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 :)

2 month old Zach

Hard to believe it has already been 10 weeks since Zach has been born.  Time always moves so fast especially around the holidays it seems.  So here is a little update since I didn't do one for his one month.  I figure at one month all he did was sleep anyways.

At 2 months, it's not a whole lot different.  Zach still sleep a lot!  He is doing pretty well at night going from about 7:30 pm to about 3 without waking up to eat. Then he is right back to sleep until 5 to eat back to sleep again until 6 or today 7!! Want to bet I'll be up every hour tonight since I was bragging about him sleeping well??? Probably!

Zach is a snuggly little man, he loves being held right up close and tight.  He has started smiling lots and "talking" in his little coos and sometimes I swear he is saying "hi" back to me.  He has really started to be aware of his feet and loves if he is kicking something that makes noise.  He does pretty well on his tummy and will sometimes just fall asleep instead of trying to lift that heavy head!

I think the rest of us have done a pretty good job adjusting to having an new family member.  Jackson loves his brother and tries to help give him a pacifier and shush him when he cries.  He is always talking in a sweet voice to him and loves when "his eyes are open".  Jackson has also taken to "nursing" his baby and thinks he would like to nurse himself which is an interesting concept to get across that he gets to eat real food not milk from mommy.  He will be embarrassed some day :)

Until next month (well only 2 more weeks until he is 3 months old)

My Grandpa

Mother's Day 2013

Hard to believe it's almost been 6 months since we lost my grandpa.  It feels like yesterday and for some reason tonight I just can't get him off my mind.

To the man that said I sure hope I make it until September to meet our new baby boy.  Unfortunately, he didn't get to meet him here but I know he is looking down on us and our sweet baby Zachary Lyle.  Lyle named after him. 

To the man who never owned a computer and never sent an email. Instead he chose to handwrite letters to keep in touch. What a great surprise during the two years we lived in the Netherlands to find a real letter in the mailbox. 

To the man who loved to tell a story and share with you the hardships and great joys in his life by writing a column for a newspaper for nearly 20 years.  In the first article he wrote I am doing this so my great grandchildren will have something to remember me by.  I'm so thankful he did and I'm so happy we have both of the books he had published to share with our children some day. 

To the man the had the best giggle around, I can still hear it and smile.

To the man that could put down a one pound Hershey's bar like it was his job. 

To one of the sweetest men around, we sure do miss you.

Until we meet again.

Introducing Zachary Lyle Fausch

As always its been way too long since my last post but at least I can say we really have been busy!  But I'm back and happy to introduce you all to Zachary Lyle Fausch.  Zach was born on September 12, 2013 at 10:03p.m.  He was 6 lb 12 oz and 20 inches long. 

Zach was born 11 days early and I am pretty positive it is because I got the stomach flu.  It all started with Jackson getting the flu and I thought I was in the clear, it had been 7 days.  I was wrong.  It hit me really hard and I was sick for an entire day when I started having contractions.  Josh's parents took Jackson in the morning just to give me some time to rest.  Although that's hard to do when you're running to the bathroom all day long!  The contractions continued throughout the day but weren't getting stronger or closer together so we just stayed home and I tried to rest as much as I could. 

Finally around dinner time, I decided I had to get something to eat and Jackson needed to eat too.  Josh was supposed to be at a group meeting for his class.  Jackson and I head out to Panera, at this point my contractions seem to be getting stronger but are still around 10 minutes apart.  We get to Panera so I can get some chicken noodle soup to go when all of a sudden the contractions start coming every few minutes.  The girl in front of me can't decide what she wants to order and is taking FOREVER to place her order.  It's finally my turn and I tell them what I need and I'm trying not to double over or be sick in Panera! We finally get our food, the longest I've ever waited for soup I swear!  Then we make a pit stop at McDonald's so Jackson has something to eat too. 

When we get home of course the soup tastes horrible and now all of a sudden the contractions are at 2 minutes apart.  I sent Josh a message to come home and Josh's mom to come and pick up Jackson. I pack up the rest of our hospital bag and about 30 minutes later we are on our way to the hospital. 

At the hospital they tell me I'm still at 2 cm, the same as my doctor appointment the day before so they are maybe going to send me home.  When she is checking she notices a lot of fluid, and asks how long that has been happening.  I tell her I have no idea, I have been so sick I can hardly control my body.  They run a test an indeed my water has broken.  They are concerned that I don't know when it first happened because they don't want the baby in there if it has been more than 24 hours.

In comes the doctor and the nurse with the Pitocin to speed up my labor.  Next comes the anesthesiologist with the epidural.  The epidural only takes on my right side so I can feel everything on the left.  Really a strange feeling!  So for the next 2 hours I'm laying on my left side trying to get the epidural to "flow" to the left.  I have to keep calling in the nurse because there is so much pressure, then I call her because I feel like I have to push. 

The next thing she tells me is the doctor is still in the operating room finishing a C-Section.  So I need to wait and not to push.  Really?!?! I have heard people say this has happened to them but seriously is that really something you should tell a person that has another person about to come out of them? I don't think so!  Fortunately it was only a few minutes and the doctor comes running in.  I push 2 times and then Zach came into this world.  3 1/2 hours after we got to the hospital.  Not too bad, though I wouldn't say that at the time!

Zach had a little problem getting enough oxygen right at first and was turning a slightly purple/blue so they took him to the nursery for some oxygen.  He was fine after about 30 minutes and we finally got to be together at about midnight. 

Funny thing the entire time I was in real labor I was not sick, but from then on I continued to be sick for 2 more days.  It was miserable but luckily I had a sweet new distraction to keep my mind off of it! 

Jackson came to meet his new brother and was so excited, he kept saying, "I hold him" so we let him hold him and he immediately said, "Jackson, no hold him!".  He is still in love with him and so sweet.  He wants to hold his hands and give him a pacifier.  He isn't really excited about holding him yet which I'm pretty happy about :) Zach sleeps a ton but is a grunter!  We moved him to his own room already because he makes so much noise while he sleeps, we're all doing really well, sleep deprived but happy!