*happy birthday!*

Our sweet baby boy turned ONE YEAR OLD a week ago. I have lots of blog posts to write about his birthday, his party and the fun things he has been up to this past month. I have been pretty nostalgic and reminiscing about what our lives were like a year ago and thinking about all the things that have happened in this past year. I went back {for better or worse) and read through his birth story and looked at all the pictures of this past year. His first day, first bath, first time rolling over, etc. It has been such a fun year! I am so incredibly thankful to the Lord for our sweet boy. He is truly one of the best presents that I have ever received in my entire life. He is irreplaceable. Zach brings so much joy into our lives. Yes, it has been a challenging year navigating parenthood and all that entails, but it is so worth it.

Our little family of three had a wonderful day celebrating Zach's birthday. I made Zach pancakes for breakfast, one of his favorites. I decided to get a little festive and added sprinkles and made his in the shape of the number 1. I think this may become a new tradition for Zach and any other future kiddos for their birthdays. He gobbled the whole thing right down! He had his regular morning routine of playing, napping, playing some more and then lunch. We woke Dad up and headed out to the Children's Museum. Our family has season passes to the museum and we thought it would be a fun way for Zach to celebrate his birthday, something completely dedicated to him having fun. Well, it turns out the Children's Museum is closed every Wednesday. Big flop and big bummer. We were trying to figure out what to do. Go to the zoo? Go to the park? The Georgia Aquarium is right next door and so Justin suggested that we take him there. Zach had never been to the aquarium before and we knew he would love it.

And he did LOVE it! When we were in line to hand our tickets over and enter, there are two large tanks of fish swimming back and forth. When Zach saw them he kept pointing and loudly talking in eager excitement. We could have stayed all day at those two tanks and he would have been completely happy. Zach was so mesmerized by everything he saw: all the fish, sharks, ginormous whale sharks, sting rays, beluga whales, sea horses, crabs, penguins, jellyfish, and so much more. It was so cute to see him so excited and  babbling and he pointed to the glass and tried to tell us what he saw.

After a couple hours at the aquarium, he stopped by Sprinkles cupcakes and picked up some cupcakes for his birthday celebration. We had dinner at home, put a candle in his cupcake and sang him happy birthday. He clapped when we said, "Yay! Happy Birthday!" It was so fun and such a memorable experience to watch him eat his first cupcake. He poked his finger in a few times and then the light bulb went on and you could see he knew it was good. It was both hands in, legs kicking, frosting and cake all over the place and lots of 'Mmmmm's'. He loved the cake and was a big mess. It was straight into the bathtub, and dad cleaning the kitchen for 40 mins!

It was such a fun and memorable day that we had together as a family celebrating our sweet boy turning one!

And.... lots of pictures :)

 

 

 first time seeing the fish

 

 look! fish!

 so much to see. 

 sea turtle. 

penguins.

 love this picture!

 jellyfish. i love all his pointing. 

 looking at the whale shark.

 love his little pose.

 

 probably his favorite part- walking/crawling through the vapor

 aquarium selfie. 

 

 singing happy birthday!

 

 

 look!

 

mission accomplished.

Eleven Months!

It is making me pretty sad that this will be the last of your 'monthly' updates, because your next post will be your YEARLY one! I am amazed that it has already been one whole year! This time last year, we were celebrating your Northern Baby Shower, washing all your clothes for the first time, preparing to move, working on your nursery, teaching my last weeks of school, preparing my maternity leave sub plans, stressing because the doctor told me I would not make it to April and what do you know, you're 6 days late, and eagerly awaiting to meet you!

This month has been a very busy one in terms of travel. We had some visitors and traveled here and there to have some fun. This month also included our biggest trial that we have had with you so far- you got chicken pox :( Since you are not 12-15 months yet, you have not had your vaccine. It has been so terrible to see you completely covered in the spots, trying to scratch them and not knowing how, and being just utterly uncomfortable. It is also causing some sleep deprived and cabin fever parents since we can't take you out in public! Thankfully you are slowly recovering and becoming more of yourself again.

Here is a look at  the fun we had this month:

• With the weather warming up we have been doing a lot more activities outside. Some of my favorites are going on walks downtown and playing at the playground. I am at an age where I can crawl through the playground and explore different things. 

• My Aunt Hillary, Grandpa and Nana came to visit us!

• I learned to knee-walk behind my motorcycle walker and then very quickly figured out how to walk behind it. 
• Went to the zoo with my mom, Aunt, Hillary, Aunt Jen and Aunt Debbie. My favorite part was my mom making the gorilla sound and beating her chest. I learned to make that sound too and hit her chest. 

• Went to Chattanooga, TN for the day and spent some time with my relatives who live in California. 

• Went on my first boat ride. I really enjoyed standing on mommy's lap and looking out the window. 

• Daddy got a new Xbox One where he and Mommy can talk to it and tell it what to do. I try to talk to it too and I get my very special 'xbox voice.' It is more commanding than my normal voice and my inflections sound just like Mom and Dad's when they talk to it. 

• Went on my first spring break to West Palm Beach, Florida! 

• Went to the beach for the first time and LOVED it! I loved playing in the sand, splashing the water in my bucket, standing in the surf waiting for the waves to come in. 

• Watched my Uncle Ryan play lacrosse. I was a little confused and would clap after the other team scored ;)
• The day after we got back from Florida my mom noticed a spot behind my ear, then four spots on my back. She showed them to my nurse Aunt Jen and she thought it might be chicken pox. The next day I went to the doctor, and sure enough I had chicken pox! The spots just kept spreading and spreading and they itched really bad but I didn't know how to scratch them. Thankfully, I don't think I am getting any more spots, but I have to wait for them to scab over before I am not contagious anymore. I have been confined to home for the last week. The only time I get to go out is on walks around the neighborhood. It has not been fun at all :(

• I am still very much attached to mom. When I am playing, I have to 'check-in' with her every 5 minutes to make sure she is still there. 
• I have started repeating sounds that people make more often. I also learned the word Uh-Oh and can now say it in context (when I drop something) by saying Uh-Uh!
• I also enjoy imitating things people do: making different sounds with my tongue, 'cooking' like mommy, drumming like daddy. I am also getting a pretty good memory. For example, if there is a basket of clothes in the hallway, I will take out a piece of clothing and go toward the washing machine and try to put it in, or if mommy hands me a spice container, I like to sprinkle it over the pot just as I saw her do.
• My favorite show is Curious George.

• I have started to do this fun crawl where I extend my back legs and walk. 

• I have been able to stand all by myself for a couple seconds just a few times. 
• I got another tooth making my tooth count 6! Chicken pox and teething at the same time is just awesome. 
• I enjoy drumming!

Statistics:
Weight: 21.6 lbs [estimate]
Height: 31.5 inches [estimate]
Nicknames: Zachy, Zachy Doodle, Doodle, Doodle Bug, Bugaboo
Likes: Water/Splashing, Baths, Walking behind his motorcycle or walker, Taking object out of cabinets, Dropping objects over cabinet doors and saying 'Uh-Uh', Putting bath toys in the bathtub, Music, Curious George, Go Fish Songs, 'If You're Happy and You Know it', Talking to the xbox, Peek-a-boo books, books, giving kisses, Blueberries, Apples, Pears 
Dislikes: Being away from mom, Itching from Chicken Pox, Being confined (Jumperoo, High chair) when knowing it is to keep him from crawling all over the place
Clothing: Tops: 12 months. Bottoms: 12 months. Sleepers: 18 months. Diapers: Size 3. Shoes: Size 3

Milestones:
6th tooth [bottom left lateral incisor]: 3.15.14
Pointing to objects
Cruising along couches, tables, cabinets
Walking with assistance
Words: Uh-Oh (Uh-Uh)


11th Month Pictures:
I contemplated whether or not to take 11 month pictures because my poor baby is all covered in chicken pox :( But I decided that it is part of life, and his 11 months still needs to be documented. And, we all had chicken pox years and years ago before the vaccine came out, so he is now part of the club.

A Note from Mom: 

Well Zach Attack- here is it, your last monthly update. You have had quite the adventurous and full month this past month. We took some roadtrips and did some major traveling. As always, you did a great job in the car, as long as you are entertained ;) You experienced the beach and ocean for the first time and it was such a joy to watch you. You loved the sand and exploring [and tasting] the new texture. You were also a big fan of the waves and got so excited watching them come closer to you, you would stand on your tippy toes :) After that high of going to the beach and having so much fun with your grandparents, aunts and uncle, you got chicken pox :( It was not a fun experience for you or me or your dad, but it just broke my heart to see you get more and more spots and try to itch them. We had lots of cuddles, sleepless nights and doses of medicine together.

You are at such a fun age and I love interacting with you. You are quite the little chatterbox babbler and are actually picking up more sounds and I can tell that you will probably start rattling off more words here. Your new favorite word is Uh-Oh 'Uh-Uh'. You will purposely drop and item and say 'Uh-Uh'. You are getting to be quite the little copy cat and like to imitate and do things and other people are doing. My favorite thing is when we are playing together and something all of a sudden is funny to you and you get your deep belly laugh. I don't think there is any other better sound in the world than your laugh. You are such a joy.

I have been thinking a lot lately of what our life was like a year ago. We were wondering what you would look like and be like. You, me boy (shout out to Nana- she calls you that), have exceeded my expectations. I love having you in my life and sharing every moment with you. Yes, there are times that are difficult and overwhelming, especially when you are attached to me every second of the day and it makes it hard to get anything done. But at the end of the day, when I get you dressed in your pj's, read you your bedtime story, pray for you and have our last snuggles of the day, I thank Jesus that you are in my life. You are worth the 24/7 non-stop, sleepless nights but oh-so fulfilling days. I love you sweet, boy.

Get ready for an awesome 1st birthday party!!