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

Taking Stock / 05

I haven't done a Taking Stock post since September.  Zoey was only 3 months old and I had just returned to work from maternity leave.  It feels like forever ago.

Making: chocolate chip cookies.

Cooking: salmon and vegetables for dinner. 

Drinking: Starbucks Defense Up and trying not to think about the sugar content.

Reading: just finished After You by JoJo Moyes (sequel to Me Before You)

Wanting: to win the lottery.

Looking: forward to a possible Disneyland trip in January.

Playing: baseball with Cam.  This kid is getting good.

Wishing: my babies would stay babies forever.

Enjoying: watching Cam and Zoey interact with each other.

Loving: when they make each other laugh.

Pondering: age appropriate and fun soccer drills for Camden's soccer team to do next week.

Considering: which book to start next and I have no idea.

Watching: Game of Thrones, Grey's Anatomy, Impractical Jokers, and Lip Sync Battle.

Needing: a whole new wardrobe.  This could also fall under "wanting."

Wearing: my black and white Converse and feeling super hip.  OK, semi hip.

Following: Game of Thrones and Walking Dead fan theories.

Noticing: Cam's imagination really starting to take off.

Admiring: anyone who is not hair and makeup inept like myself. 

Sorting: summer clothes for the kids.      

Buying: all the June & January because I am obsessed and need an intervention.

Getting: excited to chaperone Cam's preschool field trip to the zoo in a few weeks.

Bookmarking: first birthday party ideas for Zo.  

Disliking: that I only just learned there is a big difference between sunscreen and sunblock.

Feeling: all the feelings about Zoey's upcoming first birthday.  Never has a year passed faster.

Snacking: on peanut butter M&M's.  Don't tell Cam.

Coveting: a reasonably priced and effective anti-aging facial moisturizer.

Wishing: I was not so hair and makeup inept.

Helping: Cam understand that the big bad wolf will not blow our house down no matter how much he huffs and puffs.

Hearing: this song and laughing hysterically when Zoey immediately starts "dancing."  PS.  Maybe don't watch the video unless you just want to see J. Lo's booty.

Take Luck,

LP

Camden Says / 07

I haven't done a Camden Says installment since October.  Clearly some of these are old but too good to go unshared.

As always, I fully acknowledge that these will probably only be funny to me.  And my mom.

Seeing me pump.

Cam: (points to my chest) What are those?

Me: Boobies.

Cam: Birdies?

Me: No, boobies.

Cam: Oh, boobies.  For baby Zo Zo.

Seeing me preparing to nurse Zoey.

Cam: (lifts shirt) I feed Zo Zo with my boobies.

Wants his back and tummy scratched every night before bed and insists that it's done "soooofwwwwwwy (softly)."

When Zoey coughs and doesn't cover her mouth.

Cam: Mommy!!!  She didn't cover her mowf (mouth)!

When Zoey starts getting loud in the car.

Cam: No yelling, Zo Zo!

Asking a friend what she was going to be for Halloween.

Me: What will you be for Halloween?

Girl: A fairy!

Cam: Ohhhh, a ferry boat?!

Talking about boys and girls.

Cam: I'm a boy.  Daddy's a boy.  Mommy is a squirrel aaaaaand Zo Zo's a squirrel.

Trying to get him to sit down in a chair.

Grammy: What is your bottom for?

Cam: Going poo poo.

Learning anatomy.

Cam: (points to privates) what's that?

Ryan: That's your scrotum.

Cam: Oh, that's my frotum.

Talking about turning three.

Cam: I not one or two.  I free.

Describing something.

Cam: It's kinda wike a......

Asking about his day.

Me: What did you do at school today?

Cam: I went potty (long pause) a lot.

Talking about his new Polar Express t-shirt.

Cam: What's this boy's name?

Me: I don't know.  What do you think his name is?

Cam: Carnivore.

Going through Washington alphabet book.

Me: P is for peninsula.

Cam: No, P is for Pocahontas.

Ryan swatted me on the bottom.

Cam: No, daddy!  Do not hurt my mommy!

Discussing politics.

Ryan: Cam, are you a democrat?

Cam: No.

Ryan: OK, are you are a republican?

Cam: Yeah, I'm a pumpkin.

Learning volume control.

Cam: (yells/screams) yeah!

Me: Don't yell, bud.

Cam: Mommy, I just trying to say yeah.

Loves the Polar Express.

Cam: The Polar Express is coming to my house today!

Listening ears.

Me: Are your listening ears on?

Cam: No.  Hold on a second.

Me:

Cam: (makes "boop boop" robot sound while touching ears) OK, my ears are on.  I'm listening.

Bob the Minion.

Me: It's your great-grandpa's birthday today!  Let's call him!

Cam: My great papa?

Me: Yes, great grandpa Bob!

Cam: He's a Minion?

Responding to an answer to any one of his million questions.

Cam: Ohhhhhhhhhhh, OK!

Random shark talk.

Cam: There's a shark in that yellow house!

Me: There is?  What is it doing?

Cam: Sharking.

Calls Great Clips (where he gets his hair cut) "grapes."  I think he's combining "Great" and "Clips."

Daycare focuses on a letter of the alphabet each week and they sing a song about it.  We hear a lot of "J is a consonant in the alphabet! J, J, J, J, J!"

Daycare also has a theme for each week and recently they were learning about planets.  Thanks to a super cute You Tube video about the sun, he was walking around singing, "I'm so hot, I'm so hot.  Check me out, check me out."

We've started telling each other stories at bedtime.  All of his stories start with "Once upon a time..."

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