The Adventures of Zoey

Halloween 2010 Video - Las Vegas Springs Preserve

2010-10-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4I-fC9Oths

Potty Training

2010-02-25T18:00:00.001-08:00

Well I thought that we were making some head way with the whole potty training thing. Now this involves no diaper or "big" girl panties just a bare butt. Little did I know that my tiny decided that she would just go out the dog door and pee like the dogs! Nice! I thought that only boys did that! Geez!

Our time at Long Beach

2009-11-20T14:41:00.000-08:00

Zoey singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

2009-11-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

Zoey has begun singing. The only way I can tell is that she gets quite, and talks in a super high pitched voice. Here is a video that sort of demonstrates what she is doing. It is silly cute!!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

Well Zoey was protesting her Princess Leia Costume so for a Kitty. First we went to Bonnie Springs which is a little petting Zoo near Red Rock and then we went trunk or treating at the Church near Paul's Parents. It was nice they had little games and a jump house and then you went trick or treating in the parking lot. Sounded a little scary to me. I mean anything that involves trunks and small children sounds fishy to me but to my surprise it was safe and well lit. We hope you all had a great Halloween.

The Potty

2009-10-22T12:13:00.000-07:00

Well just to let you all know. Zoey finally went Poop on the potty. I didn' think that I ever write those words but we are super stoked. Not to say that the official training has begun but she sits on the potty at least once a day now. Yeah for Zoey!! Well and for us too of course!

Zoey at the Lied Discovery Museum

2009-10-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

Today Heather and Zoey took a trip to the Lied Discovery Museum From the picture, it is easy to see that it was all fun and games!

Off to the circus!

2009-10-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well we have determined that Zo just might be a little dare devil just like her mom. I have jumped down from two story Barns into sheep wool (age 8), out of planes, climbed narrow ledges, ridden the fastest highest roller coasters in the world and many other things that could have resulted in death (we'll spare those details for my mom). Zoey was ready to get on all of the rides at the circus circus. One tiny problem she's 1 1/2 and 30". So for now she"ll have to settle for the clown car.

Super Cheese

2009-09-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a trip to Michigan, for a wedding. From the look on Zoey's face, you can tell she was having fun! This was taken just before she started to "dance" to Michael Jackson's old music. When I say dance, I really mean, spin around and then pause, crouch down, then jump as hard as she can, getting about 1-2 inches off the ground. There was the occasional slip and fall, but that just made her happier! I am glad she got her awesome dance moves from her dad! It's all good! :)

20 month old pictures

2009-09-24T13:22:00.001-07:00

Back in Las Vegas

2009-09-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

It has been a while but we have been very busy. We just got back from Michigan and had a good time, but are happy to be back in Las Vegas. Here are some pictures that I think you all might like.

So long, farewell.

2009-08-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

Most of you know our roomate Deb! She's embarking on a
6 month journey to Idaho to be with Family. We wish her well on her adventure! She was a wonderful help to us all. As you can see she and Zo got along famously. Sitting on their exercise balls together was not the only thing Zoey did to show her admiration. She could often be observed putting on lipstuff(or bips as she calls it), sporting Deb's jewelry, hats or anything else that she could find. Anything Deb she was all about! Well we sure will miss her and look forward to her return to Vegas. Thanks Deb! We all love you and hope that you know that we are here for you if you need anything :)

Zoey Swims 2009

2009-07-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

Well today was our last day for swimming lessons. Zoey really seemed to enjoy her time with Miss Lisa. Much to my surprise they got her to wear googles and flippers! Well the flippers I'm not that shocked about since the kid is addicted to shoes for the moment but the goggles definitely. Here's a great picture of her underwater holding her breathe and everything. Hopefully we can keep up with the blog better in the coming months. Stay tuned. Love to all!

Hide and Peek

2009-04-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Zoey's new game is playing hiding and peek with us. We love playing with her she's so animated now. Her little personality is really starting to show.

Easter Wishes

2009-04-16T04:16:00.000-07:00

I'm sure most of you have seen early pictures of our sweet little niece Isabella aka Izzy but here is their Easter picture from this year. We hope that Izzy and Zoey become good friends not just family. We hope you all had a great Easter. Lots of Love. The Blonskys

Sneak a Peek

2009-04-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

Well Zo decided that she needed to have a peek of Daddy's desk. So she climbed on the plant table to check it out! What did she find but some tasty M&M's. Sneaky little girl.

Every Little Step She Takes

2009-03-07T01:34:00.000-08:00

Well as most of you might know our little Zoey is in the toddling stage of life right now and I must admit it's harder than I could have imagined for me. With every little step she takes I have two feelings one is to be proud at how far she has come and the next is horror at what bump bruise or gash will come next! She has definitely inherited a few of my traits one is clumsiness and another is instant anger in the face of pain. I never thought that I would be the mother to shriek in horror every time my child falls. It's a pain I never thought that I could experience. Well lets just say I was wrong!! She took a head dive into a corner of a table the other day as she casually walked by her favorite dog food dish. As I picked her up all I could think is which hospital should I take her to and should I wait for Paul to get home. I'm not sure how we escaped that with an indent in her eyebrow and a fish flopping tantrum but we did. Now everyday she takes these spills and I try to watch with an observant eye but my whole body just tenses up as I she her take a nose dive into the Ottoman or a slip and fall from her favorite puddle of dog dish water and before I know it I let out a gasp and she's crying, bleeding or bruised. Now every mother assures me that she'll be just fine. At this point I'm not sure how many head traumas she can endure or how many near heart attacks I can handle. We are looking into a few options at this point. One is a helmet (with a face guard of course you know like a hockey helmet), a baby bubble or just invest in whole house padding. What do you think?

15 minutes of fame...

2009-02-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

Here is the commercial that Zoey and Heather did a few months ago.

Video can be found at: http://bottlegenieinc.com/

Crafty Critter

2009-01-30T16:24:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure how well many of you know me. I'm an exotic blend of many talents. None the less this was my week to let Martha out to do some crafty time. I decided that I wanted to redecorate Zo's room in little Stick figure Princess Fairies and Butterflies. Very Girlie! So we have these great wall stickers to help dress up her tan walls and I decided that I would make a mobile for her to look at during changing time. It turned out pretty cute although it took a lot more time than I thought it would. I know I can shock and amaze you all at times!

That's not oreo cookie on your face. Is it?

2009-01-30T16:16:00.000-08:00

Well I figure that the best way for Zoey to learn those life lessons is to dive in head first. Of course within reason that is. How does that ole' saying go..... "A little dirt never hurt." I guess that's what was going through Zoey's little head at the time too. She discovered that dirt might not hurt but it sure didn't taste that great either! Yuck!

Zoey the Escape artist

2009-01-27T09:32:00.001-08:00

Zoey's First Birthday

2009-01-21T17:30:00.001-08:00

Thanks all around!

2009-01-03T08:35:00.000-08:00

Well we've made it back from our month long trip to Michigan. W e had such a great time and enjoyed visiting with everyone. Thanks to everyone for making our trip so enjoyable. Especially my Mom and Ed they were so generous to put up with us that long! Although we were sad to leave our loved ones we are relieved to be home!

Brrrr.

2008-12-21T21:38:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Washin up!

2008-12-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

Well I thought that we had ended the battle with the dog food dish and the water! I was wrong. Grandma must have the best dog water in Michigan because Zoey just won't leave those dishes alone! She must be looking for the fountain of youth or something! She loves to dump out the water and then swish her hands through them making the mess even better. Well needless to say Grandmas going to have the cleanest floor in town by the time we leave! At least it's only water!

Dashing through the snow

2008-12-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

Well inspite of the temperature being 25 degrees we bundled up and took Zoey out to enjoy the winter wonderland! We went sledding down the little hill and pulled her around the yard! She thoroughly inspected all the snow. She loved it!

Wearing out Grandma

2008-12-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

Well we've been here for 3 and a half days and I think Zoey has already worn grandma out! I came home from the gym to find the two of them like this! We'd better let Grandma rest tomorrow if she's gonna last the rest of the month!

30 seems so old!

2008-11-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

Well as most of you know Zoey's Mama has turned 30! As sad as this makes me it is still cause for celebration. I have always enjoyed my birthday and this year was no exception. Paul planned a "surprise" trip to the Grand Canyon. I had never been there so it was a wonderful experience. We stayed on the rim of the canyon in a rustic little cabin that was just yards away from the canyon walking trail. The perfect plan in my opinion!
Now most of you will ask "what did they do with Zoey". Did she go? Did she stay? Now that she has mastered eating and drinking with Cassie and Cruzer (as you'll see from the posted picture)it was tempting to just leave her home. But we decided it was a better idea to take her to Grandma and Grandpa Blonsky's house. They all had a blast together!

Zoey's First music video

2008-10-22T13:52:00.001-07:00

Enjoy!

Teaching the new Dog tricks!

2008-10-17T15:56:00.001-07:00

Well one more thing to add to the list of accomplishments for our little Lala! Although she didn't come up with this one on her own she had some lessons from her ole pal Cassie. She's started carrying her toys in her mouth while she's crawling. I wonder what Cassie will teach her next?

Steal of a Deal

2008-10-16T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well Zoey and I scored a fantastic deal on plane tickets ($65 round trip)so we are headed off to Michigan tonight! So this will be her 3rd trip there this year. Of course we will be as busy as ever so we'll have lots of new stories to tell! Hopefully something a bit more exciting that what we have been up to lately! Stay tuned!

Our little Sweetheart!

2008-10-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

My Favorite thing...

2008-10-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

Well I have decided that I am officially in love with that little girl we call Lala Zo Monster! Yesterday was the sweetest moment ever. Paul,Michael(Paul's Brother), Tami(Paul's Sister), Rob(Tami's Husband) and I decided that we needed dinner out as adults so we took Zoey and Isabella to the grandparents. When we came back Tami beat us there and was holding Zoey. She had some tears on her face and she didn't look very happy! Well as soon as she saw me and I said hi to her she lit up like a Christmas tree and her arms were flapping up and down and her feet were kicking!! It made my heart melt!! Everyone together now... Aaawwwwe. It's nice to know you are appreciated sometimes!

My Daddy's gonna be president!!

2008-09-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

The race.

Click on words The Race and you can see the great commercial for Paul's Presidential Campaign.

Zoey Cole aka Lala

2008-09-26T08:23:00.001-07:00

Well since Zoey was born I don't know if she's been called by her given name since. We've come up with several knick names for her. For example Monster, Zozo, Monkey and many others. The latest is Lala. As most proud parents go you come to realize that your child may just be the most genious little one put on this earth! While we have come to realize that Zoey is very intelligent she is also little bit spacey. She will zone out and just stare off into Lala land hence the new name Lala. Hmmmm wonder where she gets that from!

Saving money while raising a child

2008-09-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Well we have found yet another ingenious way to save money raising our little bundle of joy. With the total cost of raising her until the ripe old age of 22 being just over a quarter million dollars. We are hoping to shave off at least $25,000 with the new plan. She sure doesn't seem to mind.

World cardboard box racing champion

2008-09-17T21:16:00.001-07:00

Well I am pretty sure that Zoey has enjoyed her newest adventure with Grandma! They decided that it would be great fun to ride around in a cardboard box. As you can tell Zoey had a great time! I think Grandma had the most fun! Check out the video!

Lala's first tooth!!

2008-09-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

Well here is an extreme close up of Lala's first tooth. Man did that take for ever! I can't believe she's been teething for 5 months and that's all we've got! We'll see how long the next one takes!!

Grandma is Here!

2008-09-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

Well we had a surprise visit by my mom from Michigan! She got in last night. I am so excited she is here! We are going to have such a wonderful visit!! Zoey was so excited to see her this morning when she woke up! We'll fill you in on our adventures!!

Zoey's 15 minutes of fame

2008-08-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many of our blog fans know that Zoey and I are famous. Well maybe not quite famous but we are on a website advertisement for the Bottle Genie! It's a bottle holder and it works pretty slick! Check it out! It makes a great gift for any new mom!! www.bottlegenieinc.com

Grandpa is gone?

2008-08-21T09:49:00.001-07:00

Well I took none of my co-workers advice and used a hair product to make me look younger. She told me not to do it, for sure not to do it before an important event like a wedding, and certainly don't do it if they don't have the right color. So later that night, I went to Wal-Mart and bought a chestnut (not the correct color) wash-in hair color, two days before my wife's best friend's wedding. Not a good idea. Long story short, after I put the reddish-brown gel on my grey head, I knew something was wrong. It looked way too red. My white hair was red, well more of a pinkish red to be exact. Good thing it only lasted about a week, just long enough for my Aunts and Uncles, In-Laws, friends, and about 100 other friends to see my new look.

Now that I am back to work, things are normal again, grey haired old man with not a drop of pink in sight.

Michigan Adventures Part II

2008-08-08T04:25:00.001-07:00

We made it safe and sound to Michigan! We had a pretty good flight. Zoey made a lot of friends on the plane. She would peak over the seat and gaze at someone until they would acknowledge her and then she would light up at like a ray of sunshine. Her little personality is really starting to blossom! Stay tuned for our second addition of Michigan Adventures.

Leavin on a Jet Plane!

2008-08-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

Well for all of you that don't know Zoey and I are off to Michigan for 11 days! I am so excited yet just a little nervous! It's been since May that we were there! Zoey has changed by leaps and bounds since then! Everyone is just gonna love our little giggle monster!! She is getting to be so fun! Stayed tuned for our Michigan adventures!!

WTF

2008-08-04T10:44:00.001-07:00

Ok, so late last week, Heather decided to come and visit me at work. This is normal and I really enjoy seeing her and Zoey for lunch. We decided to go to the Student Union and say hello to some friends and new co-workers. Heather was waiting online at Starbucks and I was cooing to Zoey in her stroller. A young woman came up to me and smiled, something I have gotten used to, Zoey is super cute and a ham to boot. But what the woman said just made me want to scream. She said "she is so cute, she must be grandpa's little girl" I stopped what I was doing, looked at her, and looked for a few seconds more than a normal gaze. I think she understood her error, but I still said "yes, she is DADDY'S little girl". So I think it might be time for me to shave off my goatee and die my hair black.

7 Months

2008-07-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

Wow. Zoey. Stop growing. Just a short 30 weeks ago, you had no idea who we are; you never smelled food, saw color or even made a peep. Now, just 210 days later you know when I get home, when Mommy is making a bottle for you, scream when you drop your favorite toy, put anything and everything in your mouth. You even prefer things. You love eating your feet, smiling at anyone who looks at you and cry when we both leave your sight. You can even tell the difference between the dogs, you look at birds above your bed, and even get happy when I say the word "bath".

Amazing, simply amazing. You even know when things have gone out of style. We used to play a game every time you woke up. I would hold you up and have you touch your mobile above your changing table. You loved it. You would smile; struggle to grab the brightly colored paper cutouts of bottles, bibs and pacifiers. Each time you reached out, you would get better and better, grabbing something faster each time. Today, you stopped. I held you up, and you smiled, looked at the mobile and then looked at me, with a look in your eye, like you wanted to say "come on Dad, that was so 24 hours ago".

Today I realized that we are going to be in trouble, big trouble. You, Zoey will be strong willed, making up your mind and taking after Mommy, being stubborn with your decisions and never yielding to what you don’t want or like. I for one, think this is great, but man are we in for some trouble. Trouble I tell you.

The Mad Scientist!

2008-07-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

Well this wasn't the best picture out of the group but definitely the most interesting. Little Jensyn looks like her whistle doubles as a brain sucker and Zoey is just going along for the ride. Meanwhile Jensyn has this great look on her face like (in the evil scientist voice) "Ha Ha now I will be the most powerful baby alive!" The girls had a great time together. Zoey seems to be an observer. She just sits quietly and watches her little friends. I think she is going to be just like my Paulie. Sitting back and just taking the world all in! Smart kid!!

Synchronized swimming singles champion!

2008-07-23T20:14:00.000-07:00

Well I think that Zoey has figured out another possibility for a career!! Well on second thought I guess there aren't any synchronized singles out there. Oh well I am still pretty amazed at what she's accomplished thus far in her swimming class! So far she has learned how to float (as seen in the picture), kick her feet, splash with her hands, go underwater(and suck up less water) and blow bubbles(oh I guess I do the bubble blowing she just looks at me like I'm Kookoo!)We have two more classes left so I may have some more updates on the champ but we'll see. Stay tuned for our visit with Miss Jensyn!

She sleeps like an angel!

2008-07-22T15:49:00.001-07:00

Well maybe not quite like an angel but maybe more like a small noisy animal! But none the less!! She sleeps! Plus it will be great footage to show to any future boyfriends!! Sorry Zo

Miss Hollywood

2008-07-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

Watch out Auntie Rachel Zoey is ready for Hollywood!! She's got her shades and she is ready to go!

Zoey's first facial

2008-07-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well I guess Zoey decided that she had waited long enough for her first facial! Hmmmm I guess she could be onto something. Banana, Rice and Apricot sounds like I nice refreshing combo! I wonder if it has any Anti-aging benefits! I just might have to give it a try!

Chatterbox Zo

2008-07-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

So I'm pretty sure that Zoey is going to be a talker just like me! She chatters nonstop now. I don't know if there will be another moment of silence in our house again! Poor Paul!

Me, My friends and I.

2008-07-09T00:29:00.001-07:00

So Zoey has already made some little friends. This picture is of her and her little friend Kayla. As you can see Zoey is a giant next to her even though Zoey is three weeks younger. She went to her 6 month check up yesterday and she is weighing in at a whopping 17lb 15oz. That puts her in the 90th percentile. Meaning that she is heavier than 90% of all of the babies her age! I guess we grow them big. Well back to Zoey’s little friend. This last time we got together was the first time that the girls actually noticed one another. Zoey sat in her exersaucer looking curiously at Kayla and Kayla was much more vocal and definitely excited to have a friend of her very own. It was pretty fun.

She swims like a fish.

2008-07-09T00:08:00.000-07:00

Well maybe not quite like a fish but maybe more like a piece of driftwood. Monday was the beginning of the baby and me swim class that I signed Zoey up for. She really seemed to enjoy the class. Well all except for the getting dunked under (I wouldn't call that enjoyment). She did great though and didn't seem to drink too much pool water. Paul took the first class with her while I manned the cameras. Not such a great idea since I forgot the memory for the video camera so we have an ultra short clip of her enjoying her swim.

Giggly giggly goo!

2008-07-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

Well this is the moment that I have been waiting for since the day that Zoey was born!! Watch and see!

Plane Crash at Mt. Charleston Nevada

2008-06-29T11:46:00.000-07:00

Here is the footage we took. Crazy stuff.

and another

Zoey's first Trip to Mt Charleston!

2008-06-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very eventful and tragic day. I thought it would be a great idea to get out of town and enjoy the scenic views and cool climate of Mt Charleston. Well little did we know that Zoey's first trip to the mountains would be so frightening! We decided to grab a bite to eat at The Lodge and enjoy the beautiful 80 degree weather. We were just finishing up lunch and commenting how great Zoey was all through lunch when we heard this little plane buzz by the lodge. We didn't really think much of it because there are always tourist planes in the area. All of the sudden there was an explosion and people were screaming to call 911! We jumped up to see what had happened and saw the billowing smoke coming from Mary Jane Falls. We immediately abandoned our plans of going for a leisurely stroll and got the heck out of there. Not knowing where the plane had crashed or how fast the fire would spread we decided that it would be a good idea to leave and not be stuck up there or worse! We drove down to the bottom of the mountain and pulled over at a rest stop to feed Zoey before getting back on the road. There must have been a hundred rescue vehicles passing by so we decided we had better get on the road. Well so far they know that there were 4 people aboard and no one survived. They were on their way to Byron California from the North Las Vegas Airport. The plane has started a 12 acre forest fire and the subdivision near by has been evacuated. They are hoping to have the fire contained by 6pm this evening as long at the winds don't kick up!

Zoey's First Bite

2008-06-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Well I have had so many requests for the video of Zoey's first bite that I just had to put it up! Up next will be Zoey and the Johnny Jumper. Enjoy!

Mikie Likes it!

2008-06-23T20:59:00.000-07:00

Well Mikie might have liked it (it being solid foods) but on the first pass Zoey didn't. Now when we are talking solid food you may think Mmmmm maybe some green beans cut up or maybe even a steak. Nooooo not even close! She got mushed up rice cereal with some milk mixed in! It reminds me of fish flakes or those instant mashed potatoes. Well whatever it was she didn't like it. She went from toothless grin to grimaced face of disgust! Pretty much what went in came immediately back out. I'm not sure I blame her! We got a video and many pictures of the event! Here's a great one of her in action!

Orchard Adventures

2008-06-20T15:33:00.001-07:00

Zoey and I enjoyed our Friday outing maybe not as much as being tossed off a building (Thanks for the insightful and cultural post Paul)but hey we still had a good time! We went to Gilcreas Orchard to pick some Zuchinni, Apricots and Apples with our friends Maddie and Charlotte. We had a great time even thought it was 104 degrees today! We all can't wait to go back again in a few weeks! The next time we go there should be a lot more to pick. It's still pretty early for most of the stuff! After our orchard adventure we stopped by the pottery studio that I used to throw at. It's totally changed. They remodeled the whole studio and built a huge wood fire kiln! I was so inspired to go back! I think maybe sometime this summer I might give it another try! I'll let you know how it goes! I've included a picture of Zoey taking care of some of the fruits and veggies that we picked!

Dropping Zoey - we put her on the list for this. We can't wait!

2008-06-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

Trust me with a baby?

2008-06-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at work, I decided to do a bit of rearranging. We received a few new pieces of equipment, expensive, delicate equipment. A few new monitors, a 42-inch plasma monitor, a new Mac pro, a new switcher, and a few other smaller items. The inventory people were supposed to come and tag all the new stuff, so I wanted the room to look good. I unpacked the equipment and put things where they were supposed to be. The monitor did not have a stand, so I decided to use the box it came with, not the entire box, just the bottom part, with the foam and cardboard. That should do it, right? Wrong. The now extremely heavy and large flat panel took on a mind of its own, did not like where I put it, and wanted to lye down, and it did. It bounced off the metal corner of the stand and then half sliding, half-bouncing to the ground. Surprisingly quite for a 100 pound plus piece of glass and metal. I guess it might have to do with the slow motion effect, when you know you just did something stupid, something you can’t undo.

Nevertheless, this did occur at work, it is not my brand new plasma (and it is still brand new) so I have some comfort in that. It would a scene out of a bad sitcom if it was mine and I tried to return it back to Best Buy. “Well, I just don’t like the way it fits in my house….and the shattered glass just doesn’t go with my décor.”

So how dose this relate to Zoey you ask? Well, I get that feeling that I am about to drop a plasma screen TV on its face almost every time I pick up the little girl. Now I have proven that bad things do happen, I just hope Zoey bounces more and doesn’t break when she slips out of my hands. When you get old enough to read this blog Zoey, please know that I don’t ever want to drop you, but if it happens, I am really sorry, I love you Zoey, after all, you are my bouncing baby girl!

Coochie and Coo and Zoey too!

2008-06-13T03:29:00.000-07:00

Well this week has been a fun week!! Zoey and I have been so busy playing and such that I have hardly had the time to write a blog. So it's pretty common for me to hear questions like "Is Zoey rolling over?" or better yet "Is she crawling around yet?" Hopefully not for quite a few months on the latter. I have a lot to get rid of and clean before that. For those of you not up to speed on her progress I'll fill you in on what she is doing and is trying to do. She is able to hold her head up and steady now so that's a step in the right direction. She had to get there before she can do a lot of things like for example eating solid foods like rice cereal. Essentially Mush in a bowl! Sounds yummy huh? We'll see. That's going to happen starting at 6 months (not quite yet). The things she is trying to master right now are laughing(almost there), rolling over from her belly to her back, snatching things from my hand and taking over the world! I used to be able to eat, put on makeup or take a drink all while holding her and she would sit idly by and let me do as I pleased. Now, it's like she is a tiger waiting to catch her prey. She will slowly move her head in the
direction object and then she makes her move to snatch up whatever it is I have. I think this is the first step in her plans to rule the world! Watch out world Zoey's on her way!

Cupcakes are just like babies.

2008-06-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

Heather made cupcakes yesterday. She was nice enough to make a few extra and leave them at home for dessert. They were the standard cake, narrow body and big on the top, like a muffin slathered with chocolate icing. I carefully took off the greenish-yellow bottom wrapper and placed mine on a small plate. I proceeded to pick it up and carry it into the living room with a glass of milk. As soon as I picked it up the top began to wobble and then tip. I was horrified, what have I done? I should have been more careful. You do not get a second chance at a cupcake.

That is when I realized that my Dad skills come in handy from time to time. I was able to jog my hand down, while leaning right and the cake wobbled back upright with little to no damage. To top it off, the milk that was in my left hand was still in my left hand, a bit shaken, but still there. I think that all the time trying to balance Zoey in one hand and a bottle in the other truly paid off. I am so happy to be a Dad.

Sidewalk Chalk, Swings and more!

2008-06-06T06:35:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday was an exciting day for us!! We had our little niece Isabella over. She was a little sweetheart! We kept very busy while she was here. I went to the dollar store and loaded up on Sidewalk chalk, Paper & Markers(Ooops they weren't washable! Sorry Tam! Bad Aunt Heather). After Craft time we all went to the park. Isabella sat in the jogging stroller and I carried sleepy little Zoey in the front pack! It was fun. Isabella went down the slide a few times, went on the swing and then we walked around a bit and observed the tennis players. I think Isabella had a great time and Zoey had an even better time napping in the stroller. Isabella walked most of the way back while holding onto some rings I had attached to the stroller (A little trick I learned from John and Kate Plus 8). Then it was time for Izzy to go home!! Here's a nice picture of the cousins. (Oh yeah and Cassie she decided to help!)

Happy Happy 5 month Birthday Baby!!

2008-06-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a short Video of Miss Zoey Talking away!! She tells a pretty good story!! Happy 5 Month Birthday Zo!

Swim swim swimmy!

2008-06-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sunday was the first day that we took Zoey swimming. She really seemed to like it. She was kicking her feet and relaxing in her floaty. Enjoy the video.

Last Hoorah!

2008-06-01T09:24:00.001-07:00

Well this is my last post about our trip! We had to be at the airport about 6am for our 7:20 flight out of Lansing Michigan. My mom and Ed were a huge help in checking us into the airport(Thanks Mom and Ed!). They stayed with us until we were ready to go through security!! It was great! While we were waiting I snapped a nice picture of the three of them!) We'll miss you guys! We had two flights one from Lansing to Minneapolis and one from Minneapolis to Vegas. Zoey was sleeping the entire first flight 1 hour and 15 mins and we scored an extra seat which was awesome! The second flight was 3 hours and she slept 2 hours and only got restless the last 15 mins. So I considered myself lucky!! I know the older she gets the harder it will be to have a peaceful flight! Sorry future flying companions!! We'll see where the next trip takes us!! Maybe New York!

Memorial Day

2008-06-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day is always a nice relaxing day. This year my mom, my Aunt Char, Zoey and I went to the cemetery where my grandparents(which Zoey "Cole" is named after.) and my Aunt are buried so we can spruce up their planters. After that we spent some time with our cousins Alizabeth and Alexandra! Zoey has lots of fun! After that we went to my cousin's Mark and Robyn from my Dad's side of the family. They have four kids Ashleigh, Nicole, Cameron and Garret plus two other cousins where there too Shelby and Zane. We took a lot of great picture of all the cousins! Check them out.

Zoey's First BBQ

2008-05-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-05-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-05-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

Garage Sale Mania!

2008-05-19T20:42:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

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....

2008-05-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-13T13:06:00.001-07:00

Who thinks we should get this for Zoey?

Credit: Boingboing and Gizmodo

Off to Michigan

2008-05-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-05-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-08T11:20:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

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

Shots and More!

2008-05-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-05-05T16:25:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

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.

Raking in the cash...this rocks HARD!

2008-04-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I want to thank all of you for making my day. You see, I signed into Google adsense and checked out my balance and I am almost 2 kicks richer! I have all of you to thank, I am not sure how it works, but I guess if people go to the site, or click on the ads, then I get more cash. All of the money I make here will go to a fund to put Zoey through college. Hopefully by the time she gets to college, text books will be 50 cents and tuition will be half that. Cross your finger for me and click away. Please tell your friends too.

Love you all!

Pulling heart strings...

2008-04-29T14:55:00.001-07:00

Zoey's first road trip!

2008-04-29T12:36:00.001-07:00

Well Zoey's first Road Trip has been a success thus far! It was a long drive but Zoey slept 98% of the way here!! It was great! We didn't have to stop once! I am hoping that the drive back will be as successful! We are here visiting my best friend Tina from Germany who just had a baby Girl Mia. I think by the time that we leave here Zoey will be fluent in German! Tina's Mom speaks German to all of us whether we understand or not. I think that Zoey understands more than I do but I try! It's been a such a fun trip that we are going to stay an extra day! We will get on the road tomorrow right after Zoey has her breakfast!! I am sure that Paul will be anxious to see us after he get's home from work! We miss and love him so much too!!

36 hours and no sap...

2008-04-29T08:42:00.001-07:00

It has been just about 36 hours since the last time I saw my daughter or my wife. I did not think I would miss them, you know, go home crack open a beer and walk around naked. But, that is not fun anymore. I miss the noise, the squeaking, the smelly diapers and the cute smile and flailing arms and legs. Some of them I miss more then others, of course. I never thought I would miss them both as much as I do, I guess little Zoey is getting to my heart. Oh, so sappy.

Little Zoey in Arizona

2008-04-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

Zoey's Triping...

2008-04-27T20:18:00.001-07:00

Zoey and Heather decided to go to Arizona today, leaving me behind to take care of the dogs. They got there ok, about 4 and a half hour drive from Vegas with little much a-do. Now, I am home alone, missing the random squeak and cry from my daughter. I am sure we will post pictures of her first trip out of the sate when she returns.

Video of Zoey in the studio

2008-04-24T10:25:00.001-07:00

Our not so sleeping beauty!

2008-04-24T04:25:00.000-07:00

Well after a good night sleep last night (9pm-6:30am) our little sleeping beauty decided she needed to be up at midnight and 3am tonight. Now it's almost 4:30am and everyone in the house is sleeping but me. I don't have too many restless nights. Usually my head hits the pillow and I am out like a light! One of the many traits I have gotten from my Mom!) (Thanks Mom!) Other than that Zoey is going to Grandma and Grandpa Blonsky's today while I go to the gym! So we may have a story about that tomorrow! I'm going back to bed now! Goodnight. Well maybe... Good morning!

Intellectual conversation

2008-04-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

For the first time, I talked to Zoey. Now, now, you probably think I am a horrable father, having this thing in the house for over three months and not saying a word to her. But that is not the case. Yesterday, when I got home, I did my usual thing and said hello to Cassie, Cruzer, Heather and Zoey. This time though, Zoey spoke back! I said hello, and she said waaahh, I said Whaaaha and she said Waaahh. Then I said whaooaaa, and she said Weeeaaa. This went back and forth for a good five or six exchanges. Now, I have no idea what I said, or for that matter what she was telling me, but it seemed to be a really funny story, as she could not hold back her smiling and silent laughing.

Next time, I have to record the conversation so I can ask her in a few years what the heck she was talking about.

Our Girl is growing up!!

2008-04-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

So we have had quite an exciting week thus far! The news of the week is Zoey is cutting teeth! Sniffle sniffle!! She's growing up so fast!! I can't believe that in just a few short weeks she'll be 4 months already!! We are having so much fun with our little Zo! As you can see from the picture on the left Zoey is sitting in her high chair! She is well on her way to eating like a civilized little person! Paul has discovered that Zoey can repeatedly copy sounds!! It's probably the cutest thing I have ever seen! We hope to get it on video soon! So stay tuned!!