  
    Things have been crazy around here  the past couple of weeks. We had Zach's Christmas program we went to on the 17th which I was REALLY looking forward to. Had the video camera and regular camera all ready to go. Once in a lifetime opportunity kind of thing. I didn't get a SINGLE still photo and only about 5 seconds of video of him up on stage due to people just walking in front of me and getting in my way. I was devastated and angry. I guess I can't do much about it now. My neighbor said she got a few pictures that maybe she can email to me though she wasn't taking pictures of Zach. Kids were dressed up as presents and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus for the program and we didn't even get to see it. My folks moved here the same week and have been a help to us with watching the kids here and there so we can finish getting things ready for Christmas. Glad to have them here. We've already had the 30 degree temperature swings just for them. Moved Zach into a real bed a few nights ago. He's not adjusting well AT ALL. Big tears, lots of screaming. No one is getting any sleep around here. Colin is still being a great baby. He's still having congestion issues, due to allergies we believe. This crazy weather is not helping at all. His favorite hobby is to EAT. He's very full of lots of smiles. Warms the heart. Merry Christmas Everyone!
 
      Haven't had a chance to post anything lately. The kids like to tag team and hardly ever nap at the same time during the day which is usually when I'd get a chance to post pictures.  Today at Zach's school they had their Thanksgiving Feast. All the classes got up on stage (grouped by age) and they each sang a couple of songs and wore "costumes". Zach's class all wore Turkey "hats" on stage and "sang" two songs. One of them was a version of "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands...". Zach was on the stage clapping the whole time, stomping his feet, spinning in circles and "singing". The class had been practicing that for a while. Considering there's 12 kids under the age of 3 to deal with, I thought they did pretty well in front of about 80 people they'd never seen before. I wish they'd told us beforehand the kids were going to be doing that because I shared the look of horror with most of the other parents who were caught off guard with no camera or video camera. My neighbor just happened to haver her camera with her so I'm hoping she got a couple of pictures that I'll have her send to me.
Colin's schedule during the day is to EAT EAT EAT EAT, poop, sleep a little bit and EAT EAT EAT. He's growing so fast. His last doctor's appointment he was already 13.2 lbs which means he's probably doubled his weight since he's been born. Still dealing with LOTS of congestion with poor results. Our next step will be to go see an ENT which I don't really want to do but the poor little guy is just miserable, thus making mommy and daddy miserable. He sure does have a good range of facial expressions and has an "AMAZED" look on his face (including mouth wide open) when you talk to him. He's full of smiles and loves to snuggle. Tomorrow we are planning to go see Santa (or Sanya, as Zach calls him) to have pictures taken. Hope Zach will at least sit for more than .5 seconds before screaming in that high-pitched tone he uses that only dogs can hear...
   Trevor and I took the kids to one of the lakes here in our subdivision yesterday and there were a bunch of ducks waiting eagerly to be fed. There's several turtles in that lake (as well as catfish) that are also only too happy to make an appearance to beg for goldfish crackers. Colin could have cared less and just slept in the stroller.
 
   Looking forward to Trick-Or-Treating tonite. Gathering at the neighbor's house like last year for food and fun before sending the kids out. Zach's posing for the camera in daddy's Rocket's hat which is his new favorite accessory.
 
    Just thought I'd share a few recent pictures of the boys. Zach's been VERY under the weather for almost a week now with a nasty sinus infection and I'm really thinking Mr. Colin is colicky. At 5:30 every afternoon he starts with the crying nonstop for about 2 hours no matter what we do. Going thru a rough patch with the kids and we lost a friend this week in a helicopter crash so it's been a hard week. We'll get thru it though!
  
Took Mr. Colin to the pediatrician yesterday for his one-month checkup. As I suspected (and dreaded) he's got reflux. He's already taking the "golden" formula Zach used to be on and is starting a medicine which doesn't really seem to be doing much for him just yet. Waiting to get on Previcid which seems like all babies with reflux end up on, including Zach. Good news is he's gained more weight and is up to 9.5 lbs already. Kid loves to eat. I just can't say enough good things about how nice Zach is to his brother. He likes to try to snuggle up to him. This morning Trevor had to take mom to sign some paperwork on their house and they took Colin with them while I stayed behind to take Zach to a birthday party for some boys down the street. Zach came ungluged when they left and was screaming "BABY BABY BABY!" and I had to let him go out front to say goodbye to the baby. He LOVES his little brother. One the second video I posted, if you listen closely, Zach is singing to the baby. He asks for "help" when he wants you to pick up the baby so he can "hold" him. A little bit later he starts spinning the mobile really fast and the fish on it are whacking him in the face and I'm in the background laughing and snorting getting the bigges kick out of it.
     Colin just turned one month old. Fearing he's got a case of reflux. Going to the doctor tomorrow to have his checkup and hoping to get some good news or a little help for the smallest Marriott. Poor little kid gets all tuckered out from trying to eat while being so gassy and in pain. Have tried just about everything I can think of to give him some relief but not having much sucess. On a great note, Zach's really taken to this whole big brother thing. Always being very loving and sweet to his younger brother. He's going to preschool a couple of days a week. Still lots of tears when we drop him off but the teachers say it doesn't last long. Putting on a show for those of us leaving him there.
   The day after I last posted we welcomed our second son, Colin to our family. Was actually grateful he came when he did given that the following week Hurricane Ike decided to pay us a visit and I was orginally scheduled to have a c-section on the 15th. Every baby has their own schedule. Zach is adjusting beautifully to being a big brother. A little rough at first but he's really come around. He helps feed Colin and change him and bring him toys and pats him on the head and is very concerned about his well-being. I'll have to remember that as the boys get bigger and someone is trying to stuff the other one in the dryer to see what happens... Here's a picture of our newest family member and Zach giving his baby brother a kiss.
     Trevor's birthday was on Labor Day and somehow the whole day ended up being all about Zach. (funny how that works, eh?) We took him to a place called Inflatable Zone where they have big bouncy castles/slides for him to go nuts on. Little did Daddy know that it's practically impossible to wear Zach out. He'll keep going until he falls into a coma. Had a good time there. Of course I was on the sidelines to hand out drinks and such since my big pregnant belly wasn't going to be doing any bouncing. Zach started preschool this morning. So far the phone hasn't rang at the house with someone saying "Dear Mrs. Marriott, today Zach did ..." I'll take that as a good sign. Hope he enjoys it. Depending on how things go this might be my last update for a little while. Baby boy is scheduled to arrive via c-section on the 15th of Sept.
     A few weeks ago Trevor was putting together a new changing table to go in Zach's bedroom and Zach was quite insistant that he helped daddy. This morning he said something that I've been dying to hear. When Trevor goes off to work each morning we walk him to the door and I tell him "love you" with a kiss. Zach will usually kiss Trevor and tell him Bye. Well this morning after I told Trevor "love you", Zach also said "love you" to his daddy. Really sweet.
   Picked up a back pack for Zach a few weeks ago to take his stuff with him to preschool. He thought he was hot stuff when I filled it with toys and books so he could lug it around. His latest trick is to mimic yet another habit of our dog, Chester. He's licking stuff instead of kissing. Trevor will play with the dog's stuffed toy and Zach keeps trying to lick the nasty, grungy, stinky cow. He'll grow out of that soon, right?
Don't know what he was singing but he sure does enjoy himself!    Yesterday I REALLY wanted to take a nap while Zach was supposed to be napping. Zach had other ideas. After giving him about a half hour to try to go to sleep I gave up and brought him downstairs. He did lay down on the couch like Daddy does with his head on the pillow and pulled the blanket over him and told me "nite nite" a bunch. There was to be no napping. Video clip is from him playing one of his favorite games of hiding in the pillows and calling for "CHECHER" to come and get him.     Weather was not the most cooperative today for doing outside activities during the day so Trevor broke out his guitar for Zach to examine. He strummed it a little bit and kept looking back at the amp, trying to understand why the thing he was touching was making noise BEHIND him. After a while he got the hang of things and when Trevor started playing a song Zach was ROCKIN out! Later on we met up with our neighbors in the driveway as the kids watched us light sparklers, little tanks and we all got to enjoy the neighbors who brought out the BIG fireworks.
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