Zoe Louise | Eight Months

Maybe you'll start smiling again in your 9 month photo :)

How are you eight months old already!!?  Time is just flying by way to fast for mommy.

Stats: Not sure. We don't go again until your 9 month well visit.

Likes: Eating. White noise CD. Bath time. Momma Sofie.  Miss Bear and Lambie. You also love your hands. Still anything you can get your hands on. You are still very, very grabby this month. Sleeping on your tummy. Walks in your stroller. You LOVE when people jump at you.  Your pool!

Dislikes:  Getting ready for bed.  Having your nose wiped.  Getting dressed.

Biggest Achievement This Month:  Dropping a bottle and eating more solids.

Biggest Challenge of the Month: Sleeping at day care.  Will this ever change? 

Secret Tricks: Laying you down on your belly with a few pats. Picking you up and standing always seems to solve crankiness. You also love walks in your stroller.

Sleep: You still take your last bottle at 7:30pm and are down by 8pm at the latest. You are then down for the night until about 7am.  Some days you wake up a little earlier at 6:30 am and some days on the weekends you sleep until 7:30 am.  Your naps at daycare are about 40 minutes in length.  At home, you nap much better and they last at least an hour.  You've started to drop your third nap pretty much 100%.  You haven't napped on the drive home from daycare in a while.  On the weekends, we can still sometimes get you to go down depending on how your other 2 naps were.  But they say the third nap goes away at 6-9 months so we are pretty much there.  This will greatly free up our weekend evenings!!

Temperament/Personality:  Your temperament this month is hit or miss.  Some days you are super happy all day.  Then the next you are super crabby all day.  Or you are really happy until it's time to eat, then you get fussy half way through eating and are fine once we hold you.  A "wonder week" is coming up though for you, so I'm guessing that might be part of what's been happening these past few days.  You also have two, new teeth getting ready to pop through (your other bottom tooth and one of your top teeth).  But man can you be a drama queen :)  I saw that with the utmost love!  You now hate being put in your car seat, your booster, the stroller, the bike trailer, etc.  So completely straighten your body, lock yourself in position, and will NOT bend your legs.  I feel like I'm killing you just to get you into the proper position.  You are perfectly fine once you are in, but those few seconds seem like hours trying to get you in.

This totally captures 8 months for Zoe.  She NEVER sits still!!!

Our little drama queen!! :)

Even with your fussy moments, you still crack us up.  You've started to throw your head back when you want to play and be tipped upside down.  You grab onto Miss Bear and Lambie as if your life depends on them (it's so cute to see you show love to them even if they are just stuffed toys). 

Eating:  Down to 4 bottles. You're now taking about 6 oz for each of your bottles.  Depending on how well you do with solids at dinner, I sometimes give you 8 oz. before bed.  Right now your schedule is bottle when wake up, solids at 8am (breakfast), solids at 11 am (lunch), bottle around noon or 1pm, bottle around 4pm, solids at 6ish pm (dinner), bottle before bed.

Fruit is still your go to.  I've started mixing some of your veggies (the green ones) with some fruit which has helped you eat them a little more. 

We started giving you finger foods here and there.  I gave you avocado to start with.  I should have recorded that one.  Your face was beet red and you looked like you were going to spew everything you had previously eaten.  I think it was the texture of having something other than puree in your mouth :)  Since then, you'll take a few bites of watermelon and you'll try to eat your puffs.  You're still trying to master your pincer grasp.  You're getting there though!

Randoms: A mix of 6 and 9 month clothes. Mostly all 9 months. You are in size 3 diapers during the day and size 4 at night. 

I spy Zoe's tongue!! :)

Milestones:  Sitting on your own with no problems.  You can get from sitting to your belly.  You can now crawl as well.  Just one week ago, you could kind of inch forward and now you are full out army crawl.

You can pull yourself up for the most part.  We were just saying how we needed to move your mattress down.  Then I had you in your crib while I was getting your laundry together, and I turned around, and they you were.  Standing!  Stinker :)  We moved your mattress down immediately.

Teeth!  Your first tooth popped through quite a while ago (bottom).  It's not all the way up, but it's deifnintely above the surface.  It looks like your other bottom tooth might make it's appearance soon and your top gums are getting whitish as well.  So far (knock on wood), you aren't too cranky, and it hasn't affected your sleep.

Aaron is out of town for work so no comparison shots.  I really need to put those photos in a program I know how to use rather than photoshop....

Father's Day

I am so terrible at posting anything on time these days.  The excuses are endless, so I'll spare you...Anyways...

We had such a great Father's Day weekend.  Aaron had traveled to Vegas at the beginning of the week and then I went to Chicago at the end of the week so we were all ready for some R&R and time together.  Saturday I ran errands, cleaned and tried to get most of my weekend chores out of the way earlier in the day.  At night, we had friends over for a BBQ (although the weather didn't cooperate and we ate inside).

Sunday, Aaron got to pick what we did.  He played with Zoe while I ran and got his last present.  Then we got Zoe ready to play in her pool.  She LOVED it.  She probably would have stayed in it all day if we would have let her.  And a baby in a cute, little, pink bathing suit?  Cutest.thing.ever.  We threw in a few of her bath toys and she was happy as can be.  We were all having so much fun, we didn't even realize Wally had escaped and was almost to Woodward Ave.  Ugh.  We quickly wrangled him and continued our poolside fun. 

Aaron and I lounged in the back and ate lunch and read while Zoe napped.  Once she finally woke up, we all walked up to the park so she could play on the swings for a bit.  She thought they were so so, but daddy pushing her and jumping at her?  HILARIOUS! :)  Will her giggles ever stop melting my heart?  I doubt it.  We made a quick stop to 7 Eleven on our way home and then it was time to get dinner ready and start the nightly routine. 

As usual, the weekend went way too fast, but it was so nice to have such a relaxing time.  Zoe did so many projects for daddy!  She made him a card, footprints at her old daycare, and a footprint hanging thingy at her new daycare.  Then we did this which I found on Pinterest a long time ago and wanted to make sure I did when we had kids.  I thought it would be neat to update the pictures every year as she gets older. 

Five Years!

I can't believe it's already been FIVE years!  They went by so fast. And to think of all that's happened since. We bought a house, got a dog, had a horrible miscarriage, and now have the cutest and best little baby ever. 

Aaron came home from work early and surprised me with these! My parents are coming tomorrow and are going to watch Zoe so we can have a date night. Here's to another amazing five years :)

Why do I worry?

I have no idea why I worry about this little girl.  She adapts pretty well to any situation we put her in.  I called her new daycare today and Miss Penny just loves her already :)  The stinker only took a 30 minute nap so far, but that's nothing new when she's not at home.  She has even given a few suggestions on helping us introduce more solids and cutting down one bottle which are very welcome considering she's been doing this far longer than me!

(Belated) Six Month Photoshoot

We decided to take advantage of the long, warm weekend and FINALLY take Zoe's 6 month photos.  I pinned a ton of different poses I wanted to try on Pinterest.  And the great thing about us taking them ourselves is that we could do whatever we wanted, and we weren't on the time clock.  

I will say though...it is HARD work and so worth the money to pay a professional, in my opinion :)  Aaron is a Photoshop master so he's been in charge of the editing.  It's time consuming, but thankfully Aaron has been really good about doing a few photos a night so we can finish up.

And a BIG thank you to Nana for the great pictures she took of the three of us.  They turned out great!!! :)

And the perfect end to our photo shoot :)  This was randomly written on the side of the building so we just
had to take a picture next to it.  And as you can see, Zoe's pretty proud of her name being there.

Moving Daycares

I NEVER thought we'd be moving so soon.  I was dead set on finding a place and sticking with it.  Because what baby wants all that change so often?  Scratch that, this mommy can't handle change :)  I like things to stay the same.  I always have.  I get nervous and anxious about trying a new dish at our favorite restaurants.  Make my little human have to get used to a whole new set of ladies taking care of her?  No thank you.

But alas, here we are just 1.5 months into this going back to work journey and we are already moving.  I feel so pathetic not even being able to say TWO.  But like my boss said, I need to go with my gut.  And my gut tells me this is best.

We love the building Zoe is in now.  But she can't stay.  They close for the summer (teachers' kids) and she'd move to the twelve month building and we just don't get that "warm fuzzy feeling" there.  And it may sound stupid, but I want that.  These women see my baby more than I get to (which is so sad in itself), so I want to make sure it counts.  I felt terrible telling her teachers.  They keep saying how much they'll miss Zoe next week and in the fall.  I cried today when I went to pick her up and said goodbye.  I was done for as soon as Miss Linda gave me a hug and wished us luck.  But like her lead teacher said, while they'll miss Zoe "I appreciate that as a mother, you are doing what's best for Zoe."  I just hope this is what's best.

We are moving to a place where we already know one family with a little girl Zoe's age.  And I actually babysat for a little girl whose family took 2 of their 3 kids there and only pulled them out because they moved further away.

I hope this is our "forever" home.  Or at least where we stay for a long time.  A place where Zoe can make friends and love on her teachers.  Because who couldn't love these cute, chubby cheeks???

Let's just hope that some of her daddy's go with the flow attitude rubs off on her.  Because I don't think Aaron could deal with 2 of me in his life :)

Randoms

We went to the zoo again!  Beeba came to visit for the weekend before heading out for vacation, and we decided to take a drive over to see the baby warthogs.  They were so cute!

That same weekend was the annual, Eastern Market Flower Sale on Sunday.  I don't know how much money we actually save by going, but it's such a fun tradition we started a few years ago.  Every year seams to have it's own new memory.  Like the year it was cold and rainy and miserable and my mom was outfitted in her bright, yellow Momentum coat :)  Or last year where I was pregnant with Zoe and it was one of the first days I really felt like I was showing somewhat.

Zoe Louise | Seven Months

We are now closer to one year than we are to newborn.  I love, love this phase!  You are so much fun Zoe.  But I have to admit, I do sometimes miss our newborn snuggles.

Stats:  Not sure.  We don't go again until your 9 month well visit.

Likes: Eating. White noise CD. Bath time.  Momma Sofie. Mr. Hungry Caterpillar.  You also love your hands and feet.  Still anything you can get your hands on.  You are still very, very grabby this month.  Sleeping on your tummy.  Walks in your stroller.  You LOVE when people jump at you.  Wally is also funny.  Lamby...he makes diaper changes a little easier :)

Dislikes:  Being overtired. Although, you are getting better on the days/nights we have to push your naps/bedtime back a little.  We still try very hard to keep to your schedule since it always seems to affect you waking up at odd hours, but sometimes it can't be helped.  Getting ready for bed after your bath. You love the bath itself. But you'd think we were torturing you when getting you in your PJs.

Biggest Achievement This Month:  Talking.  You do not stop talking!  And I love every second of it.  The louder the better in my opinion.

Biggest Challenge of the Month:  Sleeping at day care.  And your poor, poor cold you now have and have had for 2 weeks :(  Mommy feels so bad for you!  Part of me wonders if it's allergies.  It's getting a little better but you still have days where your nose is super runny.

Secret Tricks:  Laying you down on your belly with a few pats.  Picking you up and standing always seems to solve crankiness.  You also love walks in your stroller.

Sleep: You still take your last bottle at 7:30pm and are down by 8pm at the latest. You are then down for the night until about 7am. Although, there have been a few days where your wake up is closer to 6 am.  I'm wondering if you are getting ready to drop that third nap.  Although, you are obviously tired at 4 or 5 so I hate to cut it out completely.  I just think you'll be exhausted and won't be able to make it until bedtime.  You take 3 naps during the day when at home, but not so much at daycare. Two long ones that are around 2 hours or a little more and then a short catnap from about 5-6pm.  There have been a few times this month that you haven't napped during your third nap slot and you've really done ok.  I'm taking your lead on this one.  Some days you seem to need it and some not.

Temperament/Personality:  Girlfriend, we can't get you to stop talking now!  I was so worried about your communication (or lack thereof), and then one day it was just like a light was switched.  It still amazes how FAST things change with babies.  And you are SO happy this month.  You are rarely fussy and are all smiles and giggles.

Watch out though.  You do have your diva moments.

Eating: Still at 5 feedings. You're now taking about 6 oz for each of your bottles.  We also ended nursing this month.  I just couldn't keep up anymore and you were starting to be super fussy/hungry still, so I decided it was best to just be done.

You love almost all solid food at this point.  Fruit is by far your favorite (like mother like daughter...that may have something to do with the fact that is all ate all day every day while pregnant :) ).  If there is something you don't really care for at home, you'll for sure eat it at daycare so I just send it with you there.  It must be the other kids eating that gets you so excited.  I'm trying my best to get you to a breakfast/lunch/dinner schedule with the solids and it's been going well the past week. 

Randoms: A mix of 6 and 9 month clothes. Mostly all 9 months.  You are in size 3 diapers during the day and size 3 at night. 

Milestones:  Sitting on your own for quite a while as long as you are on a flat surface.  You also started to rock while playing on your belly...I am NOT ready for you to crawl!  So you can just stop that little trick right now :)  You can do a complete 360 though while on your belly and scoot backwards so you can pretty much get to anything anyhow.  But boy do you get pissed when something is out of reach. 

As I mentioned above, you love to talk. And you have no concept of indoor voices :)  I find it absolutely adorable and don't care that I sometimes get woken up early to your jabbers.  Daddy gets a little embarrassed when we're out to eat (he's worried about ruining others dinner), but I figure who cares as long as you aren't crying :)

Outings:  Zoo!

Comparison shots!