I could get used to this...

So Zoey is home sick today... which means I am home today too...
she has hand-foot-mouth which from what i've heard is a very common disease especially for kids in daycare.. she is fine and should be able to go back to daycare Friday..grandma is taking care of zoey tomorrow...

But being that i am home all day its nice to imagine my life as a stay-at-home mom..even if it is just for a day.. Zoey and I wandered around Target for an hour or so.. which is the best way to go to Target, NO ONE is there! NO ONE.. there were no whiny kids, crowded aisles, or long lines to check out! It was lovely! I only fear the amount of money i would spend if i were there more often.. i seriously have an addiction... but today i only spent $8.87.. and that was on formula for Zoey...

Upon return, i realized that since zoey's illness can be contagious upon contact i needed to sanitize anything that Zoey has come in contact with... hence the picture below... we are now germ free.. at least i hope so...


So now i have the rest of the afternoon to do whatever I want! no schedule, no requirements! just me in my yoga pants and my girl hanging out... i could seriously get used to this...

Zoey trying to show off her teeth.. 4 have popped through and one is close

Zoey's week... and update on the us part...

Just a few happenings around the Mattes house... sorry for no post last Monday.. that video was just too cute.. and since now she does it everyday i feel ok pushing it down on the blog...

A girl and her dada...


Zoey and her "og" (dog)


Zoey learned "so big" this week... a couple action shots...


She can also give high fives...

Zoey sat on the couch by herself to drink her bottle.. she's getting too big!

(don't worry i was next to her)

Such a tiring week!

Yes, she fell asleep on the floor..


Update of us:
- Gary's soccer season is over.. and ended a lot better than we expected, they made it to the regional semifinals! woohoo! it is definitely nice to have Gary home afterschool, especially since he gets to pick up zoey and get a little daddy/daughter time!
- We have now officially lived in our house a year.. and while we still love it we are constantly figuring out ways to make it more and more like home.. i guess that will never end. Our (Gary's) next big project is a deck outside...
- I am already counting down till summer..61 days left ... Ever since Zoey it has been soo much more difficult to go to work everyday and deal with annoying kids knowing that i don't find my own to be annoying...i wish i could stay home with here.. but remind myself that it is good for her to be social.. and daycare has been a great thing for her.
- Gary and i have both kept our new year's resolutions to shed a few unwanted pounds.. both of us were still carrying "baby" weight around so we figured it was no longer acceptable for us to use the excuse that I had just had a baby! I have lost 14lbs and gary 20lbs! but more importantly than how much i've lost...drum roll please... i can fit into PRE-PREGNANCY PANTS! woohoo for me and woohoo for us... now all i want to do i eat a big bowl of ice cream in celebration..

PEEK!

Zoey loves...

Her bottle...


Her thumb...


Her toys.. she found a more efficient wayof getting all of her toys out...


Playing with her dogs...


I love this kid... she is the best present for any holiday!

While Gary bowls...

Is there anything cuter than babies in tubs?

FOUR!

I finally beat Gary at Wii Golf today! a very thrilling day for me!... and I beat him 3 out of 5 bowling games last week... WOOHOO!

and Zoey has four teeth.... two bottoms and two tops... although the top ones are only on the left so she is a bit snaggle toothed.. i can see the right ones on their way.. but not popping through yet...

oh that little girl named Zoey...

Zoey's head met the tv yesterday and got a nice little bruise in return...


... the pain of learning to walk..

Zoey found a new teething ring... apparently the 3 we have just aren't good enough..


we are up to 3 teeth.. and 2 more are making an appearance

Zoey discovered bubbles on Super Bowl Sunday... I was more entertained by this than the game...



Did you ever think your parents would let you blow bubbles in the "nice" room? a grandbaby comes along.. and anything goes...

Just a cute video to Zoey waving... videos seem to be better these days.. since all that she is doing is in motion.. pictures are becoming more and more blurry...


*** Zoey is also starting to say "hi" and "og" which to her means dog... and no i'm not imagining this.. she says it when she sees the dogs.. but have yet to catch it on video...

Monday update..

I guess this has become a weekly event.. mostly because Gary is at bowling i can blog and post without rolling of the eyes...

Zoey experimenting with some baby yoga...


This has become a very typical sight around here..


She is obsessed with the computer and banging on the keys...when she's not trying to pull out the power chord... i have never seen a child so crazed for power chords!

Question...

If Zoey turned nine months on January 29th...

When does she turn ten months?

Can you believe it?

Zoey is NINE months old!!! She is weighing in at 20 lbs 4 oz. and is 27.5 inches tall! and has 3 teeth!
Here are somethings Zoey has been up to....

Zoey can...
- say "dada" "mama" "nana" "baba" "gaga" and a ton of other sounds that one day will be words.. i fear the teenage years... she talks a lot!
- stand alone for 10-15 seconds
- make herself laugh!
- sleep 11-12 hours
- walk along furniture (quite well)
- give kisses.. open mouth for extended periods of time... its awesome.
- feed herself
- click her tongue on the roof of her mouth
- give high fives
- walk with assistance from toys
- turn off the tv while standing next to it
- dance
- wave
- drink from sippy cups! woohoo.. we are on the road to no bottles...
- throw tantrums when exhausted!
- win her daddy's heart with one smile!

Zoey loves...
- computer wires and chords and tons of other things she shouldn't be into..
- books. she will sit and flip pages for hours!
- playing
- elmo
- computer
- food, cheerios, puffs.. any food really
- bottles.. she goes NUTS for them!
- remote controls
- playing in her crib
- her mommy.. separation anxiety has definetely set in
- playing alone..




She is the best baby ever... and the only thing that makes us sad is she is growing up too fast...

Zoey wanted to mention...

That was the best picture i could get.. the others all seemed to look like this...





Man that kid moves around a lot... and fast...

ps- i realize those are pumpkin pjs but they still fit and i haven't done her laundry in a week... so we wear them..

Dancing and waving...

*** I apologize for my voice in any videos... feel free to turn the volume down.

A little dancing...


Waving..

An unexpected visit...

Papa and Nana decided that 3 weeks without Zoey was too much to handle, so they took advantage of the longer weekend and came up for a visit bring uncle brett and steve with them..

Zoey became very attached to Nana.. Zoey learned to say "nana" this past week, but didn't say it once.. while they were here... of course!




Papa and Nana bought Zoey a new high chair while they were here.. which Zoey loves!


Uncle Brett helping Zoey get dressed!


Playing on Uncle Steve's computer!


Lounging with Uncle Steve and her "O's"


...deciding if she wants to share with papa... she finally shared one or two...


All of this was too much excitement for papa...


We had a blast.. and Zoey is waiting by the door for your return! We love you guys!

Peek-A-Boo

Zoey's new favorite game is peek-a-boo with cyrus...

Movie Night!...

Enjoy my adorable daughter.. I seriously love this kid more and more every minute!

Clapping Zoey...


Zoey loving a coin toy that my parents had in tampa...

What I haven't posted in a week?!?

I was reminded of this my my mother... so i promised i would post... not too much excitement around here.. but here are some highlights...

This is how wonderful Zoey is.. she will just play by herself...talking to her toys and she doesn't even make a mess! woohoo.. let's hope it continues!


Zoey climbing all over the place.. I made "Washington" shirts to wear to Gary's soccer games.. unfortunately it has been too cold to even go... this week isn't look good either...


Zoey playing on her walking toy.. she can scoot backwards and take steps when it is put up...


I think the shirt has been good luck.. ever since Zoey has gotten the shirt and worn it on game day the Eagles have been winning... so of course next week it will be worn


Zoey enjoying the Eagles game with grandma and a oddly-faced pop-pop...

Grandma and pop-pop bragging about 'dem Eagles... E.A.G.L.E.S... EAGLES!


*** I am an eagles fan my marriage.. since becoming a Mattes i have cheered for the eagles, deep down i am a bucs fan...