NO MUMPS

Just some weird unexplainable viral infection. Only James. We have Lysoled everything several times.
Zach is into everything. I can't get things baby proofed fast enough. How do you baby proof a fireplace? Any stairs baby proof advice?

The Mumps

Well...James may have the mumps.
He has all the symptoms. They ran blood work but we will not have the results until Monday or Tuesday. We have him quarantined upstairs until we get the results back.
There is a good changes that it is an infection in the same glands that mumps get into.
There were 300 cases of mumps in the US. So that means there is a 1 in a million chance he has it. So if he does have it then we are going to buy lots of lotto tickets. I would prefer that our 1 in a million luck would be for the lotto than mumps.
Please pray that he does not have the mumps and will recover from whatever is wrong with him.

Carne Guisada Gravy

I always said that I would use organic baby food. I try so hard to make sure Zach eats a balanced diet and organic when it can be. I confess that I do not do this as much as I should. Easy often takes over. Today, I realized that I use Avent bottles that are not BPA. There are lots of things I do that I said/thought I would not do. I will have to post about that later.
Before Christmas Zach's baby sitter said how much he loved mashed potatoes and gravy. I thought gravy??????????????? I send all organic baby food and he is eating gravy? I let it go very easily because she LOVES Zach and takes such good care of him. We are truly BLESSED to have this amazing women in our lives that loves Zachary as her own grandson. She only keeps him and her grandaughter.
Well the other day James comes homes. He was reluctant to tell me what the baby sitter had said. She informed James that Zach enjoys his baby food with carne guisiada gravy mixed in with it. James was proud as this is one of his favorite dishes. :) I am sure he gets lots of home made tortillas, beans, and rice as well.
So, I have traded my desire for all organic for love, nourishment, and an environment where Zach is taken care of not just watched.
But, I thought you would all laugh at Zach's love for Mexican food at an early age.

What has been happening

It has been WAY too long. Zach is now 9 months. My how he has grown sense this 7 week picture.
I think list work better and are a much faster way to get everyone up to speed on what is going on in the Garza world.
Zach can crawl everywhere now and pull up on anything. He is taking baby steps while holding on to things.
I have (as of last night)give him freedom outside the living room area. My they get into things fast. He managed to pull everything off the end table, get into the dog's water bowl, try to eat Panzer's dog bowl, get out a box of zip lock bags from the bottom drawer, take all the kleenex out of the box, and find that he loves a pot on the tile floor. MISSION this weekend: BABY PROOF the house. Any suggestions on what, how, why?

Zach needs a hair cut, but we are so sad to have to give him one. Once he gets a hair cut any remaining baby features will be gone. I am loving every stage of his development. It is really hard to see my baby growing into a toddler. I cherished every moment of him being a baby, but now it seems like so long ago that he was just a bundle of sleep, eat, and poop. :) It is so hard to let go and allow and trust him to be protected by the Lord.

I am doing the 10 days of praying for your children from my friend Hillarie's blog. I want and desire Zach to love the Lord, the Word, and walk in the truth. I confess that I get so caught up in the every day to do things that I do not nurture my walk enough. I know that I must in order to show Zach how much Jesus loves him. My friend said one thing you will answer for when you get to heaven is your children and how you grew the gift God gave you.

Zach can play patty cake. He will be crawling around and look at you, clap his hands and say pa pa.
James and I both are doing well. We stay busy and enjoy just being at home as a family.
I have a new stroller. It is called a Valco buggster. This now means we have our graco stroller, 2 umbrella strollers, a jogging stroller, and this new one. WAY too many. We don't stroll that much. We got the buggster for Disney world. It is like a supped up umbrella.

I need to post an opinion poll. How do ya'll feel about backpack leashes? We are going to Disney and I think someone will be walking or toddling around by then.

BTW we have use of a sippy cup and straw down.

Pictures...finally

All I got for Christmas was this bow...yea right! It took 2 cars to get it all home

Cousins

Giving mom kisses on the Riverwalk in San Antonio

Telling Santa what he wanted

Me and daddy

I let him have a taste of a cookie on the Polar Express Zach was really excited about what he got me for my birthday, an ESQ watch with diamonds
All of us on the Polar Express
I have a better pic of Zach and the Condutor but it takes forever to download
Zach was not really naughty this year

What's going on...or been going on

Today, I am home with a sick little Zach. He has his first stomach bug. Luckily it is not too bad. I know it could be far worst. He is eating, some.
We had a whirlwind of a Christmas. How blessed it was to sit and open presents with our little miracle. He loved the paper, the bows, the lights, and the boxes all of his toys came wrapped up in. Of course, he did not realize that he is the best gift of all to so many people.
Here is a run down of what is going on with our family and Zach:
Zach can pull up all by himself. He is figuring out that he can pull up on anything and not just his toys. We have had a few head bumps, but nothing serious. ;)
Zach is crawling. He is no ready for the races, but he can get where he wants to go. No longer is he in the same place when I get back to him.
Zach flew on his first airplane over the holiday and did very well.
Zach got a little red wagon to keep at his GiGi and Pop's house in the country he loves that thing and his country cats.
Work is about to be super busy for me and always is for James.
I am trying very hard to not control everything but enjoy the evenings with my two boys. So what if the clothes never get folded and put up, they are clean.
Did you know that having healthy relationships is one of the most important things to maintaining healthy stress levels.
James got me John and Kate plus 8 Season one and two for Christmas. So, we all need to have a viewing party.
I have TONS of Christmas pictures I will get on soon.
Zach got to have his picture made with the real Santa in San Antonio. His pictures were MUCH better and only $5. That beats the $25 I paid at Holiday Happening with the fake Santa that don't show Zach's face.
Really that was a run down of what is going on with Zach.
Not much goes on with James and me because our world seems to revolve around Zach, in a healthy way. :)
I got to spend some good time with my best friend from high school that lives in Cooper. I miss you Julie Kay!
James is looking forward to March Madness.
We were both upset with our Red Raiders poor showing at the Cotton Bowl.
WE BOOKED A TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD IN JUNE!!! Zach is going with us. Our nieces will be there too. It should be such a fun time with our family.
I didn't proof this. So to my loyal following of folks that tell me all my mistakes...you probably have your work cut out on this one.

Winter

I LOVE Winter. It is going to be so cold in Lubbock tomorrow and I can not wait.
We have been very busy sense Thanksgiving. I know it has been forever sense I posted.
Zach went to breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Clause. He really enjoyed it and loved the shopping at Holiday happening afterwards. ;) He does really well shopping, but he would rather be home with Daddy watching football and jumping in his bouncer.
He is on the verge of crawling. You can not leave him in one place and expect him to be there when you get back. I expect him to take off any day now.
He is sleeping really well at night still, Praise God!
Zach loves to eat and is doing really well with all his fruits and veggies.
I am no longer nursing. That was sad to give up, but we are both handling it very well.
I can not get over how much Zach is growing and changing daily. I LOVE being a mother.
We have a busy week. We are going on the Polar Express, have 2 Christmas parties and lots of packing, shopping, and wrapping to do.
This weekend James and I had some time together. My mom came in to keep Zach. Friday night we did some shopping and Saturday we went to a really fun Christmas party at some friends' house.
It is amazing how much more Christmas means now that I am a mother. I have a totally new take on the birth and death of our Savior now that I am a mother. It is hard to explain. To use a term I learned in graduate school, I now see things through different lenses than before.
I hope you and your family have a blessed Holiday!
Some random thoughts while I wait for pictures to upload.
I know there is a giant picture of Zach on the top of this blog. I have no idea how to fix it. Tara-ideas?
James and his brother Christ put up all of our lights outside before Thanksgiving. They plugged them in, blew a fuse, and now we have lights that don't work on our house.
I put a tree up for the 1st time in 4 years. It is really pretty if I do say so.
I know that giftcards are not the most personnel gift to buy, but I do it any way. I wish I had time to bake, but nothing says loving like $ to Starbucks.
I LOVE My new camera. But, it takes such amazing pictures it take blogger, facebook, myspace forever to upload. I might have to take special pictures with the old camera so I do not waste your time with my random thoughts while waiting for them to upload
I didn't have any spelling errors in this blog. Excuse the grammar mistakes.

Does anyone watch John and Kate plus 8. It is one of my favorite shows for the past few seasons. I have not missed an episode. I just read her book and admire her faithfulness and love for God through all that she has experienced.
James is reading the book "Marley" that is being made into a movie.
I find myself missing "Twilight" I plan on re-reading over the holidays unless you guys have suggestions.

So much yet so little time

Things are going great around our house. Just a few thins to update
Zach went to the Dr. last Wednesday to get a shot for his croup. Long story short, he rolled off the exam table, got head x-rays, has a skull fracture, and is COMPLETELY FINE! Praise God.
We bought a Christmas tree today. We have not decorated in a few years because we are always gone, but we have a tree for this year. I am debating putting ornaments on it though. ;)
I started thinking the other day about how blessed that our family is. All my life I have been living for the next 'big' thing. God has blessed me with all the 'big' things in life, house, job, cars, wonderful husband, precious child, health, and so much more. God very clearly let me know to stop getting so wrapped up in the world and enjoy the blessings he has given me. So, I am trying to not worry so about the little things and just enjoying the little things of my wonderful,ordinary life.
I LOVE this time of year. I can't wait until the Christmas music starts playing. I love the decoration, the hustle and bustle, the lights and the smells of the holidays.
A list for those of you out there wondering about Zach.
He is 6.5 months old!
He can:
Roll over both ways
Scoot around on his tummy (he goes in a circle)
Tries to crawl
Sits up on his own and plays with his toys around him
Jumps in his jumper
Watches TV and tries to figure out what is going on
Pulls hair
Has 4 teeth
Is being slowly taken off breast milk
LOVES bananas

Probation

Zach is own probation. He bit me and I am not talking about my finger. His two little teeth may look innocent, but they are not!
Any suggestions for a biter? He is about to loose the 'good stuff' from mom.
On another side note, he is very sick. He has a viral throat/respiratory infection going on. Poor little guy and poor mom. We were up all night.
I woke up feeling like I partied all weekend.

Proud

There are lots of things I am proud of...
BUT...
This morning I am PROUD TO BE A TEXAS TECH RED RAIDER!!
Get your Guns up and GO TECH!! Beat OSU!
I missed the game to stay home with my sick little monkey. I can't believe I missed it, but I am so proud I missed it to be home with our son.
Before the sickness..
And yes, that is Graham holding our baby! We think Zach brought him luck.