5 Weeks

Zachary was 5 weeks on Saturday.  He continues to be a very sweet lovable, liked-by-all kind of baby. His smiles are starting to become more frequent.  He melts my heart.  As long as he doesn't need to eat, burp or poop he's a pretty happy baby.  Getting him settled at night is a struggle at times, but once he's sleeping he's usually only up once during the night. Usually. ;) 

Mom's visit

We were thrilled to find out last fall that my mom would be able to fly here soon after Zachary's birth to help out for a few weeks.  We decided picking her up at the airport would be a fun activity for us to do as a family.  I have fond memories from my childhood of picking up grandparents/relatives at the airport.  

I don't think it really hit us how "big" our family looks now until we were walking through Dullas International Airport with four kids.  We felt slightly out of place among all the hip business people on their cell phones pulling carry-on suitcases.  We were holding kids hands, diaper bags and a baby car seat.  It made us smile. We're just find being a little odd.  Speaking of odd, as we were getting out of the van at the airport we realized that the boys had brought along everything they thought they might need for their great airport adventure.  Items in their pockets included, binoculars, flashlights and pocket knives. Thankfully we discovered the knives before we entered the airport. 

We were in the airport about 10 minutes when mom called to say she was delayed in Toronto and wouldn't make it to Washington for another 5 hours.  We knew staying in the airport for that long was not going to work.  So we spent the afternoon at the Air and Space Museum that is very close to the airport.  It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.  The museum was very quiet with only a few people there.  Zachary and I spent a lot of time just sitting and relaxing.  

Space Shuttle Discovery 

Astronaut Roger Crouch 

She's finally here!

 I worked mom hard while she was here. :)  Sadly, I didn't take near as many pictures as I should have.  While she was here Jeremy flew to Phoenix for a pastor's conference.  I'm not sure I would have survived the week without Mom here to help.  Thank you Mom!  You're the best!

Mom and Callie spent a lot time together.  Here's just part of the batch of  granola they made.

Lovin' on Zachary 

I should have kept track of how many hours they spent playing with this doll house.  Callie absolutely loved all the attention Mom gave her.  She even got to go shopping with Grandma.  She came home with this new princess hat and gloves.  A true princess indeed. 

Now that's a talented and much loved grandma. :)  

Zachary David

Today our little Zachary is 1 month old.  I guess it's time to update the blog.  What a sweet gift God has given us.  Zachary is a very typical newborn.  He sleeps a lot, poops a lot, and yes some days he cries a lot.  We love him so much.  Here are few things I want to remember from the pregnancy and his birth.

Pregnancy: 

-40 weeks, 3 days (Even though I thought I would be early this time.  Why do I do that to myself?!)

-Cravings: Snickers bars and gum.  These two things got me through the yucky sickness of the first 12-13 weeks.

-2 ultrasounds.  One at 20 weeks (it's a boy!) and one at 35 weeks because I was measuring about 2 weeks ahead of where I should have been.  This was pretty consistent through the whole pregnancy.  

-I gained 27 lbs. 

Labor

-born Saturday, February 2, 2012

-9+ hours of labor.  After Callie's 5 hour "easy" delivery I was hoping for a short labor.  Nope.

-Contractions started around 8:30 on Saturday morning.  Zachary was born at 6:27 PM

Zachary David

I'll never forgot April 26, 2012 sitting in the little waiting room when the doctor came and told us Jeremy's tumor was benign.  I'm not one to see visions, but I felt like Gods arms opened up and a flood of hopes and dreams that I had laid down or had tried not to think about came pouring out.  The first being the hope for more children.   On April 1, 2012 I marked this verse in my Bible:

"I am still confident of this: 

I will see the goodness of the LORD 

in the land of the living;

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27: 13-14

I've loved the name Zachary for a long time.  I think it's been on our name list since before Isaiah was born, but we never used it.  When we found out we were having a boy I started looking for names.  The meaning of a name has always been important to us when naming our children.  When I saw that Zachary meant "God has remembered"  it seemed fitting for a little guy.  Even in the midst of hard times God does not forget His promises to His children.  David means "Beloved" and is Jeremy's middle name.   

Daddy and Zachary bonding.  One of the sweetest moments in the hospital  happened when I was holding Zachary and Jeremy called his name.  Zachary turned his head toward Jeremy at the sound.  Jeremy talked to our kids a lot while they were in the womb.  I'm sure Zachary recognized Jeremy voice.  

My aunt and uncle brought the kids into see Zachary soon after he was born.   We're realizing more and more what a blessing siblings are to each other.  While Jeremy and I are Zachary's parents, I have a feeling we could just move aside and let these kids raise him.  They love him so much.  They were all anxiously awaiting his arrival, but Isaiah was the most tuned in and got the biggest smile when we told him we were leaving for the hospital.  We talked often during the pregnancy about Jeremy calling and telling Isaiah when Callie was born (Nate was too young to remember much).  It was very important to Isaiah that this be repeated with this baby.   When they came to the hospital Isaiah and Nathan were very interested in Zachary.  Callie was interested in him, but was more interested in what I was wearing and my arm bands.  She and Nate were very impressed with the tray of food delivered to my room while they were there.  Nate (always my little helper) offered to hand me whatever I wanted to eat off the try.   

Our big "little" guy.  My midwife mentioned several times during my pregnancy that this could be a big baby. The first thing she said when he was born was "that's a big baby".  Zachary is my biggest baby by 1 pound weighing at 9 lbs 3 oz.. I like this picture of him because it shows his chubby legs.  Needless to say the NB size sleepers are no longer being used.  :)  

So much more to share about Zachary and life as a family of 6.  I'll probably blog again in about a month or a year. :(