So much to do...so little time!!

Sorry to all for being so horrible about keeping our blog very updated. So much has been going on with us I don't even know where to begin. Guess I'll just jump into the big stuff. SOOOO, Nate graduated from BYU-Idaho in December after doing an internship that fall at C of I in Caldwell, Idaho doing research. We were living with my parents during his internship and were kind of just winging it as to what we'd be doing next. After being in limbo for a couple months, Nate has been accepted to the University of Hawaii's Masters program in reproductive physiology. He was also offered a job to work in a lab there doing research, so he'll be paid to do that and also receive a tuition waiver since he'll be working for the school. I'm so proud of him and all the hard work he's done to get here! We feel so lucky to have the opportunity to do this...and live in Hawaii! =) I, on the other hand, have been accepted into Nail Technology School. haha Ok, so they take anyone who pays. But it's been fun and I'm hoping to be able to do it out of our home at some point to be able to help us make money, but also stay home with Zak. We'll see what happens and if I can cut it.
Zak is pretty much just a little boy now, not even a baby at all. Which apparently has been the case for awhile. But he is SOOO much fun! He loves playing 'Ring Around the Rosies' especially the falling down part, he loves cars, balls, throwing (everything...can be scary)..and animals. He can do the noise for anything that growls, cockadoodledooooo, he says 'hot', paco, Mmmmm (when he's going to eat), I think those are his newest, I'm pretty sure I've posted about his others. He's also acquired quite the sweet tooth. He just points to the cupboard until someone finally gives him a chocolate chip or something. I've definitely had to start regulating a little more. Going outside is also getting a little crazy..he wants to be outside all day everyday. He'll have a runny nose and a cough and it's 40 degrees and he won't come inside until I just have to make him. But he loves sliding and just exploring outside.
Hmmmmm, I don't think anything else too major is going on right now. We feel really blessed right now in our lives and are so thankful to be accepted into a program and progressing a little more to our ultimate goal of being able to be 'settled'.

Zak loves Gameshows

So, for some reason our son loves the show Family Feud. He loves the clapping and the lights and the noises. He just can't leave the clapping. Maybe he'll be an entertainer one day.... hmm... here's a little video of him watching his show

Slide Show!

Anniversary, Christmas, Zak's 1st Birthday....Woa I'm behind!

So I haven't posted since Halloween! Holy moly am I slow at getting stuff posted. Well a lot has been going on with us. Nate has finished his intership and has applied for a job in Salt Lake with a company called ARUP (i think)... He had a phone interview and we're hoping he gets another. We think moving to SLC would be a fun adventure, plust he'd work 7 days on then 7 days off which would be nice for me to have him home so much. They also pay for him to do more school and have full benefits. So keep us in your prayers that this works out! =)

My grandma and her husband, Roger came along with my mom's brother Rick with his wife and son. It was so fun to see them all and also have my sister Amy and her husband Mike in town. The whole family was at my parents and we had a lot of fun with everyone. We did dinner with both my family and then Nate's family so we definitely got stuffed! My uncle took a bunch of pictures then so I will post them when we get them back from him.

December 23rd Nate and I had our 2nd wedding anniversary. Nate surprised me with a super cute new dress and some awesome black patent leather heels. Such good taste... We went to the temple and then stayed at a cool hotel in Boise minus Zakary. Our first night in year without Zak... It was so relaxing! We checked into the hotel as soon as possible and had planned to go out to a nice dinner but decided to have chinese food delivered and just watch movies and hang out in our hotel room in sweat pants all evening and night baby-free. It was so nice. Zak stayed with my (Amber's) parents and did awesome without us. They said he slept through the night and did great. Although it was so nice to have a little getaway...we were pretty excited to come home to the little guy and see how excited he was to see us.

Christmas Eve was spent with my parents and then most of Christmas day was spent at Nate's parents. Zak got a bunch of new cars, balls, a fire truck, clothes, a cart, a little church outfit, and books. He loved his cars and balls. He drives his cars around and says "brrrrrr". And he loves to throw the ball to people, then they give it back and he'll walk away and throw it to them again over and over.

For his first birthday (January 6th) we had people over for dinner and cupcakes. He got more stuff and was spoiled rotten and didn't even know it. haha I think the parties are more for the excitement of the parents.

Anyway we had an amazing year and are very blessed to have such an amazing family.

Halloween with our walking boy!

SO much fun feeding himself!

Gotta love the soggy bread on his shoulder

Sleepy lion after a long night of trick-or-treating

On the prowl

Just cute

So we're a little late getting up Halloween pictures, but better late than never! For Halloween Zak was a lion. He went trick-or-treating to just a few family and friends and was dead asleep after the 4 house visits. We had fun getting him dressed and especially doing the little photo shoot.

Zak has also started walking like crazy! It's so fun to see him pop up and start walking kinda slowly and then goes faster and faster until he can't really keep up with himself and falls or gets to his destination. He usually walks with his hands high in the air which just adds to the cuteness.

He had his 9month wellness check up last week (which he was actually 10 months old...but just got him in) and he wighed 19.2 lbs. and is 29 1/2 in. tall. He was in the twenties for his percentile in weight and the 80's for his height. He eats just about everything, but aparently doesn't feel like gaining much weight. His favorite game is to be chased. It cracks him up to have someone coming after him! He's also loving to feed himself. He thinks this is one of the funnest things ever and he always offers mom and dad a bite of whatever is in his slimy hand. So generous!

Nate and I are doing well. We're loving our calling as Sunbeam teachers. Our class is doing sharing time in 2 weeks...so if anyone has good ideas for that let me know! Nate is still just doing research and is liking it as long as there is stuff for him to be doing. I just fill in at odd jobs here and there and stay home with Zak. That's basically our exciting life for now!

We're so excited for the Holiday season and definitely ready for them!

Zak walking. He's kinda grumpy about it when he's gotta do it on demand, but doing it on his own, he loves!