9 Month Well Baby Check-Up

Zach's statistics at his 9 Month Check - Up are as follows: 19 pounds 3 ounces, 29 1/8 inches long, and his head is 18 1/2 inches around. The doctor said he is doing very well.

It has been a long couple of months, but they have flown by! I can't believe he is already 9 months old! Zach is such a great kid, he loves to smile and play. He is not very shy around other people, although he does prefer his mom most times. We are trying to get him around more people so that he can realize there is more than our little family in this world!

12-21-07 9 Month Family Picture


We have the games Rock Band and Guitar Hero for the XBox 360, and Zach loves to play the guitar and the drums!

Playing the drums with Dad 12-18-07


Playing the Guitar with Dad 10-28-07


Family Picture Taken in October:

Teeth!

Zach finally cut some teeth! It took two weeks from when we first saw them, but they are out where you can see (and feel) them! I got a good picture tonight and wanted to share...

Games!

Matt and Zach were playing 'Boo!' with some blankets. Enjoy! :)

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Travels

We went to Phoenix over Thanksgiving, and Zach did so wonderful on the plane! We were a little worried how he would do, especially since he was just getting over a double ear infection, but he was great! He just wanted to explore everything! Here is Laura and Zach at the airport, and Zach exploring the window on the plane.


We had a great time with Nana and Nanu, and Aunt Janet, Uncle Bryan and Jasmine and Sydney also! Here is a picture of the 3 cousins playing one morning.

All of us went to Zoo Lights, and we took our family picture there.

Laura's friend Tanya came up to see us again. Zach enjoyed getting to meet her!

We took some pictures of the cousins, here are my favorites. Jasmine is in the overalls, and Sydney has the care bear. The rocking horses were made by a very close family friend and Nanu.

Visitors!

We a few visitors in October that we all enjoyed. Unfortunately, Zach started to get sick while Aunt Janet, Uncle Bryan and Jasmine and Sydney were here, and it continued through Grandpa's whole visit. :( We were still able to have good times though...

While Aunt Janet and Uncle Bryan were here with Jasmine and Sydney, we went swimming for Zach's first time.


Aunt Janet and Zach, Uncle Bryan and Jasmine, Laura and Sydney


Grandpa and Zach


The Carothers men!

6 Month Well Baby Check-Up

Zach's statistics at his 6 Month Check - Up are as follows: 17 pounds 12.7 ounces, 27 3/8 inches long, and his head is 17 5/8 inches around. The doctor is very pleased with how he is doing.

We had some pretty good times visiting with family over the past 2 months. Zach got to meet his Great Grandparents and Great Aunt and Uncle while traveling outside the country! He got to spend some quality time with his Nana and Nanu, and also with his Grandma and Grandpa Long. We are looking forward to a visit from Aunt Janet, Uncle Bryan and cousins Jasmine and Sydney, and from Grandpa Carothers in October.

Zach is growing up so quickly! He is getting such a personality, and becoming such a fun little boy! He is hurting much less often (although teething has become more of an issue...still waiting for that first tooth to pop through, but he gets cranky and is drooling constantly!) He has figured out how to take hats off his head and throw them on the ground. He is also experimenting with throwing things and wanting to pick them back up. He went on his first boat ride, and also on his first ferry ride this past month. Summer is definitely over here in Washington though, and so our days outside are pretty much over. We are going to have to find ways to entertain ourselves inside.

9-23-07 Zach Taking off his hat


9-20-07 What Zach thought of starting solids


9-19-07 Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and Zach on San Juan Island


9-14-07 Nana, Mom, Zach and Nanu after 1st Boat Ride


9-10-07 Mom, Nanu, Nana, Zach, Grandma and Grandpa Long


9-5-07 With Nanu and Nana and a Tape Measure


5 Month Family Picture 8-18-07


8-13-07

Traveling Outside the Country! (To Meet the Great Grandparents)

Friday, August 17th, Nana, Nanu, Laura and Zach piled in the car to go to Vancouver to meet Zach's Great Grandparents. Overall it was a great trip, and Zach has officially left the US! :)

Zach and Mom at the Border where we had to sit in the car for an hour and a half each way! Zach was so happy to be out of the car!


Zach and his Great Aunt Donna, Great Uncle Mike, Nana, Poppop, Granny, and Nanu


Granny, Poppop, Zach, Mom and Nana


Zach and Nana in Canada


Zach and Nana back in the US

4 Month Family Picture

Zach is 'officially' 4 months old today! July 22, 2007

4 Month Well Baby Check-Up

Zach's statistics at his 4 Month Check - Up are as follows: 15 pounds 13.4 ounces, 25 1/8 inches long, and his head is 16 3/4 inches around. We have had a much better time this last month...not in the doctor's office so much!

Zach still does have problems, but not 24/7. Mom's diet seems to be on the right track (although adding stuff back into it is very tricky!). He lets me know when I ate something that is not ok pretty quickly.

Taken on 7-14-07


Zach swinging on 7-9-07


We have been seeing a chiropractor for Zach, and that is one of the things that we believe is making a huge impact on him. I know, I know, a chiropractor...for a baby??? I was a huge skeptic also, that is why it took me so long to take him in there. All the guy does is adjust his atlas (the 1st cervical vertebra), and use this funny sound machine (resonator) as he feels his back and his stomach. Zach loves it, he usually smiles the whole time, so I am pretty sure it is not hurting him.

July 4th, Dad and Zach watching some early fireworks


Family picture taken 7-4-07


Zach loves his toy cookie monster, it makes a great snack! ;)


12 Week Family Picture taken 6-18-07


Not much has been going on here. It is finally getting to be summer and in the 80's, so that is nice. :) Molli and Zach love our trips to the beach.

2 Month Well Baby Check-Up

Zach's statistics at his 2 Month Check - Up are as follows: 13 pounds 3.5 ounces, 23" long, and his head is 16 inches around. We have had a lot of problems this past month...so much that we have been in to the doctor's office every Tuesday! We are hoping June is a better month!

Zach has been diagnosed as having Acid Reflux (surprise!), and we are now thinking that food allergies are a big part of what is going on. He has tried Zantac, and is now on Prilosec. He is in pretty constant pain and lets us know by his screams and stiff little body. :(

Laura went on a dairy-free diet on May 5th after we found blood in his stool. As of May 25th, she has also been on a wheat- and gluten-free diet. Even eating that limited diet Zach was having problems. Starting today, she is on the Elimination Diet which consists of range-fed turkey and lamb, baked or boiled potatoes and sweet potatoes, rice and millet, cooked green and yellow squash, and pears and diluted pear juice. She stays on that for 14 days, and if Zach is doing well, can start slowly adding different foods. (One every 4 days). We are really hoping to figure out what is going on with Zach. We have been referred to a Pediatric Gastroenterologist, and the doctor also wants to get an X-Ray of his GI tract.

Nana is back and helping out with the sanity of all in the house. :)

9 Week Picture

8 Week Picture

Grandma and Grandpa Long came the second weekend of May...while Grandma was inside with Zach crying on her, Grandpa and Dad were in the garage building a work bench which he loves!

7 Week Picture

Grandpa Carothers came to visit the first weekend of May, and enjoyed spending time with Zach...even though he did cry a lot.

6 Week Picture

6 Weeks

Zachary's 6 week statistics were: he weighed 11 pounds 6 ounces (75th percentile), he is 22 3/8" long (50th percentile), and his head is 15 1/8" around (25th-50th percentile).

Family Picture at 5 weeks taken on 4/28/07

Family Picture at 4 weeks taken on 4/21/07

Aunt Janet came to visit! Nanu, Nana, Laura and Zachary, Aunt Janet, Matt and Molli We are really hoping that the acid reflux calms down soon as it is heart breaking to know (and see and hear) how badly he is hurting. :( The good news is that he is still gaining weight, and not gaining weight is about the only side effect of acid reflux that we have not had to deal with yet.

More Pictures!

We have been taking pictures like crazy, and decided it was time to show off some of our favorites. Zachary has become a very gassy (and therefore fussy!) baby, so most of our time is spent trying to calm him down and figure out what is hurting and how to help him feel better. We are so thankful that Laura's parents are still here and helping out with so many things that we don't have time to get to! It is unbelievable how much they have done for us, and we are so lucky that they have been able to give us their time and assistance ... from helping with Zach and cooking and cleaning to doing yard work and odds and ends that have been put on the backburner and everything in between! We have yet to learn how to handle it all ourselves, and better learn quickly as they can't stay forever! They have really given us a nice jump on things and hopefully we can keep up with what they have done for us.

Zach's first ride in the stroller, we went for a walk around the block
Dad and mom admiring their baby

Zach makes this 'ooooo' face a lot, it is too cute Zach relaxing on his recliner ... a.k.a. dad

Mom and Zach

We did take one day to go up to LaConner and see the tulips. Every year in April they are all over and are just amazing to see! (Nana and Nanu with Zach amidst the many rows and colors of tulips!)We can't believe he is already 3 weeks old! Time is going by so fast!