must learn to wait.

I know now when they happened

I'm in the hospital now for pre term labor. I'm dialated 2.5 cm. My fetal fiber nectan test came back negative which means I'm not delivering in the next two weeks. I've had no contractions. I've been pondering here for the past 5 days how I contracted and what it felt like and I tied it to one event.

I've just discovered that I'm wrong. I remember now. I had the stomach bug the first weekend of December. I threw up 6 times and was feeling very dehydrated telling Scott that maybe I needed to go to urgent care. I started holding down the fluids and we didn't go. I was so sore afterward and I noticed in the bathtub. That was it. I know it was.

For now, I'm suppose to be here during Christmas for two more weeks. My doctor wants the very best for me. And she's made her decision. But maybe this piece of info can change things. I don't want to hurt the baby and I want a full term baby. But I know that was it....I can't believe I put it out of my mind.

Stay in there Baby Adelyn Sophia. I'm excited about you but we want a full term baby. Can't wait to meet you outside the womb in March.

I'm Pretending Mommy! I'm Pretending Daddy!

Last week sometime on a weekday morning, I was delighted to find out from Zachary that Cookie Monster spent the night in our guest room. I had not expected this. I didn't even know he was coming, otherwise I would have fixed up the room and left him a midnight cookie snack by the bed.
And wouldn't you know, when I finally did find out this information, Cookie Monster had already gone downstairs to the garage to help us fix the cars. I'll have to tell Zachary to invite him over more often. I'm sure if I keep enough cookies in the house it shouldn't be a problem.

Zachary's imagination has really grown in the past few months. Sometimes it's a problem when he's scared at night. Like when there are monkeys and airplanes in his room at bedtime, but most of the time it's delightful to hear about and participate in. He even told both Scott and I today that he was pretending by saying, "I'm pretending Mommy! I'm pretending Daddy!".
It's nice to know that he has learned to understand the concept.

About two weeks ago on a Thursday or Friday morning, Zachary took me to see the Wiggles at SeaWorld in our kitchen. We got the front row chairs closest to the refrigerator. Zachary was a star performer! He rode his tricycle and requested an audience member to sing some of the Wiggles' songs for him. And I was the lucky winner of course! So we delighted in singing, "Big Red Car", "Fruit Salad", "Hot Potato", and "Do the Monkey". I can't wait to find out what else our kitchen might have in store for us.

There are other moments that he's informed me of his outings or adventures in his mind.

Riding his tricycle he says "I'm going to the Zoo!" or "I'm going to Sea World!"

It's also nice to hear him singing songs. I'm excited to know that he is coming along in his development of audidation of pitch and rhythm. It's not perfect of course, but I can see the progress. Favorite songs that I hear him singing are:
"Do You Know the Colors of the Rainbow"
"The Rainbow Song"
"Itsy Bitsy Spider"
"Wheels on the Bus"
"Bob the Builder"
"5 Little Monkeys"

Tonight after we finished singing "Do You Know the Colors of the Rainbow" and saying prayers, I began to pull the sheets up for Zachary and he began singing, "Daddy's gonna take me to the zoo tomorrow. Zoo tomorrow. Zoo tomorrow".
Well, I'm going to have to talk to Scott about this! I certainly didn't know he was taking off of work to go to the zoo! And if he is, I'd like an invitation!

One of each!

We are having a baby girl!

We will now have one of each! From everything visible on the ultrasound, she is healthy and in the 52 percentile as far as weight. She's currently 15 oz. That is amazing that they can figure out weight! She was a little stubborn as far as trying to get her to flip over on her back so we could get a good look at her face. She went as far as her side and no more. Maybe she's going to be a tummy sleeper :) She's also active like her brother was in the womb. She won't have any problem keeping up with him!

Zachary is very excited about the baby coming and is still asking a few times a week if "the baby is coming out yet?" 4 more months. I know the Christmas holidays will fly by but it might feel really slow in January. Now we just have to pick out a name.

Cute and Funny Sayings

I'm trying to recall all of the cute and funny things Zachary has said in the past 3 days. There were several "I need to write that one down moments". So here's my list.

As we're eating lunch on Friday, Nov. 6 and Zachary is trying to get a baked bean on his fork.
"C'mon bean".
He finally gets it.
"There you go bean".

On our campout he is running through the sand and falling over with his friend Meredith.
He falls down and says "That's amazing!".

As we are on a hike during the camp out he points to the trees and says
"That's the chicka boom boom tree".


As I think of more I'll add to the list.

Is the Baby Coming Out?

I love that Zachary is excited about the baby and that he understands. He asks me quite often, "the baby is coming out now?"

I tell him that it still needs to grow but that he can talk to the baby and pat my tummy. He likes to do that. Sometimes he then tells me that Theodore came out (my friend's adorable baby) who we see pretty often.

So I'm pretty sure he gets it! Well, as much as a two and 1/2 year old can.

I feel Baby kicking quite a bit now. More than tiny twitches now. I'm not really sure how to describe this feeling of more than just little butterfly kicks, but not quite whale movements. It makes the experience very real.

I am much less tired than before but still going to bed pretty early. I hope that continues to improve. In two weeks we find out what the baby is!

Jesus' Birthday is Coming Down

A Perspective From Zachary

I saw these boxes wrapped in this very colorful and pretty paper. It felt smooth and I really wanted to rip it open like I did for my birthday. I had a feeling there might be a nice surprise in there. There sure was! Some trains! James the train! So I went to find Mommy.

"Mommy you open this?"

She didn't seem very happy. She was not smiling.

"Zachary, you're not suppose to open that yet. It's for Christmas".

"Open it!" I told her. "My trains!". I guess that wasn't the best thing to say because she didn't change her mind. In fact, she went and put it somewhere else where I could not reach it.

"You can have it at Christmas time when we open presents together as a family".

At Christmas time. Christmas is Jesus' birthday party time. His birthday is coming. It's coming down soon!

So just to be sure Mommy remembers, I ask her every day or sometimes just every other day,
"When Jesus' birthday comes down I can have my trains".

Mommy smiles at me and says, "yes, at Christmas, Jesus' birthday, you can have your trains".

Sculptures

I just love when little kids ask you to sculpt something for them. Especially when it's something way out of your league like an owl or power tools. My owl that I made at my friend Mollie's house turned out to be more like a bat and that was confirmed when she suggested that that's what it looked like. I guess it's at least good that it looked like something with wings instead of a dinosaur or something. Or an abstract design with two circles :)

We have not yet gotten to the stage where I'm being asked to carve shapes and animals in a sandwich. A friend I have here in San Antonio was asked to carve a hamster in a ham sandwich. I hope that day doesn't come :) Zachary's going to be disappointed. I think I can handle the basic shapes....circle, triangle, square, rectangle....rhombus might be pushing it.


On a side note, that pentel brand eraser sure is living up to it's standards of erasing crayon from just about anything. You might want to stock up on that or add it to your registry if you are pregnant :)

Pregnancy Irritations

I guess it's nice that you do forget all of the physical irritations we get while being pregnant. The sickness is so much better this trimester.

I thought the tiredness was getting better, but uh... the past 2 weeks have just been crazy! Sometimes when I put Zachary to bed at 7:30 I go sit on the couch and before I know if I've fallen asleep until 8:30 or 9. And then I'm struggling to wake up to do something productive or for me before bed.

At that point I'm too tired to do my stretches which I NEED to do every day or my legs just hurt especially after I wake up in the morning. It's hard to do unless I do it in the morning when my legs are still stiff, at naptime when I have millions of other things to do or at night when I'm falling asleep. So I guess it's just hard to do! Someone call me and make me do it!

The sciatic nerve hurts too if I don't stretch. That's just plain annoying. It's not unbearable. Just an annoyance that creeps into the routine of doing things. Especially cooking while I'm standing up. Bring out the cooking stool!

The last thing I can currently think of is the random aches you suddenly feel or the soreness of stretching in the hips, lower back or lower stomach area. I'm thinking my previous epiziotamy (how do you spell this procedure??) had something to do with some soreness of now stretching out again. Bring out the cooking stool!

Oh well. These things aren't unbeareable or things that make me non-functioning. Oh, well, I guess sleeping kindof does that. Maybe, doesn't make me unavailable to the routine during the day. It's dealable. I'm still very excited about the next baby although nervous about the first two weeks. I know it will be more difficult having two instead of one (I very much admire my friends that are able to do everything with multiple children) but I was such a disaster after Zachary was born for a few months that I don't see how this next baby could make my life that crazy again. And I already know how to nurse, change diapers, make a schedule, puree foods...I know more people here...it's easier somewhat right??

Zachary is very excited. I'm expecting some out of character actions when the baby comes...just because I'm not convinced that all jealousy will be put aside, but he does ask when it's "coming out" and he talks about playing with it and helping me. He loves Baby Theodore and doesn't seem to mind as much when I hold him. I guess we shall see!

Riding My Tricyle!

A Perspective from Zachary

Hey this tricycle is pretty fun! I figured out how to use the petals. You push on them and then you can go! Sometimes I have to push from the ground first. I'm very good at going down hill. We go down a small hill to the mailboxes and sometimes we go to Grandma Marilyn's house. She always gives me cranberry grape juice, a special treat cuz Mommy and Daddy never give me any. After I have my juice, play with my work bench, and do a puzzle, we go back home to cook dinner. We have to go up the hill to get home so Mommy helps boost me up the hill. Sometimes I think about getting off before we get home but Mommy never seems to be interested in carrying my tricycle the rest of the way home so I get back on and ride with her helping me. You can watch me below!

Why this blog title and our new blog!

I think some people are slightly curious as to why I chose this blog title back in the day a couple of years ago. Here's why.

Scott and I had some discussion when I was pregnant with Zachary about job titles at work. He has the title "research engineer" at Southwest. I thought it sounded cool and wanted one for myself as well. Although I do have my title as "music therapist" which is nice and I'm glad to have it with the nice letters MT-BC I was hoping for one for my other career at home as well. (Some people have this idea that as music therapists we are experts in selecting nice music and playing it while doing some type of guided imagery or discussion to make people happy about life. Or think that we give happy music lessons. And this problem is a whole other blog posting itself but anywho...)

So aside from "music therapist" Scott and I thought of all of the names of stay at home moms: "Stay at home mom", "House wife", "home maker"... and came up with a few more.

"Domestic Engineer"- (I think this is Aunt Ann's title)
"House Engineer"
"House Researcher"
"House Professional"
"Domestic Professional"

I liked that last one the best with a "specialization in research and development". So that's what I went him.

Domestic Professional: Research and Development :)

I, in no way, thought of myself as an actual "expert" or "professional" at this field being a newly wed and now pregnant with my first child. And I'm still not...with a two year old and pregnant with my second child. We haven't raised a child to adulthood yet. I know that I still have much I can learn from others about parenting and living life. I just like the sound of the job title.

My friends and I are beginning to do "Tot School" with our toddlers at home. Sometimes we get together to do projects and we definitely share ideas. Tot school is having fun at home and learning at the same time. We chose a theme each week and base our activities, songs, crafts, and field trips based on that theme. To read more about our tot school at the miller house check out:

http://domesticprofessionaltotschool.blogspot.com

This new blog will be for the tot schooling activities. Other adventures of Zachary growing and my thoughts will still be at this blog.

Fun Being Silly

My Mom and Zachary have this joke going. He likes to tease her that the Tahoe she drives is "Pa-pa's car" instead of her car (Gramsie's car). Every time he rides in it he tells her, "Pa-pa's car!" and then giggles very cute like.

He decided to tease me about the cars that Scott and I each usually drive as well. He told me the Honda today was "Daddy's car".

So we continued our jokes with other topics throughout the days. After I picked him up from Mom's day out on Thursday, October 1st he said in all seriousness to review our day, "Mommy picked me up". I agreed with him and said that yes, he was correct. But then he started in with the teasing again and said, "Daddy picked me up". I put on my silly voice and said, "no silly! Daddy didn't pick you up". And then I threw in a "Sandy picked you up!". He just giggled and then I said, "No that's silly. Sandy can't drive". And he looked at me with a very serious face to agree with me and said, "Sandy doesn't have any fingers!".

Well...he's right. I guess that's a very good reason we don't teach dogs to drive. Smart boy!

Our Entertainment in the Backyard

See footage below for our entertaining K9 who lives in our backyard...and sometimes inside. He's very good at letting us know if there are any strangers, dogs, cats, neighbors, harmful leaves, unique rocks, or distasteful wind. Here he lets us know which toys are the best for playing.

Time Out for Fox

This weekend I had to put Fox in time out two whole times. Fox did not follow directions so I put him on the red time-out stool in the kitchen. I set the timer for 17 minutes and made sure he was staying in time out. Mommy was busy cooking in the kitchen one time so I took care of the situation myself. She thought I did a good job following through with his discipline.

So Proud of Mommy

Yesterday I brought Zachary on a trip to the library just to return a DVD and check out one more for him. He looked around with me and made a Curious George book selection to take home along with his new Signing Time DVD and Bear Snores on DVD since we have that book.

We walked through the parking lot and unlocked the car. I helped Zachary climb into his seat and then preceded as I always to do buckle him in. Well, he watched me put the buckles together and then all of the sudden exclaimed, "Thank you for buckling me in Mommy! I'm so proud of you!"

Isn't it nice to be acknowledged and appreciated :)

And now I am confident that I do tell him that often enough to where he repeats it. If you need a reflection of your own words/want to know what words you use most often hang out with a two year old.

7 Week Apt with Baby 2

I had an apt with my OB today at 10:30 AM. This is the first apt for the new baby. We had the pelvic exam, infection test and most excitingly the sonogram.

I dropped Zachary off at my friend Amanda's house. He was delighted to play with McCarole who just turned a year last month and of course the dog, Lily. I packed his lunch and back pack and hoped he would be on his best behavior. Which I found out later he was, however when I came back to pick him up he was off the walls at the site of me.

Dr. George-Mayo was very excited for me that I was back so soon after telling her at my annual in May that we wanted to have another baby. "Yep 3 tries" I told her. She congratulated me and genuinely seemed very happy for us.

At first she said "so you're 12 weeks" and I was really shocked and then realized that she had looked at the date at my last exam instead of cycle.

When the sonogram finally came I was very excited while waiting to see the screen. Even for the second baby, it just makes it so much more real when you see a picture or hear sounds. Dr. Mayo asked the nurse to turn it so I could see. I couldn't see the legs and arms on this baby as well as I could see on Zachary at 7 weeks but it was still exciting to observe.

She said Baby's development is all in line with my last cycle and that we are due March 29, 2010 which is the same date that the internet cite, www.mycycle.com told me. Wow technology! I was of course very relieved to hear that growth was "normal" so far.

The final and probably most amazing part was when I heard Baby's heartbeat for the first time. I wasn't expecting to be able to hear it today but it was there loud and clear at 160. Wow, there's really a real life growing in there. It just makes the experience of being pregnant so much more real. Sometimes it's easy to...well...not forget but maybe the phrase is "not pay attention to it" (besides the nausea) since I still look the same and feel the same (again besides the nausea and being tired). I know the more I grow, the more I see pictures, and here the heartbeat, when Baby starts kicking, and when I see the big sonogram at about 18 weeks I'll really be more in tune with what's going on. I'm sure back in the day before these fancy machines were around people still have very real experiences, don't get me wrong. I am very excited and can't wait to have our new family member outside of the womb with us.

Zachary has been playing with dolls and learning how to hold them. He's asked me if he can give the babies food and such so it's a good lesson time to teach him about what baby's eat and what not to do with them. Usually he carries them nicely but at our friend Mollie's house yesterday, he was carrying one upside down by the feet, yikes, but hey... he's working on it. I'm sure that will be perfected before March :) He also takes time to wrap the babies in a blanket and make them comfortable. He'll be a nice, nurturing, big brother.

Next apt in a month!
Grow Baby grow!

Mediterranen Diet

Scott and I are liking this idea of a Mediterranean diet. A lot less red meat but still a small amount, more fish, lots of fruits, veggies, and nuts, and using olive oil to cook (which I use anyway).

Here's a small article on it.

http://www.vitabeat.com/mediterranean-diet-may-stave-off-alzheimers-according-to-new-study/v/9646/

Mediterranean Diet May Stave Off Alzheimer's, According To New Study

February 11, 2009 - Topics study, diet, diabetes, vegetable and fish

A diet rich in fish, olive oil, yogurt and vegetables could help prevent mild cognitive impairments that could later lead to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by Columbia University researchers.

The so-called Mediterranean-style diet had been previously linked to good heart health and as a way to ward off diabetes, but now researchers say it could be good for the brain as well.

The study, published in the journal Archives of Neurology, looked at 1,393 people with healthy brains and 482 with mild cognitive impairment. Over four and a half years of follow-up, 275 of the 1,393 people who did not have cognitive impairments developed them.

Those who stuck closest to a Mediterranean diet had a 28-percent lower risk of developing brain impairments than those who strayed from the diet.

The study also found that people with mild cognitive impairments who switched to a Mediterranean diet were less likely to progress to Alzheimer's disease.

Learning to Grow Up Fast

I watched my Paw paw shave a couple of times. One time at his house and one time at my house. I don't usually see Daddy shave because he shaves in the shower. Mrs. Allison Brothers gave me my very own shaving kit for Christmas except it's not sharp like Paw paw and Daddy's.

Gramsie took a picture of me trying out some shaving stuff. They say the more you practice the better you are so I need to practice now.

What do Bears eat for Breakfast?

On Wednesday I decided I would take Zachary to the zoo for a Mommy and son outing. I decided we would go pretty early to miss the crowd and the heat.

So we did our regular morning routine which of course included breakfast. Every morning Zachary helps Scott put the ingredients in the blender to make a protein smoothie. It's got ice, frozen strawberries, milk, protein, flaxeed, and psyillim husk. We have other random things with it but we have made a habit of having a smoothie every morning since Zachary was born at least and now he's participating in drinking and making it.

So we did breakfast, prayers, yard watering (well like yard reviving), and all that and then we got ready to leave. If you have a pass you can get in to the zoo at 7:30 AM! Well, we definitely didn't get there that early but we did get there before 9. We started with the bears and the monkeys near the entrance of the zoo.

I guess since it was still early the animals had not had time to finish their breakfast. Zachary noticed right away that the first bear we saw, was eating. "He's eating" he pointed out. "Yes", I told him, "he's eating his breakfast".

Zachary's neurons put two and two together and then said, "he's having a smoothie?" which sounds more like, "he's having soomie?"

"Um, well, probably not a smoothie" I said, but after looking at the fruits, nuts and goolash compiled for the bear I said, "probably more like fruit salad".

Kitchen Helpers

I'm developing more kitchen stories of Zachary as he helps me more and more with the cooking and baking.

• One day we were baking something, I can't recall what, but it required eggs. I had actually already cracked both of the eggs we needed and put them in. While I washed my hands and my back was turned to Zachary, and who else in the world would have turned their back to wash their hands while there was an egg carton 3/4 of the way full next to their son, I don't know, but I did and then I heard the "uh oh". When I do have the courage to turn back around I see that half of the eggs are dumped into our mixing bowl whole and half are on the floor in the carton. Oh I remember now, we were making French Toast. Scott was asleep in our room on a Saturday morning, Bill was asleep in his room for his first San Antonio weekend, and I was suppose to be making progress in the kitchen with a nice country style Saturday morning breakfast. Well, with all of my half way suppressed screeches I scared off any chances of anyone else waking up to come to the kitchen. Whose fault was it of course? Mine yes. I should not have assumed that Zachary had observed enough to know that you have to, first of all crack eggs open to use them and second, think that he should wait for me to do so. :)
• On July 8, 2009 we baked a chocolate birthday cake for Daddy, cooked spaghetti noodles, made a home made marinera sauce, and was in the process of making meatballs as well. I thought for some reason that it would be a good idea to leave the spices out on the island next to Zachary who was standing on a chair to help me prepare and cook. So while I was stirring the sauce, the noodles and flipping meatballs around Zachary thought he would make sure all of the pepper looked okay and test it out to also make sure it felt nice. When i turned around I saw that their was a lovely sculpted mound of pepper in the bottom portion of our mixer (the bowl had been removed). When Zachary realizes he's done something wrong he'll either put his little hand to his head or he'll cover his ears. It breaks my heart so as I smelled pepper I tried to just explain as calmly as my nose would let me. I think he got it, but it sure was fun so who knows if it will happene again.
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Cleaning up Crayon

I found out today a few tips about cleaning crayons during a time when I really wasn't in the mood to make that discovery.

For anyone that wants to know:

1. Crayon comes off of a flat screen computer with a Pentel brand eraser (usually white). And then a little rubbing alcohol cleans all of it up for a finishing touch.

2. It also works on magnadoodles.

3. I have some Mom on the web to thank for sharing with everyone and her kid to thank for doing it to her so I could learn.

Too many cute stories

I'm so irritated that our camera is broken. That's one of the 80 things that broke this week. I felt like I had the Midas Touch of Death! Car AC, house AC, Scott's engine oil, the clock, the camera, the TV system.....

In the mean time Zachary has been doing so many cute things of course, like every two year old does. I just wish I had my camera to post pictures with these things.

Well, I'm going to write these down so in 20 years we will have memorable moments remembering.

Two days ago Scott and I noticed Zachary carrying around a small guitar that belongs to my Snoopy Statue. It doesn't play music or anything and it's barely big enough to fit the strap over my hand.

I've really been trying to emphasize live music making with Zachary. I learned in my Music Together teacher training that we as humans have bonding receptors that go off when we make live music and dance with other human beings. I also learned that Primary Music Development happens at it's best between birth and age 9. Like a language it becomes more difficult to establish and music achievement concerning pitch and rhythm. It can be done of course but with more work.

Zachary is not able to hum songs exactly on pitch or hold a complete melody yet like some two year olds can. But I know he's taking things in. So two days ago he carried Snoopy's guitar around on and off throughout the day. I noticed him saying, "do do do, dah, dah dah do na na...".
And then I realized he was pretending to strum too. When I looked at him smiling and said, "oh you're playing the guitar! It sounds so nice!" he smiled SO proudly. I'm so thrilled!! I can't wait to start our own band :)


On our way back from the lake Zachary recalled many events from the week to us. We confirmed his thoughts and I enjoyed remembering the good times at the lake. He then picked up his toy camera and pressed button over and over saying, "cheese, Pop2!" I wonder what he had flashed at him all week.

Wednesday my Dad called me early in the morning. We were taking it easy and being lazy. It was nice to have our AC back after a very annoying and hot Tuesday without it. Zachary somehow knew I was talking to his Paw paw. Of course, they figure out everything it seems. He also heard me say "yeah come visit" or "yeah come see us".

So later Zachary picked up his very old play rotary phone and said, "Paw Paaaw, come visit Paw Paw!"

My silly dogs

I still consider the dogs at my parents house, "my dogs". One of them grew up with me, (Zara) and the other is new (Fiona), but still my family. They are both springer spaniels although Zara looks slightly unusual for a springer.

My very first dog was named Alicia, also a springer. She was so beautiful and sweet, yet feisty if she was hunting or securing the yard. A great bird and gecko hunter too. She lived to be 17 years and passed away when I was a senior in college. So not too long ago. She still has my heart.

Zara is 11 years old and her personality is sweet and lazy. She's also got to be touching you at all times, usually accomplished by sitting on your foot. Somehow she never misses; knows exactly where to aim. Her favorite game to play with Berch was hide and seek. She was always the seeker waiting in the laundry room until she heard Berch call for her. She used her nose and ALWAYS found him. Even when he was hanging from a door frame. She stopped underneath and was puzzled until she looked up. Her head is small and her body is quite large. She kept Alicia young and active for many years but she's definitely slowing down. Exercise is not on her list of "to dos".

Fiona, I wish I could get to know better but we're just not in the woodlands long enough. She has a very funny personality. Another one of those dogs who likes to hear her own bark. She's always got some mission she's on. If she's not inspecting the yard she's inspecting you.

I wish I would have written down all of the funny stories from my dogs. The latest one happens to be about Fiona.

Mom was cleaning the pool this past week. She used the net to fish things out. Fiona was going bananas on the side running back and forth around the pool, whining like crazy. Mom looked at her and then followed Fiona's eyes in the pool. Oh, a dead frog. "Okay, hang on I'm going to get it out" Mom said. Fiona paced back and forth a few feet here and there, finally just couldn't stand it anymore, jumped in the pool next snatched the frog and swallowed it whole. Mom was shocked. Nothin like raw frog legs.

Growing Memories

I just put my little monkey to bed in his new toddler bed for the second night in a row. He's done well so far b/c he's gone to bed late both nights and was so exhausted he didn't even take time to talk or babble before falling asleep after I left the room.

I have been enjoying tucking him into this new bed. It's so perfect that I can kneel down next to it and not have to reach over bars to give him a hug. So tonight I held his hand and then asked him if he had a good day.

The answer he gave me was, "no" as if he knew exactly what I was asking. So I said, "You didn't? Well what did you do today? Did you like the sea lions at sea world?"

Zachary proceeded to tell me:

Do dos (dolphins)
Pen-nuns (penguins)
Reh Ra sho yay(Aurelia's stroller....he got to push it)
Memay's Housh (Meredith's House)
Mahyee's Housh (Mrs. Mollie's House)
Baby's Housh (Baby Theodore's House...they all live in the same house)
Eat
Memay...sheepeen (Meredith sleeping)

(Mommy insert: Laughs and say, "Yes! Did you play with Merediths toys?")

Memay's toys
Ball

("Yes, what color was the ball?")

Wed (red)

(Mommy who is floored at all of the things he remembered without assistance: "Yes that's right! It was red!")

Yeah

(Mommy: "I had fun today too".)

Memay Re rah?

(Mommy: "Yes maybe we will see Meredith and Aurelia tomorrow")

Yeah

I of course have to verify every word that he says by repeating each word after he says it to let him know I'm getting it all.

I am definitely looking forward to more nights tucking sweet Zachary into bed and listening to the things he did during the day. I think he likes this new bed a lot. He seems to be proud of his independence of getting in and out by himself and maybe even less anxious about me leaving the room because of that also.

I surely know that he enjoyed jumping on the new bed after we put it together.

No more Monkeys Jumping on the Bed!

So my nickname that my parents gave me as a child was "Monkey". Maybe it's best that I don't ask how I got that name. I do recall several pictures of trees with me in them. And maybe that's why I'm so anxious to get more trees in our yard.

Anyway... my son is taking on the nickname "Monkey" as well. It's kind of developed after all of the moments I catch him:

climbing on the arms of chairs to reach the blinds handle or the lamp switch
hanging on the side of the stair rail just for fun
jumping from the upside down laundry basket on to the couch
swinging in the glider in his room so forceful that it smacks the wall behind him
wanting me to push him on a swing set for an hour
And of course...jumping in the bed

Thank you God, for our entertaining monkeys.

2009 Spring Break Trip

My 2009 Spring Break Trip to Opelousas, LA with Mommy's family and Portland, OR with Daddy's Family

In March I had a very busy spring break. It all started on Friday March 6 when Mommy brought me to my friend Meredith's house so she could go pick up our fruits and vegetables from our food group at church. Mrs. Mollie gave me lunch too before Mommy came to pick me up for our long long car ride to The Woodlands where my Gramsie (Gyinny) and Pa pa live. We went home after Mommy picked me up and I helped her unload our food.

We got in the car and started driving. It was so long. I slept at the beginning. Mommy stopped to get me some cookies in the middle of Houston somewhere. We listened to my car songs too. I don't like Mommy to sings songs I don't know or feel like listening to.

Daddy came to meet us at Gramsie and Pa-pa's house that night but I was already asleep when he got there. The next day we went to the Houston Rodeo. I got to ride a pony! I also got to participate in a farmers market for kids. I sold the things I raised on my farm and got a box of juice for it! Mommy and Daddy usually don't let me have juice! It was SO good. We saw lots of animals in a petting zoo. Daddy stayed longer than I did. I also had a blast running up and down a turf slope with other kids. That was the best part I think. I took a nap while some cowboys road bulls and horses. This guy with long hair sang a lot of loud songs after that. Mommy and Daddy kept covering my ears. Something about the decibel level being too loud...I don't know.

The next day we celebrated Pa-pa's birthday with cake and corn bread that I helped Mommy make. Daddy had to drive home and Mommy drove us to Opelousas, LA. We stayed at Ma-ma Becky and Pa-pa Berch 1's house. They have great toys and a swingset in the back. AND they live next door to the Sibley's where I went to play with cousin Blaise and his skateboards. Blaise even gave me a small play skateboard! We ate dinner with Blaise, Cousin Cody, Cousin Brandi, Aunt Amaryllis, and Uncle Mark the first night we were there. For lunch everyday we went to Ma-ma Hazel and Pa-pa Joe's house. Great Charlotte was there too because she lives across the street and she drives Pa-pa Joe around town lately. When I took a nap Mommy did music with him. They have lots of toys too and great movies. While we were in Louisiana I also got to see Avery, Wesley, Aunt Jan, Uncle Ronnie, Cousin Renee, Aunt Liz, Cousin Rebecca, Cousin Jenny, and Uncle Mike, and Cousin Madeleine. I actually let Avery push me in the stroller for the first time. She was delighted.



There was a lot of family we didn't get to see because the cousins were in school. We had to leave Thursday mornining. We drove back to Gramsie and Pa-pa's house. Mommy stopped at McDonald's somewhere in Texas and got me a milkshake. I think she wanted one too. MMMM.

=

I got to see Pa-pa and Gramsie again. It was very short though. The next morning we got up and drove back to San Antonio. It was pouring down rain! Wow! It hardly ever rains in San Antonio! Maybe I'll be able to use my new rain boots one day! We stopped and got another milk shake but it was too cold and rainy to play on the playground there.

I got to see MORE family that night. Aunt Michelle (I just call her "Sell", it's much easier) and Matthew came to spend the night. Mommy and Sell made a yummy dinner. Mattthew and everyone entertained me. It's great to be a toddler. When I woke up the next morning Uncle Brian (Biny, Byine) was there! We rode in his van to the airport. Mommy and Daddy sure brought a lot of stuff to carry. They should know that I get first priority being carried over a bunch of bags...

I liked the airplanes! I got window seats every time! On the train at the aiport to get to the other side, Daddy let me hold on to the top bar. We took three airplanes. The first one was fun! I slept and watched movies on the second one. I did not like the last one at all. Daddy's computer ran out of battery. I don't know why Mommy wouldn't let me stretch my legs and stand in the seat. I needed some good exercise. The seats were bouncy and that long isle looked perfect but she said no. I did get to sit next to Byine. He showed me some cool games on his rectangle phone. My phone doesn't have games like that! When we got to Portland I had to wait for my seat to ride in the car. It never came so the airport loaned us one for free! And we got to ride in a mini van. I'm persuading Daddy to buy one when his car dies.

We got to the hotel and Granna (Ganna), Pop2 (Pa ta) and Uncle Kevin (Ka-yn) were there. Wow! We ate at a place that sells chickens that night. The next day I met Grappa, Aunt Lea, Uncle Dean, Cousin Danica, Cousin Cambria, and Cousin Grant. Grant rode in the van with us so we could play. We ate lunch, took pictures, and went to target where Pa ta let me sit on a table and drink an Icee.

I didn't feel so great the next day. I was achee and my head was very hot. I got to play at the children's museum with Mommy and Pa ta. I didn't really feel like it when I first got there. The only thing that looked fun was the water exploration. Mommy and Pa ta gave me some liquid and then everything looked fun. I went shopping in the store and got to make the groceries beep too. There was a tree house, a big pit to dig in with trucks, a building site, a train track, and all kinds of stuff. Mommy took me swimming when we got back to the hotel. I watched another baby splash in the water so I did it too. We went in the hot water pool too. That night we ate pizza. I like cheese, bread and tomato sauce, but not altogether so I only ate a little bit. Daddy helped me play games there.

The next day we went to the Science Museum. More fun stuff! A sand box, a water area, a tree with animals to play in, and lots of stuff to explore. There was also some water pipes that Ka-yn helped me build, pipes that sucked balls in them and blew them out somewhere else, and lots of stuff that I could use my hands with. I think I want to pilot an airplane or train one day. We ate at Red Lobster that night. I love their bread! Mommy put a bunch in a box for us.

I think Mommy and Daddy snuck away to the hot water pool while I was sleeping. So that's what I hear. And Mommy was tired sometimes in the morning because she would sneak away to play cards with Sell, Ka-yn and Matta. While we were there Pa ta showed me a neat trick. I got to stand on his hands while he lifted me high in the air. Ganna played with me while Mommy and Daddy did things sometime.

The next day we rode more airplanes. I got the window seat each time again!! What luck! I loved to look out of the window, but I guess I was really tired because I fell asleep before this next picture was taken.

We all went to bed when we got back to San Antonio. Byine left that night but Sell and Matta spent the night again. I had a great spring break. I've been having more fun in San Antonio since we've been back. I can't wait to see family again!

Getting to know people

So one of Zachary's favorite things to do that doesn't require running, jumping, or climbing is looking at picture albums. He's learned so many names that are so cute to hear him say.

We've got

Granna- "Gyanna"
Pop2- "Po ta"
Gramsie- "Gyinny"
Pa pa- "Paw paw" (definitely our best)
Michelle- "Sell"
Brian- "Biyine" ( I think...I'll have to listen to that one again)
Kevin- Ka yin
Berch (Paran) - Pa
Kathryn (Kitty)- Kitty
Blaise- Bay
Pa-pa Joe- Pa-pa Doe
Maggie Byrne- Ma ee


Of course Mommy and Daddy is now clear as day.
Most other names besides this list, he says is from repeating me.

It's also so funny what they notice that we don't!

In March we went to visit my extended family in Louisiana. I was at my mom's parent's house, Hazel and Joe. My mom's sister, Charlotte was there (Great Charlotte :). She took Zachary to play outside while I visited with my grandparents. When they came back in Zachary pointed to my grandpa's shoes and said Pa-pa Doe. Charlotte was very surprised and said, "oh...yeah, those are for Pa-pa).

In March we also went to Portland. When we returned home, Michelle and Matthew spent another night. The next morning before Michelle was even out of her bed/room, Zachary took a glance at her shoes and said, "Sell". "uh, what?" I looked at the shoes he was pointing to. Whose shoes were those? They weren't mine and looked to small to belong to Matthew or Scott and I didn't recognize them as Scott's shoes. "Oh....yeah....those ARE Aunt Michelle's shoes.....!"

I guess it's because they're lower to the ground? Very observant!

Superman and Super words

There's so many moments when I say, "that's cute" or "he's so cute" or "he's so funny" as I watch Zachary grow up. I wish I would remember all of them or just remember to write them down.

Tonight Zachary had his superman pajamas on and then found the spider man cap Uncle Kevin had given him for his first Christmas outside the womb. He's seen me where a cap a million times and Scott too, with it forward facing but I guess he has to be cool because he put it on backwards and insisted on wearing it that way :) So usually he only wears if for a few minutes at a time, but we've made progress. Tonight, after bath he wanted to just fly around the house with it on. He looked so cool/cute. I wish the camera would be working.

On a word update, he's saying so many more imitations and words every day. He now says:

pajamas- "pyamas"
grapes- "gyapes"
raisins- "ray ray"
bake- "de bay"
slide- "si"
rollercoaster- " coa coa" ( I guess sea world is good for vocab)
light- "yite"
cookie- "coottie"
tools- "too"
skateboard- "skay"
food- "food"
Daddy- "Daddy" Yay!
Mommy- "Mommy" yay!
Puppy- "Puppy" Yay!
song- "sham"
outside- "si"
airplane- "tain"
train- "choo choo"
play- "pay"

and the list goes on. I love it.

Zachary's First Haircut

Zachary got his first haircut on February 28. I had tried to do it myself but even in front of a Kidsong video where he doesn't move a muscle, he still swatted away when I'd come near with the scissors. So we went to the place next to HEB. He watched Scott get his own hair cut first. He wasn't really thrilled about sitting in the chair, even with his HEB balloon, so he sat on Scott. He also was not into the wearing the cover to keep hair off of him so Scott wore that too. After whining and pushing the scissors away the hairdresser gave him a sucker. That was the motivator. While slurping away on his sucker the hairdresser was finally able to get her work done. She makes it look so easy! Wish it was! Zachary was covered in little blonde hairs after, but the hair on his head looked great!