Golf

Our new house is located within a golf course so we took our first walk through the golf course one afternoon. Grey loved watching the golfers and seeing the ducks in the pond. The next time we said we were going to go for a walk, he grabbed his own golf club and golf balls! It was hysterical watching Zippy try to explain to him why he couldn't actually play with the other guys out there and we needed to stay to the side!

Zoe: Four Months

Dear Zoe:

Don't worry, I already have the theme picked out for your first birthday, the material for your dress bought, the menu planned, and the guest list written. It is a good thing because time is going so fast and we will be there before we know it!! I am a little panicked that you are growing up so fast!

I really thought you were going to be my easy going, mellow baby but I think you secretly have something else in mind. You can roll both ways now, inch worm across the room, and actually move to where you want to after some trial and error. Part of this might be your survival instinct kicking in since your brother loves to love on you still and likes to "help" you. He had pulled your blanket across the room with you still on it before I realized what he was doing :) You need to be able to move to get out of harms way. You are still very easy going, you rarely fuss, and really are such a good baby, just very driven to be on the move!

You found your toes this last week and you love to chew on them. You love to be on your back and pull up both of your feet up to your mouth. You are quite the flexible one! It is hilarious to watch you grab them and pull them up to look at them. Your little eyes go crossed and you start at them like you are surprised they are still there! You love to suck on your big toe and make the funniest sucking noise :) Diaper changes are becoming more of a challenge since I have to pull your feet away from your mouth to get a diaper back on.

I love to hear you giggle. Your brother can make you do the best belly laughs by blowing raspberries on your belly, saying "boo" or my favorite "mickey mouse." You love to smile and chew on your fist and still talk to everyone who will listen.  You wake up in the morning with a smile on your face. You wiggle like crazy and when I open my eyes, you are looking right at me and break into the biggest smile when you see me awake. I would prefer if this sweet little moment would happen after 6:30 am but you are starting to wake up earlier. Luckily, your daddy likes to spend quality time with you and your brother at this hour and let's momma sleep in!

You love your Sofie the giraffe and your brother was nice enough to give you the car Grandpa had bought him when he was little. We have started putting you occasionally in your exersaucer and jumpy but you can only hang for a few minutes before you want to be back to wiggling across the floor.

Zoe, you have absolutely stolen my heart. I didn't think I could love you any more and then each day, you find a way to make me fall even deeper. I love you, baby girl!!

XOXO,
Momma

"It's the thought that counts..."

Zippy and I have this little joke going between us. We always have these grand ideas for gifts for each other and they never pan out. So when the occasion occurs, we tell each other what we wanted to do for the other always ending in " it's the thought that counts, right?" Well, for Father's Day, I saw the cutest idea using the kids to hold the letters of "daddy." Well, both of my kids were sick and not cooperating as much as the kids in the photos I found online.....it's the thought that counts, right?

Grey the Protector

Grey has really taken on the roll of protector as big brother. He has to make sure to try out all of Zoe's things to make sure they are safe! 

And of course he needs to be just like momma carrying Zoe so he made himself his own carrier out of a maternity belly band!

ZJ likes to move it!

Zoe likes to move like an inch worm. She doesn't push up with her arms but she gets her little legs going and scoots all around. She is hilarious to watch because she will flip straight to her tummy now. Any time you put her down on her back, she will look up, then dig her head into the ground while she moves her feet like crazy.  Then she will pick her head up again, look at where she is, and get back to business. Of course she is talking the whole time and after a couple of minutes gets really ticked off and will start crying. What happened to my sweet little girl who would just stare up at her toys on her playmat???

Other than she never stays where she should, she ends up with rug burn on her face because she always ends off the blanket or play mat. Poor baby!!

The Lara Wedding

We had a wonderful time at the Lara wedding. Thanks to Grammie for watching Grey and to Zephy for watching Zoe last minute! When we googled the location, we realized that Auntie Zephy was only a mile down the road. Zoe stayed and played with Auntie and Matt while we attended the ceremony and ate dinner. I can't remember the last time I got to eat dinner without having to hold or help one of my children! It was a beautiful ceremony, both in English and in Spanish, and it was wonderful to be able to share the day with the Lara family.

Zippy and I all dressed up! (a little windblown from the ceremony)

After dinner, Zoe got to come party with us at her first wedding. She seemed to really enjoy it, all the people, music, and fun lights.

Daddy with his little girl

 The Samsons dancing the night away with Zoe

 Zippy, Zoe, German the groom, and Ben

It didn't take long for her though to fall fast asleep!

Preschool?

Grey and I went to check out a preschool for him to go to a couple mornings a week. We had been talking about "school" and he was so excited that he ran right up to the front door and went right in and started playing. He loved exploring everything, the teacher seems to be really nice and they seemed to get along well. While we were there, he got to play outside, paint, do another art project, play with homemade play-do, watch their preschool graduation practice, and play with his potential playmates. He kept going back to the art room to grab a whole punch that he found in the art supplies, he was in heaven. I am really excited that his teacher speaks Spanish as well as a couple of his playmates. Hopefully he will pick it up.

After we left, I was asking him if he would like to go there when I go to work and he said he would...but wanted Zoe to come too.  It just melted my heart. He is always wanting to be with her, even when I am trying to give him his own time and space. And of course, when he was telling daddy about it, he also said he wanted to ride a school bus. We had to try to explain it would be awhile before he would go to a school where he would do that :)

Memorial Day Weekend

We had such a fantastic Memorial Day weekend! It went by in a blur :) Saturday, we helped Andrew move into his new house. Every day now Grey asks if he can go play there. Sunday, we headed out to the Russian River to the Samson cabin to meet little Brenna. She is 4 days older than Zoe and we can't wait to spend our summer weekends out at the river so they can play together!Monday, we had a last minute barbeque at our house. It was fun having all of our friends over in our new house. We had 4 toddlers and 2 infants there so it was constantly busy! I can't wait to throw an official housewarming party once a few more projects are completed and the weather warms up. I have been terrible about taking pictures lately so I only have a few from the river, these were taken by someone else, too!!

Zoe and Brenna found something interesting on the floor to stare at everytime we took a picture!

 They found each other VERY fascinating :)

 Uncle Benny Larry helped Grey blow bubbles

 Amazing how these little girls look just like their daddies!

 Zoe was chillin' in Grey's chair