Merry Christmas 2009

Where does the time go? It seems like I was just writing a Christmas letter yesterday for last year and yet here we are a year later. I hope you are all healthy, happy and blessed this Christmas season.

We joyfully welcomed Alexander Isaiah to the family on April 20, 2009. He is growing up so fast and changes every day. Big brother Eli is still smitten with is 'baby' and requests to hold him, love on him, play with him and of course in brotherly love fashion - pester him - every chance he gets. Luckily it's more love than pester. At last check, Alex is 20 lbs and 25 3/4inches. He was a slow starter to get rolling, but he is rolling and sitting up. He got his first 2 teeth on the same day on November 13th. He is stubborn though and wants to stick out his tongue when I want a picture of them. He is a happy baby, loves to talk and smile.

Eli is every bit of 5 years old! He is obsessed with Ben 10 (a cartoon) and skulls, fire and motorcycles. He would spend every minute of his time outside if he could...digging for worms, snakes and bugs. He loves going to Granny & Pockie's house so he can dig in the garden and hunt for all that boy stuff. We are so proud of how much he is learning and sharing with the world around him.

Al started a new job at the end of September. The jury is still out on if it is better, worse or indifferent. He has done several extra handyman jobs this year and (I think) he would love to someday have his own business doing just that. But...that time hasn't come yet. He is the BEST daddy ever! I love watching him with the boys play and roll around on the floor together. As a mother and a wife that is the best part of life!

I am still at UTA. I was elected the Chairperson of the Staff Advisory Council this year so I have been very busy working with that. Al & I also continue to volunteer with MEND as often as we can. It seems I have a knack for PR/fund raising. :) I enjoy raising money and spreading the word about a cause that I believe in! It is rewarding to be able to share AJ's story with others and see his life make a difference in this world.

Many blessings in 2010!!
Much Love,
The Zuckerman's

A little Behind!

Well, it appears I'm a little behind on my blog. Let's see what has happened since February?

Daddy celebrated his 39th Birthday - Eli got him Wii - woo hoo!

Eli spent his first weekend away from mom & dad and went to visit Aunt Leah, Uncle Craig, Mandy and Jonathan for 5 days. Granny and Pockie took him down for a visit and to help Bubba celebrate his 8th Birthday. Eli was way too busy to talk when we called - he had so much fun. And we had a nice time too...March 10th was our 7th anniversary and we celebrated by going to see Jim Brickman at the Myerson in Dallas. It was a really nice concert and an awesome experience. As many people do, we fell in love to many of his songs. :) Eli came home and went right to work helping daddy in the yard.

I made a cake for AJ's 1st Birthday to take to MEND on March 13th. I decided that we should celebrate his birthday with his friend's parents... so we did. I made a replica of the first toy I bought for AJ when I found out he was coming. It's what I hold on to when I need a good cry.

Had a groom's cake order and we got to watch Sawyer for the first time. Long story short...the opportunity to watch him came and I didn't even realize what I was saying until I hung up the phone and I had a slight panic attack - what was I thinking watching a 1 year old...but God knew it was time for some very much needed one on one time with the little monkey - and WE totally enjoyed having him. Eli showed us what an awesome big brother he is/would have been. We are so blessed to have Jenn, Sean and Sawyer in our lives. And we are very thankful to be a part of Sawyer growing up...such a gift!!

Easter we attended a new church - The Church on Rush Creek. They began a new series that day on "Pushing Daisy's"...about death, post mortem, etc...it was fitting for our lives at that very moment. And the music ministry is awesome. After church we got together with Al's family for food and an Easter egg hunt for the kids.

For AJ's Birthday we drove to San Antonio (no pics yet, forgot the digital and haven't gotten film developed yet) to get away and take Eli to Sea World. We drove down one day and back the next in order to be home on AJ's actual Birthday. I stayed up all night the night of his birthday in order to remember all of the events moment by moment as they occurred last year. I sat and listened to music and worked on AJ's scrapbook...it was a very peaceful thing to do.

We celebrated AJ's 1st Birthday on March 30th. We went to church, lunch and then went to buy some balloons and a cake. We came home and some family and friends came over to share the day with us. We celebrated with a balloon release in the front yard as we sung Happy Birthday to our baby boy. I can't believe that he is a year old now.

Eli wrote his name on his balloon and drew AJ a shark.

The day was beautiful and perfect.

E - L - I

I know I am a ranting mommy, but Little Eli can spell his name. He can write his name all by himself and knows how to spell a few words - first of which being his name. He screams it like a cheer - E - L - I spells ELI!! Then does a happy dance.

I find it very important in this day and age of crazies, to be sure that he knows important stuff like where he lives, his parents names, his name, etc., so that in the event he - GOD FORBID - ever got lost or kidnapped, I could hope that someone would help him find his way home. I think about that poor little girl that was left at Chuck-e-Cheese a few weeks ago and think if she had only known some information maybe she would have been home sooner.

I also use the blog to track events so that SOMEDAY when I actually sit down to scrapbook Eli's life, I will have a record of what he said and did when. So, he can spell fox, cat, dog and his name. Which at 3 years 4 months - I think is pretty darn good.

On Sunday we went to Fair Park in Dallas to see the Dinosaurs Alive show and walk around the museum. I hadn't really thought about it until we got there, that the last time we were there was about a year ago - AJ was alive and we were awaiting his arrival. I found myself frozen in my steps as we entered into the kid zone. It was that day that the picture of prego me and Eli was taken - the one I cherish because it's me with both of my boys - alive and healthy.

Proud Mommy Moment

I have to brag for a minute...

On Saturday, I took Eli to a birthday party for a one of his friends. His teacher happened to be there and as we were talking she shared with me that Eli is the ONLY one in his class who can cut out objects with scissors and the is the ONLY one who knows that you use numbers to count objects.

For Christmas he got the book "Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones" from Ms. Jane. He has either memorized it all or I swear he can read! It's amazing.

Being a mommy is the absolute best thing I have ever done in my life - and the most painful. Both of my boys make me so proud!! I'm amazed what an impact AJ has on our lives and the lives of others. And Eli - well - I am beyond grateful and blessed to have such a caring, sweet, smart, funny and sensitive young man - all of 3 that he is.

Ok - I will step back and stop being conceited now. :)