Feliz Dia de la Madres 2013

Today is mother's day in Mexico! so this post is in honor of my mamacita Monica! I've always known I love my mama very much. But this year, after becoming a mama myself I have a new found deeper kindda love and respect for her. I find myself thinking wow! my mom did all this for me too? it's crazy! There's so much to motherhood that nobody can tell you about until you experience it yourself. I was lucky enough to be my mama's daughter and I can only wish Zoe Jane will be proud to be my daughter as well. I'm thankful to have the best reference of what an awesome mama looks like. All I have to do is try to be like my mom and then I know I will be on my way to be the best mom ever. Needles to say she's also the best abuela ever!! Felicidades Moni! Te quiero!

This is the day I became a mom and she became a grandma. :) Best day ever.

Zoe Jane - 9 MOTNHS

Dear Zoe Jane- I'm convinced I was born to love you. Being your mama is such a joy! I'm trying to soak it all up everyday, because it's clear that you are growing way way fast. And even though I can't wait to see you walking around I just wanna stop time right now. You are beyond adorable, cuddly chunky and so fun to be around. You've started showing much more personality lately and making sure I know how you feel. When you are angry you scream nice and loud so the whole neighborhood hears you. And when you are happy your laugh is just contagious. I can't stop taking pictures and videos of you, everything you do seems like the cutest thing in the world. I specially like when you dance, it seems like you enjoy it so much. You are still such a daddy's girl. You get so excited when he comes home from work you dance, wave at him and scream dadda (he loves it, and while you crawl to him, he comes quickly to pick you up hug you and kiss you immediately). He insists your first word was dadda. But it's hard to say I'm pretty sure it was "agua" as you pointed to your little sippy cup you can also sort of say "leche" which sounds more like "che" and hola that sounds more like "ala". I think you'll be an early talker as it seems you try to imitate my tone when I talk to you. We cannot wait to hear you talk and know what goes on inside that cute little head of yours. We love you peanut.

Zoe Jane -8 months

Dear Zoe Jane:
I love you so much! you bring so much joy to my everyday. We spend lots of entire days in our tiny condo and I never get bored, you are so entertaining. Just when I think it can't get any better, it does, and you do something even cuter and sweeter. A couple days ago you gave me a kiss for the very first time. It was beyond sweet and exciting. You just leaned down and gave me a very slobbery kiss in my cheek. It was early in the morning, after a night of a lot of waking up. I figured it was your way of saying "sorry for waking you up so much last night" :) This month you learned how to pull up on just about anything; sofas, chairs, toys, my legs. You look incredible cute standing up, but you also fall quite often, which breaks my heart every time. 
Your eyes are still that same "olive" color as when you were born, I hope they are gonna stay that way, because I love them. I love the fact that at first glance they look regular brown eyes like mine, but once you take a second look you can see they are a super awesome olive color. People always comment on them once they notice them. I like to think of them as your very own "surprise factor". You also make the cutest scrunchy face when you get excited. I love it. I love the way you lay down sideways when you get tired and just wanna chill. You love bath time, you love your sunglasses, you love papaya, and you also love traveling by plane. Which I'm so grateful for. we've flown 4 times now and each time you've been such a joy. You are just a happy smiley baby, people love you in the plane and comment how sweet and well behaved you are ;) You love all the little buttons and lights the planes have, but most of all you love the crowds. You could stare and stare at people forever! Several times it has come to my mind, if you were sleeping thru the night you would seriously be the perfect baby. But I highly doubt you'll start doing it anytime soon, you seem to be very set in your 2+ night wakings... but it's ok, I kindda got used to it by now.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you,

mama.

First Snowfall

Today I decided it was about time for Zoe Jane to experience snow for the first time. We've been staring at it from the window for weeks now! and even though it was a little chilly, we bundled up and went outside for a little photoshoot (easier said than done! specially with a broken tripod). But it was fun, she seemed mostly confused. She wasn't crying or smiling much just looking at the pretty snow falling all around her, there was only a brief moment when she smiled. It was interesting to see her reaction with her little face of "what in the world is going on?" Once we came back she was so tired, she took the best longest nap ever. Maybe we'll be doing this more often! The fresh air and fluffy snow felt so good.

ps. I can't wait to see her face when she sees the ocean for the first time in a few weeks.

Zoe Jane - 7 months

Reaching out for the camera strap

Playing with Nube

pulling buttons off my favorite chair...

Reaching out for the camera again...taking pictures is way more complicated now.

Zoe Jane loves to play the drums on just about anything...

Dear Z Jane:

Wow, you are such a riot! you are busier than ever these days.

You started crawling for reals this month and our life will never be the same. I am constantly on the move trying to stir you away from cables, furniture edges, and all kinds of stuff you find on the floor. I am terrified you may choke on something.

You even crawl inside your crib, and several times you have hit your head on the bars because you just keep going forward. You also started standing on your crib, and it's really funny because you dont know how to sit back down.

This month you finally got enough hair for pigtails and you look even more adorable.

You are wearing 12 month clothes because you are so tall. You went from being on the 90th percentile of weight to the 68% but you stayed on the 90% for height which means you are thinning out, just like we suspected, it looks like you will be tall and skinny  like daddy. Your rolls seem to be disappearing and that makes me sad :( You are looking more like a little girly than a baby.

This month you also had a mayor case of constipation probably because I fed you too many solids including lots of bananas that you love. It was horrible and I felt very guilty because in a way I cause the ordeal. But you are all better now and I give you lots of prune purees so it doesn't happen again.

The only good thing that came from all that, is that I finally ventured out and drove in the city (I am beyond terrified of driving in the city) but dad had to work, it was way too cold to take you in the stroller, and mama was the only one there to take you to the doctor so I said a little prayer and off we went! we made it to the doctor and back successfully with no crashes. I would only do that for you my dear baby, you are the only one who fills me with courage and pushes me to be the best version of myself.  Thank you sweet baby girl.

Love,  mama.

Zoe Jane Crawling

Zoe Jane Crawls- 6 months from Flora Anderson on Vimeo.

Zoe Jane 6 months

Dear Z Jane.

I cannot believe you are half a year old already! and I cannot believe I love you more everyday that goes by. You've been pretty busy these days hitting tons of milestones! you are on the verge of crawling, rolling around the living room like nobody's business, sitting up on your own, you cut your very first tooth, you mimic sounds that I make and you started solid foods. You don't seem to be very fond of avocado which is hard to believe because it's so delicious! so I'm working on that, I think you are slowly beginning to appreciate it (or at least you don't gag anymore). 

You also became such a daddy's girl this month. You cry or whine every time he leaves the room, and smile as big as you can as soon as he enters back into the room. You shake your little body with uncontrollable excitement when he comes home from work and follow him with your eyes across the room (while he washes his hands) until he comes to pick you up. And he can make you laugh more than anyone, you are always cracking up at his silly dances and faces. You love when he dances with you. It melts my heart to know that you have bonded with him already it's so sweet to see the two of you together. I can't wait to see you grow these next 6 months. I makes me sad that you wont be my baby much longer but I am also so excited to see you as a little girl walking around and talking. You already have such an awesome personality.