5 Months Old

It's crazy to think that only a year ago we found out that we were pregnant. 10/20/09 to be exact. We wondered whether we were going to have a boy or girl, what he or she was going to look like, what he or she would be like, and how we would be as new parents. This past year has flown by and now Zander is already 5 months old!

Here are some stats from this past month:

* Weighs 14 pounds

* Can hold his own bottle. Even the big ones!

* Is sleeping through the night in his crib in his own room

* Rolls over

* Already teething. Those Merrill choppers
will be here soon

* Started grabbing for things. Not good when you are sitting down for dinner and he grabs your plate or drink
* Ticklish

* Pulls hair, just ask Tristen and Ashlen 

* Eats 5 ounces

* Likes to touch your face when you are talking to him

*  Enjoys rice cereal and grabs the spoon while he's eating

* He is the happiest, most mellow, laid-back baby

Trick or Treat

We couldn't let Zander's first Halloween go by without taking him out trick-or-treating. While we were in Coolidge for family dinner, we went out with Mimi, Kaylee, Megan, and Jayden. We stopped by Grandpa Reed's house first and then went to a few houses around the block. Zander was so happy and now are his mommy and daddy who get to eat all his candy. Score!  

At the end of the night, our little chicken was pooped! 

Halloween Party

We had a fun Halloween party last night with a couple of our besties - the Clawsons, Merinos, Kietas, Spilsburys, and James. There was lots of yummy food to eat like soup in pumpkin shaped bread bowls, little smokies, chocolate covered popcorn, spinach dip, rice crispy treats, and lots of candy. We played Halloween charades and the girls won. Ask Devin how he acted our Jack the Ripper. Hilarious! We did paddle boat races in the lake behind the Kietas house and realized just how out of shape we all were. The boys had a competitive foosball game and poor Eddie has to go into Marios US Bank branch and open up a bank account while wearing his Chase Bank uniform. We ended the night with our favorite card game pounce and the Merrill team represented and won. It was a fun night! Even Zander had fun since it's almost 10am and he is still asleep this morning.

Jason, who came as a Mexican, entertained us with his native music and hat dancing.

 

Lucy & Zowie

 Zander & Tage

 Spilsburys minus Jayden

 Paddle boat race #1 - Kietas vs Clawsons. The Kietas won. I think they've been practicing.

Paddle boat race #2 - Merrills vs Spilsburys. Battle of the families. We won.

 Paddle boat race #3 - Merinos vs James. Merinos won in a photo finish

Trunk-or-Treat

I love our ward! We have so many fun activities planned for us. This years trunk-or-treat was planned out so well. Trunk-or-treating, chili cook off, bounce houses, a pie eating contest, cotton candy machine, face painting. We even had people from the other ward coming over to our side of the parking lot to join in on the fun.

Zander looked so cute in his chicken costume!

Char, Jason, and Bristol bear. They were Carebears. How perfect!

Kylie and Jenni

Clayton

Zander slept in his crib for the first time last night. I was a little apprehensive to put him in there. First of all - his room is at the front end of the house away from our room. What if he needed me in the night? Second - we don't have a baby monitor. How was I supposed to hear him cry? Third - I hate sleeping with my bedroom door open. I have visions of waking up to see someone standing over me or at my bedroom door, so I like it closed. I know...I am crazy! In the end, I knew I had to put him in his crib since he couldn't sleep in the pack and play in our room forever.

We all did great on his first night. He woke up crying two times because he couldn't find his pacifier. I slept with my door open and was able to hear him fine. Devin slept like a log and didn't hear the baby at all.

Before Bed

 

Waking up in the morning. Looks like he had a relaxing sleep.

Crawling Already?

Well, kind of.

Every parent thinks their child is a genius and is developing much faster than babies their own age. Devin is no exception. The other night, we put Zander in his jammies and layed him on his tummy on the leather couch. All of a sudden, I hear Devin screaming for me to come and see - Zander was crawling! I am thinking, what the heck is going on? He is almost 5 months old so it is not possible. I then see my poor baby with his face down into the couch, hands underneath his body, scooting across the sofa with his legs. It was a funny sight to see! 

I just want to eat him up. He is so adorable!

Zander has found his voice and he's not afraid to use it!

This is the sound we wake up to in morning and it makes us laugh every time we hear it.  

Sedona

Nan & Popsie with their great grandkids - Jayden, Zander, and Tage

This past weekend, Zander and I went to Sedona to hang out with the Merrill clan. It was great to see everyone and introduce Zander to his Great Aunt Jeanie and Great Uncle Bob who hadn't met him yet. It was a short trip, but we had fun relaxing and catching up with everyone.

This kid can sleep anywhere

Zander normally hangs out in the johnny jumper in the morning while I get ready for work. Every now and then I swing it around because he doesn't like to sit still in it. Well this morning, after a couple of minutes of silence, I turned around and saw this. Fast asleep!  

Camping at Canyon Lake

Last weekend we went camping at the lake with our besties - the Clawsons and Merinos. Things started out a bit rocky since we couldn't get a campsite. Who knew people would be camping at the lake in October? We made due and camped in the day use area. It was quiet and FREE! 

On Friday night, the boys did some wake boarding while us girls and the babies relaxed on the shore. We ate dinner and sat by the campfire chatting.

We shared a tent with the Clawsons and us Merrills had to rough it - aka no air mattress. Poor Devin had to contour his body around some tree stumps. Maybe next time he will rethink the no air mattress thing. Zander slept through the night like a champ and woke up happy as usual.
  

We woke up early and were welcomed by a million birds trying to peck into our food bags. Luckily they did not get anything. After eating breakfast, a bunch of ducks came to our campsite. Kassidy and I fed the ducks with Zander and Gabe. Zander wasn't too sure about these animals.  

We went out on the lake for most of the morning. We took a scenic tour through the canyon and stopped for a little swim. Then we got down to action and did some wake boarding. This time I got up - although couldn't stay up for very long. On my last attempt I fell really hard. On Sunday, I felt as if I had been in a car crash. Every part of me hurt! 

 It's not a trip without seeing some of Devin's crack

 Before we packed up camp and headed home, I put Zander in the water. I started off small by just putting his feet in. Then I just sat him in the water. He seemed to enjoy it and didn't cry.

It was a fun weekend. Can't wait to do it again soon!