Christmas!

We had a great Christmas at home! This is the 1st Christmas that we were either not hosting family or not traveling to visit family in years! Shayna was home with us and we had a really great, mellow day...although we missed being with our families! We love you guys! :)
We really enjoyed the peace that only Christmas time can bring...Zach slept most of the day but was up LATE Christmas night. So Gary, me and Zach came out to the family room and only turned on the tree lights...the peace and warmth of the season is unmatchable! There is something magical in the air...we talked about how Mary and Joseph were up all night with Jesus as we have been with Zach...and what that would of been like for them...to know they were caring for the king of the world. And that they had him for the time being all to themselves in the quite (when he wasn't crying of course) of the night....
So we added a few things to our Christmas tradition this year. Makenzie and Zach bought Daddy a snow cone machine and we ate snow cones Christmas morning! That will definitely be a ritual! Daddy was in heaven! Gary LOVES cherry snow cones!
Makenzie got a bounce house! She LOVES it! It is perfect for her playroom on cold and rainy days and during the summer we can put it up outside.
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Enjoy the pics...

The joy and excitement on her face is so precious!

Mommy giving the Elves a dinner break from putting toys together! We had a ball putting all the toys together!

Precious Shayna...

Daddy and Mak taking a rest on her new afghan from Grandma Pat!

Maki opening her afghan from Grandma! She was so excited! THANKS Grandma Pat!

Daddy reading the Christmas story...he was not so happy with Mommy when I pulled the camera out...I seriously have an addiction to taking pics! SORRY GARY I'm trying to cut back! :)

Shayna and Mak having a tea party and watching Little Bear! Thanks for getting us hooked cousin Ana! :)

I did it!

I finished my 1st whole week home with 2 kids!
So this was my 1st whole week without visitors since Zach was born and I have to admit I was a bit nervous to be on my own...but we made it!
This week also happened to be Gary's busiest week in about 6 months too, of course they landed on the same week! But we made it! Thankfully Gary got up with Makenzie each morning so I could sleep until about 8am or so and that made a HUGE difference for me! I am a sleeper and am missing sleeping through the night...but I know it will come eventually! Right?! lol! ;) Actually Zach is doing really well at night, THANKFULLY! I am so very grateful for how involved Gary is and how much of a help he is! No matter how crazy hectic his day is he always comes in the door and is ready to play with Mak! And she gets so excited when he walks in the door! So do I! ;)
We managed to get up to the city yesterday for the evening and it was so fun! It was dead! We went to Fisherman's Wharf for dinner and asked the manager if he thought it was dead because of the economy and he said traditionally the Wharf is dead around this time because everyone coming to the city is usually shopping. Good to know for the future...
Anyways just wanted to give a short update...Makenzie and Zach are both down and we are going to watch a movie...until Zach wakes up and then off to bed! :)
Ah...I love this man!...and I love Christmas time!

Gary bought me the biggest piece of chocolate from here...he knows the way to my heart! ;)

I LOVE her smile!

We had a really great time at dinner! Makenzie was being stared at the whole time by a family next to us...they could not get over how sweet and cute she was! Ahhh! When we left she said "bye guys!" to them....so darling! I took a cute video of Gary and Mak laughing hysterically...if I can ever figure out how to upload videos I will upload it! I am so not computer savvy! Thank goodness blogs are easy! ;)

Gary video taping me taking their picture...so silly! The only close up pic of Zach I took was blurry. :( But he was there with us!

Zach is already 1 month old!

Wow, our precious baby is already 1 month old! He is doing great and so are we! We took him for his 1 month check-up on Friday and he is now 11 lbs 15 oz and 23 inches! 97th percentile for both weight and height! We are really enjoying getting to know our little boy and Makenzie is adjusting really well! She helps with changing him and bathing him and whenever he makes a peep she yells "Mommy, Daddy, Zach is crying! Pick him up!" So cute! She is such a big helper! Here are some pics of the last couple weeks...Enjoy!

He is looking very reflective here...

Stanford Law beanie! ;)

He loves laying on Daddy!

I had to put this pic in...he is even cute when he is crying!

So cozy!

Big sis relaxing in the playroom!

Time with Chelly and Shay!

We had a blast with Chelly and Shay! Chelsea was with us for a week and Shayna 10 days! Makenzie was in HEAVEN playing with them and just having them here! They both were such a big help and as always just a joy to have home! Zachary loved having them hold him so much too! Thanks girls for EVERYTHING! WE LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH! :)
Daddy and Maki resting together!

They all have such beautiful smiles! :)

Kevin (Shayna's boyfriend) came for a day to visit! Great to see you Kevin!

Zach holding Chelly's hand! So precious!

Thanks for the kiss! ;)

I love how silly they are!

Christmas Tree Hunting!

We went to Halfmoon Bay this afternoon to cut down our Christmas Tree! We had such a great time! The lot is huge but we actually found our tree right away! Makenzie loved just hiking around in all the trees! We are so excited Christmas season is here! Happy Birthday Jesus! :) We are trying to be much more deliberate this year now that Makenzie is 2 1/2 about what the true meaning of Christmas is...as much as she can understand at this precious age...this AM we were playing with play-dough and we made a cross and I said "do you remember Mak, this is where Jesus died for you?" and she said "thank you Jesus." My gosh I love this child!

If He was not born, He could not of died...If He did not die, He could not of risen...If He did not rise from the dead, I would still be aimlessly walking the desert. Truly, Happy Birthday Jesus!

Shay and Mak in the caboose!

So angelic!

no more pictures Mommy!

helping Daddy cut down the tree!

Spoiled!

No not our newborn...us! We are so grateful for all the help we have had the last 3 weeks! Carrie (my sister-in-law. Doug's amazing wife!) brought her 2 little ones Ana 3 and Monica 16 months out to help for a week! Oh my gosh can this lady spoil! She cooked, cleaned, played non-stop with Makenzie, Ana and Monica and made me laugh hysterically time and time again! Carrie is one of the funniest people I know and she has a way of making everyone feel so special! Definitely her gift! And a special thank you to Doug for taking such great care of the older kids Cade 10, Camryn 8 so Carrie didn't have to worry and during a really big week for him...he had a playoff game to prepare for! Yes, they won! And the house was clean when they got home! And my parents...what can I say! They always spoil us! My Mom has been a huge help...she came up right when I went into labor and helped take care of Maki and my parents came back up for Thanksgiving! Thanks for all the great cooking mom! They took Makenzie out on her 1st date without Mommy and Daddy...they went shopping and bought her a toy and then took her out to dinner! So CUTE! :) She had a blast!
And now, Shayna is here to help out! And Chelsea comes Friday! YEAH! I will post more pics next week of Chels and Shay with baby Zach and Mak! Makenzie is having a great time with Shay and can't wait for Chelly to get here!
THANKS everyone for all the help and just being a part of Zach's 1st few weeks! Such a special time! :) Here are some pics...ENJOY!
I love this pic! So peaceful!

Zach has the cutest expressions! :)

3 cousins!

Jaja meeting Zach!

Aunt Carrie with baby Zach and her adorable little ones!

Ana and Mak watching Little Einsteins! They all played so great together!

My perfect God-daughter! Love you Mony!:)

Mommy and Daddy! I think we look pretty good for being so tired! lol! :)

Buddy came up too to meet Zach! Buddy is my little brother...seriously my parents spoil their dog! Great to see you Buddy!