Getting ready for the BIG reveal!

This last week Zay and I worked on a little art project! We prepared little cards for the ultrasound technician to put into an envelope during our ultrasound this next Tuesday. Mommy and Daddy will then go out on a date to celebrate the big reveal, just like we did for Zay's ultrasound! Of course then we will come home and share the exciting news with Zay! 

He was a super big help putting the appropriate colored stickers on the girl card and the boy card! 

Somehow Zay knows that pink equals girl. I don't think I've ever explicitly told Zay that pink is a girly color, but he's definitely picked up on it! When I asked him - "Zay, what do you think the baby in Mommy's belly is...boy or girl?" He immediately held up the PINK card! We will see if his prediction is correct next week! I know he will be a terrific big brother to a boy or girl! Can't wait to know for sure! :)

The weekend is coming!

It's been one of those weeks... 

The kind of weeks that I went through almost habitually in Zay's first year of life. But I suppose I'm out of practice. Lots of doctors appointments, prescription changes, other obligations, house hunting, yada, yada, yada. I just wasn't forecasting the week to be what it was. Busy and stressful. 

And by stressful, I don't mean that it was really that stressful. I think it was just a blend of wacked-out hormones from a pregnant lady mixed with emotions that hadn't surfaced in awhile and an energetic two year old that just doesn't entirely understand how to stay on the easy and undemanding path of childhood. Ok, so maybe it can be classified as stressful. 

I don't think I'll go into the infinite details. Instead, I'm going to choose to focus on the fact that overall there was still some balance. So important balance. When there is bad, there is good too...it just has to be found!

And we found it this morning. On a walk. Embracing the sunshine. 

Of course our walk had to have a pit stop. Zay spent a good amount of time at the slide. Gathering rocks, climbing to the top and sending them down, shortly followed by himself screeching "Whee" and "Whoa"!

And I decided I would perch myself right here. Comfortably seated beneath the big shade tree.

I had a frequent visitor, bringing me sand, dandelions and sticks. All necessary items should I want to enjoy my time on the bench. 

Busy, Mom. I'm just plain busy.

While sitting on my designated bench, I watched Zay carefully select which dandelions he was going to bring to me. I was so aware of his independent playing today. I felt like he was so alone. Not that he was minding at all. He was happily finding adventures everywhere he looked, but I was reminded how thankful I am to be giving him a little brother or sister. I pray that their bond is close. That their playtime together is cherished. I know it will be by their mama at least.

Oh, and speaking of said little sibling - we will know next week if it will in fact be a little boy or girl! BEYOND EXCITED! Stay tuned.


And in other news...we purchased a new carseat for Zay. He's been creeping up on the weight limit for the first one we bought him when he was a little 6 or 7 month old. And his head was nearly hanging over the top of the seat, so we traded up. Lucky us to get to buy three carseats before age 3. I suppose now we will know to check weight limits when buying such purchases. Go big or go home. 

As soon as it was out of the box, it was Zay's entertainment for the rest of the evening!

And Scout needed to be strapped into the seat too!

Hmmmm...I think it meets his expectations.

Backpacks & PJs

We've had a slight obsession with our backpack lately. Seems when the backpack gets strapped on, the energy level skyrockets in our house and the boy is set into motion...fast-paced running from one end of the house to the other. It's comical. I don't really get the correlation, but I like it. 

In this particular moment I had a two-year old literally circling me as fast as he could. Until he would finally pounce on my back and laugh, laugh, laugh. In the can-hardly-breathe-it's-so-funny kind of way!

Trying to slow him down for a moment, I asked him if he wanted to try one of the Smarties I was eating. Pure sugar is always a good idea for an over-hyper two year old. I know this to be true. ;)

It slowed him down alright.

"Mom! I need some of your water to get the sweeeet taste out!" Ok - he didn't really say that to me, but that's what his face was saying!

I seem to have taken a lot of PJ pictures lately. Made me wonder...are we in our PJs that much? Most likely.

I do know why the PJ pics below were taken. We are about to head out for dinner here. I think Zay got a bath around 4:30ish and I just wasn't going to dirty another pair of clothes when the PJs would be adequate for the remainder of the evening. I hadn't intended on eating dinner out, but sometimes Shane and I just get crazy-fun ideas and we go out. In our sweats. And Zay's in his PJs.

Most of the time I'm secretly hoping I don't see anyone I know. Well really, it's not secretly...I almost never want to be seen in my 10-year-old sweats from high school, and my son in PJs at 5 in the afternoon, but somehow I still venture out of the house anyway!

We were almost ready to go when the Laker game decided to go into double overtime. Shane and I were both so excited to watch the game. Our little boy? Not so much.

Threatening to leave by himself...

Guess what, Zay....LAKERS won, and we can go now!

But first...let's make the already celebrated outfit even more fabulous. On with the sweatshirt!

Upon arriving home, Zay assisted in brushing Bongo. There's not much I don't love about these two pictures. 

And just for proof that we do get dressed some days........Zay had his first dentist appointment today, and miraculously he was dressed! ;)

Routine & Change

We are gearing up for our next appointment in Iowa City with our PKU doctor/dietitian, and because I know change is coming, I thought it is a perfect time to document what has been our routine for a long time. Long time meaning at least for the past year, maybe as far back as when Zay was 9 months old! 

We do it every morning. It doesn't matter if it's Monday or Saturday, whether we are traveling or at home, or if it's Mommy or Daddy who does it - we have a routine. And Zay always remembers how it goes. 

We make "Zay's milk". 

We will soon be adjusting his formula to allow him to have a little bit bigger portions at his meals. The boy just keeps growing and his levels have been creeping up, so I contacted our doctors to let them know that it's time to increase the Phe from food and decrease the Phe from his milk. 

And today, because it has become such a common story-line in our house I decided to take some pictures of just how predictable our mornings have become. And I thought capturing the moments of this scenario would make it a little more endearing, the next time I'm heckled halfway through my bowl of Wheaties. :)

The very first thing on our agenda in the morning is Zay's thyroid medicine. I'm usually slipping the little pill into his mouth while he's racing around the house trying to catch-up with Daddy before he leaves for work. Technically, he's supposed to have his medicine 30 minutes before he has anything to eat or drink. This can be a little unrealistic to a demanding 2-year old, but we do the best we can! 

Usually once Daddy is out the door we get sat down for breakfast. We always have a sippy-cup full of formula from the day before for Zay to have with his breakfast the next day. Just works out better for us to schedule it like that, so he has something already made up first thing. 

However, it doesn't take long before he thinks it's time to make more. (It makes no difference to him if he actually needs more formula or if he is just ready to help make his milk!)

After explaining to Zay that "Mommy will make you more milk after she finishes her breakfast", this is what I see...Zay taking matters into his own hands! Hauling, dragging, staggering across the kitchen floor with the first ingredient to his formula! 

He's very good at getting the ball rolling. The other day he brought a box of his Macaroni & Cheese to Shane, then came to find me because Shane wasn't getting up to do the job (To Shane's defense he was taking a quiz for his graduate class!). The next thing I know, Shane is calling me because Zay is pulling the pots and pans out of the cupboard in order to make his Mac & Jack. The boy takes initiative! 

I've always been insistent on letting Zay help in the kitchen from a young age. I know that cooking is going to be a big part of his life, so I'm determined to let him help and get him interested! In turn, he consistently knows there is a place for his chair by the counter!

Then the mixing begins...

170 grams of skim milk. 

Add 1.8 mL of his iron drops.

Add 1 mL of his vitamin. 

Add 90 grams of Periflex Junior.

Add water to make approx 25-30 oz.

I assure you - if we are in a hurry to make up his concoction, I will NEVER get the milk and formula to hit exactly the 170g and 90g on the scale the first time. There will be adding and subtracting...adding and subtracting, until I finally get the scale to read correctly!

After the water is added...Zay's job comes in. We sing a little "SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE!" song and he goes at it!

FINALLY...time to get the sippy cup filled up! 

Then....only then, is our boy satisfied with the work we've done. And mom can get back to her soggy Wheaties. ;)

And he's such a obedient little boy - he even puts his chair back after we're done. Multitasking of course...drinking his milk while pushing his chair!

Clearly, it's time for trains after all that...

Or maybe a book to read? .......Let's be real - he's fishing out a Leap Frog video to watch. But the books will come. Guaranteed. And most likely, it will be before my Wheaties are gone.

Undeniably, at times, I yearn to just be able to go to the fridge, grab milk, juice or whatever else I can find and fill up Zay's cup. No measuring. No scale. No calculating. Seems so simple. So quick. And to have the option of letting someone else get him a drink, seems like heaven at times! 


Nevertheless, how content I am with going through this process each day. It means that I get to teach my little boy. I get to show him that I love him in the simplest ways. And I will make his milk for the rest of my life if it is how my love is displayed best. He will know he is special. He will know he is loved. I will be sure of it! 

Loving these moments...

We tend to hit the park frequently. Often going back for second and third helpings most weeks. Small town living just lends itself to finding the simple pleasures of things like parks. 

But last week was special. We packed up and headed to our neighboring town's park. With Daddy. It was good. A perfect Friday evening, with the sun shining and the ideal play-yard to make our little guy happy. 

It's so good to have Daddy along. He makes the already fun atmosphere so much grander. Climbing to the top of these whatchamacallits and giving Zay brilliant ideas of things to try. ;)

 

Thankfully, Zay doesn't always absorb the climbing skills of his father and opts to get himself caught up in the easier obstacles.

He moves about the park at lighting speed. Eager to try out the each slide, swing and merry-go-round. No exceptions. Each one must be tried and tested!

Ready Zay? 1...2...3...JUMP! This is perhaps the cutest thing watch, put forth with the most effort in the world.

And then there are moments. The moments I love. Moments that I'm not even sure I'm aware of while they are happening, but it always melts my heart when I get home and look at the pictures. It never gets old.  Pictures of Shane and Zay that continually remind me just how great life is.

As you know, the little guy is growing up with a hunger to be just like Daddy. I see it everyday and I love it. Remember the pocket thing? It keeps showing up. And proof that his Daddy does it too.

It may not seem like it, but I do play too. I teeter-totter and merry-go-round right along with them!



The little man sure is growing up. I feel like I literally see it happening each day. I'm so proud of my "big" little boy.

It wasn't an extravagant Friday night. But it was our's. Every bit of the fun that was captured makes it a first-class Friday night.