Winter...So over it...

I don't mind the cold.  I don't hate snow.  For the most part.  I've lived in MI my whole life, so I know this is just part of the deal.  The spring and fall are magical and the summer is amazing.  And the beaches and quaint little towns.  And up north.  You can't beat it and it's like no where else. 

But THIS winter.  I'm done.  I know that it hasn't even been that bad for us here on the east side of the state.  I think our parents have gotten something like 80 inches.  My dad now has to shovel the snow piles on the sides of his driveway to make room for the new snow he's shoveling.  We definitely have more snow over here than most people in Detroit are used to. 

And the COLD.  Zoe's finally old enough and can move on her own that it would be fun to go play outside for a little while (ok 15 minutes).  But I can't take her out when it's minus 20 wind chill.  Can we just get some upper 20s?

I looked at the extended forecast and there is some relief in site.  High 30s!  Mid 40s!  Break out the short sleeves :)  Hopefully only a month of the REALLY crappy stuff left…

I mean, how can you resist this cutie in her snow clothes???  And the squeals of "weee" as Beeba pulls her along Wally's "poop trail."  (I promise he went to the bathroom at the END of the trail and Zoe went no where near it.)

And Beeba even enjoyed playtime with Wally.  Wally definitely enjoyed it as you can see by him knocking her over in the two feet of snow.  For the record, I did yell outside to see if she needed my help and she promised she was ok in between her tears of laughter.

Our Little Diva

I knew it would happen eventually.  There was no way we'd escape the whiny-ness or the "diva" moments.  After all, we have a girl and she's my daughter ;)  But Zoe has become very opinionated recently.  She squawks often, she screams when she doesn't get her way, she's even started to throw herself on the ground sometimes.  And I'm so not ready for this.  I don't have a book for this stage!  (That's for you mom.)

It's all so new that it's often quite funny, and I have to work hard to hide my laughter.  Zoe can really understand a lot, so I try my best to explain why she can't have something or redirect her to stop the tantrum.  My guess is that a lot of these "moments" happen because she's frustrated that we don't understand her.  She can say a few words now, but most aren't very helpful to understand what she wants.  I know this must be an extremely hard time for her - she can understand us but we can't understand her.  I can't wait until she can say more words to get her point across.

I've noticed that it's the worst on weeknights when I'm home by myself trying to get her dinner ready.  She's cranky from a long day at school.  It's extremely close to "I'm starving mom!" time.  She just wants to be held but it's rather difficult to make dinner for her and hold her at the same time.  So I spend most of my weeknights trying to give her activities that will keep her busy for the 15 excruciatingly long minutes it takes me to get her dinner ready.  Unless it's something new and exciting (like giving her a can of soup to play with - I know, thrilling), she usually ends up sobbing at my feet with her arms outstretched and I feel like the worse.mom.ever.  She gets an afternoon snack at school so I try to tell myself she can't be dying of starvation.  I just feel horrible seeing those big tears come out of her eyes.  Not to mention, she's clumsier the more worked up she gets so she usually trips over her feet or bonks her head on the cupboard or something.  I've tried giving her something small to eat while I whip her dinner together, but then she's not hungry for dinner and getting good food rather than a snack is important. 

Then there's her milk or maaaa as she calls it.  All bets are off once she sees that sippy cup.  I've started hiding it from her until she eats real food first.  This girl will chug her entire cup before touching her food.  If we take it away, her life is over and she sobs hysterically.  There is no reasoning even though she knows we'll give it back after a few more bites.  Thankfully, she understands that once it's gone, she can have water but mo more "maa."

I guess we'll just go with it and hope that as the roads get better, Aaron will be able to get home sooner to help provide some relief. 

But thankfully she's all smiles once her belly is full.

Zoe Louise | 15 Months

Now that we've passed one year, these will be much less formal.  I'd like to still recap ever three months or so to remember milestones and when things happened.  It's been a BIG three months.

She weighs 26 lbs 3 oz (95th percentile - she's finally leveled off), 30.75 inches tall (69th percentile) and 18.5 head circumference (85th percentile - her head didn't grow at all from last time).

Zoe is now officially walking 100%.  She really took off a few weeks after her first birthday and hasn't looked back.  She'll crawl randomly here and there when she's playing hide and seek with Aaron (she can't really run yet, so I think she's trying to get away fast).

She still LOVES to read.  I have every book memorized.  Thankfully, she got a few new ones at Christmas to add to the rotation.  Baths were becoming a bawling fest again so we decided to try out the big girl tub and she is back to creating tidal waves.  Maybe she was just too cramped in the baby tub and wanted freedom.

It amazes me how much she understands.  She can only say a handful of words, but she really seems to understand a ton of what we say.  She'll get her shoes (or any ones) when we ask her.  She lays her head down when we tell her too.  She can point to her belly, her ears, her nose and her feet.  She brings books when we tell her to pick out a new story (and we can even tell her the exact book).  Etc., etc., etc.  It's crazy.  So far she can say, Momma, Dadda, baby, shoe, please (on occasion), dog, oh no!, no no, yes, all (for all done), mine, night night, and bye.

She's always looking for who's "in" the iPad when we iChat with family.  She's constantly walking around it or pulling it down thinking that the person is going to be right there.  Nope, unfortunately not.  I think it's super cute, but I'm sure it's just a very strange concept for her.

She's moved to the Young Toddler room at daycare.  It was so bittersweet seeing her leave the infant room.  She really came to love those teachers.  So much so that she'd jump out of our arms as soon as she saw Miss Penny.  She seems to be doing really well though with the other YT kids and teachers.  She's been a little sad for drop off on occasion but usually brightens right up.  She even naps well on the cots.  She's only taking one nap at daycare and very recently just one nap at home too.  Her daycare naps are SO MUCH better now, but her nap at home hasn't really extended much now that she's down to just one.  But she does sleep in most weekends until 8 am so maybe that's a factor (I'll take the extra hour in the morning...I don't nap).

Sleep is still great for the most part.  Naps are better at daycare (FINALLY).  Napping is pretty great at home with now just one, 2 hourish nap.  She still goes down at 7:30 or 8 and is up at 7 on school days and 8 on weekends.  She's had a few rough nights though where she wakes up screaming multiple times.  She'll usually go back to sleep on her own but it's making Aaron and I insanely exhausted.  It usually has coincided with colds or teeth.

We still have a vegetarian on our hands for the most part.  Ham seems to be a winner sometimes and she'll eat chicken every once in a while.  It's getting tricky to get iron into her diet!  She downs her Greek yogurt so thankfully protein isn't an issue.

Getting rid of bottles was a snap!  We cut out the morning one pretty quickly.  The night time one was becoming an issue because she was so upset when she was done after only three oz.  I knew she wasn't hungry and just wanted to suck.  So I finally said one night enough was enough and we cut cold turkey and she did amazing!

She's still in mostly 18 months clothes.  Some times are getting tight though so my mom and I stocked up on some 24 months clothes from Once Upon a Child.  She wears size 4 diapers during the day and 5 at night.

She has her 4 front top teeth, 3 bottom front, and her 15 month molars (all 4).  We went to her 15 month checkup and Dr. Butry was checking out her mouth and said something about molars.  I was like, "Wait? Did you say she has her molars?"  I had NO idea!  They aren't all the way through yet but all 4 have poked through.  I feel horrible that I didn't know!

Minus the meltdowns that occur at night while I'm trying to make her dinner solo, I love love love this age.  She is so much fun and so darn cute.  I wish I could bottle up everything she says, all of the funny things she's doing, and her crazy giggles and screams so I don't forget one second of what she's doing and what she's like at this stage.  I do miss the newborn snuggles, but I love the kisses (even if they are open mouthed) and hugs I finally get back :)

Holiday Recap

Yes, we are still alive over here.  It's been a crazy two months since her birthday!

We had a low key Halloween.  We decided to go DIY this year, and Zoe was a jazzercise baby.  I thought she looked pretty freakin' cute if you ask me.  Those thighs and that belly.  Too much.  The weather was horrible, so we didn't go out (I figure she's only one - she could care less), but thankfully she got to celebrate at school.

Before Thanksgiving, we headed to Bay City to visit my college roommate and her little girl.  Zoe was only a few months old the last time, so it was fun to see the girls interact more and play together.  Zoe was very interested in Grace's socks and was a good sport when Zoe decided to start taking them off.

Then came Thanksgiving.  We went to my in-laws early this year since we'd be heading back to Detroit a little early.  It was so nice to have a few extra days off.  The house was packed with almost the whole family (the Seattle siblings didn't make it home), but I know my mother-in-law wouldn't have it any other way :)  It was so so much fun to see everyone.  And thank you to all of Zoe's aunties and uncies who read her Barnyard Dance a million times.  Saturday we started a new tradition of having my brother and his husband over for for dinner with my parents (his family is from OH so getting to GR would be quite the drive).  It was great seeing them too.  They live in CA and we don't see them nearly enough.  I miss my little brother.

Since Thanksgiving was so late this year, that gave us just a few short weeks until Christmas to pack in shopping and getting ready to travel back to GR.  My mom and I had out annual Christmas adventure.  This year we chose Frankenmouth.  It was FREEZING, but we had lots of fun.  Sadly, my grandpa passed away so Zoe and I made an unexpected trip back for the funeral.  She got to see Aunt Jodi and Uncle Andrew since they flew in as well.  The following weekend Nana came to babysit while we finished up our shopping and went to a friend's Christmas party.  Nana even braved making cookies with Zoe...they tasted delicious!

Uncle Andrew and Uncle Nick flew in the week before Christmas and we all headed home minus Aaron and Wally (he had to work on the 23rd).  The days were filled with Christmas parties, baby showers, family outings, etc.  It was crazy busy but so much fun to see everyone. 

I always hate the letdown after the holidays.  We are left with freezing temperatures and not a whole lot of excitement in the near future :(  I did book my trip to Cali though to visit my BFF and her little bundle come May (and Jon of course!)...OC reunion here we come!  Is it May yet??

Zoe Louise | 12 Months

This post is so bitter sweet.  You've become so much more active and fun as each month passes, but I can't help but feel a little sad thinking we are moving further and further from the baby months.  It's so hard to believe how little you were one year ago.  And how heavy you seemed when we had to walk around and bounce you for hours every night before we made it to your 11-11:30pm bedtime.  We have come so far.  You are SO much bigger and your bedtime is now right where we wanted it at 7:30pm.  But those aren't even the best parts.  You make every day amazing Zoe.  You make waking up so easy, coming home from work the best, and your cheesy smile is the highlight of my day.  You are my heart baby girl.  

Stats:   24 lb 7 oz (95th percentile), 29.5 inches long (65th percentile), and head is 18.5 in (92nd percentile).  I don't want to see those thighs go!  And cutest thing ever.  I'll ask you where your belly button is while we are getting dressed and you'll suck in her stomach to find it (because your belly is too big to see it when it's relaxed).  Seriously, how can you not love chubby babies???  Dr. Butry said you should start to slim down now that you're weening off of the bottle and eating mostly table food.  And you're walking now too!

Likes: Bugging Wally although you are starting to get a little more gentle.  Wally's toys especially Moo Cow.  Hopefully soon you'll realize his toys don't belong in YOUR mouth.  Bath time and being a rebel and standing in the bath.  SPLASHING!  Walks.  Playing chase around the house.  Dancing.  Pretend falling.  Reading books.  FLYING with daddy.  Opening and closing doors.  Throwing all of the DVDs on the floor and looking through them intently.  Using all of your toys as walkers - even your activity table.

Dislikes: Getting ready for bed (I am so ready for this to be over).  It only happens here.  You are fine when we are out of town so part of me wonders if you just know that here your bottle is coming, but when we change it up and you aren't at home, you just don't know when that bottle will come.  Getting rid of these last two bottles is going to be terrible I think. Having your nose wiped. Having your diaper changed.  Leaving Wally outside when we get home from daycare during the week.  Having mommy or daddy put you down while we make dinner.

Biggest Achievement This Month:  Taking your first steps!  You do pretty well now.  You are walking like a zombie though to keep your balance :)  So cute.  When we were out shopping and daddy was taking forever, I had to get you out of the stroller to keep you occupied and you wanted nothing to do with being held.  You preferred to walk all around the men's department.  And you didn't care where you were going or who was in your way.  Does that mean I lost the bet and owe Grandpa Corner Bar?

Biggest Challenge of the Month: Sleeping at day care.  Of course!

Secret Tricks: Redirecting you when you are upset with toys or Wally.  Walks outside.  I have no idea what we'll do when it's cold.  Flying you through the house.  This is what daddy does when you are whining while I make dinner.  I don't think you are actually super hungry but more so over tired since it always happens on weekdays.

Sleep: You still take your last bottle at 7:30pm and are down by 8pm. You are then down for the night until about 7am. The weekend we were home for Nana's birthday, you slept until 8am both days.  I didn't know what to do with myself!  Your naps at daycare are about 40 minutes in length. At home, you nap much better and they last almost 2 hours still. You still nap on the way home from daycare if your naps during the day weren't good.  I usually let you sleep in the car (with the windows down) for a little bit when we get home.  

Temperament/Personality:  You are starting to be able to play independently a little longer now.  I can leave you in your crib or in your room with books and you'll sit pretty well for quite sometime just reading to yourself (you'll make Nana proud!).  Weeknights right before dinner are hard on you when we are trying to get dinner around.  But then you light right up again once you are done.  

You've started doing the cutest things at dinner and it's so hard not to laugh.  First, you pick up certain pieces of food (and I can't figure out why they are chosen) and put them from your tray back on the table.  Sometimes you'll eat them if I put them back on your tray.  And you don't do it with a lot of food, just a few select pieces.  Then, when you are finished, you start smearing the remaining food all over your tray.  This means that quite a bit ends up on the floor for Wally.  We are trying to teach you not to do this.  But you just think it's even more funny when we gently but firmly tell you no and stop you.  I literally have to get up sometimes so that I don't laugh in front of you.  Thank goodness for wood floors and a dog who is a vacuum swifter.

You still do really well eating out (knock on wood).  We've gotten pretty good at knowing when you are having an "off" day and it's just not worth the fight.  But you are great most weekends and get everyone around you smiling and chatting with you.

Having us help you walk is now your preferred mode of travel.  You've gotten really good and turning your arms to guide us where you want to go.  And you hold on to our fingers for dear life.  Mine usually turn purple if we go for a long walk.

Eating:  You are down to 2 bottles now.  You have one 6 oz. bottle when you wake up and one when you go to bed.  Then you have two sippy's with milk in them.  For now, I've been trying to keep track of your milk intake since I'm not sure you are eating enough solids, but you are getting better and better so I don't think I'll have to worry much longer.  

You are exclusively on milk now.  We transitioned at the start of this month (4 oz formula, 2 oz milk then 2 oz. formula, 4 oz. milk).  You did really well with no issues.  It's so nice to just pour the milk into a bottle/cup rather than worrying about mixing and shaking.  

Your solids are getting better and better.  Your list of likes is getting longer.  I basically have a rotation you eat over and over.  I make sure to give you a taste of everything but stick with what works to make sure you eat.

Foods you love: bananas, peaches, pancakes, egg yokes, nutri grain bars, veggie straws, gold fish, yogurt, quesadillas, ravioli, pasta, Beeba's mac and cheese, bagels and sweet potato wedges.  You tolerate pears and sandwiches with cream cheese and jelly.

Randoms: All 12 and 18 month clothes.  The size 12's just fit now.  You are in all size 4 diapers (day and night).   

Milestones:  You can walk with your toys. You've taken a few steps on your own.  You have 6 teeth.  You can walk!!!

You are talking more and more.  You FINALLY say "Momma".  But it sounds like you say "no" but it's clear you have no idea what it means since you say it when you mean yes and no.  You can say "yeah" again not the right context all the time.  But your sounds are exploding.  I do think you can say dog though and actually mean it.  Who would have thought?

Happy one year little girl.  You've truly made the last year the best year.  I can't wait to see what year two has in store.  Love you!

Awkward School Photos…Already?

I never thought that at just under 12 months, Zoe would already have that awkward school photo.  You know the ones with the terrible backgrounds, terrible hair, or an outfit that your mom swears you picked out even though it looks HORRIBLE.  I'm pretty sure the only thing that would make these better would be the laser background from back in the day (you know the one).

Of course, we had to buy a few.  I have a feeling we'll get sucked in every year….

Birthday Party!

With Zoe's birthday so close to the October 15 work deadline, I knew I should start thinking about her party well in advance of the actual date.  We talked about themes and decided on fall and splashes of pink.

I found Simply Adorable Gifts on Etsy and she made the adorable onesie.  She was so great to work with and the quality is great as well.  I made the tutu for almost nothing (tulle is so cheap!).  And the leggings are from Carters that my mom and I found when we bought her a Halloween outfit.

I painstakingly made the wreath.  I've made one other for Christmas and I love how they turn out, but I hate having to wrap them.  It takes forever.  But I'm glad I did it.  This can be used all fall.



I got the tissue paper poof idea from Pinterest.  I did these for my sister-in-law's baby shower and loved how they turned out.

The other fall decoration ideas came from Pinterest as well.  We also made a picture banner from months 1-12 that I don't have a good picture of.

I have so so many Pinterest recipes pinned, but I knew I just wouldn't have time with the party being on Saturday and me having to work all week.  So we went with simple.  We had Jimmy Johns sandwiches, veggies and dip, a few other dips from Pinterest, and various deserts.  Delicious!  And a huge thank you to everyone who helped with the food.  And thank you to my brother who was a major help on Friday and wasn't able to stay and enjoy :)

Even though my sister couldn't make it into town, she still joined in the festivities on Friday night.  Gotta love technology!

To say Zoe had fun smashing her cake is an understatement.  I found an idea on Pinterest to make a pumpkin cake out of two bunt takes.  I then cut the stem off of one of our real pumpkins, and voila!  A pumpkin cake.

The day of her party was perfect.  While I would have preferred for it to be warmer, I think we're in for many more cold birthdays for Miss Zoe.  So many family members made the drive over to celebrate.  It meant so much to have family and friends there to celebrate.  This little girl is definitely loved.  

Happy birthday!!!!