5 years

Five years ago on Friday, Zack and I got married! It is crazy to think that we have been married for that long already!  I guess time flies when you are having fun!  In honor of this milestone... here are some pictures from the big day!  It makes me smile to think back on that day where we shared vows that we will keep from that day on.  I love looking back at these pictures and remembering what fun we had with all of our family and friends.  I am truly blessed to have married a man who can make me smile when I have had a bad day, make me cry from laughing so hard, and make life more enjoyable by sharing it together.  Enjoy a trip down "memory lane"!

 

 

 

Our Alexander

Today it was announced the new prince's name.  Basically, I have been obsessed with the royal family since Prince William was a cute little boy.  I always had the hope that somehow I would meet and marry the handsome prince one day.  Well....that didn't happen.  But, I have fallen in love with the royal couple.  I have watched the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton multiple times.  I was so excited to hear they were expecting their first child the same year we were.  Fast forward to July 22, 2013 and Kate gives birth to a baby boy.  I immediately talk to my best friend, Liz, commenting on how the new prince is the same gender as our newborns! We can't wait to hear the name!  Now something you may not know is that Zack was very specific about not wanting our boy to have one of the top 10 most popular boys' names of the year.  We checked multiple websites to determine Alexander's popularity for a name.  We knew we wanted a strong name that had a positive meaning (protector of mankind), and Zack had always loved the name Alexander or Alexandra.  So we chose Alexander back in November when we knew we were having a boy.  We loved that we could nickname him Zander so he had a Z name like his daddy.  We also liked that he can choose to be called Alexander or Alex etc. when he is older if he doesn't prefer Zander (although he looks too much like a Zander now....it might have to stick!). Today they announced the third in line to the throne's name and it is George Alexander Louis......so Zander might have other Alexanders in his graduating class one day....only time will tell how popular these names will become.  For now, our Zander is royalty to us just like any baby is to their parents....I continue to be excited for William and Kate as they are discovering what it means to be a parent for the first time just like the Houstons!  I am just glad I was not photographed the day after giving birth for all the world to see.  Kate deserves the royal treatment!;)

Happy 3 Months Zander!

Zander's First Beach Trip

Zander went on his first family vacation with the Bakewells this past week.  My family has gone on a vacation every summer since I was born!  Each year, they have chosen to go to a different location, giving my sister and me the opportunity to see many cities (mainly along the eastern part of the U.S.).  Some trips have included seeing Niagara Falls, Chicago, Nashville, Charleston, Gatlinburg, Atlanta, etc.  Every few years, the vacation is at the beach!  We thought this would be a perfect family trip with a 3 month old.  It was very relaxing, and Zack and I felt like we truly had a vacation with all the help my mom, dad, sister, and brother in law gave us.  Here are some pictures from Zander's first adventure on the east coast!

 

As you can see in this first picture, he was a wonderful riding companion.  Zander either slept or was pleasant for most of the trip there and back.  He got a little fussy on our ride home but we were stuck in traffic, and it took an extra hour to get there... who wouldn't get a little fussy?! ;)  I am so thankful that Zack's mom met us on the drive home to bring us Burke.  She saved us hours in the car!! :)



Zander's Beach Attire

(He wasn't really good at wearing the flip flops.... he lost one before we even left the house!)

 Here is the canopy that mom and dad got for Zander to use.  It worked perfectly for him so he could roll around but stay cool in the shade.  Infants aren't allowed to wear sunscreen so I was somewhat worried about his sun exposure.  He went to the beach a couple days and spent the other days in the house or going on little trips around town with daddy. 

 Here we are under the canopy. :)

Zack made breakfast for everyone one morning.... we were able to request exactly what we wanted from pancakes, eggs, bacon, livermush, or egg in a nest! 

Zander's First Baseball Game

Myrtle Beach Pelicans vs. Winston Salem Dash

7-15-13

 Linds took this picture without us even knowing and I LOVE IT!

 Zander slept through some of the baseball game as you can see......

 He was also very attentive during part of the game as well!

The boys went fishing one day.

 We put Zander's toes in the water a couple times.....

 

 He really enjoyed having his butt in the sand (o.k. so maybe on a blanket which was on the sand). ;)

 Check out our muscle man at the beach!  Chicks better watch out! ;)

We ate at Joe's Crab Shack one night.  Like father like son.... these two crack me up with their bibs and facial expressions. :)

Here are a few more family pictures from our week.  We had a great time and can't wait to take Zander back to the beach as he gets older! :)

 

Visitors

 

Zander has had some company lately.  We have enjoyed people coming to visit and spend time with our newest addition.  The picture above was just too cute not to post! And the one below it is a precious picture of Zander sleeping.  I love how his hands always end up near his face when he is taking a really good nap!  He has been sleeping almost 8 hours each night.  There are some nights that he goes about 5 or 6 hours, but we have had some 8 hour nights that make mommy very happy! ;) This means that nap time is much shorter than it used to be!  He sleeps for about 30 minutes when he is napping.  So you have to grab the camera fast to catch this moment!

The Shorrs came to visit Zander.... all the way from West Virginia.  It was a 5.5 hour drive one way, and they stayed about 24 hours.  They brought delicious pepperoni rolls, and Zack got a new fly fishing rod from Leigh.  The picture below is very special because Leigh is one of my dad's best friends.  My sister received her middle name from Leigh and Zander in turn received his middle name, too!

Ethel Marie is Leigh's wife.  I have always enjoyed talking with her about education.  She has so many great stories and experiences from teaching.  I think she is enjoying retirement though after all those years! :)

Some Group Pictures :)

One of my best friends, Jen, came to visit Zander with her four year old, Ben.  She always has the best suggestions for how to entertain little boys.  Ben enjoyed playing on our couch... no toys needed! ;)

Another picture of Zander in his "crabby pants" ;)  These were given to him by a close friend from work, Melissa.  I forgot to take a picture of Zander with them when they came to visit!

 One of my best friends, Jenn, came all the way from New York City to meet Zander.  It was so special spending time with her.  She is such a nurturer, and I have so much to learn from her expertise... she is an amazing aunt to three adorable kids.  Her maternal instinct was evident the moment I handed Zander to her!  We went to visit Jenn in NYC a couple years ago.  She told me we had to bring Zander with us on our next trip..... that should be interesting! ;)

 Today, I met one of my best friends, Kelly, for lunch.  Kelly came to the hospital to meet Zander but we haven't had an opportunity to hang out with both of our busy schedules.  They are looking cool in their shades (see below)!;)  I am feeling truly blessed by the people I have in my life that have loved me for so many years and are passing on that love to Zander.