Dear Zane...

April, 6 2013

22 months, 14 days

Zane, I know I've told you how smart you are, but for a parent to watch their child grow and learn so much just overnight is amazing!! You point to things and say the word, I haven't even taught these to you yet. I'm also learning that you are very observant-I think you get that from your daddy! You know the difference between a fork and spoon (which you learned just this week, apparently!) Right now, while you are still learning to say things, Mommy can always understand what you are saying. Sometimes I will have to tell everyone else what you are asking or telling us. Some of your words sound very similar, like "balloon" and "ball", and "down" and "done." But, Zane, you say things very well, so I do not always have to show people what you want. You have no idea how many words you learn so fast! I have been keeping a "word count" of your entire vocabulary, so when the doctor asks me, I know exactly how many words you know. I update it often, that's how fast you learn and how smart you are!!

One of our favorite things to see you do is to "run fast!" You tuck your head down, put your arms out behind you, like wings, and take off running as fast as you can! Sometimes you'll but your back up against the wall and want us to say "on your mark, get set, GO!!" And off you go, giggling all the way!   You are so funny, and so much fun to be around! You entertain us all the time. We really do wonder what we did before you came along. 

Mommy and Daddy, and EVERYONE loves you so much! You are a very special boy!

Dear Zane...

April 4, 2013

22 months  12 days old

To my dearest Zane,

I wish I had started this a long time ago, when you were first born, or even when I got pregnant with you. I have a lot of time to make up for in this first "love letter" to you! I hope one day you can look back on these and cherish them always!

You should know, you are the absolute light of my life! Everyday you fill my heart with complete joy and love!! You have this special way of always making me feel so happy. There is not a day that goes by that you don't make me laugh until my stomach hurts! You are so silly and are so happy! You dance around and it's so cute! Sometimes you and Daddy have "dance-off's" where y'all just dance around together. I love it! Lately, you've been making funny faces. You love doing it when you know you're doing something you shouldn't. You just want to make me smile or laugh, it usually works!

Zane, you amaze me at how smart you are. You should see yourself in action, really! Yesterday, you went to get a tissue and pick up a bug off the floor, then threw it in the trash. I was taken aback, because Daddy and I were not sure where you learned to do this? But you knew!! A few weeks ago you started calling me "Mom-mom." Every time you say it, it's music to my ears!! You say it a lot, especially when you want me to fix something or help you with something. Now it's turned into "Momma." People tell me it's going to get old, but I can't get enough of hearing it! Also, here lately, you've become quite the tattle-tell. It's funny! If the dogs knock you down or steal food from your little hands, you come to get me and show me exactly where they knocked you down and point to the dogs, in your own words you get on to them for doing that to you!

You just experienced your 1st Easter egg hunt last Sunday. You were incredibly cute! You knew exactly what to do and as I held your basket, you'd drop eggs in one by one. Afterwards, of course, you'd want to eat all the candy inside! You ask "eease" for "please." Then you'd say "thanks!" You are such a sweet, polite little boy!! Decorating the eggs was fun too! You loved dropping them in the dye and then a minute later you'd stick your whole hand in to get them out. By time we got done, you had some messy hands! You've discovered you love stickers, especially Sesame Street stickers. You'll put them all over your body, the kitchen table or just on the doors. You love to name off each of your favorite characters. But, usually any kind of stickers will do for you. Coloring is one of your favorite pastimes too. You're good at coloring in the books, but occasionally I catch you coloring the floor or walls or furniture. But they are washable, so it's not that big of a deal. I think you are confused between crayons and chalk. It's ok, you'll catch on soon, you always do!!

Morning time is one of our special times together. When you wake up, it takes you a little bit to get going. You need to lay on me and cuddle until you are awake enough to feel like playing. It's the sweetest thing! I think I love it more than you do!

I can't wait to write more letters to you about our life together and all you do growing up! I love you more than any words could ever express!!

Love you ALWAYS,

Mommy

What's Goin' on with Zane?

Well little man is 20 months now, and he has no clue! He thinks he is 20 years old. Maybe because I'm not the best disciplinarian, or he's just really defiant, or just being a toddler. I will tell him "this is don't touch" I may be pointing to the fireplace tools or the dog's water bowl, but here lately it's our door mouse.

Isn't it cute???

I use it to sometimes prop open the baby gate to the master, like when I'm doing laundry. It's made of iron and I will tell him "this is don't touch!" He completely understands me, because then, he proceeds to look down at the door mouse, and say "dis is don toush!" Later, I will find him carrying the door mouse off to somewhere in the house and THEN sometimes he puts it back exactly where it goes and says again "dis is don toush!" As if it doesn't apply to him, just reiterating the rule! But it's so cute and funny it's hard to get onto him, and then I wonder why am I not getting through to this actually incredibly smart (I am biased) toddler??

He is super stubborn, and cute as can be!! He refuses to say "mama" but instead he says "baba." He says some other things like:

"fruit loops" -- sounds more like "ush-oops"
"popcorn"-- or "cah-gorn"
"Poppie"--my father
"Dada"--his Daddy, of course
"shoes"
"juice"
"trash"-- or "jash"
"eyes"

And a few others, but have slipped my mind. Zane took his time on the speaking part of when you ask him to repeat something (stubborn). He still has his own baby language and is constantly talking in gibberish! He understands pretty much anything to tell him or ask him to do, which that's what our Pediatrician wants to hear! I can ask him to "put that up" or to "throw that away" "bring me my phone" (lazy momma moment) and he will do just that! I ask him where his eyes, nose, ears, mouth, cheeks, head, belly, feet and hands are and he will point to each one on cue. It makes me so so proud!! He tries to dress himself and is always trying to put his shoes on, and he can, just not always on the correct feet. He will wash his face and brush his teeth and if I ask him if he wants to go to bed, he will run to his crib or point that direction if we are in our bedroom.

Lately, he has been handing out the kisses and hugs! We will ask for a "bear hug" and he will squeeze SO tight. It's the best feeling! He's super friendly and waves to anyone who walks by, even if they don't wave back. He blows Mommy kisses and likes helping me cook--(I just let him stir). I may have mentioned a few posts back that he LOVES to clean. One day my parents were watching him as I went to a doctor appointment. My mom was changing his diaper and he gets up (sans diaper) runs to my dads office and pees on his boots and floor (NOT on purpose!!), then my son goes to get his wipes, pulls a couple out and wipes up his mess! He is really a sweetheart! And he's a clown!! He will do anything for a
laugh and loves to laugh. I tell you what, I don't know what we did to get such a wonderful baby! His big toothy smile just makes me so happy!Here's some pics of what he's been up to lately...

Cuddling with my baby blankie

bear hugs!!

Goofing around wearing Daddy's glasses

just some light cleaning!

Rocking on the dino at the park.

Testing out his chef skills.

Catching some zzz's with his new favorite buddy "Nova dog"

Mr. Cool

Is it just me or he's pretty smart for a 1 1/2 year old??

Rambles of the Stay at Home Mom

I think I should change my Blog name to that title, what do you think??

Well it's Monday, again, and I have begun to REALLY get the hot momma body back! I ran for the first time in a long time tonight! I made no excuses, when The Hubs got home, I got goin'! If you haven't been following along, I am now at THE HEAVIEST I've ever been! I do not admit that proudly. I used to be so fit and skinny, I'm talkin' a totally rockin' bod!

Daytona, FL  Summer of 2010

Then later that year I got pregnant.  Bad habits started and never ended, until now!!! Before hand I was just so dedicated! I ran alot and ate so well! But I still have all that in me and I'm digging back into my "fitness knowledge" part of my brain that hasn't been used properly in a good year and a half! I know what to do, I just need to do it and become that "fitness buff" I used to be!

With all that said, I started Couch to 5K, today, again...and geez running used to be so much easier!!! I discovered that I hate sweating now, it makes me feel fatter! However, when I was skinny I loved being drenched in sweat after a good run! Something about it made me feel so accomplished. Not today, it just made me feel yuck! My ankles and knees hurt now since I am heavier, and I literally feel my butt bouncing behind me as I run! To make it worse, my buns are sore the next couple days, probably from just the bouncing alone! I got some junk in this trunk people! It's usually the first thing to get big, then my boobs. Some people would see this as a good thing, not me! The ladies have gotten out of control! Most people know, I had a breast reduction when I was 16. Insurance covered my procedure and everything, it was a medical thing as well for me, cosmetic and self-consciously necessary. I was so insecure! I couldn't shop in Victoria's Secret like everyone else. I was a 32-E! I'm being 100% honest with you! I had to pick out bras at a specialty shop and then have them altered. At one point, the back strap had 5 brackets!!! This is torture for a 15, going on 16 year old! They were ugly too! And I felt like I was wearing a straight-jacket! You can bet your booty, I saved those suckers! And recently, I tried one on again, it came about an inch, maybe inch and a half from fitting!! You could not see ME passed my boobs! I went back to school after my surgery and people said to me "Oh you're skinny" I thought, well yeah! My boobs just took over my whole body!  So, you see how ginormo boobs again isn't a good thing for me. Losing weight means losing boobs! HA!

To fully understand my poundage I packed on, you'd need to see me in a bikini now. That just ain't gonna happen! I was able to wear one this past summer. I think I packed on the pounds since. Having a baby didn't make me fat, it's been poor food choices and not exercising! I love food!! Really love it! I'm not a whale, by any means, but I am not fit and have weight I really need to lose! I am only 5'1" just 5 pounds makes a difference. It doesn't help having a toddler in the house and a hubby that can eat whatever! One time I tried this diet where I could have no sugar and carbs, Zane was eating Fruit Loops and he kept trying to force them in my mouth! See what I mean?  The good thing is, my son really loves healthy food too. And once upon a time I had will power made of steel! I still have it, I just need to use it. So, here I go...I am determined that by this Summer I will have my body back! Then I'll be one hot momma and be proud of it! No worries, I won't be a mid-riff wearing inappropriate woman. I am a mom, after all! I can say though, that my legs feel good, they are tired, but a good tired! And I bet I will sleep good!!

Let me know...new blog name or no?

Glazed Lemon Burst Cookies...YUM!

Just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I am going to share with you a yummy recipe that I tried out last week. Zane and I were going to our 2nd Annual baby cookie exchange party, it's fun to get together with the mom's and see the babies play. I had every intention of making these cookies the night before, since the party was an hour away from where we live. But, then my hairstylist was able to get me in that night and I jumped on that! I was there for a while so by time I got home it was late and I was tired and ready to go to bed! I woke up extra early so I could attempt to be on-time to this event for once, ha! I mixed and baked the cookies while I got ready and got Zane up and fed him breakfast. Some where in the middle of all this Zane was "helping" me get ready by going though all my hair stuff and make-up and tearing up toilet paper. I had gone to finish up the cookies and when I went to go put on my mascara, my eyelash curler had disappeared! I knew who the culprit of this disappearance was, my 18 month old, of course (oh my, he is so silly)! Let me tell you, I turned this house up-side-down!!!!! I searched his favorite hiding spots atleast 3 times each, looking in the magazine rack, shoes we had left out, the trash cans, the toilet, etc. This went on for about 45 minutes and I started breaking out in a sweat so I decided to give up and on my way I'd stop and buy a cheapy eyelash curler because I knew it'd turn up later, plus I had to stop at Target anyway! I got us all loaded up and headed to Target, found a cheap eyelash curler that looked nice enough to get the job done. When I got back in the car, I attempted to finish my face. Word to the wise-don't buy a cheapy eyelash curler, they hurt like crazy. It's like they aren't curved enough and poke you. I was just about to give up, and probably should have until I remembered my SIL's instagram pic from that morning. She had woken up late and put her makeup on at work, and luckily for me, her office was on my way! (So sue me, I wanted to look pretty!) I stopped by, borrowed the curler and gave her a cookie in "thanks"! She approved of the cookies, which was a relief since I had never tried these out before! But let me tell you, folks, these melt in your mouth!!!! Now, you all have waited long enough for what y'all came to read-the recipe! Here ya go:

Iced Lemon Cookies:

What you'll need for the cookies-

-1 box of Lemon cake mix

-2 eggs

-1/3 cup of vegetable oil

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Next, mix together all ingredients

Next, grab a small amount of the dough and roll into a ball. Then, place on a greased cookie sheet.

Once you have filled the sheet with the dough, grab a glass, or anything with a flat surface to flatten.

Pop them in the oven for 6-7 minutes! While you wait for them to cook, start mixing up the icing glaze. You will need:

-1 cup powdered sugar

-1 tsp vegetable oil

-1 tsp lemon juice

Mix together all your ingredients. Then put it in the fridge and pull out your cookies and let them cool on a wire cookie rack. The cookies have to be completely cool when you glaze them.

Once your cookies have completely cooled, grab yourself a spoon to drizzle the glaze on. You can put a little or alot!

All the kiddos loved them! For those times you just want a burst of lemon, these are great!! The recipe is actually really easy!! Zane loved them and my SIL said they tasted like Starbuck's lemon loaf. That's a winner in my book!!!

*BTW-I still haven't found the eyelash curler and since bought another one! It's a mystery!! 

Linking up with My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

**Don't forget to enter my fabulous GIVEAWAY!!

http://mommy-inthe-making.blogspot.com/2012/11/time-for-giveaway-you-dont-want-to-miss.html



Must Have's

Now that Zane is almost 18 months, his list of favorites have evolved and grown. As mine have with caring for a toddler. Here are a few items in the Ward Household that we use daily and love!! Also, with Christmas coming up, if you know someone expecting or who has a little babe, these would make great gifts!!

First up, his "lovie" as we call it. Since he was a baby he loved the feeling of something soft on his cheek to cuddle and fall asleep. We LOVE these lovie's and he is highly attached!!!! He brings it to breakfast every morning too! These are made by Aden + Anais, issie security blankets, they are made of natural cotton muslin, edged in satin. They are super soft!! We get ours at Target.

Next up, his refrigerator magnet letters by Melissa & Doug. He has to play with these every morning after breakfast. They are wooden and I think better quality than the usual plastic ones. Melissa & Doug make neat toys!

Kids love Elmo, I don't know what it is about him but they just do!! And now you can Facetime with Elmo! Zane loves it!!! He gets a daily voicemail and you can schedule a phone call(s). Elmo tells him how much he loves Zane and his favorite letter of the day. You can also buy more conversations, with topics like "Going to the Dr", "Clean up Time", "Bedtime Story" and many more! It's genius!!!

Zane had a cold last week, and apparently babies get up to 10 a year with their underdeveloped immune systems. We bought this humidifier last year, the brand is Crane and was purchased at Babies R Us. It's a cold mist, so if he touches it the steam won't burn him.



My trusty purse diaper bag!! At first I had this ultra trendy diaper bag that looked like a purse, then of course, it got baby food and other gunk on it (it WILL happen) and I realized I couldn't wash that diaper bag!! Plus, it started falling apart. Vera Bradley is all the rage right now and they came out with diaper bags, YES! But my favorite feature, it's washable!!!! And comes with a soft, matching changing pad. 

And for our fave item...the video baby monitor!! It's called the Summer BabyTouch Color Video Monitor, it was expensive! This puppy does it all folks! It's in color and has night-vision, it's a touch-screen, we can view and scan the whole room, zoom in and out, adjust the brightness of the screen, also we can actually talk to him from our room with our monitor!! What will they think of next??

There ya have it, our favorite products at the moment! **Don't forget my GIVEAWAY is coming up!!! Don't miss out!!!!!!

Toddler On The Loose...Jack!!

Those of you who have or have had toddlers running amongst you will be able to relate with me here! When your spouse is at work and it's you vs. your toddler, you may feel some days that your toddler wins, alot! This always happens to me when I am busy doing chores around the house or trying to cook.  A door gets left open and Zane will no doubt get in it! About a month ago, I went into our lonely, quiet little spare bedroom, inside this room is a cute little vase that sits on the ground next to the armoire. I had gone in there in search of Zane's pants and I had already searched the house top to bottom. I just happened to look in the large vase to find his pants as well as a snack-trap. I called off the search-party and cleaned out my fancy vase, I know this is crazy of me to have "fancy" things in the home with a toddler loose! Well a few weeks ago I went back into the spare bedroom, I don't know why exactly, maybe I was cleaning (HA!), but I felt the need to look inside the vase again, this time I found handfuls of dog food and a half-eaten sucker stuck to the inside. Let me assure you, I do not give my son suckers, this is what happens when daddy is in charge of a teething toddler. The dog food-this is easy, Zane feels the need to help the dogs eat! He will take Nova's (our German Shepherd) food out of his bowl and take it to Starrla (our little Yorkie) and put it in her bowl. I trained Nova years ago when he was a baby, not to get possessive of his food. I would set my hand on top of his bowl and make him eat around my hand, and occasionally pull him away from his bowl mid-eating. My point being, Nova is VERY good with Zane, always has been. So if you are wondering how a 100lb viscious German Shepherd works in our home, that's why!

--Back to the real issue at hand--

I once again cleaned out my fancy, schmancy vase and keep that door shut! I need to get a baby gate for that doorway, but folks, they are expensive!! The one I have for our bedroom was $60 (no I didn't register for them-stupid!!!!!!) But we like this one:

It auto-closes! Yep, we are lazy like that, get over it! I know one of us would forget to close it at some point and our iPhone's would end up in the toilet because my husband someone refuses to baby-proof that! I think he this certain person has reconsidered that, however, since I am extremely unlucky in the phone department!!

Speaking of the toilet, hehe, my hubby had gone to our linen closet where we keep the toilet paper (I know he'd love to know I put this on here, but he doesn't follow me, it's all good) and inside the bag he found more dog food and a Nilla Wafer. I really do not know when or how he got in this closet! It must have been when his daddy was in charge and mommy wasn't home :) See how I blame him? No really, this kid is sneaky, as most toddlers are! Moms KNOW when it's too quiet, it means baaaaad news! Nova will occasionally open our doors (I forgot to mention how smart German Shepherd's are) and he had opened the door to the garage, after a few moments of silence I knew where to look and there he was walking around in the dark, highly dangerous garage! I have no excuse here, I cannot recall what I was doing that I didn't have my eye constantly on him!

The sucker eaters! (Ok-so I was home!)

Sadly, I don't have any pictures of those who had been victimized by my sweet, sneaky Zane. But rest assured, there will be more to come!! But for now, here's some serious cuteness...

Window climbin' with food in his hair!

Sweet Angel, as my grandma says! With Hippity Hoppity (His stuffed rabbit the Easter Bunny brought him)

I truly hope he doesn't feel this way...he will understand when he's as proud a parent as I am!

                                       

OH! Before I forget, you guys got to come back soon because I am going to have an AMAZING giveaway from my favorite Etsy shop very soon that you will not want to miss out on!!! And just in time for Christmas!!

**BUT... while you wait for my FAB giveaway, head on over to my SIL's blog and enter to win her super cute giveaway item!! http://thecurvylife2011.blogspot.com/2012/11/some-hearts-have-more-room-than-others.html

OK, now it's Duck Dynasty time-JACK! So I have got to go!! And apparently download the "Sharp-Dressed Man" theme song since Zane stops and dances whenever he hears it. It's priceless!!



What's It Like to be Pregnant?

What is pregnancy like? I have a few words for that: emotional, scary, and exciting!! If you have never been pregnant before and always wondered what it's like, like I did, this is how it went for me! (Get ready for some TMI)! Let me be honest for a second - I was CRAZY with a capital C!!! It doesn't really sink in that you're pregnant until you see that little "peanut" on the early sonogram and see the little heart beating! When I went in to get the sonogram, I pictured it being like in the movies, they get that roll-y thing with the cord and roll it on your belly with all that goop. No, not this early in pregnancy. They have basically a stick that they put inside to see the tiny baby. I was not expecting that! They use that for the first couple of sonograms.

 

 I felt so special when I saw that little one inside me! I was feeling great, glowing even!! I had no nausea at all! At my first appointment with my OBGYN, she gave me a folder of all the appointments I was to expect and what happens at the appointments. Also in the folder is all the statistics for your age and husband's age etc. That's when I got freaked out! Once you are pregnant you start hearing all the things that can happen or start reading way too much and become paranoid! I did, big time!!! It's like a rule when you're pregnant, everyone feels compelled to tell you every horror story in the book, why is that!?? Well, I had myself convinced, if there was a 1% chance of something, I was that 1%! I drove myself and everyone around me nuts! I guess I am considered a control-freak! It bugged the you-know-what out of me that I could not actually see what was going on inside me the entire time! I was completely out of control and did not like it one bit! I kept wondering if the baby was still there, if he/she was OK and progressing. Also in the folder was a list of medicines you could and could not take, as well as activities and a list foods to avoid. Only eat lunch meat if it was "steaming" hot it said. I love sandwiches they were my "go to" lunch and I was devastated!!! I did NOT want a steaming hot sandwich. Also certain cheeses, only pasteurized! I would request no bleu or feta cheese on salads, even ask the waiter at Olive Garden is the cheese in the pasta dish was pasteurized. I wouldn't eat even a bite of queso either! I tried to cut out caffeine, but good grief I could not get passed the caffeine headaches! Caffeine was one thing I would not give up! I took everything to the extreme! If my dr said no artificial sugars, I wouldn't have a stick of gum! I enjoyed my baths, some people say you can't take baths when you are pregnant, but my dr said it was safe as long as it wasn't to hot. YAY! Another thing I obsessed about! I would ask my husband if he thought the water was too hot, because he is a real wuss about hot showers! Now paint fumes, yeah I REALLY freaked out about that!! We had our mantle redone and some crown moulding put up in the spare bedrooms and had it all painted. I would sleep at my parents until I couldn't smell it anymore! And be sure to use lead free, which I don't think is outlawed now and only found in really old houses. See the power of raging hormones?? I'm sure you moms out there on your 3rd kid are like "Is this chick for real?" Sadly, yeah!

I had another sonogram at 10 weeks, and it was so amazing to me! I could see the shape of a baby!! There was a head and arms and legs! I could see the baby moving around! And the Dr and I kept saying "oh look at him move!" and my OB said "listen to us calling it 'him'"! A few weeks later around 12 weeks or so, we heard the heartbeat for the very 1st time! That is an amazing moment!!!! There on after, each appt the dr checks the heartbeat and it never gets old!!!

Still no nausea for me! But I was having cravings of jalapenos or anything hot! I would jalapenos straight out of the jar, or Totino's pizza rolls with Tabasco! That was just a phase though! No real food aversions, My boobs were sore and I was starting to show, it was so exciting and I couldn't wait to wear maternity clothes! One symptom is excess saliva, and yeah I drooled alot in my sleep! My gums were more sensitive and bled when I brushed. I had leg cramps and swollen feet and I was peeing all the time, sadly not many #2's-thanks prenatals! My absolute WORST symptom was acne!!! I never had real breakouts as a teenager, but for goodness sake you'd think I was going through puberty if it hadn't been for my ever growing baby bump! You can't use and strong acne treatments or anti-aging products so I just had to suffer through, I definitely was not glowing! Also, I had never had heartburn or indigestion in my life, until now! The bigger I got the worst it got!! It would wake me up at night and I'd have to sit up to get a burp out. Lovely right?? Luckily, I never got hemorrhoids or stretch marks!! I had alot of symptoms but I was spared those, thankfully!

 I had been searching the internet shopping for baby things and planning what the nursery would look like. I just knew I was having a girl, so that's all I looked at. And constantly coming up with baby names. My 16 week appointment finally arrived and I hoped and prayed that they would be able to tell the gender. I went in for my sonogram, this time she used the roll-y thing on my tummy and squirted a TON of jelly on my stomach too! I asked her if she could determine the gender, she looked and said, "Yes, it's definitely a boy!" I was again, shocked and said "what? are you sure?" To which she told me, "well, yes unless this girl has a penis!" And I hear my hubby in the background saying "YES!" under his breath. It took me a minute to wrap my head around it, I had no idea what to do with a boy and their peepee's scared the BEJEEZUS out of me!! I didn't have one, how was I supposed to know what to do with it?? But now I was excited and knew I'd figure it out somehow. That night I went to go register, I just couldn't wait!!!

I was in my second trimester and I was always tired. I wanted to get my sleep in now, while I still could. So I was always in the bed. I was also starting to get the headaches that are pretty common. Those were miserable!! But I found the REGULAR strength Tylenol that was dr approved and I would take some when I just couldn't bear it! A few weeks later, still having sandwich withdrawals and counting the days till I wasn't pregnant anymore. I was already getting a sick of it! It was the longest 9 months of my life! I was sick of worrying! But this night I was the start of my favorite part of being pregnant! I felt the baby kick!!! I was lying in bed, watching tv and I felt the tiniest kick, like his leg or arm was the size of my finger and he poked my belly! I yelled for John Allen to come in the room to feel. And like the little performer he is now, he delivered and kicked for daddy! John Allen said it felt like popcorn popping in my belly. At first these movements were few and far between, but the bigger he got (and I got) the more I felt him. It was the best!!! I always wondered what it would feel like! And I always wondered what I'd look like pregnant. When Zane got bigger I would be able to see my entire belly shift and I could tell which side of my belly he was on. Sometimes he would push his butt out and I could tell. Every now and then I would get some painful pokes too! I don't know if it's because I am short waisted or just Zane being Zane he would stretch out and I could feel his feet pushing up in my ribs as he pushed his head down at the same time! That was uncomfortable! Once I got big, everything was uncomfortable. I would have to roll my whale-ish body out of bed a few times a night to go to the bathroom. I could no longer reach my feet to apply lotion after my showers so my loving husband would do the job as well as give me a good foot rub. My feet hurt SO bad!! Occasionally I would feel like I had a pinched nerve or something in my lower back/hip area, it would literally take my breath away! I was definitely ready to get this baby out!!!!

Around 5 months or so I began having Braxton Hicks contractions. It felt like my entire stomach was a big muscle that would just tighten and I couldn't stop it. I could feel it tightening, but it didn't hurt. My belly was hard as a rock!! That usually only happened when I had been on my feet alot. It was a strange feeling since it wasn't painful. I knew not to worry unless they were painful and were coming in a regular pattern, which never happened. From the beginning to the end of my pregnancy I took pictures of my growing belly and baby's size in comparison to fruits and vegetables. It was a neat idea a friend gave me!

I soon began my weekly dr appointments, they call cervical exams. I was expecting your typical annual girl's check-up. BOY, was I wrong!!! The dr braced herself on my bent up knees and was elbow deep!! I about came off that table, and my eyes started to water!! She kept apologizing for the pain she was inflicting on me. Then as I try to regain my breath and compose myself she said "I felt his head! He has hair. And you are 1cm dilated and -1 station." All I could think was "If I can barely handle this, how in the hell am I going to handle child birth!?"

So by the end of the 9th month I was going on nightly walks to help speed up the process of getting him to drop and hopefully go into labor! Sometimes he would push down on me so hard I'd have to stop and breathe, I just knew at any second he was going to fall right out!!!! I asked my dr at my next appointment when I would be able to be induced, I was done and she knew it too! 10 days before my due date she scheduled me for an induction. I went in the night before to get Cervadil, it looks sort of like a small tampon and it helps the cervix thin and dilate. I started having a few contractions with that. But the next morning they startted the pitocin and my labor really started. Contractions feel like strong cramps that sort of wrap around you from your back to belly. They are not comfortable!! But I did get an epidural as soon as I could! I had an easy labor and delivery! Maybe one day I'll go into some full detail on that! With all my paranoia and worrying Zane came out 100% healthy and happy! I think next pregnancy I will be much more calm and lax, I HOPE for everyone's sake!! Even if it's not a walk in the park, it's TOTALLY worth every last second!!

Outdoors-y Kind of Guy

Zane has discovered the outdoors and seriously LOVES it! This kid cannot get enough of being outdoors! When we aren't inside eating, napping or watching Zane rearrange my furniture, we are outside! Since he started walking about 2 months ago, shoes are our new favorite accessory (hats have been put on the shelf, literally!) He will bring me his shoes and whine for me to put them on! Or if his shoes are well out of sight, he goes to the back door and whines. Yes, I am fully aware that dogs do these same kind of things when they want to go for a walk or go potty outside, but the only thing I can say is that other than myself and John Allen, his two greatest targets to torture companions are Nova-our German Shepherd and Starrla-our Yorkie. We may be dealing with a bit of identity crisis. We are also pretty sure he tries to bark and we may or may not have caught him picking food up with his mouth to eat. Atleast he hasn't started to eat dog food yet!

Since we have been spending so much time outdoors he needed toys! All he would want to do is play in the mud and sling mud around and transport mud from one place to another, this usually resulted in him getting the hose afterwards in order to go back inside. I guess this is just how boys play? I am pretty certain I never played in mud as a child. My two dogs are actually cleaner than Zane!!

Trust me, this is a mild muddy baby!

So, we needed to buy this already VERY spoiled baby some outdoor toys. We got him the cutest little trampoline at SAMs, for $139. It is low to the ground and comes with the nets to prevent falling. He loves getting in there and just sitting, I don't think he has the confidence to really jump yet. He also has a cute little wagon he likes to push around and gather random items.

I really have to go now, Zane decided to stand in the dog's water bowl, again...in his footie pajamas...sloshing around...on my clean floors!!

hugs anyone?