Zoe is...

going to be a big sister!!!

The Lil' Bean's First Picture at 7weeks3days

Zoe is so excited to be a big sister. She was able to call and tell family that she was going to be a big sister and she says, "I am going to give the baby a pacifier when the baby cries, I am going to rock the baby, and the baby is growing in Mommy's tummy." Zoe also has a sixth sense...about four weeks ago, our neighbor Jeff was over and he threw one of Zoe's toys at me and she said, "Don't throw things and my baby brother!" We looked at each other and obviously I had no idea if I was really preggo or not, so it freaked me out a little. Then to test it a little more we asked, "Where is the baby?" She pointed straight to my tummy! Mind you, we have had no conversations with her about where the baby grows or anything. We had just asked her if she wanted a baby. So far she is 50% accurate...we will keep everyone posted to see if she is 100% accurate. I read a little about how kids sometimes have that sense...crazy!!!

Swimming Snafoo

Well...Zoe has been adapting to many new things lately, but we had a swimming snafoo this week. She started her "Tiny Tots" swim lessons Monday, which means that Mommy and Daddy no longer swim with her. We thought that she would do well, considering that she swam for her past 2 instructors better than for Mommy and Daddy most of the time. Wishful thinking!!! She started classes on Monday with one other little girl in her class and she cried for the whole 30 min. lesson! We tried talking to her and nothing stopped her. The teacher did not help either because the only thing she did was say firmly, "Stop crying Zoe, stop crying Zoe." Over and over and over again. It got to the point that the teacher in me wanted to pull her, but I know that sometimes Zoe just needs time to adjust to people. It took another mother who was watching to open my eyes to it a bit more. She said, "Well she could be speaking to her a little more kindly." For another mom to notice, that got me a bit upset. So, Tuesday we tried again and she was still super upset and crying hysterically. Again the teacher told her to stop crying, meanwhile rolling her eyes. That pretty much did it for me and I pulled Zoe out 15 minutes into her lesson. I called the swim manager later to figure out a solution to this problem and she gave me a few options. I decided to get her private lessons for the rest of the 2 weeks. She started this morning and Shaun can happily report that she did AWESOME! Her new teacher is great with little kids and she did so well. She chased after toys in the shallow end, kicked, scooped, and blew bubbles. The only thing she did not want to do is jump in the pool at the end of the lesson. Hey! I will take it. It made me really wonder if we were going to have a hard time with her and teachers, but I am convinced it was this young girl whose inexperience with young children was the snafoo. Phew!!!

Zoe's First Day of School

Ready for School
Freetime

Decorating a Bag for Thursday's Picnic

Finger Painting
On Our Way Home...Zoe Survived!

All Tuckered Out!!!

Zoe had her first day of school today. She did an awesome job! I think we will be able to leave her on her own in a week or two. The first part of the day is freetime and Zoe really liked that they have a kitchen with play food. She really enjoys playing with that type of stuff at home, so it made her feel comfortable. She listened to a story and sang a song, then got to decorate a bag for her picnic on Thursday and finger painted. After she finished her painting, she was able to go outside and water the small gardens. It was not as structured as Shaun and I had hoped for, but I think it is a great introduction to school. We will probably be looking into some other options for the fall, just in case this placement does not work out.

The Berve's Came to Cali

At Disneyland...Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
La Brea Tar Pits

Photos in the Photo Booth at the Tar Pits

Swimming at Papa and YiaYia's House

Santa Barbara Zoo

Sky High Sports (Wall to Wall Trampoline Place)

Playground at the Beach

BRRRRRRR!

It was so fun to have the Berve's in Cali for the week. We usually go up to Montana to see Shaun's cousins, but this year they were able to come down and hang with us last week. Zoe showed them around Disneyland on Tuesday. It was Jeff's first time and Amy, Tasia and Kyler hadn't been since our wedding (6 years ago!!!). We had a blast and got on a lot of rides while we were there. Fast Passes and Baby Swap Passes worked out really well :). On Wednesday we went shopping at the outlets (only 1/3 of them), to Inn and Out for lunch, went to La Brea Tar Pits, and visited Papa and YiaYia and went swimming. At the Tar Pits, Zoe learned that paleontologists search for bones. She was pretty fascinated with watching the paleontologists look for bones in small granules of dirt. This year Zoe has done a total 180 and loved swimming in Papa and YiaYia's pool. She even got in the baby floater and kicked and scooped all over the pool. Hollister was calling Tasia's name, so on Thursday morning we headed to the mall. We shopped for a little while, went to lunch at Chili's (per Kyler's request), and ventured to the Santa Barbara Zoo. My parents joined us at our for dinner that night and the kids got to stay the night with us. Grandma and Grandpa babysat and Shaun and I took the kids to Sky High Sports. It is a warehouse with wall to wall trampolines and even a foam pit to jump into. Tasia and Kyler liked it so much that they wanted to go back Friday night too. On Friday we went and finished up the other 2/3 of the outlets, Panera Bread for lunch (Mmmm...Broccoli/Cheese Soup), and took a quick trip to the beach. Brrrrrrr! It was chilly outside and the water was pretty frigid too. We always enjoy their company and were really bummed that their time here went by so fast. Hopefully they will come again soon! :)

Zoe is Starting School TOMORROW!!!

Holy cow!!! Shaun and I have been going back and forth about starting Zoe in school this year. She is 2 years, 3 months right now and we have not found a program that takes preschoolers before 2 years, 9 months. I looked into the little preschool that is at the park behind the school we teach at and they have a class that starts TOMORROW!!! It is a Parent/Child preschool program for 2-4 year olds, but I am hoping that when the teacher sees the amount of language Zoe has, she will allow her into the preschool program for 3-5 year olds. This class is for 4 weeks, an hour and a half a day, two days a week. That is perfect for her this year...if she cannot go into the 3-5 year old class, then we will have to come up with another option. We will see! She is not only starting school tomorrow, but she will start her first set of swim lessons without Mommy or Daddy on Monday afternoon. There has been a lot happening at our house lately...Shaun and I are in disbelief at how fast our little baby girl is growing up and becoming so independent.

Bye Bye Baby Bed!!!

Zoe is helping Daddy take her crib apart to make room for her big girl bed.
Loving the new big bed!

All made up! (Yes it is HUGE!!!)

Our little peanut swallowed up by the bed.

"Sleeping"

No headboard...just sticker decals, I love it! So does Zoe!

We have been debating what to do for Zoe's big girl bed...Do we make the toddler bed out of the crib? Do we buy her a new bedroom set? Twin? Full? There are too many options, but we decided to take the guest bed (Sorry Kim and Dave!) and take the frame off of it, so it is directly on the ground. She tried it out in the guest room and loved the idea, so we went for it. It happens to be a queen, so it is HUGE. She is such a tiny peanut in it, but it should last her a really long time. I went and bought her new bedding at Target that I thought was perfect for Zoe. I hadn't made up my mind about making a headboard yet, but found great wall decals that worked out perfect. Zoe loves it! Tonight is the first night, so we shall see how it goes!

Zoe's First Masterpiece

We went to Lakeshore to get a few things for the school year and it was craft time for kids, so Zoe went with Wendy to create a masterpiece and Mommy and Daddy did some shopping. She told Wendy where to put the glue and she did the rest. Our own little Picasso! Needless to say, we are so proud of her first art piece that it is hanging proudly in our front hall.