Goodbye Swing and Jumperoo

Zach is SOOOO through with the swing and the Jumperoo but Mommy is having a hard time with the fact that they are going to a new home today. Tabitha that cuts my hair is having a baby the end of April and we are trading baby stuff for hair services. We gave our infant carseat to Liz's sister-in-law and when I saw a picture of her new baby girl in it, I got a little teary. So, posting some old pictures of my babies in the swing, the Jumperoo and the carseat is my way of coping with the achiness that I feel with these things finding new homes and new babies. The swing is the one item that I'm having the hardest time with. My mom and I bought it on our shopping trip to Portland that we went on the week that we found out Ashley was a girl (yes, when I was only 20 weeks pregnant - almost 5 months before she was due which means we had her swing assembled a good four months before she was even born). We were (and still are) EXCITED to finally be parents to say the least. Now there is no reason for us to keep these bulky baby things around but it is a little sad since Zach is our last baby and it really seems like just yesterday that we were putting them all together for Ashley. We are excited about all of the new things we have to look forward to, though.

Picture #1: Zachary in the carseat

Picture #2: Ashley in the carseat on her first major outing to the annual Christmas party at the D's. She was not excited.

Picture #3: Zachary in the swing

Picture #4: Ashley in the swing

Picture #5: Ashley in the Jumperoo

Picture #6: Zachary really discovering the Jumperoo for the first time

Snow Much Fun

Ashley, Daddy and "Frosty the Snowman".

He Stole My Heart Again

Do you remember specific moments when your babies stole your heart? Bear with me but I just have to share a few of my special ones. . .Zach stole mine again yesterday. ;o) When I found out that I was pregnant with each of my babies, I was in love with them at that moment. When I heard their hearts beating for the first time, more love. First ultrasound - oh man. I wanted to hold them so badly! And then they were born. Overwhelming love but when I REALLY fell in love with each of my babies came about two days later when we came home from the hospital. With Ashley, I was sitting on my bed with her and held her out to look at her and she looked me in the eyes and smiled from ear to ear. I balled and balled (as I am beginning to do now as I remember that moment). I couldn't believe she was mine and how much I loved her! What a blessing, after so many years of wanting and waiting. I had a similar experience with Zach when he was a few days old. I kissed his neck and he smiled at me. Then, when he was two weeks old we were in Lincoln City and had just finished watching Danny and Ashley swim and I was looking at him while we were sitting by the pool and he looked at me with the most adoring eyes and gave me the biggest most beautiful smile. Another falling in love moment. Okay. Now we are to yesterday. Nothing earth shattering. Just an ordinary, lazy day but for some reason, he stole my heart again. Just watching him crawl around, drool dripping from his chin, everything going in his mouth. All the baby stuff. I have noticed there are these moments being a parent where I can be going along about my every day life and then the cuteness and wonderfulness of my children can sometimes be so overwhelming it hurts. I just had to share this and what a blessing my babies are and that my youngest one captured my heart all over again yesterday and I know this will happen many more times.

First Haircut

Zachary had his first haircut yesterday! He was VERY serious about it but did so good!! He looks very handsome.

RAHHHHRRR

Monday night Ashley and I went to Safeway and a not so cleancut gentleman struck up a conversation with us as we were leaving the store. I cut the conversation very short and told him to have a nice evening and walked quickly towards our car. When we got about 8 feet away, Ashley, who is kind to EVERYONE, turned around and said RAHHHHHRRRRR and then kept walking. Just let me say I hope she keeps that instinct her whole life and is never afraid to use it!!! Two nights ago we were at Wal Mart and a nice looking old guy was coming out of the store as we were going in and he said hi to us. Ashley said, "hi -boo - ha- ha" in a cute little voice and smiled. Then she said, "See, Mom. I didn't rahhhrrr to him."