He can STACK!

OK so if you have a toddler you know how exciting this is...I mean I love playing with Z but I am getting tired of building towers only to have them knocked down before they are even finished.  I've been trying to teach  him how to build his own tower for a while.  The mega blocks have been difficult but he has almost figured out how to put the blocks together.
However the other day he took one block and put it on top of another.  I cheered and clapped and he knocked it down ("but it would be so much more fun to knock down if it was taller!").  We tried again and again until he made a taller tower.
Yesterday I noticed it had been quiet and my little helper wasn't pulling things out of the pantry while I was cleaning up lunch.
This is what was happening...

He is so proud (and so am I)...is it me or does he look like a big kid?

you can't see very well but he is making TWO towers side by side!

So proud!

Not even the tallest tower he has built...but he is better about putting the blocks on straighter.

oops

"hmmmm maybe if I build a larger base"...he is soooooo smart!

it is still way more fun to knock it all down.

10 Weeks

How Far Along: 10 Weeks!

Maternity Clothes: No...my pants are falling down because I must be losing more weight, and belts are uncomfortable.

 Best Moment this Week: Taking Zack to the lake for the first time...I kept thinking how next summer little one will be 6 months old and might enjoy watching his/her fearless big brother swim.  I remember Zack loved laughing at big kids around that age. 

Weight Gain/Loss: I finally bought a scale and according to the scale I am down another 3lb's but I am going to measure our scale vs. the doctors scale next week at my appointment. 

Gender: No idea

Movement: Not yet!

Food Craving: Doritos...which is strange because anything else with flavor hasn't been very appetizing.  I was feeling so much better with this pregnancy until the last couple days.  I hope they were flukes.  Monday was BAD! I was back to eating apples.  On a humorous note Zack has been imitating lately and made me feel a little better by imitating my puking noises and now whenever he is in our bathroom he bends over the toilet and coughs.  Nothing like a little laughter.  ***On another note I went to the store fully intending to pay full price for a bag of Doritos but there was a $1 peely coupon on the shelf during super doubles...can we say FATE?

 What I miss: Chicken...I didn't realize how much I ate chicken until it made me want to puke.

Sleep: Wonderful!

What I am looking forward to: The Milton Family reunion!  No one in this side of Adam's extended family has met Zack and we will get to tell them about this pregnancy!  Meanwhile I was planning on telling my friends this week and I can never slip it into conversation...it was so much easier when we sent a mass e-mail from China...tacky but it had to be done.

Symptoms: Nausea, Vomiting (I was hoping I was out of the woods), fatigue.

Same/Different: I added this section because I was feeling so much better and eating so much more but the last couple days seemed all too familiar. Honestly, when I was pregnant with Z I read that women with morning sickness are 80% less likely to have a miscarriage, so lately I have been worried that something is wrong with the baby ("I shouldn't feel GREAT!").  I think I needed to feel a little sick so that I don't worry. 

Tummy Shot: Yesterday I felt like Crap and today I have pool hair so maybe next week...maybe.

9 Weeks

How Far Along: 9 Weeks

Maternity Clothes: Nope...I have been so bloated though that I tried on maternity capri pants and was thankfully too small for them.  It makes me feel good that I don't fit them but my pants are getting to be uncomfortable when I sit...I guess I am in that annoying middle too big to be comfy in my pants too small for maternity. 

Best Moment this Week: Telling our families!  Next I get to tell my friends!  Winner of the best reaction reward: Grandpa Dalland!  We told him on Fathers Day and I have never heard him so excited!

Gender: No clue

Movement: Not Yet

Weight Gain/Loss:

 Food Craving: No real craving but I do like gummy candies while pregnant.  I think I get low blood sugar and a couple gummies can perk me up.

What I miss: Not snacking...it's hard to think of so many snacks throughout the day.  I almost think it was easier when all I could eat were Granny Smith Apples and Gummy Bears (Zack's pregnancy)

Sleep: Awesome

What I am looking forward to: Telling all my friends "remember when you asked when we would have another and I said "oh, I don't know" what I meant was JANUARY!"

Symptoms: Nausea, Fatigue, An obscene need to drink water...which leads to plenty of bathroom trips.

Same/Different:  At this point with Zack I wasn't able to eat much and didn't want to eat anything.  Now I am nauseated most of the day but can eat just about anything...most of the time chicken is OUT.  Food doesn't have any appeal but it fixes the nausea.

Tummy Shot: Forgot

Fathers Day

I sometimes joke about Zack liking Adam better than he likes me.  I know Zack loves me but he LOVES his daddy.  If Adam is in the house I can't do anything with him...he only wants Adam.  He follows Adam to the door every morning and tries to go to work with him.  He runs to the door (and then in circles like an excited puppy) when Adam comes home.  He only wants to snuggle with daddy, he only wants daddy to give him a bath.  He only wants Adam to play a game with him.  I am not upset at all by the fact that Z man has no use for me on the weekends.  I truly enjoy watching Zack look up to his daddy, my husband.  I would love to see my son grow up to be like his daddy.  I am truly blessed that I have an amazing husband and role model for our son.
Here are some Zack and Daddy shots that I just couldn't keep to myself.

My favorite!

Nothing hotter than a man with a stroller...maybe a man making his baby laugh

I was fixing Christmas eve dinner and apparently the boys were playing with my camera...I love surprise pictures.

Cutest boys ever!

Most likely showing daddy a stick.

The best part of rain...

I'll admit I am not one of those people that enjoy the rain.  You will never catch me say "the plants needed that"...really sprinklers do the job.  I don't garden or farm...I would love to be the kind of person that has fresh tomatos growing in her yard and picks fresh basal for some homemade pesto.  The reality is I don't enjoy that kind of work and the grocery store sells everything I need.  The cost is totally worth not having to dig, weed, plant and hope for the best. 
I used to teach 1st grade and kindergarten so rain to me means cooped up children.  As a mom it means no pool and a miserable trip to the grocery store (anyone else hate pushing a grocery cart and loading groceries in the car on a rainy day?). 
HOWEVER...the day after it rains means PUDDLES!

not just puddles, wet shoes and socks.  Oh yeah and wet little bums.

And maybe a wet mommy because someone decided to snuggle after his dip in the puddle.

This is my favorite.  I love that my phone takes nice pictures.  I would have hated missing this moment.

Basically Zack's only pair of shoes that fit are covered in mud from the last day after rain play, his almost too small shoes are soaked from today, and I think we may have left his crocks at my parents house. 

8 Weeks

How Far Along: 8 Weeks

Maternity Clothes: No but I did buy a pair of pants with an elastic waste band for the drive from Charlotte to Raleigh (basically because I had my jeans unbuttoned the entire trip to Charlotte)

 Best Moment this Week: Celebrating my friend Laura's baby girl at her shower.  I also got to smile on the inside when old friends asked when we are having another..."oh, I don't know") 

Weight Gain/Loss:  Haven't weighed myself this week and I need to buy a scale.

Gender: Still no idea

Movement: Not yet

Food Craving: No cravings and food is beginning to lose it's appeal.  I eat what I need for the moment and nothing seems to taste good enough to keep me coming back for more. 

What I miss: ????  Nothing...even the side effects are totally worth the excitement of a baby.

Sleep: I can't say enough about first trimester night sleep...awesome even if you nap! 

What I am looking forward to: Telling everyone, looking pregnant, finding out if baby 2 is a boy or a girl.

Symptoms: All Day "morning" sickness, bloating, and I feel like the girls are growing a bit.

Tummy Shot: None again...It was a crazy weekend.  Not much to see though.

7 Weeks

I am going to try to document this pregnancy weekly (try).  This is my baby book, scrapbook and the easiest way to share info with my family before I forget (I may have pregnancy brain already...as if I ever got my normal brain back after Z was born).  To make it easy I am stealing this idea from my friend Sarah.

How Far Along: 7 Weeks

Maternity Clothes: No...but I have thought about it...I mean honestly maternity jeans feel like yoga pants but are jeans so you look like you got dressed in the morning. 

Best Moment this Week: My first appointment!  I got to hear the heartbeat and see his or her little picture.  Zack came with (it may be the last time) and pointed at the screen and said "dog, pfffff (woof), dog, dog, pffff, pffff).  He might be disappointed that he is getting a little brother or sister and not a dog.

Weight Gain/Loss: -3 lb

(Sarah didn't do this but I had such issues with Zack and I may have already lost weight so I want to keep track)  According to the scale at the doctor (and I usually measure heavy) I was 5 lb's less than my stable weight...the weight I have been for years...I thought I had gained weight because I am eating so much so often (um...a whole tube of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls for a between breakfast and lunch snack!)  I am going average my number and the doctors number and say I lost 3 lb.

Gender: No idea...I hope for a boy so Zack has a built in best friend (that isn't a dog) and I hope for a girl so I'm not outnumbered any more...my wallet hopes for a boy...lets face it girl stuff is soooo much cuter and very hard to resist.

Movement: Can't wait!!!!

 Food Craving: no craving

 What I miss: not being tired or nauseated...I know I am only seven weeks but I threw up 4 weeks ago and it's been downhill from there.  Thankfully I am not really sick though.

Sleep: 1st Trimester evening sleep is AMAZING...I try to take one 30 min nap while Zack naps.  Sometimes I just lay on the couch and watch talk shows.

 What I am looking forward to: Telling people...it was so easy when I would talk to people occasionally over SKYPE.  I may not be able to hold it in any longer.  I feel like some people know, and I feel like a big fat liar. 

Symptoms: Nausea

Tummy Shot: Sorry

My Little Fish

It's hard to believe that this kid was afraid of the water not even a month ago...

We were invited to our friends pool and Zack loved it! 

He was running (toddling fast) in and out of the pool and went all the way to the "deep end".

While his friends took breaks he would not leave the water. 

Is he not adorable in these glasses?

I thought he was so cute that I had to get pictures and rather than bring my SLR to the pool I used my phone...which also took a bit of a swim.
I was so afraid I would lose pictures of this day.  I have never broken/lost/dropped a phone...and I usually opt for the free phone.  In September I finally got a "big girl" phone and in the pool it went...along with my whole life (schedules/grocery lists/pictures/contact info/GPS (which I can't get anywhere without)/Pinterest (don't laugh...it's  important).  Thankfully (even though I tried turning it on several times Adam was able to open the phone and we let it dry for several days which totally fixed it.  I could replace the phone (CHA CHING) and all my lists and information but would I have another chance to take a picture of my little boy wearing his sunglasses (honestly I'm surprised they were on longer than 30 seconds) looking so grown up in the pool.  Answer...NO...now the phone stays in the car when we go to the pool.  Enjoy these pictures because unless I am brave enough to bring a phone or camera to the pool this could be it.