11 Months Old

Your first Christmas

Zane Mukisa.

What a special day!  Today we're celebrating Jesus' birth with you and family- and that, my son, is beyond special!

I remember last Christmas aching for you.  I remember thinking our family has so much over-flowing love for you.  We had no idea you were in the womb almost ready for your arrival.

Some time around the first of the year I remember saying to a friend that I had no idea how it was possible we'd have a baby in 2012 and that was difficult (to say the least) for me to swallow.  Well, my son, "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37) and God is with us (Luke 1:28).  God knew before the beginning of time that you were coming to be with us.

God has done great things for us and holy is his name (Luke 1:49).  You are God's child and we are blessed to have you.

Hugs and Kisses,
Mom (and Dad)

Looking up as usual at the giant fans in the church lobby after the Christmas Eve service.

It was a special white Christmas in Dallas

Playing with your first snowball on Christmas

You've perfected standing on your own.  You've even gone from sitting to standing on your own a few times.

  

You are as BUSY as ever.  You love to walk and even run.  You're slowly, but surely, getting closer to being on your own.  

Who knew a teething stick would be a favorite?  Another favorite is this talking and singing puppy who we usually play with in the car.  Our favorite line is "Soooo big".

You're one CHATTY boy.  You have a lot to tell us.  The only words we can translate to English are "mama", "dada", and maybe "bye bye" and perhaps "ball".

You have a signature move where you pump your hands in a tight fist in the air and you shriek.  It's difficult to get on camera as it turns out blurry. This pic, on the other hand, is your precious smile.  

Your other signature move is where you do a bow with your head but your look up at the same time.  You think it's hilarious when we do it and it gets the entire family laughing when you do it.  

10 Months Old

Zane, Zane!  You're now 10 months old!  

The day you turned 9 months old you began to have some strong opinions.  I'll never forget the day we were looking outside the window to our backyard and when I carried you away you threw your first tantrum- throwing your body back and screaming.  To no surprise you wanted outside, but this time you were going to let me know.  

This past month we celebrated your first Halloween.  You were the cutest Texas cowboy there ever was!  Our playgroup had a Halloween party during the day and in the evening we strolled around at the neighborhood Halloween carnival. 

We also celebrated your first Thanksgiving.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch at our house with your Granny & Granddad, Mammy & Pappy, Aunt Erica & Uncle Chase and your Aunt Caitlin.  Actually, you took a nap and we ate, but you had so much fun with everyone in between sleeping!  We are so incredibly thankful for you in our lives so it was an extra special Thanksgiving!

I'm pretty certain you're going to skip the whole crawling thing- that's for babies.  You continue to love walking and running with some assistance.  You've recently begun to hold yourself up on furniture, but you can't yet get there on your own.  

You're so big- 24 pounds!  You wear size 12-18 month clothes and size 5 shoes.  Your hair is getting longer and you've now grown into your sleep cap.  I like styling your hair even though it's a little high maintenance.   We usually work on it during bath time.  Anytime I get out the squirt bottle to get your hair wet you desperately want to chew/suck on the sprayer.  Don't worry, I close the nozzle so you don't ingest the conditioner I add to the water.

Most of the time you are one happy baby!  You have lots of sounds and voices- everything from high squeals to lots of letter sounds.  When we get around crowds or a new place you usually get pretty quiet so you can soak it all in.  But once you get comfortable, the voice usually come out.

You do this cute singing voice that is hard to put in words, but I've got to get it on video.  You enjoy clapping and banging on your piano.  Maybe you'll be musically talented?  

Just a few days after turning 10 months you confidently said "mama" and I can't tell you how much it melts my heart.  Of course, like anything, you won't do it on command, but you'll say it when you want my attention (which is often to say the least).  You've just recently become a little partial to your mama; however, when it comes to kisses it's not always smiles (most of the time, but not every time). 

It's a good thing you have your daddy.  He helps you embrace your manly nature.  He often plays a little rougher than to my comfort level, but I just let him be your dad.  God made the two of you with more grunts, banging, and throwing than I will ever understand... but I seriously love it.  I never visualized myself with a son, but God knew better.  I DIE for you, little boy.  

I'm sure you've passed the weight limit for the jump-a-roo, but your daddy tied a knot in the top and that solved that.  You're still pretty happy in it (at least for a few minutes).  While I know you'd rather be walking around the house, your mommy needs a break sometimes.  

You're getting better at eating.  We've given up trying to convince you of pureed food- that's for babies, after all.  Some of your favorite foods as a 9 month old included raspberries, peas and chicken.  But, really, you don't seem to favor a lot of foods-  You just don't eat much.  (But who would have guessed by the size of you?!)

I'm so glad you're YOU!  I love watching you grow into the boy God created you to be!  You're awesome.

XOXO

Mom

9 Months Old

Zaner! 

It's hard to believe another month has past. You, again, never cease to amaze your dad and I. You are the cutest thing we've ever seen and we love your big personality!  

This month I told you almost daily, "You're all boy!" as you aggressively did your signature move where you pump your hands up and down in a tight first along with some loud chanting.  Sometimes it's with high pitch squealing and other times it's with manly grunting.

You like to make lots of sounds including a few tongue/spitting moves,.....

squeals,...

...gibberish, and lots of giggles.

You're a walking machine with a little assistance, and you prefer standing over sitting.  It's exhausting (for me, but apparently not you).  The walking has caused you to stay at 23 pounds this month.   Your a tall boy at 30", which is in the 95th percentile!

You don't like being on your tummy more than a minute so don't let this picture fool you.

  

Your kisses...

...and model poses attract the ladies.

Riese is unbelievably tolerable of you, and therefore, I try to be tolerable of her. 

You now have four teeth (top two and bottom two) and your working on cutting two more on the bottom; consequently, you like to put everything in your mouth.  

You continue to look up.  You should know the word "light" by now because I sign and say it to you several times a day.

We had a wonderful 8th month with you!  You are so wonderfully made by our Creator- never forget it!  

XOXO,

Mom (and Dad)

8 Months Old

Baby Boy!  You're not so "baby" anymore!  I mean, look at you!

In the last week you've learned to hold your own bottle...

...and to walk while holding on to our hands...

...and just yesterday you ate as much food as you have in all existence.  

You like to make this funny face and it makes us smile.

You continue to look up everywhere we go.  

Riese still loves you despite some of your hard squeezes...

...and she is never absent during your meal time.

You love watching "Baby Praise"...

... and you often sit still for a breathing treatment during the movie-show.

Like always, you are very content to be outside...

...and that's partly why we've spent many days at the Dallas Arboretum on play dates...

... and at the Cool Thursday concerts.

You're mostly saying "da da da da" and "ba ba", but you did pull a "ma ma ma ma" sound the other day.

Zane, we love all 23 pounds of you including your precious smile.

Happy 8 Months!

Hugs and Kisses, Mom (and Dad)