Halloween Cuteness

I know some people don't like the idea of Halloween and others let it pass by without letting it alter their lives in any way...I am not those people.  Maybe it's the teacher in me...maybe it's the child inside me...maybe it's just the awesomeness of Halloween...I don't know but I get super excited around Halloween.  Actually I get super excited about ALL Holidays (this includes President's Day and Dr. Seuss' Birthday).  While we were in China we introduced our Chinese friends to all sorts of American Holiday traditions one being a Halloween costume party.  Here were Adam and I last year:

If you look closely you can see little Zachary

This year we don't have the space to throw a party.  Thankfully Zack and I were invited to a Halloween party at his friends house.  There were 10 babies/kids ages 3 and under.

3 little bat's and a pretty ferry

Zack and his little girlfriend...well one of 2:)

I decided to post the one where Zack was looking at the camera but there were several where one or more babies fall, cry or try to crawl away.

a nice witch and her pet bat

I had to take a picture of the tights.

a little bat greeted Adam after work.

I hope he isn't a vampire bat!

7 Months...and a Date Night!

Yesterday evening Adam and I went on our first date ever...well since Zack was born...but it does feel like forever.  The only other time Adam and I ate a meal together without interuption was my cousin's wedding...we had a babysitter then but it wasn't really a date.  It was really nice to eat a meal at the same time and not have to rush.  We also got to go to a Hurricanes game...which we LOVE!  The game was very tame...not too many fights and very few penatlies.  Zack survived...and more importantly our babysitter survived...and said she would do it again!

This has been a BIG month!  We got out the "big boy" toys...things that require Zachary to do things with, however he still puts it all in his mouth.  He can sand up while holding on to things, he rolls all over the place and he crawls backwards.  I have orderd a couple baby gates and some plug covers.  I figure everything else we will take care of as it becomes a problem.  Right now Zacks biggest problem is trying to get somewere and ending up getting caught under the sofa.  We have tried lots of new foods and water in a sippy cup (he isn't really sure how to use the cup yet...but it's lots of fun to bang around and bite!).  He has 2 bottom teeth and no signs of any others coming in yet.
Here are some photo's from this past month!

YUMMMMMMM

still LOVES the bath!

He gets so excited when he sees me coming over with his bowl of food

look at my cutie!

"hmmmm why can't I pick this up?"

right before the freak out...at least we have 1 good pumpkin patch picture

Going Batty!

I know he won't be trick or treating this year, and I know he will never remember this Halloween...but there are some things that I have to do just for me..

The costume was on sale...I couldn't resist!

Maybe he isn't afraid of pumpkins!

"why isn't this coming off?

"ahhhhhh...I can't see!"

 and just to leave you with another cute one...

Major Pumpkin Disappointment.

As a former teacher I have some high expectations for fall activities.  Zack is a little young for any pumpkin farm activities but I wanted some pictures of my little pumpkin with pumpkins. 
EXPECTATIONS:  To have some super cute pictures of Zachary banging on the pumpkins, standing up next to the pumpkin, sitting amongst the pumpkins etc..

REALITY: We went to a farm where you didn't have to pay admission (I mean Zack wouldn't appreciate the hay ride and Adam would think I was crazy for making us go).  Zack was asleep when we pulled him out of the carseat...which is normal, but he usually perks up and is happy.  He wasn't a fan of the pumpkins!
Was it because he was sleepy?  Was it the bright sun?  Was it the pumpkin?  What mad his little face do this?

We tried to take it slow...

We gave up...not before taking a picture to see how tall he is this fall...

Ok...he is nice and happy lets try for another pumpkin picture...

We gave up again...

Ok, we are at home, out of the sun, freshly fed and hamming it up for the camera...one more

****a few days later I took pictures of him with the pumpkin in his halloween costume...it went much better.



New Fall Look

Since Adam was working today and Zachary took a really long nap I played around with my photo's and backgrounds (leaving the folded laundry in the hamper for another day) to re design my blog...ENJOY:)

1 Month After The Pump

It's been a month since I switched to formula exclusively.  I am 110% satisfied with my decision and I am equally as sure it is what's best for Zachary and I.  It is so nice to leave the house without pumping and cleaning the parts, its even nicer to go out and run a few errands at a time.  I sometimes feel a sense of freedom when I go out with my friends and without going home to pump I stop at the grocery store...it's the little things. 
I know Adam supported me while I was Eping, and supported my decision to stop, but at the same time I know he is relieved that we don't have to plan our day around the pump.  Zachary is extremely happy that I can spend the time I used to pump, playing with him. 
There have been times that I second guessed my decision...and the fact that Zack got sick the week after I stopped giving him breast milk. 
I know that I could have kept going...maybe for the whole first year...but I think for our family formula is best!

My Goal

I lost my pregnancy weight 3 months ago...usually it's 9 months on and 9 months off, but I was sick and lost 10 lb's my first 5 months of pregnancy then I put on 30 lb's super fast (there was one 2 week period where I gained 18 lb's) so I ended up positive 20 lb's.  I wish I could say I was disciplined and worked hard to lose the weight but I didn't do anything besides give birth and breast feed (well sort of). 
My problem is; although I am OK with what I see on the scale I am not so happy with what I see in the mirror.  None of my clothes fit right and I don't want to buy new until my body stops changing.  Parts of me are bigger and other parts are smaller.  I have been working (semi regularly) on turning my belly back into abs.  I was pretty happy with my progress before I left China but living in a hotel and eating out every meal made me look 5 months preggo again. 
I have been using Jillian's (from the biggest loser) work out videos plus some of my favorite cardio workouts.  Jillian really kicks my butt!
My goal is to be less lumpy by November...so that I can look and feel great for a couple weeks before Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas cookies undo it all again.  I am not a dieter, I enjoy food and now that I have my Hellmans real Mayonnaise back I am not willing to give it up.

And because I love taking pictures of my little guy...here are some pictures of what Zachary does while I work out...

He finds it fustrating that he can't pick up my hand weights.

hmmm...how does this open!

Zack LOVES His Banana Paci...and carrots and pears!

Zack hasn't really been a huge fan of banana when I mash it myself so I decided to try it a different way.  We got these food pacifiers that said it's great for banana.  I broke off some banana stuck it in the mesh holder and squeezed it a bit to get it started.  I handed over the paci and watched...

I love that you can see the leftovers from his carrot/green bean dinner...he ate 5 cubes of veggies and still showed signs of hunger so I decided to try the banana.

He really enjoyed his snack

This is what happened when I took the pacifier away...I intended to refill it but that wasn't good enough for Zack.  Good thing I have two.

I alternated between the yellow and blue one until the banana was gone...

yes...he has both in his mouth

I am really enjoying making Zack's food, and with the amount he eats I am really seeing how much money I am saving.  Each jar costs between $.75 and $1.00 and Z eats approximately three jars a day.  I spent under $30 buying fruit and veggies (both in bulk from BJ's and in smaller amounts from the grocery store) that will last us 2 months.  I sometimes taste the puree because I am really curious about how it tastes and I am always supervised that it tastes the same as if I took a bite out of it whole.  I know I shouldn't be surprised but I am...

This week we tried pears and carrots.  I bought these organic from BJ's and they cost me less than $10.  I made 3 ice cube trays full of each (which will come to about 19 meals if Zack keeps eating 5 cubes a meal twice a day).  Another great plus to making Zack fresh baby food is that I set aside several carrots and a couple pears for Adam and I!  Would I buy carrots for Adam and I normally, sure...would they be fresh whole carrots?...probably not because we wouldn't eat them before they went bad.  Would I buy pears...no.  I tend not to buy fruit on a whim because we don't always eat it.  Yes, Adam and I will be eating carrots with every meal until they are gone or I start Zack's next veggie, but I don't think it's a bad thing!  Next is peas and yellow Squash!



Bouncing till the end...

Do you remember this fun video I posted a while ago?  

Thanks to my Tante Lorie, Uncle Steve and Whiting cousins we have a Jumparoo here in America to entertain Zack and give me a chance to fold laundry. 

Well tonight Zack was bouncing before bed and he slowly began to fade... 

I pulled him out of there right after recording this and he fell asleep right away.  I wonder how long he would have held on if we would have left him.

Green Beans and Apples

I figured if there was one thing that Zack wouldn't like it would be green beans, but he loved them...I had the camera all ready to take a picture of his cute disgusted face...

not so disgusted

in fact...he finished every drop!

it's a good thing he loved it because I went a little crazy with my new toy...this 11 cup food processor (happy birthday to me)!  Doesn't this green glump look really tasty?  I love the fresh colors in my homemade baby food!
And of coarse he loved apples...what kid wouldn't?

I didn't just go puree crazy with green beans...I am at the beginning of stocking our freezer.  Thank goodness for BJ's and fruit and veggies in bulk!

Thank You Aunt Bethany and Uncle Scott

The other day Zachary received his very first package (well piece of mail) EVER!

We got this on the day where I received a laundry basket full of mail so it was defiantly a welcome surprise (well sort of a surprise since Bethany told me to expect it).  I am not all that great at saving special things in a safe place to someday put in a scrapbook so this is what I do...

I take pictures and I put them in this blog and someday I can print them out and show Zack how much his Aunt and Uncle love him.  I read the card to Zack (or Zach as his Uncle calls him) while he tried to eat it.  Then we opened the package...

I tried to hold the outfit up on him for a picture but he was excitedly waving his arms and well...I ended up with 15 pictures of waving arms and not much of the outfit.  This is Zack's thank you face!

Thank you Uncle Scott and Aunt Bethany for this super cool Halloween outfit!  We love you!
PS: I did get him a super cute costume, I know he won't be going trick or treating but I got it for the pictures.