Merry Christmas!

Avoidance is where I have been with not posting to my blog in a while. The past few months have been tough and I really have not been ready to deal or talk/type about anything. On October 26th my grandmother, Way, (Dad's mom) passed away at the age of 77. Then on November 21st my Papa Bear (Mom's dad) passed away at the age of 75. I spent. I'm tired and emotionally drained beyond belief. I miss them both. Thanksgiving was different since we buried my Papa 2 days before. Christmas will be different. It would have been my Papa and Memaw's 54th Anniversary on Christmas Day. My child is too young to understand. She doesn't know that everytime she sees a man with a long beard and calls him Papa that it rips my heart out! How I long to sit and talk to my Papa. He was such a wonderful man and he loved to have one on one conversations with me or anyone for that matter. But they are both happy, healthy with no more pain or sorrow. It's nice to know that they are both worshiping Our King of Kings today.

I have a new niece, Temperance Marie Shaddix. She was born on October 30th. She looks just like my brother.

Zoë is a talking machine. If you don't want something repeated then you better not say it b/c she is a copycat. She repeats EVERYTHING!

Our big news = we are selling our house and moving to Ragland next month. I have a new job and we are moving in with my parents in mid January until our house sells!

Genia, Misha and Zoë
Zoë and Temperance

Zoë

Genia, Misha, Zoë, Daniel, Tempy, and Haleigh

Wide Open at 15 months

Wide open is definately how to describe Zoë these days! She loves to run...especially in WalMart. She does not like being confined or trapped especially in WalMart. Do you see a trend? She loves to explore WalMart and run up and down the aisles. She doesn't seem to mind when mommy or Gigi chase her just as long as we don't catch her!

At her 15 months check up she was 341/4 inches long and weighed 22 pounds.

She is right on target for all of her mildstones.

Zoë loves to talk. She can say so many things that I can't keep up with it anymore. She still signs well, but she can say all that she can sign except eat or cup.

I have already corrupted her. She LOVES football. She gets so excited when she sees it on TV, no matter the setting. We went out to eat last Thurday and when she saw a ballgame on TV at the resturant she yelled "bootball" and "touchdown" as loud as she could with her hands up in sign of a touchdown. Of course everyone turned and looked and thought it was precious especially since it was a baseball game on the TV. She's usually pretty good at getting it right.

Zoë also loves books. She loves looking at them and reading "babbling" to herself while pointing at the pictures.

She also likes the potty...surprise...surprise. She likes sitting on it but not for long and she has yet to do any "business" on it.

She will also let you know when she is tired of the carseat. On the way to and home from my mom and dad's last weekend she signed and said "all done" while crying trying to undo the chest strap.

She loves visiting my parents and saying "ride BeeBee" which means she is ready for another trip around the block in her stroller pushed by my dad which he does about 15 times a day each visit. No wonder his legs hurt after we visit.

Zoë also loves her hair bows and looking pretty and she gets so excited about new clothes and shoes....she definately knows they are for her and she looks at them and plays with them. She is definately my mother's grandchild!

Happy smile

Look at all of those teeth = 14 and counting

Eating ice with GiGi

Thinking Gramme is CRAZY!

Fun Uncle Dan

Around the House Pics

This the the closet under our steps. In July, Genia and I cleaned it out and painted it to make Zoë a little play hide away down stairs full of her toys. She loves playing in here.

How many kids will fit under the steps? Apparently 5 - Baylee, Dakoda, Zoë, Matterson, and Corey Jr.
Matt and Zoë playing

They have been blanket riding!

Picking flowers

14 Months Old with an ATTITUDE!

Last night Matterson was at the house as he is 2 nights a week now while his mommy is at school. He was trying to open a door to the laundry room and Zoë looked at him and said "No No Matt" while pointing her finger at him! We are raising a little mother hen. Zoë is very bossy and if she doesn't get her way then she'll just show you a little attitude and maybe a little hitting! Oh My Gosh, what are we going to do? Tuesday night she and MattMatt were playing. He had a little talking cookie jar. Zoë picked up the top to it. Matt pushed her, she pushed back, he grabbed the top, and Zoë slapped him and told him No!No! Needless to say they both got in trouble and the cookie jar was taken away from them both. PLEASE somebody tell me this is a STAGE!

I know I'm contradicting myself, but she is a sweet and loving child. She unfortunately has inherited the SHADDIX TEMPER! There is no denying that she is my daughter and that she has my temper. Who else am I going to blame it on? Genia? We all know my temper, but I can control mine (most of the time).

On to new developments:
1. Climbing onto the sofa, chairs, and tables (even when she's not suppose to)
2. Throwing away anything especially her diapers
3. Loves to dust and now has her own swiffer duster
4. Love putting clothes in the dryer
5. Climbs up steps - more like crawls up them in the speed of light
6. Comes down steps bouncing on her butt
7. Loves opening all cabinets - we are installing the tab things this weekend
8. Still takes a bottle (my fault, but she's still MY BABY)
9. Runs everywhere
10. Loves to ride the golf cart at Gramme and BeeBee's house
11. Knows too many parts of her body to name - her new favorite song is "Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes"
12. Says War Eagle while doing the touchdown sign!

New Words/Phrases:
1. No No Matt
2. Sit down
3. War Eagle - sounds like OR EAGLE
4. Mine (she knows this one too well)
5. Trash
6. All done
7. Bye Bye Mama
8. Fly
9. Ear
10. Teeth
11. Nose

Those are all I can think of right now, but there are so many more!

Fav phrase "Oh wee how pretty!"

To update you all on my talkative little girl...

She now weighs 22 pounds and she is 32 inches long. We went to the allergist today because of Zoë's chronic uticaria (hives). We now know after 15 skin test pricks (with needles) on her back that she does not have any food allergies!!!!! What we don't know is the cause of her breakouts! Just pray we never have to use the ever present epipen jr.

Zoë is really enjoying her time at home with GiGi/Mimi. Zoë still hasn't made up her mind what she will call Genia. She hasn't started calling my mom, Gramme, any particular name consistently. This is frustrating for both of them. She definately has Mommy and BeeBee down pat! Yesterday I came home to beautiful hand and footprint artwork Zoë and Genia did for me!

So now for the list update
Signs: Eat, Milk, Bath, All Done, Please, More, Cup
Gross Motor Skills: trying to run, kicks a stationary ball
Fine Motor Skills: putting in and taking objects out of containers, tries to sort shapes but wrong more often than correct, throws with her left arm more often than her right, blows kisses,waves hi and bye, and Lord help me she can climb stairs! She also loves to brush her hair and brush her teeth.

Now to her vocabulary, she talks and talks and talks. Zoë is her mom and BeeBee's little girl b/c she loves to talk just as much as we do! She is one of those kids you may hate to see coming b/c she will talk your ear off whether you can understand her or not, she just keeps talking. She talks to us, the tv, her toys, her babies, her bath toys, her food, do you see a pattern here?Words: (Genia let me know if I forget any)
1. Mama
2. Mommy
3. Gigi
4. Mimi
5. BeeBee
6. Hite (not consistent for Gramme)
7. Bebbie (Aunt Debbie)
8. Matt
9. Bye
10. Hi
11. Hey
12. EIEIO
13. Issy (itsy bitsy spider)
14. No
15. Nite Nite
16. Bankie (blankie)
17. tractor
18. dog (she also will bark like a dog)
19. doggie
20. Moo
21. Quack quack
23. thank you
24. thanks
25.whoa
26. oh wee
27. how pretty
28. good job
29. Getcha
30. Eyes
31. Nose
32. Lug you (love you)
33. I'll do it
34. All done
35. Uh Oh
36. Kiss
Her favorite thing to say by far is: "Oh wee how pretty"

13 Months

Zoë is now 13 months old and changing so much everyday. She loves to talk. She jabbers all of the time, and there are new words constantly:

1. How pretty (she enunciates very well)
2. Dog
3. Eyes
4. Nose

She is walking, climbing steps, climbing....climbing...climbing. She also is learning what she is allowed to do and what she is not allowed to do. She has a very "big" temper that we are ignoring to try to break her small tantrums.

Family Beach Trip

We had a great time on our beach trip to Alligator Pointe, FL with my parents, AKA Bee Bee and Gramme, Uncle Daniel and Aunt Haleigh. Everyone I've talked to asks me "Where's that?" Well, it's a part of the coast that is "old Florida". No hotels, no condos, only beach houses. We had the best time swimming, reading, playing in the sand, taking naps, strolling on the beach, fishing, shooting pool, and playing cards on our one rainy day. Zoë really blossomed in walking while we were there. She is walking EVERYWHERE! She hates to be told No No! She repeats no no and if we've gotten onto her for getting into something she knows she's not suppose to, she looks at you and says no no. She loves playing peak a boo! She now loves the itsy bitsy spider almost as much as Old McDonald, which is her favorite. She rarely takes a bottle now, all on her own. We really haven't had to try to wean her from it, she's doing it herself. She would much prefer to have a cup unless she's really sleepy, so the night time bottle is still a must but she rarely takes half the bottle.

New Words:

No No

Mimi

Nite Nite

Skills:

Walking

1 Year Old

Zoë is officially a year old! Holy Crap..........where did the last year go? I cannot believe she is walking, talking and telling me NO NO! She has a little temper, or big temper some times! She cries like she is so broken hearted when I tell her no sternly. It's like her whole world has crumpled! We threw her a big first birthday bash on Saturday, June 20, 2009. I thought it was so awesome that her birthday fell on Saturday so we could have her party that day. We had 32 guests. We swam, the kids played on the new swingset, we ate hot dogs and boston butt sandwiches. Zoë wasn't real sure about her 2 layer strawberry cake mommy made! I put fresh sliced strawberries around it and she loved those. After about 10 minutes she started playing in her cake with help at first. She never did face dive into it. She preferred squishing it in her hands. She received some nice new toys for her birthday from everyone!

New words:
Thank You
Uh Oh Bee Bee
Quack Quack - When asked what does the duck say?
Mooooooo - when asked what does the cow say?

Signs:
Please
All done
More
Eat
Milk
Cup
Bath

New skills:
Up to 12 steps at a time
Climbing onto everything
Sit and propel ride toy forward and backward
Walk behind ride toy independently

11 Months and Growing

Fun in the pool over the weekend!
New Mickey Mouse ride and push toy

A day at the park with Mama

Zoë is 11 months old and growing so much everyday. It's amazing to watch her taking her first steps and thinking of this time last year when we were anxiously awaiting her arrival. Now I am starting to prepare for her first birthday party. She is just now beginning to let go and take a step or two without cruising. She has recently turned into a HUGE mama's girl. Not that she wasn't before, but now she wants me and doesn't want me to put her down. I love it! She has also started to cry when I leave her with Aunt Debbie in the mornings. Not every morning, but some mornings. I know she is now at the age where she understands that I won't be right back. I know she's fine as soon as I leave, but it still breaks my heart. That's one reason we are actually looking forward to Genia getting laid off soon. They will be at home together and hopefully I can see them both more during the day when they come visit me at work.

We went to the doctor last week due to a bout with the wonderful stomache flu and Zoë weighs 20 pounds 14 ounces.

New words:

BeeBee

Bebbie (for Aunt Debbie)

Bobo (more consistent now)

Hite (anytime she gets the phone - she thinks it's suppose to be Gramme)

Die (I haven't figure out just what she means by this one yet)

Mimi (what she calls GiGi sometimes instead of GiGi)

EIEIO - she sings when playing (copies MattMatt)

New skills:

Signing bottle very consistently

Signs more, eat, and sometimes cookie

Throws her hands up by her head when you say "Touchdown Auburn!"

Tries to put shapes into shape sorter, but incorrectly

Walks behind Mickey Mouse push and ride toy with minimal assistance

Opens and closes cabinets and drawers (so much fun picking it all up :)

Dances to any music

Points her finger back at mama when mama points her finger and says no no

Also has learned to cry and throw a mini temper tantrum when angry!

Just want to share

I had a nice first Mother's Day last weekend. It has really made me look back and think about the first year, so far, with Zoë. I'm amazed when I look back and see how much she has grown and how much she has learned in the first few months of her life. She becomes increasingly independent each day and needs me less and less for each task. I am happy and sad at the same time. My baby is already growing up. Before me she changes so much each and every day. I watch her personality develop and learn her ways. I don't think that I have shared so many things in words that I love about her, but I really do try to savor every part of her because I am seeing that she is growing up way too fast already. I don't want to miss one moment of it and I want to love and nurture her each day. She loves riding with GiGi on the lawnmower. They have a special song they sing every morning "This is the day that The Lord has made".The only thing that excites her more at this point is riding in her little Step 2 car that we bought for her and BeeBee. We brought it in the house this weekend for her to play in b/c it's been raining outside. She tries to climb into it and pulls up and plays with it saying BeeBee the whole time. That's another thing I forget to share...she absolutely adores my father, and the love is returned 10 fold. I'm so lucky and blessed to have 2 parents that absolutely adore my child. Zoë has been calling my mom "Hite" pronounced Hi-tea. The funny story behind this is that BeeBee and Hite were my dad's grandparents that he adored. That's why he chose the name BeeBee. Well my dad used to pick at my mom when Zoë was 2 months old by calling her Hite instead of Gramme. That lasted for a month or so and now Zoë really calls her Hite totally by coinsidence. Zoë loves talking on the phone. She thinks everytime I get on the phone that it's her BeeBee and Gramme and she cries until I give her the phone. She talks to them most every night, sometimes more than once. Anyway...I am blessed to have Zoë as my daughter and she is my little angel. My favorite time of day is bathtime...that's my one on one with Zoë everyday and her happiest place for her. No matter how ill she may get from being sick to teething, she is alway happy in the bathtub and has only cried one in the tub and that was her first bath at home when she was 3 days old. Sleep well my child. I'll dream of you tonight.

Zoë as the Flowergirl at Uncle Daniel and Aunt Haleigh's Wedding

Zoë did a good job as flowergirl with her BeeBee walking her down the aisle since she's not walking independently just yet! She got stuck only once on the pathway :)

Uncle Dan and Aunt Haleigh insisted she was to be in the wedding which was a small family wedding in my parent's front yard on May 2, 2009. We had a great time and danced until 11 pm. Boy, I haven't done that in a very long time, many years! I've seen myself on facebook doing the soilder boy (not sure how they spell that one), not a pretty video! The days of me looking like I know what I'm doing while dancing have come and definately GONE!

New Words:

Oh Wee

Whoa

New Talent:

Drinking out of a straw

New Phase:

Crying when you take the zippy cup with a straw away

Sleeping 10-12 hours at night and not wanting to get up in the mornings!

Beach Trip

Well friends I have really fallen down on blogging lately! Busy is definately not the word to describe our lives lately, maybe worldwind. Anyway, I won't bore you with all of the details, but in the past 2 weeks we have visited the beach, helped to throw a wedding for my brother, and had our house flood (minimal damage) and part of my office's room fell in from the heavy 12 inches of rain that fell in about 6 hours last Thursday!

We went to the beach for a PT conference and had a very nice time. Zoë made a new friend, Ben, and they had fun playing on the beach. Zoë absolutely loves the water, ocean and pool, as well as the sand. She never cried b/c she got it on her face and she ate handfuls even with mommy and GiGi trying to keep her from eating it all!

3 Words in 3 Days

Friday was the begining of the word Tree, Saturday was Grass and Sunday was Tea! She loves to ride the riding lawnmower and cries when you stop. We had to go to the MD on Friday and she weighs 20 pounds, 1 ounce. She is cutting her 2 front teeth and has an ear infection and rhinitis. We are on prescription antibiotics and a decongestant. Long weekend and I am exhausted!

Talking up a storm....

Zoë is a talker! She loves to talk and babble. Her new word that she learned today is Oh Wee. GiGi taught that one to her this morning while brushing her hair. Her vocabulary now consists of:

1. Bye Bye

2. Mama

3. GiGi

4. BoBo

5. Hi

6. Hey

7. Hello

8. Matt Matt

9. Ball

10. Oh Wee

Not bad for 9 1/2 months old! There are several others but they are really not clear enough at this point to be counted in the list. She also signs for milk and bath. We are really working hard on more and please.

She is now not only pulling to stand, but she is letting go. No steps yet, but she sure thinks about it while standing up.

Easter 2009

All dressed up!

From Bee Bee

4 Generations!


Zoë's first Easter

We spent Easter weekend with my family and went to church with my grandparents. It was a very nice weekend. We spent the night with Uncle Dennis and Aunt Gail in Wedowee on Friday and spent Saturday and Sunday at Memaw and Papa's in Wadley. We had a great time and Zoë enjoyed her time with everyone. She and Gabby were the center of attention since they are both under a year old. Even the kids love to play with them both. The Easter bunny brought Zoë a red wagon (which we gave her a week early), bubbles, books and new bath toys. Bee Bee and Gramme gave her a couple of new outfits, bunny purse, eggs, and bath toys. She really loves the wagon and bath toys the most.

Update and Pics

Zoë is growing like a weed. I can hardly believe she weighs 19.5 pounds at 30 inches in length. Probably a little more now. She is so active and she has cut her first top tooth with 3 more on the way. Her first top tooth is on the right side, not in the front, funny but true. She is pulling up all over the place and getting it on all fours, but sometimes on her hands and feet doing the bear crawl. I finally had to block the stairs b/c she climbed up 2 on Saturday and scared me half to death. She continues to be a very picky eater. She much prefers table food to baby food. The only real time she eats baby food is at Aunt Debbie's house. Some of her favorites are honey bunches of oats cereal with milk out of mom's and GiGi's cereal bowl, apple and cinnamon oatmeal, homemade dumplins, homemade and canned buscuits, eggs, grits, cheerios, craisins, raisins, Gerber puff snacks, Cheetos, cut green beans, diced carrots, cheese pizza, cheese sticks, homemade spagehetti without the meat, garlic bread, cheese sandwiches, boiled squash, tomatoes, cheesecake, ice cream (any flavor), and I could continue but as you will notice none of the above foods contain meat. She still will not eat meat or anything with meat in it including babyfood. She gags and spits it out. But I must tell you her favorite things are not food, but our drinks! She loves having hot tea in the mornings with GiGi and will beg! She loves water, coffee, sweet or unsweet tea, orange juice, milk, diet mt dew, diet coke and anything else you give her out of a big girl cup. She prefers drinking out of our cup rather than her cup and again she will beg!

9 Months Old and Sod

Zoë Isabella is 9 months old. We went to see Dr. Garcia on Friday and she weighs 19 pounds 8 ounces (75th percentile) and she is 30 inches long (99th percentile). She is healthy and a very happy baby girl entering her early toddler years. She played pat a cake with Dr. Garcia and showed off her bear crawl trying to get her tools. Last night Zoë entertained herself in front of our stainless steel dishwasher for about 15 minutes. I guess since it's finally clean, thanks to Tabitha, she thought it was a mirror on the floor just for her! We spent the weekend with my wonderful family, but it was definately a full house. Everyone entertained Zoë while Genia, Dan, and I layed 8 palets of sod! Genia and I had to take a day off of work to get it finished before the rain comes Wed - Sat. Here's a pic of part of the yard we sodded. I will take and post before and after yard pics soon when we finish.

All over the house...

Zoë has now conquered the entire house. She goes where she wants, when she wants! Mostly she is content to be right behind me pulling up using my pants legs. She will crawl behind me saying mamamamamamama...over and over again. We had a nice relaxing weekend at home with a lazy day on Saturday and a day of shopping on Sunday. Next weekend it's back to the grindstone in the yard, trying to get it finished for summer. Hopefully we will get settled in the yard before too long with a nice swingset to boot. Our new fence goes up next week and new pool liner the first week of April!