Transformations

It is hard to believe that Zoe will be three months old in just a matter or weeks. Christmas although a happy time of year is a time that I've been dreading a little bit.  I was hoping Christmas would take as long as possible to get here.  I enjoyed spending Zoe's first Christmas with her, but the time is bitter sweet to me because it means I will be returning to work in a matter of days.  Tears are welling up in my eyes just thinking about it.   I have already decided I'm going to hold off on mascara until I get to work the first day, and who knows maybe I shouldn't wear it at all that day.

It is amazing the transformation I have seen over the past three months. She has changed and developed in so many ways. Like many new babies Zoe's falling reflex was triggered easily. I would often see her arms and legs fly into the air while she was sleeping in her swing.

Zoe went from hardly able to control her arms and legs to holding and grasping on to things with decent control.

On her play mat her arms and legs would fly and kick with out much purpose, but now she actually grabs a hold of the rings, and appears to have a purpose to what she is doing. Her  legs no longer stay in front of the piano.  She often twist her self sideways usually in an attempt to flip over.  She has yet to flip her self over from back to front but I expect it to be coming before to long.  

She has also been very focused on her feet over the past several weeks.  I have seen her attempting to grab at them on multiple occasions. I finally witnessed a successful grab just last weekend where she was able to hold onto her sock.  She has yet to get a firm grasp of her toes, but I expect this to becoming before to long as well.  I assume as soon as she gets a firm grasp of her toes she should be able to flip her self over about that same time.  What she will do when she flips over I am not sure.  She has not enjoyed tummy time the past several weeks. 

Over the course of three months Zoe has gone from loving things to hating things to maybe even loving them again.  One such thing is bath time.  Zoe use to HATE bath time.  Zach seems to think I was making the water to cold. Now she absolutely loves bath time.  So much so she starts screaming as soon as she is removed from the water.

Zoe has also gotten much easier to sooth, at least by me.  Which worries me a little about returning to work, and her beginning day care. I realize I am around Zoe all day long so I try very hard to allow others to love Zoe when they are around.   When Zach gets home in the evenings I try to take a step back, and allow him to change her diapers, and sometimes even get her ready for bed. Which often included calming her to help her fall asleep.  Sitting in the other room I would often her Zach yell out, are you sure she's not hungry (after I had just fed her).   Moments after I would come in and take her she would take the pacifier just fine, and be calm in a matter of seconds (and not appearing to be hungry). Well I heard this phrase again last night when I allowed Zach's cousin to try her hand a soothing my sleepy baby who was ready for a nap. She was following the same technique I normally use (or use to use), and as Zoe was acting seemingly frustrated with the pacifier she asked if Zoe was hungry. When I took her back and tried the pacifier myself she was calm in  seconds, and often in such cases usually ends up smiling at me. I love my little girl, and I love that she is attached to me, but I worry about how this attachment will effect her at day care.  

I myself was a mommy girl.  So much so I held a grudge against my mom when she decided to leave me for a weekend. When I was a young child my mom went on a girl scout retreat with my sister for a weekend.  Apparently I was so angry at her for leaving me I would hardly look at her when she returned. Which is why I know it will be hard, but I do think learning to be with out me at a young age may not be a bad thing...

I am looking forward to seeing Zoe grow in so many ways. She is becoming so expressive.  I am beginning to hear all different kinds of sounds come out of her mouth. Everything from happy babbling and coos to I'm about to cry but I'm trying to express my feelings in another way right now. I think her upset babbling is the most adorable thing ever.  She makes the most unique sounds.   I tried to record some of her babbling one day, but she must be camera shy because she stopped, and just stared at the back of my phone refusing to make a peep. 

My Dad, Zoe's Papa, also swears that Zoe is beginning to wave back.  I myself think it is just coincidence that she happens to move her arms moments after he waves at her.   But who know maybe she is trying to learn.  I do believe I have a very smart, strong baby on my hands.