Check Out These Numbers

I took Zachary to the doctor for his sixth month appointment!  He is growing well, but is still my little peanut.  He weighs 14 pounds 11 ounces and is 26 inches long.  Dr. V. was very happy with his development.  He said I should start feeding him three meals of solids a day! 

I have an app on my phone where I can keep track of Zachary's eating, sleeping and dirty diapers.  It is really the only way I can remember the last time I fed him or what time he woke up from his last nap.  Who needs a pen and paper when you have the iPhone?

Since birth Zachary has nursed 1,581 times for a total of 207 hours.  I have pumped 2.1 gallons of milk, and he has had 88 bottles.  I have changed a total of 1100 diapers!

Half Birthday

Zachary,

Happy Half Birthday!  For six months you have been a part of this family, and I can barely remember what life was like before you were born. We love you so very much.  You remind me of your sister with your social personality.  Nowadays you hardly ever want to nurse during the day, because you are too busy turning your head to see what Alex and Isabella are doing.  You smile that toothless grin at everyone and look at them expectantly, wanting them to entertain you! You carry on whole conversations, and we all wonder what you are saying! You remind me of your brother by being a sweetheart yet all boy at the same time.  You grab our faces and pull them towards you to "kiss" us.  You love to cuddle in the morning.  You look so much like Alex as a baby, yet you have your own look about you too!  Alex always tells everyone, "He looks just like me when I was a baby, but I was fatter!"  That is very true.  I am loving putting you in Alex's baby clothes and taking your picture. 

You are a lucky little boy, because your brother and sister cannot get enough of you.  Alex calls you "Zacky" and Isabella calls you, "My baby." I'm pretty sure you are the most kissed and hugged baby in the world.  Sometimes I literally have to pull them away from you.  But you adore them and the attention they give you.

So many more firsts this month...

I finally decided to put you in your crib for naps and bedtime.  I miss you so much, but you love spreading out in your crib and listening to the same mobile Alex used listen to when he was falling asleep.  And since you are still waking up to nurse once or twice in the middle of the night, we still get our quiet time together.  I sit in the rocker in your room and we cuddle up under a blanket, and I rock you as you make up for all the time you didn't want to nurse during the day!  And as nice as it would be to get more than 3 or 4 hours of sleep in a row, I promise I don't mind getting up with you.  I could cry when I think about how fleeting this time is, how quickly you are growing up.  I am enjoying every second of you being my baby. 

This month you also tried formula, apples, peaches, sweet potatoes, and avocado for the first time.  You like the veggies better than the fruits.  You gobbled up half of a avocado for lunch yesterday. 

You went to Ocean City for the first (second and third) time too. On your first morning there, we watched the sun rise over the ocean.  It is something I will never forget. You've been to all the hot spots - Fish Tales, Tequila Mockingbird, and Grottos!  I lathered you in sunscreen, put clothes with SPF in them on you, sit you under the umbrella and your little arms still got tan!  You take after Alex in that way too!  You saw your first fireworks show!  You loved them!  As Izzy said, "You just stared and stared at the fireworks.  Not moving.  Not even blinking."

You are learning so much.  You try to clap your hands, you love playing with your toes, you say "de de de de" over and over.  You love to stand in your exersaucer and play.  And you are practicing sitting up by yourself.

This afternoon, we will celebrate the first six months of you life.  We will eat half a cake that I baked and give you a few little gifts that we picked out!  And I will make two wishes - one for me and one for you.  My wish I know will not come true, but I will hope and pray for it anyway!  I will wish for the next six months to go slowly.  I want you to stay my cuddly, slobberly, chubby little bubba for as long as possible.  And your wish has already come true - I will wish for you to be the sweetest, happiest, most adored little boy a family could ever love! 

A few more things I never want to forget about you at six months...

 You suck your thumb, your pacifier, my hand, but you more often than not fall asleep with the leg of your stuffed toy in your mouth.  You love to stick out your tongue and blow bubbles.  You love the water - the bath, the pool, the sink.  You kick your feet all the time, and you rub them together when your belly hurts.  You love, love, love to be naked.  You think it is so funny when I take your clothes off and say, "Naked Baby!"  You can be fussy and temperamental at times, but I can usually talk, sing, hug, kiss and dance you out of your bad moods.  And I hope that for all your life, I can be the one you come to when you need to feel better.  I will always be there with a smile and a hug.

I love you sweet boy! 

Mommy

5 Months Old

Well Sweetie, it has been a long few days.  You have been feeling pretty sick.  Last night I held you from 10 pm to 8 am this morning.  And although I quite exhausted and I hate for you to be sick, I loved cuddling you all night!  I took you to the doctor today, and you have an ear infection.  It is understandable that you have been cranky since you are not sleeping well. Of course, that did not stop you from flirting and smiling with the lady at the pharmacy.  Even sick, you are quite the charmer. 

We have had a busy few weeks, of course all of our weeks are busy!  It is now summertime and you have already been to your fair share of bbq's and pool days. Tommorrow we leave for the beach for a few days.  Your first time in Ocean City! We will celebrate Father's Day with Daddy and Pop and Pop Pop.  Speaking of Daddy, you sure do know your Daddy.  In the morning, I will bring you  in bed with us and you will stare and coo at him until he opens his eyes.  Then you smile the biggest smile in all the world.  You love your Daddy!

You tried cereal last week for the first time.  I am pretty sure you spit every bit of it out.  We will try again soon.  I think once you realize all the good things out there to eat, like fruits and veggies, you will be gobbling up food in no time.  You are my peanut.  You weighed 14 pounds today at the doctor, but you are growing and it is amazing how strong you are! You love when we play "SO BIG!" You are so proud of yourself! 

One of my favorite things that you are doing these days, is when I hold you, you hang onto the front of my shirt.  It is so sweet, like you are saying, "I gotcha.  Don't put me down." And sometimes you get that thumb in your mouth and as much I as don't want you to be a "thumb sucker," there really is nothing cuter in the whole world. 

I can't believe that in one short month, I will be writing your six month letter. Please say it isn't so!

 I love you sweet, sweet, sweet, boy. 

Mommy

Six and One Half

Happy Half Birthday, Alex.  Another half of a year has gone by.  In the past six months, you have grown so much!    You have played lacrosse with equipment. You have earned both your green and blue belts in karate as well as the Self Control, Academic Achievement, and Kada patches. You have started tennis lessons.  You have joined the swim team.   You have finished Kindergarten with a glowing report from your teacher.  You can read just about anything we put in front of you.  You love to draw and write stories and jokes and do word searches.  And it is almost scary how quickly you can do math problems.  A few weeks ago, I told you that you have 10 full days and 2 half days or 12 days of school left.  Without missing a beat, you said, "No mom.  10 + 1/2 + 1/2 = 11."  And last week I told you I spent $80 on two pairs of shoes.  You said, "Each?"  I said, "No. All together."  You responded, "Oh.  So they were each $40." It really is amazing how fast that brain of yours works.

You have a new baby brother.  You think he is the best thing in the world (along with your sister, of course). He laughs and smiles at you like you hung the moon.  I have to agree with him. I am in awe of you.  I watch you from a distance. You have come into your own. You have so many friends.  I love that you play so nicely with boys and girls, older and younger.  We will be at the pool or a party and I won't see you for hours.  Then I will catch a glimpse of you running, laughing, playing.  Just so happy.  And more often than not, when Isabella is near, I see you patiently waiting for her to catch up, or leading her by the hand.  You really are such an amazing big brother.   

You are learning the art of compromise, and I can see the pride in your eyes when you please us.  You are willing to try new things - both at dinner and in life, whereas six months ago you were sometimes a little timid. You used to not want to try new things because you didn't want to fail, but now more and more you are taking chances and will try and try until you find success.  You are learning that it is okay not to win as long as you are having fun...such an important lesson in sports and in life. 

This morning we were talking about how when you turned six, Zachary wasn't here yet.  You said he was the best present you have ever gotten. I said, "Hey what about me?  Without me you wouldn't be here."  You said, "I'd have another mom."  I said, "No you wouldn't, because you needed part of me and part of daddy to be you."  You said, "Oh yeah, I got the boy part from Dad.  And the nice part from you."  Oh such a flatterer and a teaser all rolled into one boy!

Some things never change.You have the cutest feet and the most expressive brown eyes. You continue to love music and dancing. And you love an audience! You want things to go your way and always have a reason why. You are a rule follower (most of the time). You are sweet and  kind and empathetic and have the biggest heart.  I love you so much baby boy. 

Momma <3

Four Months Old

Dear Zachary,

You are four months old today. You are getting to be such a big boy.  You have started sleeping in the bassinet. You are still in arms reach of me, but you love having your own little space to cuddle up with your bunny.  I turn on the sound of the waves and tell you that you are at the beach.  You roll onto your left side and go to sleep.  Most nights you go to bed between 6:30 and 7:30 and sleep for several hours before you wake up for a midnight snack.  You are an early riser - usually waking up around 6:00 ready to start the day.  (One morning you woke up at 4:30 wanting to talk and play).  Even though I am not a fan of waking up early, it is nice to have that time just me and you.  I make a cup of coffee, and we go into your room.  I nurse you and then we play and I read to you. We are working on your nap schedule.  Most days you are asleep for two hours and awake for two hours.  But some days you only take 30 minute catnaps.  It is as if you are afraid of missing something. 

You love to stand up and you try to sit up too.  You love getting your diaper changed. I think you just like to be naked.  You think it is hysterical when I smell your "stinky feet." You have even started to reach for them.  You have also found your thumb.  You look so cute when you fall asleep with it in your mouth, but I am still trying to dissuade you and give you the pacifier in its place. 

 I love watching your little personality develop.  Or should I say big personality? I call you my little Zack-a-Doodle. And you think it is so funny. You laugh that belly laugh. I call it the Beynon Laugh.  You love to be in the center of everything. I call you the Community Baby because you are happiest around people. You will gladly go from arm to arm, person to person, just as long as they talk to you you and bounce you up and down!

You are getting so big, so quickly.  I could swear you just want to be doing what Alex and Isabella are doing.  And I am not sure I like it.  I want you to stay my tiny little baby.  My little cuddle bug. So slow down little man and snuggle up to your Momma.  There is plenty of time for growing up.  Please stay little just a little bit longer. 

I love you - Mommy

Mother's Day 2012

Alex, Isabella and Zachary,

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.  I always look forward to this day.  It is the one day I have an excuse to sit back and let Daddy do all the work.  But more importantly, tomorrow I will celebrate having the three most wonderful children a Mommy could ever want.  It is not always easy being the Momma. But there is nothing more rewarding.  I love how you love one another. And I am so proud of the loyalty and love you have for our family.  I know that if nothing else, you have learned this from me.  Family means the world to me.  

If I seem a little sad, tomorrow, do not worry.  I am just missing my grandmas...two of the loveliest ladies that I have ever known.  Grandma Mela and Grandma John are the ones who instilled the value of family in all who have come before you. To them, family was everything!!!

You are so blessed to have so many amazing women in your family - grandmothers, godmothers,  aunts, and cousins.  They are strong and have hearts of gold . Tomorrow we will celebrate them and the love they have for you.  Know that each and every one of them would do anything for you.  And for this reason,  my sweets, you are the luckiest kids in the universe. 

And I am the luckiest Mommy. Tomorrow and everyday, I thank you.  You make my heart happy.  You bring me joy like nothing else in this world.  You are the reason I strive to be the best person I can be. You make me feel like a beautiful princess despite my flaws. You make me proud everyday. You are my heaven on earth. 
I love you, my babies.

Love, Mommy

“Our family is a circle of love and strength. With every birth and every union, the circle grows. Every joy shared adds more love. Every obstacle faced together makes the circle stronger.”

Three Months Old

Dear Zachary,

Three months. 90 days. A quarter of a year. That is how long you have been on this Earth. It is such a short time in the grand scheme of things, but as your mommy, I cannot imagine a time when you weren’t here. And neither can my arms. I hold you most of the day. Usually in the morning, you will nap in your car seat while I run errands, but the rest of the day you want to be in my arms. The only time you like to be put down is when you are in the bath or when we lay down and talk to you. You love to have “little conversations.” We talk and then you coo and laugh back. You really have some important things you want to say. I love when you mimic my facial expressions too. If I frown, you furrow your eyebrows with worry.You smile when I smile, and just like your brother your smile reaches your eyes. Like this...

You are such a social little boy. You want to be a part of everything. You refuse to be ignored, not that we could ever ignore you! You are too cute.

You are a hungry little guy. One of my favorite things that you are doing these days is while you are nursing you will stop and look at me and wait. When I start to talk to you, you smile and coo at me. Then you go back to nursing for a minute or two. And then you do it again. And again. It really is the most endearing thing ever.

This month we went on a family vacation to Florida. You hold the record in our family for youngest to fly on an airplane (11 weeks). You were an angel on the plane. Of course you were, because I held you all snuggled up and you slept the whole time. We spent the week in a cabana by the pool. You put your feet in the pool and the ocean.

The other night Alex was saying his prayers. He said, “Thank God for my baby brother.” I said, “He sure is a gift from God.” He responded, “Zachary is the best gift ever.” That is saying a lot from the boy who has more toys than any kid I know. But I agree. Along with your brother and sister, you are the best gifts in the world. I couldn’t ask for more.

Happy 3 Months,
Mommy

2 Months Old

Dear Zachary,
Two months ago today, I had no idea that it would be the day you would come into my life and change it forever. But you were ready. It was if you couldn’t wait another second to become the final piece in our family puzzle.

In the past month, you have grown so much, both physically and socially. Your “unofficial” 2-month weight is 11 pounds. Alex stood on the scale and weighed 40 pounds and then he held you on the scale and weighed 51 pounds. You have started to laugh out loud. When you hear our voices you turn and look into our eyes, waiting to see what we will say or sing to make you smile and laugh. When you aren’t looking at us you are staring at the ceiling fans and lights!

It seems as though I may have created a monster…You hate to be put down. You want me to hold you all day. You love to snuggle, and I love holding you. You are now strong enough to push back and hold your head so you can look at me.

You are my little sidekick. You go everywhere with me. Ladies Lunches, BUNCO, book club, ballet, karate, Wegmans. We have been blessed with some warm weather so we have been able to take some long walks in the neighborhood. We have only been apart for a few hours. In fact, you are in the bassinet right now fussing because you want your momma. It was the first nap you took in another room and it lasted a whole ten minutes! That’s okay baby because I missed you too.

Alex calls you Zacky. He needs to hold you every day. He hugs and kisses you each morning before school and each evening before bed. He reads you books. Last night he read Put Me in the Zoo. He told me yesterday, “Mommy. I don’t want Zachary to get bigger.” Me neither, Alex!

Isabella calls you Zack-a-Rack and she has a song that goes with it. Pop Pop taught it to her and she sings it all day every day! She says you are the cutest person in our family. She asks me all the time when you are going to be able to eat real food.

Daddy calls you his little buddy. He loves you so much. He holds you at night and you watch television together. He says you look just like him. I see it too!

I call you perfect. Happy 2 Month Birthday my sweet perfect baby. I love you so much.
Mommy

Half Birthday!

Dear Isabella,

Today is your half birthday! You were so excited to tell everyone that you are three and a half. We celebrated with green egg (cookies) and ham at school yesterday since your half birthday fell on the same day as Wacky Wednesday. Today we went to the playground and your best friend, Kaitlyn, even gave you a half birthday present – you lucky girl.

Another six months have gone by and you remind us every day that you are getting bigger. Daddy and I hate to hear it. I love the age you are right now even if at the end of the day I am exhausted from keeping up with you. From morning to night, you go, go, go. You talk, talk, talk. You are busy, busy, busy. You are so independent and can entertain yourself for hours. You love to play Lalaloopsy, Barbie, Dress-Up, and My Little Ponies. You pretend you are a mommy, and you take such good care of your “childrens.”

And even though you are happy playing by yourself or with me, you are happiest when you have friends around. You love to have play dates and are already asking to have sleepovers. You are really becoming such a good friend. You are learning to share, you care about others, you are compassionate, you like everyone. You describe everyone you meet as your “friend.” Your incredible imagination makes for amazing games and adventures. Your little friends are lucky to have you in their lives.

I was so nervous six months ago when you started school. You had just turned three, and I was worried because you seemed so young. It seems my fears were completely unwarranted. You love school and everyone in school loves you. Your teacher, Mrs. Poe, describes you as empathetic, kind and spunky. You have learned so much. You know most of your letters and sounds, you can spell your name (and Alex’s), and you are learning to write it. You can count into the 20’s. I am amazed at all the wonderful things you are learning about plants, Eric Carle (you told me he made the pictures in his books using tissue paper), music, and manners. Your favorite part of school is playing outside with your friends and fingerpainting.

You are such a great sister. You have such a perfect spot in our family – bookended by boys who love you so. Today you wanted to play with Alex and all his friends. He took your hand in his and included you in their game. It is so sweet how he takes care of you. Zachary – you call him Zacky- looks right in your eyes when you sing to him. You are a wonderful helper. If you hear him fussing in his swing or bassinet, you go over to him and give him his nippy and talk to him. He always stops crying when you are near.

Beauty and the Beast is still your favorite movie. You make Pop watch it with you every time you see him because “it’s his favorite movie too.” You went with Grandma, Pop and Sophie to see it in 3D at the movies.

You love stuffed animals, and you have so many of them. You play with them all day. Everywhere I look is another stuffed animal taking a nap on a pillow, sitting in the stroller, lined up in the playroom. And I think you have a dozen giraffes and you have to sleep with them every night.

You love going to My Gym, Ballet class, the Bug Playground; wearing dresses, jewelry, and your red cowboy boots; taking bubble baths; watching “girl shows” on TV; drinking hot tea with two sugar cubes; eating lunch at Panera and Jason’s Deli; shopping at Greetings and Readings; listening to bedtime stories; and doing art projects.

At three and a half, you are head strong, smart, hilarious, and my sweet girl. My heart melts when you want me to lay with you at night. When I ask you to close your eyes, you say “I just want to look at you, Mommy.” And there is nothing better than hearing you say, “Mommy, you are my best friend.” I am so blessed to have you as my daughter, Isabella Grace. And even though I cannot stop you from getting “bigger and bigger,” I can cherish these moments and look forward to what the future holds for you... I have no doubt it will hold the best life has to offer, because YOU won’t have it any other way!

Love you with all my heart, my best girl…Mommy

1 Month Old

Dear Zachary,

You are one month old today. This past month has gone by so quickly. We have had so many visitors – friends and family wanting to love on you! I don’t blame them. You are the most lovable, cuddly, little guy. There is nothing you like more than to snuggle up on my chest. And at night, I break “all the rules.” You wake up to nurse, and then I lay you right next to me to sleep. You love to be close. And I cannot bear to be away from you. You are my last baby. I am treasuring every second. I don’t mind for one minute having to get up with you in the middle of the night. This morning, I know I was supposed to fold the laundry, but I found myself cuddling on the sofa with you instead. I seem to do that every chance I get. I know these moments are fleeting. You have already grown so much in just one short month.

This month you had your first bath, you went to three family parties, and you realized your arms could move and reach out. You love to smile. At first you would smile as you drifted off to sleep. Now you smile when you are awake too. You have the most adorable open-mouthed smile. Even your eyes smile. You love when I sing to you, especially “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." You lay on your gym mat and look in the mirror. You must be thinking, "Hey, that's a good looking kid." You love when Alex and Isabella talk to you. You stare right into their faces. At bedtime you lay in their beds and we read stories. Then you go back downstairs with me for more snuggle time.

You are still a sleepy boy, but now have several times a day where you are alert. You cry only a little bit, usually when I put you down. I pick you up and tell you it is going to be okay, and you sigh and look into my eyes. I hope you know I will do whatever I can to make sure you feel loved and safe everyday of your life.

Today we went to the doctor for your “1 Month Well Visit.” You weigh 9 lbs 8 oz and are 21.5 inches long. You are getting so big. I am so happy that you are thriving, but it is bittersweet. I am excited to watch you grow and continue to develop what I already see as a sweet, social personality, but on the other hand I would freeze time if I could. Never in my life have I wanted time to stop so badly. As a mother, I am in heaven. I can’t imagine that I could be happier than I am right now. I want Alex and Isabella to stay 6 and 3 and you to stay my newborn. Maybe it is because you are my last baby. Or maybe it is because you are the perfect little baby, but I want to hold you in my arms and have you nuzzle up on my neck for the rest of my life. I want to breathe in that sweet baby smell and touch that soft skin and kiss those chubby cheeks. So often these days I think of this poem when I tell myself, “I will put him down in just a few more minutes”…and then I don’t …

The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for Children grow up,
as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep......
~Author Unknown ~

I love you, my youngest, my heart.
Mommy