Oh yes...That is MY daughter!

SICK!

Yes, the Gists or at least me-Courtney-has been sick the last couple of weeks.  Zoe got it first-I thought she was just teething or something but I got the brunt of it.  It started with a sore throat and just turned into the whole cold/flu package.  I somehow didn't miss a day of work although believe me I wanted to.  Of course the worst of it hit when I was off on the weekend but Tony was working long hours.  It's no fun being a parent and sick at the same time!  Tony fortunately just got the sore throat. 

We haven't been up to much..Mostly just trying to get better!

Zoe is growing of course and everyday she does the funniest things or learns a new word or phrase.  Her new things has been "cheese".  She got this cute little camera toy and so I would hold up the camera like I was taking her picture and I'd say "Say Cheese!" and she'd say it!  So we did that like a million times and now anytime I hold up that little toy camera she'll say "Cheeeeeese!" all on her own!  It's super cute.

She also says something that we've translated to "Happy Day".  We aren't really sure what she's trying to say but we think it sounds like "Happy Day" so that's what we say and then she'll repeat it.

She's also learned "shoes" and if you say "Let's put shoes on" she'll sit down and lift up her foot.  And she's been learning to put dirty clothes in the hamper.  It's so much fun teaching her new things. She's also a fast learner!

Well, I guess that's it for now!  It's late and I should be in bed!

Oh wait-I've got a couple pictures to share!

She fell asleep on Tony-He put her in my lap even though I was asleep.  Don't worry-she never fell.

So peaceful.

Working hard at using forks and spoons.  Needless to say after this particular dinner she got right into the bath.

I LOVE this dress that I found at my favorite resale store.  And I just happened to have leggings to match!

Eating a waffle.

Eating a waffle and watching "Handy Manny".

It's only Tuesday?

I don't know if it's that I'm anxious for our trip to Indiana (17 more days) or what, but this week is just crawling by.  It's ONLY Tuesday!

It probably hasn't helped that Zoe has been a little cranky the last couple of days.  She's teething...So it's affecting her whole nose/eye/throat region...She's got goopy eyes and a runny nose and a bit of a cough.  And she's been really whiny.  You can just tell she's uncomfortable.

One of the things I've learned is that while Zoe can't always verbalize what she wants she will definitely figure out a way to let you know.  She will know go into the kitchen and bang around the cabinets if she's hungry.  And usually when she sees something she wants she'll look at it and go "Ga ga ga".  She does it in the same tone and everything.  

I've got a couple more cute pictures to share from last week when she was over at our friends' house.

LUNCH!!!

Fun at the park!

 Well, I better go for now.  Hope you're week is going by faster then mine!  :)

Love,
C

Where did my baby go?!

Zoe is not a baby anymore.  She's a toddler.  And it makes my heart a little sad.  (I'm surprised no one has asked us about #2 yet...I can't really wrap my brain around another baby AND Zoe without a little help haha.)

I discovered tonight that Zoe loves the movie "The Cat in the Hat".  The one with Mike Meyers.  She'll usually kinda watch things like Sesame Street or the Wiggles, etc.  But tonight when the movie was on TV she sat on my lap.  Then got up during the commercial break.  It came back on and she sat in front of the couch.  And you can see the cycle.  But she actually watched it!  (And there was a lot of laughing and "WHOA!" going on...) When she watches her TV shows she'll usually watch for a couple of minutes and then play and when something catches her ear she'll watch again for a little bit and then go back to playing.  It's rare for her to really sit and watch something.  And I know, TV isn't recommended for kids under 2 blah blah blah.  But I'm not a perfect mom.  :)  Sometimes I need the help of Big Bird so I can get some dishes done. 

She also loves reading her books...Last night she sat in my lap and we read the same 2 books a MILLION times.  She's got TONS of books, but she just wanted to read the same 2.  One of them is a farm book and so every animal she saw she yelled "DOGGY!".  Yeah, we're still working on that.  It hasn't caught on yet though that not every furry animal is a dog. 

"Momma" has become the universal word for "up".  She'll go up to Tony and say "momma" with her arms stretched up meaning "Pick me up".  We're also working on that.  Haha.

We're making progress on using spoons and forks.  It's been a bit harder then I expected.  It definitely tests my patience.

We are on the hunt for some Zoe sized furniture.  Particularly a table and chair set.  I've seen some online at Ikea that I not only like but can afford.  Unfortunately our closest Ikea is in Portland and they aren't available for order online.  We are also on the hunt for a "time out" chair/stool.  I'm hoping that some Zoe sized chairs will help encourage her to sit still for a few moments! HAHA!

Zoe says "gentle" now..Or something that sounds like "gentle".  We were teaching her how to be gentle by petting the dog, instead of hitting or pulling on the dog.  We demonstrated being gentle on this stuffed dog that Grandpa and Grandma Karen sent a while back.  So now she'll walk up to me and pet my leg and say "Gentle. Gentle. Gentle."  It's cute.  She gets the idea!  But she still runs up to Bubby very excited and "gentle" gets thrown out the window.

I'm enrolling Zoe in some gymnastics classes next month.  Because of our schedule and their schedule, we'll only be doing one class a week.  It involves mommy participation..We're supposed to help teach them along with the teachers.  I'm really excited!  I hope it'll be an outlet for some of her energy.  It'll also be a good activity since it's indoors-once the rainy season arrives.

I continue to be amazed at how much she learns and grows.

Did I share these pictures with you?  I don't think I have.

Zoe got a hold of one of my purses...

I'm not sure what prompted her to get into the laundry basket but she loved it.  She even had a snack while sitting in it.

Oh and yeah, I'm pretty sure she's had a growth spurt recently.  Tony and I were watching her play one afternoon and we both looked at each other and said "Does it look like she's gotten taller?!".  She looked really cute in her overalls.  (Her hair, not so much.  UGH.)   Last week temps were in the 70's so that's why she's wearing the overalls.  This week we're back in the 90's!!  Luckily a friend let us borrow their window AC because it gets to be like an oven in here!


Well, I guess that's it for now.  I've got tomorrow off and so does Tony!  We don't have anything big planned-probably BBQ'ing since the idea of turning on the oven makes me crazy.  Oh I do want to get some organizing done but we'll see what Zoe lets me get done.  :)

Mickey Mouse!

Zoe loves watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the Disney channel so it was very appropriate for Great-Grandma H. to get this awesome personalized CD. (And she got her this CD before Zoe discovered Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!)

I finally got some video of Zoe dancing to her CD! And she gets a little dizzy.

Fist Bump...

Yeah, I go to work, come home and my daughter can fist bump.  The things daddy teaches her.  But I guess if she ever meets Howie Mandel it'll come in handy.