You'll never guess...

...More pictures of my baby. Are you noticing a trend yet? I guess when your entire day is consumed by one person, there's not much else to talk about.  Let's be honest,  this might as well be Zackary's blog.  Oh, well.  

We experienced our first Easter with Zack this year.  David's mom had an Easter egg hunt and Zack "found" four eggs.  It mainly consisted of mommy or daddy putting him right in front of a "hidden" egg and pointing to it.  He did get the part about putting the egg in the basket, though.  Mostly, he just wanted to eat the plastic easter basket grass (surprise, surprise.  See previous post).  

Check out that dimple! I produced a child with a dimple!  Who knew it was possible?

WOW, I'm obsessed with my baby!  I'm not sure if anybody else thinks my baby is as cute as I do, but I really don't take pictures of much else, so Zack it is!

After the Easter egg hunt, we got pizza from Two Jacks, and what can I say?  I took these pictures at the right time, no?

Today, for the first time, Zacky used a spoon by himself.  He kept trying to pick up the yogurt with his hands and put it on the spoon.  I think more ended up ON him than IN him.

Ok, I've got to start branching out.  Maybe I'll start taking pictures of the dinners I've been making and post those... 

Once I figure out how to get my stupid scanner to work, there'll be more variety!

It's about time...

It's been a while since I posted.  Here's what's happened since then.

--We finally got our own washer!  It was a hand-me-down from David's parents.  And we still don't have a dryer, so I hang dry all our clothes.  It's not ideal.  Still, it's much better than dragging our laundry with us to do at other people's houses

--We got a new car.  Well, it was used, but it's nice! (Pictures to come later)  This is a big deal because now I have a car, too!  YAY!  No more being cooped up all day with no way out!!

--Zackary had ear infections in both ears.  NOT fun!  For about a week I had an angry, whiny,  clingy, crying, unhappy, miserable, dehydrated, not sleeping, fever-y baby (Are you getting the feeling this week SUCKED?...cause it did...a LOT!)  Poor Zacky!!  I couldn't get him to drink ANYthing for a week.  No matter what it was!  Not even popsicles worked.  

--Zack is still not crawling yet, at least not forward.  I'm not worried.  He's just taking his time, and in the meantime, my life is easier.  He continues to push himself backwards into corners and under chairs and between furniture like so:

Also, somehow he manages to eat any little piece of paper/wrapper/napkin/reciept/leaf/baby wipe/sticker/piece of wicker basket/feather/piece of plastic/fingernail or toenail on the floor, no matter where/what it is.(Note:  All of these things I have found either in his mouth or just about to go in). Even if I inspected the floor carefully before I put him down, even if I just barely vacuumed, he'll find something bad to put in his mouth.   He tried to eat a bug once, but he couldn't pick it up because it kept moving.  I expect this to get worse before it gets better.  Thank goodness we don't have pets!!  

--I got a job!!  A few hours a week, I go to various Elementary schools and teach/direct a children's show.  It's a great way to get out of the house and do something I enjoy.  Plus I'm earning a little money.  No downside so far!

--For the first time in my marriage, I've been making dinner consistently.  This is a big deal!  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I've been a terrible homemaker!  On average, David and I ate out 4-5 times a week.  A WEEK!  Needless to say, we were spending way too much money eating out. Plus, when I went grocery shopping I didn't buy ingredients.  So although we had just spent a bunch of money on food, we still didn't really have anything to eat. If I did make dinner it was almost always Spaghetti, Pasta Roni, Hamburger Helper (If we were lucky!), Grilled Cheese, Nachos or Quesadillas.  I finally realized it's not that hard to buy ingredients from the store and make recipies.  So, I am now on the lookout for simple and delicious recipies.  Maybe one day I'll make more complicated things, but one step at a time...  So far I've successfully made:  Springtime Noodles, Beef Stew, Chicken and Broccoli Casserole, Poppyseed Chicken, Sweet and Sour Meatballs, Asian Beef and Noodle, Garlic Chicken Marinade and Breakfast Sandwiches.    And I've discovered something amazing--leftovers!!  Now, I don't have to make myself lunch (which used to be- Ramen, Hot Pockets, Grilled cheese...you get the idea).  Now I just warm up some leftovers and I've got a healthy, easy meal.  You'd think this would be common sense, but apparently it's not.  I'm just glad I figured it out!  Now, in the last 2 or 3 weeks we've only eaten out twice!  That is a major record!!  (Is my life boring or WHAT?  If this is the most exciting news I've got... :) )

Some semi-exciting news!! 

 Zack's head has gone from looking like this:

To looking like this:

Granted, it's not a HUGE difference, but at least you can SEE hair now!!  We're looking forward to the day when it covers his entire head, not just the back.

Here are some cute pictures I came across of Zackary happily unloading the wipes container. (All the white things are wipes)

Get to know me

I got tagged, so I'm answering a survey thingy (Well, I unofficially got tagged.  I just wanted to do it anyway) 

20 years ago: Wow, 1988.  I was 4 years old and living in Russia while my dad was there translating for some sort of convention about American life...I don't remember exactly.  But, I do remember hating Russia. It was cold, smelly and the food was gross.  Also, I can still say a few words and phrases in Russian

10 years ago: 1998.  Hmmm. I was in Junior High, I think.  9th grade.  I was just getting really into musical theater.  I mean REALLY!  I had just finished marching band for the year, too.  I think the play I was in was either The Music Man or Cheaper By The Dozen.  It could have been Joseph.  Who knows?!  They all run together in my mind.  I had just gotten my first perm.  (NOT cute)

5 years ago: 2003. At this time in 2003, I was in Pirates of Penzance at Hale Theater in Orem.  That was the summer I was at Playmill.   I LOVED the Playmill.  Many good memories.  And a few not as good memories... That fall I started my first year of Young Ambassadors.  2003 was a good year! I reunited with David at the very beginning of 2004. 

3 years ago: 2005.  I had just gotten married.  I was in my 2nd year of Young Ambassadors.  At this exact time in 2005 I was on a 10 day tour with the Young Ambassadors to Colorado and New Mexico.  That was a really long 10 days.  But not as long as the 30 day tour I went on the China and Korea a few months later....without David.  THAT was hard.

1 year ago: 2007.  I was very pregnant with Zackary.  Not much else to report.  He was born in April.

So far this year:  HAHA!  I've been a stay at home mom.  I teach a few voice lessons a week.  I go to Yoga about once a week.  That's about it.  

Yesterday I: Stayed at home all day with Zackary.  My parents and my sister, Erin, came over and we watch Lost and Pushing Daisies.  I'm boring.

 

Today I: Woke up, fed and changed Zack, and went to Yoga.  

Later tonight: David is going to work and I'm going to go to my sister-in-laws with my parents for dinner.  (Each answer has gotten shorter and shorter)

Tomorrow:  I've got church at 9. in the morning.  It's hard because Zack doesn't usually wake up until 10:30.  So, Sundays throw our schedule off.  Then, choir practice at 3 (I'm the ward choir director) and dinner with David's family.

This year I hope to: Be in a play again *cross fingers*, maybe direct a show, possibly get pregnant again (yikes!)

I tag: Andrea Daveline and Chelsea Ashton.  I want to see some quizzes from you!

Little Zack Horner, sat in the corner...

One day, as Zackary was scooting around the living room, he got himself stuck between the couch and the armchair (since he still can only move in one direction).  I thought it was so cute, so I took a picture.  See, I thought he had done it by accident.  But apparently, he TRIES to get himself caught in the corner, as these next pictures will demonstrate. 

Note: Each of these was taken on a different day. 

 

Ah, I love being a mom sometimes...

What a funny baby I have.

Enough with the snow and wind, already!

Seriously...it's WAY too cold lately.  I'm sitting here at home just listening to the wind run wild outside. All sorts of debris is blowing around out there, crashing all up on my windows and door, and I'm home alone.  It's a little bit unnerving.   It seems like every time I go outside, there's a new fresh blanket of snow.  And I know it's good for the drought-yadda, yadda, yadda-snow pack in the mountains-blah, blah, blah.  But, I'm COLD and BORED!  Bored because we only have one car which my husband needs to transport himself to and from school and his 2 jobs.  Which leaves me stuck inside with the baby all day.   Sometimes, a kind soul takes pity on me (usually my mom) and comes to visit, or even picks me up and takes me somewhere.  So, here I am hibernating until the weather decides to give us a break and warm up a little.  I'm guessing the groundhog saw his shadow.  Or didn't see it.  Whichever one means this winter's never going to end. 

I make it sound like I never get out.  That's an exaggeration.  I almost never get out.  In fact, I went up to Sandy visit a couple of really good friends just a few days ago (By the way Hilly and Amy, you're both pretty and I love you! Let's hang out more).  Plus, I usually have a girls night with my sisters-in-law once a week.  Ooh, and I went to a belly dancing class that my friend teaches.  So-thank you to all those who were involved with getting me out of the house this week.  It really takes a lot to get me moving.

Well, while I'm cooped up in my house (and when Zackary's asleep), once in a while I do something productive.  For example, the T-shirt quilt I mentioned a few posts back.  It's coming along slowly.  Veeerrry slowly.  Mostly because it's really annoying to cut a million little fabric squares.  At any rate, here is a picture of the progress so far.

This is only about half of the size of the quilt I want, so a lot more cutting of fabric still needs to happen.  

There are a few things I waste, i mean, spend my time doing that are entertaining.  I watch TV, read stupid magazines, and go to Engrish.com, which provides a lot of laughs. Engrish.com is a website where people send in pictures of funny English translations from foreign countries (mostly Japan and China).

 Here is just a sample of the funniness (actual word?) contained within:

All these remind me of the month I spent in China.  Engrish was everywhere!  If anyone needs a little pick-me-up, spend a few minutes on this site and your day will feel a little happier.  

Boot SCOOTin' boogie

How exciting! A Developmental Milestone!

So, remember how in the previous blog post I was writing about how Zack can't crawl or anything yet?  As I was typing, Zack figured out how to scoot!  This is a big thing because he is developmentally a little behind on the crawling thing (I'm guessing it's cause he has such a huge head.  It's probably really hard to hold up ;).  David and I were getting a bit worried about it and were even praying for Zack to start catching up in that department.  The Lord works quickly sometimes and within a day or two some obvious progress was made!!  And boy, were we all thrilled!   Zackary used to just cry when he was put on his tummy.

I had set Zacky down right next to me so I could write a new blog entry and when I looked up, he was across the room.  So far he can only move backwards, that's why he's getting farther away with each picture.  The last one was taken from where Zack had started out.  

I even took a little video of the scooting in action.

That's the big news from the Lowe household.  Now the next adventure will be babyfproofing the house!  

Here we go, one more time. Everybody's feeling fine. Here we go now

Very little happens in my day-to-day life and the most exciting thing I have to report is that we got a new blender... yay.  So:

Goodbye crappy, old, melted, plastic blender...

Hello new, sexy, stainless steel blender! (With a glass pitcher)

It really is a good blender.  We got it on major sale and it's a huge upgrade.  Moral to the story--There are silver linings to me doing stupid things!

Zack has made a couple of new friends lately.  (Translation: mommy has friends with babies and has invited them over, so she doesn't go crazy)   I've reconnected with one of my best friends, Kelsey, from high school and she just had a baby in October and named him Xavier.  Right before she came over she said "Just wait until you see him, he's so big"  HA!  I said to myself.  Wait until she sees Zackary.  So, she came over and I saw her teeny baby and I sat my giant baby next to him and I took this picture.  It looks like one of those forced perspective pictures where the babies are actually the same size, but the small baby is just sitting really far behind the big one. But, no.  Zack really is that much bigger.  

Another old friend of mine, Triana, brought her baby Gavin over, and he is the same age as Zack.  It turns out, he's the same size, too!  It made me feel much better about having such a hefty kid. Now, if I could only get him to crawl...

Since Zackary can't crawl yet, he compensates for it by reaching as far forward as possible.  He is able to lay his whole upper body on the ground while he is sitting. I wish I was this flexible!  I could have used it!

This next picture was taken at Bombay house.  So for those of you who are jealous because you're not here...this is for you!   Maybe it will be motivation for you to come visit.

I've begun a new hobby, which I hope won't go the way of all my other projects (which is nowhere) .  I have a ton of old t-shirts from various shows I've done, or places I've been which I didn't want to get rid of.  A few of my friends have made patchwork quilts out of their old t-shirts, so I decided I need one, too.  I only have about half the squares cut out that I need so far.  It's hard! Well, its more tedious than anything. Maybe the sewing part will be more fun, we'll see!  Please bless I finish it before I my attention runs out.