Tuesday, July 26, 2005

blueberry picking


...and then I went blueberry picking!
Sunday I went blueberry picking with Mommy, Daddy, Grandma Martin, and Grandpa Martin. Grandpa is taking the picture! I had so much fun. Do you see me in my blueberry muffin outfit?! I helped Mommy pick the blueberries, in fact I also picked leaves and green (unripe) blueberries too! I tried to eat them, but Mommy didn't let me :)

Friday, July 22, 2005

4 month check-up

...and more vaccine shots too.
Today was my 4 month wellness visit at the doctors. I saw Dr. Ajay, and he was really nice. My stats were as follows:

14 pounds
23 1/2 inches
15 3/4 inch head

My Mommy was informed that I'm doing well - actually ahead of schedule on my ability to roll over. Wednesday night I rolled from my tummy to my back! I only did it once, and Mommy & Daddy were so excited. I showed them I could still roll from my back to my side and my tummy to my side. Dr. Ajay said this was really great! He also said I VERY attentive for this point in my life, and my health is great as well!

This was a MUCH better doctors visit than last month...at least for Mommy.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

strawberry girl


...and then my Mommy dressed me as a strawberry girl!
My Grandma Martin and Aunt Sarah came over today. I told them all about my recent adventures, and I even sang them a song! I had such fun, but I know Grandpa Martin was very sad that he didn't get to see me today - oh well, there's always Sunday :)

zoe's game

...and Zoe Monster has a game!
My Mommy loves to play games where she finds the items that don't belong. You know, when there are two pictures and you have to find what is different about picture 2, while comparing it to picture 1. Well online, Zoe Monster has a similar game, and it's pretty cool! Mommy wanted to share it with all of you! Click here to play!

Monday, July 18, 2005

rolling over

...so I just haven't decided when I'm going to "really" roll over yet.
I'm really close. Today Mommy laid my on my back, but made sure I saw my friend, Elmo, was next to me. I went from my back to my side to my back again. Sure, it doesn't sound like much, but Mommy was excited. Then I did a bit of tummy time. Mommy has eliminated the rolled blanket or pillow from the mix. I am doing well with lifting my head all on my own. I decided to roll to my side and then back to my stomach. Of course it's not rolling OVER, but it's making progress. I love the Elmo toy that my Aunt Kelly let me have. It's an original Tickle Me Elmo - from years ago. I think he's funny, and he definitely makes me laugh. The real Elmo has a show and website called, Elmo's World. He also has a friend named, Zoe. We have SO much in common :)

Saturday, July 16, 2005

thoughts from mommy

...this is a poem my Papa sent my Mommy.
She thought it was appropriate, because she's been so down lately. Mostly because of her weight gain from pregnancy. She's down 30 of the 60 pounds, so I'm really proud of her. Anyway, she wanted to share the poem with everyone.

Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair.
I looked at her and sighed and wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used a crutch
But as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine
I have 2 legs, the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy
The lad who sold it had such charm
I talked with him a while, he seemed so very glad
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,

"I thank you, you've been so kind."
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue
He stood and watched the others play
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
And then I knew, he couldn't hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 ears, the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I would know.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I've been blessed indeed, The world is mine
.

Friday, July 15, 2005

sesame street

...a new fun 15 minutes of my day :)
A new activity I do at 8am every week day is to watch
Sesame Street. My Mommy is careful to only let me watch a little bit a TV, and we only watch 15 minutes each morning while she prepares and eats breakfast. Zoe is also the name of a monster on the show, but Mommy tells me that is not the reason they gave me the name. Zoe is a Greek name meaning LIFE.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

support for mommy

...yeah for my Mommy!
Today Mommy and I went to a Mother & Baby Support Group at St. Mary Mercy Hospital. It was really cool to visit my first memory! Yes, I was born at St. Mary Mercy, and it was our first trip back there since we left on Friday, March 25th. Mommy was in the hospital 2 days after my birth.

The support group meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. This was the 4th time she could have attended, and finally she decided to try it. She's been suffering from a bit of postpartum depression the last few weeks, so it's good for her to meet new people - especially new mommies! We saw lots of babies there, and I got to talk and giggle and Mommy got to talk with other mommies. It looks like we'll be starting a play group with a few of the mommies there. How exciting!

Mommy weighed me there - they had a scale in the classroom for weighing babies. I weighed 13lbs 6oz! I've really done some growing!

Monday, July 11, 2005

my family


...and what a great family it is!
My Mommy & Daddy have never appeared on my blog, but they thought it was time for me to include a picture of them for all of you to see.

We included this picture in our letter to Abubakar - our African sponsor child. He is a 17 year-old orphaned, high school junior that needs financial help attending school. So we are helping him with his pursuits. His mommy and daddy passed away from AIDS (a terrible disease)! My Mommy & Daddy are also sending him school supplies for him. We hope that our little contribution will make a huge difference in Abubakar's life.

Saturday, July 09, 2005

read to me

...the written word, my favorite!
Mommy reads to me all the time...and I really love it! Today while she was reading me my Baby Faces book I started to turn the pages for her. My favorite pages are the "where's baby?" and "peek-a-boo!" Mommy and I play peek-a-boo all the time. Today I held my dress over my face while Mommy said, "where's Zoe!" Then I pulled it down and Mommy said "peek-a-boo! I was so good at it! Such an exciting play time for me! We always have so much fun, Mommy & me!

Thursday, July 07, 2005

more, more, more!


...I just love to bounce.
Mommy had piano lessons today, and I played with the Crombez sisters again. It was fun, as usual. I didn't want to take a nap when they left - I was just to excited. I also am cutting teeth, and it's not easy to be away from Mommy. She is so comfy, I want to lay on her all day!

I'm going to see my Uncle Joe tomorrow! He needs to have a carefree day, so Mommy said he could go to lunch with us and hang out to get his mind off of stuff.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

bouncing away


...and how much fun it is!
Yesterday my Nana brought over a bouncy seat! It really is a great place to play and sleep. My papazon chair was my favorite thing for the first month of life, but then my Mommy was not able to carry it around the house as well (it got really heavy), and I was WAY TOO BIG for it! So now I have a new place to nap and play!

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

sock monkey girl


...and then I was a sock monkey!
Mommy grew up always wanting a sock monkey, so for her 29th Birthday she got Al - the sock monkey - from my Grandma & Grandpa Martin. Al has spent most of his life having really amazing adventures, so when he came to stay with Mommy & Daddy he continued to cause trouble. However, when Mommy found out she was pregnant Al changed his wicked behavior. To help him prepare for my birth, Al was given a baby sock monkey for Christmas. Then Easter brought the baby sock bunny - completing our sock family. My Nana & Papa bought me the sock monkey sweater for Christmas - even before I was born - so that I could be part of the cuddly family. Mommy & Daddy love dressing me up, as you can see, and I had a really good time posing with my sock friends.

I'm such a silly monkey! Don't you wish you could be a sock monkey too!?

Monday, July 04, 2005

happy independence day!

...what a special day for me!
Saturday we visited Tim & Teri. It was my first visit to Lansing (of course I did visit while in Mommy's tummy - but that doesn't count) and it was really not too bad of a drive. Yesterday Mommy & Daddy took me to a really wonderful store - Whole Foods! It was really fun there and so much to see. Mommy & Daddy bought me a set of vegetable people from Under the Nile to play with and suck on as well. I really like Mr. Green Bean.

Then Grandma & Grandpa Martin came to visit us yesterday. They brought Daddy some flowers to plant in the garden, and Grandpa helped him work on the yard. Grandma spent some very wonderful quality time with me and I really had a good time.


Today I get to visit over at my Aunt Kelly's and Uncle Ed's. That means I get to see my cousin and best friend, Emma! My Nana and Papa, and Papa Ray will be there too! Such a fun holiday. If I was older we would get to stay for fireworks. Oh well. I had a hard time falling asleep last night because of our neighbors setting off fireworks. I don't think I'll be missing much...

Friday, July 01, 2005

celebration weekend

...and my first Independence Day!
I'm a lucky baby, as my Daddy has a three-day weekend! Mommy told me we are visiting Cousin Teri & Tim tomorrow afternoon! I'm really looking forward to it! I'm sure Mommy & Daddy will plan other activities for me to do the rest of the weekend.

Yesterday I met Miss Karen, and her boys - Jacob and Zachary. Before they arrived a BIG storm came. Mommy & I were rocking on the front porch, and all of a sudden the wind blew really hard! Mommy could hardly open the door to get inside! When Karen and the boys finally arrived, we all went into the basement. I loved visiting with the boys! They have so much energy! I watched them talk and move and can't wait to be able to do that one day!

Today Mommy has errands to run. She's even picking up school supplies when she's at Staples. Mommy & Aunt Kelly are helping orphaned children in Kenya, Africa go to school. They are hoping to give this children a better life - and maybe a bit of hope. I'm sure I'll have fun running the errands with Mommy - and maybe we can visit Uncle Joe too!