HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY ZACH!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BOY!

just days old...

Oh precious Zach you are 1 today! Where do I start? You are so full of joy! You have been an absolute pleasure to parent Zach! Let's go back about a year or so...And what a year it has been! Let's start with Mommy's pregnancy...it was wonderful!...well for the 1st few months then it was horrible! And by horrible I mean...HORRIBLE! Mommy was so sick...trouble breathing...well trouble with everything. I had enough fluid for you and 2 other babies...polyhydramneosis...when the Dr. broke my water it was like I was normal again...I could breath and my heart no longer skipped beats...my blood pressure went from 149 over 90 to 119 over 70 almost immediately! I was induced week 37 and could not wait for that moment! My sweet boy I tell you all of this because I want you to know how much I love you...and I would DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN FOR YOU! You are so precious and wonderful...I really didn't know my life was missing anything until you were born...and now I have realized YOU were the missing piece! I now feel complete...although I didn't know I wasn't complete before...weird huh?. God gives you what you need when you need it I guess! You were quit the colic(y) baby...and by colic I mean COLIC! You screamed your head off for hours...and hours! But even then you were oh so cute. We took you to the chiropractor out of desperation and it was almost an instant transformation! From that moment on you were/are the happiest baby boy! We are so thankful to Dr. Tarr! You have had quit the busy year...You went from a diet of just breastmilk to now eating everything in sight! You love your food! Especially cheese & fruit (just like Mommy!)! You are so lighthearted and funny (just like Daddy!)! You laugh at almost anything and have the cutest smile and laugh (just like Makenzie!)! And you love being outside (just like Daddy, Mommy & Makenzie!)! You have been on a few trips this year on an airplane & by car...You love to fly but are not the biggest fan of your carseat! You are all boy...you climb everything in sight! And you love to cuddle! You sleep through the night! Mommy & Daddy THANK YOU for that ZACH! Your smile lights up a room and we are so thankful for you little one...
Happy Birthday!


Here are pics from his party Saturday and dinner tonight to celebrate our baby boy!

1 year later...

His train cake that I made him for his party! Daddy and Maki helped too!

His 1st experience with cake was wonderful!

opening presents with bis sisters!

His pal Brendan and him trying to break out from the party! ;)

Our dinner tonight!

They were just a little excited about the cake! Maki has been sick so it was wonderful to see a smile on her precious face!

The after party! Lively group, huh?! Look at Jaj sleeping! Both kids took a 3 hour nap as well! Nina (on the left) came with Shayna for the party! She is such a delight! :)

Cozy with Daddy!

Can't start brushing too soon, right?!

Action shot!

cozy!

Where's Zach?!

It was bound to happen...

Yes, Gary and I both woke up sick last week...Gary is umm, how do I put it?...a horrible patient! But after a decade I think we are finally getting somewhere...! I have to say it was nice doing "nothing" and not having an agenda but I just wish we were feeling better so we could of enjoyed it more! THANKFULLY we are better now...but now precious Maki is sick...please pray for her and also that Zach doesn't catch it! This is like the craziest cycle of sickness ever! Ready for a sick free week for all of us! :)

And 2 cute little Maki stories!
#1 Makenzie last week...We were looking for tortillas in the refrigerator and for some reason I kept missing them...even though they were right there in plain sight where we always keep them...again, I was sick ;) After many moments of looking we found them and Makenzie said "we should pray and thank God for the tortillas!" So she dropped to the floor bowed her cute little head and said "Thank you God for the tortillas and the eggs! AMEN!"
#2 kind hearted Makenzie strikes again!
I put Zach down for a nap and Makenzie was playing in her room while I got ready for the day...I went to check on Mak and found her wrapping a book with a receiving blanket for Zach's B-DAY! I walked in and she said "look Mommy, I'm wrapping books to give to Zach for his Birthday!". Gosh I love this little girl...her kind heart never ceases to amaze me! I took a pic of the wrap job as well...gotta love all the tape she used! I'm thinking with a little direction I can have her wrap all the gifts for Christmas!

...Zach's dedication video is coming soon!

what does...

walking pneumonia (Zach) + walking into a cactus (Mak) + a hand sliced open (Gary) + the flu(Mak) = our October!

Good BYE October! Still waiting to hear back on the results if it was the swine or just your old run of the mill flu for Maki.

HELLO November!

OVERWHELMED!

I am so overwhelmed...overwhelmed with gratitude! Today, well yesterday because it is now 1:20AM as I sit here and type...we dedicated Zach. We stood before the congregation of the Church we attend...the Church we love, and committed to raise Zach to know Jesus...not just meet Jesus, but to KNOW Jesus. It is 120am...why am I awake?...we even went to bed early! I'm awake because a little past midnight Zach stirred in his bed and I looked at the monitor (LOVE video monitors!) and saw him cuddle back up with his blanket and go back to sleep...in that very moment my heart was flooded with emotion! Mostly gratitude and a little disbelief...I know it may sound crazy but at times I really wonder if my life is just a dream and I'm going to wake up and realize it. I FEEL LIKE I DESERVE NOTHING THAT I HAVE! Mostly, a God who loves and wants to know me! Jesus is my bestfriend...not because I have been that great of a friend because I haven't. There are days when He calls and I don't answer, there are times when He has asked me to do something for Him and I don't...but yet HE still loves me! My gratitude does not stop there...God has blessed me with 2 of the most amazing little children. Makenzie with her sweet kind spirit and Zach with his constant smile and joy for life...why has He given me so much?! And of course my hubby who loves me unconditionally and is exactly what I need/want!...so wonderful that my need is exactly how God aligned my want.

I truly know that my life and Zach's commitment to Him are in His hands and for that I am grateful! If they were in mine I know I would surely mess it up! Please pray for Zach to come to know and honor God all of his days...and to live a life close to the Lord. I know life can be so hard...I just don't know how people could go through it without the strength from God...I surely could not.

Ok, I really should go back to bed...Zach will be calling me early! Nothing beats the sweet call of "ma-MA!"...although it is a little sweeter after 7am! ;)

*I will post dedication pics later this week and hopefully a video of the dedication for family and friends who couldn't make it!

Our trip to San Diego!

Well we had a blast in San Diego! Minus a run in with a cactus for Maki. :( She was so brave for Daddy & Aunt Christy as they worked on her arm for a good 30 minutes pulling out cactus thorns! She was AMAZING! So amazing Uncle Mot and Aunt Jill lavished her with cake and ice cream afterwards! She was so excited! It wa so much fun spending time with everyone!! I must note that Makenzie is absolutely in love with Shya...by love I mean obsessed! She had so much fun with her big cousin! Thanks everyone for such a great time! And especially for Nonnie Pat for putting up with all our chaos! We love you all!!!! Shya and Makenzie! Makenzie LOVES Shya soooo much!

I love this shot...these poor kids and the paparazzi! Look at Gary behind them taking another shot!

Gettin' some lovin' from Aunt Christy!

Aunt Christy and Makenzie at dinner! Barefoot grill of course!

a very bright airplane ride!

can you say cutie?!

shhh..don't tell him we put Shya's crown on him! Although he can pull any color off!

Molly pulling something out of his mouth! LOL!

Dr. Daddy and nurse Christy working on Maki's arm...look at her little face...poor thing was so upset! But she was so brave!

Uncle Tom planting with the girls!

Molly and Gary! Thanks for recycling Mol! ;)

Zach with Aunt Jill!

Shya and Aunt Jill on the bus ride through the Zoo!

cuddling with Daddy...his favorite thing to do!

Aunt Christy with her new glasses! Love them!

looking at fish!

Aunt Jill, Aunt Christy and Nonnie Pat! I love this pic! And my sister-in-laws and Mother-in-law!!!!! xoxo!

Aunt Jill at build-a-bear with Makenzie and her new bear! Such a special afternoon for Makenzie to remember!

giving her new bear an air bath and Zach's new polar bear Maki picked out for him!

after lunch on the way to build-a-bear!

silly face!

more silly faces!

Gotta laugh...or cry! ;)

What does your baby do when they are left for 30 seconds in reach of an in & out milkshake?! Here is what ours does...
Thankfully he is such a cutie!

I didn't have time to take a shot of Makenzie waxing our floors with water and an eraser from her chalkboard while I was putting Zach down for a nap! Serves me right for not putting a show on for her when she asked! LOL! :)

***We got home from San Diego last night and I will try to post pics tonight! So much fun with all Gary's family! Love you guys!

Cutie Mc'cutie!!!

Oh my gosh Makenzie cracks me up!! So today we all went for our flu shot...uck! 2nd attempt...Friday was our 1st appointment and they ran out of shots so we had to go back today. Makenzie being 3 years old was not so excited about being poked...with Zach we just distract him, they poke, he cries, we comfort, all is well...with Maki not so easy. She knew today was the dreadful day...we talked about it all AM...she negotiated and tried to rationalize as best as any 3 year old could..."I don't want to go Mommy!"..."I'm tired Mommy, I need a nap! Put me to bed!" yes, she would rather go to bed than get a shot...me too! ;) So there we were in the Dr.'s office, the nurse comes in, Maki starts crying and throws 1 of her worst tantrums EVER! Thankfully Daddy was there to help! Gary holds her while she continues to scream, the nurse puts alcohol on her arm then puts the shot in...while the shot is still being injected Makenzie screams out "THANK YOU!" and says "that didn't hurt at all!" my little nugget is so cute! Gosh I love this child! So all the stressing out for nothing!