Zachary: 6 months!

Two months since my last post??? Oh how my blogging time is sorely lacking. I have so many post ideas running around in my head. But, those will have to wait. Right now, a certain someone has turned 6 months old, and he is overdue for a letter. So, that takes precedence. 

Dearest Zachary,

Today, you turn 6 months old. And you are such a joyful little guy! But before we talk about your 6th month, I need to talk about your 5th. Yes, I am sorry. I skipped a month. Things were really busy when you turned 5 months old (Nee-Nee's birthday, Nee-Nee and Pop-Pop's Anniversary, Father's Day, etc) and by the time I had time to write it you were practically 6 months, so I decided to wait. So, what's happened since my last letter?

Well, you had just learned to truly belly laugh when I last wrote, and now you do it daily. No one is funnier to you than Ryan. Things that I think will make you scared (like him jumping in front of your face and saying, "Hi!" or "Bah!" rather loudly) you just find hysterical. And of course, that only eggs Ryan on. He does a lot of jumping in front of you and yelling! :)  You also laugh whenever mommy makes silly noises. Sometimes you smile and laugh at Daddy just because he's there. You think he's hilarious and you get very happy and excited each day when he comes home from work. You really, truly, are happy most of the time.

Yes, I said most of the time. Because, as I said to the doctor at your 6 month appointment, "He's the happiest, most joyful baby you've ever met...until he's not." You're rarely mad, but when you are mad, the WHOLE world knows it. Really, the only times when you get mad are when Mommy's not around and you're with someone besides Daddy (poor, poor Nee-Nee and Pop-Pop) or in the middle of the night when you wake up and want to nurse but Mommy doesn't let you. Yeah, that makes you pretty furious rather quickly. But, other than that you're a super happy little guy!

In other news, you learned to blow raspberries on May 25th. You found it hilarious for a while. But the novelty has worn off, and you don't do it quite as much any more. You flipped from your belly to your back for the first time on June 2nd and from your back to your belly on June 11th. You now flip easily back and forth between your belly and back any time we put you down. Though, you prefer to be on your belly now because you can more easily grab everything in sight that way!

On June 14th you had your first food: Avocado. You LOVED it the first time we gave it to you. The next few times after that you weren't so sure. But, now, you don't seem to meet a food you don't like. You've had Avocado, Peas, Oatmeal, Prunes, Peaches (you LOVE these frozen in your mesh feeder), Mango, Watermelon, Strawberries, Sweet Potato and Summer Squash (another favorite). (If you're doing the Math, yeah, Mommy's been a little lax about that whole "wait at least 3 days between foods" thing...ahhh, second babies. So much less worry! We don't have allergies in our family at all, so, I'm not concerned). Feeding you is a messy experience. You would prefer to do it yourself and that of course, makes quite a mess. But a cute mess your are! (See evidence below :)

First food ever: Avocado!

Summer Squash

PRUNES!

Your 6th Month was a big month milestone-wise as well!

On June 19th you officially mastered the art of sitting up by yourself. You're still a little wobbly at times (mostly when you reach in one direction to get something that has caught your eye) but you have strong core muscles and can sit by yourself very well for quite some time! 

On June 29th Daddy took you and Ryan both to the grocery store for the first time, by himself. Your Daddy is a champ! He is such an involved and caring Daddy, and you are so very, very, lucky to have him! 

On July 1st you turned on your mobile by yourself in your crib. You do it on purpose and as soon as you do it we can hear you on the monitor giggling hysterically. You are just so darn proud of yourself! 

You're not crawling yet, but you are definitely motivated to do so. You get soooo frustrated when you're on your belly and something is out of your reach. I wouldn't be surprised if by your next letter you are crawling. 

On July 4th you went to your first parade. You slept through most of it, though. That night, you also went to your first Fireworks. You weren't supposed to join us. You were supposed to be fast asleep, and just Mommy, Daddy, and Ryan were going to go. But, it came time to leave for the Fireworks, and you were still wide awake. And well, given previous statements of the few times when you do get mad, we weren't going to torture Nee-Nee and Pop-Pop by leaving you with them. So, you came along. And you STAYED awake until the fireworks started! You were in AWE! 

So, yes, Ryan's first Fireworks were also your first fireworks....oh, to be the second child! After closely watching for the first few minutes, you then FINALLY fell asleep in my arms. It was fun to experience this new adventure with both you and Ryan. Ryan was in awe at first too. But then he grew more excited about the glow sticks we had brought. That was a little disappointing. But he was excited again when the very loud grand finale started! You stayed asleep, even then! 

So, I've kind of bragged about you throughout this post, and spent most of the time telling you how great you are. Well, let me tell you what is not so great! And that is sleep! As my previous letters will attest to, you pretty much were born a great sleeper. Well, that went down the drain a few weeks ago when I got sick. I had Mastitis and my doctor said one of the things that would help was nursing at least every 2 hours. So, that's what we did for 2 days. And well, that screwed up your sleep. During the day you eat enough solid food that you actually are nursing less frequently now, but, if you had your way, you'd nurse every 2 hours at night. And to be honest, sometimes I just let you. You do go back to sleep very quickly afterwards, and having you scream and potentially wake Ryan up isn't worth the stress. So, yes, for now, you win. Ugh. I went back and read Ryan's 6 month letter tonight, and for the first time in your life we can say Ryan was a better sleeper than you. Trust me, that is NOT something to be proud of! Mommy and Daddy would really appreciate it if you would start sleeping more soundly very soon.

Well, I don't want to end on a negative note, so, I will close with a few more cute pictures of your happy self. You truly are a joy of a baby, and Daddy and I are so happy and proud to call you ours! Ryan is pretty smitten with you, too! We love you sooooo very much, Zachary Joe! 

Happy 6 Month-Day!

Love,

Mama 

Zachary: 4 Months

Dearest Zachary,

Today you turned 4 months old, and what a big boy you are! You are just such a joy! But you are starting to exert your strong will and personality more and more!

This month it was fun to just watch your littler personality develop. You smile so much now. You love to "fly" in the air (aka: Mommy holds you up above her head) and you just smile and squeal. You like looking at new faces but you smile widely at the ones that are familiar; especially Mommy, Daddy, and Ryan. I'm writing this a few days after your actual "month-day," but on May 16th you giggled for the first time. Ryan was making funny noises at you and when he got close to your face and said, "Baaaay-bah!!" you started smiling broadly and squealing. I knew you were building to a giggle so Daddy grabbed the video camera and we caught your very first true belly laugh on camera. It was very cute, and even cuter because it was your big brother who made you do it! I have a feeling that there are MANY more silly moments like that in our future!

On May 12th you were Baptised. A lot of family came in town from CT and you were soooo great all weekend. You were your usual, happy self, well, except for a few minutes during the Baptism ceremony. It was right at your nap time, and you were a bit cranky. But Mommy got you to fall asleep and then you were fine. (You really only cry when you're tired...well, at least for Mommy). But, at least at your Baptism the Deacon didn't go on and on during his homily as he did at Ryan's! You didn't cry when they poured the water on your head and you looked so handsome. Auntie Cindy and Uncle John were your very proud Godparents! I have no doubt they will play a very special and important role in your life!  (Uncle Adam was sick, so he didn't come, but he is one of your Godparents too).

At your 4 month pediatrician appointment we learned that you are VERY tall. You're exactly 50% for weight (15 lbs exactly) but you are 98% for height. You are now 27 inches long. You grew three inches in two months since your last appointment! Ryan was pretty long as a little guy too, and now he is very average. So, it will be interesting to see what ends up happening with you.


Remember how I said you are starting to exert your will? Well, just after your turned 3 months old you decided that bottles are for sissies. You started refusing to take a bottle for Nee-Nee and Pop-Pop when they watch you while Mommy works. This made for a VERY miserable few weeks for you and for Nee-Nee and Pop-Pop.  Fortunately, the past few times you've taken at least one bottle, though begrudgingly. Please, for Nee-Nee's, Pop-Pop's and Mommy's sake, PLEASE keep taking bottles, OK? Also, please trust that you're in VERY good hands when you're with Nee-Nee and Pop-Pop and that Mommy will come back. I am flattered that you miss me so much, but, I would be much happier if you would just relax and be your normal happy self when you're with them. They adore you, and I know you're in wonderful hands. I want you to know that, too!

You are a very strong little boy. You haven't quite rolled over yet, though you are so close! But your muscles are so strong that you can almost sit up by yourself. When someone is holding you and you want to see something, you twist and turn so you can see what you want to see. You love taking in the world around you. I can't wait to see what these coming months have in store for you!

Happy 4 Month-Day little guy!

Love always,

Mama

For Boston, for Boston...

"For Boston, for Boston, we sing our proud refrain. For Boston, for Boston, tis Wisdom's earthly fane. For here all are one and our hearts are true. And the towers on the Heights reach to Heaven's own blue. For Boston, for Boston, till the echoes ring again." 

I sang (and played, as a proud bass drummer in the Screaming Eagles Marching Band) the above song on an almost weekly basis, many times over, during my time at Boston College. Until yesterday, never have those words carried such meaning. 

I was not born in Boston. I didn't grow up there. But Boston was, is, and always will be a part of me. It is where, on the first day of "Band Camp" my freshman year of college, I met the love of my life; The man who would become my husband and the father of my children. It is where I made friends, that though now far in distance, are always close in heart. It is where, with the guidance and support of so many wonderful professors and mentors that I became certain that I wanted to be a Social Worker; a career that has brought me much joy and fufillment. It is where I learned what Social Justice really means, and what being "men and women for others" is all about. It is where I grew as a woman, as a person, and as a citizen of the world. 

My husband, Matt and I moved from Boston to Maryland (where I am from) in 2006. However, a piece of our hearts has always remained behind. We have always said, "If our family wasn't in Maryland, we would live in Boston in a second." Yesterday, as I learned of the tragedy at the Marathon, a day I always looked back on with such excitement and joy, I was devastated. My heart ached. It ached for those killed and injured, for the people all around who were traumatized, and for the city as a whole. 

Boston is a place that gets under your skin. It is filled with "transplants," people who have come from all over the Country and World and made it their home. And it is filled with some of the finest home grow Bostonians anyone would ever want to meet. And other than the difference in how these two groups of people say "Car" (caaaaaah), you wouldn't know them apart. For they all love Boston. They all call it home, and they were all affected by the events of yesterday. And yet, I have no doubt that the city of Boston--as we have already seen in so many stories of strength, compassion, and love--will come back stronger than ever. They will represent our Nation to the World as an example of courage, strength, and peace. 

As I looked at my boys last night (3 years, and 3 months), boys who wouldn't exist without the city of Boston, I was immensely grateful. Grateful that although bad things happen in this world, that the bad things are far out-numbered by the good things. One day I will tell my boys of what happened on April 15, 2013. And they will know of the evil, but far more, they will know of the bravery of a city that I love more than any other. 

And so, from this day forward, those words, "For Boston, for Boston..." will carry far more meaning. For each time I hear or sing my dear Alma Mater's fight song I will not only remember a wonderful University, but more so, a brave, compassionate, and love-filled city. 

Zachary: 3 Months

Dearest Zachary,

Today you turned three months old. And while today was a very sad day for our country (some bad people hurt many innocent people in Boston, a city that is very special to your Daddy and me) I didn't want to let the day pass without posting your monthly letter. (Though your monthly pictures will have to be taken tomorrow, because I forgot to take them today!) Because no matter how many bad things happen in the world, it will never change the fact that you and your brother make your Daddy and me very, very, happy.

You continue to be such a happy little baby. You have really started to develop even more personality and more of an ability to interact with your world during the past month. You grab for toys while in your bouncy seat and you bring anything that you grab straight to your mouth where you instantly try to gnaw on it. Daddy is convinced you're teething, but that would be REALLY early. However, if you are teething, I'll take it since you're still a very happy little guy. I can only hope you remain this happy and easy going once you really do start teething!

You continue to smile and coo a lot. You have so many little sounds that you make and sometimes lately it seems that you're trying to be a part of the conversation. At dinner tonight we were joking with Ryan. I asked Ryan if he eat some of his meatballs (knowing he hadn't) and he kept saying, "Yup! I did Mama! I ate some!" all while smirking. We went back and forth, me saying, "Are you suuuuurre??" and Ryan saying, "Yup! I'm sure I ate them!" while giggling. You were in Daddy's lap and all of a sudden you said "Naaaa-aaahhh!" rather loudly with a big smile. As if you were in on the joke and calling B.S. on Ryan!

Speaking of dinner, you seem desperate to eat real food. Just like Ryan did when he was your age, you stare intently at us while we eat. You clearly seem to know what we're up to and you want in on the action. While I started solids with Ryan at 4 months I will wait a bit longer with you because Ryan's little belly wasn't quite ready and he went from being a not great sleeper to a terrible sleeper once he started real food. So, you'll have to wait a bit more...sorry buddy!

You're already quite the flirt and you use your smile and personality to your advantage. At dinner time you're usually pretty content to sit in your bouncy seat right near the table between Daddy and I. But you've realized that if you coo cutely, smile, and then whine just a little that Daddy or I (most often Daddy, because he just got home and missed you all day) will pick you up. You smile at almost anyone and love when people make funny noises at you, especially Uncle John. He just cracks you up!

Since your last letter you've started spending one day a week at Nee-Need and Pop-Pop's house while I go to work. It is going quite well! They are smitten with you too and thoroughly enjoy your sweet self. Although, last week you must have had a belly ache and you were breaking Nee-Nee's heart because nothing she did could make you feel better. But eventually you were able to fall asleep, and when you woke up, you were all smiles again.

You continue to be such an easy baby and everyone who meets you is amazed at just how low key you are. You are on more of a schedule than your brother ever was by this age. You're usually in bed by around 8:30 every night and you wake up around 7:30/8:00. You wake up once or twice a night to nurse and you continue to go right back to sleep.

In other developmental milestones you are trying so very hard to roll over, but you aren't quite there yet. Part of the reason for this is because you don't get nearly as much tummy time as your brother did. The reason for this is because as soon as we put you on the floor Ryan immediately wants to hug and "snuggle" (aka: smother) you. This irritates you and you get quickly upset which makes your time on the floor limited. But, we know you'll be rolling over before we know it, and in the blink of an eye you'll be running. You're already growing way too fast!

Zachary, you are such a perfect little addition to our family. We love you to pieces and we love watching you grow and develop every day. Happy 3 month-day!

Love always,

~Mama