Zoe has been walking for awhile now (it’s hard for me to remember what it was like when she only crawled around) but it’s still new enough for her to get excited about it. She loves it when we plunk her down on a playground or mall or other wide-open space and just let her go – so she really loved enjoyed herself this weekend… Here’s a little video of her waddling around the Lafayette Reservoir on Sat.
-M
The three of us decided to get out of the city this weekend, so we drove across the Bay Bridge and landed a few miles away from Oakland, in Lafayette. We stayed at a fun hotel, walked around and paddleboated at the Lafayette Reservoir, and shopped and ate in nearby Walnut Creek on Sat.; then today we visited a wildlife rescue museum, hung around at a playground and did some more shopping and eating in Walnut Creek. It was great fun to get away and do some real family activities – and it didn’t hurt that it was unseasonably warm and sunny outside.
I should mention that Zoe wasn’t crazy about the paddleboating part (she got a little scared – and the pictures below were in between some big tears), but *I*, for one, had a blast. One of my favorite childhood memories involves paddleboating on the Minnesota lake where my aunt and uncle lived – and I felt like a kid again on the water. I bet Zoe will feel the same rush when she’s a little older – so I think we’ll have to plan a return visit.
-M
Arriving at the Reservoir
Checking out the water
“I’m ready to walk, Daddy!”
“I see a dog!”
“Don’t I look cute in this?”
Ready for the water – ?
Breakfast in bed
“Um, Dad… Is that a bear looking down on us?”
“These woodchips are cool!”
Zoe has been a little grumpy this week, and we’re pretty sure it’s due to a lingering cold. (Or maybe teething. As a friend at work said to me yesterday, it’s always safe to blame things on teething.) Luckily, though, she seems a bit happier today. This morning she was particularly animated in her crib, and I managed to capture a few of her funny (er, happy) faces.
-M
There was a fun article in the New York Times the other day; once I spotted the headline (Coping With the Caveman in the Crib), I knew I had to read it. The piece focused on a pediatrician who has written a book on how to best handle and communicate with toddlers. From the text: “In his view, toddlers are not just small people. In fact, for all practical purposes, they’re not even small Homo sapiens… Dr. Karp notes that in terms of brain development, a toddler is primitive, an emotion-driven, instinctive creature that has yet to develop the thinking skills that define modern humans. Logic and persuasion, common tools of modern parenting, ‘are meaningless to a Neanderthal,’ Dr. Karp says.”
I’ve never really thought of Zoe as a cavewomen, but I guess given that her main forms of communication are grunting, pointing and talking in what this doctor terms “toddler-ese,” it makes a bit of sense. I think we should buy this guy’s book! Or maybe just start grunting back at her…
-M
I know I’ve mentioned it before, but Zoe is quite the independent girl. Though she enjoys hanging out and playing with others (especially her dad), she’s often just as content being on her own, quietly playing with her toys or reading. She has even created a little reading nook for herself; it’s quite common these days to find her nestled between the crib and the dresser in her room with a bunch of books opened in front of her. I love that she has a little space of her own, and I’m thrilled that she’s showing a passion for books at such a young age. I just had to snap a few pictures to share here; the top one is from last night; the other is from this morning.
-M
Zoe has been very excited all day. First she woke up to some Groundhog’s Day predictions, then she celebrated her Uncle’s birthday, and to cap it off she found out that two of her favorite football players made the Hall of Fame today – Art Monk and Darrell Green!
She can’t wait to make the trip to Canton to watch them get enshrined!
Jon Q
Uncle Dan is one of Zoe’s favorite people to hang out with, and Zoe is super excited about his birthday. She asked me to log on and make a post in his honor (some of her favorite pictures are below) and to tell him that she’s looking forward to a celebratory dinner tonight!
-M
With the Super Bowl and elections coming up, there is just one question on everyone’s mind…Jimmy or Phil?
The big debate in the Browdy household around this time of year isn’t who will win the Super Bowl or which candidate to vote for, but rather which groundhog we should listen to. Most years Punxsutawney Phil and Jimmy the Groundhog give the same prediction…BUT this year they differ! So, we can finally get to the bottom of who is this long debate:
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. – Brace yourself for more wintry weather. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Saturday, leading the groundhog to forecast six more weeks of winter.
SUN PRAIRIE, Wi. – The big news is the Jimmy did NOT see his shadow and we will have an early spring!!!
Only time will tell!
Jon Q
I’ve come to realize since becoming a mom that little kids – especially toddlers – are a lot like dogs. Zoe, for example, follows simple commands, runs around and “pants” when she’s happy, and even often begs for food like a little dog would. And lately, she’s been getting super excited (think dog-at-the-door-wagging-his-tail excited) when she knows she’s going somewhere. This morning, as I was gathering my things to head out, Zoe actually grabbed from her room her coat (as well her purse and a robe – for good measure) and started walking towards the door. It’s the first time she’s done this (and I didn’t even have to say “bye-bye” like one might to a pet), and I just had to snap a few pictures.
-M
