Merry Christmas 2006

Well, it's that time of year and I feel so lucky this year to have Zoe in our life and to be able to share this all with you. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Look for new pictures soon.

November Bunny Room Pictures

Zoë's first time painting Look at that smile...say cheese
Top Knot!
Look at our genius daughter
Yes, I can feed myself!

Christmas List

My friends Candy sent this to me. It was really fun and I thought I would share.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Both

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? sits them under the tree

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white

4. Do you hang mistletoe? yes

5. When do you put your decorations up? day after thanksgiving

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? sweet potatoes

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? dad jumping in the lake on Christmas

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was 6 years old the neighbor across the street in Evansville told me

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? yes, but at my mom and dads on Thanksgiving

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? lights, ornaments, ribbon all in burgandy, white and gold with an angel theme

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? love it

12. Can you ice skate? yes

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? being with my family

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? mom's apple pie

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? lighting up the house with all the lights and decor...our old home just looks so beautiful

17. What tops your tree? an angel

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? GIVING!!!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? of course, Holly Jolly Christmas and Deck the Halls...with balls of Holly

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yummy? Yummy!

Christmas Pictures 2006

Zoe as Pebbles for Halloween

Being a Mom

My friend Shalyn emailed me this:

“Before I was a Mom...I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.Before I was a Mom…I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.”

I have to add more to this:

Before I was a mom…..
I washed my hair everyday
I would wash my hair and shave my legs on the same day
Had a spotless home
Could go anywhere anytime…like to the grocery store
Play cribbage on the internet
Reply to emails
Sleep in on the weekends
Take a bath
Eat my supper
Have fun walking around Wal-mart and discovering fun things

BUT I am happy to give up all these things to be a Mom. It is the most wonderful thing in the world.

October 2006 Pics from Daycare

Football Abuse

You are not going to believe this story. A 9-year old on tape being man-handled by his coach. Check is out on youtube.com search for Mason Ohio Football. It is the first thing that comes up. Watch and read their story.

Life List #2

I love hot air balloons. I think #2 is that I would like to go up in a hot air balloon.

I think about this all the time, but I must say I normally seek out and do what I want to do; therefore, this is a difficult task to create a life list. I think you all might have good ideas for me that you have heard me say. Let's here them.

SLEEP...aahhhhh.

Last night Zoe went to bed at 9pm and is still asleep at 5:30am. She hasn't been sleeping well with her ear infections...so hopefully she is on the road to recovery.

Grammy is here visiting and is going to watch her at home. So, they will both have a fun day today.

Another ear infection

I am sad to report that Zoe has another ear infection in her other ear. She was tugging on it all the time and just not getting any better. On top of it all she still has her cold with a runny nose and cough....but the doc says she just has to "get over it." I just wish she would feel better. She still seems to be happy most of the time, but she hates it when I have to suction her nose.

Ear Infection

Zoe got her first ear infection this week. She went to the doctor on Monday, but she is already back to her old self.

This weekend is Tall Stacks here in Cincinnati. Mom, Dad and my brother Shane are all coming to visit and have fun in the nati!

New Daycare Pics for September

Eating a graham cracker!
Hanging out in a box...what fun.
Looks like I am waving...huh.

Meet Sarah my daycare teacher. I love her and give her kisses.

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood Concert Winner

Well, I entered Matt's pic in a radio station contest for best look at like for Jeff Gordon and we won! We got two tickets to the Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood Concert for tomorrow night. I won them a few weeks ago, but I thought all of you should know we aren't the only ones that think he looks like Jeff.

Life List - #1

So, now that we have DVR I am totally watching Ellen all the time. She is not only funny, but I also learn so much about cool gadgets, current events in entertainment, but I feel enlightened after a fun filled show. I am encouraged to start a life list that she is telling everyone to start. The only thing that I know for #1 I would want to add right now is going to Hawaii, where I was born.

I have a pretty good life right now. Zoe is so beautiful, I have my amazing husband Matt and a great career. Life is pretty good, but I am so goal oriented that a Life List seems like the perfect thing for me to start. As I start to add things, I will keep you all posted.

7 months

Formula Recall

Nutrition product-maker Ross Products Division is voluntarily recalling 300,000 bottles of three types of Similac infant formula due to a bottle defect. They are recalling the ready-to-feed infant formula's because they do not contain as much vitamin C as indicated on the label.

What to look for:

• Similac Alimentum Advance liquid formula. Expiration date: May 1, 2007. Printed on the back of the bottle is the following stock code, 57512; and lot number, 401895V.
  
• Similac Advance with iron liquid. Expiration date: Nov. 1, 2007, stock code: 55961; and lot numbers: 40177RH and 40172RH.
  
• Similac Advance Hospital Discharge Kits. Stock code, 58986; and lot number, 41699DS.
  Abbott discovered the problem through customer complaints for an unusually dark formula color, which the company said is due to a defect by a third-party bottle manufacturer. A chemical layer inside the bottle that protects oxygen from breaking down vitamin C was missing, which the bottle-manufacturer has corrected, Abbott spokeswoman Tracey Noe said.

Abbott said it will replace for free the products from the affected lots. Customers with questions can call, 800-624-3412.

New Daycare Pics for August

Zoe just grabed the piece of bread and chomped away.
Just hangin' in the exercauser.
Going for a buggy ride!

Zoë's so cute

Zoë in her ladybug dress she wore to church.
Zoë on the boat at Dale Hollow. She loved it! We had a great trip and lots of fun. The cabin we stayed in was amazing.

Look at her playing model with my sunglasses. She now poses for the camera.

Checkup

Zoë had her checkup today. Matt took her this morning. She got her 6 month shots.

She is 16 lbs. 2 oz. She is 55% in weight and 75% in height. She is now allowed to eat #2 baby food and if she can pickup and put in her mouth cheerios, she can eat them!

We are headed to Dale Hollow for the holiday weekend. We hope all of you out there have a fun one. It will be Zoë's first time on the boat.

Mama!

Zoë said MaMa today. More like mamamamamamamama, but she did. Not just once, twice, but like 12 times. I made me so happy! Matt said, she might say mama first, but she still looks like me.

Zoe's hammin' it up at Daycare!

Look at this little crazy haired girl. Just hammin' it up for the camera!

Zoe's so happy!

Betty at my work got this stuffed animal dog. Zoe just loves it! Anything soft that she can play and cuddle with.
She actually played with it first and then fell asleep. =)
If you can't read this shirt, it says...."Daddy does my hair." Sarah at daycare put Zoe's hair up in a pigtail on the top of her head and I had to get a picture with Matt. Ohhhh so cute!

Stranger Danger.

Watch out! Zoë has all of a sudden developed not only a strange anxiety, but also a mommy complex. She is all about mommy and only the day care providers that she knows...like Sarah and the other teachers in the bunny room. So, if you see her soon, just watch out. She even cries at Matt.....and we don't know why.

She is also working on her sitting skills. She is doing very well with small assistance. Soon enough she will be doing it all on her own.

6 Months old!

Zoë is over 6 months old now. It is so hard to believe she is growing up so fast. She can now roll from front to back and back to front. She is so happy most of the time. She is still drooling and we are awaiting that first tooth. She is such a precious baby!

Maine Vacation 2006

Matt climbed Mt. Blue. It was a really rough incline, but he did it.
Zoe in her bathing suit going for her first swim.
Look at the funny face she made. She knew something exciting was going to happen.
Grammy, Great Aunt Barbara and Zoe.

Our view from our porch at camp. So peaceful.

Yes, we are rolling over!

Zoë officially rolled over last Thursday night at home! She gets frustrated if anything is in her way. She is a little sick right now with an upper respiratory infection and a nasty cough. She should be back to normal in a couple of days. Have fun looking at the pictures below!

July Day Care Pics

Look at the big girl in her exercaucer!
She got so warn out she feel asleep.
Making daddy proud watchin' those fish.
Our happy little girl....at day care.

July 2006 Pics

Rolling Over?

Baby girl is trying to hard to roll over, but she just can't get her arm out of the way. We are letting her chew on frozen teething rings. We are pretty sure with the intense drooling and fussy behavior lately, that she is getting ready to cut a tooth soon. We also have been giving her some water in a sippy cup. Many things we have read said to start introducing them now.

We are getting prepared for our trip to Maine. I bought Zoë's first bathing suit and it is so cute. I can't wait to post more pictures.

Zoë at Day Care!

Zoë's first day at her new day care!
Zoë is surrounded by mirrors and she loves it!
My gap baby!

Zoë’s first Baby Cereal and Reds Game

Zoë's 4 Months old!

We got these two new toys for Zoë this weekend. She loves both of them so much that she would play until she fell asleep.