The Redskins finally won a game this week and I think we owe it all to Zoe. She is finally big enough to wear one of her Redskins outfits and I think the extra rooting really helped the Skins to victory. I’ll let you decide…

Jon Q

While Michelle and I get sleep in small spurts, Zoe doesn’t seem to have that problem.  Zoe’s day consists of eating, crying, and mostly sleeping.  So, in honor of the sleeping princess, I am posting some pictures of Zoe sleeping in different rooms today and last night!

Jon Q

Last night was Zoe’s first Hanukkah, and she had lots of fun (and so did we.)  Below are some fun pictures of her during candle lighting and shortly after…

Jon Q

We know where we’ll take her! My best friend, Angela, is an instructor and owns a studio in Madison. Angela and her studio are prominently featured in today’s New York Times (!) and – although this blog normally focuses on Zoe – I just have to boast a bit about her here! This is great coverage, and I’m very proud of her! (On a note, I have done PR for her in the past but, sadly, I can’t take credit for this great article.)

You should read the New York Times piece when you can and also check out some pics of Q and Zoe from last night. (Aren’t the two of them cute together?)

-M

Today was the first day that Zoe and I ventured out on our own. We first went to her doctor’s appointment, where we discovered that she’s up to 9 lbs, 3.5 oz and 22 in. (She’s getting so big!!) Then, after a quick crying session (from Zoe) and lunch, we headed to the mall – where I did lots of shopping and Zoe did lots of sleeping. She was such a good baby, and I felt so proud when people made comments about her! She also proved to be a great shopping partner: she went wherever I wanted without complaining, and she seemed happy with everything I tried on!

-M

PS – The doctor just called. Zoe’s platelets are up to 325K! Yippee!

Zoe is three weeks old today, and I feel like time is really flying! In honor of this new milestone, I thought I’d outline a few thoughts about Zoe and being a parent…

-Best thing: the look on Zoe’s face after she eats. It’s one-part Yoda and one-part princess, and it’s totally cute.

-Worst thing: trying to get Zoe to stop screaming on those rare accounts that she does. It’s not always clear what she wants, and it can be very trying.

-Best moment: a tie between meeting Zoe for the first time (at delivery), watching Q roll Zoe’s bassinet into our hospital room (a few hours after delivery), and (a few days later) finding out Zoe’s platelet count was way high and she could come home.

-Worst moment: a tie between first learning Zoe’s platelet count was low (and she wouldn’t be coming home on schedule), and bursting into tears as Zoe got her blood taken by her pediatrician for the first time and started wailing. (At the hospital, they drew blood from her foot – but now, her doctor goes for the arm. Ouch.)

-Moment I really felt like a parent: a tie between being thrown up on for the first time, and (see above) bursting into tears when Zoe got her blood taken by her pediatrician for the first time. It was so hard to see this little one in so much pain, and poor Q wound up having to comfort both of us!

-Thing I did that I’d read in all the books I’d do: periodically check on Zoe to make sure she’s breathing. At least once a day, I think, “Is she okay??” and I make sure her chest is moving.

-Best advice: a tie between being told that life after baby would be total chaos (and it’s best to just embrace it all), and being told to consider staying at home with the baby a new full-time job. Reminding myself that taking care of Zoe is *work* – and might not always be so easy – has been somewhat comforting to me.

-Worst advice: Luckily, we haven’t gotten much.

-Thing that no one tells you: a tie between the fact that babies are VERY loud when they’re falling asleep (Zoe often sounds like she’s choking to death; I almost had a heart attack the first time I heard her hacking and gasping away), the fact that most of my clothes and Zoe’s clothes would wind up smelling like milk, and the fact that I could spend *hours* staring at my kid’s sweet little face.

-Cliche that has proven true: You really DO forget about the pain after you have the baby. (I always scoffed at moms – including my own – who used to tell me that.)

-Thing that has taken me most by surprise: How quickly I took to Zoe. I’ve only known her for three weeks, and I just can’t get enough of her. (And, again, I’m not even a baby person!)

-M

Last night, as a sleepy and content Zoe snuggled up against me (and before that, Q), I decided that human babies are very much like little koalas. Check out the pics and I bet you’ll think the same thing.

-M

 

The good news is that Zoe is a lot happier today: she is napping as I type, and she actually slept almost five hours straight last night! (I think all of yesterday’s crying made her super tired.) The bad news is that her mom hasn’t been so lucky. Although I try to sleep when she does, it usually doesn’t work – I wind up lying in bed with my eyes wide open, wondering when she’s going to cry or need something next. (That’s what happened last night, when I only slept about an hour out of her five.) I haven’t perfected that sleeping-on-demand thing, and I really hope to soon! Walking zombies don’t make good moms…

-M

As Michelle mentioned, today we have an empty house.  However, for the past week Zoe has been able to see all of her Browdy side of the family.  With both uncles, sabba, and safta around, she certainly had lots to look at.  A big thanks to everyone who helped clean, cook, and babysit.  I am sure Zoe will miss everyone…maybe that is why she is crying today.

Jon Q

Although I stopped working a month ago, I feel like my maternity leave really started today. The house is empty – Q went back to work and his family left this morning – and Zoe and I are on our own. Although things with Zoe have gone swimmingly these past 18 days, today (admittedly) has been tough. For some reason, Zoe decided today was the day she would cry for long stretches and refuse to sleep in her bassinet.

I have three theories for what has happened: 1 – someone replaced my sweet baby with a demon one; 2 – Zoe decided to test me on my first full day on the job; 3 – it’s just a coincidence that my first day alone coincided with her fussiest day yet… I’m going with #3. (Please, God, have it be #3!!)

-M

PS – Because I didn’t see much of this today, I’m posting a picture of cute, sleepy Zoe.

 

Zoe got a very special gift from her great-uncle and great-aunt (Jake and Yola) the other day. She won’t be able to use the rocking horse until she’s a little older; until then, I know someone who will be enjoying the ride!

-M

 

Dec. 10 has been marked on my calendar for almost a year. This is the day that the Packers – led by Brett Favre, one of the loves of my life – are coming to town to play the 49ers. Q got me tickets the day they went on sale, but after I got pregnant and learned the baby was due just before the game date, we weren’t sure we’d be able to make it. We went back and forth all this week about what to do about the game, and we ultimately decided that it wasn’t terribly do-able. We’re both pretty exhausted (despite getting a fair amount of sleep most nights), and it would be difficult to leave Zoe (who needs to eat every 3-4 hours) for such a long period of time. The weather forecast also didn’t help much: 55 degrees and rainy. Yuck.

SO - we wound up selling our tickets (to a friend and fellow Packers fan) yesterday. I still feel bummed about it, but I suppose I’ll feel a little better if I snuggle up with Zoe and watch the game on TV… And I certainly plan to someday fill her in on the legacy of Brett Favre!

-M 

 

 

I can’t remember wearing it, of course, but I was pretty excited that Zoe was able to fit into one of my baby sweaters yesterday. And check out the pants that we paired the sweater with – it doesn’t get any cuter than a butterfly on the butt, IMO.

-M

PS – I forgot to mention yesterday that Zoe’s platelet count is still high (above 200K). Her doctor is pleased, and Zoe needs to get just one more blood test. Yippee!

 

 

Zoe got dressed up today for her first Wisconsin Badgers basketball game.  The Badgers beat Marquette, thanks to Zoe cheering!  I am sure there will be plenty more Wisconsin games for her to cheer to in the future…

Jon Q

Zoe finally got to meet her Sabba (grandpa in Hebrew) and her “weird” uncle Gil (the weird was given to Gil by her “cool” uncle Dan.)  She looks very content with both.

Jon Q