Ah, a bear in his natural habitat...a Studebaker

Last weekend Zachary went on his biggest vacation ever. Think National Lampoon's Vacation, but not as much Christie Brinkley, and more poop-diapers. We traveled to Lake Mojave which is right on the Nevada/Arizona border. The drive was nice: beautiful scenic views, majestic blue skies, the world's tallest thermometer....Zach saw none of this. He slept most of the way there and most of the way back. Turns out he's a pretty good traveler! It took us about 4.5 hours to get there and the weather was great, even considering the fact that we left Burbank while it was still raining.

The trip itself was great. Zach was amazing...most of the time. He slept a lot out on the lake and throughout the night; better than at home even! (Which makes me realize we should go on vacation more often) The group consisted of us, Nonie and Papa, Greg and Jordan, Ryan, Mary and Molly, and Scott, Hadar, Noah and Talia. All the other kids were great too. Zach was the youngest though and the only non-walker there, so he was being chauffeured (by arm) the entire time.

Here are some pictures of our extended weekend:

Here is Zach "driving" the boat on Papa's lap...'look mom! no hands!...or eyes!'

Greg and Jordan were excellent babysitters and Zach fell in love with Jordan...or more specifically, Jordan's hair.

Here is the dude himself ready to shred the wake...or take a nap...yeah, probably take a nap.

Papa, Nonie and the Man on our beach

Dad introducing him to lake water, which Clearly, he was not into.

Ryan, Mary, Molly, Pete, Kelly & Zach...under the "professional" Easy-up.

Cousin Talia busy washing off her bucket so that she could pour water back into the lake...a task that consumed most of her time.

Molly is not a big fan of her life-jacket, but she did like being pull around in the biscuit by her dad.

Here is Noah tying down the other easy-up saving us all from the wind that would kick up every so often.

Finally, here are a couple video clips from the weekend. The first is Zach cheering on the Dodgers...who stink.

The second video clip is a shot from Ryan and Mary's boat while were getting ready to go out on the lake.

So Zach's first vacation turned out great. (You can see all the pictures in my Picasa gallery on the right) We all had such a great time that we will probably go back next year when Zach will be able to walk...and if he's really my son, he'll be able to ski too.

Fun Facts:

• Zach can roll over from his stomach to his back now. It doesn't always happen, but he can't be constantly performing!...he's not a circus animal gosh!
• Zach sleeps longer through the night if he gets more sleep during the day...the more daytime sleep, the more nighttime sleep...go figure.
• I (and I guess a few others) got sick the last day of the trip...so if you want to get a cold, go to Lake Mojave...?
• The Dodgers stink and Zach is pretty upset that they didn't win the World Series (like they did the year his dad was born), but fortunately, the Laker season is gearing up so he will be ready to cheer.
  

-pf

Viddy well, little brother, viddy well

Man it's great to fall asleep at 1030pm and wake up at 300 or sometimes even 400am to hear Zach starting to stir...in my half-conscious drunken-like state of mind, I think "thank you Zach for the four or five hours you gave me" I am so lucky to be able to sleep that entire time; well, all past records have been put to shame because last night, our man slept EIGHT HOURS!....I know! we thought the same thing: there must be something wrong! Nope....nothing wrong. Kelly actually had to wake him up to feed him at six in the morning or he probably would have slept even longer. We were thins close to running outside on the lawn and doing the happy dance. He even napped pretty well throughout the day.

So, now that I've jinxed it, he will be sleeping in stretches no longer than 3 hours this entire week.

Let's take a look at some of Zach's fall collection:

It's been getting a little colder this last week so he's been wearing long sleeves, pants and socks more often. Of course, they still have to be stylin' shirts and shoes...

On Saturday, we visited "Great" Grandpa and Grandma Ralph and Dode because Zach hasn't seen them in a while (and he's gained 7 lbs since then too).

Zach went to Grandma first and immediately passed out in her arms

Clearly, Grandpa is also good at putting Zach to sleep...although just because his eyes are closed doesn't mean he doesn't make any noises

Tanner and Sarah's wedding was on Friday and Zach stayed with Nonie and Papa while Kelly and I enjoyed ourselves...we would have enjoyed ourselves with Zach too, but...it's a different kind of "enjoyment"...

Since it was game three that day, Zach had to wear his team's colors...this is his reaction shortly after Ethier's two-run homer

He has been concentrating more frequently on the TV...probably a habit we're going to regret soon, but who wouldn't let their son watch the Dodgers clinch the NLDS?

We have been gearing up for vacation next week at lake Mojave. We will be gone from Wednesday through Sunday; Kelly just asked me if 65 diapers was enough....I suggested that we just let him run around naked and make where ever he wants....she disagreed.

I'm sure we'll have a fun post after that....and by fun I mean it could be the post in which I explain how we will never take him on another vacation again in his life. In the meantime, here's a little video. Nothing big...just a little chit-chat with the man.

Fun Facts:

• We are now bathing Zach nightly and have moved his bath from the sink, to the actual tub, which saves about 1.5 gallons of water from being splashed onto the counter each night.
• Zach rolled half-way over this morning, from his stomach to his back...Kelly was mad when I almost forgot to tell her because I didn't think it was any big deal.
• He talks to inanimate objects mostly; fans, shutters, leaves...he is constantly confused as to why they don't answer him when he asks them questions.

-pf

Lou, give me a milk.....chocolate

So I noticed in the comments section of the last blog that someone complained about the lack of posts in this busy time. Let's call her "Katie H."....no that's too obvious...let's just say "K. Hardin" wants to know what's been going on. Well, to quench her undying thirst for family-blogging awesomeness, here's what's been happening in the life of a boy named Zach: Debbie, Kathy, Kathie, and Cathi threw Zach a "Welcome Baby" Shower. Kelly and Zach attended. I went to see District 9. It was awesome. (The movie, not the shower...actually the shower was awesome too, but I wasn't there to be able to testify to that....however, I heard from reliable sources that it was indeed awesome) Zach got a bunch of cool new clothes, a wipe warmer (for those oh-so-cold late-night diaper changes), a swing, and a Baby Einstein jumper....not sure how jumping will make Zach more like Einstein, but who am I to question a multi-national corporation?

The Kathys and the Debbie (and Kel and Zach)

 
Here is Dani with Zach and Kelly. The big pin Kelly is wearing is one of two terrible(ly cute) pictures of Zachary that everyone at the party got.

Also, we got a dinner visit from Scott and Jenny.

Jenny looks like a real natural and Scott looks like a real....great guy.

We were really happy to have them over to meet Zach for the first time, and to see our house, also for the first time...Scott you have to remind me of the name of the wine you brought. Kelly and I both liked it and want more.

Last weekend, we celebrated Uncle Bob's birthday at Jennifer and Andy's house with all the cousins. Zach was great as usual and was held by most of the family (including some of the bigger kids)

78 takes and that was the best one...

And finally, here is a shot of "post-bath Zach" in his classy, 400 thread-count robe. He is really enjoying bath time. His favorite part is waiting until right after the bath to potty on himself when he's getting dried off.

"I coulda been a contenda"

Fun Facts:

• Zach slept for 5 hours straight one night this week thanks to Katie's amazing bottle feeding skills...he was so excited about it, that he didn't sleep longer than 3 hours in a row for the rest of the week.
• Sunday night Kelly and I attended our 10 year High School reunion. We had a great time and like the rest of the people there, can't believe we have been out of high school for 10 years already. Grandma and Grandpa (and Kirie, Steph and Chloe) babysat.
• Zach is doing a lot of talking, read: "making funny noises", and smiling. Still mostly due to gas, but we're definitely getting somewhere. He was fascinated by great-grandpa Jack this morning...he was smiling and yelling at him. Pretty soon, I'm sure we will be able to catch some good video of him.
  

-pf

You called down the thunder, well now you got it

It's been a while since I've updated this thing, but a lot has been going on. Over the weekend, we (Kelly and I) got a night out at Rick and Christine's wedding while Zach stayed home with Nonie and Papa. He even has his own crib there, even though he was apparently being held all night by his grandparents! Zach had a great night, and his umbilical cord finally came off! (Nonie thought we might want to keep it, but Papa correctly assumed that we would not and promptly threw it away).

We had a great time, and the reception was in the same Castaways room as ours was!...no fires though.

Over the weekend Zach got more visitors from family and friends.

Jonathan brought us sandwiches and his awesome self.

Uncle Ron and Uncle Dan got to visit with Zach for a while on Saturday.

On Friday night, we celebrated Super/Great Nonie's 90th birthday at our house. Here is Uncle Greg lulling Z-man to sleep.

On Sunday we also got visits from:

Joanne-buddy, who made us awesome cookies

Leah-buddy, who posted pictures of her with Zach online before me!

...and Greg-buddy! (That's a big yawn, not a scream)

I went back to work on Monday so Kelly has been pretty tired "working" with Zach all day. She has had a few visitors throughout the week, and last night, Mary and Ryan came over with Molly.

Ryan holding Zachy

Molly and her mommy

The two moms playing baby-swap...coming soon to Fox

Kelly getting a healthy dose of 1-year old action

So it's been a good couple weeks. Today actually marks his 3 Week Birthday, and to celebrate, Kelly has an amazing poop story: earlier today, my mom and sisters were over visiting, and Kelly and my mom took Zach upstairs to change him. Little did they know, Zach had a present in store for them. Not only did he let loose the fire hose, but he unleashed the gunnite poop attack as well. Kelly's main comment was that he had "quite a strong stream" for such a little guy. Well he ruined his outfit, the changing pad, and both Kelly and my mom's hands, but he wasn't done yet; at his next changing, he let go of a splatter-shot of projectile poop as soon as the diaper was off again causing a change of clothes, several spent wipes, and a night of laundry. Kelly was happy to hand him off to me when I got home and has learned to never change him again directly following his nap.

And so life goes on for little Zachary...

I'll hopefully be posting again soon with some video of him snoring...and maybe some of me snoring too just for fun.

Fun Facts:

• Baby poop can be all different colors of the rainbow depending on what the mom eats....last night he had neon orange poop....don't have a clue where that came from.
• Zach is smiling (mostly because of gas) every once in a while and tonight Kelly says she heard him laugh...although I think that according to her, he can also do stochastic calculus so I'm not sure if I can completely trust her on that.
• I think I mentioned a feeding frenzy a few posts back...it's still going on. As I speak he's on his third feeding in the last 2 hours.
  

The flowers are still standing!

We had a whirlwind weekend of visitors but we made it through! No new milestones to report as far as Zach goes but he's been getting a LOT of sleep and a TON of food (read: milk) so he is still in great spirits and plowing through the first couple week's of life like a champ.

Here are some pictures of Zach's fan club:

Victoria wasn't actually over this weekend, but she wanted to "make the blog," so here's her big moment!

Kathie brought over delicious Porto's fruit, danishes, blintzes, scones, and most importantly, herself. (There may not have been any blintzes...I just like that word)

We're not crying...we are just practicing our Roger Daltrey impressions...Zach is clearly better than me.

Mommy and son. Kel is feeling better by the day and somehow looking better too...I think it's a "mommy glow" on top of her normal every-day "Kelly glow"

On Saturday a big group of friends came over and brought an amazing dinner (and cooked and cleaned for us too!)

Here is Sarah holding Zach...what a natural.

Here's Tanner making Zach look somehow even smaller than he actually is in his manly grip...Zach is sorry for the "mark of love" he accidentally left on Tanner's shirt and promises it won't happen again.

All the girls, and one lucky dude.

Tiffany getting ready for motherhood?

Travis, obviously ready for fatherhood.

Samantha looking like she knows what she's doing.

Yaeger doing...I don't know what to Zach...I think it's a "wake-up tickle?"

Stevenson was excited/nervous to get his turn.

Next in line...?

...or maybe them...

Lacey better be ready because she's due to give Zach a friend soon!

The next day Adam and Liz came over in the morning to visit.

Here, Adam was either holding Zachary, or guarding the nuclear football...we like his dedication to "the hold."

Liz makes it look like she holds babies for a living. Her and Adam brought us a cute outfit and some children's books to read to Zach.

Later that day, Great Grandpa and Grandma Froelich came over to visit with mom, dad, and the sisters. We barbecued, and Zach got to eat outside with us.

Here is four generations of first-born sons on the Froelich side.

Great Grandma, Grandpa, Dad and Zach.

After a long day, we love to have "daddy time" which is somewhat similar to "sleepy time"...but it includes daddy.


This afternoon we got a wonderful visit from Aunt Shari, Uncle Bob, Noah and Talia. Zach was still a little sleepy, but he loved meeting his cousins for the first time!

Later in the day, Blake and Katie came over. Blake had not met Zach yet, but he immediately transitioned into his "big cuddly father bear" role and did a great job keeping Zach asleep. We went to The Habit for dinner (which has become quite the habit for us).


Finally he can stretch it out and get some well-deserved sleep! (On top of the 18 hours-per-day he usually gets)

As always, we are SO appreciative to everyone who comes over to visit, and we promise, we will let you in even if you don't bring us food! We are so lucky to have such great family and friends.


Fun Facts:

• We have made our way through 3 packs of wipes and about 70 diapers at this point.
  
• We have also washed about 25 onesies and 3 changing table pads (and that is with the plastic changing table pad cover we have)
• Per a question that Kathy wrote on the comments, we are spelling Zach, "Zach" (We would have also accepted Zachary, Z-man, Zachy, Zach-man, Zachy Farms and Preppy)