Best Present Ever

Our Christmas came early this year, she looks like this...

...and this. Seriously, can't top it.

And playing with her on the floor is the best way to spend the holidays.

But Zara had her first Christmas and loaded up on new clothes and a few toys from all the family and us. At least we aren't at the plastic pile stage yet of Christmas presents. She also got a handmade sock monkey from Tay-ta.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

2 months

Yesterday was Zara's 2 month birthday and I'm a little late getting these up. But here is a o, 1, and 2 month snapshot of how she's grown. Jiddoh picked up a bouncy chair for her yesterday and I'm really liking it so far. She will at least stay in it without me for a little while. The new fun thing this week seems to be that Zara has figured out who the giver of milk is and doesn't want to be with anyone else. Which means I get very little done now and am now more concerned about daycare in a week and a half than I was before. But for now she is still growing, Monday the pedi measured her officially at 8lb 15oz and 22.5in. That is 10th and 55th percentiles, respectively.



I can't believe it's been two months already...

Jolly Jill

All the travelers are now here as John's mom arrived last night, a day early to beat out the snow storm on the east coast. So she now has also met Zara and all the grandparents are here.

But since I couldn't resist, Zara got an early present from me. I got her three pairs of Baby Legs, I'm pretty sure you can figure out what those are from the picture below. The advantages of them being they keep her warm and I don't have to take them off to change diapers. She only got one pair early, but Jolly Jill here (yes, those are purple and pink skull and cross-bones) was sporting them during tummy time this afternoon. We also did a pseudo-measurement of her and not official pedi measurements today. She is about 22.5 in and 9 lbs, so still packing it on. And her newborn size onesies are getting a tad tight so we just might be growing out of them at two months. Tomorrow... our first vaccines. We'll see how we both handle this one.

Family Ties

Since family is arriving for the funeral, there have been some earlier meeting opportunities for Zara. First my parents who were going to be down next week for Zara's first Christmas flew to Houston and met her for the first time. Then the four of us drove up to Arkansas yesterday. But Monday night Zara met jeddoh (arabic for grandfather) and tay-ta (arabic for grandmother, actually the Palestinian regional term of endearment). Here are the photos of their first meeting.



Last night my brother, who flew directly to Little Rock, met Zara for the first time too. This morning he was watching her for me while I was getting ready. But this is really called PRACTICE, he's going to be a papa in June. So right now we are working on how to identify when baby needs a binkie and what the hunger cry sounds like.

And the best development of the last week is that someone learned to smile, as if she wasn't cute enough already.

Louise Phillips

Unfortunately, this morning we woke to sad news that my grandmother Louise passed away. She was a wonderful woman who will be missed. We always loved to go visit her and Papaw while he was with us. We dearly loved her fried potatoes and pecan pie and everyone always enjoyed telling the stories about her hollering at the TV watching WWF wrestling. Mamaw saw much in her life and was truely part of the Greatest Generation. We love you Mamaw and Bless You.

Here is a picture of her from the big 90th birthday party we had for her, January 23rd 2006.

Night in the Neighborhood

Yesterday was our neighborhood Christmas party. This being our first year on the court, we didn't know what to suspect about the party. But we had a great time and, of course, wherever Zara goes, she is the hit of the party. All the ladies wanted to hold her. Overall the party was great though, with each of four course being served and held at a different house. So everyone traipsed down the street with whatever they were drinking to the next house when cued. It was a good time, we hadn't met everyone yet so there was a lot of talking and introductions still. Turns out one of my neighbors works two offices down from me at NASA too and we just didn't know we both lived on this street.

Good party and good street to live on.

Bootcamp Baby

Zara had her 6 week checkups at both the pedi and the midwife this week. That was her last visit to the midwife, although the visit was more about me anyway. Both of us passed and are healthy but her right ear isn't cooperating with the hand-held hearing tester. They get several good readings but don't get enough all together for the machine to say it's good. So we are going to have to go to an Ear Nose and Throat Dr for the more advanced test. We aren't worried, she can hear, its just getting the proof that is required.

But her updated stats are 8lb 6oz and 21.5in long. So we've grown a bunch. The height works out to the 50th percentile (up from 5th at birth) and 12th for weight. She is our banana baby.

Only problem we currently have is a sudden flare up of diaper rash. Since I switched her into g diapers from pure and natural disposables in the last couple days, we are going back to disposables for now. We will slather on the butt paste until it clears up and then try the g's again. May be coincidence maybe not, but we need to get back to the baseline to find out.

And lastly, pictures. Zara has GREAT head control already and she is doing her bootcamp push-ups daily. Just don't tell our instructor Shannon or she'll be trying to do burpees next week. ;)

Babies Busting Out All Over

Congratulations to Jen and Gavin on the birth of their twins this morning! Eleanor Marie and Drake Michael welcome to the world! Looking forward to meeting you both and Zara is looking forward to her new playmates!

Turkey-less Thanksgiving

This weekend we made the trek up to Rison, AR for the big family Thanksgiving. We didn't know if we were going until a few days before since we weren't sure where we'd be with Zara by this point. But she has been doing great and we decided to try it. Turns out she did awesome. Zara slept most of both the 8hr trip there and back, lulled to sleep by the Audi exhaust, waking only for feedings.

But while we were in Arkansas, she was a hit with the whole family. Zara got to meet her Great-Grandmother Louise which was really important to me to be able to do. Mamaw was happy to see her ninth great-grandchild for sure and we definitely needed to get there for her to see her at our earliest opportunity.

At the traditional Thanksgiving without a turkey at my great aunt Nell's, Zara was also the hit of the afternoon and evening. As far as the meal goes, no one really likes turkey and given that there are probably more than 40 people there, one bird wouldn't do anyway. Besides, who can turn down Gloria's southern fried chicken instead? For Zara, we had a waiting list of people to hold her and the only time she got put down was for diaper changes. I only had her long enough all day to do those diaper changes too. But we also got a picture of all nine of the great-grandkids together for the first time. Great-grandkids 10 and 11 are already baking so this picture will be out of date by June. It was a great weekend and one that makes you thankful those folks are family.

More pictures from the weekdend posted here:

Arkansas Thanksgiving 2009

Baby Games

Who says you don't have a life after baby? Since Call of Duty 2 just came out for PS3, John and I (mostly John) have been playing. Zara is totally cool with this since its compatible with her still getting to sleep on your chest. Video games only require thumbs, just don't get too excited and start moving the controller like its going to help your player move!

Zara also got her first bottle this week for her 1 month birthday. Since we are driving to Arkansas tomorrow for Thanksgiving, we needed to make sure she would take a bottle. Given that the bottle contained food and all she seems to care about is eating, we had no problem. We will still only be giving her bottles when we really have to until daycare starts but at least she will take it without a hint of fuss.