Cookie Monster!!

Zach completely enjoyed every bite of the first homemade chocolate chip cookie I ever made for him.  Here’s the recipe…….Best Chocolate Chip Cookies………..I made them for dessert for our visit to see darling little Lydia……..

……..but Zachary got a cookie fresh out of the oven for lunch……so…..here’s the little Cookie Monster………

Happy Father’s Day – 2011

Happy Father’s Day to the most special fathers in my life…….

Dad, Mark and Corey, joined by Zachary…….

Here’s a text Mark sent to us all after the party – this sums it all up……

“I would like to thank you all for a great fathers day!!!  Sure presents are great, but the best part is you all together!  Thanks for being a great family Love Dad/Mark”

Lydia Helene – we love you already!

Lydia Helene was born this morning.  What a darling, sweet, perfect little girl.  Congratulations to Jeff and Gloria!  Here are some pics, in no particular order………

My beautiful niece, Lydia, after her first bath……….

Mommy, Daddy and my niece, Lydia, right after she was born…..

Here is Gloria in labor walking up and down the hall – in all her Mommy splendor…..

The dry erase board in Gloria’s room………

Gloria, Lydia and Dr. Taylor, who delivered Lydia…….

Here is Lydia with the blanket I made and the hat that Danielle crocheted for her while Gloria was in labor.  What a little darling………..

Reverting a little, here are Jeff, Gloria and Lydia on Father’s Day, with Lydia wearing a little dress that Danielle and I bought for her and with Jeff and Gloria wearing the happy smiles of anticipation………

and last but not least……..we cannot forget Zachary, who entertained the hospital staff and visitors all day long, just by being his friendly little self.  Here he is holding Aunt Gloria’s pillow…….

Hey Wee One………..

Hey wee one….our little punkin’ pie……what happened to this little guy……….

Thank goodness you grew into this………..same hat – same baby – just a healthy version……….

You took meds every day of your life – 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. – Atenolol and Digoxin.  Your meds went with you in an insulated lunch box with an ice pack.  Like clockwork, alarms would go off at 8:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m. and everybody would say “meds!”.  If you were at our house, Mommy or Daddy would text us “meds” at 8:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m.  If Grandpa Mark was at work, he would text me “meds” at 8:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m.  Everybody cared/cares so much for your precious heart.

Grandpa Mark taped this sticky note on our back door so we would never forget to bring your meds with us if you were spending time with us…….

Yesterday, Father’s Day, was your last day of meds (we hope).  Time will tell on the meds, but we are all proud of how far you have come.  Here you are taking down your “Don’t forget MEDS!!!” sign with your Daddy and Mommy.  What an exciting moment….

As for your NICU hat, it will stay right here…………

forever………as a reminder of you and where you came from and why I make things for other babies.