Wrapping up Christmas

See what I did there?

Zoe had a wonderful Christmas!  Unfortunately it was with limited picture interruption.  She was spoiled with all kinds of clothes and toys for all her friends and family such a lucky little girl.

Put Pre Christmas visit to see Cousin Gabs was Great.  She had her first photo shoot with someone asides Ryanns's Mom

 

 Theres more, and they are cute (and less drooly) but I have to make sure no one steals my Niece and don't feel like editing the horizontal pics so they are rotated correctly.  Honestly, Picture People are People People, The experience was "okay".

We also went to a Christmas Tree farm for the Jollses Tree ( I am still unsure of my former last names proper punctuation to show ownership).  I left my camera in the car and my brother is holding all the lovely pics we took hostage even though he got these gems which I promised in exchange.

Oh and Gabs showed Zoe where her nose was.  Such a helpful cousin.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph! That is us!

Yes we were quite the hit at Church. A lesson to all new moms: When you are asked if your baby can be 'Baby Jesus' it is assumed the parents will be be 'Mary and Joseph'. They'll tell you after you say Yes, but then again "How can you say No?"

Christmas Eve we had a visit with Grandpa Jack and then up to Peabody for a lots of visits and spoiling with Brunos Family.  SO mad at myself for lack of pics.  and I am a idiot, and deleted the ONLY picture of Bruno Zoe and I.  I tried to pin this one on Bruno for not insisting we take pictures like I do, he offered that we could all put the same clothes on and take pictures.  I thought about it.  damn diddy damn That's aggravating.

But I did get a great camera from poor abused Bruno.  Lots of cool features I can quite figure out yet.

Zoe was classic baby and showed total fascination with bows and wrapping paper.  I loved our first Christmas.  and I was great how people were excited about her first Christmas asides us.

5 Months!

Her 5 month Birthday was a BIG day for Zoe.  1 Month a way from the half-a-year mark, Just seems unreal.

She celebrated by crossing state lines on her very first road trip to visit her cousin Gabriella!  She also seemed to get her first cold.

The past week or so Zoe has been experimenting more with her hair.

(and getting in touch with her inner Jersey Girl in the process)

She is smiling like crazy, still doing her funny laugh but I am looking forward to a Big Belly laugh.  Just also is "talking" to us more

And getting to know new toys

And she continues to look adorable

Were also becoming more and more obsessed with grabbing things in our hands and smooshing them into our face.  Sorry no pictures have captured that yet.  

I am also convinced she going to be ready to sit up soon, shes starting to wobble less when we try to sit her up.

And one of my favorites, when she is sleepy and were holding her she reaches up to touch our faces.  Its the sweetest thing.

More details about our trip in our next post!

Mom's Jeans.. Not Mom Jeans

So I wore Jeans to work yesterday..  No Big

Untill one of the Moms complimented that I "looked good in my jeans". I said "Thank You" but that inner monolouge started: Whats that mean?

I had just bought this pair.. and they werent the same size or brand as any I bought pre pregnancy so I immediately thought "She thinks my regular jeans are too tight!"..  She means I usually look awful.

No Kim.. silly silly.  You NEVER wear jeans anymore!!  Yup, Pre Pregnancy: I wore jeans 80% of the time, yoga pants 19%, and something else 1%

During the later stages of pregnancy: it went to 40% Jeans 60% yoga pants.

Now...  20% Jeans and 80% Yoga Pants are apparently always at work.

oh Dear.  My level have of style has plummeted even further... I promise though.  Yoga pants just look great on me.  Its better then wearing jeans all the time and having them by Mom Jeans. right?

OK, mayybe Maybe.  Its is time once again, to try harder. and maybe find some Hoodie alternatives too.

Had to be shared.

At 4 Months, 2 weeks and 2 days. Zoe is rocking her first ponytail.
(Hananny had fun with her today)

Thanksgiving Weekend

What a weekend!  It really involved all that I am Thankful for: Zoe and Bruno, Our Family, My Friends, My Job, Our Home.

Bruno and I were Thanksgiving rookies, but we succeeded in hosting our Parents and Artie for Dinner.  I meant to take pictures of our table all set, but didn't. Sooo...  its the real reason anyone looks at my blog so here are pics of Zoe!!

 whats up Turkey butt?

Clearly, Sitting at the Big Kids Table was boring for Zoe.  But I am promise at first she thought that she was pretty hot stuff sitting up at the table with everyone.  She was smiling and checking everything out, it was pretty adorable.

Friday, Zoe and I headed up to Ryann's House for another photo shoot.  If you happened upon here yesterday you saw a sneak peek.  But for now we'll wait until Christmas Cards come out.  When we got home, Bruno and I tapped into our inner Griswold and got our Christmas lights up! Again, pictures to follow.  But we were so excited to start decorating the House. Zoe also got to take another ride in her High Chair and get rice cereal for the first time.  The first few bites were met with confusion about why something besides her beloved bottle was being brought to her cute little mouth.  It didn't take long for the spoon to get the same excited greeting the bottle gets.

Saturday, Zoe and I hung out at home all afternoon and had a surprise visit from "Auntie Karissa and Uncle Mike" who came bearing cookies, tournament photos and hugs.  Later, I got out for the night with "Ryann's Mom" KK, Annie, Jenna and Erin, essentially the Executive Board of The Zoe Fan Club.  We had a great dinner full of yummy food and drinks and hilarity.  We may have gone to see Breaking Dawn after or we may have gone to see "some art film".  you decide. And Erin capped off the night by steaming up Jenna's camry.  It was great having a night out with the girls.

Sunday, another big day.  Grandma came over and we decorated the tree.

I talked about the Ornament Tradition in an earlier post.  The Little Lamb is Zoe's first ornament and My first one is hanging right by it.  This is just beyond cool to me.  I love that I still have this and imagine one day Zoe and Gabriella doing the same thing with their kids. and Thennnnn (if you can handle any more excitement?!)  Bruno and I (6+ weeks later) went on our BIG Anniversary date,  Bruno had bought us tickets to Trans Siberian Orchestra, we enjoyed some dinner and the Pats Victory before the show.  Super Night with my husband. :)

Great Weekend (well 5 days really, Thanks to AKKA) with many of my nearest and dearest, all of whom I am quite Thankful for.  Especially Zoe. of course.

Zoe's Last Stand

As adorable and wonderful as our Zoe, I do have to call her out on one thing.  She's a fighter, her opponent? Naps.

When we put her down at night, wether she's awake or asleep it pretty much without issue.  But when she gets tired during the day the claws come out.  She is normally a very happy baby, so when she starts the fussing in crying and the diapers dry, and  the belly is full.  Its a sure sign that nap time is coming and she's not going quietly.

Hanannay was able to capture this phenomena in a picture essay:

Happy Zoe

 Hysterical Pre Nap Zoe

 Sleeping Beauty Zoe ( I love her too)

I'll take a few moments of crying for a nap and a baby who sleeps at night, though.  Honestly, we've come so accustom to "Zoe's Last Stand" its sometimes a little funny, only sometimes.  :)

Zoe is 4 Months! ..and I want to stop time

Zoe turned 4 months on Tuesday, this celebratory blog post had to wait until her 4 month check up and picture upload so that Stats and new Pictures could be provided of course.

Zoe is now: weighing a hearty 14lbs 2 ounces (62.55 Percentile)

                    26 Inches Long. This puts her into the 96th Percentile.  When I heard this I felt compelled to point out to her Pediatrician that the parents standing before him were both "not tall", He didn't seem to think Zoe had Gigantism so that cut out my next line of questioning.  I am sure we were all relieved, me that I wouldn't be chasing down a 6'9" 4 year old, he that he may get out of our appointment in under an hour this time.  (Our Pedi is a patient man)

Her head circumference is 40.4 cm, I think if we didn't include her hair she would have been 40 cm on the dot.

Zoe has been up to A LOT lately.  Most recently her disdain for tummy time has turned into more of a love/hate thing then ever.  Just in the past few days she has become ALL ABOUT rolling onto her belly.  She will enjoy it for a little, get all smiley and proud of herself. Then starts speaking in wookiee to request assistance back to her back. She likes to showoff her new trick to her sleep sheep and mobile friends while sleeping, I am NOT a fan. Again, Pediatrician says shes safe cause she can roll on her own.  I insist on putting her back on her back and lecturing her on sleep safety.

Zoe has also become quite a little chatter box.  she now also prefers her fingers to her Paci.

She and Ryann also recently expanded their social circle and had a play date with all the girlfriends from  the BF support Group

Zoe and Ryann weren't embarrassed that they showed up in the same pants, they cant help what Mommas put them in.

They said they still like their play dates when Mommas have lunch with "The Hoes" cause they get to hear how pretty they are. and have either Dessert or Riesling

I cannot believe how Big our Zoe has got.  And she is so responsive and smiley. Did I mention she loves to have her belly Raspberried? This is the sure fire way to get her to "laugh".  The quotations are because we knows it her laugh but its not quite the traditional giggle sound.  Its more of a hiccup telling a joke. But its pretty much my favorite thing in the world right now.  I love this stage.  She SLEEPS at night, we get smiles and recognition from her, and she's all small and SO Stinkin adorable.

If I could keep her like this forever I just might be tempted but I way too curious about this little person she is becoming, Its great getting to know her.