Zach turns 1!

It must be a second kid thing since already 2 weeks have passed and I didn't post pictures or a blog about poor Zach's birthday!

It's so hard to believe our baby turned one!  He has been such a great addition to our family and is such an easy going and sweet little guy!  He is starting to show us that he may have a little temper and raises his voice at us occasionally!  :) lovely!

I was filling out his baby book and it has a line for: All the things I learned how to do this year.  It really is amazing how far they come in a year.  Here are just some off of the top of my head.  Zach has learned to sit up, crawl, walk and run.  He has learned to grab a spoon and now feed himself.  He has learned to point and make us try and guess what he wants.  He has learned how to say mama, dada, ni-night, hi, bye all on demand.  He learned how to push his brother's buttons, and how to wrestle.  He knows how to climb the stairs and is working on his jump.He has learned how to sleep through the night (mostly) and so much more. It's fun to look back and see how much they do grow and change throughout the year.

For Zach's birthday we had a low key day but he did get to go and pick out a new toy all by himself at Target.  He loved the freedom of wandering the aisles.  We then all went out to dinner to celebrate!  A week later we celebrated 2 other neighborhood birthdays together with a block party.  All Zach's friends and family were able to help us celebrate with a firetruck, ambulance, police car and pony rides!  We all had a great time and Zach especially loved his cake!  Present opening he could take or leave.  After opening one he wanted to play with it and not move on to the next.  Big brother Jackson gladly helped him finish opening :)

I'm glad the sleepless nights seem like a long time ago but the time has really gone by so fast!  I'm hoping the second year goes just a little slower!  Happy birthday sweet boy!!

Preschool

Where oh where has the time gone.   Wasn't this just yesterday?

Or was this yesterday??

No?? I swear it was this!!

We got to meet Jackson's teachers last week for the first time and the entire way there he kept asking me their names.  Repeating them over and over as if he was trying to commit them to memory.  It was so sweet!  We got to play around for a little bit and be on our way.  Jackson really was upset that he didn't get to stay longer and he wanted me to leave so he could have school BY HIMSELF!!

This morning came all too quickly and when Jackson woke up he wasn't really excited for school.  "I want 3 more days", he said. (Me too buddy)!  His attitude quickly changed when he remembered he had a donut waiting for his breakfast (thanks daddy). After a quick breakfast we were off and I dropped off Jackson for his first day of preschool, he was so happy and as I walked him in he made sure this was the real deal, I wasn't staying with him this time!

Jackson wants to be a scuba diver so he can wear flippers and dive in the water! 

He really had a great time and when I asked him how school was, his first reply was, "we got to have a snack!", followed quickly by, "did you bring me lunch?".  Luckily I did!! Between bites he told me about school, playing with bubbles,we poured water on ice so it melted, it was hot outside, we didn't play on a playground, we read a story, my favorite thing was the construction hats, we had milk, I played with Logan-we walked around together.

He really had fun and is taking a great nap to prove that right now!  I'm so glad he had such an awesome first day and I pray he is excited to go back on Wednesday!! Where did my little baby go???

A 3 year old, a 6 month old and a mom who can't quite keep up!

out for a walk

Well its been another couple of months and no updates yet again.  Remember the days WAY back when, when updated monthly on things Jackson was doing.  Those days seem to be long gone so I will try and catch you up.

 Zach is now 6 months old (for a few more days at least) and is changing oh so quickly!  He has had so many firsts just this last month.  He is now rolling both from his back to his front and front to back.  He got his first tooth with the second just about to pop through.  He can now sit up without help, until I walk away for a second then he is sure to fall over and hit his head! The one that gets me the most is he would really love to stand without help and is even try to move those little feet!! I'm really really not ready for him to start walking.  The BEST thing he has started doing this month is to let his mom and dad get a little more, well a lot more, sleep at night!! He sleeps for about 12 hours at night and only eats at about 10:30 and 5:30!  I can handle that!!! We had a few rough cry it out nights but we all seem to be much happier now!!! Zach had his 6 month checkup and is really growing!  He weighed 17.4 lbs and was 28 inches long! He is such a happy baby and I can tell he is going to be a mover just like his big brother!!!

Speaking of Jackson, he celebrated his third birthday on March 23 It was all things pirate for him and he couldn't be happier with all the things he got!! He seems to think he is going to have another birthday soon though :).  Jackson loves to play with his Jake and the Neverland Pirate ships, hideouts, swords, you name it if it's pirate I think he has it!! (spoiled much?!?! Never!!)  He is constantly amazing us with all the words he knows, maybe better yet, I'm not sure there is a word he doesn't know(minus the bad ones!!)  Jackson is also really growing he weighed in at 32.2 lbs and 39 inches. He has definitely developed his own opinion and can really keep us on our toes pushing the limits and finding his boundaries.  He is oh so sweet and loves his baby brother and his family so much!  He loves giving us kisses and telling us he loves us, and he will dream about us.  Lately, even tells me how he wants to pray for us.  I think both he and I and everyone else in Iowa are really ready for spring so we can get out of the house and do some playing!  Jackson got a real bike this year so I think he will keep us busy chasing him around all summer!  (see what Jackson was doing at 6 months  here)

 Life is going great, we're all happy, healthy, and we can't wait to see what the next 6 months or 3 years brings!

Life Lately

It seems like lately I have been seeing all of these posts about stay at home moms.  I tend to always read them and "like and share" them on facebook or wherever they come from. Usually because they're exactly right on with the madness and happiness of what just one single day can bring.  Then I got to thinking I hope people don't go around feeling sorry for me or other SAHM. Because truly most days I couldn't be happier. This is a life I choose. Life is crazy and some days there are more tears than laughs for everyone but I wouldn't change it, even if I do sometimes search for jobs on the internet!! So here is a little updates from our crazy busy WONDERFUL life.

Jackson is just about to turn 3 in March and gave me a run for my money last week with a bout of terrible twos.  He is basically back to his normal Pirate Loving self now with a nasty cold and running nose that hits the floor when he sneezes.  He loves running around in his Jake and the Neverland Pirates underwear and his Iowa State blanket on his head and it's a constant battle to keep clothes on him.  But he is happy and funny and oh so sweet MOST of the time.  Some of my favorite quotes as of lately are:

ME: Jackson what happened to your nose (with a giant scratch down the side of it)
J: I was pulling boogers out!
Ah how lovely and honest he can be!!!

Another equally discusting:
Me: Jackson lets wipe your nose.
J: No I lick it!!
Followed closely by MA (not mom or mommy) I not feeling very well...
Gee I wonder why!

I swear he is not gross all the time! Some other favorites are, "mom I'm going to dream about you! and Zach and Daddy and all of us"  So sweet!!

And he has been telling me a lot how he Wuvs me.  Doesn't get much better than that!!

Now Zach is full of his own little spunk.  He is 5 months old today and I have no idea how time goes so fast!  He is laughing and rolling over and talking and squealing in a really LOUD way!!! He hardly ever cries for me, just for others... He recently found his feet and loves to try and get his toes in his mouth.  He has a sensitive stomach it seems and can keep us up much of the night some nights.  Mostly he is an easy baby!

Life here is great and we couldn't be happier. Some days you just might have to remind me :)