So Mom and are were downtown yesterday when we see a beautiful setup at one of the framing places. A fireplace, Christmas tree, leather chair and beautiful paneling. We walked in to check it out and found out it was a very respected photographer in town that was taking pics with Santa but you had to be on the "invited" list and she was fully booked anyway. Hmmmph. The lady doing the organizing was a bit bummed out because she didn't get a chance to play with a baby that was in before....so I mentioned that if she fit US in she could play with the #1 baby...Zachary. We knew he would win her heart. So she fit us in!!!!!

How is Zach gonna feel about Santa? Edele was all dressed up, hair done, makeup-looking very nice, Zachary in new Christmas outfit...what if he freaks out with Santa? All the other babies were not liking him at all. Lets hope. So, she takes him, they get Edele all seated with Santa and at the last minute put Zach on his knee....what happened??? HE LOVED HIM!!!!!!! Wasn't scared or unsure at all. Let him hold him and got some great smiles in for the camera. Whew. I think he was the best baby of them all (of course just as we all knew he would be!!!) But wow, he really was good. I am sooo thankful that they fit us in. And the pics? They should be amazing as the photographer is absolutely one of the best! Lets wait and see!

P.S. Now we're on "the" list for next year too so they will invite us back every year! Yay, maybe that means we stepped up a notch! Har har!

No slowing me down

"No" is a word he hears often now. He is on the move all the time. Hard to keep him in one place to even read a book. Whew....is tough work! I'm sure that he will be walking soon. He lets go of furniture every now and then and realizes that he let go and grabs the furniture quickly! Just a matter of time.

Not so sleepy

Once again...plan of attack....and hey I think this will work!!! I am getting more sleep in a row and so is he! Lets just see!

Is this gonna work?

K, so last night put the plan of attack for sleep in motion. He was up for 1.5 hours and man did he scream but all of the sudden he was asleep. I guess he was exhausted from crying (and the fact that it was 2am and he should have been sleeping anyway!). He got up again around 5am....same idea.....and then he slept until 8:45 (or thereabout). Oh yay, a few hours in a row of sleep! Maybe there is hope!

A visit to the Doctor and maybe a solution

Zach, Mom and I went to the Dr. today. Had to see him for a bunch of stuff but thought I would ask about the whole "non-sleeping" thing. Dr. R. recommends that we put him to bed at roughly the same time everynight to establish a routine and then when he cries go in, pick him up, reassure him and put him back down to bed. Let him cry and wait 5 min. Repeat; reassure, put back in bed, wait 10 minutes etc etc. And just keep waiting for longer periods before you go in. Let's hope that this works! He says its gonna be tough at first as it may take a few weeks before he realizes that he can go to sleep on his own and that when he cries we won't pick him up/offer a bottle/or rock him as we have been doing....everyone wish me luck. Sorry Rick and Jen(staying at Moms) and Mom....the nights may be long for a bit...

Clap clap clap YAY

He's learning all the time! It really is amazing. He could sort of clap a bit before but NOW? He makes sound and everything when he claps. And when we say "YAY" he claps too as we have done this all along. He figures he's pretty smart...all he has to do is smack his hands together and all the adults do it to and say "YAY". Who is teaching who here? Now, we're trying to teach him to wave. He waves at himself but won't wave at others yet. Keep practising and he'll get it!

All I want for Christmas is NOT my 2 front teeth

How many teeth you ask? Zach now has 4 teeth. The front 2 have really come in now. He is sooo very cute with his front teeth. Pretty adorable when he smiles!!!!

Is there no rest for the weary?

Zach started to sleep a little longer.....only getting up once in a night...but that has all changed. I am lucky if I get an hour or more in a row. There must be an end to this madness!!!! I thought that he would get better when he was older but he has become worse. UGH what to do?