more teeth for me

...and then I started cutting two top teeth!

Last week I started cutting my two top teeth (well more than just swollen lumps on my gums). And two days ago Mommy saw the left top one! Yesterday she thinks that the right one was following right behind!

It seems like the Crombez sisters are my good luck charms. Both times I was cutting a tooth it finally popped through the night after they came to piano lessons! Pretty crazy, huh?

after christmas

...but the charity continues.

Mommy & I packed up some old clothes and toys and took them to the Salvation Army today. We actually spent some time yesterday "boxing" up the items because it was Boxing Day. It's not a holiday traditionally celebrated in the United States, but Mommy says that it is a charitable day. A day that most don't really understand. But Mommy says that it is a day to give to the less fortunate. Mommy has decided to institute the Boxing Day tradition to our family Christmas celebration. Sometimes it's the small things in life that leave the biggest impact. Mommy says that giving to others less fortunate - even what seems like a small amount to us - can make a big difference to someone else.

have yourself a merry little christmas

...let your heart be light.

Mommy's favorite Christmas song is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." She likes it because of the fact that is talks about friendship, family and the hope that next year our current problems will be long forgotten.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Let your heart be light.
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay.
Next year all our troubles will be miles away.

Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more.

Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow.
And Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas now.

christmas is coming

...the goose it getting fat!

Anyway, Mommy dressed me in holiday clothing last week. Mostly to get pictures, but to also wear these outfits more than once! Gramma Brown bought them for me. Aren't they cute?

caught!

...yesterday Mommy caught me climbing up the stairs!

I'm getting really good at the crawling thing. For the last few days I've been following Misty up the stairs. I don't get real far, but today Daddy has to make sure that he gets the gate up by the stairs...because it's just a matter of time that I get all the way up!

little successes

...and this week I am successfully taking naps in my crib!

Mommy has been reluctant to have me sleep in my crib - for many reasons. I share a bed with Mommy & Daddy at night. But this week Mommy decided to have me take my two naps in my crib. It's been a success. I'm proud of Mommy and she's proud of me! Of course Mommy still reads or does computer work on the rocking chair next to my crib. But it's all about transition - for both of us :)

dada and other words

...so I finally said, "dada"!

On Sunday Daddy spent a long time saying "dada". Finally I said it. Then I wouldn't stop saying it. Of course I've also incorporated boo, bo, ga, gee, do and dee into my reperatoire. So here's the list of what I can say, of course don't ask me what it all means!

ba
bo
boo
bum
da
dee
do
ga
gee
ma
moo
pa

Mommy swears that I say "baba" when reaching for my bell and "moo" when I'm playing with the Fisher Price Little People Farm, so you never know!!!

bye bye mobile & changing table

...it's official: I'm growing up!

Daddy & Mommy took away my mobile from my crib and the pads from the changing table. Mommy put some of my favorite stuffed toys on the table, after taking off the pads. I will be changed on the floor or in my crib. I was just too much of a mover and shaker to continue to use the table for changing. I was getting too scary to even try and change me up there!

The mobile is one of my very favorite things. So Mommy & Daddy are going to find a nice place to let me still enjoy it. But I'm too smart to keep it in my crib. I hit my head on the thing that held it onto the crib - 2 times today! So Mommy had Daddy remove it. I was sad, but hopefully they will put it in a different place so I can enjoy it for more time.

new places & snow

...so yesterday I visited the Compass Cafe.

It is this indoor place with a jungle gym and a cafe to have coffee or tea and food. Mommy & I met Miss Jessica and Miss Lily. Before they came I met a cute little girl, Emma - a couple years older than me - and I just loved watching her climb over all the obstacles! I also learned how to shriek just like the older kids and I keep practicing it at home. I think Mommy really enjoys hearing it. She usually says, "good gracious!"

Today Mommy taught lessons for her students and my friends - the Crombez sisters. How fun to play with them! I got to show them all my new tricks: walking, talking, and raising my hands when asked, "how big is Zoe?" I'm "so big" you know!? It's just so much fun to try new things...

This week has been full of exciting new things...I'm even cutting another tooth. It keeps coming in and then going away! It's really made things rough...

Tomorrow we are supposed to get 4-7 inches of snow! Mommy & Daddy don't seem excited for it, but I sure am!

visits with Santa

Santa at Bronners


Santa at Henry Ford Museum

...I have now visited Santa two times!

Once at Bronners last week and once at Henry Ford Museum today.

a week of firsts

me with the bell I got from Santa

...wow another week went by and so much has happened!

On Monday night I crawled - my first time!
On Tuesday we left for Frankenmuth - my first vacation!
On Wednesday and I visited Santa at Bronners- my first visit!
On Friday (yesterday) I fell while crawling and hurt the inside of my mouth - my first bloody booboo!

Today I am going to Kindermusik with Mommy (because she doesn't have to teach) and Grandma Martin! I'm going to have SO much fun!