Oh Zoe. I will say that we've hit a challenging couple of months. But with those challenges comes the most bubbly personality. Just when my patience is completely gone, you say something that is absolutely hilarious or do the cutest thing, and I seem to forget whatever you were doing that was upsetting me. I know that the drama will only continue as you get older… :) But you've got spunk and one heck of a personality that I love seeing shine through.
You repeat everything we say and in context.
I'll say "actually" when you try to argue with me and you now like to say it to me. For instance, I'll say you can't have any more bread. You'll then say, "I actually want bread." Yes, yes, Zoe. I know.
Whatever. Oh this word! Thankfully, it's pretty much stopped since I'm actually posting this but it was like nails on a chalkboard for a while. You'd say whatever, laugh and then say, "We don't say whatever." That's right…now don't say it!! :)
There were a slew of birthdays in your room at school and everyone brought in cake or cupcakes. When we were in FL, we had cake and you kept asking, "Can I have some birthday please?" You clearly thought all cake was birthday cake :)
We've finally hit a stride with going #1 AND #2 on the potty. You definitely need to take your time when going #2 and I came up with the idea of using the shower curtain as a "privacy curtain" so now most of the time you'll pull the curtain around you, tell me to "give you pridadcy" and do your business. It's ADORABLE. Whatever works!
You love, love, love your brother and he adores you right back. He seems to give you the biggest smiles. There have been a few times though where you get frustrated with us and take it out on him (throwing something at him or hitting him). Thankfully, that has only happened two or three times. Obviously, I know this is only the beginning, but it's not really a fair fight since he can't fight back ;)
You HATE to brush your teeth. I have to come up with a new crazy song every day it seems to get you to do it. It's so frustrating for us since it's really something that should only take two minutes but ends up taking at least 10 because have to fight with you.
You are getting better at eating different things. I've introduced "dip" which daddy seems to think was a bad idea, but I say you are 2. And most kids dip everything in ketchup so who cares if you eat a little ranch or sweet and sour sauce? It's a sure way to get you to eat cucumbers and chicken. You'll also eat red peppers now. You love it so much that you know which dip is for what. "No mommy. That dip (ranch) is for my cucumber and that dip (sweet and sour) is for my chicken."
You love, love, love to skip and hop everywhere. If you are skipping, you sing "Lou, lou, skip to my lou…" You also love to sing "Row Row Row Your Boat." Although you improvise a little…"Row row row row row, gently down the stream. Merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream…"
You also love to point things out now when we are driving. You did this before here and there mostly point out big trucks, or buses, etc. But now you'll tell me everything all at once. "I see a house, a sidewalk, a sign, grass, people" and so on and so on. You love the "honk for peace" hippies that camp out on 9 mile on Monday afternoons. You get SO excited when you see them.
Daniel Tiger has become your TV obsession. You
'll also watch Curious George but Daniel Tiger is your favorite. We've used it as bribery for going #2 :) And it helped you to sit still while you got your stitches. Thankfully, it's a show with great lessons so I can't complain in your choice of cartoons.
I love to give you kisses and you'll announce, "I just gave you a kiss!" if I try to sneak another. Then I start kissing you like crazy :)
Swimming has become your thing and you are such a fish in the water. You would have stayed in that pool 24/7 in FL if we would have let you!
One morning we were going potty and you finished your business and stood up and faced your potty and said, "Daddy stands like this!" Omg. Do NOT try to pee like that! Thankfully, I explained that's how boys/daddies go potty but girls and mommies have to sit. Now you'll stop at random places and stand there with your legs spread and tell us "Daddy stands like this to go potty! But I sit down." Thankfully you caught on quickly. The last thing that I need is for you to try to pee standing.
Oh, Zoe. We love you girl! Keep making us laugh :)
I can't believe you are already 2.5 little girl. You are so much fun, and we love you so much.
What an amazing six months we had Beckett. I can't believe it's time to go back to work already. I know you'll do fine. I know that naps will probably be horrible. I know that you'll love your teachers and make new friends. But right now, I get to see all of your firsts. I get to be in control and make sure you nap when you are supposed to. I get to make you smile. But I know from experience, it'll be ok. We'll get into our new routine. Weeknights will be hectic but weekends will be awesome.
Stats: Head 17 in (43rd percentile), weight 16 lb 11 oz (31st percentile), height 26.25 in (30th percentile). Your head and height are tracking consistently but you've bumped up in the weight (were in the 18th 3 months ago). I attribute that to your decrease in spitting up. And I love the little chunk you are finally getting on your thighs!
Likes: Swaddled. We tried to eliminate this this month, but it went horribly so we gave up and decided to try again in a few weeks. White noise. Mr. Monkey that Nana and Grandpa got you for Easter. Watching Zoe's dance parties. Paci. Having Zoe hop like a bunny toward you.
Dislikes: Loud noises…You scare VERY easily. Being overtired. Being left alone. You like to be sitting by yourself, but you need to be able to see people. You are content for a few minutes while I run around to get laundry done, etc. but it doesn't last very long.
Biggest Achievement This Month: I think we've broken you from your early morning bottle! I was down to only giving you 3 oz. I was going to go down to 2 oz. one morning, but you woke at a weird time so I just gave you your paci. You fell back asleep! Granted, you are sleeping all the way until 7am like I'd prefer, but you at least just need your paci which is much faster then making and giving you your bottle. Yay!
Biggest Challenge This Month: Trying to get rid of the swaddle. Thankfully, I called daycare and they will swaddle you there. I tried for about a week and you were just MISERABLE. Like screaming for 20 minutes. I have no problem crying it out, but I can tell when you are going to calm down and when you are past the point of being ok. And you only soothed yourself back to sleep once. You'd sleep for 20-30 minutes max, jerk yourself awake and then scream the rest of the nap. You were taking 1.5-2.5 hour naps consistently so I decided you probably just weren't ready yet. We'll get there!
Sleep: Down for the night around 7:30pm. You'd probably go to sleep earlier. You then wake around 5am for your paci. Then sometimes sleep until 6:45am straight or we have to give you your paci again. We are working on it. Your naps are at 8:45/9am, 12:30/1pm, and 4:30/5pm. Your first two naps are anywhere from 1.5-2.5 hours. Your last nap is usually only 45 minutes unless one of your first two naps were shorter, then you'll sleep longer.
Temperament/Personality: So easy going! You are starting to need a little more entertainment, but you are very content for the most part. Zoe provides all the entertainment you need on the days she is home :) It's a little trickier on days she has school (our house is getting a little boring!). Thankfully, the weather is FINALLY warmer so we've been taking walks and playing outside.
I told school yesterday that they just need to bring Zoe into the infant room if you are ever super fussy. You should light right up! Seeing you two together is just precious. She MUST give you a hug and kiss every morning before she leaves for school. She never forgets and gets very upset if daddy tries to get her out the door before she's said goodbye to you. She also has to do the same every night before she goes to bed.
Eating: You are still taking 5.5-6 oz. You take bottles at 7:00am, 10:30/11:15am, 2:30/3:30pm, 5/5:30pm, 7:30pm. The exact times depend on how long your naps are. I usually try to make sure you've slept at least 2 hours and then I'll let you go 15-30 minutes longer.
You now LOVE your cereal. We are at twice a day now. 8am and lunch time...11:30 or 12. We also introduced sweet potatoes. So obvious that you are the second child as we are *breaking* the rules a little bit and feeding you real food a few days early. You loved the sweet potatoes. Our fingers are crossed that you'll eat something green unlike your sister :)
Randoms: All size 6 month clothes. Some of these are getting a little tight! You may get to wear your FL clothes for a little bit. Still in size 2 diapers. Although, I have you in size 3 for nighttime since you are close to leaking out of size 2 now that you are sleeping through the night.
Milestones: You still are really trying to roll from your back to your belly but you aren't there yet. Still no teeth. You chomp away on your hands but there is nothing there when I feel your gums. I do see a little something on the bottom so I'm wondering if you have one working on poking through.
We love you so much little man! You are the perfect addition to our crazy, hectic life :)
Dear Beckett,
It's so hard for me to grasp that it's time for me to go back to work and you to start daycare. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital. Like with your sister, things started out a little tough. I was more prepared this time and knew things would get better, but those early months were hard. But then you just lit up. You went from crying all of the time unless you were being held, to being so content and one happy baby.
I feel so fortunate to get to be your mommy. To have spent the last six months with you at home, not having to work. Your smiles and giggles make my day. I've been able to watch you grow from this tiny little newborn who ate, slept, pooped and cried to a six month old who is chunking up and jabbers nonstop.
Going from a family of three to four has been crazy and chaotic. The schedule we had down pat was thrown out the window. But I wouldn't trade what we have now for one second. You've been the most amazing addition to this family little man. We've figured out our new normal.
Picking you up in the morning and having you smile, burry your head in my shoulder, and then "tell" me all about what you want to do for the day is the best start to my day. Those snuggles mean so much to mommy.
I'm going to miss you buddy. Weeknights will be crazy. But I'm going to eat up every second I have until it's bedtime. And I'll soak up every day of the weekends. I know this time a little more of what to expect. I know that your naps will probably be terrible at school. You probably won't eat exactly at the times I would have fed you. You might even be a little sad when we drop you off. But…I know that you'll grow to love your teachers as much as we do. You'll be sad to have to say goodbye to them every time you get bigger and have to move to the next room. You'll make new friends and eventually tell us all about who you played with and ate lunch with.
I know you are too little to remember our time alone together. But I hope you can sense the joy you bring to our family and how much we all love you.
I love you buddy. Please don't every forget that.
xoxo,
Mommy
