2 months

Zach had his 2 month shots. I cried and so did he. That same day we also went back to the fertility clinic that we spent so much time at last year. As I went up the elevator, as I did so many days last summer, holding my beautiful baby boy, I was over come with emotions. I had to stop a minute before I went into the office to compose myself. There were so many times I walked through that door hopeless, scared, and wanting something I thought may never happen. As I stood there watching Zach sleep on my shoulder I once again was lost for words to Praise and Thank God, and just kept thinking what a miracle he is.
Zach weighs 12.13 pounds and is 24.?? inches long. His weight is in the 75th percentile, height in the 85th, and head size in the 80th. So, to sum it up, he is a big little guy.
We went for 2 month pictures today. They turned out well. I will post those later.

Pictures

After a day of shopping Future Texas Tech Masked Rider
All dressed up in Mamaw Betty's antique chair
With Pops on the tractor

In bed at the hotel.
Waiting on room service

Road Trip

Well, Zach has been on his first road trip. There are lyrics in a Pat Green song that say something to the effect of when you live out in West Texas you have to pack up all your stuff and hope to goodness you'll be back by Monday. (Those are the edited, Dana version of the lyrics)
Well, when you travel with a baby you literally have to back up ALL his stuff, and when you travel with my parents you have to hope you'll make it back before school starts.
Zach and I loaded up with my mom on Tuesday, June 17th and headed to Cooper, where I grew up which is about 8 hours from Lubbock. We visited great grand parents and friends on Wednesday, and headed to Broken Bow, Oklahoma for the Owa Chita festival at Beavers Ben on Thursday. We rented a beautiful cabin, and Zach went camping for the first time in style. The lake at Beavers Ben is beautiful. It makes me want a lake house and boat. Zach did not make it on the lake, but I did for a few hours. My brother, his girlfriend, my mom, dad, Mamaw Betty, and our cousins were all there. It was a great weekend. On Sunday, we regrouped back in Cooper and headed to Austin. Zach's first hotel was very luxurious. We stayed at the Renaissance. We ordered room service every morning, and even dessert one night. We decided we could get used to that kind of living. On Monday we went to the outlet malls in San Marcus. Zach hated the outlet malls and shopping all together. On Tuesday we dragged Zach to a wonderful mall in Austin. After fussing with me for about an hour, Zach decided to sleep in his stroller and just shop. He stayed at the mall for 5 hours. I LOVE big city shopping. They have so much inventory, ON SALE! I did not do much shopping for me, but my petite size 4 mother did. That is another blog for another day. My mom was so much help with Zach. She loves him so much. On Wednesday we headed back to Cooper to stay for a few days. I stayed at Mamaw Betty's house in Cooper, and my parents stayed in Charleston in the house I grew up in. My brother lives there now. It is WAY out in the country. Zach and I would get up and go out about lunch time. Zach had lots of firsts in Cooper. He watched me and mamaw Betty chase and kill a mouse in her living room, road on the big red tractor with his Pops, and started smiling when you sing and talk to him. We finally made it back to West Texas on this past Saturday. James picked us up in Guthrie where my parents live now. Zach did so good in the car. He was a real trooper, and I am so glad we got to do this. We were both really glad to see James and be home!
Spoiled
Zach is spoiled! Some people say you can not spoil an infant. So, Zach is not spoiled, but he prefers to sleep in the comfort of my arms or anyone elses. He will go to sleep in his swing, bouncy, or car seat by himself some times. He fights sleep, and prefers to be rocked to sleep. Right now he is crying (not screaming, but he will in a few minutes) on his play mat because he wants to be held. I LOVE holding him so I am not much help in breaking him of this. I figure that he can get unspoiled at daycare, but as long as I have him I am going to hold and love him. I love the fact that he is a snuggler.
Well, crying has gone to screaming. I'll post pics later.

Some pictures

Are you my mommy, because you do not have my tan?
My first smile.
Bright eyes

Zach will be 6 weeks old tomorrow. I had a good dr. appointment today. It is hard to believe it has already been 6 weeks. I can not get over how much Zach has changed and grown. Every moment is truly special.
We have had had our little world turned upside down the last 2 weeks. To make a long story short, we have a new air conditioner. If you have not noticed it has been hot in west Texas.

Carseat, awe, and other things

Whoever said babies love their carseat was lying! Or, the never met Zach. He hates it. Well, that is not entirely true. He will tolerate it when he is sleepy, the car is moving, and there is fuzz(static) on the radio. If he is awake, hot, cold, or cranky he HATES it and will scream until he gets out. As you can imagine this makes shopping a bit difficult.
We are going to Oklahoma and Austin with my parents in a few weeks, so my mom and I have put Zach on a training schedule. He has to learn to love his carseat, so we shop! The last few trips have been a lot better. So, he is making progress.
Zach went to church for the first time last Sunday. I can not even describe how it felt to praise God during worship while our miracle sat next to me (in his carseat another miracle). I teared up just thinking of the times I cried and poured my hear out to God for a baby. The only words I can think of to describe how I feel for Zach at times is just Awe. I am in awe and how perfect and wonderful he is. I am in awe of how faithful to His promises my Lord is. I am in awe of how I can feel so much love for someone. I am in awe at how our Father gave up is only son for me, for my son, for us. I hope and pray that Zach will be in Awe at the faithfulness and love of our Father.
A funny church note...Zach peed on his really cute outfit. Only a few people saw him styling in his little plaid onesie and khaki shorts and tiny sandals. I did not even get a picture. He probably won't get to wear it again. He is in that in between stage where everything is either too little or too big. It is very similar to the wardrobe issues I have right now. :)
Zach loves his play mat and has become very aware of his toys. He is staying awake more and really observing the things around him. It is so much fun to see him developing. He is growing so big in size and his mind.
I need to post more pictures, but our computer crashed. Don't worry they were backed up, but on the computer upstairs. We have a new laptop. YEA!

2 week pictures

Here are a few of our 2 week pictures.

You have to turn your head; I don't know how to change that yet.

Zach has got his birth weight back on him. He weighed in at 8lbs and 8 ounces on Thursday. So, he is eating well. He likes to eat every 2.5-3 hours. We got the go ahead to not wake him up at night to eat, but he still likes to wake up and eat. I hope and pray for 4-5 hour stretches at night.

My friend, as she gave us a bag full of cute Texas Tech outfits, said that Proverbs 22:6 says - "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." We feel that one of our obligations as parents is to show him that one of the ways he should choose is the Texas Tech way.

Suction

Zach has some congestion. He sounds like a little pig snorting around some times. It is not too terribly bad yet. I had to get the bulb suction thing after his little nose to help him sleep and eat better last night. He HATES it. He screams and wiggles and tries to push my hands away. It breaks my heart. I know that I will be doing things that he does not like but are for his own good a lot more as he grows up. But, it is SO hard.
He slept all night in his bassinet. This is the first time. He has ended up on my chest. I know this is a terrible habit, but in the wee hours of the morning it works for us both to sleep.
We have discovered the benefit of gas drops.
He is still eating very well.
We have a 2 week dr. appointment on Thursday. He will get shots and some test run then.
I am recovering very well. I can go way past the 4 hour time limit without my pain pills. And sometimes Tylenol will fix me up as well as the pain meds.
James went back to work on Monday. We miss him terribly, but Mamaw Betty is here. She does all the laundry, ironing, and cleaning. We are going to be so spoiled when she leaves.
I told James today that it would be nice if we were independently wealthy so he could stay home with us every day. ;)
This baby has really increased my prayer life. I have always struggled with praying continually. I can not help but pray for him and with him when he is in my arms, when I am listening to him breathe before I go to sleep, while he is swinging, etc, etch.

home sweet home

I love this face! Ignore my shoulder.

We have been home sense Monday afternoon. That same afternoon, a 'mini-tanning bed' for babies called a 'billie light bed' for Zachary. His jaundice levels were too high when we left the hospital and the dr. wanted him under the light until his levels went down.
Well, today (really yesterday sense it is technically Friday now) we received news that his levels are down, and he does not have to be in his 'tanning bed' box any more. The company will pick it up some time on Friday. The nurse said it would not hurt to keep him in it until they picked it up. So, he spent his last night in it.

We now have to start over again in a sense as far as getting him to go to sleep on his own. The bed had an amazing calming effect on him. We don't know if it was the lights, the low humming sound, or both, but he would be fussy and then lay in his bed and be content.

Being first time parents, we worry like crazy about him. Someone has been awake 'watching' him in his bed to make sure he is okay. Tonight should be interesting as he will be sleeping in his bassinet and/or pack and play.

He can finally start to wear clothes! I must confess though that I really like him in only his diaper. I can stare at his little feet, hands, legs, etc. for hours.

I must blog for a minute on my wonderful husband. Seeing James as a dad has made me fall deeper in love with him. His love for his son is something that is so precious and can be seen in the way he looks at him. James has been wonderful in taking care of me and his new baby. I have changed very few doctors (I meant diapers, Thanks Leah!) and been able to rest thanks to James.

I want to blog about this being my first mother's day, but know it will be an emotional one. I think I will put it on hold considering I just started crying thinking about James.

I am feeling a little better each day, just soar. I must start walking, even if it only a little ways. I have been walking and up a lot in the house.

He's HERE!

Zachary was born at 12:58 on Friday, May 2nd. He was 8 lbs and 21 and 1/2 inches long.

We are both doing well.

I will bost more and better pictures later.
Did you know...the hospitol blocks the use of myspace and facebook? Just and interesting fact.
Thank you all for praying for us.
Much love!

Friday is the DAY!

We did not get to do the amnio this morning because there was no room or pockets of fluid. We got a shot of steroids to make sure his lungs are ready. Both doctors feel good about delivering tomorrow.
So, tomorrow afternoon our baby Zach should be here.
On another note, I have a cold. I am getting better but have definitely felt better. I have not been sick this entire pregnancy. I am hoping and praying that I am fully recovered by 1:00 tomorrow.
Please continue to pray for us.
We will update with pictures and info. as soon as we can.