Monday, October 5, 2009

It's been a long time coming!!

And here we are....I'm SO sorry for the delay in posting. I've been straight out crazy busy with the start of school, and FINALLY things are slowing down. Let's see, what's Zoe been up to?
  • trip to the Vineyard
  • 18 month doctor's visit
  • more and more and more words and sentences
  • learning how to do more and more things
  • apple picking
  • birthday parties, baby shower, anniversary, visits, and other fun stuff
  • new games and happy times
Phew!! That's a LOT. Wanna hear about it all??

SUUUUUURE, I don't mind.

The trip to the vineyard, this year, we stayed at Grama's cottage again...we went to the fair, celebrated Uncle G's and Auntie Darcy's birthdays, and went swimming. The fair was great! Zoe was a bit apprehensive of the sounds and screams from the rides, but she was content watching the kids on the small train (next year, she'll be big enough that I think she could sit on it all by herself!). We enjoyed walking around and looking at all the animals. We had a chance to watch a little bit while a calf was being born! How exciting!

Zoe slept SO much while there...she had nice, long 3 hour naps, which was exciting for her Mommy and Daddy! She loved playing on the porch (which we gated this time, thanks to her Gaga and Papa). She was the official greeter of the campground again. And, as you might have noticed, she's given her Grandma and Grandpa B the names Gaga and Papa.

We got back from the Vineyard and had to go to the pediatrician for Zoe's 18 month appointment. Zoe weighed in at 25.2lbs and 31.5 inches. *I* think she may even be longer than that, but she was wiggling SO much on the table. So, who knows. I think things will better when they start measuring her while standing, but that isn't happening until 3, I think? Current sizes? She's basically in 18-24 month tops and 12-18 month bottoms. However, there are 18 month skirts that are still too big on Zoe, and some pants need the 18 month length, but the waists are HUUUGE. Whoever invented those waist band adjusters deserve major kudos!

Words....That'll have to be for another post. Suffice it to say, Zoe is far above where her peers are right now. I'll have to fill you all in on the words and SENTENCES our Z is saying on a regular basis. And, what she understands is just unbelieveable.

Learning to do more and more...
Zoe is a pro at climbing onto the couch and chair. She only needs help when she's wearing tighter pants...hehe She's trying like heck to figure out how to put the clip together on her high chair, and I'm sure it'll come soon enough. She's solid with a fork and spoon, and will help you clean up if you hand her a paper towel or wipe. Zoe has figured out how to get her jackets off, knows what to do when it's time to get dressed--what body parts to give us, how to "help" us. She's getting better about getting a hair clip/elastic in her hair, and LOVES to brush her teeth.

Zoe's biggest news, however, is WONDERFUL. Zoe has learned her numbers. She knows 1-9 (sometimes, 6 and 9 are both "six") but she can identify them in any order, at any time, and she loves it. She will SAY them in order when you ask her, and is SO proud of herself. So, at any time in this house, you might hear "one, two, free, four, five, sthis, sem-men, eight, nine" coming from out little Z.

I think what we're so amazed at is how QUICK she's picking things up. We tell her something once, and she has it. Sometimes it may take a second time, but not often. It's crazy how much she's learning and the connections she makes to things. Zoe can tell the difference between the coffee table and kitchen table, she knows the different names we've given to her different bears (well, understands that her princess bear is different than her other big bear). She will label things "big" if they're bigger than similar objects. She looked at a picture of Noah as a baby today, and when he asked who that was, she said "Youuuuu" (and no, that doesn't mean, "you daddy", that means "zoe"...more on that later). She did it to a picture of me as a baby as well.

What else has she learned? When it rains, or she sees even condensation out on the cars, she starts singing "rain rain go away" because I used to sing to her "Rain rain, go away, come again another day...Zoe and Mommy want to play...rainrainrainrain go away."

What did I mean by "youuu"? Zoe will NOT say her name. That and saying "please" are two things we KNOW she can say, but refuses to say. Instead, we show her a picture of herself, and ask her who that is, Zoe says, "youuuuu". Think about it, when you show a baby a picture of themselves, what do you say? you say, "oh, that's you!" and point to the picture and the baby. So, she says "youuuu" with a lot of inflection. Very cute.

Now, take it a step further. Show her a picture of the Zoe Monster from Sesame Street....she knows that they share the name. Of course, I tried, initially, to do it to see if she'd say "Zoe". But, our little smarty pants is TOO smart for that. Zoe wouldn't say it. Can you guess what she said? Yep, "youuuuu". HA!!

I'm sure there's more I"m missing. I'll get back into the swing of things and try to catch you all up. Oh, and this doesn't include all she's learning at daycare.

One more new thing....did you know how much fun it is to see Zoe try to jump? She's learning, and I think she's gotten air a couple of times. She'll go "one two three JUMP!" and then just go on her toes. It's very cute. Sometimes, she'll lift up ONE foot. It's coming! The one time I think she got air, she came down and then fell on her bum...

What else has been going on?

Zoe welcomed in a new friend, little miss Eliza Jane, who is my friend Christie's 3rd girl. Her older sisters are Grace and Abby. YAY!

Zoe brought us apple picking with Grammie and Grampie C, Auntie Jill, Uncle Jay, and Cousin Jacob. We went to a local farm that had miniature trees (but regular sized apples). The trees were so small that Zoe got to pick some herself and she didn't even try to run under the trees and away. She stayed right where we wanted her to. GO Z!!

If I've forgotten something, please let me know!!

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