Snippets of Zoe (circa 2001): Part III

Exerpts of emails from Joanna: July–December 2001

Wed, 11 Jul 2001
We had a sort of [birthday] celebration for Zoe at my parents' house. My mom and dad got her a Fisher Price farm thing and Erica and Fitz got her some Veggie Tales toys and a glittery fork and spoon set and a fish plate and bowl. Zoe loves to carry her new fork around.
Thu, 12 Jul 2001
Today was Zoe's check up. She weighed 18 pounds, 11 ounces. We weighed her on both baby scales and it never went up. Maybe she was just wearing heavy clothing two weeks ago when I took her in because she was 19 pounds 6 ounces, then. She's only in the 30th percentile for weight but she's in the 95th for height. The doctor said we need to get her on a high calorie diet and "fatten her up." She's supposed to get a lot of chocolate milk, cottage cheese, yogurt and whatever she wants to eat. She must be wearing off more than she's eating because of her activity level. So, we'll push a lot of food at her for a while and hope that is the reason for this. Otherwise, she was healthy and normal in her development stats.
Wed, 18 Jul 2001
Zoe has been enjoying the sandbox today. She likes to fill up buckets and dump them out. It's a little cloudy so the sand isn't burning from the sun beating down on it.
Thu, 19 Jul 2001 (from John)
Zoe is becoming more and more intentional in her communications. She has definite signs and indications of when she wants to be picked up and when she is hungry (she goes and sits in front of a specific cupboard) and when she wants more of something. She is doing very well sleeping in her own room and being weaned.
Tue, 23 Oct 2001 (Christmas Wish List)
Zoe really likes things she can carry around in her hand. Fisher Price "Little People" are really nice. She also loves taking baths and splashing water around. She wears a size 18 months right now. She looks really good in red. Side note: She usually wears things that she can move around easily in like leggings. She doesn't like anything that slows her down. She barely tolerates dresses. We've been having a problem with clothing being too wide for her skinny little body and a lot of clothing falls off her.
Thu, 6 Dec 2001
Zoe is talking more and more. It's amazing to hear how many words she puts together now. She's very relieved we can finally understand her. She especially likes to say "I want to eat" and "I want my cup." She also likes to tell John about the things I do (although one day she told him I kicked the cat and that wasn't true.....).
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Zoe thinks she is ready to come out of her room from her nap. She's been up off the floor in her twin bed for a few months now. I'm dreading the day she learns to manipulate the door knob, though. Right now, she just knocks and calls to me when she's done sleeping. She's been so funny because now she tells us when she's pooping. She gets a funny look on her face and says "Poooooop!"
Tue, 18 Dec 2001
Zoe is running around naked. I came in here to find her some pjs. She's taking off her socks and running away again. Taz was over earlier and she got so mad she that couldn't go downstairs to play basketball with them. She kept calling "Zander! Taz!" They didn't listen to her.
Thu, 20 Dec 2001
I was speaking to my mom on the phone and Zoe was playing quietly. I walked into the kitchen and saw that Zoe had taken the eggs out of the fridge and broke them all over!! What a mess! So I bundled her up and walked to Home Depot. They didn't have child latches for fridges there. Then I walked to the new Aldi but they didn't have any there, either. So I walked home. It's brisk but sunny. I'm going to have to drive to Menard's later.
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I took a bunch of pictures of Zoe on her new rocking horse from today. My parents got it for her for Christmas. She loves it. The only thing weird about the pictures is that she felt the need to wrinkle up her nose. She looks a little freakish, I think.


Zoe and Zippy, October 2001