Friday, January 30, 2009

We're Happy to Report..

Z is feeling better. Well, at least the fever is gone! She woke up with a fever of 100.2 at 6:30 this morning, and we gave her more Motrin (that stuff is the best!). And, by day's end, I think she's feeling better...the mystery of baby fevers!

She must be feeling better! She only managed a 45 minute nap this morning, and would NOT nap for me later in the day, although she really needed it. The girl just would NOT sleep! Oh well...she IS sleeping now!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Instead of 1 day off this week...

Zoe wants me to have 2! 

When I picked up Zoe from daycare today, she was a little fussy, had pink cheeks, and felt a little warm.  When we got home, she was screaming, pretty much, and was NOT our happy Z...She was burning up.  I took her temp, it was 102, gave her motrin, and then just swayed with her.  It took awhile, but she calmed down and actually fell asleep on me.  She hasn't done that since she was a newborn!!  I put Z in her crib and she slept for an hour, woke up cranky, downed a 6oz bottle, showed little interest in the cheerios I gave her, and tried to put on a happy face for her Daddy. 

That didn't last very long, unfortunately.  When we brought her back up to bed about an hour after she had been up, Noah took her temp again (this was about 2+ hours after the medication), it was 102.5...She's been sleeping, but not all that well.  If she still has that temp tomorrow, it's off to the drs we go! 

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The Mysterious Case of the Slacker Mom and Monkey Girl

Apparently, I've been a slacker.  I haven't updated this in quite awhile...well, for me, anyway! 

We've been busy!  Since the last post, I had a birthday (where I got a VERY nice new wallet to match my new bag from Christmas from Z and Noah).  Last week, Zoe decided she didn't want to nap much at day care, only managing to get 1 nap in and wanting to play with the kids instead! 

Zoe has been trying new foods, and definitely telling us her first impressions!  Today, for example, I was cutting up vegetables for chili, and Zoe was eating her dinner.  I gave her a piece of celery.  She was definitely intrigued.  So, I gave her a stalk of celery..she started eating it like an ear of corn!  Then, when she was done with that, I tried a piece of bell pepper.  She put her tongue on it, made a really funny face, and threw it on the floor.   I don't think she was as impressed with the pepper!!  :)

Zoe is becoming quite the monkey!  She has discovered that the bottom step, just before the gate on the stairs, is a great place to play.  It's really really fun to drop things in the space between the TV cabinet and the wall and then get really upset so we have to go and fish them out.  She's also learned how to climb up that step, stand there holding onto the gate, and then stepping down (without causing me to have a heart attack in the process!).  Not only that, but she is trying to figure out how to climb over the box we have set up to hold her books downstairs.  Zoe loves to climb on Noah and me, and says "up" when she does that.  Does that mean she knows what that means?  We're not sure....because she says "up" almost all the time!  :) 

Oh, I nearly forgot!  While I cook, often, Zoe will open up the bottom drawer near the stove and pull out the table cloths...She pulls them ALL out and then will often just wave them around the floor (Who knew that William Sonoma sold baby toys!?).  Well, yesterday, while I was cooking dinner, Zoe did this.  But, she added a little twist.  She decided that THAT would be a great place to sit....IN the drawer.  Now I wish I had been able to get a picture of that!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

3...

steps...

Yep.  Just now...7:16pm, Zoe took *3* unassisted steps.  She stood up, after taking a lap, crawling, around the kitchen table, and took three steps. 

Oh boy!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

Today was Noah's birthday, and Zoe was able to help him celebrate in style. She got him 2 books, one to read to her, Me and My Daddy, and a book for him to read that celebrates daddies and little girls :). She let Mommy sleep in until 7:30 and then we got up and let him sleep in a little longer. We went to lunch at La Carreta's in Nashua (Mmmmm...mexican), and Zoe spent lots of time entertaining us all!

Zoe had her first taste of salsa, but snubbed her nose at the refried beans. Ah well. She'll get there. The funniest part was when she took a taste of my lime from my drink. She made some good faces!!

Zoe wanted to tell me that she hopes that her Daddy had the BEST day. She thinks (and I think so too) that he deserves it because he's the best daddy in the whole wide world. She loves him SOO much and wants him to get all the things he dreams for!!

Skills Check!

At this point, Z is doing SOO many things!
  • "Soooo big!" (or as Uncle Jeff taught her, "Soooo much!")
  • waves to EVERYONE
  • seems to understand hi and bye
  • stands assisted and unassisted
  • walks with assistance
  • says mamama and we THINK she knows what that means
  • says "UP", dadadadada, gug gug gug, blah blah blah, ah ah ah, ha!, and various screeches
  • will give you things when you ask for them
  • will try to feed you
  • self feeds just about everything but her oatmeal and applesauce....she does NOT like it when we try to feed her things anymore!
  • "mean face"
  • dances to anything, even the songs in her head! :) She bobs her head, sways side to side, taps her foot, bounces her body up and down, and shakes her head "no"
  • She calls the cat "teetee" or "keekee" depending on her mood
  • cat food is a delicacy
  • the toilet is fascinating, as is the toilet paper
  • she plays peekaboo allllll the time. Dresses are especially fun for that!
  • Zoe bangs on ANYthing.
  • She has figured out that buttons on toys mean they make music and sound.
  • She laughs soo much!
  • She's starting to get ticklish on her neck and under her arms.
  • She definitely understands "No!" but doesn't always listen!
  • She is SO fast crawling it's crazy!
  • New rule in our house--the gate is ALWAYS up and the bathroom door is ALWAYS closed when Z is awake.
  • She's becoming such a big girl she can sometimes make it with one long nap rather than 2 all the time (I love 2 naps though :) and only reserve this for days like today when it's impossible to get the second on in!)
  • Zoe "talks" in her sleep
  • Zoe, more often than not lately, has been going to bed smiling and giggling, and not fussing at bedtime!
Favorite foods lately?
  • homemade waffles
  • pasta
  • bread (i'm sensing a theme)
  • oyster crackers
  • blueberries and cherries
  • pretzels
  • applesauce
  • ham
Things she tried and really liked?
  • salsa
  • tomato sauce
  • oranges
  • limes (this one was funny to watch!)

Time for an Update!

I know it's been awhile. It's been a busy place in the land of Zoe!!

Last weekend, Zoe's daycare provider, Laura, had gone away for the weekend. Because she was leaving Friday and wouldn't get home until Monday, we were without daycare. So, I took Friday off and spent it with Z (lots of fun!) and then Monday, her Auntie Darcy took very good care of her. Because Auntie Darcy lives an hour and a half away, this meant that Zoe got to have her VERY FIRST SLEEPOVER. We were initially a little apprehensive when the day came because for the first time in forEVER, Zoe hadn't slept through the night...She was up 3 times. So, we were worried she'd have a hard time with Auntie Darcy and Uncle Jeff, being in a new place and without Mommy and Daddy for the first time. *WE* were the wrecks. Zoe was fine. She slept through the night, tormented the dog and cat as any good 11 month old should, kept people laughing, and did what she does best, be good :) We were very happy to hear that she had a good time, and fully appreciated the updates that Uncle Jeff sent us. We met up for dinner to take little Miss Z back and got treated to an early birthday dinner for Mommy and Daddy by Auntie Darcy and Uncle Jeff. Thank you!

This week was quite busy! Monday, Zoe had spent the day with Darcy. Tuesday, she goes to daycare feeling fine. Noah got a phone call in the early afternoon from Laura, and Zoe had had a very difficult time, screaming and pulling on her ear. Soooo, off to the pediatrician we went where he diagnosed her with an ear infection. She was given antibiotics, ear drops, and motrin for the pain. After sleeping lots and lots, she was feeling better. Wednesday, she stayed home with Daddy to rest up and let the medicine do its job (she is not a fan of taking it though!). Thursday it was back to normal at day care. She also went to a meeting with Mommy that day...an all district staff meeting. *fun*

Saturday was spent with Mommy's side of the family. We met up with HER cousin Chris and his family, and her aunt Ginny. We did Christmas there, finally, and then went out to celebrate Mommy and Daddy's birthday with Auntie Jill, Uncle Jason, Cousin Jacob, and Gramma and Grampa. LOTS of fun was had by all! She showed off her latest moves to everyone!

SPeaking of which, Zoe is >< this close to walking. She stands ALL the time, with and without support. If you're holding her and then put her down, more often than not, she puts her feet straight down, wanting to stand. She loooves to walk with you holding her hands, and is getting better and better at doing it with only one hand. This morning, she was standing and slid her left foot forward, stopped, then did it again (and then fell on her bum). I swear, she'll be walking before her first birthday!!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Recent pictures!

Mommy and me...just before bed.

I'm emptying my TOY BIN! YAY!!

OH MY GOD!!! PAAAAAPER!!!!

This is the newest way to brush your teeth...and yes, she does have a real toothbrush!!

Trying to climb the stairs...

I'm not doing ANYthing wrong!

Somehow, I think they're a little big...

Um, I dunno, Daddy...are you SURE??

Look! No hands!!

The bath is SO much more fun now!!

Um, I think I'm ready to come out!

Momma, I said OUT!
Finally, the "mean face"

SO big!

"SO big!" AND the mean face!

LOVE this face!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

This just in...

There are now at LEAST 13 teeth...if not more. 

No wonder Z's sleep's been a little less than desired at the moment and she hasn't wanted to eat much other than hard animal crackers or frozen blueberries!

I promise, there are new pictures coming...just gotta upload them first!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Let's get a little political for a moment...

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story

This is an article that was posted on my mommy message board I frequent.  It's about a law that is supposedly going into effect on February 10th.  Read the article....it's a short article and won't take long.  It's interesting reading and I'll let you form your own opinion on it.

Now that you've taken a second to do that, think about what this will mean for children's clothing, toys, books, second hand stores, thrift stores, home school companies, yardsales, libraries, and even your own closets.  In an effort to expedite this bill, they worded it VERY strictly, and it includes DVDs, CDs, books, clothing, everything.  Do you think kids' clothes are expensive now?  How much more are they going to be after the companies have to do the lead testing?  Do you think the small mom and pop stores are going to stick around?  What about those consignment stores that cater to kids' clothing?  Those will be out of business. 

I'm all for keeping lead out of my kid's toys and clothes and things, but c'mon!  This is a bit overboard.  I want her to be safe, but the sweater she's wearing today is NOT going to expose her to deadly levels of lead.  The lambie she sleeps with...I highly doubt it has toxic levels of lead in it...give me a break.  I'm all for increased testing for the toys.  And, there are some watchdog websites that have posted risks for toys (I'll have to find the one I've frequented before and post it).  But, honestly, do we need to extend this to clothing? 

What do you think?  Do you think I'm being to lax or do you think this law is too ridiculous?? 

Sunday, January 4, 2009

ELEVEN!

teeth, that is...

Yep...11. At this rate, Zoe's going to have a full set in her mouth by her first birthday!! She's a teeth making machine!! She has the 4 on top in the front, the same on the bottom, and then skipped the incisors. She has the next teeth going in on the bottom, and the one on her left on the top of the same spot (next to the incisor)...

Unfortunately, she's discovered it's much more difficult to get around with those teeth than it is without...she's actually bit her lip a couple of times, poor baby. Fortunately, she likes to suck on wet face cloths, so we've been keeping those handy just to fix the boo-boos!!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Zoe vs Blueberries...


And, i'm not sure who won...Zoe has apparently not met a blueberry she doesn't like. The blueberries? Well, I think they need to run for the hills...she's deadly! They have a great self-defense mechanism, though...their juice. Zoe squeezes, juice stains. She insists on squeezing them so the juice runs everywhere, put it in her mouth, eat, and then spread the juice around. MMMM

What you've ALL been waiting for...pictures!

Meeting Cousin Taylor for the first time (he's Lil T's uncle!).

Our very own Jerry Lee Lewis!! Great balls of fire!

Ohhh yeah!! She's a piano playing FOOL!!
Christmas Eve morning opening gifts with Daddy and Mommy...She had a ball ripping the paper off the gifts!
Among the aftermath...The boxes, paper, tags, and tissue paper were the BEST GIFTS EVER.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Zoe decided to ring in the new year by staying up late...9:30! I think it's because her sleep schedule's been slowly changing due to Noah and me being home, and not having to get up so early in the morning. Oh, and more napping always helps that out.:) However, the last few days, Z's only managed one nap a day...are we headed to dropping a nap?? (say it isn't so!!)

We have lots of pictures to post, and even some video of Zoe dancing to a pointsetta (yes you read that right..). She loves that thing, and we'd like to *thank* Grammie and Grampie C for that...Yeah, it's a blast.



Pictures in another post!