Happy Thanksgiving!

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:7

12 Month Checkup

Last week, we had Zoe's 12 month check up. Everything on her checked out great!

Zoe weighed 19 lbs 6.5 oz and 22%. She is 29 inches tall and 46%. And her head circumference is 17.5 round and 31%.....which totally surprised me!

The doctor was so pleased with Zoe's growth...especially since her 6 month checkup when she was in the 3% for weight. Dr. Evans okayed honey and milk, but suggested waiting on peanut butter. That is not happening! Zoe got 2 more shots and we decided to not get a flu shot. The doc said Zoe's top teeth looked like they were all about to pop through and that we should be cleaning then regularly...so we have her little finger tooth brush waiting for her now after her bath. Zoe is definitely right on track in her speech development but not quite walking yet. In the last week, she has been carrying on conversations with herself or with us and speaking words very clearly! She is quite the talker.

Zoe knows that a brush is for her hair and she puts it to her head. She knows that a coffee cup is hot and she blows on it. If we say hot for her food, she blows on it, too. When Zoe hears us sing "head, shoulder, knees and toes", she touches her head and bounces to the song. Zoe says "mmmmm" when she is hungry or if we ask if she wants to eat. Zoe says Mama and Dada perfectly. She is quite the copycat too...when we make different sounds, she trys to repeat them.

My baby is getting so big!!!!

Amazing GRACE
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas GRACE that taught my heart to fear
And GRACE my fears relieved
How precious did that GRACE appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing GRACE

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

A Much Needed Getaway!

After a busy, busy weekend....My Mom, Aunt, Ms. Brenda and I got to go to Covecrest and to relax for the night and visit Kaitlin. I rant about this place all the time...but I just love it! I told Kaitlin, I hope that she never leaves so I can visit her all the time! There is just such a peace there.

And I cannot wait for some of my favorite girlfriends and me to go for another much needed getaway in December! All the girls from bookclub and I have planned a mini retreat before Christmas to have a night away for rejuvenation....it is going to be amazing and I am counting down the days!

Celebrating my Oliver

The month of November is a time of remembrance for all who have passed within the year. On November 7th, Gwinnett Medical held a Remembrance Ceremony for all the babies who had passed this year. It could not have been planned at a better time. I got to celebrate both my babies in the same weekend. And it was so nice because many of our family members who were not able to celebrate at Oliver's Mass with us were able to come to this ceremony, including Zach's parents, my sister and her girls and my aunt. I cannot even express how much it has meant to Zach and me to have the support of our family this past year.

At the ceremony, there was a candlelight and balloon release. Each person was given a card to attach to a balloon and at the end of the ceremony, we released them all. It was extremely freeing of my emotions. It is amazing how every feeling I had on September 9th came rushing back to me....very quickly. It was so nice to meet some other mothers who have gone through the same year I have. So comforting.I love you, Oliver! I can't wait to see you again!

12 Months Old!

• Zoe is wearing 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers.
• Zoe is teetering on 20 lbs but hasn’t quite reached it yet.
• Zoe wears size 2 shoes. She has a really tiny, but chubby foot.
• Zoe wears Roobeez. They are the only shoes she doesn’t mind wearing. All others she just tears off.
• Zoe loves grapes! But we haven’t really found any other food that she doesn’t like. Zoe loves to eat and eats a lot.
• Zoe has 2 bottles of milk a day and is loving water!
• Zoe loves her sippy cup and now putting it in the cup area on her high chair tray.
• Zoe is learning “hot” right now and she is blowing on everything.
• Zoe loves to gargle her milk.
• Zoe loves to sing Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes.
• Zoe has started to wake up at 6:15 after the time change…this has taken some getting used to.
• Zoe loves to dance. If she hears music and is sitting on the floor, she shakes her hips and spins in circles. If she is standing up, she bounces like crazy.
• Zoe loves to open and close doors.
• Zoe has started to be able to climb stairs.
• Zoe points at everything she wants and reaches for us now to hold her.
• Zoe stands on her own for moments and cruises everywhere…no walking on her own yet.
• Zoe loves to hit the keyboard keys and play with the phone. She puts the phone to her ear and starts to talk. So funny.
• Zoe takes 2-3 naps per day for anywhere from 1-2 hours. Every day is different.
• Zoe still loves her bath time and has started to dunk her head by herself.
• Zoe is not a huge fan of walking in her stroller for long periods of time.
• Zoe is talking like crazy! She says “Daddy”, “Mama”, “Yum”, “Ball”, “Uh-Oh”, “No”, “Stop”, and just rattles off anything she can get out.
• Zoe loves to hum and sing, especially in the car.
• Zoe gives kisses…all…the…time!
• Zoe is walking all over the place with her little stroller.
• Zoe loves to play with her books and she has started to pay attention to the pages.
• Zoe hates the feeling of grass on her legs and feet.
• Zoe is interested in EVERYTHING Zach and I do…she is all up in our business and wants to be included.
• Zoe is now hugging.
• Zoe had her first Grammy Waffle!
• Zoe loves the toilet and toilet paper…so we now keep the bathroom doors closed.
• Zoe puts her thumb in her mouth right when she hears “night, night”.
• Zoe got to enjoy all her friends and family this past month at her birthday party!

They say it's your birthday....

I can't believe this day has come and gone.

My baby girl celebrated her 1st birthday this past weekend. I have never felt so blessed. We had about 40 of our family and friends to our house to celebrate Zoe Jane. We seriously have some absolutely amazing people in our life....that are all so generous and supportive of our family. I can't say enough thanks to each one of you who came. You made this day to special for us.

So....lets get to the fun stuff....Here are some of the decorations from the party!

The Dessert Box never fails. Zoe Jane's cakes turned out just wonderful....and never tasted better. Thank you Holly and Zelda so much for putting up with me while doing these cakes. Your hard work paid off! Everyone loved them.

Zoe Jane's smash cake!

All the party favors for the kids. Each cookie had the child's initial on them!

Watch Zoe grow....

Zoe Jane was definitely overwhelmed with all the love on her birthday....she was exhausted! Once we were ready to sing Happy Birthday and smash into the cake....Zoe was ready for a nap! She wasn't quite sure what to do with the cake and really had no interest....poor thing.

Saturday was an absolute perfect day! Everyone enjoyed being outside and Zach's fire pit was a huge hit. Zach worked so hard on the yard and making everything perfect outside for the party. I must say it paid off! Everything looked beautiful. I am so proud of you, hubby!

These two were inseparable!

Gotta love some Gommy!

The balloons were a big hit, too. I am so glad I had extras after the decorating. All the kids loved them!

This picture makes me laugh so hard. If you only knew how small Zoe Jane's room really is you would laugh, too. I can't believe this many people fit into her room....Party in the Nursery!

After Zoe's nap, we opened gifts. Like, I said....our friends and family are overwhelmingly generous! Zoe is set in clothes, toys and everything else in between! Thank you!

And it begins.....Zoe's 1st Bitty Baby from American Girl.

And the Disney Princess Collection has started....I am pretty sure Zoe and I were equally excited about this one....okay I think I was a little bit more. Snow White and Beauty and the Beast are now checked off!

The whole day was quite a success and everything I hoped it would be. Nothing is better than spending the day with friends and family. We love you all so much! Thank you again for everything!