Zoey - 18 Months

Time is a jerk.  And a thief.  Zo Bug is 18 months old today.

And she's just as thrilled about it as I am.

Weight: 21 pounds 5 ounces (34th percentile)

Height: 31 1/2 inches (41st percentile)

Head Circumference: 17 inches (1st percentile)

- She is so busy.  I thought Cam was busy at this age, but man.  She brings the energy.

- Super, duper chatty and says mama/mommy, dada/daddy, bubba, papa, gaga, Flo, thank you, please, hi, bye, milk, book, outside, shoes, uh oh, ow, ouchie, kitty, doggy, yes, no, bath, potty, poo poo

- Wears mostly 12 month clothing, with some 18 month items thrown in the mix

- Still a happy gal, but sass and a little attitude has started to show itself

- Climbs on all the things despite our repeated attempts to tell her not to

- Managed to climb out of her pack and play at daycare just this week

- Her favorite toy is still her lovey, Flo, and whatever else Camden is trying to play with

- Her favorite book is If Animals Kissed Goodnight

- She is all about watching Finding Dory right now

- Continues to be fearless and a tiny destructor

- Puts all the things in her mouth

- Stands on her tip-toes when she's trying to poop

- Started "tots" gymnastics class

- She dances like no child I've ever seen

- Tries to sing "Let it Go," "Try Everything," "ABC's," and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

- Has 12 teeth

- Prefers to eat food off other people's plates instead of her own, even if it's the exact same thing

- Loves ketchup, sour cream, and ranch dressing. So much so that she doesn't care about eating actual food with the condiments.

- Gets really, really, really mad when it's time to get out of the bath

- Loves to take showers with Mommy

- Can count to 10

- Likes to sit on the potty even though she doesn't do any potty business

- Tells us when she's gone poo poo

- Loves to give kisses, hugs, high fives, and fist bumps

- Loves to dress up and put on clothes, shoes and accessories

- She adores the men in her life - Camden, Daddy, Papa, Uncle Joshy, Chris, and Jason

- Knows she's adorable and funny

We're in trouble with this little firecracker.

Zo Zo, I love you so.

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 15 Months

It goes without saying that I'm in a bit of denial over this 15 months business.  She just turned one, right?!

Weight: 19 pounds 3.4 ounces (21st percentile)

Height: 30.5 inches (49th percentile) 

Head Circumference: 17.5 inches (19th percentile)

I am a terrible mother and didn't document Cam's 15 month stats, but something tells me he was bigger in all aspects.

- Wears mostly 12 month clothing.

- The happiest of the happy babies.

- Has discovered running.

- Continues to climb on everything despite being told not to.

- Favorite toys are balls, baby dolls, Flo, and anything that Cam is trying to play with.

- Has no fear.  Of anything.

- Destructor of anything in her path.

- Is a dancing queen.

- Has eight sharp teeth.

- I swear her hair grows inches overnight.

- Loves to eat and steal food.  She also loves to feed anyone within arm's length and Sonny.

- Is super vocal and chatty.  Says mama, dada/daddy, bubba, papa, gaga, Fo (Flo), thank you, hi, bye, wa dat (what's that), outside, ball, shoes, uh oh, ow, ouch, kitty, doggy.

- If you say "one, two..." she will say "eeeeeeee!"
-Can point to her head, nose, and ears.

- Really loves to give kisses and neck-squeezing hugs.

- Loves wearing hats, jackets, and shoes.

- Is drawn to boys/men over girls/women.

- Shakes her head "no" when she doesn't want something.

- Points to the refrigerator when she wants milk.

- Waves to any and all strangers.

- Genuine heart-melter.

- Adores her big brother more than ever.  Seriously, their relationship is beyond adorable and I am trying to cherish every minute.

Take Luck,

LP 



Zoey - 12 Months

And just like that.  My baby girl is ONE.

Weight: 18 pounds 4 ounces (26th percentile)

Height: 28 3/4 inches (35th percentile)

Head Circumference: 17 inches (10th percentile)

For comparison, Cam was 19 pounds 8 ounces (8th percentile), 28 inches long (6th percentile) and had a head circumference of 18 inches (32nd percentile) at 12 months.

- Still rocks 9 month and 6-12 month clothing.  I tried to put her in a 12 month jacket the other day and it nearly swallowed her whole.

- Up until this past week has been the happiest of the happy babies.  Teething is kicking her sweet nature to the curb and left us with a crab.

- She is officially a walker.  We were counting her steps for awhile but once we got to 15... We stopped.

- Climbs on everything, and does not stop moving.
- Goes from sitting to standing (without pulling herself up on something).
- Bear crawls.

- Favorite toys are her push car, picnic basket, and baby doll.  And whatever Cam is playing with.  And Flo.  Cannot forget Flo.

- Still finds incredible joy in splashing in Sonny's water or tipping it over entirely.

- Climbs the stairs like a cheetah.

- Had her first sinus infection.

- Has four a half teeth.  I say half because one on top has almost totally poked through but is taking it's sweet ass time.  I think the bottom two are next.

- Loves to eat, though she seems to be getting pickier.  She deliberately picks through her food to eat the fruit before the veggies and/or meat.

- Is super vocal and her little voice just melts my heart.  She says "hi," "uh oh," "ow," "mama," and "dada."  Sometimes I swear she says "thank you" and "kitty."

- Shakes her head no, but I'm pretty sure most of the time it's just for fun.

- Blows kisses by putting her palm to her mouth and then repeatedly smacking herself in the face.
- Gives super enthusiastic high fives.

- Waves "hi" and "bye" with both hands facing toward herself.

- Covers her ears or brings her hands up to her face when you tell her "ah ah" (no).

- Does not like it when Sonny barks incessantly and will scurry to the nearest adult to be held and snuggled.  She is also scared of the vacuum.

- Likes to feed people and steal food off of your plate.

- Loves to wrestle with Cam and sometimes is the instigator.

- Loves to "try on clothes" by putting them over her face, on her head, and around her neck.
- Is seriously a water baby.  She tries to swim out of my arms at the pool and sticks her face underneath the spout in the bathtub.

- Has lots of little eczema patches on her back and chest that come and go no matter how much eczema lotion I apply.

- Adores her crazy big brother.  She doesn't care that I come to retrieve her in the morning.  I pick her up and she immediately peeks around to look for him.

Zoey Grace.  Words cannot describe how happy it makes me and how grateful I am to be your mommy.  I have loved getting to know you this past year and seeing you grow into the spunky and sweet little bug that you've become.  You truly are a joy to be around and your daddy, brother, and I simply adore you.  My greatest hope is that you grow up to be a strong woman, who believes that her worth is not determined by what is on the outside - but on the inside.  Watching you grow is incredibly bittersweet and I can't wait to see what you have to offer this world.  I love you to the moon and stars.  You are my littlest love.

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 11 Months

I literally feel as though I was just typing out Zoey's 10 Month post.  April flew by and I am not super happy about it.  The countdown to her first birthday has begun.

- The petite princess still wears the crown.  Last week her weight was 18 pounds 5 ounces but I have no idea how long she is.

- Fits into 9 month and 6-12 month clothing.  We still roll a lot of pant legs.

- Happy and chill until you take away her toy or keep her from doing whatever naughty thing she was doing. Then she's not very happy and really quite dramatic.

- Pulls herself up on everything, climbs on anything she can, and cruises along the furniture.

- Can stand unassisted but mostly has no interest in taking any steps.  I say mostly because she has taken a few steps in the last few days.

- Is crazy about the push car and loves to walk behind it and scoot herself along while sitting on it.

- Is crazy busy.  Her favorite activities include getting into the dog's water bowl, climbing the stairs, climbing into the entertainment center, and putting anything she can find into her mouth.

- Being told "ah ah" (no) only makes her crawl faster towards whatever it is she shouldn't be crawling to (i.e. dog's water bowl, the stairs, the entertainment center).

- Had pneumonia for the second time and was not at all interested in having her breathing treatments.

- Still has only four teeth (two on top, two on bottom) but I think the next top two will be along soon.

- Hasn't met many foods she doesn't like and most of the time eats as though it's been days since she was last fed.

- Has started head butting and this is my least favorite development.  Usually my nose or my mouth are the recipients and she thinks it's a hoot.

- Puts phones, remotes, and the baby monitor up to her head and says "hi."

- Claps when you say "yay" and has very recently started waving hi/bye.

- Has discovered her tongue (as evidenced in her official 11 month portrait).

- Signs "all done" when she is done eating.  Or when she was over her breathing treatment.

- Loves to dance.

- Wants to do whatever Cam is doing, play with whatever he's playing with, and eat whatever he is eating.  You can tell she thinks he's the best thing ever.  And he thinks she's obnoxious.  They do have some sweet moments together and when they make each other laugh it is the sweetest sound I've ever heard.

- Sister is going to be a tough cookie thanks to her big brother.

Oh, Zo Zo.  I love you so.

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 10 Months

We've entered double-digit months and I am feeling all the feelings.  This is such a fun age, but I would honestly be OK if this next month dragged a little tiny bit.

- Still a petite little peanut.  And I cannot tell you how many strangers say, "is she small for her age?" I can never think of a sassy rebuttal so if you think of one - please let me know.  I'd guess she's somewhere between 17 and 18 pounds.

- Slowly fitting into her 9 month and 6-12 month wardrobe.  We roll a lot of pant legs.

- Speaking of wardrobe.  I am having a lot of fun dressing her.

- So happy.  And chill.  And wins "favorite child of the day" almost daily.  Just kidding.

- Has two crawling speeds - leisure and turbo.  The difference is what she does with her head.  If it's up, she's in leisure mode and if it's down, she's gone turbo.

- Pulls herself up and climbs on everything.

- Will sometimes cruise along the furniture.

- Uses the little push car to "walk" but hasn't figured out that her knees bend so she looks a little like a young Forrest Gump.

- I thought having a girl would mean a more sedentary baby (compared to Cam) but I was very, very, very wrong.  In fact, she might even be busier than he was at this age.  And he was walking.  So, that's frightening.

- Now has four teeth - two on the top and two on the bottom.

- Overnight sleep and naps continue to be good.  Every once in awhile she will protest her afternoon nap.

- Is loud.  She is constantly babbling and letting you know that you are in her presence.  

- Says "uh oh," but not really.  She repeats us by saying "ah ahhhh" and does the inflections with her little voice without actually saying the words.

- Puts all the things in her mouth.  Paper, rocks, chalk, twigs, beauty bark, dog food, grass, whatever.

- Other than hard boiled eggs, she hasn't met a food she didn't like.

- Baths are her love language.

- Has earned the nickname "bootylicious" because girlfriend has junk in her trunk.

- If you take something away from her, she will dramatically put her head face down on the floor.

- Finds Camden absolutely hysterical and wants to do whatever he is doing.  Despite our demands that he be gentle with her, he can get quite rough.  She tolerates it because it means he's paying attention to her.  

Oh, Zo Zo.  I love you so.

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 9 Months

Another month here and gone and I continue to only come to this space to update on Zoey.  Some things don't change much around here but Miss Zo Zo sure does.  I cannot believe we are entering into the last quarter of her first year of life!

Weight: 16 pounds 12 ounces (26th percentile)

Height: 26 3/4 inches (19th percentile)

Head Circumference: 16 1/2 inches (8th percentile)

(For comparison, Cam was 18 pounds 10 ounces (23rd percentile), 27 1/2 inches long (29th percentile) and had a head circumference of 18 inches (66th percentile) at 9 months.

- Still wearing 6 month clothing and swims in anything that's 6-12 months.

- Is just as happy as could be.

- Progressed from army crawling to full blown crawling.

- Is pulling herself up to stand on everything she can - the couch, coffee table, dressers, drawers, her crib.

- Has discovered the joys of pulling the DVDs off of the shelf.  And splashing in the dog's water bowl.

- Still only has the two bottom teeth but I don't think the top two are far away.

- Overnight sleep remains really good and I am still enjoying it while it lasts (see above).

- Naps are still overall really good and she consistently takes two a day.

- Might be spitting up less (finally)?

- Had pneumonia that required at-home breathing treatments.

- Is very vocal and a constant babbler, saying "dadadada," "mamamama," and "nanananana."  Not that she associates those with Ryan, me, or whatever "nananana" means.

- Has a serious attachment to her lovey, Flo.

- Gives very slobbery, very open mouthed kisses.

- Laughs when I brush her teeth/gums.

- Squeals and kicks her legs when we go in the bathroom for bath time.

- Loves "swimming" in the pool at the YMCA.  I think I need to start wearing goggles because of how much she splashes.  She seems very natural and relaxed in the water and even lets me lay her on her back to back float.

- Adores her big brother.  Cam can get pretty rough with her and she still just smiles and laughs and thinks he hung the moon.  Even when he's laying on top of her.

- Hasn't seemed to meet a food that she doesn't like.  We rely heavily on her Munchkin food net and she loves it.

Zo Zo, I love you so.

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 8 Months

I blinked and another month flew by.  I've been silent over here, but I knew I had to carve out the time for this post or I would be mad at myself for not documenting Zo Zo's 8th month.

- No firm weight or fun growth statistics until next month but I would guess she's around 15 pounds.  Formula and solid foods have done her good but she's still a tiny little thing.

- Wears 6 month clothing.

- The happiest and smiliest baby in all the land and thinks whatever Camden is doing is just the funniest thing ever.

- Her eyes are most definitely brown and she's growing more hair that I love fashioning into a little mohawk after her bath.

- Speaking of baths - sister absolutely loves the water.  We stopped using her bath seat since she sits up so well and upon being placed in the tub, she immediately flops onto her belly and starts splashing and squealing.  She has no fear.

- Army crawling is still her preferred mode of transport.  She will get up on all fours and rock and even move her legs forward, but quickly flops down and drags her little tummy across the floor.  

- Can pull herself up onto her knees and is desperately trying to pull herself up onto her feet.  She loves to stand at the coffee table.

- I don't know how but will push herself up into a plank position.

- Reaches her arms up when she wants to be picked up or held.

- Still has just two bottom teeth and puts everything she can right into her mouth.

- Overnight sleep has been really good lately and I am thoroughly enjoying it while it lasts.

- Naps are overall pretty good too and most days she takes one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

- Had her first double ear infection.

- Says "dadadadada," "mamamamama," and "nanananana."

- Started making a (hysterical) duck face.

- Loves her baby food and we're slowly introducing table food.  So far she's had Puffs, bananas, noodles, sweet potatoes, and waffles.

Zo Zo, I love you so.  We are so lucky that you are ours.

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 7 Months

Another month here and gone already.  December was a really hard month, so in ways I was happy to say "see ya never" to December 2015, but it also pains me that my Zo Zo continues to grow right before my very eyes.

- No idea on weight.  My guess is the petite princess is somewhere between 14 and 15 pounds.  But let's be honest - probably closer to 14.

- Wears some 3-6 and 6 month clothing.  The 6 month stuff is still a little big but that's ok!

- Happy.  Smiley.  Chatty.  All.  The.  Time.  Smiles for no one like she smiles for Ryan and laughs for no one like she laughs for Cam.

- Hair seems to have sprouted a little more this month.  At least I think so since my Dad commented on it.  If he noticed then certainly there must be some difference.  I think I need to let go of saying her eyes are "dark hazel" because strangers will comment on how pretty her "brown eyes" are.

- Is an army crawling little pro.  I swear she rarely stops moving - especially if she sees something she wants.  She gets up on all fours and rocks a lot but hasn't figured out how to truly crawl and I'm more than fine with that.

- Is trying to pull herself up on things and I am not encouraging it.

- Sits up unassisted.

- Had her first Christmas.

- Two bottom teeth just popped through on New Year's Eve.  They've just barely broken the surface, but they are there.

- Sleep is still hit or miss.  She has slept through the night the past two nights so I'm hopeful we might see some (temporary) light.  I know how much of a roller coaster the first year of sleep is, so we'll see.  

- Naps are overall better.  Hallelujah!

- Had croup and needed two steroid shots to get her stridor and breathing under control.

- Experienced her first snow.

- Gives me the best greeting when I pick her up from daycare.  She practically leaps out of the arms of whoever is holding her and I love it.

- Puts anything and everything in her mouth - especially Camden's toys.  

- Sometimes cries if you take something away from her (thank you for rudely taking your toys away from her, Camden).

- We stopped nursing just a few days ago and switched to exclusive formula.  This may have something to do with why she's sleeping better overnight - she's actually full and satisfied.  

- Loves her some baby food, especially sweet potatoes, squash, bananas, and prunes.  She is not so much a fan of green beans but tolerates them more than she does peas.  And boy is she impatient when waiting in between spoonfuls.

  

Oh, Zo Zo.  You are such a sweet little lady and so incredibly loved.

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 6 Months

Six months.  Half a year.  I just don't know how this is possible.  I'll just sit here in denial and weep about it while I tell you about my sweetheart.

- Her six month well check-up is tomorrow so I will have to wait to post her exciting growth stats.  My hope is she's around 14 pounds.  To compare, at six months, Cam weighed 15 pounds 12 ounces.

Update on growth:

Weight: 13 lbs 13 ounces (10th percentile)
Height: 25 inches (23rd percentile)
Head Circumference: 16 inches (11th percentile)

The doctor was so happy with her growth (especially compared to last time) that she printed me out a picture of her growth chart because she said it was so "beautiful."  Ha!

- Wears some 3 month and mostly 3-6 month clothing.  I've tried dressing her in 6 months stuff just to get some new things in the mix but she swims in them.

- Continues to be happy, happy, happy, smiley, smiley, smiley, and chatty, chatty, chatty.  She smiles with her whole little body - especially for Ryan.

- Hair continues to grow a bit more on the top and is starting to fill in a bit on the sides and back.  She has a lovely bald strip in the back from sleeping.  Her eyes baffle me daily.  I'm clinging to calling them "dark hazel" - especially when I see and compare the color to a truly brown-eyed baby.

- Is a rolling pin, rolling all over the place and has discovered Camden's toys - much to his displeasure.  This girl just wants to move.

- Not crawling and I'm more than OK with that.  The past few days she has started scooting around on her back by pushing her feet against the floor.  I've never seen a baby do this in person and it's hysterical (to me, anyway).  I need to get a video.

- Sleep has been a little hit or miss lately.  Some nights she sleeps well and wakes up between 3-5am for a feeding before falling back to sleep until sometime between 6-6:30am.  Other nights... Not so much.

- Naps took a turn back to crappy town and I'm lucky if she sleeps for an hour.  Most naps are 40-45 minutes.

- Continues to hold the title of drool and spit up queen.  We usually go through three or four outfits a day.

- Greets me when picked up from daycare by squealing and grabbing my face.

- Has learned how to swipe glasses off faces and likes to lick the lenses.

- Has entered into a serious relationship with her lovey, Florence (Flo).  Give her that thing and she's immediately hugging it and smothering it into her face.  Much like her long-distance bestie Wheezy is with Mrs. Jiffy.

- Is starting to have a bit of stranger-danger and will cry if someone unfamiliar comes around.  My poor aunts just wanted to snuggle her on Thanksgiving and she wasn't really having it.

- Continues to adore her big brother and gives him the sweetest belly laughs.  Even if he just looks at her and says, "Hi, Zo Zo!"

- Loves her some rice cereal and has tried sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, pears, bananas, and prunes.  She gets pretty vocal when the spoon isn't moving as quickly as she would like.

- Is still nursing as often as we can, and with this six month birthday - we've surpassed how long I nursed Camden.

- No teeth yet but I don't think the bottom two are too far away.

Oh, Zo Zo.  You have no idea how much you are loved and how thankful I am to get to be your Mommy.  Now if you could slow this growing-up-so-fast business I would appreciate it, mmkay?

Take Luck,

LP

Zoey - 5 Months

What the what?  How has another month come and gone already?

Wah, wah, wah.  I know, I know.

- She won't have another well-check until 6 months, but I would guess she weighs a smidge over 12 pounds.  The (literally) little lady weighed 12 pounds on the dot at her weight/growth check two weeks ago.

- Wears almost exclusively 3 months clothes, but can still get her tushy in 0-3 month pants.

- A happy, happy, happy baby.  This girl is smiling all the time.

- Nicknames include Zo, Zo Zo, Zoey Bear, and Baby Bear.

- Sprouting more and more hair on the top of her head.  I'm not sure if I can still call her eyes "dark hazel."  They are really toeing the line with brown and I think brown is winning.  Sister has mommy's complexion, daddy's eye color, and mommy's eye shape.

- When holding her, my mom swears she's looking at me as a baby - but I'm not so sure.  I see a lot of Ryan and Camden in her.  

- Rolls all. over. the. place.  I don't think crawling is too far away.

- Usually (usually!) sleeps through the night after a 6:30/7 bedtime and a five o'clock-hour nursing session before waking up around 6:30.

- Takes three or four naps a day, anywhere from one and a half to three hours.  It's not at all uncommon for her to have one final little cat nap in the Ergo while I'm trying to make dinner.

- Remains the drool and spit up queen.  I'm always shocked (and excited) when she stays in the same clothes all day at daycare.  Usually I pick her up and she's on her second or third outfit of the day.

- Has started blowing raspberries with her mouth.

- Can hold her own bottle.

- Is chatty, chatty, chatty.  I hear her at least once in the middle of the night just wide awake and talk, talk, talking to herself.

- Rubs her eyes when she is tired.

- Is reaching for toys, grabbing at faces and hair.  Oh, the hair.

- Her feet and hands are still constantly in her mouth.

- Is super observant and loves to look around.  Her new favorite thing is to sit in her Bumbo seat so she can watch her crazy brother be crazy.

- Laughs for no one like she laughs for Cam.  Still thinks he hung the moon.

- Has started to notice the TV and loves watching baseball with Ryan.

- Has cried real tears a few times and it is heartbreaking to say the least.  Thankfully this doesn't happen very often.

- Watches us eat food like she's watching a good tennis match.  Her head just goes back and forth and back and forth tracking the food from our bowl/plate to our mouths.

- Had a few bites of rice cereal yesterday and I thought she was going to eat the rice cereal and the spoon too.

Oh, my sweet Zo Zo.  You are such a little joy and as sad as I am that another month has passed - I am so happy and grateful to be your mommy.  I love you so!

As with Camden at five months, it's now time to start mentally preparing for the big "half" birthday next month.  So much ugly crying.

Take Luck,

LP