Introducing...Zach's little bro!

I was negligent yesterday in posting some pics from the ultrasound, so I thought I would share them today. Some of them are like those old photos where you have to stare at it for awhile before the image pops out. These are the best shots we could get because our darling youngest decided he didn't like all of the pictures being taken of him. We even tried to get a couple 3D images, but he actually blocked our shots with not only his arms over his face, but his legs as well. Maybe Baby M, decided is prepping for his life as a celebrity and already strinking poses for the Paparazzi.

Here is Baby M's face: (In this picture it's just his head. I've turned it so it's almost like he is upright. His chin is pressed against the uterine wall, but you can make out his nose, lips, and hint of eyes. I didn't see any hair, so I think I am getting another baldy :) )

Here is the little man's hand:
And this was the $ shot so to speak. Here is some proof that I am the mother of two boys:
I hope you enjoyed the preview...I don't think we'll get the chance to see Baby M in utero again.

Pink socks and Intelligender Tests be damned!

It's a Boy!

A beautiful and perfect, so far, little man to match his adorable older brother. I would be lying if I didn't say I was a bit disappointed at first, and then I just reveled in the fact that I've been blessed with these two little men in my life. I am so lucky to have not one, but two healthy sons and I am so excited about meeting the newest man in my life. Now that I know he's on his way, I am getting things into gear. Wayne and I went to look at cribs today, and I think I know the color of the room and the bedding I want to pick. Zach surprised me by actually saying "brother" when I said say brother, and I have a sneaky suspicion that these two had this meeting planned all along. I truly believe that everyone and everything happens for a reason and Zach is meant to have his little brother.

It will be a little sad to let go of the visions of pigtails, and Barbies, and all things girly, but I can't quite close my mind to that yet. I know my hubby only wants two, and two make a lot of sense, but I just can't let that 3rd go today. In time I may look at my two meant to be sons, my handsome hubby, and be content in all that we are, a complete family, but just for today I am going to let myself think of the daughter I may never get to have...as a distant possibility. Then again, maybe my brother or sister will give me a niece and I will spoil her senseless with pretty pink clothes, get my girl fix, and go home to my boys, my boys who do now and always will have my heart!

Thank you to everyone who posted their guess. I will try to put a few pics up later!

A sock prediction?

Now don't get me wrong I am not the best laundry doer in the world, but I never made the mistake before of putting an unwashed red t-shirt in with white socks prior to this pregnancy. The result...some pick socks!

Could this be fate's way of sending me a sign for tomorrow? Since we are almost 24 hours away from finding out the gender of baby X. I thought it would be fun to take a little poll and see what people's pedictions are for tomorrow. Since I am not clever enough to know how to create a online poll, please just post your guess as a comment. I am so excited to see what the majority thinks. Then be sure to stop in tomorrow for the revealing post and some photos!

Firecrackers and Friends!

The 4th turned out to be a beautiful day even though it rained here the entire week before. We spent the day with my family at the lake and went over to my uncles' houses down the lake a bit. There were some surprise absentees, like my Uncle Jim who had to have a quadruple bipass on Friday, and my Aunt Sue who was with him. My uncle is getting back into his old spirits and even called his siblings during the party. The rest of the party was wonderful, we had great food, and great company. My Aunt Marge organizes the party every year, and her sister Joan helps to host it...can you tell we are a close knit group?

Zach was in high spirits darting around with the kids, and although he wasn't quite big enough this year to keep up with the big kids, he had plenty of playmates. Thats the bonus of having cousins close in age, with children close in age! I would love to show you some pictures of Zach and Jack, but unfortunately Jack was running with the big boys this weekend, then on Sunday anytime Jack was awake, Z was sleeping and vice versa. Needless to say, I don't have a photo with the two of them in it. All in all it was a wonderful weekend and I was so happy to spend some time with the fam at a place that has always meant so much to all of us. (Yes, Mom ALL...even me, although I still won't shower there :) ) Here are some of my favorite shots:

Hanging with Grandma and Wolfie:

Zach decides to almost sit down for a bit with Daddy and Papa on the new Adirondack chairs:

Aunt CC, Zach's new found BFF takes him on the slide. A rare photo because he's actually wearing his hat for a moment:

Zach decides to gain a little independence of his own:

My Mom and her brothers...one via telephone:

Zach and his best bud for the day, Mark, who is one day younger than Zach:

Zach's cousin Jules decides to try to take a pony ride, with Zach as the pony:

Zach and his Daddy. It's almost as if Z's smiles beams: "Daddy is just soooo much fun!":

One of my favorite shots of Jack "smiling":

And finally the only shot taken of me and my boy:

Happy 4th of July!

Since we will be visiting with family and friends all day tomorrow, I wanted to post a quick photo from last year's 4th of July.

Its incredible to think about how far Zach has come in a year. Just look at how chubby that face is, and how bald he really was. It doesn't even seem like this could be the same child:

My how my baby has become a little man! I am so excited to see Zach run around with his 2nd cousins, many of whom are under the age of 10. I think there are 10 under the age of 6. It will be an eventful day, and while I doubt Zach will stay up till 9:30 to watch fireworks, I am sure he will enjoy playing the games that Aunt Lisa organized for the kids, and eating all of the wonderful food. I know he will love seeing his relatives and taking in some of the lake air. I am thrilled too, because some of my fondest memories are of spending the 4th at the lake, watching fireworks on a boat with my cousins, and I will be able to share that with my son (and mystery baby) very soon. I hope you all enjoy the holiday, and I promise to post soon about out celebration.

For this post, I totally copy-cated one of my favorite blogs to read, written by my very creative cyber-friend Jen who is a great writer, and a fellow English teacher with an adorable little girl. You should check out her blog at http://www.littlebabyaddison.blogspot.com/ to enjoy her daily doses of humor.

Sprinkles or Cherry Dip?

As an avid lover of ice cream, who indulges at least once a week in the summer, I am constantly faced with decisions. I get to the window and the girl behind the counter asks, "What can I get you?" Now usually I am a soft-serve girl, when I am eating well a Wow Cow flavor will do, but now that I am preggo I am all about the milk fat. With that one little question I must face the decision of chocolate, vanilla, or twist. Being the indecisive person I am, I usually go with the twist, because well...you get the best of both worlds. Once I've crossed the flavor hurdle it's on to the topping....

Should I go with rainbow sprinkles?

Or the cherry dip?

The choice is a timeless one. I swear I have struggled with this decision since I was five. Since no one has commented in weeks, I would love to see what decision you would make. What is your favorite ice cream combination?

I can tell you that Zach preferred the cherry dip and munching on the cone most of all. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera on hand, but this adorable picture of a blond little boy devouring his cone gives you a good idea of what the scene looked like. (minus the beautiful flowers in the background)

Now please feel free to leave a comment and a combination for me to try on my next ice cream outing.

Jell-O and Hello!

As Zach is getting older, he is just such a stitch to be around. He is always smiling and looking for a way to get others to laugh at him, he really is an entertainer. Dinner time is no exception to Zach's charm, and since he is an awesome eater I sometimes reward him with dessert. For example, the other day I picked up some Jell-O at the store, and after a well eaten meal of chicken and potatoes, I gave some to little man. I cut it up into cubes and gave him his fork, since we are trying to master that skill, and let him have at it. Things started out so sophisticated:

But quickly Zach realized that orange Jell-O is not only cool to touch, but also delicious, so he wanted to get to eat it faster...for Zach that meant digging in...literally:

And then of course, shoveling it in:

Not only has Zach been busy enhancing his palette for delectable desserts, but he is quite the conversationalist these days. He is saying a lot of individual words, and will try to repeat what you say most of the time if you prompt him. He also spends some time jargoning in Zach speak, but we have some great conversations that way. One of the cutest things Zach is doing these days is that when the phone rings he say "Hello". In casual meetings he uses Hi, but most of the time in regards to the phone its "hello". I think he gets that from his father, who is constantly on his phone taking business calls. Here is the little man in action:

No matter where Zach acquired the skill, he's loving it. He even holds the phone up to his "ear: (as you can see its more like the back of his head) to "talk" and will now carry a conversation with the person at the other end that goes something like,

Me: "Zach say hi"

Z: "hiiii"

Me: "Zach say blue"

Z: "blue"

Me: "Zach say bye"

Z: "Byeeeeeeee"

Sometimes we mix up the word in the middle with something like; Lennie, or tree, or yellow, or shoes, well you get the point. My little baby is getting to be such a little boy, and while I am sad to see him getting older, I feel so fortunate that I am his "Mama" and he is always going to be my Zach.