Walkabout at the Wedding

Our friends Kali and Bill were married this morning. The wedding and reception were held at the North Island Naval Station on Coronado. Zoe wore a flowery sundress and a hat that her grandmother made for her.

Zoe had a chance to practice walking at the reception. She was quite sure-footed in her brand-new shoes.

Playing in the kitchen

These days, we have Zoe with us in the kitchen while we cook. Sometimes she wanders around exploring the various surfaces, sometimes she plays with the Leap Frog alphabets we have on the refrigerator door. Other times, she plays with the little pot and wooden spoon I leave out for her, or checks out (again) the straps on her high chair or the recycling bin for her beloved juice containers. And, when she is bored with all that, she stands by the window to see what is outside. Occasionally, when she spies a bird or spies what she thinks is a bird, she would let us know by yelling "Bird!!"

Halloweeen

Zoe was swimming in this outfit last year and see how well it fits her now! Give or take another week and she won't be able to fit it at all!

Palomar Mountain State Park

Lower French Valley

We went out for a nice little hike at Palomar Mountain State Park yesterday. Perhaps it is because the weather was perfect (high 60s, partly overcast), or that the changing season clothed the hills and trees in lambent light, or simply that we haven't been out in a while, we had a great time. Zoe, even though she missed her afternoon nap, was in great spirits the whole way. She looked about curiously, and had fun yelling "Pa Pa" over and over again. We were one very happy family.

Carbo loading before the hike

Go to the Mattress!

I was changing Zoe's sheets and had her mattress on the floor. She was so curious she came scurrying in a hurry. She touched it and then got onto it with great interest. Here, you see her going to town on it.

Helping Mommy - Or Not

New Toys

I went out to get a bunch of new toys for Zoe yesterday. I realized that Zoe has - except for her favorite push toys - exhausted her interest in all of her other toys. Also, I realized, a bit guiltily, that even though we think the house is full of toys already, she really doesn't have all that many. It was all remedied by a quick trip to Toys R' Us and after some searching on Craigslist. I am glad to report that Zoe is well pleased with the change. Dennis and I are too, actually. The pleasure of seeing Zoe giggle and bounce up and down with joy at the new things is immense. Here you see her exhibiting her artistic talents.

Grandpa Asks, Grandpa Gets!

It's been a very tiring few days for me. Dennis came down with a bad case of gout last Thursday and since then, I have been the only one holding fort around the house. I always appreciated all the things big and small Dennis do for us after he comes home from a day at work, but I really appreciate it now that I know what it is like to not have them. All that said, I'm very happy to report that Dennis' toe is doing better and that he is not all wretched about it any more.

Anyhow, I know that Grandpa has been asking to see a video of Zoe pushing the Radio Flyer Walker Wagon that Kaelem very generously loaned to Zoe. So here it is. Grandpa asks and Grandpa gets! (albeit with some delay ;) )



Zoe loves pushing this wagon around and we think she plays shopping cart with it. Zoe likes to push it around and put things into it as she goes around the house.

Monkey Girl

We love Zoe's new monkey-themed footie pajamas.

Buckles

Zoe spent some time examining the buckles to her highchair yesterday. We love how she made all these talking, cooing noises as if she was talking herself through it. Ba da ba: "Let's see, this one goes to here..." Ba: "How did mommy do it? I can figure it out."

Eating with spoon

Zoe has reached the stage where she develops in leaps and bounds. All those months of practice! She is finally putting it together. She started to toddle tentatively about a week ago. And she is more and more successful with the spoons.

Milestones

I don't know which is more exciting to report first: Zoe's first steps (real steps, three of them) or first kiss bestowed (to daddy). Or - there is more - that she drank just about 6 oz of milk in one sitting of her own free will (she sometimes take 6 oz of milk over three days). Oh! What a day.

Actually, I didn't see Zoe's first step. I was in the kitchen cooking when I heard Dennis yell "Honey! She's walking!!!!" I ran out, but it was too late, Zoe was back to her hands and knees. I encouraged her to "walk," but all she did was crawl over to me demanding to be carried. Oh well. I wish I saw it, but I'm glad that Dennis was there to see it for he was so worried that he would be at work when she takes her first steps. It's a good day for Dennis. Not long after, Zoe kissed his cheeks for the first time. He said "kiss Papa," and she did! Tenderly, sweetly. It was a priceless moment.

I guess Zoe decided she can't leave mom empty handed - she didn't kiss me, even after I planted my cheeks in front of her in the most endearing, beseeching way - and so drank a whole lot of milk right before bed. That was almost better than a kiss!