Last picture for today!

I love this picture of Zoey!

(Now that we have some freetime at night, we can keep up with this some more... which I went a little overboard tonight! Oh well, I love it and hope everyone does too!)

Abbey 

New toy!

Zoey got an exersaucer this weekend (thanks to Teresa and the great second-hand baby store in Columbus!)! She really enjoys looking at everything and occassionally spinning and pushing things! 

Visitors!

Teresa, Vaughn, and Meredith came to visit this past weekend! We had fun and it was way too short of a visit! 

Sitting straighter!

Zoey is getting better and better sitting by herself (with a little help from the boppy!)! 

More about Zoey sleeping!

This past weekend Zoey has started sleeping in her crib at night! It was a lot easier than I thought it would be... the past fews weeks have been rough because Zoey would just cry and cry at bedtime with us (she had been sleeping in bed with us). We started to flip her over on her stomach (that's how she takes naps - the one thing that finally worked!) and she would calm down. Then on Friday night we thought, "I wonder if she would go to sleep if we put her in her crib like we do for naps?". Sure enough it worked! I feel like I've been torturing her by having her cry in bed with us when it seems that this is all she needed! Once again, us not really understanding what she needs and taking forever to figure it out!

Zoey is also starting to be able to lay down awake and then fall asleep on her own! Before we had to rock her to sleep! I feel like I don't really know who this child is! :)

Although it is nice to have my space back in bed and that Zoey is getting some good, solid sleep... I am sad! She is growing up way too fast for me! Matt said to me this weekend, "Weren't you just talking about how you couldn't wait until we could just lay her in her crib and she would fall asleep on her own?". Well, I thought I would really enjoy it, but it makes me sad that she doesn't need me quite as much anymore. :( Okay, enough about my feelings because the better sleep has really helped Zoey not be so fussy (in addition to nighttime sleep, she also started taking a good, lengthy morning AND afternoon nap)!

Okay, I guess that's enough about sleep...

Abbey 

Diapers...Diapers...Diapers...and TV?!

Folks, this is how fast she is growing. She is already out of her newborn diapers! We use cloth diapers, of course. We do cheat though. She uses a so called "disposable" diaper at night. She sleeps better with it. Anyway, I just wanted to show you this funny picture of Zoey buried in diapers. We were having fun with them one day (they are all clean!)! Which reminds me of another picture of her and a diaper...but we're saving that one for another post. :)

So, Zoey seems to enjoy watching TV. Well, we haven't decided yet whether or not that is a bad thing. I know you all might have opinions. Comment and let us know what you think. The Baby Einstein videos start at newborn and go on up. Abbey read that children shouldn't watch TV until they are at least two years old! How crazy is that?! We don't know if either is the way to go, but there must be a happy median.

Speaking of TV...below is a link to a video of Zoey watching TV. This isn't her first time watching TV, but this is the first time that we actually put her in front of it with the purpose of her to watch it. Now, we only did this because we were having a rough night and she wouldn't fall asleep so we were just trying stuff. In hindsight, it probably wasn't the thing to do, but there was really nothing else to do. Anyway...we hope you enjoy it. She talks to the Baby Einstein video. It's hilarious!!!

Disclaimer - the website the video is on as limited usage space per hour, so if it doesn't come up, try again later! (Matt is trying to figure out how to avoid this!)

Click here for video!

-Matt

Zoey's Favorite Toy

So, we have found Zoey's favorite toy. She will sit in front of this thing for like 30 minutes and be completely entertained. 30 minutes is a lot for a three month old!

And speaking of which, Zoey turned three months last Tuesday! It is really hard to believe. I was just saying to Abbey the other day, 'Does it really feel like three months?' We both feel like it has been a lifetime. Which is good because we want this to last as long as it can. We also were trying to think what we did before we had her. We came to the conclusion that we were very lazy!

As you can see from the picture Zoey can almost sit up by herself! As long as she has some backup support around her (my legs in this case) she can sit up. She'll do that for maybe 30 seconds and then she'll fall to one side. We'll help her up and then she'll do it again. Isn't that amazing!

Well that's all I got...

Peace

-Matt

Who is that?!?!

Well, Zoey has started looking at herself in the mirror! It is so funny... she laughs, smiles, stares, and talks to herself!

Zoey has also stopped taking a good morning nap and the occassional afternoon nap. We are very frustrated and confused! Help! Give us suggestions!

She is trying her darndest to sit up! She is also getting frustrated with her bouncy seat toys because she can't quite get them to her mouth yet and she wants to so bad!

We're hoping her bowels are regulating a bit... she hasn't had an explosive poop in a week! But she has started to spit up, lots! I guess you win some and lose some!

Zoey drools like a slobbering St. Bernard! Where does it all come from?! Everything sure is amazing!

Abbey 

What a week!

Hello everyone!

What a week it has been! Zoey has had 5 explosive poops (3 were when were out and about - yuck!)!!! Luckily, none of it got on me - just all over her and her clothes!

The most exciting part about the week - NAPS! Zoey has taken a morning nap all week long ( ranging 1.5 - 3 hours)! And 3 afternoon naps! I can't even describe how excited I am! I feel much more comfortable and sane (her not crying all the time has also contributed to this!)!

I love this picture of her - it's right after bathtime (which she likes now!). She is starting to look at the camera more and more.

Audrey came up yesterday and we went to Wal-Mart with Zoey. I think she really likes to go shopping! :) This is great for me, as I really like it also!

Zoey is hungry - must go!

Abbey 

Zoey and Her Never Ending Battle with Gravity

Hello all! It's been an exciting day!

As you can see from the picture, she is getting much better with laying on her stomach. She doesn't have it down yet, but she's getting there.

I bet you are saying, "So what is exciting about that?" Well, i'll tell you. I didn't see it, but Abbey saw Zoey for the first time roll over from her stomach to her back!!! This is great news. The problem she is having is sleeping on her own. If we put her in her crib on her back she doesn't stay asleep. (We still haven't gotten to the point where she can fall asleep on her own yet.) So the only way we can get her to nap in her crib is by putting herself on her stomach. She'll sleep anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours. She wakes up crying at that point. If she sleeps for 2 hours then I will gladly pick her up. But if she only sleeps for say 20 minutes then I want her to fall back asleep. Unfortunately she never does. I am hoping that if she can roll over that maybe she will be able to get more comfortable and then fall back asleep on her own. I was really excited when Abbey called me at work to tell me the news. You know what this means, right? She's growing up...sad.

-Matt 

That's a Breadstick?!

I told you she wanted breadsticks! She just can't eat them for a couple of years.

-Matt

Olive Garden Baby

Today we finally went back to Olive Garden! If you don't know the story, I will give you a brief synopsis.

What: Abbey's water breaks
When: Mothers Day, 2006 and Abbey's Graduation Day 2006
Where: Olive Garden, Champaign, IL
Why: Zoey wanted some breadsticks
How: All over the chair and floor
Interesting Points: The waiter in the picture thought Abbey peed her pants. He hugged Abbey. We never got to eat the food...tear.

We are dorks for doing this, but we flagged this guy down. We asked if he remembers us and he did. It took a little bit to get it out of him, but he remembered. What a good waiter! He apparently had been telling Abbey's story to all of his pregnant patrons. That's Hilarious by the way! He met Zoey. He gave her the name 'Olive Garden Baby.' He also apparently predicted that she would be a girl. I don't remember that, but we humored him. :) He let us take a picture with him. He also told us to send the picture to Olive Garden's headquarters. He said we might get in the Olive Garden news letter and/or get some kind of 'gift/promo' for telling our story. Cross your fingers!

On another note...before Olive Garden, we made a trip to Meijer. Now this wasn't an average trip to Meijer, this was a special trip. We entered Zoey in the Mix 94.5 'Babes of Summer' contest (a beauty contest for babies). I don't have all of the information yet, but her pictures will end up on www.mix945.com. People will vote online for the cutest babies. Then the babies with the most votes are chosen as semi-finalists and the winner will be chosen at the Urbana Sweet Corn Festival. So check out the Mix 94.5 website and vote for Zoey. I don't know when it will be up, but I will blog about it. So keep checking the blog to find out when you can vote!

Love you all!

-Matt

You Said What?!

This is a confused Zoey!

I was just looking through all of our pictures of her and I just had to put this one up. She makes the funniest faces. This picture is about two weeks old, but it still needs to be on this blog.

-Matt 

Zoey the Strong

So, if you can't tell by the picture, Zoey is frickin' strong. She can really hold her head up now. She doesn't have a six pack, but her abs are stronger than mine. :) Also, if she kicks you, it hurts! I think she is going to be an athlete of some kind.

I have heard that several of you are having trouble commenting to the blog. Well, I am here to solve all of your problems (computer problems at least). Originally, I had the comment thing setup wrong. You had to be logged in with a Blogger account. Now, all you have to do is click on Anonymous.

Brief synopsis of how to comment:
1) Click on '# Comment' (# being the number of comments for whatever post you are underneath).
2) Type in your comment. Don't forget to say your first name (no last names!) and your relationship to Abbey, Zoey, and I! :) Both sides of the family probably want to know who is commenting.
3) Click on Anonymous (if you don’t do this, you won’t be able to comment, unless you have a Blogger account, which 99% of you probably don’t).
4) Type in the funny looking text.
5) Click on Publish (I think it might say 'Login and Publish,' don’t worry about the login, you will be logging in as Anonymous).
6) You have just commented.

So, now that you all know how to comment, and there are no hang-ups. There should be no reason you all don't comment! :)

Back to Zoey...the reason you are all here...

Zoey isn't fighting us at night as much! She used to, and I mean last week used to scream and cry and fuss for 30 minutes up to 2 and sometimes 3 hours before she would go to sleep. Knock on wood, but for the past three evenings, she just fusses for 20-30 minutes and then is pretty much out for the night! Wahoo!

Remember when Zoey pooped on Abbey? Well, she did it again! Yesterday! I wasn't there but Stephanie and her two kids (Vincent and Ocean) witnessed the literally exploding diaper. It actually shot out of the diaper onto Abbey. Like I said the last time this happened, I will gladly take the spit up over the poop!

I would like to end the post with a special shout out to Deanie (Abbey's grandma) and Patti (my mom)! We know how much you two (and everyone else) love this blog. To tell you the truth, we just really appreciate you all taking the time to read it! :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

We love you all!

-Matt 

Zoey is sleeping?!

Zoey has started taking lengthy naps and on her own! I know, it's shocking! This past week she has taken 4 naps that have been 3-4 hours long! And I was able to lay her down after rocking her to sleep! I am baffled and SOOOO excited! She has also taken a pacifier a few times! She is really starting to enjoy her bouncy seat (thank you Landreth family!) and her activity mat. Looks like she's starting to get the hang of infant life!

Abbey 

Funny Picture and Holy Crap!

Yesterday, we had dinner with Glenn, Debbie and Audrey. It was yummy! Glenn decided to get right in Zoey's face and take this hilarious picture. She looks like a deer in headlights.

Also, you see what is behind her!!! She got her Social Security card last week! This is crazy! It seems like we just brought her home, but now she is part of the system! Holy crap! How can we slow this down? She is growing up too fast people! Help us! I have been getting flashes of her talking, walking, going to school and driving. I am happy and yet sad at the same time.

Well, I just wanted to get you all this update. Zoey is doing great actually! Abbey is gonna blog later. She'll let you know how great she is doing!

Peace out

-Matt

Zoey in the Snugli

I'm just needed to put this picture up. She just had the funniest face!

-Matt 

Zoey's First Trip to the Pool

Here is a picture of Zoey on 7-3-2006. This was her first trip to the pool! Doesn't she look adorable! Well you have probably seen this one already, but I thought that it needs to be here. :)

-Matt

Family Get Together

From left to right, this is: Kevin (Abbey's Cousin), Kelli (Another Cousin), Mark (The Unusual Cousin :) ), Jessica and Donovan (Mark's Kids), Me (Matt), Zoey, Abbey, and Audrey (Abbey's Sister).

Don't we all look happy!

A little bit before this picture was taken, Abbey, Audrey and I kicked butt in a game of Crainum. Which, by the way, I recommend to all. It is fun! Even though Kelli and Mark won the second game, it doesn't count. Why? Because I say so.

Peace out.

-Matt 

Worst Poop Ever!

Folks, there is no way I am putting a picture of this nasty poop or should I say poops! But here's a cute picture of her today anyway.

So...

She had two huge poops this morning. One when woke up and one just now.

Why am I blogging about a poop...well this was a special poop. Why is it special you ask? Well, Zoey pooped on Abbey!!!

Yes that is right! Zoey had so much poop, that it leaked...no, squirted out of the diaper right onto Abbey's pants, the boppy, and my Time magazine!

This isnt the first time that she has exploded out of the diaper, but its the first time any of it landed on one of us!

Abbey and I are even now. Zoey has spit up on me many many more times than Abbey. Zoey has peed on me, like soak my shirt peed. Now she has pooped on Abbey. I dont know if that is really even, but I am just glad it wasnt me.

Have a great weekend!

-Matt