Almost Summer '09

Zach got all dressed up in his very cute swimming outfit (thanks mom and dad) and I took him for his first swim (May 30, 2009). I can't say that he loved it, but he also didn't hate it. I think he didn't quite know what to make of it. The water was still a little chilly, but the weather was quite warm and the pool felt great. Zach didn't cry at all when I put him in the water but he did catch his breath the way most people do when they step into something cold! He never smiled, but I truly think he enjoyed himself because he proceeded to fall asleep in my arms as I was swaying him from side to side in the water. He took a ride in two different floats and played with Be Be for a bit before wrapping up his first swim.

I bought him these great sunglasses. They wrap around his head and velcro in the back. He wasn't so happy with me putting them on, but he adjusted as soon as I took him outside and he realized that he didn't have to squint. We've tried them a few more times and now I think he actually looks forward to having them on for walks in the Bjorn!

Zach discovers rice cereal

MMMMMM Tasty. Of course we had to mix it with pears to get him to attempt to swallow the stuff. Have you ever tried plain rice cereal. I tasted it. YUCK! But with pears...Deeelish. After Zach's numerous attempts to feed himself, I discovered that giving him his own spoon is the best way to go. When I want to feed him more, I pull his hand away and shove a quick spoonful in and then he promptly proceeds to stick "his" spoon back in his mouth (or ear, or forehead)!

Zach finds his feet!

Zachary went to his 4 month ped. appointment and here are the stats:

Height: 26.25 inches
Weight: 14.8 lbs

Zach's 4 Month Update

Zachary is 4 months old today! He's developed such a big personality. He still loves to be held and walked, with his favorite place in the Baby Bjorn (which looks so uncomfortable).

Milestones: Zachary is rolling over both ways! He gets stuck sometimes on his belly, which he still hates and gets very angry about. I think that his belly hurts when he is on his stomach because without fail, each time I place him on his tummy, he spits up (even hours after eating). He has taken to sleeping on his left side. I'll place him on his back in his crib and he immediately rolls to his side to go to sleep.

Zach is enjoying his exersaucer and figuring out how to work all the toys or get them into his mouth! He'll spend up to 30 minutes at a time playing with the various toys and grinning at me when he figures them out.

He is putting EVERYTHING in his mouth now and has started to drool, and drool, and drool! I am constantly wiping off his face. We have also started to wear a bib most days just to catch the slobber. His tear duct is still blocked, causing gross eye boogers that we have to wipe as often as his face.

Zach laughs more often now, and cries very little. He has started to enjoy books. He loves the "Dog" book and the "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"

Mother's Day 2009

We spent my first Mother's Day in Charlottesville enjoying a picnic in Garden III on the lawn and taking in an NCAA tournament UVA lacrosse game vs Villanova. It was a beatiful day, sunny and 75 degrees. We followed the game (leaving at half-time when we were up 16-0) with a trip to Arch's for some very yummy fro-yo.

Adam bought me flowers and wrote a very sweet card. Adam's mom sent me a nice card and a hillarious "tounge in cheek" guide to exceptional parenting. Both my parents and my grandparents sent cards acknowledging my first Mom's day. The daycare that we send Zach to traced his hand and made a bouquet out of the hand cut-outs glued to pipe cleaners.

My clock started ticking last year and all I could think about was becoming a mother. I can hardly believe that already am. Having Zach has added such a wonderful dimension to my life. And although it's not always easy, I am so happy and I couldn't have asked for anything more!!!

Balancing Act

I am so grateful that I can be a working mother. I love my job, and couldn't imagine giving it up to stay home full time. I also LOVE my son. I miss him while I'm at work and look forward to picking him up at 4pm each afternoon and spending the evening with him before he goes to bed at 8.

The one thing that I have given up (other than sleep!), is going to the gym. I would REALLY like to get back the gym. I feel much better after working out, and even though I am down to my pre-preggo weight, the distribution of weight is quite different and I have a bit of a belly I would like to work on!

Now...I can't imagine going to the gym after 8pm. Golly, I don't even get to eat dinner until after 8. So when do I find time to go where I don't have to sacrifice time with baby Zach?! I would gladly wake up a little early and go then, but he is still so unpredictable with his sleep waking habits. If he woke up at 6:30 every morning, then I would go to the gym at 5:15. Today, he woke up at 5:45 for breakfast. I am NOT waking up at 4:15 am just to work-out! AHHHHH. I would love to have a little "me" time, but I feel like the 8 hours a day I have him at day care while I am working is "me" time.

Adam doesn't quite understand my logic. He thinks I should just leave the baby at daycare for another hour while I go to the gym. Thing is...I couldn't bear to sacrifice the wonderful extra hour of time I get with my boy in the afternoons. I cherish every moment (especially the ones before 6pm when he starts getting tired and his attitude goes downhill fast).

What's a mom to do? I still haven't figured that one out yet.