One month old!

Our little guy is one month old tomorrow! He went for his check-up today and weighed 8 lbs 1 oz was 20 3/4 inches long. He is in the 10-25th percentile in weight and height but started out small. He is catching up fast!

Here are some things Zach is doing at one month. He has slept 4-5 hours at night the past 3 nights! We put him down around 8-9 p.m. and he hums himself to sleep. It is so cute! He is smiling socially and enjoys being talked to. He discovered the fish and bubbles on his bouncer this week, along with the bears above his swing. He kicks his legs and waves his arms with delight to try to get them. He also discovered himself in a mirror yesterday. Today, he exchanged hums and coos with his mama! He panted so hard between coos when I would coo back!

He is currently wearing newborn and some 0-3 month clothes. His skin is still smooth and beautiful and his hair is getting curlier every day! He loves when his daddy comes home from work and he rolls his eyes back in his head trying to see him. His big "dog-sis", Maggie, has become quite fond of him due to spending the past few days indoors because of ice. She has been very helpful in settling Zach, i.e. bringing me burp cloths, bringing Zach her favorite toys, and showing me the way to the nursery to change him when he cries! I think they will be big buddies soon!

That's about it for now. Just didn't want to forget all the things he is doing as he grows up!

Zach's 2 week update

I guess I should preface this with the fact that I know every mom thinks her child is THE smartest, cutest, and best baby in the world! And I am no exception! So this is my chance to brag on my little boy and keep record of the neat things he is already doing...at only 2 weeks old! So here it goes!

Zachary-

We are amazed at how expressive you are! You have been smiling from the day you were born. You are especially happy after a good meal or a good poop! You must take after your parents! Your toothless grin warms your mom's heart. You also make the funniest little expressions with your eyebrows and little mouth. You were NOT happy after your circumcision and definitely let us know with that little pouty mouth and serious brow! You wear your emotions all over your face and we never are in doubt of how you feel! Something tells me you will be like your mom in this!

You are a WONDERFUL sleeper! We are already getting two 4 hour segments of sleep at night and couldn't ask for any more! You like to sing to yourself as you fall asleep. It's precious! You also really like to be sung to. Your mama LOVES to sing to you and we are still working on your daddy! You always enjoyed music in utero and it has remained true once you came into this world. Some of your favorites are: Midnight Cry, When I think about the Lord, I Love you Lord, and Lord you are more precious than silver, just to name a few!

And if we didn't already think you were the smartest and strongest little guy in the world, you decided to roll yourself over today! Yes, I know it is WAY to early for this, but we had you on your belly finishing your bath this morning and the next thing we knew, you were pushing yourself over from belly to back with those strong little arms! We caught you just as you were headed into the sink! You grinned and cooed and were mighty proud of yourself! I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You were wiggling and rolling all around in my belly up until the day you were born!

I guess that is it for now. You weighed 6 lbs. 9 ozs. at your 2 week checkup putting you a little ahead of schedule on weight gain. We know you are gonna be a big strong boy one day! We love you!

Our Little Turkey

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Our little Zach has been such a blessing. We are so thankful to our Lord for this gift. He is so perfect and came to us at the perfect time. God is sovereign and we look forward to seeing His plan for our little man.

Our baby boy

Here's Zach right after he was born. He was 6 lbs. 3 ozs. and 19 1/2 inches long. We are all doing great, but exhausted!!! :) We'll post more pictures sometime later but here's one for now. Thanks to everyone who has called, texted, emailed, etc. Our little boy is so loved! We will enjoy seeing each of you sometime in the near future, but for now we are enjoying getting used to being parents! Thanks also for all your prayers. He came out a "small, but mature" according to the doctor! He is already such a strong and healthy little boy! Praise the Lord!

It's almost time!

The time is almost here. We have one week left til we meet our little boy! My emotions are going crazy right now. I am excited, nervous, anxious, and skeptical all at the same time. This has been such a surreal experience and I don't know that I have completely accepted that it is going to happen. I think it won't hit me until I'm holding my son in my arms, and I wonder then if it will still be strange. I'm excited to see him and enjoy looking at him and holding him for hours! I'm nervous about being a parent. I'm anxious to see how Zach changes our family dynamic. I'm kind of fond of my Scotty and the time we spend together. Part of me is nervous as to how another person fits into our family! And what will Maggie think? I worry that she will feel left out and neglected. She's been an only child for 12 years now. That's a LONG time! :) It's going to be a(insert all emotions here) experience! Keep us in your prayers.

Waiting on Zach...

Here are pictures of Zach's nursery. Other than the curtains, it is pretty much finished. I was happy to get things sorted and put away this week. We also got the new air conditioner in so the room is finally cool! Now all we need is Zach! 6 more weeks... :)

The Story of Zach

I've been working on trying to get Zach's room finished lately. I hope to have pictures posted on here soon! The idea for one of the projects I have recently finished came from a good friend of mine, Beth. In both of her kids' rooms she has a frame that has their names with the meaning as well as a Bible verse that represents that name. Zach's name is really special to us and we wanted to do something like that to remember the story. I thought I would share the story on here as well!

After our miscarriage in October of last year, Scott and I both knew God was telling us that He was going to send us another child. He did this through several separate avenues; however, it was all finalized through some scripture. Psalms 105:42 says "For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham." Throughout our trial with our first pregnancy, God had revealed the story of Abraham and his son Isaac to us. He walked us through this journey and brought us to the point where we had to lay our child at the altar and give him up to the Lord. We later found out he had literally taken him to heaven on that day. His name was to be Isaac. In the week following the miscarriage, God led me to that Psalm and we knew he was telling us that he was to give us another child. We didn't know how, when, or in what context, but rested in the peace of knowing he had promised us this.

Several months later, Scott and I decided we "might" be ready to have another child but were very guarded. We wanted God to show us what He meant in his promise, and not us. I found out a week or two later, much to my surprise and disbelief, that we were pregnant already! Scott was on call at work at the time so I grabbed a card and scribbled something inside and slipped a piece of paper that had Psalm 105:42 on it. I headed to the hospital to give it to him, but he got off early and met me at home instead. When he read it, he knew! He kept saying "Are you serious?" We were amazed at what God was doing, because this was definitely not our timing, but His!

The next day, I sat at my computer on one of those baby names sites. I typed in things like "promise" and "God-given" and found very little. Then, I happened upon the name Zachary. The description said "The Lord has remembered". I stopped. That was to be our child's name if he was a boy. I just knew it and needed no further explanation!

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I need journeys to solidify things. God took me on that journey over the next few months. Scott and I toyed with girl names, even to the point where God said "You will name her this...quit running." When I FINALLY, legitimately agreed, we found out it was a boy! It was almost as if God said, "Listen to me. Trust me. Show me your faith. (But it's gonna be a boy!)" :)

So Zachary was named by God. His name represents a spiritual journey that God has taken us on over the past year. This little guy was promised to us, long before we ever knew. He wouldn't be here if we hadn't willingly given up Isaac last October. I know God has big plans for this little guy. I pray that Scott and I will be parents that help him to know God and how special He has already been in his little life. I also pray that we will also willingly give Zach to God like we did Isaac. I have a feeling it will be even harder than it was the first time.

31 weeks and counting

I am 31 weeks 5 days in this picture! This picture became much "squattier" when I rotated it so I really don't think I look THAT squatty! Zach is growing bigger everyday and I know getting off my feet was the best thing for him. He has continued to be so active and have such a little personality. I can't WAIT to meet him! Scott and I started our childbirth classes last night. This is something I think everyone should do at least once. I can't say that I really learned anything last night but we laughed a lot and the "relaxation and breathing" part at the end was wonderful! But even better, it was nice to have a date out with Scott. We are so thankful for life right now. It's been an amazing journey over the past year. I have spent this week reflecting over a lot of what we have gone through as a couple since this time last year. Although I wouldn't wish a miscarriage on anybody, I can say now that our marriage is so much stronger, so much deeper, and so much sweeter than ever before. God is so real in our lives and our marriage and for that I am blessed! I've learned this week about journeys that God takes you on. Although they can be painful, looking back is so sweet. And I honestly wouldn't change a thing. I feel I am blessed for having been on that journey. And what a sweet Thanksgiving we are about to have, with our little blessing from above!

Zach's Shower at Work

What's better than a cake with football plates! You guys know me too well!

These are some pictures from Zach's baby shower last night at work! He got so many neat things that I can't wait to see him use! It was so good to see friends again from work as I have not worked in over 2 weeks now. I really missed all you guys! Thanks for such a great time!

Dancing for Joy

You all may call me crazy but I just have to share this! Tonight I have been sitting down after church checking my email while listening the the Juke Box online from our church. I've got my laptop in my lap and the speakers are pretty much aimed at Zach. After several other songs, one of my all-time favorites came on...Midnight Cry. I just love this song as it celebrates what we all are living for one day. As I'm listening, I start to notice that Zach is really moving! Not typical moving, he is literally dancing to this song! I sit and just watch my belly as Zach gets his groove on! As the song winds down, so does Zach, in perfect timing!

I just can't help but be reminded of the story in Luke that tells of John the Baptist leaping for joy in his mother's womb as Mary enters the room carrying Jesus in hers. Just merely being in the presence of Jesus caused a reaction from John before birth, and this was interpreted by his mother as legit! Not only that, but God felt it important enough to include in the Bible!

I already know that Zach has been a promise and blessing from God and just feel like God has big plans for this little boy! And then I feel him getting so excited and dancing as he heard music describing Jesus and how one day He'll come get us and take us home to heaven! I can only believe that this is a legitimate response to the presence of Christ here with me. How amazing!

Good report!

I went to the doctor this morning and got a good report! No changes and if anything improvement! I appreciate all the prayers for this little guy. And I just thank God that He is continuing to take care of him. I am still to stay "down" at this point. But I have to admit, I feel like Zach feels better when I am down. So it's not been as hard as I thought it might be. The best news of the morning, though, is that I got permission to go to the ASU game next weekend!!! I'm thrilled about going, even if I can't see the game because I have to sit. I plan on bringing my radio for backup (just in case)! Go Red Wolves!

ASU Red Wolves

I'm sitting here tonight watching college football on mute while listening to the Red Wolves play Texas Southern. I LOVE college football and I love even more that ASU is up 52-0 in the 2nd quarter! I keep thinking Matt Stoltz is gonna give a shout out to ASU's biggest fan who is having to listen to the game on the radio tonight...but so far, no love! I thought this was going to be torture tonight, but so far I'm making it. Now next week is another story...I'm already contemplating how to get to that game! I just wanted to say "Go RED WOLVES!" (And also beg the networks to televise the next ASU game so I can SEE it!!!) :(

More Changes

Today was my "last" day to work. Scott and I decided it made more sense for me to just throw in the towel now given I wasn't working enough to even count. I don't like to say that it was my last day. I prefer to think of it as a change in job description, as I am still going to type reports from home for now!

I had a hard time driving home today adjusting to all the changes. It's one thing for life to change to prepare for something else. It's completely another when you realize the transition won't occur for another 3 months! The reality of that began to sink in as I drove home. I guess it's in these times when you truly discover who you are down deep.

How amazing God is because this is exactly what I have been studying about lately in my quiet time! I read yesterday the story about the rich young ruler who comes to Jesus and asks "What must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus's response was to sell all of your possessions and come follow Him. But sadly, as you know, the rich young ruler leaves, weaping, because he knows he can't do this. A familiar, but strange story; however, so full of truth. What must we be stripped of to find our true identity in Christ? What can we not give up?

Right now, I feel like I am being stripped of my identity. I am being stripped of the things that have defined me over the past few years...my job, my activity, my hobbies. I pray that in this time it will draw me closer to him. That I will find my true identity and sense of purpose in Christ and who He has called me to be.

A New Hobby

So I got told yesterday that I needed a new hobby. No more lake trips, walking the dog, organizing closets, rearranging the garage, body surfing in the ocean, ASU victory dances....ya know, all the "fun" things I enjoy doing (and, admittedly, have done) this summer! It is definitely time for me to slow down. As much as I enjoy these things, I know I can do without because it is about so much more now. I want to be able to share all of these experiences with Zach one day. So I guess this is why this blog has been created. To give me a new (calmer) hobby.

I cannot WAIT to meet this little guy! I try hard not to impose anything on this little boy, but I can think of nothing more sweet than seeing my child skiing behind the boat, wrestling with Maggie, playing in the yard, splashing in the ocean, and cheering for the Red Wolves! Everyone says life changes with a child. I am definitely seeing that happen.

Life changes in so many ways. Not only in activities and the things of this world, but also spiritually and in my relationship with Christ. I found myself Sunday morning praying for Zach and all the other young children among our friends. I just feel like God has big plans for these guys. And, wow, the responsibility that comes with those plans! I found myself praying for Scott and myself, as well as our friends, that we would all being willing to give our children to God to serve His purposes first and foremost. That we would raise our children in such a way that God was real to them. Not just by telling them cute little stories and singing Bible songs, but by showing them a real personal relationship with Christ and how important He is and how involved He can be in their daily lives. Talk about responsibility!

So I do ask for your prayers as I slow down during these last months before Zach arrives. I ask that you pray that Zach doesn't get antzy like his mama and try to come too early! But also ask you to pray for Scott and me as we prepare physically, mentally, emotionally, and, most importantly, spiritually for Zach. Thanks!