Outside time!

Today we spent a great deal of our afternoon doodling cars, rainbows and letters on our driveway and blowing bubbles into the wind. What a grand way to receive such a gorgeous day. I think our car read 68 degrees on our way home from the store…ahh, so refreshing!

Our work wasn’t complete until we had a memo awaiting Daddy as he pulled in the driveway.

 

Taking a stroll to the school’s playground was next on our agenda. Zay made friends with all the cute school-aged girls, several of them following him around to assist him with every little step, slide and swing. No pictures of them though…I felt it was better to leave the camera put away until after the other kiddos were gone. I didn’t know them and didn’t want parents to be weirded out by some random mom taking pictures of their kids!

Anymore, I really have to convince Zay to look at me when I have the camera in hand, but I consider it successful when I can catch a glimpse like this. Pure joy. I love it.

It’s a good thing I’m still agile enough to fly down fire escapes and slides, because you just gotta be fast when Zay is having fun. One minute he’s on the baby-level slide, the next he’s headed for the big daddy of ‘em all. I’m already having visions of what this will look like later this summer when I’m hauling around another babe…in my belly. “Hang on, sista…here we go!” (I say sista…but there is no confirmation of the little bean inside me being female. And to be quite accurate, upon announcing my pregnancy at MOPS today it was predicted that another boy will join our family. Time will tell!)

And……"Th-th-th-that's all folks!"

Baths, baking, and bunches of fun!

A day spontaneously greeting us with a lack of morning sickness is a day that is sure to be rejoiced in this house! Remarkably, that day was today!

Bath time was extra long this morning, with mommy right alongside the bubbles and splashes.

There is something I adore about seeing my baby wrapped in his towel as he runs all the way through the house, pausing only a moment to catch a glimpse of Sesame Street.

Given that Mommy was feeling able-bodied and desperately needed to do some cooking for Zay…it was an occasion to get the baking supplies and rice out!

The amount of time and amusement a few bowls, cups, and spoons will give a two year old is remarkable. Grateful! 

Yes, there was a mess to clean up. A few lost grains of rice on the kitchen floor…and living room…

...and probably more to be discovered later, but a great deal of fun while it lasted. 

On to the markers.

Zay desires to sit down and color at least a few times a week. Mainly with his markers, but sometimes we throw in some crayons and/or finger paint.

There are days when I marvel at the fact that they actually make little boy’s shirts in white. Really? Can these two pictures above justify that it shouldn't happen! (Note: this shirt was not purchased by me...it was a gift and this is probably only the second time he's worn it...eek!)

 Peace out, ya'll...it's naptime! Have a splendid day! :)

two to love

This blog has been a bit lacking lately...but for good reason.

This picture says it all.

We are so happy.

This little pregnancy journey has been a bit of a roller coaster, but everything was right in the world when we heard and saw the most precious heartbeat...for the second time on Tuesday.

The flood of relief and ease my heart felt was wonderful.

I have a lot more I could write concerning this sweet little bean growing inside me, but I'll save that for another day.

For now...I'll just say that it feels good to be sick, it feels good to take daily afternoon naps with Zay and still go to bed at 8pm, and it feels so good to daydream about how God is shaping this little family of ours.

11 weeks and already so in love.

Friends & Shopping!

This weekend we had a great time meeting up with our friend Erin! We met in Williamsburg, so we were able to do a little shopping too! Zay was a trooper and had a great time with the girls! :)

Erin and I were college roommates and in each other's weddings and have been great friends for some time. Although we don't get to see each other often, I love the time we do get! And Zay loved it too! 

 Zay excited to see Erin...or maybe he was excited for lunch...ok, he was actually excited because Erin was too sweet and brought him PRESENTS. What a spoiled little boy!

Opening his blanket Erin made for him.  

Erin reading Zay his new book...we always count on Erin to give us laughs. Last year she got him the book "Bear in Underwear". This year...he got the book "Bear in LONG Underwear"! Plus the little stuffed bear that is in the books! Oh boy...nothing like a little bear in his whitey tighties! Ha! 

Today...we play with trains!

Are you ready, Mom? We are going to play with TRAINS!

  

All done...trains go back in the bag!

Facebook Status

I've noticed that there are a few of my facebook 'status updates' that I don't want to forget about, so I thought I'd pop them into a blogpost quick! Zay says and does some of the cutest things these days!

Feb 21: Two nights ago Zay insisted on going to bed with his stocking hat on, this morning he wanted to eat breakfast without a shirt on, and right now he is napping with his winter coat on...where does he come up with this stuff? These idiosyncrasies must come from his dad! ;)

Feb 15: Tonight Shane asked Zay what he wants to be when he grows up...his response "Mom!" - LOVE that kid! :)

Feb 8: I love when we are in the car and Zay asks me to kiss his eyes because the sun is shining in them... oh how simple life would be if I could always kiss his boo-boos away... for a few more years I guess!

Feb 6: I knew the day would come when Zay would actually sleep in...today was the day...all the way until 8:00AM...wahoo!!! :)

Jan 26: Oh my...sometimes just watching what a two year old mind can come up with is enough entertainment for the entire night!!! Lots of laughs provided by our little man tonight and this mama is thankful for every minute of it! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

The other day Zay and I made some Valentine's for some special people in our life. Zay had a great time coloring them! A few of you might even receive one of these in the mail! :)

Proud of his work!

Silly!

Grocery Shopping

Most weeks I try to do our grocery shopping alone. It's just easier, since I normally make more than one stop to various stores. Mainly because some stores carry certain things that fit into Zay's diet and other stores are cheaper for the majority of our shopping. However, sometimes that just doesn't happen and my little guy comes along with me! Such was the case this week...and what a joy it was to have him smiling in the cart! :)

Some Randoms!

It's that time again...time to clear off some pictures that have been on my phone for far too long! Here are some random pictures from the last few months! Enjoy!

Some days...we bring our potty chair into the kitchen to brush our teeth, because, you know...that's what normal people do.

Breakfast in bed...I don't even remember this, or why it happened. Must have been his dad. ;)

There are a lot of days that Zay will randomly put himself to bed. This is strictly because he only gets his paci when it's time for bed (Yes, he still has his paci and I don't see it going away...at least not in the near future, I'm surprised I haven't taken it away yet...but he goes to bed so well with it, I'm picking my battles). One day it got very quiet, I went to check on him...sound asleep!

We like to build forts...boxes, couch cushions, blankets...whatever we have will work.

A fun lunch date with grandma and grandpa. (This was all the way back on Zay's birthday)

These two are up to no good!

Grandpa letting Zay try out all the little cars.

Another one...

And another one...on the last one Grandpa actually put money in it and as soon as it started to move, Zay didn't like it anymore!

Then grandpa led us to the play center at the mall...needless to say, Zay was wore out after a full day with Grandpa and Grandma!

We took Zay to a high school basketball game...he loved it!

Mommy and Zay at the game!

Zay sitting in his little recliner from Grandma Judy...notice Bailey, hard to believe there is room for both of them on that little chair!

A random day when Zay decided that his pants needed to be pulled up past his knees AND he needed to where his hat. He's a funny guy!

Oh boy...this has been a wonderful challenge. Zay LOVES to be independent and get his 'milk' out of the fridge and put it back away. Then he discovered he could almost hide in there!

And one last pic of Zay playing with his train set...we have a ton of trains that come through Mechanicsville and it's always a good day if we can see one!