Moving Day is Almost Here!

Dear Zoe - Next week, we will be leaving our condo that you have lived in for your entire life for a new house in Evanston, IL.  We are so excited to have more space, our OWN walls, and a backyard to play in!  I am sure that it will be a bit of an adjustment, because you, my dear, do not always do well with change, but you will be SO happy in our new home.

The past couple of weeks, Grandma (or Gaga as you have taken to calling her) has been over helping Mama pack and get organized for our move.  To say you have been a helper as well would be not so true...in fact, everytime we do pack something, you immediately decide that it is something you just CANNOT. LIVE. WITHOUT.

For example, Puppy.  You decided that you would rather be packed up with puppy than letting him go alone.

"Not without me, Mama!"

Also, every box that happens to be your size is a GREAT place to play.   Being pushed around in a box? Best game ever.

"Wheeeeee!!!"

We have decided that packing when you are asleep is the best time to get things done.  :)

xoxo, the mama

Haydo and Bay Bay!

Dear Zoe, It was been a busy month!  And your mama has been slacking at documenting all the ridiculously awesome things you have started doing.  You are a barrel of laughs these days and are so fun to be around.

One of your favorite games is to grab a bag (or your purse) and say bye bye (pronounced "bay-bay", way cuter said than written) and pretend to leave by walking away.  You then run back and say "back!".  It is hours of fun for you, and it never gets old!

You are capital O OBSESSED with phones.  You are my daughter, so I can't really blame you, but whenever you see my I-phone, you start saying (on repeat and getting progressively louder) "HAY-DO! HAY-DO!" ("Hello, Hello" - again way cuter with your little voice) until it is handed over to you.  You then proceed to have a private conversation (always with Daddy) complete with laughs as you balance the phone on your shoulder (like mom).

Against my wishes, you received Rock n Roll Elmo this week from your aunt Sissy, which you love!!  However, you like to take over the singing and the boom booms (drums) and provide the entertainment yourself.  I would much rather hear your voice than Elmo's anyway!  :)

"Bay Bay!"

Like mother....

Like Daughter!

xoxo, the mama

Easter Morning

Dear Zoe, Happy Easter!!  The Easter Bunny came overnight and filled up your basket, bringing you all of your favorite things (Elmo was the main theme of this years goodies). 

What a difference a year makes- last year, you weren't really sure what to make of your basket of gifts...this year, you couldn't get enough!

The Easter bunny filled your basket with bubbles, sidewalk chalk, some books, and an Elmo balloon!  You were very excited to see one of your favorite (puppets? people?) in balloon form in our living room.  

Elmo, Elmo!!  (more like "La la!  La la!")

You could hardly wait to get some clothes on and go outside to enjoy your new bubbles.  I have a feeling this will become a daily activity now that the weather is nice!

xoxo, the mama

Spring is here!

Dear Zoe, Last week was rough.  You came down with a bad case of the flu- you were sick for four days.   All I wanted was for you to go back to your normal playful self...and then you did, and I got sick!  We didn't do much all week, we just stayed inside and watched a lot of Mickey and Elmo.  You were getting very stir crazy.  

Thank goodness it is a brand new week and the weather is wonderful!  Today, it was 81 degrees outside when we were leaving the park.  You are back to your old self and you just love spending time outdoors. 

Cheeeese Mama!

What to do...slides or swings?  Big decisions for such a little girl.

And she is off!

First time in the sandbox- didn't know what to make of your hands getting so dirty!  Such a dainty girl.

Looking forward to a fun summer with you, Zo Zo!!

xoxo, the mama

Play "dates"

Dear Zoe, today your friend Cole came over to play.  You were so excited for his visit, you kept saying "Cole! Cole!" all morning when I told you he was on his way.

You two are so sweet together.  He plays hide and seek with you and you laugh and laugh.  He brought some snacks over for you guys to share, and you guys sat so nicely together.  I was lucky enough to capture this moment...

Zoe:  "Cole, these are DELICIOUS veggie straws!"

Cole: "Thanks Zoe.  My mom gets them at Costco.  You should talk to your parents about getting a membership there."

Zoe: "Why are you guys staring at us?  Can we have some privacy please?"

Zoe: "These moms of ours.  Can't live with them...REALLY can't live without them!"

Zoe, you took this moment to lean in for a kiss.  You caught Cole a bit by surprise, but...

He returned with a hug.  :)

Zoe: "So, have you had any other good snacks lately?"

xoxo, the mama

Words words words

Dear Zoe, Recently, some people have asked how many words you are saying.  I do my best to recall the ones you use often, but lately it seems like you are saying more words each day!  As of today, 2 days shy of being 16 months old, these are your words--

dada
mama
hi
bye
ball
book
cheese
up
tea
hot
Ellen
Elmo (Ellen and Elmo both sound like LaLa, but you know the difference between the two)
shoes
cookie
keys
more (this is new as of today- you are signing more and saying it at the same time- such a smarty pants!)
ba (this is what you call your paci- not really a word, but I know what you mean when you are calling for it!)

That makes approximately 17 words (I am probably forgetting some) that you are consistently saying knowing what they mean.  According to BabyCenter, at 16 months, MOST toddlers should be saying 7. You are saying more than double that! Such an overachiever.

In addition to those words, you can point out your nose, eyes, ears, teeth and toes.  You also can tell me what a cow says (oooo!), what a piggy says (snort, snort!) and sometimes what a sheep says (aaa!).    You can also communicate to me when you are hungry ("mama- mmmmm") or when you are thirsty ("mama- ahhh")

You definitely understand more than you can speak.  I will ask you to go and get your shoes from your room, and you toddle off and return shoes in hand.   Just today, we were getting ready to go out and I asked where my keys were and you went and got them from the floor in the living room.  You are such a helpful little lady.

Mmmmmm!  Enjoying some delicious cuisine.

xoxo, the mama

It's Magnetic!

Dear Zoe,

Your most recent obsession is anything magnetic.  I recently realized (after living in our condo for almost 4 years) that the back of our front door was magnetic, so I hung some of our Christmas cards on the door with magnets.  You thought this was pretty cool.

Since then, one of your favorite things to do is take off all the magnets from the door and bring them to me.  Hours of fun!  I just got you some magnetic letters and you. went. nuts!  I put them up in alphabetical order and sang you the ABC's and you acted like I was a genius (one of the best perks of being your mama).

It's the little things that keep your attention and provide you with hours of entertainment.

xoxo, the mama