Zoey's started to stand up for herself, important for a younger sister.
When she was really young, big brother would just take toys out of her hand and run off to play with it. She'd just shrug it off.
A few nights ago, both she and Michael were playing with an empty gallon water jug. Michael was pretending it was a jar of chocolate syrup. Zoey was just holding it.
I was eating dinner, and heard Zoey yelling "MEI-MEI!!! MEI-MEI!!!" from the hallway. I came over, and saw her holding onto the water jug handle with an iron grip, fist balled up, and Michael trying to take the jug out of her hand. She stuck her face out at him and yelled "MEI-MEI!!! MEI-MEI!!!"
That's Chinese for "little sister." Basically, that's her way of saying "It's Mine!" that something "belongs to little sister."
Michael looked shocked at how adamant she was and backed off.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Frenectomy
Zoey had a frenectomy today to correct an upper lip tie and tongue tie. I did a lot of reading and research, and realized it was something we needed to correct, and she would not outgrow on her own without procedure.
Poor little thing. She was really good in the Pediatric ENT's waiting room, walking around, looking at other kids and babies, and just being social in general.
She did not realize it was a doctor's office since we had never been to this specialist before (with her main pediatrician, she starts crying in the parking lot).
She had a very skeptical / nervous look when the doctor brought us back, but didn't panic until the doctor brought out the otoscope to look in her mouth. That was when she realized that the strange man in front of her was a doctor, and she got completely hysterical.
We actually didn't think that we were going to do the procedure today. I figured we would do a consultation, assess options, and decide when / how to move forward. The doctor was great. He explained everything, and said we could either do it in the office, or in a hospital setting, but that would involve anesthesia. I was adamant about not wanting anesthesia used on Zoey, with her being so young, if it wasn't absolutely necessary, so he recommended doing it in the office. I asked him when it could be done, and he said "I could do it now."
That was quite a surprise, but I figured:
When we brought her back in again, it took about 5 or 10 seconds for the whole procedure. Just a quick *snip, snip* and done. I freaked out a bit with how much she was bleeding in the mouth, but the bleeding stopped in just a few minutes. By the time we left the office, she had completely stopped bleeding, and stopped crying. She was calm the entire drive home.
Surprisingly, she was in a wonderful mood all evening. I think the upper lip tie and tongue tie were causing her discomfort. She was singing (well, how a toddler kinda makes melodic sounds), laughing this evening. She was also smiling and moving her tongue around her mouth, like she was exploring the new range.
It was an emotionally stressful day for me, but I'm really glad that we got it done and she seems happier.
Poor little thing. She was really good in the Pediatric ENT's waiting room, walking around, looking at other kids and babies, and just being social in general.
She did not realize it was a doctor's office since we had never been to this specialist before (with her main pediatrician, she starts crying in the parking lot).
She had a very skeptical / nervous look when the doctor brought us back, but didn't panic until the doctor brought out the otoscope to look in her mouth. That was when she realized that the strange man in front of her was a doctor, and she got completely hysterical.
We actually didn't think that we were going to do the procedure today. I figured we would do a consultation, assess options, and decide when / how to move forward. The doctor was great. He explained everything, and said we could either do it in the office, or in a hospital setting, but that would involve anesthesia. I was adamant about not wanting anesthesia used on Zoey, with her being so young, if it wasn't absolutely necessary, so he recommended doing it in the office. I asked him when it could be done, and he said "I could do it now."
That was quite a surprise, but I figured:
- We need to get it done
- It's better while she's young (in fact the doctor said if we wait much longer and she gets more teeth, he would have to go the anesthesia route)
- She was already upset (poor little thing's day gets ruined by trips to the doctor), so I figured why upset her again on a different day
When we brought her back in again, it took about 5 or 10 seconds for the whole procedure. Just a quick *snip, snip* and done. I freaked out a bit with how much she was bleeding in the mouth, but the bleeding stopped in just a few minutes. By the time we left the office, she had completely stopped bleeding, and stopped crying. She was calm the entire drive home.
Surprisingly, she was in a wonderful mood all evening. I think the upper lip tie and tongue tie were causing her discomfort. She was singing (well, how a toddler kinda makes melodic sounds), laughing this evening. She was also smiling and moving her tongue around her mouth, like she was exploring the new range.
It was an emotionally stressful day for me, but I'm really glad that we got it done and she seems happier.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Focused Child
Zoey is a very joyful little girl. She laughs and screeches a lot. However, she can get very focused. When we were walking in our neighborhood, she was excited and screeching and cooing. I hold out my 2 index fingers, and she holds onto them for balance and toddles along. It makes her very happy. She was having a great time, but she kept insisting on heading east. I would redirect her, and she would reorient herself and head east again. Finally figured out that she wanted to go to the playground across the street.
In order to get there, we would have to cross a very busy road, during rush hour traffic. So I decided it wasn't a good idea, and kept trying to redirect her, and she would get upset and frustrated, and demand to go east (toward the playground). Once she's got her mind set on doing something, she's pretty focused on it. She's stubborn, also. I guess tenacity and focus are good traits.
In order to get there, we would have to cross a very busy road, during rush hour traffic. So I decided it wasn't a good idea, and kept trying to redirect her, and she would get upset and frustrated, and demand to go east (toward the playground). Once she's got her mind set on doing something, she's pretty focused on it. She's stubborn, also. I guess tenacity and focus are good traits.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Walking and Talking
... Well ... sort of ...
Right now, Zoey can:
Right now, Zoey can:
- Walk very straight as long as she is holding onto my 2 index fingers and Daddy walks along with her. She is very comfortable (and happy) walking in this manner. I've tried to encourage her to walk independently, so I'll help her up, and then gradually withdraw my fingers from her little hands. She'll still take a few steps as long as she has a grip on one of my fingers, but she won't let go of that last finger. I've withdrawn both fingers from her grip, and she gets a bit anxious and begins making a NNNNNGGGGHHHH sound (which is her way of flagging my attention that she's not happy about something). She can pull herself up to a standing position with the assistance of furniture around the house.
- Say a few words, like Da-da, Ma-ma, Ge-ge (big brother in Chinese). She also gestures toward things she wants, and is very emphatic about it.
- Eat some solid foods. We give her rice with soup in it (to soften it up), applesauce, pear sauce, mushed avocado, mashed potatoes, watermelon juice, all sorts of different foods. She really enjoys eating, and she is very prudent about eating. If she has a bite of food in her mouth that is bigger than she's comfortable with (and she is VERY conservative about how much food that is) she will spit it out.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Magic Kingdom Balloon
Zoey had her first trip to Disney yesterday. We went to Magic Kingdom. It was packed there. I had completely forgotten it was MLK day on Monday, and schools were out.
She was very good during the entire trip. It's a Small World amused and fascinated her. Pirates of the Caribbean scared her (in retrospect, it probably was not a good ride for a little baby, too dark and creepy).
However, she was most intrigued by the Disney Balloons.
There was a specific type she liked ... they are a single color mouse-ear balloon within a bigger clear balloon. It's difficult to describe, but as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words ... someone captured a beautiful picture of the Disney Balloons and posted it to their Flickr stream.
Every time Zoey saw a stroller with one of these balloons tied to a stroller, she would point / gesture at it and make a NNNNNGGGGGG sound. This is her way of communicating that she wants something, or is interested in something.
I took her close to a couple of the balloons and she got so excited. Her face lit up and she became really animated and giggled and smiled.
As we were leaving, I ended up buying her one of those balloons. It's all she really wanted out of the trip. She got a dark green mouse-ear one in the clear balloon globe. The balloon cost $12. I was *shocked* at how expensive it was (I guess I shouldn't have, considering it was Disney and all), but I can't put a price on something that makes my little daughter smile.
It's like her favorite thing right now. We shortened the string so it's too short to wrap around her neck and we supervise her when she plays with it, but it provides her tons of joy just staring at it with fascination.
She was very good during the entire trip. It's a Small World amused and fascinated her. Pirates of the Caribbean scared her (in retrospect, it probably was not a good ride for a little baby, too dark and creepy).
However, she was most intrigued by the Disney Balloons.
There was a specific type she liked ... they are a single color mouse-ear balloon within a bigger clear balloon. It's difficult to describe, but as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words ... someone captured a beautiful picture of the Disney Balloons and posted it to their Flickr stream.
Every time Zoey saw a stroller with one of these balloons tied to a stroller, she would point / gesture at it and make a NNNNNGGGGGG sound. This is her way of communicating that she wants something, or is interested in something.
I took her close to a couple of the balloons and she got so excited. Her face lit up and she became really animated and giggled and smiled.
As we were leaving, I ended up buying her one of those balloons. It's all she really wanted out of the trip. She got a dark green mouse-ear one in the clear balloon globe. The balloon cost $12. I was *shocked* at how expensive it was (I guess I shouldn't have, considering it was Disney and all), but I can't put a price on something that makes my little daughter smile.
It's like her favorite thing right now. We shortened the string so it's too short to wrap around her neck and we supervise her when she plays with it, but it provides her tons of joy just staring at it with fascination.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Impressive Appetite
Zoey's has a very healthy appetite. We took her back to Beef O' Brady's (her favorite restaurant). She went to big brother's school Fall Festival and fell asleep on the way to the restaurant afterward.
The waitress was like "awww, what a cute baby!" which woke her up. Well, I guess it is good she woke up, otherwise she would have missed her favorite mashed potatoes. She ate almost the entire bowl, which was very impressive. We were really surprised that she was able to eat an entire bowl.
I was positive she was full (or uncomfortably full), and should be good for a few hours. When we got home, we decided Michael needed to eat something healthy, as he had a lot of candy at the Fall Festival, and only had french fries at the restaurant. So we got him a bowl of rice/soup/salmon.
Zoey saw his bowl and crawled over and began kicking up a fuss. So we gave her a little bit. And a little more. I was astounded that she could still eat anything after such a large (and filling) meal. Mashed potatoes really fills up the tummy, yet she still wanted more.
She had a lot of rice, soup, salmon bits, and pretty much went to sleep after that.
The waitress was like "awww, what a cute baby!" which woke her up. Well, I guess it is good she woke up, otherwise she would have missed her favorite mashed potatoes. She ate almost the entire bowl, which was very impressive. We were really surprised that she was able to eat an entire bowl.
I was positive she was full (or uncomfortably full), and should be good for a few hours. When we got home, we decided Michael needed to eat something healthy, as he had a lot of candy at the Fall Festival, and only had french fries at the restaurant. So we got him a bowl of rice/soup/salmon.
Zoey saw his bowl and crawled over and began kicking up a fuss. So we gave her a little bit. And a little more. I was astounded that she could still eat anything after such a large (and filling) meal. Mashed potatoes really fills up the tummy, yet she still wanted more.
She had a lot of rice, soup, salmon bits, and pretty much went to sleep after that.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Strong-willed child
As a father, it has been amazing to see the changes in my baby over the past month. I am literally watching her personality and her awareness of her surroundings develop right before my eyes.
She's crawling now. She will also stay in a standing position, holding onto our red sofa in the living room as support, for quite a long time. She will "cruise" along the sofa (child development term for when a infant or toddler uses furniture or fixed objects to help them get around).
Zoey is stubborn about having her way. She isn't yet able to articulate what "her way" is yet, but if we put her in her walker or high chair (or really anything that restricts her from being able to try and move about freely), she gets upset. She will make a MMMMMM crying sound, and kick both her feet out rapidly.
Most times, the way to make her happy is to help her into a standing position and stand back and let her try to get around.
Sometimes her big brother will take a toy out of her hand that she's playing with. That doesn't seem to upset her too much. However, when he takes her food, or when they are sharing food (we take turns giving them spoonfuls of food), she will reach out and push on his face with her little paw, or grab for his hair.
Michael will lecture her. He will say "Zoey, please stop that," or "Zoey, my turn". It's almost funny (and somewhat ironic) when he looks at us with frustration that Zoey isn't listening to him when he's trying to be reasonable. Because as a Dad THAT is the exact same thing I deal with when I feel like Michael's not listening to me when I'm trying to be reasonable.
Zoey is definitely able to stand up for herself when she chooses. It's funny, she has her priorities. Doesn't care when big brother just grabs a toy out of her hand. However, she'll go to battle with him about food.
She's crawling now. She will also stay in a standing position, holding onto our red sofa in the living room as support, for quite a long time. She will "cruise" along the sofa (child development term for when a infant or toddler uses furniture or fixed objects to help them get around).
Zoey is stubborn about having her way. She isn't yet able to articulate what "her way" is yet, but if we put her in her walker or high chair (or really anything that restricts her from being able to try and move about freely), she gets upset. She will make a MMMMMM crying sound, and kick both her feet out rapidly.
Most times, the way to make her happy is to help her into a standing position and stand back and let her try to get around.
Sometimes her big brother will take a toy out of her hand that she's playing with. That doesn't seem to upset her too much. However, when he takes her food, or when they are sharing food (we take turns giving them spoonfuls of food), she will reach out and push on his face with her little paw, or grab for his hair.
Michael will lecture her. He will say "Zoey, please stop that," or "Zoey, my turn". It's almost funny (and somewhat ironic) when he looks at us with frustration that Zoey isn't listening to him when he's trying to be reasonable. Because as a Dad THAT is the exact same thing I deal with when I feel like Michael's not listening to me when I'm trying to be reasonable.
Zoey is definitely able to stand up for herself when she chooses. It's funny, she has her priorities. Doesn't care when big brother just grabs a toy out of her hand. However, she'll go to battle with him about food.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
First Restaurant Experience
Zoey had her first eating experience at a restaurant today! I guess she has been to restaurants in the past, but only as an observer (sitting in the stroller watching everyone else eat).
We went to Beef O' Brady's today, and she sat in a high chair and had mashed potatoes.
Zoey has been eating solid foods lately. She gets Puffs Cereal, a few pieces of rice (we are very careful to give her a little, not too much), applesauce (lovingly handmade by Grandma or Daddy), Gerber Rice Cereal, soup, and now mashed potatoes. And all in one day!!!
Now that she's realized how enjoyable eating is, she is very persistent in getting her share of food. She crawls now. When we were feeding her and Michael from the same bowl of rice, she would get a little nibble (few pieces of rice), then we would give Michael a big spoonful. After she got her turn and Michael was taking a bite, she would crawl up to me, put herself between me and Michael, with her eyes wide open like little saucers and smack her lips (basically saying FEED ME!!!).
Michael often says to her "It's MY turn Zoey." Truth be told, when he says it, he's usually right.
We went to Beef O' Brady's today, and she sat in a high chair and had mashed potatoes.
Zoey has been eating solid foods lately. She gets Puffs Cereal, a few pieces of rice (we are very careful to give her a little, not too much), applesauce (lovingly handmade by Grandma or Daddy), Gerber Rice Cereal, soup, and now mashed potatoes. And all in one day!!!
Now that she's realized how enjoyable eating is, she is very persistent in getting her share of food. She crawls now. When we were feeding her and Michael from the same bowl of rice, she would get a little nibble (few pieces of rice), then we would give Michael a big spoonful. After she got her turn and Michael was taking a bite, she would crawl up to me, put herself between me and Michael, with her eyes wide open like little saucers and smack her lips (basically saying FEED ME!!!).
Michael often says to her "It's MY turn Zoey." Truth be told, when he says it, he's usually right.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Foodie
Zoey is a foodie, just like her older brother Michael.
We've started giving her the Gerber Puffs cereal, which are appropriate for crawling babies.
We put them in the tray of her high chair. She literally stuffs 2 or 3 of them at a time into her mouth. We put about 10 of them on the high chair tray and she goes through them extremely quickly.
Last night, I had a bowl of grapes for myself. I was eating them as I held her. Zoey made a grab for one, and started to try and stuff it in her mouth before I yanked it away from her hand (choking hazard).
She gave me the most heartbreaking forlorn expression in her eyes as she watched me eat.
She's got 2 teeth coming in (bottom front two). I think getting teeth and learning how to eat real food is going to be the greatest treat for her.
We've started giving her the Gerber Puffs cereal, which are appropriate for crawling babies.
We put them in the tray of her high chair. She literally stuffs 2 or 3 of them at a time into her mouth. We put about 10 of them on the high chair tray and she goes through them extremely quickly.
Last night, I had a bowl of grapes for myself. I was eating them as I held her. Zoey made a grab for one, and started to try and stuff it in her mouth before I yanked it away from her hand (choking hazard).
She gave me the most heartbreaking forlorn expression in her eyes as she watched me eat.
She's got 2 teeth coming in (bottom front two). I think getting teeth and learning how to eat real food is going to be the greatest treat for her.
Friday, September 20, 2013
First tooth
Zoey's getting her first tooth! Lower front tooth, the left (from her perspective) one. She also has the right one starting to peek through the gum.
She's handling it surprisingly well. She does try to put anything and everything in her mouth, but she's not too fussy. Also, she doesn't drool as much as big brother did when he had teeth coming in.
She still smiles and coos a lot, and is generally happy. However, she hates going to the doctor. Trips to the doctor absolutely ruin her day.
Zoey had an ear infection, doctor gave us 10 day course of antibiotics. She wrapped it up 2 days ago, I took her to the doctor yesterday, and she screamed and cried. Poor little thing! As soon as the doctor came into the room she started crying inconsolably.
She's handling it surprisingly well. She does try to put anything and everything in her mouth, but she's not too fussy. Also, she doesn't drool as much as big brother did when he had teeth coming in.
She still smiles and coos a lot, and is generally happy. However, she hates going to the doctor. Trips to the doctor absolutely ruin her day.
Zoey had an ear infection, doctor gave us 10 day course of antibiotics. She wrapped it up 2 days ago, I took her to the doctor yesterday, and she screamed and cried. Poor little thing! As soon as the doctor came into the room she started crying inconsolably.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Sick
Zoey got sick for the first time yesterday. She was running a fever, around 100F. We gave her infant Tylenol for the first time.
Other than Humphrey's Teething Tablets that dissolve in water, this is really the first medicine Zoey's taken.
The first dose she seemed to enjoy (guess it's cherry flavored). Unfortunately the second time it was harder to get her to take it.
Other than Humphrey's Teething Tablets that dissolve in water, this is really the first medicine Zoey's taken.
The first dose she seemed to enjoy (guess it's cherry flavored). Unfortunately the second time it was harder to get her to take it.
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