Fun Times

Zoë met Santa Friday at the Bass Pro Shop. We had fun and she loves riding in her stroller. I think she looks so adorable in her Christmas dress my parents bought for her.

Also, she is learning to read the Sunday paper with GiGi.

Turning 31

Okay, so I turn 31 tomorrow! I am taking my final PTO day to spend with my girls this year. The perfect day...to spend time with G and Zoë.

I almost have my Christmas shopping finished. That's what we will probably do tomorrow, finish up odd and ends for Christmas and I have to renew my license! What a drag, time at the DMV is not my idea of Birthday fun! Hope everyone is having a nice holiday season.

We took Zoë to the MD Monday b/c we thought she had an ear infection, which she doesn't! Thank you Lord! It turns out to be related to teething. Well she weighed 16 pounds, 7 ounces at 28 inches long! My girl is getting so big!

It is a wonderful life!

Okay, so I'm not usually one for serious blogs (from me) and it's not often that I unload and send some message into cosmic cyperspace. But if you haven't read the last blog I posted, read it and come back to this one b/c it is the basis for this blog. I received an email from G and I just had to posted b/c it made me cry like the big baby I have been with the worst hormonal roller coaster of my life. Last year when we decided to have a baby I knew it would change my life and I was in for the ride and experience of a lifetime, but I didn't realize the extent it would change me. Zoë has changed me and I am a better person because of her and my love for her. I now know all of those times my mom and Genia tried to explain to me the lengths a mother will go for her children, to help them even if it's not the wisest decision by other people's standards or outlooks. So many times I have judged others for helping their children stating "they will never learn if you keep stepping in. How will they ever learn to stand on their two feet?". Now I understand the ache and pain a mother feels when her child suffers. I would do anything to keep Zoë from hurting or to protect her. I've also seen that judging is not my job, and yet I find myself trying to "help" the Good Lord do his job. He is the judge, not me. Zoë has taught me how wonderful motherhood is and everytime she does something new I want to shout it on the rooftop b/c it is the most important thing to me and I somehow in my little head think everyone else wants to know her newest little development that is so huge to me! She now knows how to blow and blew sweet potatoes all over me this weekend. :) So if you read my blog and wonder why it's full of Zoë's latest developments it's b/c I think some of you might really care to read about her and also b/c my life revolves around her.
The world stops in the afternoons and I rush home to pick her up and half the time I don't answer the phone at night b/c nothing is as important as those 2 or 3 hours with her before she goes to bed. So FYI to all the ones I love out there, please don't get mad when I don't answer. I only have 2 to 3 hours with her at night and I will call you back when I have a free moment.
Have any of you other working mothers out there feel guilty for leaving your little one all day while you go off to work to try to make a living to provide for your family? I do everyday, and I have had a terrible time trying to balance work and family. I went back to work on August 4th, and last month was the first month I didn't cry every single day! I was so convinced that I wasn't depressed! But I was! I had such a hard time being away from Zoë and I thought it was suppose to get better once you had done it for a while, but it kept getting worse and there was a period of time that I had trouble doing by job b/c I could not quit thinking about her even though I knew Aunt Debbie was taking good care of her.
I have finally realized that my house is going to suffer for the next 18 years and so be it!!! I always thought having a spotless or clean house was really important b/c its a reflection upon me. I still feel that way, so guess what, I hired someone to help me rather than trying to do it all myself! I'd rather have that than dinner out or something else extra each month! That's more time I have with my little BooBoo Bella.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! Full of family and friends. May your house be as messy as mine and may the memories of your children be of having the best time and cleaning up the mess later! Because, believe me, the mess will wait but our children are growing up every second with every breath we take and I don't want to miss a moment of it!

Finally - Words to describe my now wonderful chaotic life and the way I love my child!

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play. Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together. Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles. Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by. Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned. Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them. Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys. Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you. Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry. Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars. Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening I won’t send you to your room to play, but I will wait to fold the clothes or clean the kitchen and play a game with you.Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given. I will think about the mothers And fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore. And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a Little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day...........

Thanksgiving

Zoë's first Thanksgiving was so much fun. We spent the day at my grandparents house in Wadley. We ate and then we played touch (haha) football in the front yard like we did when we were kids. My team lost, sorry Genia, Timmy, Kristin, and Callie! Kudos to Tab, Hayden, Jayde, Jacob and Uncle Rickey! The only people missing were my little brother and his fiance, Haleigh. I just want to say how thankful I am to have my family back in my life.

Friday G and I went shopping for a while and Aunt Debbie watched Zoë. So I spent Saturday wrapping presents! Zoë loved playing with the ribbon and bows! I try to post pics of her in some of her cute Christmas outfits.

5 Months Old

Zoë is 5 months old! I can't believe it. Where did the time go? I cannot remember what it was like to not love her or have her in my life. We had our pics made last weekend, check them out. She was so good during the pics. Everyone at the photo place called her the talking baby. She loves everyone and never meets a stranger. She has such an outgoing little personality and loves to talk, even if it's to herself. We bought her a baby einstein jumper last week. It is like an exersaucer and she absolutely loves it. She will play for 30 minutes to an hour at a time. Guess where she is when we are trying to cook or clean! :) We decorated for Christmas last night and she wasn't sure about the lights, but seemed to like them. She couldn't quit looking at them.
As for development, she is rolling well, but still gets trapped on her tummy. She loves to stand in her exersaucer. She is pulling her knees up under her and also pushing on outstretched arms, but she's not doing them together. She is also trying really hard to sit up but doesn't have the righting reflexes in sitting to support herself yet.
We are off to my grandparents for Thanksgiving on Thursday! I'm so excited. It should be a blast!! Lots of family to see and catch up with.

Christmas Portraits

We had our pics made today and thought I'd share a few. I feel so blessed to have Zoë this year. This Christmas and holiday season will be one of the most blessed for me in many years. One, I have my beautiful daughter and second, my family will really be a family this year. I wish you all many blessings this holiday season and may God bless you all.

Excited

I am so excited about tomorrow. We are going to have our pics made for the first time, professionally! I am excited to be able to send out a photo Christmas card! My little Boo Boo has found her left foot this week. She's still not too sure about what to do with it besides just sit and hold it when she is in her chair. I have yet to be able to capture a picture of it, but I will! Zoë is also pulling her knees under her when she is on her tummy. She loves playing on her tummy now too! We read many books together laying in the floor in front of the fire. It's been nice to lay in the floor with her and play and I love the fire and so does she. Yes, we invested in a very sturdy firescreen to keep her away from it when she does start scooting and crawling.

Venting

Well, this blog is mainly for me so that I can vent and get a few things off of my chest. This has been a hard week stress wise for me at work. Changes are taking place with more to come I can see. Most are an improvement, but that doesn't mean that change is always easy or that we are put in the best position when change occurs. What I hate is being the bad guy. Don't get me wrong, I can handle being the bad guy, but it's not as easy as it seems. By the way, I mean as the boss. I hate repremanding employees and having to keep things under wraps. I'm the type of person that if I decide to make a change I want it effective immediately, not in a week or two. The good news is that the change is best for the company in the long run, but stressful at this current moment in time for me. Stress I can deal with, with a bit of venting to all of my bloggers out there.

My parents are coming to visit this weekend and hopefully we will get the screen porch finished that we started on in August. Also, the 3 of us are going to have our pics made together next week and I am so excited!!!

More pics

Zoë looks so much like me in the first picture. We have went from a head full of hair to none on top and one small patch in the back. So much for pretty bows. My aunt found a headband that you can attach bows that she can wear later. We need to try it out.

Zoë loves bathtime! This is a look I have been trying to capture for a few weeks. Crossing her eyes while focused on an object. It's one of my favorites so far...she doesn't understand why I laugh so hard at her!

These two pics she is trying to get the phone b/c her Bee Bee and Gramme are somehow in that box and she's trying to get them out.

Happy Halloween Pics

Fun pics from last week...

Zoë's favorite food is CARROTS!
Jayde (devil/angel) and Linkin (Leonardo TMNT)

Matterson - our dragon

Mommy and Baby Kitty

GiGi and Zoë

Aren't we cute

So sweet...

New Trick

Zoë Isabella has a new trick...rolling from her back to front and then back to her back. I don't have a picture to post of her new trick...yet, but I will. I just had to share my baby girl's new developmental milestone! She is such a joy and I can't imagine my days and nights without her. We had visitors over the weekend and she loves all of the attention from everyone. I will try to post new pics of her new trick and also of halloween night! We went for a ride in the truck with everyone trick or treating. Zoë stayed in the truck with GiGi while we all visited houses: Matt, Tiffany, Matterson, Tabitha, Hayden, Jayde, Linkin, and Joel. It was so much fun.

Random

Watching TV?
I'm tired of taking pictures!

Gramme and BeeBee smothering Zoë

Her first Shaddix Pulpwood T shirt

This week has been very exciting. Zoë is really enjoying eating...green beans, squash and her favorite carrots. We still must try sweet potatoes and sweet peas. She's not a big fan of Rice cereal at this point. So we must now try Oatmeal. I will post some pics of her eating soon, but I wanted to share a few more pics I have found recently.

4 months old

Jayde and Callie

Zoë

Jayde and Linkin

Bee Bee and Zoë

Gabby and Zoë

My baby girl is 4 months old and has no hair left! To think we started with all of that hair to have none left! Well, a small patch in the back is left. At our 4 months check up and shots Zoe weighed 13 pounds and 11 ounces and 26 inches long. She is in the 50th percentile in weight and 95th in length. She is rolling over and entertaining her mommy and GiGi constantly. We are now eating stage 1 foods and she loves green beans and carrots!

3 months 4 days

My girl is developing each week. She is growing up so fast. She has officially stolen her BB and Gram's hearts. They adore her so much! She is crazy about them. She gets so excited to see them and laughs and smiles. She knows her BB's voice. She talks to him on the phone. So when she gets to see him when he's talking she gets so excited. We took her to have her ears pierced on Saturday. I haven't been able to get a good picture of her with her earrings. I love being a mommy. The worst part is being away from her during the day while I'm at work. I still haven't been able to bring myself to leave her to go out with my other half. How do you ever get to the point that you want time to yourself b/c I would rather be with her than not.

3 months old

My baby girl is 3 months old and growing like a weed! She is developing and perfecting so many skills! She is grabbing with her hands (left more than right). She is rolling from her back to her tummy. We spend time on our tummy everyday, but she still hates it! No matter how entertaining I try to be. She loves to try to sit up but can't b/c her abdominal muscles are still not developed enough, but that doesn't keep her from trying. We have a Bumbo seat that she loves to sit in for about 10 minutes at a time, but then she gets very tired! She loves going to Aunt Debbie's each day to spend the day with Aunt Debbie and Matterson while Mommy is at work. To hear Aunt Debbie tell it Matterson is very protective of Zoe. By the way, Matterson is Genia's 8 month old grandson. He rubs her feet or pats her hand when she is in the floor and he has never tried to be rough with her. They smile at each other and know each other. They are going to be great friends and playmates!

2 Month Check Up

Zoe had her 2 month check up yesterday and her first round of vaccinations. She had a total of 8 yesterday, but several were combo shots so she only had 3 shots and the rotovirus vaccine orally that choked her horribly! She weighed 11 pounds, 7 ounces at 23 inches in length. She is in the 75th percentile in weight and height.

She did not feel well the rest of the afternoon and slept a good bit. I guess that was from the tylenol, which was the first time she has had that. It knocked her out!

Today has been better although she is a little fussier than usual. She just wants to be held and talked to and rocked when she isn't sleeping!

August Pics

GiGi and Zoe Mom and Zoe
Precious
Aunt Gail and Uncle Dennis with Zoe
On her way to Aunt Debbie's...I had to go back to work

July Pics

One of my favorites

















Zoe and BB














Zoe Playing

GiGi and Zoe

Me and Zoe

June Pics

Pictures of Zoe in the month of June













June 20,2008













Really seeing her for the first time














3 days old















2 weeks asleep in our bed