Zander's First Snow Day

On Tuesday morning, I arrived at work to hear rumblings that we might get out of school early due to inclement weather heading our direction.  We have been waiting for snow all winter so I didn't want to get my hopes up just yet!  But, at about 9:00 a.m., we heard the call that school would be dismissing two hours early.  It is any educator's dream come true to hear that the day will count but we are getting out early!  I hurried to get everything together so I could leave after the students and pick up my snow buddy.  Zander and I spent the afternoon watching the snow fall outside our house.  I definitely was more excited than him..... but he loved watching the white stuff fall from the sky and having a little extra time with mommy and Burke.  We stayed inside all afternoon (other than the two pictures I took of him on our front porch!).  As you can see.... we got our pajamas on immediately when we got home! ;)

 

Today, school was closed so Zander was able to participate in his first snow day!  I could not get him to smile for a single picture!  I don't think he knows how excited he will get when he is older and his parents will come into his room to let him know there is no school..... I remember hearing my parents come in to turn off my alarm clock...signaling that I would be able to sleep in and play outside in the snow when I woke up for the day!  Zander thought that 6:00 a.m. was sleeping in today (which is better than 5:00 which is the usual time my alarm clock goes off).  I can't wait to see his face light up when we play in the snow in the years to come!  Here are some pictures of our snow day....

I told Burke to get in the picture below.... I don't think he understood that I meant for him to share the picture with his brother! ;)

 Zander had fun sitting on the sled!  At one point, he somewhat toppled over (due to the weight of his snowsuit) and had a face full of snow..... the two pictures below show him getting ready to topple and the aftermath of his fall.  He didn't cry at all... mommy scooped him up pretty quickly. ;)  Thank goodness snow makes for a soft landing!

This year, he doesn't have snow boots... but next year when he is walking everywhere.... he will definitely need to add a pair to his attire!  We have stayed in our pajamas all day!  We are having fun playing with our toys when we are not outside!

In unrelated news.... today marks 9 years since Zack and I had our first date!  Ironically, it was snowing that day too!  Since Zack was coming from Charlotte we changed our date from dinner and a movie to lunch and a movie!  I truly enjoyed January 29, 2005 (despite Zack's movie choice.... still have the ticket stub to "Life Aquatic") and each day from that moment has gotten better as we have created a life that is so much fun being a part of!

Nine months old!

Well... we are 3/4 of the way to Zander celebrating his FIRST birthday... I can't believe that in three short months we will have a one year old!  Where is the time going?!   Currently, Zander has four teeth (two up top and two on the bottom).  The two on top are not centered in his mouth like the two on the bottom.  They skipped a space in between where the teeth have popped through.  I typically like things symmetrical so it has been an adjustment to see his cute little smile.  He loves where his teeth are.... he can easily fit the bottom two in between where the top have come in.  Zander continues to roll and worm crawl his way from one place to another.  He will get on his hands and knees like he wants to crawl but will rock and then rest back on his belly.  He has started to stand up quite easily and hold onto things so he stays up.  We stay close by in case he wobbles and starts to fall over.  Zander continues to reach for us when he wants up.  He also has a love for Burke's dog bowls, Burke's toys, and our fireplace.  We have started using the word "no".  He will look back and smile and continue toward whatever object we don't want him near.  No matter how many toys we put in front of him, Burke's toys are just better in Zander's eyes.  It is definitely interesting to watch and can try a parent's patience. ;)  He weighs 18 pounds and 6 ounces.  He is in size 3 diapers and in 9 month clothes.  I have gotten the 12 month clothes ready as I know he will be moving into these very soon! 

 

 Tried to get his four teeth in the picture below.....

Grammy and Grandpa came to visit us Sunday and Monday.  While they were in town (and Zack was working), I was able to get Burke to the vet for his yearly checkup and get my car serviced.  I don't know if I mentioned this last year, but Burke had gained some weight because I was not able to run as much with him since I was pregnant.  I am pleased to report that Burke now weighs 34 pounds (compared to the 38 lbs from last year)!

 

Tonight, I decided to spike up Zander's hair after his bath.  Here are some pictures of his new hairdo!  Also, the daycare mentioned that Zander has started to eat Ritz crackers and vanilla wafers (I think because he watches the older kids doing it!)  So, I gave him a cracker to see what that looks like.  I hovered like a paranoid mom making sure he didn't choke on even a crumb!  He has gotten really good at eating the yogurt melts, etc.  Those dissolve so easily that I am not as terrified of him choking with them.  I think each day I will just have to become a little more confident at his ability to digest food.  My baby is growing up! ;)

We have been keeping the doctor's office in business lately.... Zander went last Tuesday and they said he had an ear infection.  I took him back on Friday because he was wheezing really badly.  The doctor said that it was part of the lingering effects of RSV.  Tomorrow, he will go back to the doctor for his 9 month checkup.  Hopefully, our boy will start to get better!  I think like most parents, we are already looking forward to spring. ;)

Swimming in January

So.... the temperature reached a lovely 8 degrees on our thermometer at our house.  Let's just say it has been COLD.  What do you think the Houstons do to pass the time during these frigid conditions?!  We sign up for swim lessons at the YMCA to introduce Zander to the water.  We are hoping that he will love it so much that he will become a swimmer like his daddy (Zack was on our swim team in high school).  (As a mom, I am DEFINITELY okay with him deciding on a sport like swimming compared to football!)  At the swim lessons, Zander practices blowing bubbles, splashing, kicking, floating on his back, passing a ball to his other swimmer friends in the water (there are two other boys in the class that are within a month of his age), and even going under!  Our ultimate goal from these four weeks of "lessons" is to give Zander exposure to the water so that this summer it will not be a scary place for him.  I am excited to report that he loves the water so far, and we are enjoying playing with our little boy in the pool. In this first picture, I like to think he is saying "Please can we go swimming today?!"

 

I tried to attach a video of him going under the water......(I have not had much luck with uploading videos to my blog.)  Basically, we will count to three and then he goes under the water for a second.  We have tried this in the pool and with him sitting on the side (so one day he will know how to jump in with confidence).

Hello 2014!

I was somewhat sentimental with the end of 2013.... I kept thinking about everything that had happened in that calendar year.... I mean... we had our first child.... and we have seen Zander do many firsts in 2013.... his first cry.... his first bath.... his first smile... his first coo... his first roll over.... his first foods.... his first "crawl".... etc. The really cool thing is that 2014 holds many more "firsts" for Zander and our family!  So we have to say goodbye to Zander's "birth year" and hello to all the new adventures that 2014 has to offer us. 

We ended 2013 on a rough note.... all of the Houstons managed to get sick over the winter break.  I started the "trend" with flu symptoms/stomach bug symptoms..... I still don't know what I had but I would not want anyone else to get it!  I made sure I washed my hands rather frequently and fortunately it doesn't look like my boys got what I had.  After Christmas, Zander started to have a pretty bad cough.  He has had a cough since October (which we keep getting checked out by our doctor) but this cough seemed different so we took him to the doctor again.  Our pediatrician confirmed that he had RSV and gave us a nebulizer with albuterol to use to help break up the congestion and wheezing in his breathing.  The doctor said there is not much to be done..... babies just have to work through this without medicine.  With Zander's difficult start (being in the NICU due to aspirating meconium), I get so nervous when they mention his lungs.  The picture below shows how "happy" he was after using the nebulizer at the doctor's office. 

The days went from bad to worse as we were dealing with a fussy, sick 8 month old that wasn't really sleeping (meaning mom and dad weren't either) and he started to not be able to hold anything down.  He went about 24 hours without being able to keep food, milk, water, or medicine (like Tylenol) down.  Zack called the on call doctor to see what we should do and it was recommended we take him to the ER.  So Zander made his first trip to the ER at the end of 2013.  (Zack mentioned that this would not be his last trip there!:(.... apparently boys visit the ER more frequently than girls)  When we arrived at the ER.... Zander had a 101.3 fever (a fever is something he didn't have prior to the hospital visit) and had lost almost a pound in weight from the doctor's office two days before.  We were concerned and Zander got to change into a "sweet" hospital gown just his size.... who knew they even made them this small?!

Fortunately, while we were at the hospital, Zander was able to keep down some medicine (to reduce the fever) and 3 ounces of Pedialyte.  The doctors told us we could go home but if he didn't continue to take in fluids, we would need to bring him back.  We prayed constantly that he would start to eat.  I am happy to report that Zander started to drink Pedialyte and a little bit of milk the next day.  Two days later, Zack and I ventured out with our cutie to enjoy a lunch at Olive Garden (we got a gift card for Christmas!).  You can see him below... he doesn't look like himself yet but he was making significant process!

Even better the next day!  We had some friends over for New Year's Eve... we ate pizza and played some Ultimate Uno.  Given the "break" we had gone through so far, we didn't make it up until midnight.  Everyone left around 10:00 and we saw the start of 2014 with our eyes closed!;)

On New Year's Day, we decided to stay in our pajamas all day.  Zack had already started feeling sick (with cold symptoms... sore throat, cough, etc.)  Another "photo bomb" by Burke.....

 Zander and I went to visit Aunt Lindsey at work on January 2nd and take her out to lunch.  Zander started eating foods again so it seems like his appetite is back to normal!  He still has some congestion which we hope will leave his system soon!  Zack is still working through his cold too.  It is going to be a busy week for all of us so we are hopeful that everyone can get healthy and stay healthy!

Then, on Saturday, Zander and I met up with some of our closest friends from college.  In this picture.... we joked that Shawn and Carrie were with their twin boys!

The Gang Reunion 2014!.....Jacob and Zander were more interested in the fireplace than having their picture taken!

 Two generations of BFFs.... reunited!

 Zander and Jacob getting ready to head outdoors..... it is COLD!

We can't wait to see what 2014 has to offer!  We hope that family and friends are happy and healthy this year.  2014 is the year that Zander turns ONE!  Stay tuned......