Zachary - 11 Months

Dear Zachary,

Today you are one month away from being a whole year old. Holy Toledo! Seriously? The time is flying. Flying!

Last month it felt like not a whole lot changed from the previous month. But this month, a LOT has happened.

At the beginning of the month, you were doing this funny chirping thing. You were able to suck in and blow out your bottom lip only, and it had this great chirping sound associated with it. I can’t do it. I’ve tried. Your dad has tried too. We’re not sure how you were able to move only the one lip at such great speed without doing the other lip too. I told your dad today that I felt bad that I never got your chirping on video.

I know you have grown this month. Up to your nine month check-up, you grew an average of one inch each month. This month I wouldn’t be surprised if you grew more than one inch. You are tall! And your reach is getting so far. Sometimes I’m so surprised at how far you’re able to reach—like tonight when I had some cauliflower on the table while we were waiting for you dad. All of a sudden, you were standing by me holding some cauliflower.

You’ve been cruising for months now. And you’ve taken plenty of steps on your own. But since you were ten-months-old, you have taken off! You are walking all over the place. At first it would catch me off guard when I was in one room and here you came around the corner, walking, not crawling. Now I’ve gotten somewhat used to it. What I’m not used to is that you’re almost able to keep up with me when I go from room to room.

Your one tooth looks to be alone for a little while still. But, I sure like it. It’s cute. Thanks for sharing it by smiling so often!

You haven’t been very talkative this month. The last couple days you’ve been saying “dada dada” again. There was a while when you weren’t even saying anything unless you were very sad and calling out for me.

For a week and a half you have been successfully getting off the couch yourself. You make it look like you’ve been doing it for months. The first two times I watched you do it, I thought, “Did he really mean to do that?” And you did. You have also managed to get off our bed, which is even higher, probably ten inches higher. You hang off…and then you drop. Usually you fall backward. But, you’re always okay.

Today you happen to be sick. You’ve got a buggery nose, you’re sneezing, and you’re coughing. I didn’t do much today except for give you some attention. I was glad to. I admit, some days I am not as patient with you because I have my own agenda. But I’m glad that I could spend this day doting on you.

Sunday night was the first night I’ve turned on a movie to watch with you. We watched Finding Nemo. I think you loved it!

Your dad wants you to know that the other day you picked him over me. It’s true. Your dad and I went car shopping. When we got home, we came in together. You stood looking at both of us with a smile on your face—and then you ran to your dad.

Your hair is getting so long. But I don’t want to touch it with scissors. It is so cute. And so soft. And so curly! I’m not going to cut it until you start looking like a girl. I promise I’ll cut it before then.

This month we gave you your own popsicle one evening. And we gave you your own sucker one afternoon (without taking it away). Let’s just say—you loved BOTH!

One of my favorite things this month is that you've started dancing. When you hear a snappy rhythm, you start dancing and it's sooooooo cute. You make me dance.

And finally, you learned how to give kisses this month. I have been waiting for this for a long time. You give me the most kisses. But you have been convinced to give Grandma Worthen and Aunt McKayla kisses too. Thank you for the kisses. I cherish them, even if they are big and wet.

We love you!!!

Your Mom (and Dad)

P.S. After I posted this the first time, I asked your dad to tell you to clap--AND YOU DID! You haven't done it before. We'll work on that this month before your birthday.

Ron Hales Reunion 2010

We traded family reunion responsibilities for this year with my sister, Elaine, and hosted the Ron Hales Family Reunion. Though Elaine had a tentative reunion planned in Washington State, the fact that her husband Dave is deployed in Iraq and wanted to participate in the planned activities in the Evergreen State and that Elaine was just called as Primary President, we told her we would plan this year’s reunion in exchange for 2012.

We have previously posted that we were able to spend an overnight at the Huffaker’s cabin in Midway. For the reunion, we were able to rent this same cabin for four nights. It was great that everybody was able to sleep in the same cabin. I was told that one of my niece’s favorite part of the summer was sleeping in the loft with her cousins.

On the way to the reunion, we were witnesses to an auto accident. I was driving in the middle lane, about to pass a tanker truck on the interstate, when I saw it slam on its brakes, smoke up the road, and begin to swerve back and forth. As I passed the truck, I saw a white car spin around and then drive in the opposite direction and then crash in the borrow pit. We pulled over and backed up to make sure everybody was okay. Everybody was safe, but I waited until the policed arrived; they took my statement.

On Tuesday we started gathering around noon and had lunch. Andrea and I were in charge and we prepared the fixin’s for Super Nachos. You know, chips piled with chicken, beans, cheese, onions, peppers, olives, salsa, and sour cream. Well, I learned that most of my extended family does not take very big helpings. Most of my nieces and nephews took like eight chips and covered them with a few pieces of cheese. I was sad that they didn’t want to truly experience Super Nachos.

That day the kids played around the house and then we went to Zermatt, which was less than a mile away from the cabin, where my sis-in-law, Jeanette (from North Carolina), just happened to be staying (she had booked an extended weekend there months before we had planned the reunion). At Zermatt, we played in the indoor-outdoor pool.

Wednesday we went to Park City and went to the Olympic Village. There we saw the ski jumpers, or whatever you call them, do some aerial tricks into the pool. We then went down the alpine slide and zip lines. It was a lot of fun.

Thursday we went to the Scerra pool in Orem. All the kids had a good time swimming, diving, and going down the water slide. That night we did Hales Family Olympics, which included the marshmallow shot put, paper plate discuss, and some relays. For the last game, I made each team come up with a game incorporating all the items used for the previous games.

On Friday, we went hiking at a state park. It was a three mile round trip hike. The hardest part was getting to the mouth of the trail since the map the local rangers gave us did not provide accurate directions.

During the reunion, Zachary started to walk a lot more. He also tried to teach his cousin, William, how to push a chair.

First Tooth

Zachary cut his first tooth today. Yes, you can barely see it--but it's there. I promise.

Zachary - 10 Months

Dear Zachary,

You are ten months old. And it's crazy.

You walk, but not very much. You haven't decided it's your favorite mode of transportation. The most we've got out of you is 28 steps at one time. You'll walk a couple yards at a time if we coax you. But, otherwise, you prefer to crawl or push the furniture around. By that I mean our kitchen table chairs can often be found by the door, or our footrests are never by the couches but more often by the tv.

You are still super friendly. Though the last week you've been a bit shy around certain people. I don't understand why since you've been jumping into strangers' arms for months. But, that's okay. I don't mind being the preferred one.

We've taken you to the pool a couple times. Oh my! You LOVE the pool. I think you'd like to swim by yourself if we'd let you. However, you don't quite "swim" yet--so we're not really pleased with the idea of you gulping that much water.

Last week when we were driving to Island Park for our family reunion, we stopped in Ammon, Idaho, at our friends' house. They have a little boy who is almost 10-years-old. He and his friend were playing with a toy. You sat back on your knees, paid close attention, and just laughed this deep, delicious laugh. I watched you and realized you are not a little baby any more. Yes, you are still a baby. But you are quickly becoming a toddler--a little BOY.

You are still taking two naps a day. Thanks.

And, we are feeding you more and more solid foods every day. Most of the time, though, you're more interested in what we're eating than the food we got you in a jar. I don't mind that.

One more thing. You know that thing that so many babies do from the time they are just old enough to grasp things? The "I'll grab my feet while you change my diaper and maybe even when I'm just laying on my back" thing? Well, you've FINALLY started doing that. I love it!

Your Dad and I love you!!!!

Walking & Standing

On Friday, June 25, 2010, Zachary took seven (7) unaided steps in a row. He walked from me to McKayla. It was about a yard. It was brilliant!

Later that night, he stood for about a minute, all by himself. It was outside on the lawn at the Sandy Amphitheater--no furniture near his grasp. It was brilliant!

Zachary - 9 Months

Dear Zachary,

I love your silly little guts! Man I love you.

We went to the doctor yesterday, the day you turned 9 months. Here's what we've got:

Height: 30 inches (95th percentile)
Weight: 19 pounds 8 ounces (35th percentile)
Head Circumference: 45.7 centimeters (75th percentile)

So, you're still tall, and you have a steady head circumference. But—you are LIGHT! What?

I was actually shocked when the nurse told me that you were in the 35th percentile. Between the time she told me that and the time the doctor came in, I sat there thinking. I came up with a hypothesis: you must be moving around SOOOOO much that you are just burning up your calories.

When the doctor came in, he gave the same theory. He said not to worry about you. He said that you look and act wonderfully healthy. He said that if your hair has sheen to it, your skin looks healthy, your eyes are bright, and you simply act well, you must be getting what you need. In regards to the hair and skin comment, I said, "Like a dog's coat?" He chuckled and said, "Yes."

He told me that I could try feeding you solids before you have your milk. So, that's what we're going to do.

Now on to what you've been up to....

Yesterday you took your first purposeful steps. Well, you've taken a few here and there. But, as I was going out the door for guitar, your dad said that you stood for him for about 10 seconds and then you took a couple steps toward him. Your dad texted a few minutes later and said that you did it again!

Tonight you did it some more. In fact, you took six steps in a row tonight.

Also, since we came back from Moab this last Sunday, you have been so excited to walk with your Push 'n' Ride. You've walked across the room multiple times with it, often just holding on with one hand.

You have started smiling with a squinty face. It cracks me up. You just crack me up.

This last week you have busted up laughing every time I bark like a dog. Of course I keep doing it to hear you laugh.

You have a special talent these days. I say, "Say 'dadda.'" You say, "Dad." I say, "Say 'mamma.'" You say, "Dad." It makes me laugh. You used to say "mamma" on command. But, not any more. Silly boy.

You are a wonderful sleeper—unless we go on a trip. We put you to bed at 9:00 almost every night and you almost always wake up sometime between 5:45 and 6:30. And, to make it even better, you wake up happy!

The trip thing—well, you really hate your pack 'n' play. I don't know if you hate that more than the unfamiliar room. Either way, you don't sleep very well. My actual assumption is that you don't like the pitch black room because you've slept well enough in Ferron when we have a night light in the room. You did NOT sleep well last week in Moab. That meant I didn't either.

You are one of the friendliest 9-months-old your doctor has ever met. He was quite, quite surprised when you crawled right up to him and got him to pick you up. You're like that with everyone. You have convinced a funeral director to pick you up. You have convinced one of our stake presidency to hold you. You have convinced my second cousin that you are best friends. And you are a jumping bean—you will go to anyone who is talking to you.

You are great at giving hugs. But, you are not great at giving kisses, clapping, or waving. You have occasionally given me kisses. And you are entirely uninterested in clapping or waving.

Yesterday we had a visitor for a few hours, our little friend. You were so excited he was here. But, I'm going to have to teach you about sharing. You were very interested in everything he picked up.

I love you. I can't believe you're already nine months!

Your Mom

New thoughts on politics

Ted and Carol Lewis, friends from one of Andrea's former wards, came over to our home for games on Friday night. Ted, a former Utah State Congressman, brought to my attention the following quote by Pres. Wilford Woodruff, at the Salt Lake Temple dedication:

O God, the Eternal Father, Thou knowest all things. Thou seest the course Thy people have been led to take in political matters. They have, in many instances, joined the two great national parties. Campaigns have been entered upon, elections have been held, and much party feeling has been engendered. Many things have been said and done which have wounded the feelings of the humble and the meek, and which have been a cause of offense. We beseech Thee, in Thine infinite mercy and goodness, to forgive Thy people wherein they have sinned in this direction. Show them, O Father, their faults and their errors, that they may see the same in the light of Thy Holy Spirit, and repent truly and sincerely, and cultivate that spirit of affection and love which Thou art desirous that all the children of men should entertain one for another, and which Thy Saints, above all others, should cherish. Enable Thy people hereafter to avoid bitterness and strife, and to refrain from words and acts in political discussions that shall create feeling and grieve Thy Holy Spirit.

I think that is a good way to approach politics.

I sat next to the Prophet

On Wednesday, a member of our ward, John Georgell, had a funeral. What was unique about the situation was that he was a childhood friend of Pres. Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since he was there, he obviously was the highest ranking priesthood leader, and thus presided at the funeral. As he walked up to the stand, he shook my hand and said, "Now we are friends." Being in the bishopric, I got to sit next to the Pres. Monson during the entire funeral.

While sitting there I had a few thoughts come to me. First, I am sitting next to THE PROPHET, and this will never happen again. Second, this would never happen with the Catholic church and the Pope. Third, as I saw Andrea and Zachary sitting in the congregation, I realized that even though I was sitting next to the Prophet of God, Andrea and Zachary were more important to me in life and in the plan of salvation.

After the funeral, Zachary and Andrea also got to meet the Pres. Monson and shake his hand.