Snippets of Zoe (circa 2001): Part I

Exerpts of emails from Joanna: January–March 2001

Wed, 10 Jan 2001
Zander can't wait to have someone to play with besides his sister. She grabs and scratches a lot and doesn't like to share her legos.
Mon, 29 Jan 2001
Zoe is rolling around on the floor here, trying to figure out how to get around the desk. She's crawling backwards and starting to realize how to move her legs forward. It's a work in progress. So far her little teeth haven't popped out down below but they're letting us know they're there.
...
Looks like Zoe figured out how to get around the desk so I'd better save the roll of paper she's getting into. She just loves the sound of ripping paper.
Thu, 8 Feb 2001
Zoe is feeling much better after her system was being slow for a while. I got her some sort of laxative and she's much bettter today. In fact, she's been into everything from ripping a cover off a book to grabbing the plants to crawling under a pile of toys and getting her head stuck in a basket. She figured out yesterday that she can crawl forward, much to my horror. Nothing in the house is safe anymore and it's harder to keep track of her. As soon as I turn my head, she's gone. She especially likes to get into Zander's toys. Her two favorites are a big plastic lobster and a stuffed snake. Even so, it's a huge improvement over her being uncomfortable and whiny.
Mon, 12 Feb 2001
Zoe is crawling forward better and has now decided to stand. Nothing is safe. She was laying on her back, kicking the new cable receiver the day after we got it. I had to rescue a spider plant from her clutches. She still likes to pinch everyone. She's getting better about not pulling my hair. And still she has no teeth! For months I've been swearing they're about to pop through and then they don't. It's odd. But at least it keeps her from biting us! I was just thinking today how one of the nurses commented that they'd never seen a fetus kick around so much. Hmmm.... thought it would slow down a bit but it hasn't.
Tue, 13 Feb 2001
(when I mentioned Sasquatch in a previous email, Joanna thought I was referring to Zoe when I really had meant the hairiest John I'd ever seen)
Yes, Sasquatch is looking chubbier because she's on the verge of a growth spurt. In about two weeks, she'll look skinny and taller. Crawling all over is making her look thinner, too. She was playing around with some golf clubs tonight, holding on with one hand and having her legs straight so that her butt was up in the air. She's definitely got personality, that's for sure.
Wed, 7 Mar 2001
Zoe was asleep on the floor earlier and I went to the bathroom. While I was there, she woke up. I called to her and told her I was in the bathroom and she crawled to me. I was amazed. But then, even in her immature mind, she probably knows that's the logical place to find me!
Fri, 9 Mar 2001
Zander just came in saying he had a little baby for me and he brought a laughing Zoe. He was holding her under the armpits and she was bouncing up and down. It was cute but she's a bit too heavy for him. Now he's taking her for a walk. She's not cooperating but she's having fun.
Tue, 13 Mar 2001
Zoe took 21 steps pushing Zander's red plastic tray! She just kept walking and walking. It was crazy. The tray doesn't have wheels or anything. Once she started going, I was so shocked that I counted to see how far she would go. The tray is about 6 inches off the ground with a pocket on either side so that his legs can sit under it while he works or eats. Zoe has to bend over a little to reach it but she seems to love her new freedom. She was cruising all over the room with it. She's been cranky for a while so I finally got her to sleep - IN HER CRIB!! It's crazy!!