Zachary...growing up!

Zachary is really growing up....and very fast! So many things have been going on with him over the past few years. One thing that happened that he was rather nervous about it beginning was braces. We initially thought he would get his braces over summer vacation before starting 7th grade and he was worried about being called 'brace face', 'tin grin', 'metal mouth' and the list goes on! But he had to have some other treatments during the summer therefore putting the braces off a few months. Much to his relief, when the school year finally started he realized that ALOT of his friends got braces over the summer and that it was going to be the 'new fad' to have braces. He was very relieved and was actually looking forward to getting them. He got his top braces in November of 2007 and as you can see he looked so young. His bottom braces didn't get put on until a year later. Finally after 2 years of braces, it was almost time for them to come off but before they came off, he had to have his wisdom teeth pulled in December 2009. As you can see, he definitely had some swelling going on and he was so funny while the anesthesia was wearing off. Then on February 4, 2010, He got his braces off and he hasn't stopped smiling yet! And look how much he has changed in those 2 years......makes me want to cry!

But those two years really seemed to fly by....with so many other events happening in between. One being we started going to a new church with new friends for Zachary to meet! He even got the Holy Ghost in January 2009, just 2 months after we started! He prayed for 1 1/2 hours and God let him speak in that heavenly language!! He was one happy boy and so was I!! And yep, you guessed it....he met a girl named Meagan. After about a year of being friends, she is now his first official girlfriend! And as you can see, she is very pretty and to top it off, she's just as sweet as can be! I couldn't have picked anyone better to be his first girlfriend!

Zachary started high school in August 2009 and he's really loving it! But he's also looking forward to turning 15 and getting his drivers permit!!!! YIKES! I am really going to need prayers from everyone to survive this coming adventure! There is actually a funny story about him starting to drive. Several months ago, Ron was working in the yard and needed the truck moved from the front of the house to the back. He decided to let Zachary drive and he rode right beside him. So I was interested in watching from the front yard, too afraid to ride at that time! No sooner than Zachary pulled away from the house, a policeman was driving toward him. Zachary, wanting to not get too close to the policeman's car, steered more toward the right side of the street...but he steered a little TOO FAR RIGHT and jumped the curb!! I just knew the policeman was going to stop him then and there....but he didn't! I breathed a sigh of relief and I know Zachary really did!! Needless to say, he won't be living this down anytime soon!
Zachary is a very good boy and I am so proud of him. He is in practically every honor/AP class available this year. He loves his Spanish classes and says that he wants to be bi-lingual. He even entered a chili cook-off for the Spanish club and his team won first place for the hottest chili....and after 30 habaneros, you can bet it was HOT!!!! He is looking forward to being in the Spanish Honor Society next year. He makes pretty good grades overall and his teachers have nothing but compliments for him!

Zachary is also taller than me and he LOVES to remind me of it and does so often by picking me up! I just want him to stay my little boy but he is quickly becoming a young man that I am so very proud to call my son!! I love him with all of my heart....and who knows what I will have to say about 'his adventures' next time??