Zoe's First Christmas - Round One and Two

It's a Christmas explosion! Zo*e's first Cristmas was, and is still, a blast. We had Christmas with J's family on Christmas eve and with D's mom on Christmas day. We are looking forward to the Pat*rick gathering on Saturday. So far, Z received many books and a few toys. Cousin N was helping Her open a present, but She just wanted His face. Uncle J and Auntie M gave Zo*e a wooden crocodile toy that She loves. Z's idea of a great toy these days is always determined by how it tastes - she decided she likes crocodile! Z was very enamored with the wrapping paper - sometimes more so than the present inside. She enjoyed ripping a piece off and then, of course, tasting it. We will now spend the next year telling her not to rip paper! Here Z is tasting a present from Grandma J. Zo*e really liked this present - both how it tasted and what was inside!

Winter Swimming in Minnesota

Grandma K and Grandpa S are members at the YWCA in Minneapolis. They invited Z and J to swim there this past Sunday. It was a very snowy day, and it took us twice as long as normal to venture over there. My first picture looks a little frosty because it was so cold outside. When we arrived, there were no other people in the pool besides the four of us and cousins, N and O. Zo*e had not been swimming since this past summer at the island, so I was very anxious to see how she would respond. She was so excited to get into the water - she splashed and kicked and "swam" on her tummy with a little help from mom. We had a blast! As I climbed back into the car after buckling in a snowsuited baby and cleaning the additional snow off the car, I was very grateful for the taste of summer in the middle of a good Minnesota snowstorm. The extra drive time was well worth it. And Z slept an extra hour and a half the next morning - I think we officially wore her out!

The three of us went to the Children's Museum on Sunday - conveniently located about a mile from our house. Dav*e had never been there but Zo*e and I had made her first trip a few months ago with her cousins, N*oah and O*liver. We inadvertently chose to visit on "Free Sunday" when admission is free to everyone, so it was very busy. You can see that Z focused on the details of the lily pad flower amidst the noise and what seemed like dozens of children with not enough parents - she can be quite determined when she wants to be. She also loves to stand and to jump, but as you can see, every so often mom gets into it more than she does!

Winter Girl! For those of you who live a little further south (or west), you may have missed out on the experience referred to as "bundling up." This is a regular occurrence in Minnesota from about November to April-ish. We have added a new skill to our parenting bag - putting a baby in a snowsuit. I hear it can be even more challenging with a toddler - I guess I'll write about that next winter! (Actually, Zoe is quite a good sport about it - just like she is about almost everything - we have truly been blessed with an easy-going baby!)

Zo*e LOVES taking rides in the washing

machine! This is just after She came out of the dryer. Boy, was that a blast! We didn't even undress Her first. (Don't try this Yourselves. Zo*e is a professional-washing-machine-enthusiast. She's only mastered the delicate cycle so far.)

Caught the blogger bug too!

Dav*e and I have been thinking about setting up a blog for Zo*e since she was born, but are just now getting to it. That is the story of my life these days with an 8 month old (as of Tuesday), and a 32-hour/week job for me and a 40+ for Dave. We decided to do this too because of family and friends out of town and a massive IPhoto file on our computer that we have shared with so few people. My sister-in-law, Mink*e's recent post to link blogs gave me the final push I needed to get this going after so long. Zo*e is just recuperating from her first cold - it is so hard to hear her hacking and have her look at me like "mommy, do something!" I am not posting any pictures of this because I don't want to remember her like this! Tuesday was the worst of it - she was already doing much better the next day - back to scooting all over the floor and grabbing the things in the living room that are not toys, such as the phone, remote, or a magazine. And smiling - oh how we love that!

Some Random Pictures to Catch Up On!

Grandma Kathy makin' Zo*e laugh! What would We do without Grandparents?

Grandma Judy with Zo*e.

My wife took this picture on the front porch. I think it shows Zo*e's happy-go-lucky nature. She is a pea-pod for Halloween, but We think She looks like a Who from Whoville. (Dr. Suess)

Grandpa Patrick and Zo*e.

Zo*e and Mommy discovering the awesome discovery of leaves. (Taken on a Patrick family camping trip in September.) Zo*e's discovery, after much deliberation, was that dead leaves taste bad.

These posts/photos are going back in time a little. This is Zo*e a couple of months ago with Her lovely hair. She used to have the sweetest natural mohawk, but now it's too long to stand up, except when it's encouraged by towel-rubbing.

Zo*e at the cabin. It was baby's first trip to the northern shores of Bemidji. Actually Her first trip to ANY shore in the world. She cried with Her first dip in Big Turtle Lake, but She got used to it. Trial by fire or rather trial by cold, murky lake water.