A day in the life...Zack 13 months

After breakfast Zack makes me put his shoes on then he waits by the door...no I don't let him go out like that.

We do some cleaning

We go at least one place everyday...Zack likes to read in the car.

After we get home we go for a walk and usually end at the volleyball court AKA biggest sandbox EVER

Dinner

and yes because of dinner he has a bath every night

Couponing Update

I haven't blogged about it for a while but couponing is awesome.  I am truly addicted.  I had to pay full price for groceries the other day and it ruined my day...not really but sort of.  I only pay full price for bread milk, Zack food or K-Cups.  I try to find these on sale or use coupons...or both...but I have to keep my boys happy!
Last week was super douples at Lowes Foods AND at Harris Teeter.  Meaning they doubled coupons up to $1.99.  That combined with my new found love of printed coupons, my electronic coupons and my fully organized coupon binder made for some AMAZING deals.

Lowes Foods...total cost under $12...for almost $40 worth of food!  Tyson Frozen Chicken Tenders + Oreida SP Fries + 2 bags of Birds Eye Frozen veggies = FREE  Velveta Cheesy Skillets 18c, 2 boxes of Club Crackers $3, 4 Boxes of cereal $3 and Angel Soft TP $4.50  plus tax

This was a lot more money but I picked up some big ticket items...2 packs of batteries, contact solution and spray sun screen.  Total cost under $42.  My favortie deals Starbucks Coffee = $2.50, Wholy Guacamole 50c and emerald nuts (origionally $6.99 each) for $2.50 each.

After a coupon swap and cutting the next sundays coupons I had to go back...



I don't remember the total cost but I got free jelly and free I can't believe it's not butter.  The cake mix and frosting cost me $1.50 for both and the dry shampoo (got 2b brand) was only $1.50.

$4.50 plus tax!

I know what you're thinking...that is a lot of cereal and a lot of butter.  I eat cereal every day and I have enough of a supply that I won't buy anymore unless it is under 50c a piece.  As far as butter we use it and I won't buy that anymore unless it's free.  Other things on my "free" list are jelly, toothpaste, deodorent, and crackers. 
According to my coupon teacher it should take 12 weeks to really see a difference in our grocery budget and I am at that point.  I was able to plan a whole month of meals (I buy and freeze meat when it is super cheap) without needing to buy anything but a few fresh ingredients a week. 

A boy and his "ba"

Zack has a favorite toy.  Not one in particular but something he prefers over anything else.

Anyone who has been around him will hear "ba" over and over...in fact I walk into his room in the morning and say "good morning" and Zack points to the living room and says "ba".



 Should I be insulted that he no longer says "mama" unless he is tired? 



 After I change his diaper and give him some cheerios we like to have playtime in our pj's...or should I say we DID like to have playtime in our pj's. Now Zack brings me his shoes, sits in my lap and holds up his foot and says (something like) tsu...I have a feeling shoe will be his second word. 



 After I put his shoe on (Adam and I aren't indoor shoe people but this isn't a battle I choose to fight) he gets his outdoor ball and off we go. 

How cute is a little boy in overalls?

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!!!

Zacks First Hunt

I went into this thinking Zack might actually do alright since plastic eggs conveniently look a lot like balls and we can't go anywhere without pointing out anything that looks like a ball.  What I didn't take into account was that the eggs were going to be on the grass.

It was pure torture...he wanted the "ba" (ball) but would have to touch the grass to get it!

I put eggs on the top of the grass so he wouldn't have to touch too much grass...and that got us a few eggs.  He could not understand why I kept taking his "ba" and putting it into a bucket.  He didn't get upset he just picked up another (after a little help).

Once the hunt was over he spent the remainder of the morning ignoring all the cool trucks and all he playing kids to throw and show off his "ba". 

Easter Crafts

A few mommy friends came over to do some crafts that we pinned on pinterest.  We had a blast...each one of us brought supplies and instructions for a different craft. 
I was in charge of the topiary:

the best part about doing this project with a group is I felt OK buying lots of ribbon...this was way too much for 6 topiaries but I will use it for something else...and nothing beats ribbon at 50% off.

I trimmed the ribbon into 3 inch strips

and used small pins to stick the ribbon into the foam ball.

We made bunny bunting...

yarn eggs...

and we blew out and dyed eggs...

Thanks to that night I have a beautiful Easter shelf...

I added the Spring Sign...and 2 more topiary.