Easter 2011

What a great Holiday we had! Zachary was so excited, that every time he saw a bunny, he told us it was the Easter bunny :)
We were early on the egg dying this year - 2 weeks early to be exact! Jason had been traveling a lot, and since he was going to be traveling before Easter, we decided to get the 'egg' rolling!

It was so much fun this year, because Zachary could actually get involved. He drew on the eggs with the 'magic' crayon, dropped them gently into the dye, and even put stickers on a lot of the eggs. He was incredibly proud of himself and what he had done!

Easter morning was lots of fun too! We had originally planned on an outdoor egg hunt, but due to the amount of rain the night before, we had to settle for an inside event. The bunny started off with a very poor hiding technique - Zachary found half of them INSTANTLY! The other half he just needed a little direction. He came downstairs to his basket and screamed 'CANDY' with so much excitement. He didn't even care about the toys and books he got too.

It was beautiful out, so we took all of his new chalk and his bubble blower out to play. Then, off to Nana and Papas where Zachary napped, and Jason and I cleaned our cars - I love a clean car!! Easter dinner was wonderful, always good to spend it with family.

Zachary received 3 baskets this year, each time being told it was from the bunny - here's hoping he is not disappointed next year if he only gets 2 - hehe!

TMI for Facebook

Zachary is using the potty!!!

** Let me preface this by saying he has been using the potty at daycare for about a week, but has had NO interest when he was home**

This morning I made a big decision - I was going to work on this potty training thing. So I put regular underwear on Zachary and pulled out his potty chart. He was so excited to pick out his own underwear, and when I told him every time he sat on the potty or pee peed on the potty, he got to put a sticker on his chart, he was ready.

Three times Zachary peed on his potty! I have never been so proud of him, and he has never been so proud of himself! He screamed with excitement each time he went - and then could not WAIT to place the sticker on his chart. Each time he sat on the potty, he would ask for a 'special treat' and I had to remind him that he would only get one if he peed - so of course he would continue to sit until he did.

The hardest part? Convincing him to put on pull ups for nap time and bedtime!

I know this is only the beginning, but I am feeling really good about this. It is amazing how much your life has changed after you have a child - my excitement in life now is knowing that Zachary peed on the potty!!

How 'bout dem O's!!

Tonight, Zachary, Jason and I joined Pop Pop and Connie for the Oriole's game. A big win too - 5-0 against the Texas Rangers.

Zachary had a WONDERFUL time, and as you can see from the pictures, he even made his big screen debut on the jumbo-tron. As soon as I saw the guy with the camera, plant himself in front of Zachary during the 7th inning stretch, I had my camera in hand and ready to get a picture of him on the big screen!

I was so proud of him too, he actually made it through the ENTIRE game. The Orioles had a double header, so we went to the first game. We came home right around bedtime, but of course he was still on a high, and wanted to stay up and watch the second game - I let him stay up an extra hour!
He had the true game experience too - hot dog, fries, a couple bites of a soft pretzel, and a bag of grapes that Pop Pop brought just for him!
I could not believe how focused he was, and how in-to the game he was. A new fan has been born! I can't wait to take him again. So different from what I remember. I was amazed (after going to Raven's games for so many years) at how many families / kids were there! A definite great way to spend a family outing - and I can't wait to take him again!

What happened to my baby?

Remember when I shared pictures of Zachary, his first time on the swings at the park? Well, now he doesn't need that protection anymore, he can swing all by himself! All he needs help with is getting on.

Eventually, all it took was mommy to swing next to him for him to learn how to 'pump' his legs.
My favorite picture of all was this one. His pure excitement as he yelled that he was doing it all by himself just brought the biggest smile on my face.
I don't know where the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday I was taking him to the park and helping him go down the baby slide. Today? Jason and I sat on the bench, snuggled together because of the cold, and watched as Zachary tackled the big play set all by himself, up the steps, and down the slides, over and over - all by himself :(

Pink eye and bunnies

Friday afternoon I get a text from daycare - 'I think Zachary has pink eye'. Hard to believe on my end. No other kids had it, and Zachary had not been around any children. But when I picked him up, it was obvious something was up. Friday morning he woke up, all swollen and completely crusted shut. No work for me! Off to the doctors where I found out he had viral pink eye and was contagious for 24 hours. We had the Easter bunny on Saturday - how could this be!!

He woke up this morning and looked so much better, and I decided he would be fine - Jason thought I was crazy! - if you can't tell, it was his right eye.

They had the best set up at the mall. Today was the arrival of the bunny. They had games, face-painting, raffles and an egg hunt. Zachary got his temporary tattoo, won a candy necklace, and waited in line to reach the bunny.
He was soooo excited to see the bunny - just took a little while to warm up, this was the best picture we could get!
After the bunny we went off on the hunt. The mall had it set up so select stores gave the kids Easter eggs, and some had coupons for the parents - 9 total. Zachary started off wearing his new glasses that the bunny gave him and was done after the first egg - pure excitement!
It was a rough day - and tiring. Zachary walked most of the mall by himself and had a ton of fun. He couldn't wait to come home so he could open his eggs! They had candy, toys, and stickers in them. Definitely a great day!

Its not about Z this time!

Its 8:45, I am relaxing, and having a nice wine cooler! Zachary is in bed, and Jason is on the couch reading his many work emails that he gets all night long. As I look at my life, I am amazed at how things have changed. I am 30 years old (an adult in some cultures :) !) and it is hard to believe how life has changed. If you told me that I would be where I am today, when I was in college, I probably would have laughed. So where did I think I would be you ask? Don't really know. I knew I would be married and thought by now I would have at least two kids. Can you believe I actually wanted 5 kids! Guess that is the only child in me! I never thought I would still be in Maryland, and expected to be in a cute little house with a big fenced in yard. So your probably thinking, am I disappointed? OF COURSE NOT! No, things are not what I thought, but when are they ever? The highlight of my day now, picking up Zachary from daycare. My highlight 10 years ago? Getting home from work as soon as possible so I could take a nap and get ready to go out!

At work today we were talking about when we were 'younger', early 20's, how we could go out all night and still function the next day. Now, if I have 1 too many, I am completely worthless for at least 24 hours!

Life is good. My only regret in life? Putting all that time and effort into a major in college for something that consists of some small freelance art work as a side job.

So, why am I talking about myself right now I am sure you asking. Thats easy - I just wanted to talk about something that maybe other people could relate to - those without kids - and those that just wanted to know how Jason and I were!

I love my life, it is perfect. No matter how much money you have in your life, or how many friends you have, true happiness is what you make of it. Money doesn't make you happy, because you always want more. We live in a society of greed. Today when I was getting out of my car to take the long walk through the city to work, a man came up to my window and asked for any money - he would take .50. It was sad, and yet I had nothing, except the money I had brought for my lunch. Is it wrong that I didn't give him anything? Guess I was just upset that he had the audacity to simply walk right up and knock on my window!

I keep a journal - the adult version of a diary! It is my life, a way to vent and complain, and rave about about my day. I am using my bog tonight. opening up and sharing with others the strange things that go through my head. I could verge much farther than I am right now - but I don't want to scare you - for those that thought I was actually normal - LOL!

So instead, a night to relax, write about things in my life, and enjoy being a wife, a daughter, and a mom :)

Its good to be a mom

I love being a mom. It is definitely one of the best and greatest accomplishments of my life. Today, was probably the best - no, take that back - tonight was the best! My little boy was on the BEST behavior today. The donut he ate for breakfast put him on a sugar high that never ended! He slept in till 8:50 this morning, only took a nap for an hour, and when bedtime rolled around - he was still a crazy man!

With a glass of wine in my hand at 8:00, and a juice cup in his, we cheered as we just sat next to each other on the couch. And to be honest - it was the best. We 'cheers-ed' our cups, we talked, we laughed and we sang our favorite fresh beat song. Just him sitting next to me put the biggest smile on my face.

Bed time is usually at 8:00, and we went up at 8:30. It is after 9:00, and I still hear him upstairs talking in his bed and playing with his trucks. With Jason being home this weekend, it was wonderful. Zachary was happy and cheerful, with no outbursts. We went out to dinner last night - an hour and a half wait, and he was so good! He waited with patience, and when the waiter made it to the table - he screamed 'dinner'! A giggle was heard all around.

Its days like these that I treasure. Days like these that make being a mom, the best decision of my life!