Zoey's First BBQ

Well Zoey was a big hit at her first BBQ. Everyone enjoyed meeting her and everyone loves her little cheeks!! For all of you that don't know we have an annual BBQ at my Mom and Ed's House so that we can see everyone. It's really difficult to drive and see everyone that we would like to see. This years turnout was a not up to scratch but I kind of expected that since it was a holiday weekend. Zoey was happy to see everyone that was able to come! Unfortunately Zoey didn't get to taste all of the yummy food! Ciara and I made this amazing peanut butter pudding with Oreo cookie, peanut butter, snickers, cream cheese and chocolate pudding!(MMmmmmm I'm hungry just thinking about it! Although it wasn't too great for the ole diet!) Other than passing Zoey around like she was a thanksgiving side dish we watched all of the crazy kids swim!! It was only 76 degrees in the pool a bit too cool for my taste but they sure didn't seem to mind! Well only two more blogs about the rest of our trip and you'll be all caught up on our adventures in Michigan! I've included a few pictures of family and friends that met Miss Zoey. The first two pictures are some of my first cousins on my mom's side, then my Aunt Betty on my dad's side, the next is my best friend's Dad(Buzz), then my brother Jason's girlfriend Debbie and then my middle brother Jason (See any resemblance) Well that's all for today! Stay tuned for Memorial day!!

Cuzzie Wuzzies II

So Saturday went well for all of us! Like I said in the last post my niece and nephew were going to spend the night. We spent the majority of the day outside trying to finish up some last minute things before the BBQ on Sunday. The kids were so helpful! Ciara mowed my parents very large lawn while Jake, Zoey and I did some gardening! It was great! Other than working all day the kids and I took a 3.5 mile walk down the road. Zoey stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa and took a nap. After that we all took a ride into town to see the Vietnam memorial traveling wall. A replica of the original wall in Washington DC. It was pretty amazing! Zoey really seemed to enjoy her cousins visit! Here are a couple of pictures of them!

The Visit!

Well our vacation is coming to an end. Everyday has been adventure packed and Friday was no exception! Paul's Aunt Sandy and Uncle Paul took the scenic drive from Ann Arbor Michigan to Olivet Michigan to see Zoey and I. It was a wonderful visit we caught up on the happenings in our lives and then when Zoey woke up she was the entertainment for the rest of the time. Aunt Sandy really seemed to enjoy Zoey's Coos, grunts and smiles. Not only do I see a lot of resemblance between Paul and Zoey physically but personality wise as well! Now I'm sure you are all wondering how I can tell at 4 months that Zoey is gonna be her Daddy's mini me but I can just see it in her smile! She is a happy go lucky kind of kid!! Just like my Paulie!! One of the many reasons I feel in love with him! After our visit with Aunt Sandy and Uncle Paul we all took a little rest and then my mom and I took Zoey shopping to get ready for our BBQ on Sunday! Well today should be an interesting day my niece and nephew Ciara and Jake are spending the night so I am sure we will have some stories to tell about that !)

Cuzzy wuzzies and Uncle Troy too!

Wednesday was a super busy day too!! It started off as a pretty cold day so we had to bundle Miss Zoey up but as the day went on we had to take off some layers. We spent the first half of the day helping my mom planting flowers. Well Zoey helped by taking a nap which was pretty helpful! After the flower planting we got cleaned up and went to see my dad AKA Grandpa Bill(To Zoey that is). We took him out to dinner at a little place called the Robins Nest then we took a long drive over to my brother Troy's house to visit him and his kids Ciara and Jacob. Jake didn't want his picture taken but we managed to get one shot that was ok. Hopefully we can get some better ones when they come over to spend the night this weekend!! He's getting to the age that it's more fun to be difficult that to go along with what everyone wants so we'll see!!

It's raining it's pouring it's showers Adoring

So Sunday was another happy day for little miss Zo and I! My Mom and my best friend Jenna threw us a welcome home Zoey shower. We are so blessed to have so many people shower us with love and such beautiful gifts!! I think Zoey is going to be the best dressed baby in Las Vegas! It was so wonderful that so many people got to finally meet Zoey. She was passed around from person to person with hugs and kisses from all! We are such lucky girls to have such wonderful people in our life! I've included a few pictures from the shower!! Stay tuned for our next blog about "Zoey meets the cousins and Uncle Troy"

empty space...covered in babyiness

Oh my, the stuff. The baby stuff. Everywhere. Colored tent with no sides, swingy seat, Bumbo, squeaky toys, battery operated fuzzy toys, toys for biting and bending, pajamas, coats, socks that do and don’t look like shoes, amusing hats with bunny ears, onesies, twosies, quilts, both store bought and handmade, books - some still in the plastic, rattles, pacifiers, cleaning supplies, lotions, bathtubs, formula, bottles, both small and large, extra diapers — plus of course, there’s the stuff belonging to us that has been displaced or disused as a result of the occupying baby’s needs. It is a scene, man, I can assure you. And there’s not an iota of blame to place on the actual baby; it’s all us. And somehow it fits all in the front room of the house. Heather should never of gone on vacation, she will not like how I redecorated. Perhaps she will think twice before she takes my daughter for two weeks without me.

TGIF

Well Friday was a crazy busy day!! We spent the day on the road visiting here, there and everywhere. First we went to the Hair Shop to meet with Pat. I have know Pat since I was born! She is one of the few people that has ever done my hair. Zoey was in great spirits and was watching me get my hair cut and dyed. When she decided that she had enough we took her upstairs where she was hypnotized to sleep by the ceiling fan. After a nice long nap I took her out to my Dad’s farm to meet him and My brother Jason's girlfriend Debbie. It was just a quick visit but it went great! My dad had a good time with her but was a little too intimidated to hold her. Maybe next time! After that we drove to Lansing to have dinner with Pat and her husband Bob. From there I left Zoey with my parents to have a girls weekend out with all of my friends from High School! It was a little sad to leave her but we all had a great time and it was a much needed break for me! When I got back home I felt refreshed and ready to play with my sweet little Angel! I have included a picture of our girl’s night out and us thoroughly enjoying it! (After all you must be tired of pictures of my cute kid !)

Zoey's Trip to Michigan

Garage Sale Mania!

Well I know everyone has been patiently awaiting the next post!! Little Zoey and I have been oh so busy so I am going to make a valiant effort to catch you up on the happenings in Michigan. My Mom, Great Aunt Charlotte, Zoey and I went to the City wide garage sales in Charlotte on Thursday. Now some people may scoff at the thought of their child wearing second hand clothes but it's my favorite thing to do! I am pretty particular about the things I buy so people don't know unless you tell them! I absolutely love a good deal!! Zoey learned first hand what a shopper her Grandma and Great Aunt can be! We started out at 7:30 am and met up with Zoey and Grandpa Ed at about 11 and continued on until 5pm!! Wow it was a long day to say the least!! I must commend my little daughter!! She was such a little trooper and was very well behaved!! Well now on to the exciting part!! What we bought! The very first garage sale we hit we majorly scored!! This young girl had twin girls and tons of perfect clothes and shoes! Among the deals we scored a pair of pink cowboy boots for a quarter!! Now I thought to myself what girl couldn't use a pair of pink cowboy boots!! I have included a picture of the steal of a deal! Now it will be quite a while until lil Zo will be wearing them for real but I just couldn't resist putting them on and snapping a picture!!

Dia Uno

Well today was our first day in the big town of Olivet! Zoey and I started off the day bright and early at 10:30am well maybe not so bright and early here but our normal wakeup time at home 7:30am. We headed into town to the restaurant that my mom works at to show off Zoey. Then we went to my best friend Jenna's house to visit! The pictures I have posted here are of her visit the Kingsbury family well all but Shannon! She'll meet him soon! I think that Seth and Blake enjoyed their visit and I know Auntie Jenna definitely did!!

Fantastic Voyage

Well I am excited to report that Zoey and I made it to Michigan with only a few minor setbacks! I am happy to say that Miss Zoey was a well behaved little girl on her very first plan ride! She only fussed a few times and then was fast asleep in her favorite sling. Northwest put a little glitch in my plans for a smooth layover. We were delayed for an hour and a half but other than that it was pretty smooth. The only other thing was my mom and stepdad were a little confused on landing time with the delay but luckily the airport is only a half hour away. We made it to Olivet about 1:30 am. Needless to say we were both spent by the time that we hit the hay at 2:30am. Well with any luck the trip home will be as calm for my lil Zo!!

This could be me....

Man jailed when daughter fails to get diploma



A man ordered by a judge to make sure his daughter hit the books has found himself in jail because she failed to earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Brian Gegner, of Fairfield, was sentenced last week to 180 days in jail for contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a minor.

He was ordered months ago to make sure his 18-year-old daughter Brittany Gegner, who has a history of truancy, received her GED — something that hasn’t happened yet.

“Brittany is almost 19 years old now and I think it’s unfair to put her father in jail,” said Shana Roach. “She’s an adult now, and it’s not right to rip an innocent man from his home.”

Credit : Dvorak Uncensored and AP

A new way to roll

Who thinks we should get this for Zoey?

Credit: Boingboing and Gizmodo

Off to Michigan

Heather and Zoey just took off to Michigan to visit friends and relatives. I am sad, but happy that everybody will see the cutie Zoey. So the blog, hopefully will keep going, I have a few pictures here and there and some stories, but Heather has Zoey and the camera. I doubt most of you want to see pictures of me dressing up Cruzer in little pink bibs, or Cassie in purple and white pants, but it might just come to that. Only time will tell.

Mother of a day...

Yesterday was my first mother's day and it was good. I woke up and hung out near my Mom most of the day. Dad was there too. He is a good guy. He helped me pick out a kick-ass necklace for Mom and helped me wrap it, I picked out the box and tape though. Mom just loved it, it looks like me, but in white gold, she likes white gold. Then we went to my grandma's house. We brought the dogs, Cassie tried to sit on me but Mom helped me. When we got there, I was super tired from the long drive that I had to take a nap for a little bit. My cousin, Izzy woke me up. She is silly and likes to play with my toys too. My Mom took a picture of us playing. My Aunt and Uncle were there too, having fun. After I ate, I went outside and then got tired again and when I woke up I was at home. Now I am writing this. I think I am going somewhere soon, Mom keeps putting my clothes in a bag and then takes them out again, then puts them in again. I am not sure what is going on. I just hope that I can play with my Einstein musical toy today. Now I am hungry and sleepy. I have to go and let Mom know how I feel... Waaaaaaahhhhh....Wahhhhaaaaaahhhh.

Morning Giggle

I think we have rounded a corner. Zoey is 4 months and 4 days old today and I think she has matured more in the last few days then she has…well…ever. When I wake up in the morning I can hear her cooing in her crib, she is awake and waiting for me to come in and get her. She is happy, smiling and content. I have no idea if she has been awake for a few minutes or a few hours, but she is pleased to hang out alone knowing I will be there to pick her up and say good morning to her. She smiles when I come in the room, not just a little smile, but a smile so big and animated that you would think I have been gone for days. She is overjoyed to see me, and can barely hold in her exuberance with the anticipation of being picked up. She squirms, squeaks and kicks her feet so hard, that it makes me laugh. After a few minutes of talking to her and squeezing her, I bring her to Heather, where the entire process is repeated, but it is hard to tell who likes who more, Heather or Zoey! I have to say that Heather is very lucky to have us.

So, I go to work and I can’t stop thinking about the two of them hanging out and building a bond that will last a lifetime. I am jealous…envious too, and I hope that I can share the strong connection that Heather has with Zoey now. I never thought I could love two people as much as I love the two women in my life.

Baby Babble

Well here is a little clip of Zoey talking away!! Enjoy.

Shots and More!

Well I am happy to say that we made it through the check-up/shots. It's a heartbreaking site to see your little one be stabbed in the leg not one, two or even three times but a whopping four times! She got pretty mad after the first two and was kicking and screaming as the nurse was sticking the needles in like she was a voodoo doll. Oh so sad :( I made Paul hold her while all that was going on so I could be the consoler. I'm just too much of a softy to make my poor little one scream like that. Alas it is for her own good! We don't want her to go catchin polio or any of those other crazy things we vaccinate against! Anyways... On to the fun stuff! She was weighed and measured today too. She's 15lbs 1 oz, 25 1/2 inches long and her head circumference was 16 1/4. Now I was a bit worried that my kid had a giant head considering it grew an inch and 1/4 since the last checkup but she falls in the 50th percentile for her age. So it's perfectly normal. Her length and weight both fall in the 75th percentile. Other than we asked the Doc our usual 5 million and 1 questions. For example I asked
" If I bounce Zoey on my knee I'm not going to hurt her or anything am I??" I know what you might be thinking but you don't know the things that people say to you when you have a kid!!! Such as if you bounce her like that her brains might rattle or you're going to hurt her spine or her parts aren't all attached yet so don't do that. It makes you feel like a bad parent!! Like I'm going to give her shaken baby syndrome or something! So I just had to ask the expert! The Doc said of course not bounce away as long as she likes it go for it!! Ha ha I knew I wasn't crazy! Well... maybe not in that particular area anyway :P So I guess that's all the news I have for today!! Maybe tomorrow we'll have a fun video of Miss Zoey!! Till then Good night!

Shots and awe.

Check-up time. Zoey, Heather and I will be going to the doctor today. It is just a simple check-up, but they will give her a few shots. This will not be fun, last time, she cried a bunch and it was super sad. We will keep you posted.

120

That's the number of days old our baby girl is today!! I can't believe how fast the time flies!! She is conquering new feats everyday!! So far she is able to take toys and put them in her mouth, put her hands together, look at you when you call her name, squeals with delight and sits up in her bumbo seat! For all of you not in tuned to the baby world I'll post a picture of the bumbo for you! It's a cool little invention that someone came up with that allows infants to sit up much sooner than they normally could. I know what your thinking about all of the things I have mentioned "Wow these people are crazy thinking those things are amazing." Call me what you will but this is like our own little scientific experiment! If you know Paul and I you might understand how exciting this little experiment is for us!!! Not that Zoey is a lab rat but it's still pretty cool!

TGIF

Well this has been an especially exciting week for Zoey and I! As most of you know we took our first road trip together! Which I am sure will be the first of many! We drove to Goodyear Arizona to see one of my very best friends Tina and her family! It was a 4 1/2 hour drive through the desert. She slept most of the way there and all the way back! It was a nice experiment before our 4 hour plane ride to Michigan. We had a great time with all of them. It's nice to be home with our Paulie now though!
Last night we had one of our friends Darrin over for dinner. He and his lovely wife Melanie live in Missouri so we don't get to see them too often. When we do see them it's very energizing!! Darrin is one of those people that just makes you feel happy!! As he was h0lding Zoey I could tell she felt the same way! As he was talking to her she was smiling and cooing right back at him! It was a great first visit for them! Darrin bought us a book called Parenting with Love and Logic. I started reading it last night and it seems like a great book! I can't wait to finish it and report how it is!! So stay tuned. Thanks Darrin!

Uno de Mayo

My sweeties are back and better than before! Zoey is able to look at me with intent, not like before, when she glanced at me it was because her head randomly turned toward me. I can call her and she will turn her head right at me and smile. Now, I know what you are thinking, my dog does that, and it is true, my dog does that too. But she never did. I don't think she knew that the body that she is in is hers, that is until today. I am going to get a video of this (not so) miraculous feat and show it off to the world. If you are a dad or a mom, you might remember what this was all about. I think I can start teaching her stuff now. The big question is what? Stay tuned.

Paul.