12 and 13 Week Update

I can't beleive Christmas is here and gone already!

Tommy, your first Christmas was very special! You got to meet many more relatives! Your Aunt Bridget was in from London, England. Aunt Gretchen was in from LA, and so was your great Aunt Karen. They loved meeting you and holding you. You even got to participate in your very first SAQFEST which was quite a thrill for you, even though all you did was sleep and eat through it.

Christmas was just Christmas, except you were here to celebrate it with us this year. You got lots of nice presents, lots of cute outfits, and your cousins Sam and Susie gave you some very fun blocks. You also got some toys from your grandparents as well. It was wonderful opening all those gifts with you!

You also got to attend your Auntie Tara's baby shower. You were so excited to see all those gifts for your little cousin that you pooped. Everyone was laughing at you, because you were sitting in your infant carrier pulled up to the table and you were grunting so hard. It's so funny when you do this. You sound like a grown man...and all these noises are coming from a teeny little baby! It's so funny and precious.

You continue to develop and grow everyday. At 13 weeks old yesterday, you weighed in at exactly 16 pounds. You're a big boy! You are just as big (if not bigger) as the 5 month old baby boy and 6.5 month old baby girl in your Gymboree class. You are a chuinky little beefcake, but so sweet and loving. You are always full of smiles and giggles. You are trying to laugh, but it sounds more like you're breathing fast, or like a "slight" cough if that makes any sense. But I know it's your giggle. When anyone talks to you, you answer with lots of "ooos" and "aaahhs." You are making lots of vowel sounds and enjoy having conversations. I was playing peek-a-boo with you yesterday, and you love it! You smile and smile! I said "peek-a-boo" in a really low voice, and you scowled, but then smiled very big! I just love playing with you!

So, that's about it. A wonderful first Christmas with you!! We have so much to look forward to! We're ringing in the new year tonight, and looking forward to your first year of growing and learning! And, in about 10 more days...you're going to the Florida Keys!! Tommy's first vacation!! I can't wait to see the world with you! I hope you like traveling!!

Merry Christmas!

Hi everybody! Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope Santa brings you everything you asked for! I posted a picture of me meeting the big guy for the very first time. I didn't know what to ask for because I have everything I could ever want, so I just told Santa to be good to all the boys and girls out there! I hope you have the merriest Christmas ever and thanks for reading my website!
Love,
Tommy

12 Weeks Pictures

12 Weeks old and SUCH a cutie pie!

New Seat

This is Tommy trying out his new seat. It's a certified seat safe for air travel, and it also is a car seat (so we don't have to rent one with the rental car), AND, the bottom flips out and converts into a stroller. You can also use it as a high chair. It's the perfect gift for a couple who travels a lot with a baby. It holds babies up to 50 pounds. It's the only gear you have to pack. It's awesome! Tommy will be using it in a few weeks when we go to the Florida Keys! You can buy one at www.skymall.com. Search for "car seat."

Prettiest Eyes

Tommy definitely looks more like a Novak in this picture. It's about time! I thought he was 100% Krull until this...

Eleven Weeks Old

Tommy you are eleven weeks old.

You have cried most of the day today.
You hadn't pooped in 3 days.
I got suppositories to help you poop.

You pooped.
And pooped.

You were fine for a little while.
Started screaming again.
Screamed.
Louder and Louder.
You had a fart that could have registered on the richter scale.

Gave you Mylicon to stop the gas.
Stopped.
Screamed a little more.

Fed you.

Laid you down in your crib and you're awake; but content.

Mommy's brain doesn't work on days like today.
Mommy can only think in short spurts.

Did I mention that Daddy threw his back out?
Mommy now has two babies to take care of.
Plus one demanding schnauzer.

Gotta go...Mommy has a date with a man named Merlot.

Pooped Out

I listened to Mommy and took lots of Christmas pictures, but I pooped out and started dreaming of sugar plums

Yuletide Greetings from Tommy

Mommy said it's my first Christmas and I have to take lots of pictures!

Eleven Weeks Old

Ten Weeks Picture

Ten weeks old and always wanting more food!

Drunk

This is the "drunk" look Tommy has on his face when he's done eating.

Ten Weeks Old

Tommy is officially a butterball.

At ten weeks old, he was weighing in at 15 pounds. Good Lord. There are some babies who probably don't reach that weight until 6-9 months! Not my big boy, he's my chubby tubby Tommy!

Tommy you had a great first week of your first December ever! Gammie and I took you to the mall to meet Santa. You did great! Mommy cried!

You have become SO alert and enjoy looking at everyone around you. You make great eye contact, smile SOO big, and it was during this past week that you really started talking back to us. You coo and goo and gaa, and it's just the most precious sight ever. You love to say, "owwwwwoooooooo." You do this over and over and capture all of our attention. Daddy loves to hold you on his lap and talk to you. You start smiling, talking, kicking and wiggling. Daddy is definitely getting more comfortable in being a daddy!

You had a very big weekend and traveled to downtown Chicago again! You got to meet many of mommy's sorority sisters from college. You revisited with Jenny and Tootie, and you also met Jamie and Kelly for the first time and Kelly's daughter Maddie. Maddie's about 7 months older than you, so I imagine you guys will be romping around together at many gatherings in the future. We enjoyed a nice brunch together and did some visiting at Jenny's condo. It was a cold, but perfect afternoon!

You're growing like a weed and getting so big. You are the most beautiful baby and have the best complexion and sweetest little face. Your nose is always the first thing people notice about you. It's the cutest little button. Mommy loves to kiss it and LOVES to kiss your chubby cheeks.

Christmas is coming soon Tommy! I can't wait! It's hard to believe time is going by so fast and it's almost time for mommy to go back to work. I'm going to miss you like crazy, but soon summer will be here, and we'll have all the mommy and Tommy time in the world again! We also have a lot to look forward to this spring...your cousin will be here before we know it!

Butterball

Chubby Tubby Arms and Thighs

How to Smile

Step 1: Look curiously at mommy dancing and singing the Poo-Poo song in front of you.
Step 2: Open your mouth really big in anticipation
Step 3: Smile SOOOO BIG!

Isn't he just precious??

Two Tommys

Grandpa and his Tommy

Just a few random things...

1. When my sister was home over T-giving weekend, she asked Tommy if he had to make "poo-Poos," and he smiled really big and baby giggled. This has now led to me sitting on the couch for hours saying poo-poo in all sorts of voices.

2. Tommy got his picture taken with Santa today. He was an angel. This was another episode of me crying. I tend to cry during all of his "milestones." I was afraid I was going to scare the children waiting in front of us.

3. I packed up all of Tommy's newborn sized clothes this evening. Surprisingly, I did this without crying. I am very pleased to say that Tommy wore every single newborn sized piece of clothing he owned except for one teeny tiny t-shirt. Not bad! I packed those up with dreams of my next baby. Be it boy or girl, I hope we are blessed again in the future (FUTURE!) with another little angel like Tommy. If not, our hearts are still overflowingly full of love and happiness with this little guy!

Family Pics

The first picture is a picture of Four Generations of Zalens. (Rich's maternal grandparents and Rich's mom, Marsha).

The second picture is of myself, Rich, Tommy, and Tommy's Great-Grandparents. Oh, and Winnie.

Finally, the third picture is a common way of Tommy falling asleep: A smile on his face and his hands in the air. I think he's wise beyond his months and has all kinds of great thoughts running through that little noggin of his!

Lounging with Daddy

Mommy's two boys lounging on the couch after a hard day's work.

9 Weeks Pictures

Big Boy Tommy in his Pooh Bear sweater and, of course, a photo of Miss Winnie...can't ignore the first baby of our family!

9 Weeks Old

Tommy you are growing so fast! I know I say that all the time, but you have truly grown overnight! You feel like a sack of potatoes when I pick you up. You have outgrown almost all of your newborn outfits and are now fitting into 3 month outfits nicely.

You had a very big week! You went back to LC to visit some of mommy's coworkers and most importantly, you celebrated your first Thanksgiving! Your Auntie Tara came home and got to visit with you again and enjoyed spending lots of time with you.

On Tuesday, you also met your Great Grandparents, Norma and Edward Zalen. Your middle name comes from him. He loves to tell jokes and when he was holding you and talking to you, you were smiling away! You also met Aunt Teri, Uncle Frank, Michelle, Bill, Frankie,the other Michelle, Doug, and your cousins that you will be running around with on the holidays: Kylie, Bailey, and Brayden. They loved looking at you and playing with their new baby cousin.

You also met your Great Uncle Kevin and Great Aunt Gloria on Thanksgiving. Aunt Gloria loved holding you and after dinner, you sat in the family room with the other men and watched football. You loved it so much that you pooped during it. You're a true man.

The day after Thanksgiving we went shopping with Gammie and Auntie Tara to register for her baby shower. You were a big help and helped us model car seats and strollers. We went out for pizza that night...you didn't eat any, but enjoyed the night out!

And then finally, on Saturday, we had a big party for you! It was your big debut for the family. This was when you got to meet your Great Aunt Lois and Great Uncle Vince. They drove all the way from Wisconsin to meet you! How special you must be! You got to meet almost the entire family on both sides. We ended up with 53 adults and 11 children at the party! It was HUGE! Everyone loved seeing you, and you were passed around to almost everyone throughout the night. Mommy barely got her hands on you, but she took the opportunity to visit with our guests and have some wine! :)

The party was a huge success and you received lots of nice gifts, even though we said not to bring gifts. Now we have even more thank-you's to write! But, that's ok...we're just so thankful for having such a wonderful web of support with such great family of friends. We're truly blessed.

It was one of the most proudest nights of my life. I just love being your mommy and showing the world how wonderful you are! I can't imagine how magical your first Christmas is going to be!

8 weeks old

Tommy is offically two months old! Can you believe it?

Tommy, we had a pretty quiet week around here. We did a lot of resting and snuggling at home. It was pretty cold around here so we stayed in, did some work around the house, did a little shopping, and overall, took it easy.

You have continued to grow even more. You finished off the last of your size 1 diapers and we officially moved to size 2. Again, it broke my heart a little bit to see you grow even more, but they fit you better. And I'm glad to see that Pampers has brought back Cookie Monster in the size 2. How dare they leave him out in the size ones!

**Side note*** Pampers uses Sesame Street characters on their diapers and on the newborns and smaller sizes they feature "baby" sesame street character. The characters grow with each size, meaning that Pampers makes the characters mature as the baby matures. Like I said, the newborn and size 1 and 2's are cute, adorable little baby sesame street guys...then, the other day in Target I peeked into a Pampers Cruisers size 3 and Cookie Monster looked like some old, scary animal. I'm having enough to deal with as my own baby grows, and now I have to watch Cookie Montster mature right before my eyes. I think Pampers is deliberately trying to make me miss the newborn size of my baby and put it into my brain to make another one. Seriously. I think these diaper companies have a conspiracy! lol.

So, Tommy, you just continue to grow and amaze us! You probably weigh about 13 pounds or so by now and are just the sweetest little butterball. You are smiling a little more often, and Gammie even saw you laugh in your sleep. You're sleeping through the night. We go to bed around 9 and you wake up at 4:30. I feed/change you and we sleep until 7:30. You're such good baby!

Your passport came in the mail this week, so you're ready to join the fmaily adventures of traveling! Hopefully it won't be too long before you go on your first vacation! Your passport picture is so funny...you're just so damn cute!

Well, time for me to go feed you, get you changed, put you to bed and do some more quick cleaning before I go to bed. This is a big week coming up with it being your First Thanksgiving!!

Night night Butterball.

Over the Rainbow

If the volume on your computer is working, you should be hearing the Hawaiianish version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

I had to add this song to Tommy's website because it is so emotional for me. Let me explain:

Once you hear how sweet this version is sung...you can just tell it's a special song. It's one of those songs that automatically forms a lump in my throat.

Anyway, I had heard this song before a few times, but the first time I really listened to it was right after our failed IVF attempt in July of 2007. It came on at a restauarant Rich and I were eating at, and after about 20 seconds of it, I was crying so hard I had to excuse myself and go to the ladies room. By the time I got to the stall, I was crying so hard I could hardly breathe. I was so mad at this song because it was so pretty and so positive and saying how wonderful the world is and I felt like my world was crumbling. I was always thankful that no one else was in the restroom because I really had to let things out. I sat there for a good 15-20minutes trying to compose myself. I finally stopped and tried to regain my optimistic mindset, and said to myself, if a song this beautiful could be written, things will be ok. The song says, "Someday I'll wish upon a star, wake up where the clouds are far behind me." I left the bathroom praying that those dark clouds would leave me soon and that I would find the other side of that rainbow this guy was singing about.

Thankfully, I never heard that song again until after I found out I was pregnant 7 months later. It was very soon after I found out I was pregnant because it was during the first few weeks when I was most paranoid. I was in my car alone and I was just out running errands, and I heard the first few guitar strums...

It was immediate waterworks. It brought back that horrible moment of sitting in the restaurant bathroom stall sobbing thinking I would never have a baby. But, I turned up the volume and listened. I realized it was the most beautiful song I've ever heard. I also realized that I had wished upon a star and the clouds were behind me. It was the sunnist day. The sun was shinging and it was actually a little warm outside which is odd for late February in NW Indiana. And I knew everything was going to be ok. Would you believe that Rich and I heard this song on our ride home from the hospital with Tommy? (I cried, but it was a good cry!)

Trying to start a family through pregnancy or adoption can be excrutiatingly difficult for some people. I can name at least five people I see/talk to on a regular basis that unfortunately have to struggle like we did. My heart goes out to these families and I just want them to know that dreams do come true just like the song says. You just have to find the other side of that rainbow.

So...to all my devoted blog-reading friends out there, please turn the volume up, listen to this beautiful song, and say a prayer that those clouds will clear up and more dreams will come true.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

More 8 weeks Pictures

Tommy at 2 months old, all bundled up, and going out to visit

8 Weeks Pictures

Tommy dressed up for Football Sunday

Seven Weeks Old

Why is time going by SOOO fast??

Can you believe in another week Tommy will meet his 2 month old birthday? Holy cow! This has been a VERY big week for Tommy...

Tommy, you have grown so much this past week. I know I keep saying that, but you really have grown! We have noticed that your eyelashes have grown incredibly longer in the past week and your thighs are chunky little things. It seems like all of this stuff has happened overnight! You're still a little peanut, but you're definitely filling out.

During the past week we've kept our normal routine, but you made it easier on mommy and daddy, because you started sleeping very soundly during the night. You now sleep for a minimum of five hours! I think there was a time when you even slept seve hours and mommy felt like she could run a marathon with so much sleep! What's even better is that once we get up and get you changed and fed, you go back to bed for another 2-3 hours!

On Friday, mommy and Gammie took you in for your 6 week dr. appt and your first round of vaccinations. You screamed and turned purple when the needles went in, and mommy sobbed holding your hand and rubbing your head telling you it would be ok. I just couldn't stop crying. I couldn't stand to see you cry and be in pain. You stopped crying pretty soon after it was all over, but your mother was still crying. I got control of myself again and we were able to go home. Your doctor called later in the afternoon to check on ME, not you. She was concerned about how upset I was! (Tommy's doctor is a friend of mine that I have gone to school with since first grade. I assured her I'm just a little emotional these days...I'm fine!) We came home and you weren't feeling well at all. You had a pitiful little cry that wasn't your normal cry, and you didn't want to eat an ungodly amount of food like you normally do. I gave you some tylenol and we went to bed early with daddy and slept all night. You're doing just fine now...although I think mommy is still recovering.

As of your appt on Friday, you weighed 11 pounds 14 ounces, measured 22 1/4 inches and your head was 39 (cm??). All of your mesurements were in the 50th percentile. 100% perfect!

On Sunday, you went to your first birthday party! Your cousin Susan turned 3 and we went to the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor in Forest Park to celebrate. You were too young to play the games, but you hung out with us and showed everyone how cute you are. You got to meet lots of Auntie Dana's friends and Susie's friends, and also got to meet and spend time with Unlce Kurt and Uncle Kris! Uncle Kurt said you looked like a "total Krull."

And, today, on your seven week birthday, you gave mommy the best gift I could have ever asked for. I walked up to you in your little baby papasan chair, and said your name. You looked at me with those big blue eyes and smiled for the first time! It melted my heart and made me realize that everything I had been dreaming about these last few years are becoming reality. I often think about how many wonderful events are lying ahead of us and just can't wait to see you grow and share your life with you.

As the holidays get closer, I start to think about how last year at this time, your mommy and daddy were just hoping and praying for you. Little did I know last year when I put up the Christmas tree that you would be here now! So, today, as I put up the Christmas tree, I'm completely in awe of how God does answer prayers and is still making miracles. You are the biggest miracle to ever come into my life. As I am getting ready to take you to bed now, there is the first snow of the season falling outside of our window, our Christmas tree is twinkling, and you are in my arms! You're no longer a dream! I think this is a season for miracles and I hope God answers more prayers this year like he did for our little family.

Time to take you to bed now! Sleep tight baby boy and thanks for making my dreams come true!

More Pics of Tommy

Here's a picture of the "Three Amigos." We all got dressed up for the Bears Game! There's also a picture of mommy and Tommy snoozing on the couch and enjoying our time together! This is why nothing gets accoplished around my house and why it's so messy right now, but cuddle time with Tommy is far more important than cleaning! And finally, a picture I found that is "old." A too cute to pass up picture of him a day after he was born...still in the hospital.

Six Weeks Old

Tommy is now a big boy!

Unfortunately, we had to make a trip to the pediatrician on Tuesday. Poor Tommy had a rash on his chest, and it seemed to spread to his forehead, top of head, and then on his face. This all happened gradually, but once it got to his face and chin, I decided it was time to take him in. Poor guy! As it turns out, he had a case of baby acne! Have you ever heard of such a thing? My poor baby! The doctor said it was harmless and would go away on its own. She said it's very common and absolutely nothing to worry about. A week later now, it's pretty much gone from his face but is still on his chest. She said it's due to their oil and sweat glands still developing and their overall systems developing. It may take a few weeks for it to all go away.

While we were there Tommy was weighed and as of Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Tommy weighed in at 10 pounds 10 ounces!! He's getting to be quite the butterball!

He is definitely on a sleeping routine now. He's alert and awake in the morning after his first bottle, and then naps in the afternoon, then is awake in the early evening, naps, eats, then is awake for a little bit, and then we go to bed. He usually sleeps for about 6 hours at a time. This is WONDERFUL! He is still eating anywhere from 4-7 ounces at a time, and mommy is doing a great job pumping and keeping up with his demands.

We had a pretty quiet week overall. We went back to Gymboree for another play date and had a great time, met new babies and mommies, and learned new songs and games to play at home.

I realized I forgot to mention two big milestones from Tommy's five week old entry. On Oct. 30, Tommy took his first road trip with mommy and Auntie Julie to Purdue to visit Jen. We had a great time! Mommy got to reminisce about her Purdue days, and we all went out for a delicious pizza lunch in the levee! I must admit, it was hard to pass by Harry's Chocolate Shop without wanting to stop in! Tommy was great in the car! He slept the whole way there and back! It was great!

And, of course, Oct 31st was Tommy's first Halloween! He dressed up as a pumpkin and sat on the porch with me to pass out candy. It was about 70 degrees that day and perfect weather for Tommy to experience his first Halloween. He went inside once it got dark for a bottle with daddy and then upstairs for some special daddy and Tommy time. (They had to go upstairs to get away from Winnie who was barking loudly at EVERY kid!) Poor Winnie! All she wanted to do was play with them!

So, that's what's new around here! We are going to start decorating for Christmas soon for Tommy's first Chrismtas. Thanksgiving is so late this year, so we're going to get a jump on things. And if Mommy ever gets her butt in gear, we'll take some family portraits for the Christmas cards!!

Stay tuned for more pictures!

The cutest outfit ever!!

Isn't this just the most precious little boy outfit?? Thanks Jenny and Andrew!! We love it!!

Tommy's Nursery

Just thought I'd post some pictures of the prince's palace. Different angles from around the room, and Tommy's posse of piggies waiting to play with him. Didnt Tommy's daddy do a good job painting??

Some favorite sleeping pics