12 Months

3 weeks late is better than not at all...
This is my last monthly update!  I figured if I would post an update at 18 months and then at 2 and so on and so forth. 
Zack is HUGE...I never though I would say that since he was so teeny tiny as a new born.  According to his 12 year appointment he is 70% in weight (23 lb) and 75% in height (31 inches).  I am really surprised that he doesn't weigh more...the kid is SOLID! 
Not only was this his last month as an under 1 (free entry to marbles) baby, but this month he went from crawling

to walking...

I am thankful that it has slowed him down a bit...I know it won't last but I like that I can put him down, get the groceries out of the car and still catch him before he gets too far.  Its a "fun" game we play every time we come home with shopping bags. 
He always seems to know where he wants to go...I have tried picking him up turning him around and he heads back in the direction he wants to go...usually out a door or toward anything that looks like a ball.
He went from being an amazing eater...once I figured out what he liked...pasta covered in cheese and sauce, to not wanting to eat anything but fruit, PB&J, cheerios, crackers and yogurt.  I loved his pasta phase...you can mask any veggie or meat in pasta sauce and cheese.  I am pretty sure the stomach bug is to blame for his appetite change...it was the first thing he threw up.  I totally understand since there are still things I can't eat that made me sick while I was pregnant. 
I know I say this a lot but I'll say it again...we really have a fun kid.  He may not sit still for story time, he may try to run away, and he may scream (in a happy way) at everyone we pass in the grocery store, but everyone he sees is his new best friend and usually people stop and talk to him or laugh with him.  Although I am sure couponing would be easier by myself but Zack tends to keep the people in line behind us entertained if there is a coupon issue or a mispriced item.

Despite his new "walker" status he has to crawl sometimes to get a ball that rolls away...and he typically gets stuck.

We started with milk and it didn't bother him at all...we figured it would be an easy change since he switched from breast milk to formula easily and didn't seem to care if we switched formulas. 
People say "I can't believe it's been a whole year."  Honestly I can't believe it's ONLY been a year.  I feel like Zack has been with us forever, I don't ever think about life before Z.  He is truly a blessing.

A year of Zack!

1 Day Old (5 lb. 11 oz)

1 Month...already standing up...sort of (8 lb. 9 oz)

2 Months...finally fitting into clothes (11 lb 5 oz)

3 Months...GO PACK!

4 Months...bouncing away! (15 lb)

5 Months...first time in the USA

6 Months (18 lb 2 oz)

7 months...crawling and standing up!

8 months...loves "helping" mommy in the kitchen

9 Months...loves the tunnel (19 lb. 9 oz)

10 months...loves reading

11 Months...walking (with and without help)...it seems like most of my pictures are blurry now.

YAY 1!!!

Z's First Birthday Party

We live in NC so I figured what are the chances that it would rain...well according to the weather report 60% chance of scattered thunderstorms and possible flash flooding, hail and maybe tornadoes...WHAT!  I decided that rain or shine we were going to use the shelter I booked over a month ago, I was going to show off all the decorations I cut, curled, designed, painted and I was going to use all the food that I prepared ahead of time in the fridge.
It turned out to be the best decision.  I was worried that the kids will be bored since we wouldn't set up our yard games...but they sure weren't!

The only thing the rain did was make the streamers so wet we couldn't hang them up and by the end of the party the rest of the paper became damp and wilted and the tape un stuck. 
I was really pleased with my decorations...

DIY cupcake stand, DIY banner, DIY cupcake toppers

A couple people said the puffs were too girly but I liked them.

lily pads cut from foam, Chinese Takeout boxes (to represent the time spent abroad) with frog lollies and cheap plastic frames that can be used again with some of my favorite pictures...It was hard to pick only 12...I figured too many more and it would look like a memorial service.

get it TOADally...and the chocolate pretzels were a big hit.

Zack loved finding sticks and rocks in the puddles...
thank goodness he didn't wonder off the side walk and into the mud.  He did however fall right into a puddle...

Everyone loved watching the children play in the puddles...almost as much and the kids liked splashing.  When it came time to sing happy birthday and eat cupcakes little man wasn't sure what to do...

Now I see some consistency...remember the finger painting fiasco?  Yeah...I had to hold the cupcake for him because he didn't like the frosting on his hands.

I tried to get a picture of the frosting face but this was the best I got:

Zack had an amazing time and so many wonderful friends and family members came to celebrate with us...Tante Lorie won the award for furthest traveled, coming all the way from upstate NY!  Her award...she got to clean my kitchen and wash my dishes. 

We waited until we got home to open gifts because someone was having too much fun walking in the puddles to be bothered with gifts...hey, it's his party he can do what he wants to!

all I hear all day is "ba" (ball)...he may never say another word because frankly why would you need to talk about anything else?

He really wasn't into opening gifts but he sure did enjoy seeing so many new toys!  My evenings went from fishing 10 balls from under the sofas to 165 in just one day (literally...thanks mom). 
Toys are so much more fun now that he sort of understands what to do with them...meanwhile Adam was almost as excited about these toys...much more fun than rattles and lovies!

Zack is 1!

Today was an AMAZING day...I am so glad we had nice weather!
Adam had the day off since he has to work next Saturday and we wanted to do something special (even if Zack would have no idea what was going on).  We went to the Museum of Life and Sciences.  I had been there several times on field trips and I LOVED it.
We ate lunch under the dome which made a cool echo when you were loud!

We showed Zack all the animals...

he liked finding "balls"

We took him to the butterfly house...

he was excited to walk on the bench and touch leaves.

He loved the wind exhibit...

Not the sand so much...

He wasn't so sure about the dinosaur...

he imitated my bear noises at the bear exhibit (so cute)...

he really enjoyed crawling up the stairs...

When we got home we ate cake...

and played with all the balls...

I think 1 is going to be a good year!

My Toddling Toddler

Is he officially a toddler when he starts walking or is it when he hits a certain age?  Anyway here is a really bad video that I took on my phone of Zack walking...

and to explain...
I don't know what happened to the sound.
Zack was upset because I made him do this several times and teased him because once he got to me he figured he could play with the phone. 
Sorry about the shaking...I was watching him and not the camera.

The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same

I have been thinking a lot about the past year as I have been planning (I may have gone a bi overboard) Zack's first birthday party.  I love looking at all the old pictures and I had to snap this shot of Zack the other day:

you may be thinking...what is so special about this shot...Z looks super uncomfortable and doesn't it hurt your neck to look at?  When I saw my sick little boy scoot himself into this position it reminded me of this:

The only reason that onsie fits him is the over sized newborn diaper...was he really ever this small?

Less than a week old and would scoot himself onto this position every time he snuggled with Adam.

Zack in the grass...

I love that I can throw on flip flops, put Zack n short sleeves and go outside and play.  Zack usually is very excited every time we walk out the door...today however he did not enjoy the grass.  This may be mean but I got his suffering on video and now I am sharing it with all of you!

Just to show you we didn't torture him all day here we are finally off the grass and at the playground down the street:

Is cement really better than grass?

"come on mommy"

there were big kids playing under the bridge

you know it was a good time when you come home with a hole in your jeans