5 months

(this is being written a few weeks late!)

We can't believe our little sweet pea is 5 months old already! It seems like she was a teeny newborn not too long ago, but it also feels like she's always been a part of our lives. We can't imagine life without her! It has been such fun to watch her little personality develop, especially over the past month. She loves to smile, and she really laughed for the first time this month (at daddy of course. he's quite silly). It was the sweetest sound, and we look forward to many, many years of giggle from this girl. Mark really likes to sing her the song by Michael W. Smith that goes "looking for a reason, longing through the night to find a place in this world, a place in this world", and he sings it kind of like Kermit the Frog. That always gets a smile or laugh out of Z : )

Zoe is easily entertained, but when she's had enough of something, there's no question about it! She got a great present this month- her jumperoo from her Mamaw Robertson, and let me tell you- girl can't get enough of it. She loves being able to "stand" and play with the toys, and when her feet get going, it looks like she's doing a jig or tap dance. We do have to put a big book under her feet, because she's still too short to touch the ground. She has noticed that her feet are there and will sometimes touch them, but is generally uninterested in them.

She has started exploring with her hands, which is so amazing to watch. She touches things and will run her hand over and over them, learning from what she feels. Zoe has really started exploring faces, and she loves to touch our faces when we talk to her. She also has started grabbing at food when we eat and hold her. We're thinking she'll be ready for solids soon, but we need the go ahead from her tummy doctor first.

Everything goes in her mouth now. Everything. Toys, our hands, blankie, paci, all toys, books, nasal aspirator (it's clean, don't worry). She loves to put her little hands up on her bottle, and she even "helps" when we give her medicine by holding onto our hands.

Speaking of medicine, this was a huge month for Zo in terms of her tummy troubles. I had cut dairy out of my diet back in June because we were noticing a diaper rash, gas, and fussiness when I would consume it, but I was only cutting out raw dairy. Her regular doctor (who we LOVE), was trying to help us out with adjusting the medicine she was on for her tummy, but things took a turn for the worse in late August. Her reflux and gas got worse, and for about a month, poor Z got up about every hour at night, crying in pain. She would want to nurse because it would temporarily relieve her pain. What a long month that was. It finally got to the point where our regular doc wanted her to go see a pediatric GI doc, and things have greatly improved. They switched her meds to help her feel better, and I'm now cutting out all dairy and soy (even reading labels). This is really hard to do, because soy is in everything, but I'll do whatever it takes to make my baby girl feel better. Within a few days of starting this, her sleeping and pain got so much better!!!

Happy 5 months, sweet one. We couldn't be more in love with you!

4 months!

This was a busy month for little Zoe! She had her first roadtrip, which was a busy weekend. We went to Louisville on Friday for Ellie & Simeon's birthday parties (which were Saturday) then drove to Robertson's house on Saturday evening, where we celebrated her Mamaw's birthday on Sunday before driving back to St. Louis! She was in 5 states in 48 hours. Besides having a little trouble sleeping (especially in the car), she was a real trooper. It only took us 8 hours coming back instead of our usual 7, which is pretty great for such a little traveler.

Zoe started sitting while supported, either in her boppy pillow or bumbo seat. She also really found her voice and starting talking & squealing a lot. While playing with her feet one day, we discovered that she is quite ticklish! She can also reach out and grab at her toys now.

At the end of August we had our most challenging time yet with Z. She went on a 7 day nursing strike... she would only take milk from a bottle and wouldn't let her momma feed her at all. It was incredibly frustrating (especially in the middle of the night). After seeing a lactation consultant, we realized that she was just liking the bottle because she didn't have to work to eat. We made it a little harder, and after a month of striking off & on, she's doing much better!

Zoe's first plane ride was this month too. She went with mommy to Ohio for Labor Day weekend, while Daddy stayed home and worked. That is going to be a post all in itself... it was fun to see family, but was quite a challenge!

After our trip to Ohio, she started blowing bubbles . We noticed a little tooth bud, but it has yet to make it's grand entrance. Mark got a tooth and 4 months and I was 7 months, so who knows when it'll show up!

This month ended with Zo's first cold. What a sad milestone to record! It only lasted a few days, but she was very stuffed up, with a cough and runny nose. It's so sad knowing your baby doesn't feel well, but you can't really do much for them.

At her 4 month doctor's appointment, we found out that she is in the 90th percentile for length. This girl has a long torso just like her daddy!

We continue to be amazed by this little girl. What a challenge parenting is, but what a blessing as well. She gets smothered in plenty of kisses, and does this cute thing where she opens her mouth whenever we kiss her on the cheek. We love you, Zo Zo!

Hello?

Just checking in to see if anyone still reads the blog. If someone is out there, please leave a comment so I know I'm not alone on here : )

3 months!

Little Z is 3 months old already! She has the sweetest, biggest smile, and just seeing someone she loves (mainly Mommy & Daddy) makes her whole face light up! She has started to laugh a little bit and really thinks Daddy is funny. We read her the book Snuggle Puppy, which has a little song in it that you sing, and she really enjoys that too! Car rides are much better now, and bath time is becoming fun too.

Zoe is quite strong. She can hold her head up when held at your shoulder, and when on her tummy she can push up and hold her head almost at 90 degrees. She recently has started to sit in her Bumbo chair a little bit, which she really enjoys because it helps her see what is going on- she is quite nosey! She only likes to be held upright, unless she is sleepy & has her paci. Speaking of Paci (I feel like it's a part of our family so it should have a proper name), Zo LOVES her paci.

During this month, she found her hands and now is constantly chewing on them! We've had to start swaddling her again when she sleeps so that she doesn't startle herself awake. She can be very tired & upset, and the second we lay her down & start swaddling she gets very calm. She had been getting up only 1 time at night, but has recently started getting up 2 times... sometimes more, if it's a rough night.

We love her more & more each day, and are so thankful for the joy that she brings us! We love you, Sweet Pea.

videos

so I'm not sure what to do about videos on here. I waited for over an hour on one to load and it still didn't finish! any tips would be welcomed, if not, I'll just stick to youtube, and I'll email the link to those of you (our parents) who read this blog! I have a super cute video of Zoe that I want to share with you!

2 months!

Zoe Rae is 2 months old! There have been some huge changes in her in the last month which have been so much fun to watch. Once we got past her issues with gas and reflux, our baby became super happy! She now smiles all the time and makes plenty of little "talking" noises. When we talk to her she intensely watches our mouths, and will sometimes move her mouth like she's trying to talk too. Mark loves to play with her hands and move her like she's dancing- she almost laughed at him the other day.

She has rolled from her back to her stomach 2 times, and she is getting stronger every day! When you are holding her at your shoulder, she can keep her head up straight most of the time, unless she's really sleepy. Speaking of sleepy, when Z is very tired, she will rub her head around in your chest, nuzzling you. It's pretty sweet : )

She loves to look at lights, the shelves on our walls, Sadie... basically anything that is moving. She now loves her swing (which always makes her fall asleep, but sadly is the only place where we can get her to nap!) and still enjoys her bouncy and play mat. Zoe still does not like riding in the car, but it seems to be getting better- until we come to a stoplight or traffic! We are planning our first road trip next month, so hopefully things change by then!

We love our little one so much!

Chubby Cheeked Smile