Oh, hello.

So it's been awhile, huh? We'll try not to let such a large gap in updates happen again.

It'd be impossible to cover the last month and a half in one post, so let me just bring everyone up to date on where Zoey is now. She's doing AWESOME. Her hands are hers to control now. Z's able to spot an object, grab for it, hold it, and manipulate it. She can roll from front to back, and back to front (almost - she gets stuck about 3/4 of the way through the roll, but it still counts!), sit with her head steady, "talk" with people (in coos, gurgles, and rasps), and of course, smile and laugh all day long.

She's still tiny (10 lbs, 10 oz at her 4 month check up last week), but she's got a huge personality, so we mainly forget about her petite frame until we notice she's still wearing mostly 0-3 clothes.

Enjoy the slide shows above (they are from mid January through yesterday, from top to bottom), and please accept our apologies for the tardiness of the updates!

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Gimme gimme gimme.

Zoey has discovered the joy of grabbing things. Plastic rings, blankets, daddy's shirt, mommy's necklace, her little monkey toy. Sometimes, however, she seems to have forgotten that she's holding the object, and so Miss Monkey Toy finds herself suffering a wild, long ride. Whatever, we laugh, and I don't think the monkey is one for revenge.

Zoey has almost outgrown her 0-3 size clothes, so El and I are experiencing that first heartbreak of all new parents: saying goodbye to Z's first clothes. We've waived goodbye to pink reindeer and purple owls and a couple of others. But, as is the case with all things in life, as we say goodbye to some stuff, we say hello to others. Green frogs and blue bears are making their first appearances, and El and I will learn to adjust to these new friends. As for Zoey? She's just happy to have the leg room. Pure pragmatist, our little daughter.

We've been taking Zoey out to eat these last two weeks, and the girl may just have a career as a culinary critic (she can ask her great-grandmother for advice). She's been out for cafe-food, diner fare, sushi, and a smattering of other cuisine. Zoey is mellow as always, eagerly looking around but never really fussing. We've made sure to go places early where there won't be much of a crowd, and the staff inevitably falls in love with the little one. Maybe I should start taking her to the bar to try and score a free bourbon? Hmm.

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Rock and Roll

Zoey Wren is officially mobile and agile...she had her first roll! From front to back, with squeals and giggles to accompany the topsy-turvy joy of her first flip. She's repeated this exciting new talent more than once, and we even caught one on video (to be posted in a few days).

I started work this past Friday, and it's been quite an adjustment, for me and El more so than Z. Friday was the first time I'd been away from Z for longer than a couple of hours, and needless to say, I miss her more than a little when I'm away. Don't get me wrong, a paycheck is nice, but after spending 24 hours a day for three months with my little cutie, being away for 12 or so hours is tough. Thank goodness for camera phones! El's dealing with flying solo during the day, and having to handle the night feedings on her own, too. We'll survive just like every other couple who isn't named Rockerfeller or Trump, but if the updates to the Garden are a little less frequent, please bear with us.

Zoey's doing awesome, cooing and chirping with more force and determination each day. She's sitting in her Bumbo (the blue chair with the pommel in the pictures above), and grabbing our hands and fingers with her own. She's also discovered the primal joy of kicking things: her swing toys, the sides of her pack-and-play, her daddy's belly...you know, whatever is at hand (or foot, more accurately). Little Sweet Pea is really sprouting.

Thanks for your patience with the tardy updates. I hope everyone had and has a great New Year!

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Doggies and Chandeliers

Zoey definitely loves her grandpas here in NC, but I think she'd rebel if we took away her new best friends - Gracie (the golden retriever in the pics above) and the light above the kitchen table. She can't get enough of either.

I can't say Zoey has "adjusted" to being down in NC, because she never was "unadjusted"; she just kept on doing her Zoey thing the whole time through. She's been a smiling, giggling, squirmy little bundle. The only difference for Z, and somewhat big news, is that she's graduated out of newborn size diapers. Bring on the size 1s!

Ellyn, Zoey and I would like to wish hearty congratulations to our friends Brian and Deb on the birth of their second daughter, Willow Eva, just yesterday. Zoey's going to have a great posse to run with, as soon as she, uh, can run. =)

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