First Snow!

It has been an incredibly mild winter, for the second year in a row, and you got your first glimpse of snow on Friday.  It has flurried a few times earlier this year, but nothing has really stuck around to amount to anything.  The snow only lasted a day or two, but we had Kendrick snap a quick picture for us as we were getting in the car so we could remember your first real snow!

Clearly you were not in the mood for your hat or a picture!

Dad and I both like the snow, the crisp chill of the winter air, and the stillness it brings along with it.  We kind of miss it, but honestly when it is in full force, we are eager for it to be gone quicker than it normally tends to let up! This year, dad was especially hoping for snow since he bought himself a new snowboard(and currently talks about nothing BUT that snowboard!).  It is looking as if he will have to wait until we hit the Alps in France next year to test it out for the first time!  Last week he surprised us by taking a day off on Tuesday, and while we were out and about we finally found a very affordable pair of boots to go along with the board, and you had fun trying them out when we got home.

We hope to always live in a climate that we are able to relish in each of the seasons, as each are special and beautiful in their own way!  Dad, however, would be happy on an island, until he remembers the chance of a tsunami swallowing it whole.  Where ever we are, we will make it exciting and find our own adventures and build our memories as a family!! 

Disney on Ice

Zaylee girl, I can't wait to go on dates with you when you are a little older and create memories and traditions with you my very first daughter!  Last week I did just that, but as an aunt instead of your mom.  Kendrick, your full of life cousin, is turning 5 next week and I wanted to take her our for a birthday date rather than buy her a gift this year, and five is a big deal! :) 

A couple weeks ago I saw a commercial for the Disney on Ice:  Rockin' Ever After production coming to Chicagoland!  I jumped on the idea, and Aunt Erin gave me the go ahead.  We planned for a Thursday night show followed by a sleep over at our house.  Kendrick was a bit hesitant at first as she thought we were actually going TO Disney World, but once she realized that wasn't the case she started to get excited for the day to come!

We met at the AllState Arena in Rosemont, while you my dear stayed home with dad.  He was happy to have you all to himself and be in charge of your bath and nighttime routine.  You did great, as per usual, but still refused a bottle! (today you took a sippy cup with milk and drank ever bit!)  As Kendrick and I made our way to the front door, we skipped and held hands and both exclaimed how excited we were.  When we got inside, the number of people and the amount of noise seemed to overwhelm Kendrick a little bit, but soon she forgot about that all when she saw the tables full of goodies that were for more than overpriced.  She was mesmerized and wanted one of everything, but we aren't rich so she got a treat instead! :)  We made our way to our seats and she nearly froze when she saw the ice and all the lights.  I had to keep reminding her to walk while she stared straight in front of her with her eyes wide and a small smirk began to take over her face.  She chose to sit on my lap, and asked me about a million questions wondering about every detail and making sure the lightning and thunder weren't real.  She feared the Beast would break the ice when it was time for Beauty and the Beast, but was happy that he didn't.  We got a soft pretzel, and I was reminded by the almost five year old that salt is in fact "not good for you anyway" as I picked each piece of it off, and that I shouldn't eat her germs since we were sharing.

The show was wonderful and the talent of each skater was impressive and wildly entertaining.  We watched the stories of Ariel, Rapunzel, Merida, and Belle, our favorite being the first and last.  The sets were beautiful and the music was loud enough that I could sing along and no one noticed, except for Kendrick who so nicely asked, "Aunt Amanda can you stop singing I have to ask you something!?"  She was entranced the whole two hours and it was over too soon for our liking!  We got situated in the car and headed back towards Wheaton to come home to you and Dad.  Kendrick talked nonstop for about the first ten minutes telling me all about her first experience at the dentist, and just like that, mid-sentence, she was asleep!

The next morning, you woke up to find you had a playmate for the day, and were so overjoyed.  You two played catch, read books, played with cars, and just played around together.  She was more often then not, holding you and carrying you around the living room acting as if you were her doll, and you didn't mind one bit.  It was fun to have an entertainer, and we were sad to see her go!  We met up with Aunt Erin and mama's cousins Jacki and Deanna and had an even more intense play date with 8 kids under the age of 5 running around!  It was a fun, active, loud afternoon and such a nice way to end our week!

Zaylee, what kind of things will you want to do?  What will bring you joy on our dates?  I can't wait to see and be apart of your little adventures in life!  Love you so my sweet girl! 

You're the Best Song I'll Ever Write

Brings me to tears every time!  Love you sweet girl.
 

I hope you never get too old to dance around the living room with us, because we love those little moments too much to let them go. Ever. 

My Birthday

I have never been the type to draw attention to my birthday or openly announce that it is, in fact, my birthday (except amongst family of course!) when January 16th rolls around, but they were always special in the simplest way.  For as long as I can remember, birthdays in our family were more focused on celebrating the person through a dinner out at the birthday person's choice spot, rather then being doted on with gifts and such.  It was special and I loved it.  We always got one "big" gift and a great dinner with the family, followed by an angel food cake with chocolate frosting and stuffed with dimes (bleached and boiled obviously).  It's great!

Grandpa D started a birthday tradition for me many years ago (not sure when it all started), and it is something that is very dear to me.  Each year, no matter where I was in life, he has sent me a bouquet of flowers always with a sweet note just for me on my special day!  This year it read, "You make us so proud as a mother, wife, and of course our daughter.  We love you!"  I cried.  One day dearest Zaylee girl, you will know the importance and weight of those words.  "You make us proud!"  Your dad says he too wants to start a special birthday tradition for you, and I can't wait to see what it is come March 15th! :)

This year my birthday was preceded by two of the hardest, trying days of parenting to date.  You were beside yourself fighting the tooth making its way out (now here!), and were so extremely frustrated with life that day that all you could do was fuss and complain.  It was sad for me to see you struggling, but also a bit frustrating not being able to help you in any way other than let you "scream" it out (read: throw miniature ten month old style temper tantrums at the smallest, trivial things).  Thankfully it didn't seem to disrupt your good napping skills, although they were a bit shorter than usual, so I still managed to have a break, but the rest didn't soften the mood much.  It was tiring and exhausting, but we made it through and honestly it wasn't SO bad just not the usual so it threw us for a loop! :)
All that to say, on Wednesday, my birthday, you woke up and were happy and snugly and my sweet little lady again!  You knew I needed a happy day :)

Dad had a day planned for me, and even worked it out for Aunt Jenny to come in from Chicago to help watch you throughout the day so I could have some mommy time and go get my hair done!  It was so wonderful to sit and be pampered a little while indulging in some salon style girl talk.  I needed it more than I even realized!  Dad came home from work and we set out on our surprise date and left you little sweetie with Aunt Jenny.  You didn't take a bottle, but you ever so sweetly fell asleep in her arms while she rocked you in your room!  She was so elated :)  Dad took me out for a steak dinner, which happens to be my favorite, followed by a night of ice skating and laughs as we hobbled back to the car with our sore, aging bodies!  It was a wonderful day.  I loved every bit of my time out with your daddy and the plans he made for just the two of us.  

This past weekend, we went up to Lake Geneva and finished the celebration, while also celebrating Grandpa D with the whole family!  Uncle Tim, Aunt Bethany, Aunt Jenny and pretty, little Liesel even came!  It was a great time of fellowship, laughter, and even singing while Grandpa D played his guitar.  So thankful for family and the time we get to spend with each one of them! 

Your Dad

Zaylee girl, your dad loves you something fierce!  Last night as we were getting into bed, wrapping the blankets tightly around us to keep out the cold, winter air, your dad whispered to me, "Is Zaylee real? How is she OURS!?"  You have been ours for ten months now, and we are still in disbelief that this is reality.  That we are THIS blessed.  Dad continued on and prayed a prayer of pure thankfulness for the gift we have in your sweet little life and the overwhelming joy that we are filled with each day as we soak every bit of you in.  You have such a great love for you daddy and our prayer for you in this life is that you will find an even greater love for your Heavenly father.  I am here to tell you that your dad has been one of the most pure and true representations of Christ's love in my life, and I am so thankful that he is YOUR dad and you too will be able to experience his great love and humble spirit.  I call him my meek man.  He has a confidence that is so gentle and strong.  I admire him more and learn so much from him daily.  He has made me a better person and continues to push me to be the best I can possibly be!  I am so thankful to be doing life with him, and am honored to be a team in this new journey of parenting you my baby girl.  You, my darling Zaylee, our so very blessed to have Paul Gregory as your daddy! 

You two have so much fun together, and I love nothing more than watching you play and laugh together! 

Double Digits

T-E-N months!  Woah!  Each month I feel is my favorite for different reasons, but this month seems to have brought out a little girl rather than our active baby girl!  You are SO entertaining these days and full of so much excitement for life.

A few new things you are doing these days:

• Waving and saying "Hi!" when we are out and about and people pass you by.  You get so excited and start flapping your arms.  It always makes those around us oooh and aaah, and I'm sure you have brought many joy when they may have needed a little bit of it in their day! 
• You have learned the act of sharing (for now anyway!), and love giving your toys or food to Dad and I.  We ask you, "Zaylee, can Mama have your car?" and you reach out your hand and place it in mine with a HUGE smile on your face.  Then we give it back to you, and we go back and forth a few times before you move on to the next toy.  
• You love your toy cars!  When you were still in Mama's belly, we were convinced you were a boy and your name was going to be Quincy.  We had no proof of this fact, but just had a feeling, which clearly we got completely wrong and are so extremely happy you are our little Zaylee girl!  Anyway, while we were all convinced, your Mamie Jeannie had sent 8 gifts for my last 8 weeks of pregnancy.  Each was wrapped in maroon colored paper with a note inside expressing a memory of when daddy was a little boy about each of the cars enclosed in the package.  You, sweet Zaylee girl, love playing with these cars.  We keep them in your favorite basket next to the couch and it is always the first place you go in the morning.  Who says toy cars are only for little boys!?  
• The little step landing at the bottom of the stairs is still one of your favorite spots, but these days you have finally mastered how to get off the step.  It stills makes me jump watching you maneuver yourself around and down, but with time it is getting to be a bit more graceful.  
• You are getting extremely fast walking along the couch and often do so with only one hand bracing the edge as you cruise along.  We were giving a little push and go walker and you are really getting to like walking across the living room while holding on for dear life.  It usually gets a bit ahead of you and you fall to your knees, but you will get there eventually.  Honestly I am not ready for you to walk because you are already quick and that will just take it to a whole new level! :) 
• Head butts are your new favorite thing, and it is the sweetest, most gentle head butt I ever did receive!  
• SO BIG!  You are so funny when you throw your hands up to the air reaching as high as you can!  We say it often and it never gets old.  

• You are doing the sign for "all done" pretty good these days, and we are working on "more" and "please".  I love watching you communicate with us in your little voice that is too cute for words while your hands are moving and spinning and clapping.  You are a hand talker without a doubt, and it's adorable!  
• My old cell phone has become your toy phone, and you have learned how to put it up to your ear as if you are talking on it.  I pretend to answer a call and say, "It's for you Zay,"  and you take it with a huge, open mouthed grin and put it up to your ear (back of the head rather!) and we talk.  I love it.
• No more baby food for you these days, except oatmeal and applesauce most mornings.  You are loving grapes, bananas, and string cheese these days.  Yogurt is a favorite, as well as, bread and Mac and Cheese.  You can eat pancakes and waffles like a champ, and love the Trader Joe's pumpkin ones just as much as Dad and I!  It's fun to feed you our food, and really you can pretty much eat anything we can!  It's amazing how well you chew up just about anything with your two little teeth. 
• You think it's fun to bite mom while you are nursing, and it is not my favorite new thing of yours!  You are still nursing 4-5 times a day, but if the biting persists we may be forcing you to wean sooner than I had hoped!  You still mostly refuse bottles, although you did drink 2 ounces last week before deciding you didn't want it, so I have high hopes you will start taking one with ease soon!

You are still our petite little lady, and we love your little tiny body!   Your belly is getting a bit bigger these days, and it's fun to see it sticking out while your in the tub.  Daddy loves it!  You are still taking two long naps everyday, and sleeping 12-13 hours at night.  We usually wake up right around the time Daddy is leaving for work in the morning at 7:45, and he loves this fact as he is the one to get you out of bed.  You always greet him with great excitement and it is the best way for him to start his day! 

Zaylee, as I say each month, we are so thankful for  your joyful spirit and the constant joy you bring us every day as we watch you grow and change!  Every night I sing you two songs, "You are my Sunshine" and my own song for you, "Zaylee Jean".  "Zaylee Jean" is sung to the tune of Edelweiss and is so true to how we feel about you.

Zaylee Jean, Zaylee Jean 

Every morning you greet me

Smile so bright 

Day and night 

You look happy to see me

Our first daughter you grow and grow,

 grow and changed everyday 

Zaylee Jean, Zaylee Jean 

Bless our family forever!

Oh sweet girl, we love you so!  Here's to another great month with you in our lives.  

Our Teething Baby

This week has been a rough one for little Zaylee as she is battle the rupture of her two front teeth.  It is funny how different teeth bring on different reactions.  The first two teeth came in without us even knowing, and these two coming through have made their pain very present.   

We spent most of Friday snuggled close to one another, her warm head and flushed cheeks pressed tightly against my chest.  It was the sweetest, yet saddest, afternoon we have had in a long while. 

Rosy, feverish cheeks!

She is a pretty strong girl, and is yet to truly be sick in her 10 months of life.  Even through the high fever, grabbing at her mouth, biting me while nursing, and viciously chewing anything and everything in sight, she still managed to smile and laugh.  Paul is always amazed at how well she handles any situation and the fact that she just rolls with the punches.  "We are blessed," is our most used phrase over the past 10 months.  Nineteen months really, if you count all the days we exclaimed those words while she was growing inside me.

All day snuggles, the only place she would sleep was on me and I was ok with that.

He was so happy to soak in some snuggle time, and she actually FELL ASLEEP on him! :)

Zaylee doesn't often fall asleep on us anymore, but through the last few days that is her most desired spot.  Paul always gets a pang of jealous and a bit sad when he sees her snuggled up in my arms, but on Saturday night she brought him soaring to cloud nine.  As I was changing her sheets, he hummed and ssshhhed in her ear while she quickly dozed off in his arms.  I left them and after he had had his fill, he placed her in her bed and came downstairs with the biggest grin.  My heart was full. 

Those lips!

Here's to hoping the next teeth that decide to push through will go unnoticed so you, sweet girl, don't have to endure this hardship again.  Although, I really do love the extra loving that comes along with the pain, I wouldn't wish it on you for anything!

New Tricks!

Nine months marked a lot of new tricks for Zaylee Jean!  She started clapping, pointing, and waving all in the same week.  She has the cutest princess wave I have ever seen.  So cute!  When we are reading, she points to every picture and often looks up at us as if she is explaining what she sees.  Her little pointing finger is too cute, and makes me smile every time I see her get excited and point to whatever it is she sees.  While skyping the past couple weeks she is definitely much more interested and observant to the family on the other side of the screen.  She was waving, pointing and talking so much more than she ever had before, which was fun for all of us to see!  It is amazing how smart little babies truly are, and is so fun to watch them learn new things all the time.  We think she is pretty smart, but I guess we are kind of biased!
A few days ago I realized I had never taught her "So Big", and I just happen to think that is the cutest things when kids raise their hands up high over their heads when asked, "How big is (insert name)?"  We did it twice with her and she caught on immediately which was so fun to see.  Really all you have to say is, "Zaylee" and she lifts her hands to the sky!  So fun!! 

We are having so much fun and just enjoying our days with little miss Zaylee Jean!  Love her personality and the joy she brings to us. 

Thursday's with Kimmy

It has become a Thursday ritual to hang out with our dear friend Kimmy.  She has truly been a blessing to me through this first year of motherhood, and I am so thankful for the friendship she has so lovingly showed me and little Zay.  I joke that she is like our chauffeur because she often takes us out to run errands to get out of the house for a bit.  Being at home is wonderful, but sometimes a day out with good company is much needed!  I have had a few weeks lately that I have made Dentist appointments on Thursdays, and Kimmy willingly comes along to the Dental office and sits in the toy room with Zaylee as I get my mouth scraped and cleaned.  They have fun together and Zaylee really loves her Kimmy.  She has been truly encouraging to me throughout this year, and pushes me to stay in the Word and keep my focus on the Lord.  We help each other, and listen to one another talk through our struggles and frustrations and bounce positive thinking towards the one that needs it in those moments.  It's refreshing and much needed.  I'm thankful for her and all she does for us.

She was extra cuddly yesterday...it was the sweetest! 

She is my sweet girl!

Kimmy decided to let her feed herself some mashed potatoes, and then ask her "How big is Zaylee!?"  Not my favorite :)

She had fun though...I guess that's what matters!

Christmas in Pictures

Carrera Christmas

Started out just fine, then wasn't so sure about Bob the Santa!

Loved the lights

Picked up Aunt Jenny for Christmas Break...pretty girls!

Christmas Brunch at Honey Jam

Chaos

After many attempts, this was the best we could get

Sweet girlie cousins

Opening presents with Daddy

Our pretty girl dressed in her best for Christmas Day

Eating her new Little People Nativity set

Another round of attempts...Paul was so happy about this!

The family tradition of Green Punch...

Grandpa D was eager to give her the first taste!

Zaylee and Taylor

Cohen "loving" on Zaylee :)

Micah sure loves his little Zaylee

Kaitlyn, the Christmas baby!

Me and my girls...I've babysat them their entire lives :) Love them!

She doesn't need no stinkin dolls, she loves trucks and cars!

These two are so sweet together!

Loving life

It was a wonderful Christmas, with many fun memories made and lots of good eating!