MGZ Days

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-14T10:40:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-04T08:34:00.001-07:00

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!"

2009-08-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-27T09:40:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-25T08:06:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-01T18:23:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-10T19:41:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-04-16T19:25:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-16T19:06:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-03-16T14:08:00.000-07:00

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!

March 9, 2009 - Shaky but standing

2009-03-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Zoë pulled up for the first time tonight while I was hanging clothes in her closet! I turned around and she was standing. I was in shock! She just started crawling on Friday! Here is a video I captured while she was playing!

A few pics

2009-03-09T05:58:00.001-07:00

Overalls GiGi bought
New dress

Zoë and Gramme

Mommy and Zoë

Great Grandparents

2009-03-09T05:37:00.001-07:00

Zoë is a very blessed baby girl. She has now had the opportunity to meet and have her picture taken with each of her great grandparents. I am also blessed to say that all of my grandparents are living and my baby girl has now met all four wonderful people.

Way and Aunt Tammi with Zoë

Grandaddy Dan and Zoë

Papa and Zoë

Memaw and Zoë

A fun filled weekend

2009-03-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

Our weekend started early. My dad came and stole our baby girl on Thursday. Let me tell you how bad my heart hurt. We went out to eat and had a drink, boy did I feel guilty! We had a nice time, but I would much rather had been home. Friday, the bad weather came and I was afraid we wouldn't make it to Gadsden, but we found the perfect window to drive although we did go through some heavy rain, we missed the severe weather. Zoë had such a good time with her Bee Bee, Gramme, Uncle Dan and Aunt Haleigh. She was spoiled rotten. They had such a good time with her and she with them. Saturday it rained all day, so no sun on the river and we woke to snow on Sunday morning. Too bad it wasn't enough for a snow day on Monday!

Zoë is busy feeding herself these days and refuses to eat most anything from a spoon! So we have had to be creative in table food so she will eat! MISS INDEPENDENT! She rarely misses her mouth unless she is using her left hand and her pincer grasp has improved dramatically in the past week! She is finally able to get the cup to her mouth and a bottle as well, she's just too lazy to hold it! That's okay, she's only a baby once! We bought her a little bug car (that's what we call it) for Bee Bee and Gramme's house. Bee Bee and Zoë love to go on strolls. Zoë loved her car as you can see in the pic below!

Us in the snow at the pink house
Zoë perfecting the art of eating

Zoë's new bug - I think she's excited

BeeBee and Zoë

Zoë and Uncle Dan with Sugar

Almost 8 months

2009-02-18T09:09:00.001-08:00

Zoë is a happy, healthy and very talkative almost 8 month old. She will be 8 months old in 2 days. Her three words that are very clear to date are bye-bye, ma ma, and GiGi. She calls to us on a regular basis. She is trying to crawl, but she is much more interested in trying to pull and stand and loves walking with you holding her hands. I'm not sure if she will be much of a crawler, she would much rather walk. We have finally graduated to her sleeping in her baby bed in her room, upstairs! Mind you this was not her not being able to sleep upstairs in her bed, but my unwillingness to let her or try at all. So finally, Genia and I discussed how hard it would be to keep waiting to try, on her, not me. So 2 weeks ago we tried and do you know that she did not cry one time or fuss at all! Too bad I can't say the same about myself! I cried. It was so hard not to be able to look at her beside me sleeping and being able to check on her, cover her up, etc. I know I shouldn't complain b/c she is such a wonderful sleeper and I do have video monitor so I can see her in the day or night.

Have I mentioned what a happy baby she is? Smiles, laughs and talks constantly! She is such a people person. She has only really met one stranger that she didn't like, sorry Mitchell! I love the fact that she smiles, laughs and sometimes squeals when I pick her up from Aunt Debbie's in the afternoons! It just makes my heart happy.

First Words

2009-02-02T09:02:00.000-08:00

Zoë never fails to surprise me! She does new things when I least expect it. Of course I have been working and saying words to her, hoping that she will say them, but I must admit I really have been focusing on trying to get her to crawl! She just is not interested. For those of you that know her, you know how she constantly talks to herself is baby babble. She is the most content little thing to sit and play and she talk and entertain herself. Well, I get off of work at 2 on Fridays. Usually I take my sister in law to WalMart on Fridays, but we have missed a few since Christmas. Friday, we set out for our weekly outing to pick up a few groceries and baby food, but mainly just to take Aunt Debbie grocery shopping. Zoë and I walk around looking and picking up a few things, talked to a few people we knew while she sat up in the buggy like a big girl for the first time. We had been there about an hour when I got ready to go. Aunt Debbie wasn't done, but we could wait for her in McDonalds. I got everything on the check out counter, went back to push the buggy forward as Zoë started to fuss. I thought she had been patient long enough, so I'll give her a break, get her out. So I asked her, as I have always talked to her about everything, "Are you ready to go?" and she answered in the most plain little voice, " Bye Bye". Let me say that I almost fell in the floor!!!!! I proceeded to ask her, "What did you say?" and yet again she answered plainly "Bye"! AMAZING! She has used her first word many times since then on appropriate occassions. Then Sunday, yesterday, she was frustrated b/c I was not picking her up out of the playpen when she wanted and she was past due for her morning nap. I bent over to pick something up off of the floor where she could not see me and she said "mama". Again, I was shocked as she continues to use MaMa some, but less than bye bye.

At our 6 months check up last week, a month late b/c of sickness, she weighed 17 pounds 10 ounces and 28 inches long.

7 Months Old

2009-01-20T18:30:00.000-08:00

Zoë is 7 months old today. She is growing so fast. She is finally well again, not sick. But on the other hand we are going to get shots on Friday. She has two bottom front teeth and she is cutting the top 4 front teeth. She is trying to hold a cup and starting to feed herself finger foods. She loves mashed potatoes, green beans, dumplings, buscuits, toast, eggs, and grits from Mommy's plate.

Celine Dion

2009-01-15T13:37:00.000-08:00

G and I are going to see Celine tonight at the BJCC. I am so excited and ready to be there. On the down side, I am leaving my little one for the night with my parents. I know they will have a wonderful time with her, but I just hate being away from her. I am looking forward to the night out though. I guess I have mixed emotions. I hope we have a blast at the concert!

6 Months and Sickness

2009-01-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

Zoë is 6 months old and finally sitting up good, but she does topple over from time to time. We have to keep pillow behind her so she doesn't hit her head on our hard wood floors. She has cut her bottom 2 front teeth and she is biting everything, particularly her spoon at mealtimes. She is still not interested in holding her bottle or crawling. I keep trying, but to no avail thus far. Part of that may be due to the fact that she has been sick since 12/30. She has RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, and we are doing breathing treatments every 4 hours. Plus she has bilateral ear infections. Genia and I have been sick as well. We are so ready for all 3 of us to be well again. This is why it has taken me so long to upload any Christmas pics.

Fun Times

2008-12-21T09:41:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-18T12:45:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-12-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-12-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T11:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-15T14:57:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-14T09:04:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-04T11:11:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-23T17:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

One of my favorites

Zoe and BB

Zoe Playing

GiGi and Zoe

Me and Zoe

June Pics

2008-08-20T12:12:00.001-07:00

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

2 months old

2008-08-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

Our baby girl, Zoe Isabella, is 2 months old today. She was born June 20, 2008 at 8:17pm weighing 7 pounds 13.5 ounces and 20 inches long. Since then she has grown so much! She weighed 10 pounds 13 ounces at her last MD appt on August 6th. She goes for her 2 month shots this Friday. We are truly blessed to have our baby girl!

I am an a regular myspace user, but today is my first day blogging elsewhere. I wonder how it will go? We shall see....