It’s been a pretty hectic week – Q and I are both really busy at work, and our mornings have been more harried than normal. This morning I was feeling particularly rushed – running around and trying to get out of the house with Zoe by 7:30 in order to miss traffic – and I found myself doing something I’ve never done before. Once in the car, I checked to make sure that my shoes matched. (They did, thankfully. And so did Zoe’s.) I don’t think I’ve ever felt more like a rushed mom than at that moment, and – needless – to say, I’m ready for the weekend!

-M

Zoe went into her first store when she was just 13 days old, and she’s been shopping many, many times since. While she was once just a passive observer, she’s now a bit more involved in the process – often grabbing merchandise off of shelves and even encouraging me or Q (through little grunts or eye bats) to make a purchase. The other day, for example, she took a fancy to this large pink ball at Target. We didn’t wind up getting it for her (which she was a good sport about), but it sure made for a fun photo op!

-M

As you could probably tell from the pictures below, the three of us had a fun holiday weekend. Q and Zoe took me to the warm and sunny East Bay, where we participated in two of my favorite activities (shopping and eating) on Sat., and played at Pixieland Amusement Park on Sun. The park was perfect for us – small, uncrowded and geared towards small kids – and Zoe got to go on several rides for the first time. Here she is zooming around on one such ride with her dad.

-M

Well, it was more like Mommy’s weekend! As usual, I think we best show it in pictures. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

Q

Zoe and Mommy spent Saturday shopping:

Our Mother’s Day room service tradition (or at least food prepared in the hotel room):

A quick Sunday morning peek-a-boo session:

Fun with Mommy on the Pixieland Express:

Even more fun on the merry-go-round:

Mom’s little cupcake in a tea cup:

Sharing our picnic with the locals:

One last family shot before heading home for the weekend:

As many times a day as I hear “mama” and “mommy,” I don’t think it has completely sunk in that I’m a mom. Great mothers in history (including those from my own history) are typically strong, wise, nurturing, selfless – and those aren’t the first words I’d use to describe me. (Okay, so I’m a *smart* person, but I’ve never been wise about kid stuff. When the picture below was taken, I was totally clueless.) Most of the time I just feel like Michelle, with a kid – and maybe that’s the way it’s going to be for awhile.

Despite how I may feel, I *am* a mom – and I need to thank Zoe (and Q, of course) for giving me that title and making my life much happier/crazier/more unpredictable than ever before. And I need to wish all other moms (including mine and Q’s) a happy day. I’m not sure my kid-cluelessness would have ever decreased without you!!

-M

Another Friday, another playgroup. Zoe wound up taking a mega-nap after her time at the playground with Miles – which is always a sign that she had a good (and active) time. Here are some fun pics from her morning.

-M

A friend of mine has twin girls a few months older than Zoe. Last year, when Zoe was still in the cute-but-not-terribly-active stage, and the twins had just entered the cute-and-actually-doing-things stage, my friend told me that her girls were constantly making her and her husband laugh. I’ve never forgotten her comment, and I feel that it now applies to Zoe too – since she’s always doing silly/funny/adorable things around me and Q.

A good example comes from last night, when I put Zoe to bed. It took several attempts to calm her down (she kept bouncing, whimpering and demanding more rocking and singing), but her eyes finally closed and I was able to think about dinner. I was in the kitchen a few minutes later when the oven timer went off and a very loud and very clear cry came from Zoe’s room: “beep, beep, beep, beep!” This was so unexpected (she recently started beeping along to the microwave, but I didn’t know she could hear the oven timer in her room – plus I thought she was asleep!) and so terribly cute. I wanted to rush to her bedroom and give her a big squeeze, but I resisted – which wound up being the right move. A few minutes later, she was asleep. And I had had my good laugh of the day.

-M

Zoe is a big fan of feeding herself – so much so that she’ll often refuse to eat if she’s not the one holding the spoon or fork. I’ve gotten used to these streaks of independence, so I shouldn’t have been surprised this morning when she refused to let me dress her. She clutched on to her little yellow pants for dear life, wiggled away from me whenever I approached and then tried (unsuccessfully) to put her feet through the pant-legs. She finally gave in and let me help, but it took awhile. After this little incident, I’m convinced we’re going to have our hands full as she gets older – and insists on doing more and more things “on her own”!

-M

When family is visiting, the camera is always out. Zoe loves hamming it up for the camera, and Safta and Pop Pop captured a lot of fun moments when they were here. My three favorite shots are below.

-M

As promised, here are a few more pictures from the last few days. We all had a blast; thanks, everyone, for the fun!

-M

Helping Safta unpack:

Playing around:

Showing off Uncle Dan’s accomplishment:

Hanging out with Uncle Gil:

Enjoying a celebratory dessert with Uncle Dan:

Acting silly with Daddy:

Breaking into the cream puffs:

Strolling around:

Snoozing at Uncle Dan’s:

Zoe’s had another full, family-oriented week: Safta and Pop Pop came into town on Tues. and Uncle Gil arrived on Thurs. We were all together to celebrate Uncle Dan’s college graduation (congratulations, Dan!), and Zoe had lots of bonding/playing/relaxing time with the family. We have some fun pictures to post, naturally, but I thought I would start with one – which perfectly captures Zoe’s mood these past few days. Needless to say, she’s had a blast with everyone!

-M