Well, it's been a while since I've had the opportunity to catch up on Zachary's progress. Seeing that I have the time, now would be a good time to do that I guess. I can't believe he's going to be one in just a few short weeks! Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday that I was anxiously awaiting his arrival. He's grown so fast and learned so much that he continues to amaze me. I sometimes think that I learn more from him than he learns from me. Zachary's been walking since he was about 9 1/2 months old and is now almost up to a run! He's so active and such a boy!! It's funny because when I was pregnant with him, I wondered to myself, what in the world am I going to do with a boy? I have 3 nieces and a sister...no boys in the family! Well, I guess that was just a concern of mine that was not warrented. I have so much fun playing with him! I get tears in my eyes just thinking about his smile...he's happy ALL the time! I love that he runs up to kiss me!! It just melts my heart!

He also loves to eat! He stays pretty thin though due to his activity level. He just doesn't sit still. Right now he's a mama's boy, but he definitely likes to get rough and tumble with my husband. He's a great father and always plays with him and is totally in love with his son! Zachary has a few words in his vocabulary, but his choice word is hot and then he blows. Doesn't matter what it is, but it's hot! He also says mama, daddy, ball, oh boy, uh-oh, and a few other things. I love to listen to him babble. Makes me wonder what's going on in his head and what he's trying to say. He talks all the time! I can't believe that I'm a mom and that the love you can feel for someone is so immeasurable that you can't even comprehend it. He is a true blessing from God!

32 weeks!!

Birth Story!

After a loooong 10 months, Zachary Michael finally decided to make his debut on July 1st, 2007!! Saturday night I started feeling some contractions, but it wasn't until my friend pointed out to me that I was ouching and grimmacing at regular intervals. By 11:30 at night I called the midwife to tell her how I was feeling. She said to try to get some sleep and that she'd see me later on. Yeah, easier said than done, but I did get a few hours of sleep. By 3:15, I couldn't sleep anymore so I found some things to do around the house. By 4:00, I knew that I was definitely in labor and by 4:20 I was consistently having contractions every 3-4 minutes. We left for the hospital around 5:00 and it seemed to take forever to get there. By 5 :25, we made it to the hospital and I waddled my way up to the labor and delivery floor. They quickly got me into my room and I was examined. I was at 4-5cm. and 90% effaced...which was pretty good. One of the first questions I asked was when I could get my epidural! Ladies, diamonds are not a girls best friend...epidurals are!! Anyway, they wanted me to wait a little longer so that my labor had some more time to progress. I thought they were nuts because I thought I progressed enough and needed some pain relief. So, Eric and I went for a walk down the hall and came back to the room where I stood around because it felt better than being in bed. So, around 7:15, the next shift of nurses came on and I told her I was ready for my epidural. By 8:00, the doctor came in to administer it and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! Relief came and I was feeling really good and my labor stayed consistent. We tried to get some sleep, Eric did well at doing that, but I really couldn't. At 9:15 I was 5-6 cm. and 100% effaced and they broke my water. There was some meconium in it, so the NICU had to be present for the delivery to clear out Zachary's lungs. By 1:30 I was ready to go. They wanted me to wait another hour to start to push so he could have some more time coming down and I wouldn't have to push as long. So I started pushing around 2:55 and he was born at 3:40. He weighed 6lbs 13 oz. and was 19 in.long. It was the most amazing experience ever in my life and nothing compares to it!!! He is so perfect and beautiful!! He looks just like his daddy. He's been really good and we're adjusting to being new parents!