Keys And Ah-Pa Are My Love

At the Beach

We went for a lovely walk along the beach at Del Mar today. Zoe was fascinated by the ocean. I like to think that she was thinking "what a big bath tub!" We took her out of the backpack carrier a little and held her so that her feet touched the water and sand.

Bedtime Story

Is It A Crawl? Is It A Walk?

It's SUPERZOE!!

Shower Magic

Zoe Attends Her First Birthday Party

Dennis and Zoe (and Jackie) at Caroline's First Birthday Party

Xylophone

Farley's Rusk

Zoe's new favorite food, probably because she can bite off big chunks of it herself.

Father's Day Weekend

Sometimes, all that one wants and needs is nothing more than doing not very much, which is the story of this past weekend.

Dennis got home in time for us to take Zoe to a neighborhood park for a bit of fresh air and playtime on Friday, a wonderful start to a lovely weekend

Zoe loves the slide

Actually, it was going to be a fairly active weekend as Dennis and I signed up to do the Camp Pendleton Mud Run on Saturday, and to go out with friends to celebrate the running of the course in the evning. However, we decided on Friday to skip the Mud Run and to just go for the celebration part!

On Sunday, we celebrated Dennis' First Father's Day as a Father by going out to get tacos from South Beach Bar and Grill. We also celebrated by doing absolutely nothing else that day. Dennis wanted to rest and that's what he got. We stayed home and watched the U.S. Open on TV. It was strangely entertaining.

We took a stroll on the broad walk at OB after the yummy Tacos. Zoe waves hello!

Play

I took this video about a week ago (8 days ago, to be exact). Here you can see Zoe's increasing range of interaction with her toys. We are definitely buying her more toys, despite my previous conviction not to do so. I think she has gotten to the stage where she is developing rapidly or perhaps all the wiring were being laid but the switches are only now turning on. I've been trying to expose her to a more varied diet of stimulations too. For example, I discovered a really nice park with a lovely playground just down the road from us and have been taking Zoe there to experience the swing and the slide and to observe other babies and children play. I think she really enjoys the park. Incidentally, yesterday, she waved (really waved) for the first time at the park. She waved to a boy toddler on the swing as we were leaving. I said bye-bye and was really surprised when she brought her arms up and waved. She waved before, but very hesitantly. I would call this a first real and obvious wave.

Babeover

Our home is now undeniably babe-over. It used to be that Dennis and I would put baby's things away every evening after we put Zoe into her crib. Toys, knickknacks, Exersaucer and such would be transported from the living room floor and into her room. The living room would regain some semblance of our previous uncluttered life. Well, those days are gone! Since we bought the playzone two weeks ago to corral baby with, there is no longer any easy way to deny that a baby lives here. Not that we would want to. I'm just marveling at how not 10 steps into the house and a guest would see this 10' by 9' enclosure that is bright as bright can be. Zoe doesn't seem to mind the brightly colored limitations we put up so far, though she has already shown great interest in the world outside by sticking her arms through the openings and waving them about.

Solids for Daddy

Zoe enjoyed her rusks so much that she wanted to feed daddy some of it! We think she was very pleased with herself, for feeding us instead of the other way around. I think it helped her feel accomplished.

Solids!

Zoe loves feeding herself. I think she has been wanting to do it - she watches what we eat and how we eat very closely. So, last week, when I gave her her first "Farley's Rusk," she took to it with much enthusiasm and determination. She had a little practice with more solid things already - bits of pita bread and bagel - but this was her own rusk to hold! As you can see in this video, she is still delighted by it. Yesterday, we expanded the repertoire a little by giving her a piece of pear. She handled it as well as the rusk.

Firsts

I'm a little too tired to write at length all the new and cool things Zoe has been up too, so this would have to be in point form:

1. Zoe first got up onto a sitting position from a lying on her back position a couple of days ago (Sunday, I think). She was utterly delighted and triumphant the first time she did it. Since then, she has been busy mastering the skill and has been demonstrating as much by bouncing back up as soon as we put her down into the crib. She woke up last night, got into her upright position, and then cried for us. I had to go and get her back down in the middle of the night. She got back up, I guided her down. We read that babies can develop sleep issues during this time because they want to practice their new skills.

2. She ate rice today. Not rice in processed instant infant came-in-the-box form nor rice that has been cooked down into porridge and then pureed. Rather, just whole grains of rice. I was so proud of her when she reached to grab the rice. I fed her some and was surprised that she took them readily. That's a first! Ensie, our good friend, cooked the rice (Basmati). She thinks Zoe liked the texture.

3. Another first, even before the rice, was her feeding herself these infant biscuits I got her. They are called Farley Rusks and are made by Heinz in the United Kingdom. I grew up with these stuff and was delighted to find them in Major Market. Zoe has been chomping down on them.

That's it for tonight. I'm ready for bed!

Decisions, Decisions

"Let's see, should I have Sausage or Eggs Benedict?"

Playhouse

Made by Grandma with Love

Ironed by Grandpa with Pride.

We received in the mail yesterday a lovely package from Mom and Dad (aka known as Grandma and Grandpa). Inside we found two lovely outfits Grandma made for Zoe. She is still too small for them, but I had to put the hat on for her anyway. She looks adorable.

Yum Yum

Zoe is finally at the stage where we can give her true solids. So far, her solids are actually liquids, or pureed food. She made a face when I first gave it to her, but she opened her mouth for more. I think she wants to eat the food she's been watching us eat.