To this point, none of them have been good enough. Mom insists having an absolutely perfect 1-year photo is some sort of watershed moment in our parental development. (Or, perhaps, fears the lack of one would trigger a call to social services.) Despite the fact that neither of us claims to be (or desires to be) a professional photographer, we've decided we can do a better job capturing Zoe's personality than a local studio could. I'm cool with that, mainly because I know free is significantly cheaper than a studio's rates. Of course, I'm also content with the 974 digital images currently saved on our hard drive.
Anyway, I think we might have gotten one today. Since anybody reading this is likely to end up with one of those photos, we can't ruin the surprise. But here's a pretty darn cute one that didn't make the final cut:
Considerably more fun than the photo shoot, the trip to the park also meant a chance to hop on a swing (after a wardrobe change). While I was having a pretty good time, Zoe was ready to give the slide a try:
The 14-month mark seems like the perfect opportunity to pass on a few updates:
Walking: Not quite, though she is feeling a little pressure now that her month-younger cousin, Zachary, has taken his first steps. We told her we were stepping up the training to boot camp-levels. I think it mainly has to do with how cautious she is, because she's been walking along furniture for quite awhile... but hasn't attempted to go solo. A woman at our daycare insists she took two steps, from a playhouse over to another toy. We're not buying it. If what happens at our house is any indication, it was probably more of a well-planned fall forward than an attempt to walk.
Daycare: Zoe is going to graduate from the infant room to the toddler room in mid-July. We were a little concerned about this move when they first brought up the possibility, mainly because the toddler room is full of big, burly boys. Zoe is a bit of an oddity, age-wise, at her center. She'll be the youngest in the toddler room by at least five months, and by far the smallest. But she is also considerably older than most of the babies. The move should be great for her developmentally, if she can avoid being run over by the 2-year-olds. She has been visiting the toddler room for a couple hours each day and, by all indications, loves it.
Attitude: Oh boy, is she getting one.
Torture: For some reason, her new favorite hobby is gouging her parents' eyes and scratching their cheeks with her little razor-sharp talons. It cracks her up when she's quick enough to get a swipe past our deflection.
Communication: Words are still sparce. Besides 'momma' and 'dadda' -- which have been staples for some time -- there are a few sounds that roughly resemble their intended meaning. 'Hi' and 'up' are two pretty clear ones. But she's pretty good at getting her point across without words. Sonja has been religiously using baby signs and Zoe knows eat, drink, bath, blanket, sleep and a few others. And she certainly communicates 'Yes,' and 'No' clearly. I'm not sure why, but it always cracks me up when she points at something out of her reach, opens her eyes real wide, puckers her lips and slowly nods her head.
Eating. We're finding more and more things she'll eat, though we still haven't found anything she's crazy about other than cheese. Other dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream) are popular. She typically likes vegatables, but refuses fruit. Our pediatrician told us to do what we can to add weight, but she's not a big fan of sweets other than vanilla ice cream. She's not a big fan of eating, in general, really. She wants to try anything we're having, but only a few bites. She tends to overstuff her little mouth when she feeds herself, spits a mouthful on the tray to make room for a drink, then pops it back in to continue chewing. That's my classy baby.
Sleeping. I'll save that update for mom!
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8 comments:
Spot on about the cheese! Becca's staple is white string cheese. But just the opposite on veggies/fruit. Won't touch a veggie, but eats mandarin oranges like they're going out of style. Likes an occasional bananna too!
Just my two cents on eating, take it or leave it....we've taken to letting Becca graze all day. Keeping food handy so when she sprints past us, she'll stop for a bite of something. Then bolt onto the next something or other to get into. Seems to work pretty well. She rarely wants to sit thru a full meal anymore these days. So short pants w/pockets are key in this daddy's routine for holding snacks between meals. Love the pics!
Cobbler Ct.
Ditto on the Cobbler cousins, the pics are great! And I'm sure any of the 974 are just beautiful!
We're having troubles getting Zach to eat regular food too... he'll eat fruit, most everything else goes in the mouth, noshed around and spit back out. I don't understand the weight gain thing myself... happy healthy, eating or not seems more important to me. She'll eat when she's truly hungry... that's what Dr. Phil says anyway. I think I also heard that kids, unlike adults, really do eat only when hungry. They don't eat because they're bored/angry/upset like the rest of us problem folk.
On the walking... I know you won't believe me... but ENJOY NOW. Although I know your concern. Emily didn't take her first steps until 16mos. I was sure she was the oldest baby in history to do so. Zachary.. ohmigosh. I seriously don't know where he comes from sometimes... or where he goes. Of course I love the development... but I'm not in a hurry to get there!
Love the pics and updates! I remember freaking out when Katie was going to be moved up from the baby room at daycare. But after a few weeks in the toddler room the baby room looked way too boring for her.... I'm sure Zoe will be toddling around with those big burly boys before you know it. She may even learn a new word or two! ;-)
Glad to hear I'm not the only one with a PC full of digital photos.
Cousin Cindy
WHEN THE NOODLE AND HER BELOVED MOM AND DAD COME TO VISIT IN A WEEK OR SO, SHE WILL GET HER FIRST INITIATION TO THAT STAPLE OF FOODS, OR STABLE, IF SHE STARTS TO PACK EM DOWN LIKE HER DZIADZ. THAT IS RIGHT, MALTED LOVERS, CHOCOLATE MALTED. SWEETS FOR THE SWEET ONE IN MY LIFE.....WELL, THE SECOND SWEET ONE......WELL, ACTUALLY THE NOODLE IS CERTAINLY IN MY TOP FIVE. THERE, THAT SHOULD GET ME OFF THE HOOK I JUST DANGLED MYSELF ON. HANGED, WOULD BE A BETTER CHOICE OF WORDS. AND HER BUSIA AND I HAVE A PLAN FOR FAST FORWARDING THAT WALKING PLAN...BE FOREWARNED, LITTLE TYKE!
awwww - that one year picture is so cute - can't wait to see the one that actually made the cut!
So from the photo, it definitely looks like it's a dress "up" day. Maybe you'll get lucky -Derek would only drink milk when he was at home until he was 3 years old. Brianna slept through the night for the first time when she was 4. Now, we're less stressed when she gets up and walks around by herself in the middle of the night. At least she doesn't cry anymore.
From what I read, sounds like a typical Rezler to me!
walking is overrated------she has a greatbusia and a greatuncle that share her last name and neither of them walks so very well either. she will walk / she will run / she will fall / she will get up. it's momma and daddy that will have to grow and live with it.
It hasn't been so long that I've forgotten that Derek used to crawl, before he could walk, backwards. Never forwards, only backwards. Then he'd grunt and moan because things didn't get closer, they got farther away. I used to try to pick him up in front of company so they wouldn't see the moron going backwards. About walking, I give you the advice our pediatrician gave us, "when he's ready to walk, he'll walk." I'd suspect, Zoe knows that drill too. She'll walk when she's good and ready and not one day before. The first of many times she'll not do what her parents want.
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