Notes from Dad

Keith Brodogg reporting today...
I know, she looks confused - going out with just Pops today. Where's the Momma? Hopefully resting, but we know that she's doing laundry, cleaning, taking care of some sort of business at home. I can't even tell you how proud I am of Tracy. Zoe is so lucky to have such a great mom. But I knew that she would be. One of the many reasons I knew I wanted to marry her. As big as the sky, baby! Anyway - back to the pic. On this particular day the Zo and I went to Barnes and Nobles to check out some Kafka and Camus. But she's not into Extistentialism yet. Who knew? But she is a fan of the pop up books, and likes to people watch. I'd call that a good afternoon. By the way, we're off to New England to see the fam and friends. If Tray doesn't post for a few days, thats why.
Zoe's Dad!!!

My Review of BreathableBaby Crib Bumper

This is what we got for Zoe's crib and I submitted the following review about it on their webite for future customers. This One Step Ahead company has great baby items that are safe and helpful!
Originally submitted at One Step Ahead

Let the fresh air in! This remarkable crib bumper lets fresh air through, while keeping little limbs safely inside the crib. Soft and padded for extra protection. Compatible with most crib styles, including convertibles and sleigh cribs, provided they have slatted ends. Hypoallergenic poly mesh. At...

BreathableBaby Crib Bumper

Great safety option

By Zoe's Mom from Wilmington, NC on 7/30/2008

5out of 5

Pros: Soft, Colorful and Fun, Easy to Assemble, Durable

Cons: None

Best Uses: Newborn, Toddlers, Preemies, Infants

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent, Child Care Professional

I was really worried about SIDS and didn't get any bumpers at first. But my baby kept scootching and wacking her head and hands on the crib slats. One time she got her arm stuck in them too. This gives her some soft protection and allows her to breathe safely. I also think it helped her sleep better because she felt "cocooned" like she did in the bassinet. We got the yellow one and it's nice and bright. Seeems like it would fit most cribs easily.

(legalese)

Back to Business

The only reason I am able to be a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) is because my Mom has started another Accounting business that I help her run out of the house -Wavecrest Associates. We have business cards, brochures, a sign, and even are starting to get local business (thanks to my Mom's amazing networking skills!). It is a lot of work, most of which Mom is doing alone right now. Zoe takes a lot more hands on attention than I had anticipated at such a young age! Initially, I figured for the first 6 or so months she'd just hang out in a baby seat while we worked away at the business. Apparently Zoe has other ideas..she wants to be played with, fed, changed, played with, bathed, fed, played with,fed, entertained, changed, fed, etc etc... without much napping in between. But we are learning to rotate baby duties and business duties and just work when we can, and Zoe is learning to take longer naps and play by herself for a few minutes at a time to do her part. I'm excited for this business to work, and even though this is definitely not my forte, I am learning great things from Mom and can't wait to watch this business grow. We figured out if I went back to work full time, I'd just end up giving most of my paycheck to someone else to take care of my baby for me. That just doesn't make any sense! So, please pass the word for us...We do accounting for businesses and personal income tax....we can do business in town, long distance, and over the internet...and the more business we have, the longer I can stay home and take care of my Baby Girl! Thanks!

A girl's best friend

Zoe and I are becoming great friends. We make each other laugh, sing together, shop together, go for walks on the beach, and both have a fondness for pickles. I think talking is over rated! I hope we stay great friends for a long time....

Sippy Cup

Zoe had her first experience with a sippy cup this morning. (Gramma came and was ready for some new baby experiences!) Z was trying really hard and sometimes actually even got the right end in her mouth! She obviously still needs help, but "they" say it's good to wean babies off the bottle at a younger age. We'll keep the sippy in heavy rotation, along with the bottle and breast and she should continue to chunk up just nicely:)

Cry Baby

(This picture has nothing to do with the following story. Keith took it before going to school one day. We both are sleeping in the exact same position!) On to the story...
I think I caused Zoe's first tear the other day. And at that exact moment my heart broke into a million pieces. (FYI-Babies don't cry with tears until they are few months old.) It was just the usual conflict - do I let her cry it out at nap time, or do I go in and console her, or should I pick her up because she's just not tired? But this time when I went in after I chose to let her cry it out for a few minutes there was a single huge tear falling from one sad looking eye. So I guess you know what happened next. Yep, she got held and cuddled on for the next hour straight. If she could have asked for a pony I probably would have given her one. Yeah, I know, I'm in trouble... I'm sure there will be many more tears to come - on both our parts- but I hope she'll understand someday that I never mean to upset her, it's just one of those things about being a parent and having to look out for someone who doesn't always agree with your point of view. Hmmmm...So I guess I sort of understand now why in high school I wasn't allowed to go to that Milli Vanilli concert because I didn't clean my room:)

Baby Face

What a cute baby face! That's all I have to say about that.

Eating like a champ

Zoe has this eating thing down! She sucks the cereal right off the spoon and can't wait for the next bite. She's even pulling the spoon to her mouth when I am not fast enough! It's so cute because she already seems to know what's coming as soon as I take the cereal box out of the cabinet, and defintiely knows when she sees the brightly colored bowl!

Flashing the Neighbors

It was another beautiful day today, so we decided to have a bath outside. A little sun, a little shade, and a little splashing was all we needed to scrub-a-dub! It looked so relaxing I think I will ask Keith if he will build me an outdoor tub/spa...though I won't hold my breath waiting for it! :)

Baby in the Mirror

Zoe has finally noticed the baby in the mirror! She was looking at herself and laughing and gurgling at the baby she saw. She liked putting her head right up to that baby, too. I wonder when she'll figure out it's her?!

Let all the children boogie!

This says it all! It's a wall quote we got for Zoe's room. It is so perfect! Love those priceless finds!

Laugh out Loud

Zoe has been smiling at us for a while now, but she never really laughs out loud. She has giggled twice, but only for a split second. But yesterday she finally let loose! We went to say Hi to Daddy in the shower (we're trying to get her used to the sound so we can shower with her - it's easier and quicker than bath time), and Daddy made some funny noises and was dancing around (he'll kill me for sharing that part, sorry Keith!) and Zoe thought it was the most hilarious thing she had ever seen in her entire life! She actually was cracking up laughing over and over again! Keith and I had tears in our eyes we were laughing so hard at her laughing at him! It was the funniest, best, fuzziest, most sweet moment I think I ever experienced. I truly think baby laughter is the best sound in the world and should be piped through offices and hospitals at 3 pm everyday to lift people's spirits. May Zoe never lose her laughter!

Good Sleep

Zoe is sleeping in her crib at night now. This is a very big deal for Momma who slept on the floor of the nursery the first time Zoe slept in there (even though it was only for a few hours and then I brought her back to my room !). But from here on out (except for those bad dream nights when she's old enough to crawl in bed with us in a few years), Zoe will be sleeping in her crib at night and during naps. It took one stressful naptime of letting her cry for a really long time (and oh what a cry it was) and that seemed to break her of her need to nap in the swing. Once we made that hurdle we figured we might as well do the whole shabang and have her sleep in the crib at night as well. So far , so good. It's empty in our bedroom without her there, but I guess babies are supposed to grow up eventually!

Chow Time

Zoe had her first solid food yesterday - organic rice cereal. She did pretty good for never having eaten from a spoon before! Most of the time the cereal ended up all over her face ( thank goodness for bibs!), but some actually got all the way in- Good job, Daddy! The doctor said it should help her sleep through the night...let's hope so.... We'll try again tonight - yummy, yummy!
By the way - at her four month well baby doctor visit yesterday, Zoe weighed almost 13 pounds ( more than double her birth weight) Yay!

Pool time

Gramma got Zoe a pool to help beat the summer heat. Momma barely fits in it with her, but it is fun! She really likes being in the water and gets really mellow when she is. And she looks so cute in the shades from the Florida clan (see below)!

Fresh Air

Zoe loves being outside (beautiful blanket handmade by Nana Brodeur)! She loves watching the trees sway in the wind and feeling the breeze on her face. It's finally been not 100 degrees so we can take her out and enjoy our yard. The fresh air will do us all good!