You might be a redneck if....

you strap your child to a chair with a belt...


We were visiting friends for Kathy and Gary's (Zoey's Grandma and Pop-pop) 40th Anniversary party, and realized we didn't have a chair that zoey could sit it and still eat with everyone... so we improvised.... Congrats on 40 years!

My New Life...

Today marks the beginning of something that I have been dreaming about since I graduated college. I am working from home... (angels singing)! This is truly the BEST job EVER! This is my new 'office'...

I am working for Florida Virtual School as a Driver's Ed Teacher, so while I am not working in a traditional sense, I still have a lot to do throughout the day.. I just get to set my own schedule!

So today for instance..
I woke up, got Zoey ready and took her to 'school' (yes, zoey is still in school throughout the day.. have you ever tried working with a 16 month old running around.. and not to mention its good for her to get out..), went to wal-mart, worked, did yoga (part of the new life), ate lunch, worked, and now I am blogging.. and going to get zoey! Its awesome! I love it.. and I hope this continues!

Zoey's new ride...

While we were gone to Tampa, Gary decided 16 years was far too long to wait for Zoey to get her wheels... So when we got home waiting in the garage was a PINK barbie mustang PowerWheels... So we put her in for a test drive ...




...and her feet were about six inches to short.. what can I say? She is my kid. But for now Zoey has a blast playing with all the buttons... Gary is happy, Zoey is happy.. which of course makes me happy...

Visit to Tampa....

Zoey and I packed our bags and headed to Tampa to visit EVERYONE! our schedule was crazy but in the end we had fun and were DEFINITELY glad to be home again... Originally we were only going to be there for a week, but after i got called for an interview in Orlando we extended our trip until the 12th... It was long but of course worth it since i got the job! Here are some of the highlights of our trip.. be prepared for picture overload...

Eating with Nana... zoey was a champ at eating while we were there...


some quality time with Papa


Zoey, Papa, Nana, and Me at the park..




Visiting friends...
Baby Cole


Cousin Gavin



The Jews



Some more quality Papa time



Quality Uncle time...


Visiting the Saba's


One more time at the park with Papa, Nana, and Brett...



Bath with Abuela


Finally on our way home... yes my child is on a leash.. it worked great!

Happy days are here again!

For two reasons:
#1- Zoey and I just got home from a worldwind tour of Tampa, visiting family and friends.. and both of us are SOOO happy to be home with Gary! We missed him tons!

#2- For those who didn't know... Gary and I both lost our jobs at the beginning of the summer due to budget cuts in the county we were in... and after two months of looking and waiting till the last minute..

BOTH Gary and I are now employed! WOOHOO! Gary was hired TWICE, actually, he received two offers and accepted an Alternative Education position at Escambia High School, which is the same thing he was doing in Tampa and he will still be able to coach soccer! I was offered a position with Florida Virtual School teaching Driver's Ed. I know, I know, it makes no sense but it is just the rules portion of the class. I will get to stay-at-home and work during the day through emails, messaging, and calls... my new uniform will be yoga pants!

So in the end things worked out BETTER than before! and both of us are EXCITED to be starting new positions! Thanks for all the support from friends and family over the past couple of months... it really means a lot!

ps- Tampa pictures will be coming..

Visiting, Visiting, Visiting...

Zoey and I have been in Tampa/New Port Richey since Friday, visiting family and friends... and while we haven't had much time to settle down and relax, we are enjoying seeing everybody. We have been bouncing back and forth between Tampa and New Port Richey spending about 24 hours (literally) in each place... yes this is crazy but its what we are doing to see everyone...

Zoey has been AMAZING! she has been generally happy wherever she is (mostly because she is the center of attention wherever she goes!) but even today when she went shopping and visiting for 6 hours without a nap.. she was still as happy as can be..

Zoey in the buff... after her bath.. she ran out thrilled to be naked!


A rare happy moment with uncle steve... unless he has a ball.. she is scared of him...


needless to say we are exhausted.. but happy to see everyone!


We (mainly me) are missing home and gary! but we still have one more week here.. so hopefully we will enjoy our time and be home soon! WE MISS AND LOVE YOU DADDY!

Its a bird.. Its a plane...

Its SUPER ZOEY!

We got bored waiting for the doctor today at her 15 month check-up...

Zoey is 15 months old.. she is 24 lbs(75th percentile), 30 inches(50th percentile) and is perfect! of course!

Zoey can...
- say 'ok'- her answer to EVERYTHING!, baby, up
- do animal noises - dog, elephant, lizard, fish, sheep, duck, monkey, bunny, horse
- run
- sign book, help, water

Zoey likes...
- food chicken nuggets, fish sticks, snacky food, milk, juice, fruit
- playing by herself and with mom and dad
- reading books
- playing outside
- her dogs
- getting her way
- doing what we tell her not to do

Zoey doesn't like...
- being told no
- being disciplined
- vegetables
-

One Year Portraits..

I know i'm thinking the same thing... too freakin' cute!

Finger painting!

In my continuing efforts to find new activities for Zoey to do.. I found bubble finger paint that we use in the tub... well I thought we would try it outside of the tub.. but was nervous about mess... so I came up with this...

Not to sure at first..


"Now I get it"


Figuring out that her thumb doesn't taste good covered in bubble bath finger paint!


Well maybe it didn't taste that bad..


Overall pretty successful.. it kept her busy for at least 15-20 minutes!

Animal Sounds... Zoey Style...

we missed two... The first one is a fish...

Good Girl...

Zoey was playing in her room by herself, a pretty common occurrence, and after a while we didn't hear anything... so I peeked in and found this..

We hit the jack-pot in kids! Not only being good but reading!

Ain't Scared....

This is repeated over and over and over again... she loves to be scared..

After she will run back to her room and come out to be scared again..

Red, White, and Blues

This year for the 4th we headed over to the in-laws as part of the Doherty family reunion... We had a blast swimming, eating, and most of all hanging out with family!



Zoey in the cutest 4th of July dress EVER!


Mom and Uncle Johnny


Everyone hanging out trying to see a few fireworks!


Grandma and Sam


The Girls... Zoey and Sam



The next weekend we got to impose on Hayden and Jenn's 'stay-cation' to watch the Blue Angels. They rented a condo down on Pensacola Beach and we(Gary and I - Zoey was with grandma and pop) went over Friday night to watch the Blues Saturday afternoon.. It was an AMAZING show and one that everyone should see..

This was the view we had on the 17th floor.. the best part is the show is on the sound and the beach so we had a pefect view for both.


Since we had such great seats, I got some pretty great pictures... but the whole time I was torn between wanting to see the show live and taking pictures.

Fat Albert


This was the first of two times they came within a 100 feet of us!


Amazing perfect formation! This is pretty much how they fly the entire time!


The finale!


Overall AMAZING! The pictures don't do it justice.. can't wait for the next one!

Pirouette

Hard at "work"...

"What no new pictures of me in over a week?!?!"

(this is also the expression for where and all gone...)

Zoey has been hard at work trying to get this blog updated...


We've had a lot going on this past week with family in town, family reunions, 4th of July, and general summer fun.. so many more pictures to come.. once i get mom's photo card from her.. trust me these pictures are not to be missed..

Pathetic...

This was supposed to be a joke..

until he stayed there for an hour...

More Summer Fun... and 14 months..

Needless to say we are enjoying the summer...

Zoey at 14 months Zoey can...
- say new words "All gone" "baby" "ok" "gaga"- grandma, this, that
- new signs drink, food, all gone, wh- words (what, where, who),
- run
- pretend to cook
- try to blow bubbles
- make animal noises - 'woof-woof' 'baa' 'quack'

Zoey likes..
- playing outside, although its been to hot!
- playing in water
- eating... especially off our plate, and the snacks at grandma's
- "cook"
- throwing food off her high chair
- books - playing in her room
- swinging!
- opening and closing ALL doors
- getting picked up and pointing at everything
- looking at pictures of people - feeding her dogs
- "loving" on her dogs
- giving kisses to everyone
- going to brush her teeth
- picking up dog food Zoey does not like..
- being told no
- going into timeout.. now she doesn't even cry - getting in trouble