The first laugh!

A few milestones to report.

This week Zoe officially became a member of the "Clean Plate Club."

Best perk of the "Clean Plate Club" is she got the meal for free.

What you can't see in the picture is the "Mmmmmm....Mmmmmmm...Mmmmm" noise she makes while eating.

But here is a video of it!

Zoe also practiced being cute.

She's getting pretty darn good at it.

She also practiced her impressions of stuffed animals...

Our friends, Megan and Will came over to meet Zoe...

And, still loving feet, went after the biggest pair she'd ever seen!

And now for the surprise of the week...

...Zoe learned how to laugh!

We spend most of our days now trying to get her to do it again.

Here is a video of the first time she really let loose.

Enjoy!

23 Weeks!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, she's 23 weeks old.

This week, Zoe tried sweet potatoes (below) and butternut squash.

Both were a rousing success.

You may notice that she's holding her foot in that pic.

Zoe thinks that any time NOT spent holding her foot is a wasted opportunity.

Here she is after her bath...holding her foot.

And here she is holding her foot with her hands...and her mouth.

Lori noticed that Zoe looked a little bigger than she used to be and made this comparison:  

                                                                                                             Notice that she's not smiling...
                                                                                                       ...mostly because she's not holding her foot.

 Zoe and Lori go for walks every day and have made some new friends.  

Zoe now loves looking at the horses.

Here she is just loungin' 

Oh -- and now that she can roll over at will, it's always an adventure to see where she is when she wakes up from naps.

Mommy and Zoe say we'll see you next week!

5 Months!

Well, I hope you're sitting down.

Zoe is 5 months old today...

Happy 5 months!

...but that's just ONE of MANY milestones to celebrate this week.

This week Zoe tried her first solid food.

She's been watching us eat and drink with growing interest, so we bought her 

some rice cereal and let her see what she's been missing.

Daddy...what's in the bowl?

First bite...

...and a smile!

Hey, this stuff's pretty good!

Pretty soon Zoe was helping us feed her

...and it wasn't long before we were completely irrelevant in the process.

Eating with your feet?

Now you're just showing off.

And today she tried carrots for the first time.

Zoe also loves looking around on our walks and seeing all the sights.

She also decided the Lakers are so terrible she'll try out for the team.

She already plays more defense than the entire bench

See how she has possession of the ball?  Already fewer turn-overs than the Lakers.

She then thought about following Grandma's prediction and become a gymnast.

But mostly she just loves practicing her smiles.

Zoe's friend, Anna, came over for a visit. 

She's 4 days older than Zoe so she had a lot more life experience to share.

Which brings us to our last, big milestone.

Lori had been noticing that Zoe was side-sleeping quite a bit. 

Zoe has been has been less and less happy to lay on her back

She's always eager to move around on her tummy, even trying to crawl.

We've been encouraging her each step of the way, and tonight...

This happened:

She did it about 5 times and decided it was time to eat.

She earned it.

Zoe says thanks for stopping by!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Zoe is still discovering the joys of her holiday gifts, so thank you all again.

She loves this little pony...

Just look at those eyes.

Sometimes we want to read together but her books aren't close by.

This evening we read through a beauty supply catalog together.

Zoe thinks people are nuts for spending $95/oz on Vitamin C drops.

Zoe now recognizes the horses (with rapt attention) 

and this week she got to meet a few of our neighbors.  

 We also have a family of four white Egrets living in the wash behind our house...

...and about a hundred (or so) LOUD parrots who (as legend has it) descended from five or six domesticated birds who were released from their cages 25 years ago.

They sound like a hundred squeaky wheels...running over a flock of disgruntled parrots.

Zoe has also mastered "tummy time" and can now squirm/pull herself 

the length of her play mat (as long as I let her push off my legs)

But the most wonderful new trick is her 'talking.'  

She has so many things to say...

...and (as a bonus) I now present to you a short video of miss Zoe Elise Bernat 'speaking' to me.

I defy you to show me a better way to start 2015.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Our little Christmas Angel

Pretty sure this was take 136.   Maybe 137.
If not for digital photography this would've been the most expensive Christmas photo ever.

....but before we get to Christmas morning, let's take a look back at the week leading up to it.

Coupla monkeys

The danger of growing up next to dogs is...well...this.

You should hear her growl when you pull your finger away.

We tried to change the channel but she hid the remote until the chase was over.

John and JJ's awesome Christmas Party

Each Day, Zoe spends lots of time in her Jumparoo...

 

...and each day we go for a walk.

Lately, it's been so cold (high-50's) that we dress Zoe up like a polar bear cub.

She doesn't seem to mind.

Okay.  Enough of that.  BRING ON CHRISTMAS!!!

Zoe's first ornament

She loves this rattle.  And it passes the taste test.

See?

AREYOUKIDDING? ILOVETHISTHING!  AAAAHHHHHH!

NOM NOM NOM!

Just in case you didn't get that everything goes in her mouth...

Happiest kid in the world

Madison and Michelle Pettis sent Zoe some beautiful new clothes

Zoe was so excited!

And Lori can't stop talking about this dress.

Zoe doesn't think Mom's so good at hats yet.

John and JJ brought over the cutest onesie

Zoe said the green paper tastes like...paper.

She's learning the importance of making eye contact.
Especially when you're dealing with googly eyes.

DAY 2!  

(we didn't have the energy or attention span to finish opening all the gifts on Xmas)

Needless to say, Zoe was surprised and overjoyed to learn Christmas wasn't over. 

DAY 3!

(yeah...)

Megan and Will brought over some awesome Laker clothes!

Zoe is thinking of a career in bow and ribbon modeling.

One of my all-time favorite pics of the two of them.

The taste test confirms it -- she's a Laker fan.  And look at those eyes...

Zoe got so much practice, she devised a new method of opening presents.
Orally.

Zoe's first (delicious) camera.

Aunt Meme gave Zoe a whole new wardrobe, but she really loved this rattle set.
I can't help but imagine a "thumbs up" here...

Mmmmm...delish cupcake rattle.

Zoe clinging to her cupcake rattle

Grammie and Grandad  gave Zoe her first purse and cell phone.

....and a super cool basketball set.

Zoe says, "Thank you, everyone, for making this the best Christmas ever!"