Happy Easter

Hey everybody! It's my first Easter and I am celebrating in style! Happy Easter!

Hanging with the guys

Sometimes Mom and Dad take me to work at the Go offices. I love it when they do. All of the interns are so cool and they love to hang out with me. I found an old video hanging out with David, Jeff, Callie and Kaitlyn. Check it out:

Growing up

Hi everybody! Hope you are all doing AWESOME! I know I sure am. Mom, Dad and I are having a blast hanging out, rocking, cuddling and eating. As they say in old Pari "Cest si bon!" or as we would say it here in the U.S. "This is the life!"

Things are getting easier for me out here in the world. I like to do things that really impress Mom and Dad. For example, when I was in the hospital Mom picked me up for the first time and put me over her shoulder and I picked up my head and looked around. It was awesome- she went crazy! Then she started bragging on me and telling everyone how strong I was and how advanced I was, it was great.

(This is a pic of me seconds before I held my head up in the hospital.)

Holding your own head up is soooooo last month. My latest and greatest way to impress them is to hold my own bottle. Check out the vid they filmed of me doing it for the first time:

Letter from Granma D

So, my dear and darling boy, it's hard to believe that you have been with us for just over a month! Where has the time flown to? When I first held you in my arms, and you looked up at me with those beautiful eyes, it was love at first sight! When you were first born, I got to hold you and sing you songs about Jesus. Do you remember?

Mommy says you have grown, from a helpless sweet little one, to a content baby boy who follows sounds, and travels great missionary journeys as you scoot all over your crib in search of all that can be seen and found!

I hear from Mommy that you are just beginning to express your likes and dislikes, and that your personality is just beginning to show, in fact, I hear you are a people person! You seem to enjoy being surrounded by people and faces, and smiles and laughter! You also love being at GO, your Mom and Dad's life's work, which is a good thing, because I think you will be spending alot of time there!

I can hardly wait to see you again my sweet one, and I will see you soon, to fill my life with more memories of my precious little man. I promise.

With all my love, Granma Dee

5 Weeks Picture

Zion and Mom 5 weeks

Big Boy Baths

Hey everybody! Mom and Dad took pics of me taking my first "big boy bath" the other day. Unlike most kids my age I didn't cry. But honestly guys, I'm really not sure what I think about baths. First off, they are really wet. Which is a familiar, yet strange feeling. So, despite the fact that baths really do freak me out, I have found a way to make it through the entire bath without crying. (You may want to take notes if baths freak you out too cause this is some really good techniques for staying calm during your bath time.)

First, I tried lifting my hands and legs out of the water and holding them in the air. This gets tiring though. So now I keep my arms and legs in the water and I try to lay real still and put on my best big boy brave face. You can see what that face looks like here:

You may want to practice your big boy face in the mirror a few times so you get it right. Here you can see Mom washing my hair. Forget Johnson and Johnson, there's not a tear anywhere in sight of this big boys eyes!

Mom decided to keep my diaper for my first big boy bath because she gave me a "sponge bath" without it and I pooped. (he he.) Now, I can totally take baths without a diaper, but sometimes I do like to pee in the water. (he he.)

Well guys, it's midnight and I really need to quit blogging and go to bed. Everybody remember to practice your big boy face in the mirror!

Night-night everybody!

Zion's first blog post

By Zion Baca

Hey everybody. Well, I have been around on Earth for almost 5 weeks now and I recently discovered the power of social networking. So, I asked Mom and Dad if they would mind if I managed my own blog from now on. From here on out I will be taking over posting things and telling you all about my life. Mom and Dad will probably do some guest blogging from time to time as well.

So, I thought I would start by showing you some pics from the past few days:

This is my very first solo shot that Dad took of me relaxing at the hospital. Mom and Dad told me that they were really happy that I have so much hair and that when it gets longer Dad is going to help me "style" it.

Here is something that Mom made for everyone who came to meet me at the hospital. It's pretty cool cause it matches my room at home.

Let's see... now here I am takin' a snooze. Mom and Dad made this shirt for me to wear at the hospital. Which I have to say that as far as clothes go, it's pretty cool. Speaking of that, can someone please tell me what this whole "clothes" thing is all about anyway? Because to me it seems pretty strange... In fact, I am not sure I get why we wear them. It seems like a ton of trouble to put them on and then in just a few minutes they get totally dirty and we have to start all over again! I am really vocal about this and keep trying to tell Mom and Dad to just forget it, I would rather be naked- but either they don't get what I am saying or they are really stubborn because they keep putting me in all these different outfits.

What else? Hmmmm... I had a ton of visitors at the hospital. It was awesome. They would come in, cuddle me, say nice things about me, bring momma and daddy food or presents. I loved it. Here's a pic of me with Grandma-naye and Papa. What can I say? They love me.

Here is me and the folks right before they took me home.

Oh, and here's Dad strapping me into my car seat for the first time.

When we got home Dad gave me a tour of the house. My room is pretty cool. I will do a post on it later. My Auntie Katie told me she would come take pics of it and she is way profesh. So we will wait for her pics before we post it. Here I am though at home in my room with Momma.

Well guys, I hope that you like my blog so far. I am going to be doing lots more posts so check back often or you can even become a subscriber. You can do that by clicking on the subscribe button in the top right hand corner of the blog.

Pregnancy Shots

Here are a few shots that our amazing and talented friend Becca David of Treasured Captures took for us. If you live in the Oklahoma area you need to check out her site and book an appointment with her! She is awesome!

If you're happy and you know it

The birthing story

By Christa

Several people have asked me to share the story of Zion's birth, so here goes!

Zion was born one day before his delivery due date. I am sure that every woman who has been pregnant before can relate to this, but it was one of those mind-exhausting Monday's where you are looking forward to an awesome nights sleep. In fact, I believe that I thought to myself, "I HOPE that Zion doesn't come tonight because I am super tired."

So, we were wrapping up the day, Greg was on the phone with his cousin and I had just finished printing off Zion's birth favors. I laid the papers down on top of my computer and then my water broke, at least I thought it did, but I wasn't sure because it was nothing like the way it happens in the movies. I turned to Greg who was hanging up the phone, my eyes as big as saucers and I said, "I think it happened! I think my water broke!"

Greg jumped off the bed and said, "What do you mean you think? Don't you know?"

I sat down on a chair, tears brimming my eyes and said, "I don't know! I don't know! I've never done this before!" We checked the time on the kitchen clock. It was 9:30PM and we dialed the number to our Doctor. The on-call doctor instructed us to come into the hospital. I hung up the phone and told Greg, "This is it. We need to go to the hospital." Then, like a thousand thoughts assaulted me at once. Everything from, "I'm not ready to give birth." to thinking about the next 40+ years of being a parent and how do you raise a son to become a man? Tears just started to roll down my cheeks and fear and panic gripped like a vice around my heart. I started shaking like a leaf. Greg gently placed his hands on both of my shoulders and said, "Listen to me. Are you in pain?"

"No." I said, "Just scared... and I just washed my makeup off."

We both laughed.

"Then calm down. Breathe." We stopped for a moment as he put his arms around me. "Okay. Now let's be here. In this moment. Not in the future, but right here. If you aren't in pain right now then don't be in pain. There is no need to be scared about the future, just live in the moment." Then Greg held me as I cried softly and he began to pray.

Next, we went into super planning mode. We had already packed our bags, but we had a few items around the house that we needed to grab. In true Greg and Christa fashion we had perviously made lists on our iphones of everything we would need to pack. Like a whirl wind we whisked around the house getting everything ready. Phone calls and texts were sent out and our dearest friends all came to the hospital. Becca David, Lauren Morris, Lauren Tohline, Gabby Vonigas, Dodge Pangburn, Katie O'tool and Greg's mom and Dad. We felt so special and blessed that they all wanted to be there. Before we left the house, we shot this video for Zion. As will see the emotional meter started running a little high towards the end.

Next we were off to the hospital. The adrenaline in that car was running high and the conversation was laced with comments like, "In less than 24 hours we will be parents... parents! Can you believe it? Hi Mom and Dad. You are going to be a dad to Zion like your dad was to you. Crazy! Parents! Ahhhhhhh!" Needless to say, we were both excited and anticipating what was next.

We delivered at Saint Johns hospital, which I have to say have an absolutely stellar staff. They are quite amazing at taking care of you and making you feel calm and at ease. As we pulled into the parking lot of the hospital Greg jumped out to make sure we were on the right floor. I sat in the car, collecting my thoughts and I felt in my heart that God whispered these words to me, "I am going to make this really, really easy for you."

He was right. Up until this point I had had absolutely no pain. I was having strong contractions, but I had been having them since before we went to Italy, so they weren't difficult for me at all. We checked into the hospital, and then got all "hooked up" with hospital equipment and IV's. The IV was the one rough patch in the process. I guess I have thin curvy veins and they had to call in a specialist after several painful tries. The specialist got it the first try without even a pinch. People with that type of talent amaze me.

Upon my arrival I was dilated to a 3 almost 4, I was not having any contractions that I could feel. Our friends took turns visiting us, making us smile and laugh. Around 1:00 I got an epidural. I still had not felt any pain, but that was my birthing plan, to wait till I was a four and get the epidural. I was so glad that I did, because I felt no pain for virtually the entire delivery. In fact, they gave me pitocin to speed things up, which usually makes labor very intense, however I just rolled over and went to sleep!

Around 7AM they woke me and told me that I was dilated to a ten and 100% effaced, but because I had carried Zion so low they didn't want me to push until the Doctor came because they thought it would take less then ten minutes for me to give birth. My Doctor, Jay Williamson was in surgery at the moment. We did start pushing before his arrival, and I am glad we did because no one knew how big Zion was and it actually took me one hour and forty-five minutes of straight pushing before we decided to use suction to get Zion out. The Doctor warned that the epidural was running out, which I could tell since I was starting to "feel" again, and he didn't want me to have an emergency C-section. Minutes later Zion was born, 8LBS and 13OZ, a very tall 22" long. They placed him on my stomach and this fierce emotion overtook Greg and I as we looked at our child for the first time. It was official. We were mom and Dad.

The nurses whisked him away to a warmer where they took his vitals and little Z tested out his new lung capacity for the first time. As he wailed away, Greg walked over to him and leaned his face towards Zion. "Hey buddy. It's your daddy." Silence filled the room as Zion listened to his dad's voice outside of the womb for the first time.

The doctor stitched me up. My first winces of pain came here but I was too busy careening my neck to see my new little man to focus on it. A few minutes later the nurses had cleaned Zion up and we got to get a really good look at our son. He was perfect. He was wonderful. He was ours.

Belly shots

Here we are... just a few days away from Zion's birth! Less than ten days to go until his due date on the 17th. We are excited to meet this little guy!

Here are a few of the previous shots! Crazy how much you can change in just nine months!

May, 2009

(Pre-pregnancy)

August, 2009

October 2009

Italy Pics

Here are a few of our favorite pics from our trip to Italy. It was such a wonderful time together... memories that I am sure we will hold in our hearts forever.

27 weeks!

Hard to believe that I am already 27 weeks along. Looking forward to meeting Mr. Zion each day! Greg and I can't help but imagine how special our life will be with him in it, we seem to be trying to picture him hanging out with us and imagine what it will be like to be his parents. Such a special time that I know we will look back to with such fondness.

We leave for a big adventure tomorrow. Zion may not have left the womb yet, but already he will have traveled to three countries! Back in early June Greg and I thought it would be fun to plan a trip for just the two of us. So many of our overseas trips, while fun and exciting are spent planning and working long hours with a team. Tomorrow we leave for a trip to Italy. I can't wait! This will actually be our first overseas trip for a vacation! We will be ministering in a church or two- but for the most part we are going to drive around the Tuscan countryside and see where the wind takes us! I'm sure we will have a few fun posts along the way so you will have to check back for more.

4D Ultra sound

Last Saturday we went to Tulsa's Baby Bump to get a 4D ultra sound of little Zion. I highly recommend getting one and I definitely recommend (if you are in Tulsa) going to Baby Bump. On our first visit we actually didn't get to see little Zion's face. The girl at baby bump was so sweet she scheduled another visit for us a week later. Next week he made his big appearance. The 4d ultra sounds are very cool, but aren't 100% clear. For those of you who have never seen a 4D, don't worry about the bumps you see on Zions face. It's not really like that! The ultra sound doesn't show things in accurate detail.

That being said, check out some of these amazing baby pics! Don't you think this little guy has Greg's face?

Zions Crib!

My Mom and Dad bought Zion his first bed. Here is Greg putting it all together!