Snowiest February ever!

Dear Zoe - This February has been the snowiest in Chicago history!  We are all ready for some sun.

But you look pretty cute in your winter hat.  :) By the way, we bought this hat for you for next year.  It's a toddler hat.  It fits you now.  You have a big head.

xoxo, the mama.

4 Months Old

 Dear Zoe - You are 4 months old!  Well, sorta.  Since February doesn't have a 30th, we are celebrating today.  So much has changed in a month.  You have more hair.  You play your flirty smile and turn your head with people.  You roll over.  You are grabbing your toys and holding them all by yourself.  You recognize your dad and I and smile whenever you see us.  You put anything you can in your mouth.  And...you are refusing to nap.  You just like to be where the action is and whenever we try and put you down, you want to get up and hang out.  But who can blame you! 

This is a big week for you - you have your 4 month check up on Tuesday and then on Thursday, we are taking you on your very first plane ride.  We are going to North Carolina, where dad grew up.  Nana and Da are very excited to see you!  We are going to have your baptism on Saturday and LOTS of people are going to come to meet you.  Then on Sunday, we are going to celebrate your Great Grandpa's 80th birthday!  So much to do, little girl.  But I know you are up for it, you are quite a social butterfly.

Here you are - 4 months old!

xoxo, the mama

Express Yourself

Dear Zoe - Lately, you have been expressing yourself and letting me know what you like and what you don't like.  You have been trying to communicate with me by making all sorts of cute noises and faces.  Here are some from our chat this afternoon-

Chatty Zoe

Pick me up!

Hey, everyone!

xoxo, the mama

SuperZoe

Dear Zoe -

You have been rolling over from your back to your belly like a superstar for the past week.  Only thing is, you can't figure out what to do when you get to your belly, and then you yell at me to turn you back over.   I will come over and flip you back, and then you do it over and over again.  We have to get working on flipping you back!

Super Zoe!

Mom, some help please?

xoxo, the mama

Zoe and Emma

Dear Zoe-
On Monday, we went to meet your future BFF, Emma Jones.  You and her have a LOT of playdates in your future.   We knew that you guys were going to hit it off because you even sleep in the same way! 

Sleepy Friends

xoxo, the mama

Happy Birthday Uncle Patrick

Dear Zoe - Today is your Uncle Patrick's 30th birthday.  Hope he likes his present!

Day in the Life of Zoe Ryan Teich

Dear Zoe-

I am really enjoying our days together.  You are such a funny, happy baby and I get so excited to see you every morning.  Our typical day usually goes like this -

7- 8am Wake up, change diaper, eat

Play on playmat, sing songs, do a little tummy time

10-11am First nap (about two hours after you wake up)  You are now giving me cues that you are tired - rubbing your eyes and being less active.  Sometimes when you are rolling over, you stop mid roll to take a little nap.  :)  I know it is time for a nap whenever you do that.

11-12pm Eat again

We play again, look in mirrors (you love seeing yourself in the mirror) Now that it is nice out, we will start going on walks outside

2pm Nap #2  This one is a little less regular - sometimes we are just having too much fun to sleep

3pm - Eat again and ELLEN!  This is our one hour of tv time. 

4pm - Playtime until Dad comes home

6pm - Fussy hour.  :)  This is about the time that you just want to be held and bounced on the excercise ball.  The thing is amazing - it calms you down everytime

7pm- Bathtime, storytime and final meal of the day and then BED!

You have been sleeping pretty consistently for 12 hours a night which is AWESOME!  You are such a good little sleeper and so cute and cuddly when you wake up.  I love your smiles in the morning!

Happy Valentines Day

Dear Zoe - Happy Valentines Day, little girl!  We celebrated like we always do, with Jenny and Mikey last night.  They came over, we watched you try and roll over a bunch of times and get tired out.  Then, we all made a delicious dinner.  The past few years, we did silly things like go to Medieval Times and Tony and Tina's wedding, but this year, we hung out at home with you.  Here you are in just a few of your Valentines Day ensembles-

xoxo, the mama

Zoe Rolls Over (Caught on Video)

My Mobile Little Chicken

Dear Zoe - Yesterday was a big day for you, all that moving and kicking paid off and you rolled over.  You went from laying on your back, kicking and doing some impressive back bends (probably learned in yoga) to rolling over on your tummy.  As soon as you did it, you looked up at me, like "what the crap just happened, mom?!?" and then you puked.  You did it a couple more times, but of course, as soon as I took out the camera to record your newest milestone, you looked at me with a blank stare and definitely did not make any attempts to roll over.

     Zoe contemplating what she is going to do today

Zoe and her friends

xoxo, the mama

Hanging out with G-diddy and Danny

Dear Zoe - The other night we had some surprise visitors - G-Diddy and Danny came over to hang out with us.  You fell fast asleep hanging out with them, Grandpa sure seems to have the touch in getting you to sleep!

"Hey Mom, you sure this guys safe?"

Danny showing you his latest movie, you loved it.

xoxo, the mama

No longer sitting still

Dear Zoe -

You have become quite the little mover these days.  You are all about kicking and moving all over the place, you don't like to sit still!  Here you are laying around, doing some ab work -



Tummy time has become an active sport as well-

Kicking right off your pillow

Getting some air!

SO close to turning yourself over!

xoxo, the mama

Nana is here!

Dear Zoe - This weekend, your Nana came to see you.  We were worried that because of all the snow, she wasn't going to make it.  But nothing was stopping her from hanging out with you all weekend!  Here are some pictures from her visit-

Chomping on your hand, one of your favs

Look at those baby blues

Hanging out with Nana, so content

So happy (Zoe AND Nana!)

Ready for brunch!

Blizzard 2011

Dear Zoe-

This week, Chicago had its third biggest snowfall EVER!  We were in the house for 4 days before we finally left yesterday to go out to Trader Joes.  We were getting a little cabin fever.  Here are some pictures from the blizzard -

It was so bad Dad's work was even closed, so he got to stay home and play with us!

"Uh, Mom, is it Saturday already?  Why is Dad here?  Should I be worried?"

xoxo, the mama

Snowtorious B.I.G.

Dear Zoe - Today they are calling for 21" of snow!  It is your very first blizzard.  It is supposed to be bad, they are closing all the schools early and even Al Roker is in Chicago reporting on the weather.

You and I are stuck in the house, but we will have fun, like we always do!

"It's gonna be a snowpocalypse, mom!"

"SnOMG!"

xoxo, the mama