Our Little Peanut

We're in Indiana to celebrate Zoe's first birthday with Grammy, Grandpa, MeMaw, and PawPaw. Uncle Tim drove up for the party, and of course Aunt Nats, Uncle Bret, Evan, and Gracie came over. Uncle Phil is in between rotations, so he's here as well to help celebrate Zoe's birthday (this time he won't miss it!).

Mom did a great job planning everything, printing off pictures, organizing decorations, and making Zoe's very special baby cake. The cake was a healthy carrot cake made with pureed carrots, applesauce, whole wheat flour and wheat germ :-) Zoe is loving all the attention, the dogs, and the big kids that are running around. Much more exciting than Mom and Dad on a daily basis.

It's hard to believe our little peanut isn't such a little peanut anymore (little Gracie makes that really apparent). Looking back through all her pictures and videos is quite a trip. Last we checked, we just came home from the hospital with our sweet little package, then she's lifting her head up, decides it's time to start rolling over, figures out there's more toys available if she crawls to them, and then one day, makes up her mind that walking is where the party is at. Our little peanut has made the past year one of Mommy and Daddy's most memorable. We can't wait for what this next year will bring.

Happy Birthday Zoe! We love you!

My Stuffed Animals

Zoe has quite a few stuffed animals that get toted about the house. She's pretty funny with them: there's sweet hugs, bodyslams, dragging by the limbs, stuffing into her stroller, and giving kisses (or chewing on their noses, however you want to view it). Frankie is still her favorite, but Daddy is pushing hard for Alfie. I'm getting vetoed, though, because he has stitched on eyes. Paranoia is a hard one to win.

I like to call the Abby doll, buttcrack Abby...
Seriously, it's kind of funny that they would actually put a little butt on the doll and then give her what amounts to a thong for diaper. Just makes me laugh...

I Love Beets

PawPaw thought we were cruel giving Zoe beets, but she loves them as you can see. As for Daddy, this gives him hives (the beets as well as the mess) and has to take a deep breath and go in the other room. Mommy tends to be on feeding duty for the 'feed yourself' sessions.

More Beach

Over the long holiday for the 4th of July, we trekked down to Santa Cruz for another day at the beach, this time with Uncle Mark, Aunt Amy, and all the girls. We had a perfect day again and Zoe loved every minute of it. You could tell it was a good day because our companions stayed for almost 3 hours (well past their beach curfew for any of you who know them).

Zoe is a California baby, not that there was any doubt. She takes off running as far as she can into the water and loves to walk along the beach. She had a ball watching the big girls run in and out of the water as the waves crash in. She's ready for some beach time with her Grandpa as well because she loves to be out in the sun and not under the umbrella.