You change our lives....

I love this picture of you.  It reminds me of one we took of Miles when he was born.  Just a day old and you already had sleeping down!

Nana and Ojo came to see you first.  I only got to stay with you for the first week and then I had to go to Australia for a job.  I knew I left you in great hands and it was good to give your grandparents a chance to get to know you too.  They helped take of Miles as he had so much energy and that gave mommy some time alone with you.

You had some problems learning to drink milk from mommy but she kept at it till you figured it out.  It must have worked because wow, you sure did grow fast!   Uncle Rory and Aunt Tara couldn't wait to come and meet you too.

When I finished my job in Australia, I came straight to your house.  I couldn't wait to get to know you better.  Mommy even let me put your crib in the living room where I slept so that she could get a good night's sleep and I got up with you when you woke up.  It was a great way to get to know all your little ways. Then Papa fly from Texas to meet you.  He could hardly wait to get here, he was so excited to meet you and to make sure Miles had attention too.  Unfortunately, Papa and I hardly ever take pictures of ourselves!  But I can tell you we were right there with you getting lots of hugs from Miles and sweet cuddles with you!  

Exciting Day for Zachary Joseph Cowal!!

Yes! You officially have a name!  Zachary seems like such a big name for you right now.  I think I will just call you Z as Z man!  Then when you get a little bigger, maybe it will be Zach....Miles is in love with you and says the whole name but it comes out something like "Zacry",

I am very excited to say I was there the day you were born! We had just put Miles to bed and were at the table eating a huge burrito when mommy turns to me and goes "oh my gosh, I think my water broke!"  That just means that you were saying "hey let me out of here"!  Daddy was a business function so we called him right away.  Man, that guy got to us so fast!  In time at all daddy told mommy "it's time to go to the hospital". Now, normally your dad is "cool, collected and doesn't get frazzled" that easily.  But the night you were born he was so nervous and got all the way down stairs when he realized he didn't have mommy's phone with the doctor information.  He races back up, couldn't find it so I called it and we found it in a pant's pocket!  Off he races to get mommy in the taxi and get to the hospital.  I am staying behind to be with Miles.  I look down and daddy forgot mommy's hospital bag!  I just had to smile.  Everyone was just so excited you had decided to come out and say hello!

Mommy writes on her blog:

 "Hello, Baby!"
"Just dropping in really quickly to say that Zachary Joseph was born at 10:56pm on May 22 in an astoundingly fast birth. Like, seriously fast…2 hours and 45 minutes from start to finish. Weighing in at 7 lbs, 4 oz and measuring 20 inches long, he’s beautiful and we’re totally in love. Pictures to follow over the next few days once we get home and settled."

Here are some of your very first pictures in the hospital.   I mean, was there ever a cuter baby?!

 I could hardly wait for the next day so I could take Miles up to see you.  I think Miles fell in love with you immediately.  He didn't seem jealous of you at all.  Just wanted to be right there on the bed with you!  Mommy looks so happy here holding her two favorite boys....

By the time you read this, you might think Miles is bossy!  But just look at this picture when you are mad at him and you will know he loved you from the very beginning.

When I saw your daddy holding you that first day and the love that just covered his face, I knew that you were going to be a very lucky baby.  You will always know you came into this world so loved!

Your parents couldn't wait to bring you home!  You are so different from Miles.  For one thing, you have so much hair AND you are a little bigger.  You are so adorable with your chubby little cheeks!

Getting to know the family....

When you are finally old enough to look at this book,  you will know the familiar feeling of climbing on daddy's lap to read a book.

Your dad is a great reader!  He does all the voices of the character and if you close your eyes for a moment, you can imagine you are in the book with the characters!  Yep, he's that good.

You will find your daddy is loving and soft spoken, even if you are pestering him!  He will always be there for you even if he's gone on a trip for work, he is only a phone call away if you need him.  He is also turning out to be a great cook!  Mama is feeling pretty whoozy right now and looking at food makes her feel yucky.  So daddy has picked up the cooking for everyone so that mama will eat properly.  He knows you depend on good food to grow big inside her tummy.  I hope you won't be as picky an eater as your brother Miles!  He likes to "smell" his food before he eats it and if he doesn't like the way it smells, won't even touch it!  But he does love him some pancakes!

One of the best things about your mama is her cuddles!  As you can see here, if you are not feeling well, she's got a nice snuggle place for you to use.  As the days goes on, she is getting excited about getting to hold you and give you butterfly kisses!

Did I mention that she is also a GREAT book reader too?  You are so lucky as you have two parents who love books and love to read them to their children.  Now, Miles has trained them well for you and they will be used to reading the same book over and over!

This is Ojo holding Miles the day he was born.  I know he is looking forward to having that same feeling when they place YOU in his arms.  You have this terrific grandfather!

He loves to run after you and play hide and seek and loves to see his grand babies laugh!  He will spend hours just playing with you.  He has so much patience.  The best part is he loves to help you have fun in the bath tub!  By the time Miles and Ojo are done with bath, there are bubbles everywhere!  But oh, the laughter you hear as they talk away....

Nana could hardly wait till Miles was born as she wanted to be a grandmother so bad!  She loves to come up and visit or have you go to Maryland to visit.  You can see all the love on her face here as she held Miiles for the first time.

When she found out mama and daddy were having another little boy she was so excited.  Remember, she had two boys too!  So she could see right away how much fun it would be for you to have a little brother.  Your daddy is very close to Uncle Rory and I think you will be very close to your brother Miles.  

Rory is very excited about being an uncle.  His wife Tara will be a wonderful aunt!  They live far away but I know will get back to see you as much as possible.  He will be the fun Uncle to go visit some day!

See how gentle he is here with Miles?  Imagine him holding you in the same loving way.  You will never lack for arms to hold you!