Dear Zoey Bean

I saw a commercial last week that inspired me. It was for email, but I can't remember which one (yahoo, gmail, etc.) and it was showing a Dad sending all these emails to his newborn son. One of my coworkers (and she's a close friend, too) had asked me when I was pregnant if I was writing things down, or writing Zoey letters. I scoffed at her, thinking, "yea, I'm working 40+ hours a week, we're trying to sell our house, I'm pregnant, so I go to bed at 7:30pm...when am I supposed to find time to do this??" So I never did, unfortunately.

But when I saw this commercial, and everything was being sent by email, I knew that I could do that. I'm on email all the time, and typing is so quick. So even though she's 5 months old already, starting late is better than never starting. I thought it would be the neatest thing to give her the username and password to the email account I've created for these emails I'm sending when she's 18 or so. Maybe she won't think so, but it will be something she can treasure forever once she is old enough to appreciate them.

Happy 5 Months Baby Girl!

I can't believe how fast you are growing. You so badly want to crawl, but you just can't figure out that you need your hands and feet to do it - you think it's all in your tummy! You sure do make us laugh when you try though! We love watching you grow and can't wait for the next few months when all the exciting holidays are coming up! It's going to be our best Christmas yet!

5 things about you at 5 months:

1. You absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE your jumperoo. You jump like a maniac when we put you in there and we're kind of afraid you're going to break one or several of your toes one of these days since you don't jump flat on your feet - you use your tippy toes.
2. You so badly want to be friends with our dog, Bailey, but he's not so sure he wants to return the gesture...
3. You love your daddy and smile anytime he talks to you or walks in the room.
4. You are still too nosy to take good naps during the day, but you're a decent sleeper at night.
5. You love to eat!!

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!

Zoey's Nana and Pop Pop Hoffman went to Las Vegas a few weeks ago to visit their close friends, Bonnie and Rich Hartline. Before Zoey was born, Bonnie and Rich sent her a onesie that had the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on it, but underneath it, it said "baby". She didn't fit into the onesie until right before they left for Vegas, so I decided to take some silly pictures for them to take with them, since Bonnie and Rich never got to see Zoey in person.

Happy Halloween!

Zoey didn't do much trick-or-treating this year, but we did take her to a few of our family's houses so they could see her all dressed up as Tinkerbell. She was out cold in her carseat by the third house. Halloween was not for her!

Can't Stay Awake...

Zoey was so tired she fell asleep sitting up in her highchair, but refused to let go of her block...

Happy 4 Months Beans!

Time sure is flying by us, Zoey. I couldn't believe it when you were 1 month, then 2, and now 4. Before we know it, it will be Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I am so excited for you to see all the exciting things that the Holiday seasons bring. You are going to be such a great age at Christmas, but you are a great age now, too!

• You love to eat, and I'm so excited that we are starting solids. So far you eat rice cereal and squash. In a few days, we'll try carrots or sweet potatoes.
• You love to snuggle, but you like your alone time too.
• You started to growl like a lion, and your face when you do it is hilarious.
• You love your taggy blanket that your Aunt Erin made you and we take it everywhere.
• You are starting to grab at everything. What we have you want, including phones, remotes, and hot dogs.
• You try to hold your own bottle, but it is just a tad too heavy for you yet. Soon.
• You want to feed yourself because I am just not fast enough with the spoon.
• You love Daddy's beard, and you're always trying to grab and touch it.
• You've discovered the dog...and you want him. Bad. You are going to be his worst nightmare.
• You've stopped sleeping through the night ever since you got your teeth, and you now get up to nurse at least once. Usually around 2 or 3am.
• You love to ride in Daddy's truck. It puts you to sleep everytime, no matter what.
• You roll over. Already. The way you aren't supposed to be able to until 5 or 6 months. You are way too advanced for Mommy!
• You like when Mommy and Daddy read to you (thank goodness!). Daddy likes to read the same book over and over (Green Eggs and Ham) and Mommy likes variety, bringing home new books from the library all the time. You love to look at the pictures and try to touch the pages. Mommy now understands how all our children's books at the library get ripped!!

We love you to pieces baby girl, and we love watching you grow every day!

Happy Anniversary!

Eric and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary on September 25. I can't believe it has been one year already. My how time flies! We celebrated Saturday night by going out to dinner at The Bridge Inn and had a fantastic meal. Mimi watched Zoey for us while we were gone and our service was so great and the restaurant not crowded at all that we were back by 7:45!

Baby's First Solids

Once Zoey got her two teeth, she stopped sleeping so well, so we decided a week before she turned 4 months old to start her on rice cereal to see if that would help fill her up so she could sleep better both during naps and at night.

Well, she loves it, but it didn't work like I hoped it would! So when we went for our 4-month check-up today, we were "approved" for solids, so we nodded and smiled, and then had squash for lunch. Miss Z LOVED it and gobbled up the entire stage 1 container in one sitting, didn't even make a face! It was like she had been waiting for squash her whole life!

I think I have a good eater on my hands! I'm so excited to start each new food. Mommy can't wait for the sweet fruits!

My New Jumperoo

Zoey has a new "toy" - her rainforest jumperoo, and she likes it, but she doesn't quite know what to do with it yet. I'm hoping in another couple weeks she'll be bouncing in it more on her own and enjoying longer periods of time in it!

Happy 3 Month Birthday, Baby Girl!

Time is flying, and I can't believe my baby girl is 3 months old already. Here's 13 things about you at 13 weeks:

1 ~ You are sleeping through the night and Mommy is very happy about that!

2 ~ You are NOT a good napper.

3 ~ You are cutting FOUR teeth - already!

4 ~ You love listening to Daddy's crazy stories.

5 ~ You used to hate tummy time, but now you are getting used to it. You still are not a huge fan though.

6 ~ You are jealous of our food. You actually cried once when I ate a cupcake in front of you. Only one more month until we'll start you on cereal, Baby Girl - I think you'll like it, but I know you'll LOVE bananas and applesauce!

7 ~ You are starting to like your baths.

8 ~ You do not like to be chilly - I'm not looking forward to winter with you!

9 ~ You like your new Bumbo seat, but 5 minutes in it is your limit.

10 ~ You weigh 13 pounds at 13 weeks - but still don't quite fit into your 6 month clothes yet.

11 ~ You hate getting dressed - especially when the outfit has to go over your head, which is 95% of the clothes I put on you!

12 ~ You are exploring your voice - you've been starting to yell, but not because you are upset, just because you can.

13 ~ You are such a good, happy baby with a big personality.

You are our pride and joy, and we are loving watching you grow everyday!

Look closely and you can see my teeth!!

Our Last Beach Vacation for 2011

We said goodbye to Bethany Beach over Labor Day Weekend. It was a nice weekend, and Zoey seemed to enjoy the beach a little bit more than she did the last time we were there - although maybe it was simply because she was awake more to enjoy it!

We can't wait until next year when she hopefully will love playing in the sand at the beach!

Aiden's First Day of Kindergarten

Last week was Aiden's first day of kindergarten at Exeter's newest elementary school, Owatin Creek. I can't believe how fast the time flew by! It feels like just yesterday he was taking his first steps (at 9 months old)!

He got on the bus no problem - the nice bus driver even knew who his name! Mimi, on the other hand, was a hot mess when he got on the bus and it drove away!

The first thing Aiden said when he got off the bus with this BIG smile was "I didn't get any time-outs today!"
1 day down, only 179 to go. Can we do it time-out free? We'll see!

Happy 9 Weeks, Sweet Girl!

Tomorrow you will be 9 weeks old! I can't believe how fast the time is flying by us, sweet baby girl. Here are 9 things about you at 9 weeks old.

1 ~ You love to eat, and sometimes you only do it for comfort. You haven't quite realized yet that your stomach is only "so" big. Hence why you go through so many outfits per day!!

2 ~ Smiling is your favorite, and it makes Mommy SO happy. I can't wait until you start giggling.

3 ~ You love to be swaddled.

4 ~ You love to be held - by most anyone.

5 ~ You are hardly ever cranky. If you grex, you either have gas bubbles, are hungry, or are tired.

6 ~ You have been cooing for about 2 weeks now. I have a feeling you're going to be a "talker" like your Daddy, your Nana, your Aunt Coral, and your Boo-Boo.

7 ~ You love your Daddy, especially his voice. Ever since you were in Mommy's belly, you always responded to his voice, whether he was talking to you or to Mommy. Now, whether he's holding you or Mommy is, you find his voice and you just stare him down! He loves you more than anything, too.

8 ~ You are a Nosy Nelly. You fight sleep because you don't want to miss a thing.

9 ~ You have several nicknames already! Daddy thinks you look like a bean, so he calls you "Bean", "Zoey-Bean", or "Zo-Zo-Bean". This has led Aunt Coral to call you "Bean-O" because of your lethal pooper, and "Beanie". Mimi calls you "Princess", and sometimes you are so special she even calls you "The Princess". "Bean" is probably the nickname that will stick, and I find myself calling you that every once in awhile too, although Mommy still can't help but call you "Baby" because you'll always be my Baby!

Happy 9 weeks Baby Girl! You are the light of our lives and we love you more than you'll ever know. It seems like just yesterday we were welcoming you into the world!

Zoey's First Vaccinations

Zoey had her 2-month check up and got her first vaccinations. She was such a brave little girl - Mommy, not so much! At 2 months, Zoey weighs 11 pounds, 12 ounces and is 22 1/2 inches long. She is in the 50th percentile for her height and the 70th percentile for her weight. The doctor and nurse say she is growing right on target!

 My poor girl's band-aids

The aftermath - she slept for several hours that afternoon, plus from 9:30pm - 5:15am. She sure was tuckered!