Zoie Sight Part 2... Milestones

Zoie's sight has really improved in the last few days! She is now able to follow me with her eyes and tries to follow her mobile as it goes around and around.

In fact, she was able to keep eye contact with me the whole time we were out for a walk!

Occasionally, I tested her by going from one side of the stroller to the other, but she didn't loose track of me once during the whole 15 minute walk (would have gone longer but she was awake and started to get hungry towards the end)!

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

Zoie is definitely is starting to laugh more and more.... I can't get her to laugh every time but I'm sure having fun trying.


Here we have Zoie showing off her infectious laugh!

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

Zoie has been really active the last few days.....
..................here are a few pictures of what she has been up to.




Hitting the gym for a quick workout.....






Swimming at the local pool.......









Traveling around town and posing for photo shoots.....










Singing for the camera......










Making sure dad gets plenty of exercise....

New Blog page design!

Got a new blog design from Splat designs, the design is so original and Lindsay was easy to work with. I just let her know what we wanted and she designed it, then kept us updated every step of the way.

So, go check out Splat designs and see what Lindsay can do for you!

Zoies first trip!

Today, since it was almost 80 degrees, we took Zoie on her first real outing! I even got to test out her new Baby Bjorn carrier (look for a review of that later).

Since this is the first time we took Zoie out for such a long period of time, we made sure we had everything we thought we would need. What we brought with us was perfect, including the extra outfit.....which really came in handy!

On this outing, everything we brought was used, and thankfully we didn't need anything more.

The list of items:
Diapers
Baby wipes
Pacifier
Spit rag
Extra outfit
Nursing Shield
Baby Carrier
Carrier for wipes
Mobile changing pad
Tote bag to carry everything

Our first priority of the outing was to pick up some new baby clothes, mainly a new hat, Zoie's current hats are little too big and mainly for winter. Her new hats can be shrunk a little (if needed) and are perfect for the warmer weather.

I also, got to carry Zoie around in her baby carrier, which was a new experience in itself. The whole time she had her face toward my chest (not sure why) so I had to make sure I didn't prevent her from breathing.

After doing a little shopping, we got a quick bite to eat and stopped by a friends house so they could see Zoie. As you can see, I got a workout toting our little superstar in her infant car seat. ;o) (means I'm burning more calories......yeah!)

They have a 20 month year old so nursing and using their changing table was no problem. Before we left Zoie had a little accident and soiled her outfit, but luckily we had a spare one. The ride home was uneventful, and Zoie was a doll the whole trip, barely one peep from her the whole time!

So our first outing went very well and we learned a great deal as well!

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

Today's, Pic of the Day is showing Zoie sleeping soundly in her bassinet.




A friend of ours told us about a trick to help our little Zoie sleep better! All you great moms (and dads) might know it as the old "roll up a t-shirt that Mom was wearing" trick.

Which worked pretty well. Little Zoie was really tired but just couldn't get to sleep, after putting in the rolled up yellow shirt (on the right), she was off sailing to the moon, or chasing Peter Pan in Never-never land!

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

Here we have Zoie sleeping good in her new cow pajamas!

I thought it would be another week or two before it fit her, but since our future volleyball star is growing like a weed, she's already able to wear it! Must be why mom is so happy... ;o)

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

Today, we have our favorite fashion model showing off her new pacifier. This was her first day with it, and after keeping occupied with it for a few minutes, decided it wasn't as good as the real thing and kindly but loudly asked for her money back...lol!

Today was also the hebamme's 5th visit, a week since her last visit. She once again gave our little athletic superstar a good bill of health, and said that Zoie is gaining weight nicely....which she contributed once again to Mom's great milk, and our loving care....way to go Zoie!

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

For today's pic of the day we have ...... Mother and Child......awwwah, how cute.

Just some snuggle time for the little one. How come she never falls a sleep on me.......lol!

Zoie's sight... Milestones

Zoie is starting to see a little better. She is no longer cross-eyed and tries to follow my face from left to right ....... so her little eye muscles are developing fine!

Unlike a baby's hearing, which is fully mature by the end of his first month outside the womb, the sense of sight develops gradually over 6 to 8 months, at which point your baby will see the world almost as It looks like well as you do.

While your newborn's eyes are physically capable of seeing just fine at birth, her brain isn't ready to process all that visual information, so things stay pretty fuzzy for a while. As her brain develops, so does his ability to see clearly, giving him the tools he needs to understand and manage his environment. Though your baby starts out life being able to see only as far as your face when you hold her, her range of clarity grows steadily, month by month.

Read the full article: Developmental milestones: Sight

Posted some links to other blogs...

Today, I added 2 links ....... Under the "Other great blogs" So stop by them and take a look.

From wornoutwoman blog....
"Being a military brat, I was raised all over the world. Hearing the ocean roaring in and tasting the salt on my lips, is the my ideal situation. ................. I've been married for 6 great years to my soul mate, and we have the most adorable son in the world. My son is the joy of my heart. He's going to make some girl very happy one day."

Wornoutwoman post on how she is balances her work life and family life, while trying to be the best mother and wife she can...Great stuff! She also has some really great posts and pics of her son.

From the Reflections of Time blog...
"Welcome strangers of the world. I am a regular everyday dad. My hobbies include writing, playing with my son, traveling and of course blogging!. In this blog, you will find editorials, funnies, life experiences, commentaries and much more............"

Milton has a lot of great reflections on life, and some great posts of his favorite moments with his son.

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

Once again Zoie was able to find some time during her busy schedule to do a photo shoot with mom.

Zoie preferred to grace the digital image maker with her famous "is it time to get up?" look.

While mom is trying not to show how happy little Zoie makes her...lol.

Zoie's cool cow outfit from Italy!

Today Zoie received a cool new outfit (gift) from Italy! A friend's wife picked up the cool little chicco cow pajama/outfit while visiting family in Italy as a present for Zoie.

It came in a neat, milk carton looking package. Although, it's currently a little too big, in a week or 3, I'm sure it will fit perfect! When Zoie is big enough to wear it, I'll be sure to post a pic.

Besides getting a cool new outfit, our little super star went around the block (via stroller) with mom today. Mom said, baby "Zoie, slept the whole time".

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

Today's pic of the day comes right after a changing.... with our star Zoie contemplating what she'll wear tomorrow ......or whatever a 12 day old Schatzi (German work meaning "little treasure") thinks about while staring off into space.

Had some real crappy weather today, a high of 10 Celsius, with a slight sprinkling of rain. No chance for a walk today.

Today, the little sweetie was giving mom a hard time, always singing about getting her next meal....then falling asleep after latching on...heh, heh. She did feed well eventually, and both mom and sweet pea took a nice long well deserved nap today.

Zoie outside for her first walk...

Today we took Zoie on her first walk! Didn't quite make it around the block, but did get about 5 minutes in the stroller before she started to sing. No worries, soon little Zoie and mom will be walking champs. As long as the weather holds we might be able to do a family walk once this week before I get back to work.

It's still a little chilly here (for my taste, I prefer the 80's) and the warmest part of the day will be when I'm at work. So, it looks like my wife will have most of the fun taking the little one for trips around the neighborhood, for the rest of this month. Hopefully, by next month we'll be able to go for walks after I get off work, by then Zoie should have a more stable eating plan (heh, heh).

Zoie's Pic of the Day!

On this blog I plan on posting a pic every day of Zoie (as well as other stuff related to Zoie..;o)

Today's pic is one my wife took of the two of us..heh, heh.

Zoie, ever the photogenic cutie gave the camera an eye full, while I showed her a little love.

Feeding type......Zoie is a Rester!

While reading up about "feeding your baby" in the "Caring for your Baby and young Child..Birth to Age 5" produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics. I came across an interesting article that described 5 common baby eating patterns.

The following is a quick overview of those eating patterns, and the playfully names given to them by the Yale University researchers that were documenting them. (*this is just a quick overview, the article gave advice on how to correct or assist with these eating patterns if needed*)

They are:
Barracudas: They get right down to business. As soon as they are put to the breast, they grasp the areola and suck energetic for 1o to 20 minutes, becoming less eager as time goes on.

Excited Ineffectives: They become frantic at the sight of the breast. In a frenzied cycle they grasp it, lose it and start screaming in frustration.

Procrastinators: Can't be bothered with nursing until the milk comes in.

Gourmets or Mouthers: Insist on playing with the nipple, and tasting the milk first and smacking their lips before digging in. If hurried or prodded, they become furious and scream in protest.

Resters: They prefer to nurse for a few minutes, rest a few minutes, and resume nursing. Some fall asleep on the breast, nap for a half hour or so, and then awake ready for dessert.

Zoie is a rester!

Around the neighborhood....

Couldn't take Zoie out for quick once around the block, because just as we were headed out the door the little one started to sing......I'm hungry! I did get a pic or two (while walking Iku, our Shar pei) of our neighborhood here in Rutesheim, Germany.

Since, Zoie will be moving around a lot (being an international baby and all), I figured it would be neat to post pics of Zoie's surroundings as they change. You have noticed the cobblestone looking street and sidewalks. Although, this neighborhood is only 6 or 7 years old cobblestone streets are common here in Germany and can be found in towns that are many hundreds of years old.

First post on Zoie's new blog.....

2 April 07: Day 10
Didn't have time to post yesterday, Zoie who seemed to be hungry all day...lol... had a few visitors......some friends from work and one of our German neighbors. Everyone, thought Zoie was a real cutie, and was amazed at how much hair she has.

Our neighbors, who just had their second baby (a week before Zoie arrived), brought over gift which turned out to be a cute wooden teething ring (see pic). In this age of man made materials I thought it was a great gift and really cute too!


Today, if the weather holds up (and Zoie isn't too hungry), we'll take Zoie's on her first walk outdoors...(which of course I'll post about). I also plan to include some pics of the our neighborhood which is really cute.