Four Months

Hard to believe that time has passed so quickly.  Zoe is four months old.
It really is truly amazing how quickly babies learn and how much they progress and grow in such a short amount of time.   In the last week I have seen Zoe do so many new things, and show interest in stuff that has never seemed to interest her before.

On her car seat handle I have had a toy bird that vibrates when you pull the bird.  This bird has been on her car seat since the beginning. I use to think it scared her so I usually just slid it down to the side out of her view, but would occasionally slid it up again to see if her opinion of it has changed.  The other day I took Zoe shopping so I could return some items.  Upon entering the store the store clerk said, "Hi" to Zoe which immediately made Zoe start crying.  It was one of those moments where Zoe was locked in on me, and I think the store clerk startled her.  To distract her, and keep her attention while in the store I slid the bird up into her view, and pulled on it a few times to show her how it vibrated.  A little while later, while still waiting in line I look down to see Zoe grabbing hold of the birds feet and actually pulling it down towards her.  I gasped in my amazement. That was the first time I've seen her have so much control over her hands and fingers.   I've seen her grab hold of things before, but I've never realize how much precision she actually has.  Her fine motor skills impress me daily!  Motor skills are important for a future artist ; P 

I don't recall which hand she actually grabbed the bird with, but if I haven't mentioned it before I think she is going to be a lefty.

During Zoe's third month of life she also learned how to flip herself over from back to front.  I have been expecting Zoe to achieve this skill for some time now, because she has been showing interest for months .  Yet, some how it still caught me off guard    I laid her on the floor for just a brief moment while I was getting something done, and when I looked up at her she had just flipped herself over.  She probably thought I was one crazy lady with all the hooting and hollering that I was doing.  I was just so proud of her, and wanted to let her know.

It is funny when babies learn new skills, or at lease Zoe,  it seems as though she can't stop doing something once she figures it out.  Almost every time I lay her down she flips herself over.  At Zoe's four month visit the other day she decided to show off her rolling skills to the doctor.  She flipped herself over and then raiser her head high showing off how strong she is.

I had originally planned on using this outfit for Zoe's  newborn  photos, but she was just too small.  I had to wait until she grew into it.

Zach's not very happy with the way I dressed her up for these photos.  He wants me to take more four month photos in a different outfit.  What are your thoughts?

In God's hands

Sunday, January 27th  Zoe was baptized at Sandy Springs United Methodist Church. 

Zach and I started attending Sandy Springs United Methodist a few Months before Zoe was born.  In fact I remember the first Sunday we attended the church vividly.  It was a HOT day in July, and I believe their air conditioner was broken (not fun for a pregnant women who was just getting over a heat rash). Despite the heat we felt welcomed immediately by Reverend Ken and Pastor Blair.  

Pastor Blair seen above holding Zoe was also very pregnant when we met.  She was due to have a daughter just a few short weeks after Zoe. We made and instant connection over the joy that was about to enter our lives.  Soon after Blair joined us for dinner one night.  Zach got to show off his cooking talents and made gluten free chicken parmigiana. At that time I was getting to the I'm over pregnancy stage so I was hoping Zach would have made eggplant parmigiana, but I knew  Blair still had a few weeks till she was considered full term so I decided not to risk her eating eggplant. 

Over dinner we discussed the church, and soon felt that this was the church that we wanted to begin Zoe's life with God. 

 I loved going to church while I was pregnant.  Zoe was always very active in my belly while at church.  I could tell she was happy.  Zoe was typically very calm in utero, she moved just enough for me to know she was healthy, but in general not very active.  It was always so exciting to feel her which is why I loved it at Church.  ( Zoe was so calm in the womb I  actually find in amazing how active she is now.)

Nana loves her Grand baby!!

We had to do a last minute clothing change.  I  had just finished getting Zoe all  dressed up at home, and  she immediately  soaked her gown by spitting up on it.  So I had to quickly change her wash it off throw it in the dry, and then change her back into the gown when we arrived at church.  Nana gladly took on the chore of changing Zoe.

The gown that Zoe was baptized in was the same gown that I wore when I was baptized.  

I love this photo!!  Zach is just SOOOOOO in love with Zoe.  I think there is a  Daddy - Daughter blog post coming soon. 

Up to 3 months

At one month I was lucky to get a photo with Zoe's eyes open.  

At two months of age Zoe was starting to show the signs of being a mover and shaker (not really a surprise, considering she is part Zach).  She began to show interest in her feet, and was continually grabbing for them.  Although, was not successful at apprehending them until the weekend before Christmas. 

Upon her birth Zoe was practically rolling herself back and forth, and came close to flipping herself over on several occasions.  At one month of age she flipped herself over a few times when she was sat next to me in the bed.  I was pretty sure most of these incidence were accidents, and the slight slope that my divot created in the bed helped to assist her to accomplish this task. 

However, during her second month of life Zoe began to show a desire to purposefully roll herself over from back to front a task she hasn't fully mastered.  I predict this will be accomplished within the week after watching her today.  

But, it was New Years Eve, just a few days before she turned three months that she accomplished flipping belly to back.  The entire next day Zoe was on a flipping roll. : )  

I am so glad that I've been taking these Month by Month photos. It is amazing to see her progression side by side.  I know she is developing, but I never realize how much she has actually developed until I look back at these photos. 

In the three month photos you can tell how much of a mover and a shaker she actually is.  These photos were a challenge to take.  Which is why the blocks in many of the photos were not as in focus as I would like them to be.  But in many ways that's what I love about them.  They show her personality, and interests.  Just look at this last one...She is staring so intensely at her foot. Or the one above where the blocks captured her attention.   The environment around her is beginning to become so exciting and interesting.  

On another note I think the pacifier is going to be a thing of the past...Zoe has found her thumb.   All that time Zach spent teaching her to put a pacifier in her own mouth, and she wont  even use that skill any more.  OK, so she never successfully put a pacifier in her mouth on her own, but it was pretty amazing to watch her try.  She would bring the pacifier from her outstretched hand to her face and usually hit her nose instead of her mouth, but I was impressed. Her developing motor skills lead me to believe I may have an artist on my hands.  I'm already predicting that Zoe will be a lefty.  She seems to be more apt to hold things in that hand.  So many things to learn and explore the future is so exciting. 

I think it's time to start baby proofing.  

13 in 13

This list is inspired by one of my close friends, Diane Flood.  Every year she creates a bucket list for the year. Now that I have a little one of my own  I've been planning all the fun stuff I want to introduce Zoe to this year or at some point during her life. I've already been running through in my mind all the things I am going to do with Zoe this summer.  Yes, I understand that she will be under the age of one, and wont remember most of it, but I'd like to think she will at least enjoy these experiences.

1.  Take Zoe to the Georgia aquarium.

I already know that Zoe will love the Georgia Aquarium.  We have a salt water fish tank in our home, and it has already proven to be one of Zoe's favorite things to look at. When she gets a little fussy the aquarium serves as a great distraction for her.  Zoe was also given a jelly fish mood lamp for Christmas by her Aunt Christi.  The Jelly fish have already seemed to catch her interest as well. I can already image how much she is going to love the Georgia Aquarium.

Now that I am back and at work.  I am already looking forward to summer so that I can spend lots of time with Zoe again. Part of looking forward to summer I have been envisioning all the things I'm going to get to do with her.

2.  Because I could go on and on with activities I wanted do second on my list is buying an Atlanta City Pass.  Which targets number one as well.   With the city pass Zoe and I can go to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, the Zoo, or even the High Museum of art. What's even better is I envisioned including Diane and Stacy (fellow new Moms) in these excursions  and guess what Diane has a couple of these items on her bucket list as well.

3.  Take a class to improve my artistic skills.  Most likely some type of photography class, but I always like learning new things.  Especially if I can take it into the classroom.

4. Go to the beach, and play in the sand with Zoe

5.  See Cirque Du Soleil.  Can you believe it I have never seen Cirque Du Soleil?  Zach probably would have taken me last year if I didn't wait to mention it until after the show was already here.

6.  Read 13 books this year.  I actually achieved this goal last year.  However, with a new baby and being back to work I'm not sure how much time I'll have for reading. Regardless, I am going to try my best to read the book of the month for book club.  And if I have time for books of my own as well, then that is a plus.   I am actually pleased with myself that I made it through so many books last year. 

I've always been a slow reader to the point where in previous years it took me months just to make it through one book.  I think a lot of this was due to my choice of books.  I never seemed to do a good job choosing books I like.  But last year thanks to book club and friends I found many books I enjoyed reading.  The other thing that increase my reading last year was the Kindle that I bought my husband for Christmas.   Let's just say the Kindle quickly became mine...oops. I know there are many people out there who prefer actual books to the digital version.  I am the opposite I prefer the Kindle. It is easy light weight, and I can slip it in my purse, and have it most anywhere to read.

7. I've been debating about if this is the type of thing that should go on my bucket list.  However, this is one of my biggest goals for the year. The reason I'm hesitant to put it on my list is because I don't want to put to much pressure on myself.  I don't want to put myself in a position to where I beat myself up if I don't achieve it.  I'm already dangerously close to beating myself up if I don't achieve it.  However, I realize that I just have to take it one day/ or week/month at a time.

And the goal is to feed Zoe breast milk until the age of one.

I need to be proud of the fact that I can say Zoe has been exclusively breastfed for three months.  Many people don't make it that far. And so far I seem to be keeping up with the supply fine (thanks to my freezer stock)  My biggest problem is that I worry about things that haven't even happened yet.  I dwell on the "what if". (Every extra day of breast milk I give her is an extra day, and that much better for her. I need to remember that I have made it this far, and that is a success...Just reminding myself again. :) And if I can make it to 4 months then I made it to 4, and once I make it to 6 she'll start adding food into her diet, and if I make it to 8 I'll have all summer with her.)

Fortunately, I have a practical husband who gives great advice.  I just need to learn to follow and trust his advice.  The only thing that worrying does for me is cause wrinkles.  Instead I need to deal with the problems when they occur rather than worrying about the fact that they may occur.   When I take things one day at a time they usually work out just fine, and the way they are suppose to.

Breastfeeding is so important to me because my husband has A LOT of allergies, and although it is not guaranteed breastfeeding is suppose to help prevent allergies.  But again one of those things I shouldn't worry about. Maybe I should make that goal 8.....

8.  Learn to handle things as they come.  Stop worrying so much about the "WHAT IF".

9. Scuba Dive again

10. Create two new paintings/drawings

11. Begin and finish Zoe's Baby album.

12.  Enjoy a girls night out.

13.  Sew something

I'm surrounded by people who sew.  Zoe is a very lucky girl.  She has many hand made items, which is awesome!! I love hand made stuff, and I would like to try my hand at making something myself as well.  Here's to 2013 and the new adventures of Motherhood. : )

Zoe's first Christmas

Luckily Zoe seems to enjoy being photographed, because she is going to be my model for years to come. I love her expressions in so many of these photos.  Many of them are very inquisitive.   She always seems to be very curious about my camera and my phone.  Zach and I like to talk about the possibility of us have a very bright girl on our hands. 

Thanks Dad for helping me sit in this chair.
: )

This pile of gifts is bigger than me. 

Daddy is playing with my toys for me.

Zoe had a great first Christmas!  She seemed to really be interested in the gifts that were being opened. I'm sure she will be playing with them in no time. Soon I wont be able to keep up with her. 

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. 

Who does Zoe look like?

Time for the comparison.  Who does Zoe look like. 

From early on people were continually telling me how much Zoe looks like me.  I also had a lot of people tell me that Zoe looks like my Dad.   I agreed with most people and felt as though Zoe took after me, until recently.  I feel as though I am starting to see more of Zach in her. 

11 weeks

age unknown?

Zach was a big baby, around 10 pounds when he was born. Zoe was 6 lbs 4 oz. at birth, and is 9lbs 12oz as of her last weight check.  She took after my family in the since that me and all my siblings were small as well.  One thing that I do notice in comparing these photos is that Zoe has a rounder face like Zach.

Zoe, at two months

Me, at 2 months

I believe we have similar noses, and a similar hair line.  Although her hair is darker than mine. My hair later turned white blond.  I wonder if her hair will change?  It has lightened up some from birth. 

Zoe is also starting to get some really unique expressions, which I compare to some of Zach's expressions. In one of her recent two month photos I am beginning to wonder if she is getting Zach's infamous arched eyebrows. 

What do you think?  Who does Zoe look like?