EASTER SUNDAY

Easter Sunday! Will never forget this one the reason being my beautiful Zacariah Jesse Smith was finally baptised and it was a truley special occasion with family and friends and the congregation of St Margaret's COE in Rochester. After the service Zac enjoyed meeting people and has been so happy:)

It was hard to take photos while people were leaving but here are a few of the family who made it. Sadly family from Romania has not come but Jonathan;s family has been represented really well. Jonathan;s sister Helen her hubby Andrew and kids Simon, Peter and Anna (cousins of Zac) and also J's step sister Suzanne and husband Stuart with their son Matt (who is also R's Godfather) as well as J's mum (Zac's granny) and us off course ...what a lovely lovley occasion on a sunny and very warm day in April.

Zac wasnt to keen on photos but here jusy before he escaped a picture with the Gilbournes his Godparents and their two Lotty and Edward. (Godparents are called Jim and Hester)

It was so nice to be able to have sucha relaxed and formal yet very informal Baptism...we greeted people and enjoyed playing in the kids corner.

During the Christening...my sunshine and angel Zac...he was very facinated by the candles.

A very touching moment when all kids in church came to see the christening/baptism. I loved seeing so many children being so interested in Zac's Baptism. We were delighted to see such interest and such support.

Another of the Godparents who left before we managed pictures LOVELY CHERYL who also is Reuben's Godmother. She has been a rock and a real friend to me since in Rochester. I am so pleased she accepted to be a Godmother. THanks Cheryl we love you loads.

Not sure how to describe the morning other than to say I really felt blessed and touched and as Zac;s story was read out in a few lines I could not but be thankful to God for this amazing perfect gift he has landed on us. Considering he was predicted to be suffering of at least 3 abnormalities, that I was offered an abortion at 6 months, the many meetings and tests, scans, neunatal specialists, fetal medicin experts and such.....seemed such a prolonged and very frustrating pregnancy but we knew no matter what God has promised us PERFECT GIFTS and so far he has not let us down....unlike us...! Although we would have accepted Zac into our lives with all the "human inperfections" predicted by so many specialists....knowing he will be ours from God and what comes from him is perfect for us....WHAT A THRILL AND WHAT A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO HOLD INTO OUR ARMS A PERFECTLY PERFECT BABY. Zac has been the experience one should have when they become parents. He very rarely cries and is upset he shows emotion but not at all a difficult baby. He seems to be happy and very very in love with his family. He ha sbrought us imense joy, peace and a lot of laughter. I AM TRULEY THANKFUL TO GOD and remain forever humbled by his amazing love to us. We pray and hope Zac will grow up to be just like the prophet Zacariah a real optimist, supporter and comforter in time of need in time of desperation. We also hope that although baptised as a child he will make his own grown up confirmation of his faith and will always stand as a testimony of GOD@S AMAZING LOVE.

spring time

Spring time half term time and there has been so much going on. Reuben and Alfie Booker have been very much entertaining and here we are setting of on an adventure.

Here is my two boys enjoying their bikes...!!!

Some crafts ...they do like to draw and paint and such.....

First time at the Sea Side....not sure what to think of it but eventually he took to it....

One of the things that I think has really been good for Zac and Reuben is that we now have granny as a permanent neighbour and so they can play and visit and granny has been especially helping with boys. I think both boys do have such more joy having granny around on a daily basis....and Zac is now able to say GRANNNY and recognises her and smile.

Lovely icecream....this boy does love icecream.....so summer should be fun!!

We are loving our two gardens...this one is amazingly sunny (a real suntrap) and its impossible to be out there around 10ish am as its burning the sun....so early morning and early evening best in this garden. As the back garden we love the sandpit and such so we spend a lot of time there.

Mornings are great...he is so chilled and happy with daddy while mummy has a lie in...then we are united and have fun down in the living room and say bye bye to daddy who goes to work.

I have to say Zac has undergone major changes. He is much more demanding but still very independent. He loves everything epsecially dogs and animals....children and although not so keen on adventuring in new things he is a real observer. He points at things when he wants them and depseratley chatters away....

MOst evenings he goes down very easily but some evenings he does get very giddy and happy and chatty....a bit like when one is drunk. He and Reuben share happily a room and makes me ever so proud to say that they are lovely together.

Zac has had a few firsts this spring such as first trip at sea and was intrigued....first swim in a leisure centre (he wasnt that impressed and can certainly see the difference between him and Reuben as R was always naturally drawn to water and pretty much a fish in the water... while Zac is rather shocked but no surprise really), first icream, coke, these are loved. First little trike and loves it too. MY biggest surprise with Zac is how having an older child makes things almost unbelievably different. I will never forget thinking Reuben will never get to be 3-4 years old...it seemed ages and with Zac I really don;t have a clue where 14 months have gone and been. Zac never seemed keen on baby food seems to like lumpy food and wants everything that Reuben has. He is currently teething has 4 teeth at bottom and 4-5 at top and some molars are showing so seems ok but he is on calpol a lot...and if needed we do use mediced and neurofen.

He has not got his MMR jab I think we forgot the appointment conveniently but he will have it...

Has finished with nursery has done a full term and seemed to love it but right now he wants mummy and understandably. I think he is anxious and slightly more comfortable at home and in his surroundings than his brother but that is indeed very difficult as R loves and thrives being out and about. He loves loves being at Alfie Booker;s house who has a tree house and Zac is facinated with it. Whenever we went there he was in heaven. I can talk for ages about Zac and how his arrival has changed family dynamics etc....how different is to manage two kids and just to even get invites to go places totally understandable but how strange....people seem to be happier to see me at playgrounds etc then in their homes...but having two makes things perhaps different. Still, we are happy as a four and really could not be asking for any more but some later wakes in the morning for J;s sake....(I would like to mention that both boys have always been looked after by daddy night time and morning wake til first nap....for which I will be eternally thankful to their daddy) and mine too....

When he will sleep longer I think we will all be slightly happier....but really not complaing at all.

For me having two boys with me in playground or out and about makes conversation with other adults difficult and very intrerupted so I prefer to see friends evenings or when Jonathan gives me an afternoon of and if not needing to do housework.

I would also like to mention that Zacky;s favourite people right now are: Mummy, Daddy, Reuben, Granny, KELLI (my beautiful supportive and amazing baby sitter and friend), Gweny (nursery nurse) and I know that because he gives them the biggest smile and seems so happy with them. Overall he is a sunshine and such a dear child....we love you Zacky and our world is blessed by you in more ways than we can describe.