A true example of mixed emotions....

Tomorrow I will feel sad and excited. It sounds so strange, but tomorrow is the day that Zachary goes to daycare for the first time (sad), and tomorrow is the day I start a new job (excited).

Zachary will be going to an in-home daycare in Orange. (It's in the same neighborhood that Joey's parents live in.) The lady that runs it has been in business for 28 years. Joey grew up with her children. The daycare is run out of her guest house on her large property. The place has a HUGE grassy lawn, playground, and horses for the kids to feed. I know he will be well taken care of and I am looking forward to him making friends!

I will be dropping Zachary off and heading off to my new job! I have been hired to work 25 hours a week at St. Bonaventure School in Huntington Beach. My official title is Diversified Learning Support. My partner Tiffany (who I worked with last year at Commonwealth) and I will be responsible for completely rebuilding the Resource program and creating an Intervention program at the school. It's perfect because the two of us built a successful Intervention program last year at Commonwealth! It's going to be a challenge, but I know it will be rewarding too. (My schedule looks like it will be only 4 days a week, so I will have an extra day with Zachary!!)

I LOVE being a teacher and I think that will make tomorrow just a little easier when I have to leave Zachary to go to work.

But......I will most likely still cry a bit, so I am packing my make-up bag to do some touch-up before I head into work! :)

Wish me luck....and Zachary too....as we both start new adventures tomorrow!

Rally Readers!

On Tuesday, the Angels hosted a great community event called Rally Readers: Reading on the Green. Kids got to bring books and blankets and sit on the field at Angel Stadium and read! I signed up Zachary and Samuel (my nephew) almost 2 months ago!


It was a super hot day, but it was so much fun! We didn't do too much reading, but we did get to put our toes in the grass and take some cute pictures!

Hanging out on the perfect grass!

Feet!


Our little Angels fan!

Sam had fun with his cousin, Zachary!

Tracy's Favorite Things - Mommy Edition

I love my Boon Grass Drying Rack! It's small, doesn't take up too much counter space, holds drying bottles and pump parts, PLUS it's really cute and modern looking!

I hated all of the drying racks I saw at Babies R Us! We found this one at Target and I just couldn't resist it! The green "grass" pulls out of the bottom tray for easy cleaning!

You have to admit......it's pretty cute right?!!?

5 Months Old!

Zachary is now 5 months old! I am a few days late in posting this, but Joey and I are really enjoying our last few weeks of Summer with Zachary. We both go back to work on August 23rd. It's going to be tough to leave him!

-He is so strong, smart, and active!

-I am amazed at how observant he is. He really checks out everything around him wherever we go.

-He is still rolling around everywhere, but he now also scoots on his tummy AND back.

-He arches his back and balances on his head in a backbend position! His neck is incredibly strong!

-He is still sleeping through the night! (He eats A LOT before bed, goes to sleep between 9-9:30pm, and sleeps until 6:30-7:00am)

-He now eats rice cereal and avocado. He seems to enjoy them both very much.

-He loves his exer-saucer! (Thanks Lisa!!)

-He really likes watching "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" and "Special Agent Oso" on the Disney Channel! His faces lights up when he sees these shows!

-He HATES his car seat so much! :( I now sing the ABC song to him when I put him in and that helps.......most of the time!

-He is wearing size 3 diapers! He still fits in the 2's, but was peeing out of the top of them at night so we moved him up a size.

-He is reaching and grabbing for anything and everything....and of course everything goes straight into his mouth!

-He laughs and smiles a lot! We often get comments fom people saying what a happy baby he is!

Here are some highlights of Zachary's 5th Month!

He has found his toes!

Enjoying his first Rice Cereal!

Zachary wanted to hold the bowl for Daddy!

Hanging out with Nana at our Garage Sale!

Rice Cereal Day 2!

(He is better now at keeping it in his mouth!)

Handsome boy!

His face is so expressive!

This is his favorite book!

He likes it so much.......he wants to EAT it!

He started out on the blanket.........

How's your Fantasy Baseball team Dad?

He arches his back and balances like this!

(He also uses this way to scoot around!)

Definitely a tummy sleeper!

(I love the butt in the air!)

He loves the sling.....Mommy's back doesn't!

Visiting with Heather and Makayla

They are so cute together!
(6 weeks apart!)

He smiles and laughs when he sees Mickey!

He is enjoying his time in the exer-saucer!

(Thanks to Lisa who graciously let us have the exer-saucer that her two boys used!)

Mmmm....Avocado!

Hooray!

He loves riding in his stroller like a big boy, facing forward, and out of the car seat!

WHAT A WONDERFUL SUMMER WE HAVE HAD!

Another Baby (Girl)Friend

On Saturday I got to meet little Olive Aureen Tapia. She was born on July 30th to proud parents Heather and Brian. I went to St. Joseph's in Orange to visit the new family of 3 and Heather looked GREAT! She was in labor for a long time and I am so proud of her!

Being at St. Joseph's brought back SO many memories of when I was there, just about 5 months ago with Zachary.

I am so happy for Brian and Heather and glad that Zachary has another little friend to play with! Within the past 6 months three little lady friends have been born: Makayla (Heather M's little gal), Valentina (Shalimar's little beauty), and now Olive (Heather T's little sweetheart).

What a lucky little boy to have so many lovely ladies to grow up with!

A yummy date night!

Joey and I had a WONDERFUL anniversary dinner last Monday at McCormick & Schmick's. We ate at the Santa Ana location which is across from the Main Place mall.

The food was amazingly fresh and the service was truly fantastic! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are celebrating a special occasion! (I also hear that the Happy Hour is a great deal!)

We can't wait to go back!

I made reservations online and they had a special menu waiting for us!

Joey had Filet with lobster on top!!


I had the seared Ahi with spinach!

Two Amazing Years Together!