Stand still....

When I was pregnant with Zachary, I kept a journal, and I tried to include a scripture verse for each entry. I was flicking through it today, thinking that I need to finish the journal in order to make it "complete" (I need to work on Zachary's baby book too but that's another story!) and I came across this scripture verse:

"Stand still and see the great thing that God is about to do before your eyes." 1 Samuel 12:16

This was the scripture verse for February 29, 2012, when I was struggling with fear about our baby. I think every new mum undergoes fearful thoughts at some point in her pregnancy. We had six weeks to go until Zachary's due date and I was praying for God to take my fears away. Well, He answered my prayers. It is so nice to go back and see where and how God has answered our prayers and taken away our fears. Today, I looked at Zachary and just thanked God for this amazing gift. A most precious possession. Zev and I love him so much.

Zachary, you have rocked our world. We love you and pray for God's protection over you both now and foreevermore.

"But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18

Thank you Mario & Gabby!!

My older brother and his awesome wife sent us a wonderful package for Zachary, all the way from Australia!  Gabby had handcrafted this beautiful quilt that is personalized with Zachary's name and date of birth as well as native Australian animals.  I love it!!  They also sent some Australian children's books which I found very cool because I had grown up with these books!  Gabby had also sewn Zachary a quilted " Learn to Count...Australia" book, also with Aussie animals on it, so we should have some fun learning the names of Australian wildlife!  Thank you so much Mario and Gab.  We miss you and the kids terribly and can't wait to see you soon!

Zachary and I with the Baby Bjorn that they sent us and the lovely quilt. 

Close-up.

Uncle Zev with the Learn to Count book and a beautiful masterpiece by our godson!

I love his name.  This is in Zachary's nursery, across from the triptych that Nancy brought last week.

Australian childrens books.  Mem Fox, who wrote the classic "Possum Magic" is well known down under.

I had to take a picture of Zev's "jerry-rig" temporary solution to Zachary's mobile...Zachary is currently sleeping in our bedroom in a bassinet, and we had to come up with a way to attach the mobile....enter Zev's wooden clothes tree.  He's smart, my husband is!

Zev could invent ANYTHING I reckon! Ha!



And, because I know that the real reason you check our blog is to see Zachary, here is the man of the moment!  I love his chubby thighs!!

Happy Memorial Day!

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." 

Genesis 18:19

Daddy's HOME!

Zev got home today after an almost 3 week TDY (temporary duty assignment at another base)!  He came home for a day in between, so this last stretch was only for about a week and a half, but it was a long time with him gone.  Zachary and I missed him so much and we are very happy that daddy is home safe and sound.  We have an awesome support network here including friends from church and neighbors and friends from on base, so Zachary and I had no shortage of dinner dates!  Zev was happy to see Zachary and Zachary was happy to see his daddy!

Zachary and I went to our infant massage class this morning and then Megan and her son, Brady came and had lunch with us at a little tea room.  We hadn't seen each other since we were pregnant so it was awesome for our boys to meet!  Megan gave birth in the same hospital Zachary was born in, only 7 days after I delivered Zachary!

Baby Brady and Zachary.  Megan said that they had considered the names Zachary and Brady for their boy (and obviously settled with Brady!)

The waitresses at the tea room were so cute, fussing over our babies and reminding us to cherish every precious moment with our little ones.  They had grown children and said that time flies by so quickly. 

Zachary thinks his daddy rocks.  So does mummy.

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court. Psalm 127:3-5



Visit from Fancy Nancy and a Triptych for Baby Zachary!

Our friend Fancy Nancy drove down today to see us and to drop off a beautiful triptych for Zachary's room! She had offered to have her sister in law, Melissa, paint a mural for Zachary's nursery, and I told her that a triptych would be better, so we could take it with us. I liked the idea of the Tree of Life with a scripture verse just for Zachary on it. I prayed about this and was led to Jeremiah 29:11:

I love the way it turned out! I picked out the background color and actually painted the letters in Zachary's room in the same pale blue. The tryptych is hanging over Zachary's crib.

We had a fun day going out to lunch and then catching up with a neighbor and then Nancy had to head home to her own family. Thanks Nancy and Melissa!

And because I know that you are just dying to know what Zachary is up to, this was taken a few minutes ago. I LOVE THIS BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

New buddy!

Those of you who read my blog know that a dear friend of mine here, a fellow military wife, Natalie, recently had her baby boy, James (11 days after Zachary) at the same hospital.  Today I popped over for a visit and for our boys to "officially" meet. They have been in the same room before but had never "met" (I'm not sure that they acknowledged each other although at one point Zachary was screaming so I'm sure James noticed him!) I love Natalie and so I hope that our boys can become friends! Anyway, hope you enjoy the pictures!

My poor boy was tired...I had woken him from a nap to take his picture with baby James. He is just like his momma- not happy when hungry or tired!

Baby James is a sweetie; gorgeous blonde hair and a sweet face. I think he looks like Natalie.

Sweet Zachary just wanted to be carried by me today. It has been a rainy day all day, and I liken his need to be carried to "sleeping in" on a rainy day. So in my sling he is sitting/ sleeping (and snoring) right now.

"Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul."

Proverbs 29:17

Guess who's 1 (month) old today?!

Our cousin (Zev's side) Candi sews beautiful children's clothes and owns her own business called By Cee Cee.  She sent us these adorable onesies from 1 to 6 months, and each one has a Dr. Seuss motif on it.  I loved them when I first received them, because I intended to document Zachary's milestones, including his monthly birthdays.  So thank you again, Candi!!

 

Now that I am a mummy myself (it still feels strange saying that but I love saying it!!) anyway, now that I am a mum myself, I find myself keenly observing every little thing that Zachary does each day.  I do reflect (especially during the 2am/ 3am feedings) how God must look on us with such tenderness of heart and how He must want to protect us and love on us every single day.  The issue of course is if we will let Him!  The simple things in life really are the best (and they're free) and one of my favorite things right now is Zachary's smile after he has had a good feeding.  Some people say that this smile comes from gas but I have seen him smile on other occasions.  Apparently now that we are in his second month, he will start smiling more in response to Zev and I.  I can't wait.  Zev loves this little yawn that Zachary does...I will try to capture it on camera.  It is precious.

So, for poignancy sake and because I know you are all dying to know the details...Zachary, what are you up to this month?

- As of the nurses' visit last week (was that on Tuesday, I have lost track of time!), you weighed 10 pounds 5 ounces.  I am carrying you in the sling right now and you feel heavier and fuller each day.  I am so proud of you!  Keep putting on the weight, son.  You were 21.5 inches 2 weeks ago...I am interested to see what your measurements will be at your 2 month visit!

- You are starting to outgrow your newborn diapers.  Daddy went and bought you some Size 1/2 diapers from Costco yesterday.  He is the best daddy in the world.  You look more and more like him every day.  I love my boys.

- You are now in Size 3 month clothes.  The newborn clothes were cute but your beautiful round head doesn't quite fit into them nicely.  I love your head.

- Speaking of your head, you have very strong neck muscles and have been able to pick up your head and move it around since almost the day you were born!  Daddy thinks you will be walking soon! And speaking Spanish and German...hmmmm. Ha!

- You can follow objects and sounds from side to side too.

- You are cooing and smiling and are a very good, mellow baby.  I know people say that each day is different and that babies are only human and can change but your daddy and I thank God for the wonderful little human being you are.  I have been joking lately, saying that God knew that Zev and I were rookie parents and thus sent us a good baby.  Aside from gasses which nobody likes and aside from being hungry every few hours (you do eat a lot, Zachary), you do not fuss. 

- Yesterday was your first day in chuch and you did GREAT!  You slept through the entire service (including the Lord's supper) and only fussed when we got to the car.  Thank you...

- You love that Fisher-Price electric swing.  Mummy loves it too!

- You are still feeding every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, sometimes every 4 hours but no longer than that.  I like feeding you "on demand." 

- Daddy loves you.

- Mummy loves you too.

- You make us want to have another baby...but not just yet!

I can't believe that Zev and I are parents.  What a gift you are to us, Zachary.

Ok, here is a video of the "birthday boy" that I took this morning.  Hope it turns out!

Love, Mummy xoxo

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Sleep when the baby sleeps

I am smiling to myself because where I thought that I didn't have enough time to do things before baby, I definitely don't have enough time to do those things now.  Like write a new blog post :-)) 

 Sweet Zachary is down for a nap (it's 1.52pm and I only just now got my daily shower in!) and has been a hungry little boy all day.  This picture above is from his nap earlier in the day.  He is napping in his bassinet now.  Yes, I know I should be napping and I have been falling into the "there is so much to do, no time to nap" mindset, but after a couple of nights of feeding every few hours, I have come to really appreciate the day time naps.  I slept in with Zachary after Zev went to work this morning.

Don't you just love baby feet?  I spend a lot of time "examining" Zachary's features while I feed him.  Here's what I know for sure: this boy looks more and more like his daddy every single day.  A dear friend from Germany told me today that she thinks Zachary has my eye shape...what do you think?
The military provides a "New Parent Support nurse" to come and visit new mums twice after the birth of their baby.  The nurse came out yesterday and said that Zachary is going through a growth spurt when I told her that he is eating every 2 hours, sometimes every hour and 45 minutes, round the clock.  I was happy this morning when I told Zev that Zachary had gone a whole three hours without eating last night!  I am trying to feed him as frequently as I can during the day and play with him and do tummy time so that he is well fed and sleepy at night.  The good news is that Zachary is steadily gaining weight.  He now weighs 10 pounds 4.5 ounces, which is almost two pounds more than he weighed at birth 3 weeks ago!  I can't believe I was giving birth to a baby three weeks ago....Oh, at his 2 week well baby visit last Tuesday, Zachary had grown an inch and put on a pound and a half.  The things that new parents get excited about with a newborn....On that note, I will leave you with some pictures of our sweet Zachary.  Once little man wakes up, I think we will walk to the park....

Tummy time this morning.  Isn't he gorgeous?  We think so too.

Zachary looking up at me from his "pouch" (Slingezee) yesterday.  I am still getting the hang of that thing...not quite sure what the best position for Zachary is.  Any tips are greatly appreciated!

Sweet boy after a feeding.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11