Physical Therapy Graduate!

Summer Day 8: Saturday BBQs begin

We love having people over to our house and are so thankful that lots of you are willing to come to us.  :)  Our Saturday Summer BBQs have begun and we had the Rondestvedt family and Heather over last weekend.  We had delicious hot dogs, salad, and chips and several yummy dips.  And, of course, s'mores.  Karah also brought her newest s'mores bar find and it.was.amazing.  Zoë enjoyed sitting on the new bench Dad made for her.

Summer Day 9: Brunch with Baba and Dedo to celebrate Baba's birthday!

On Sunday we went to Anthony's to celebrate my mom's birthday with brunch.  She was a champ and made it all the way up the stairs on her new knee (I'm so proud of my mom...she's a tough nut).  I do think that the french toast was calling her name at the top for extra motivation, though.  Zoë did a pretty good job until the very end of breakfast and then started to get a little antsy, but we made it.

Summer Day 10: Playdate with her boyfriends

Sadly, we only got an hour in of play since I had to go to the dentist, but that was long enough to get some cute pictures.  I'm thankful every time I see or talk to one of my mommy group friends and when Zoë gets a chance to play with some of her boyfriends (there are just so many!).

Summer Day 11: Teriyaki, an epic nap, and playing with ribbons with Dedo.  Boom!

We went out to Enumclaw to keep my mom company on Tuesday and were pleasantly surprised to find Dedo there, too (he originally had jury duty, but an exploded well pump helped to delay his civic duty for a while).  Zoë had teriyaki for the first time and it was a hit.  She ate half of my plate, I swear.  My parents were adorable watching her eat and I enjoyed watching them as much as they enjoyed watching her.  :)  After her nap she had a good time playing with ribbons with Dedo and throwing them down on the ground while yelling, "BOOM!".  

Summer Day 12: Our little physical therapy graduate!

The best part of this week, by far, has been our physical and occupational therapy appointment with Zoë's therapists, Lauren and Amy.  Honestly, I look forward to these appointments immensely because they're generally really positive.  I'm not sure how I'd feel if our little girl was struggling, so take this with a grain of salt.

Zoë is performing at the 18-21 month range for physical abilities (that's a month to four months ahead, for all of those who need me to do the math for them).  What?!  Her fine and gross motor skills are awesome (gross is more at the 18 month mark, her fine motor skills are the gifted ones).  It was so much fun to watch her put pegs into holes and try to find legos under clear blocks and color and...well, it's just fun.  Lauren told us that she's all caught up and doesn't need to see her anymore.  That's both :) and :(.  We get such great tips from both of them each time we see them and feel like we're the best parents in the world (we know we're not, but it's nice to hear every three months from a team of professionals).

As far as her occupational therapy goes, she's hitting the correct milestones (minus two: naming three body parts--she can do two--and identifying the activities seen in pictures, which are things that Amy told us she probably just can't do because of lack of experience, not because she can't actually do them) and would have graduated occupational therapy EXCEPT for her blasted swallowing.   She'll have another swallow study here within the next few weeks and hopefully we'll have gotten past any need for the thickener we still put into the liquids she drinks.  And, if the swallow study is clear, we'll have one more follow up with Amy in October.  If not...well...we'll cross that bridge when we get there.  Amy and the other Amy (the one that does the studies) are baffled as to why she's still struggling with the swallowing when she's doing fine everywhere else developmentally, so Z's a bit of an anomaly.  We'll see...

Summer Day 13: Little Tourist

On Thursday we had a busy day going to see Kari and Becky and Jett for some late afternoon snacks (tried some mozzarella sticks for the first time...she was a huge fan) at the Ram in Tacoma and then went and visited Chris' friend Ryan and his daughter Grace for dinner.  We had a great time and glad to make the trip (despite some horrific holiday traffic) down to have an evening with fun friends.

Summer Day 14: Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July!  We had a fun BBQ over at the Nelson Family's house (Zoë felt right at home) and then walked down to the Des Moines waterfront to see the spectacular fireworks show that went on at about 10:15pm.  We were skeptical about how long she would make it before she crashed but she actually stayed awake the entire time and was mesmerized by the fireworks.  The walk back home was a bit rough, she insisted on being carried and wouldn't sit in her stroller, but other than that we had a great time!

Fireworks!

SUMMER! Week 1

Summer Day 1: Zoë and Chris' first and last Solstice Parade

 We went to the Fremont Solstice Parade on Saturday for Zoë's first exposure to a bunch of naked people on bikes.  We tried to teach her that pointing isn't polite but...well, she's a toddler.  Honestly, it wasn't that much fun for me and Chris, but Zoë enjoyed the parade and watching people.  There are some seriously rude people out there and I doubt we go to the parade again.  :(

Summer Day 2: Fun times in Enumclaw and Tacoma

 On Sunday we did double duty and went to both Baba and Dedo's house in Enumclaw and then to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner in Tacoma.  Zoë's absolute favorite thing in the world these days is chickens.  She LOVES to chase them and hunt for them and LOVES to talk about them.  We've discovered that we can snap her out of any funky mood just by asking her about chickens and making chicken noises.

Summer Day 3: Lunch date at Panera with mom.  Yay for grilled cheese!

 Zoë went with me to the dentist on Monday and was an excellent observer while they took impressions for a night guard for me.  :(  We went to Panera afterwards and she scarfed down a grilled cheese sandwich and sucked down milk.  The attention that this girl gets out in public is amazing.  She charms everyone around her and while she walked through the restaurant with her milk and cookie I swear she turned everybody's head.  LOVE her.

Summer Day 4: Chalk, Otter Pops, and kissing boys

 Tuesday we hung around at home.  One of Zoë's many suitors, Ethan, and his mom came over for a playdate.  The kiddos played, climbed stairs, ran around the back yard, and spent some time smooching after lunch.  It was absolutely adorable!  Zoë loves the new floor Chris built in her playhouse because now she can reach the window.  We also spent some time preparing for his arrival home with some chalk out front.  Ahhhhh, summer.

Summer Day 5: Took a fun field trip to the marina today with the daycare kiddos.

 On Tuesday we went with Lesley and the rest of the daycare kiddos down the Des Moines Creek Trail to the marina, which was daycare's first field trip.  Lesley is absolutely amazing, had a system set for everything (buddies, snacks, you name it) and made a scavenger hunt for the kids on paper bags so they could each collect and check items off the list (flower, rock, shell, mussel).  It took a good 45 minutes to walk the mile down to the beach, but we had a really good time and I know Zoë was really excited to see all of her friends.  I had to pull her kicking and screaming off the beach when it was time to go.

Summer Day 6: Indoor sandbox with Oskar and Scarlett.  Sand is great!

Thursday morning was spent with my friend Erin and her two kids Oskar and Scarlett at the Lil' Diggers Sandbox in Georgetown.  It's a great playdate.  They have two sand volleyball courts that they open up for kids a couple of days a week and there are lots of toys to play with.  Zoë had a great time once she got over how weird the sand felt to walk on.  She's more of a fan than her mom is of sand!

Summer Day 7: Found her bellybutton!

And finally, on Friday, which was also Chris' day off, we went to the Kids Quest Museum in Factoria (it's AWESOME), out to lunch at Red Robin, and then while the kiddo was napping in the backseat I ran into Costco and got essential items (snacks, hot dogs, and pet food) for the weekend.  In the evening, we finally got her to sit still long enough to examine her belly button, which was hilarious.  She had definitely never seen/played with it before and was fascinated (with mom and dad's belly buttons, too!).

Baby dolls and a Prelude to Summer

Outside in the backyard

Happy Father's Day to Chris!  I can honestly say that Zoë LOVES her Dad.  Her face lights up when he comes home from work and she loves watching for him in the front window.  He is patient and affectionate and watching the two of them together makes my heart swell. 

We have had a few really busy weekends now, and it was really nice to semi-relax today.  We did hit up Home Depot and Toys R Us for some tools (for dad) and a new baby doll for Zoë.  We've been meaning to get her a doll for a few months now based on what Lesley said she enjoyed playing with at daycare.  We were prompted to do it this weekend because she had taken to lovingly holding and feeding a plush doll that *kind of* looks like a real baby with one of her old bottles.  I can't believe it took us this long!  The minute we walked down the doll aisle at the store she was pointing and whining for one.  We handed one to her and it was pure love.  We also bought a set of bottles (because "the single bottle comes only with orange juice, and she needs milk", says Chris) and Zoë lovingly fed that baby in the car, at Home Depot, and in the car home.

Angela and I took our dad to the Rainiers game when she was in town for an early Father's Day celebration.

  

Playing with the fingerpuppets Teta brought

Zoë loves to talk to herself, sing, screech, and do all of the motions from "If You're Happy and You Know It" (she loves stomping and is only at about 50% with the 'hurray!').  She fusses if you don't feed her fast enough, can say "uuuuuh" (up) and "down".  She is in love with her buddy Joselyn and mimics her any chance she gets.  Only four more wake-ups until summer vacation!!!

Enjoying an empanada at the farmer's market (like mother like daughter)

Hanging out with Joselyn at the waterfront

It's a Toddler's Life for Me

Beach Babe

Our little girl is definitely a toddler.  She runs, whines, eats like a pig, and is generally a delight in every way.

Playing at the Seattle Children's Museum

She eats everything.  EVERYTHING.  OK, everything except for pasta (really?!).  She won't touch the stuff in any form, it's ridiculous.  She scarfs Chinese food, berries (we love spending a fortune on berries every week), pancakes, Go-Gurt, and sucks down milk like a champ.  She even started feeding herself yogurt and cottage cheese with a spoon ALL ON HER OWN.  She has even begun eating vegetables in their true form, thank goodness, and not sucked out of the individual bags (although she still loves those, too).

Feeding herself!

Hanging out with Dedo

She can take direction ("Zoë, go throw this away" "Please put this in your laundry basket" "Close the dishwasher") and understands so much she shocks us with her understanding all the time.  She chatters like she's holding a conversation with us, says "Yeah" and "Yes" with ease, and can generally communicate her needs pretty darn well.  Needless to say, this still includes a lot of whining and crying when she doesn't get her way because she doesn't have the words for everything, but it's still pretty easy to understand what she wants.

Playing with Baba's jewels

At daycare, she can climb up the small stairs and slide down the small slide by herself.  She loves to play in the sandbox and with the water table and often comes home covered in water and dirt (we LOVE that she does...we're so glad she's having fun outside rather than being cooped up inside!  I'd pick a dirty happy busy baby over a perfectly clean bored one!).

Ooooooh, rocks!

Mother's Day 2014

She loves to read.  She pulls books off of her shelves and brings them over demanding they be read.  I love the purposeful turn around she does so that she can sit in my lap.  It's one of my favorite things and she does the same thing to sit with Fiona.  She gives the best pucker for kisses and even does the "mmmmm" sound that comes with a kiss.

Loves her dog

New pool for summertime!

We have a fun summer planned together (only 16 more wake-up days).  A trip to Cleveland to visit my Teta and Baba, a camping trip to my favorite place, Orcas Island, and lots of day trips around the Seattle area to museums and parks and pools.  There will be more days at the zoo and more playdates with Zoë's friends.  Yay!

Hanging out at the zoo with Grandma

Zoë and Grace looking at the walrus

Uncle Connor's graduation day

We got a little wet in the rain.  A little.

The Time I Threw a Tantrum in Nordstrom, by Zoë Seaman

I'm not going to lie, I'm a good shopper.  I'm great in the grocery cart, pick out my own clothes at consignment stores, and am quite charming with any stranger that I come across in public.  I've heard my parents brag about it to others, so I know it's true.

Lately, however, I've started getting just a little bit more antsy when I'm out with Mom or Dad.  I've noticed brighter, shinier things on the shelves and now with my mad walking running skills I'd much rather roam free rather than being pinned into a cart, carrier, or stroller.  It's really not fair, actually, to be held back when I am just so grown up.

So, I've been practicing.  Slowly ramping up the whining and tantrums at home until I could find the perfect time when we were out to set my plan in motion.  I'd mastered the back arching, boneless maneuver that allows me to literally slide through my parents' hands when they're trying to pick me up.  This makes it impossible for them to get a good grip on me all the while screaming and crying gigantic jelly-bean sized tears which then turn into a nose running so fiercely that I can blow amazing snot bubbles with it.  See exhibit A.

Exhibit A.

I knew it was going to be a good day when Mom and I went shopping randomly on a Sunday afternoon.  She said we needed to go get some new shoes and we had a Nordstrom gift card to spend, so off to the mall we went.  First of all, did you know that escalators are so FUN?!  I can't believe they've been keeping me from these things.  I even got to stand by myself on the way up to the kids shoes department while Mom hovered nearby holding her hands at about three inches away from me the entire ride.  How annoying.  We got to the top and I was NOT happy to get off, but I was distracted by sparkly Toms in the shoe section.

I tried on several pairs of shoes like a model toddler knowing that the escalator was going to be in my future on the way back down.  I kept thinking to myself, "if my unreasonable mother thinks she's going to rip me off of that thing she has another thing coming to her..."

I got a balloon (Ha!  Tricked the sales lady into thinking I was a well behaved little minion.).

We walked to the escalator.  We rode down.

It. was. glorious.

And then, I saw my chance...

My mom picked me up at the bottom and I began the full tantrum wind up.  Arch back, begin scream.  Mom doesn't put me down, so I go boneless.  I can tell she's struggling.  Between her purse, the shopping bag, and that damn balloon, she's literally got her hands full.  There was visible sweat on her brow.  I think having the balloon string "accidentally" wrap around my neck as I was flailing was a nice touch and made her panic even more.  I made that walk from the escalator in the middle of the store to the closest outside entrance the longest walk she's ever experienced and it was magnificent.  There were people staring, feeling so sorry for my dear old mom.

I will say, I'm not completely unreasonable.  We got out to the car, I was promised my Goldfish, and I became the docile daughter she believes me to be.  I'm pretty sure I just need to keep this up every once and a while to remind mom and dad that they're not in charge.

I'm thinking the next tantrum should be at a nice brunch spot...or perhaps Uncle Connor's graduation next weekend?  Who knows...the world is my tantrum throwing oyster now!

Easter Bunnies and Egg Hunts

Zoë's second Easter was very eventful with all of her new skills.  She's an expert Egg Hunter (they were all laying in a field, to be fair, but she still picked them up and put them in her basket).  She did pretty well walking around in the grass.  She also met the Easter Bunny which did not go as well...she knew what was up while we were standing in line and cried the minute I started to peel her away from me and set her on his lap.  Eh, it makes for a great picture!

Today both of our families came over for brunch which was really fun.  We (thankfully) fit everyone at our kitchen table and I really enjoyed cooking and making a pretty table.

Looking at what the Easter Bunny left her with Dad.

This girl loves her books!

Zoë had a swallow study again last Thursday and unfortunately she'll still need her water and milk thickened until the next one.  Apparently she was aspirating less but still in need of the thickener.  The occupational therapist is going to discuss with Dr. Moore whether or not they need to think about further procedures (read: something more invasive), but she's thinking we can wait until at least the next swallow study since at least it has improved since November.  It's a real bummer since we haven't been thickening her milk or water and she seemed to be doing just fine.  :(  It's such a pain in the butt to thicken everything, but I'm glad it's not much AND I'm not going to worry about it like a crazy person if we happen to be out or going out and don't take thickened water with us (I mean, REALLY...).

Only nine more weeks until summer vacation!  YAHOO!