Crazy Legs

Zoe's new thing is all about her legs. Chunky thighs over here isn't just kicking like a spastic soccer player with tourette's. I accidentally showed her what it's like to stand up. Now, this bow legged leprechaun cannot be soothed by anything except standing. I will try to post some of the dancing video but I have to warn y'all, when I do post it, it borders on child abuse.
Right now we love to play Mika for her. She digs it and it's fun to dance to and easy to sing. Zo is transfixed when someone sings to her.
Until I get some video up (and since I can't link to mp3's cuz I am a moron....anyone want to show me how?) here is the song, "Big Girls (you are beautiful), as uploaded to YouTube by someone. It's just the music and the album cover. But Zoe loves it.

Gotta go, it's time to play her favorite game: Get me my pacifier, idiot! You know! The one I just spit out!

Zoe enters geekdom. Whether she likes it or not.

Do you think Zoe will laugh at this picture when she is older or be embarrassed long after I am gone? Or will she wonder, why is my dad sucking a pacifier? Oblivious to the Darths that surround us. (Darth...I still think it's a great name for a boy)


Happy Birthday to Allen! As the world takes the day off to help me celebrate Kristen and Vinny stopped by to give us a pair of media passes to the Star Wars 30th anniversary convention. So, Beth and I loaded our little jawa and headed over to the Staples Center, which is about 8 minutes away. Had we known that we would have either become basketball fans or gone to more concerts. Who knew? Ah well.
The con was fun, but a little strange, since it was the last day that we were able to go it was a little sparse but such a concentration of Star Wars in one place. It's like too much curry in your hummus. Overwhelming. I haven't been to a show specific convention since I was 10 and when to the 10th anniversary Star Trek convention. Of course that was 31 years ago. We were just hearing whispers about a little movie called Star Wars. We had no idea that it would change our lives. I can still hear the gasp of the girl in the row behind me when the screen wiped upward when Luke and Obi Wan picked up a damaged c-3P0. She thought the wipe represented his being sliced in half. We thought she was a fool. Looking back, she was 14 and the guy she was with was comforting her. By wrapping his arm around her and shoving his tongue down her throat. But, what did we know? I thought Luke would get the girl and was angry when my mother's 36 year old friend was hot for Han.
That was down the shore. Shipbottom New Jersey. I rode my bike to the strip mall where the big theater was to see the movie 9 times that summer. Once a week. I was 12. I went by myself. 5 miles away. Times were different. Maybe not, but parents were. The only other theater was closer, yes, but showed Smokey and the Bandit all sumemr. Maybe it wasn't such a bad year after all.

Zoe and the con after the jump.

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Psst, Zoe. This could very well be a relative. Probably on the Goldberg side. From Poland. Or somewhere in eastern Europe. Look for Bagels and Schmears.

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My favorite Stormtrooper


My wife's favorite Stormtroopers


Poser!



Finally replaced my Watto. Because nothing says "SCI-FI!" like a Blue Flying Interstellar Space Jew Junk Salesman!


These were cool. The "concept" Droids based on the original Ralph McQuarrie drawings. I think they go well in the kitchen.


Right next to the Homestar Runner dudes.

Rock on!

Duetting!

Today Zoe and Dad gave mom a break. Not too easy with a 2 month old, after all, there are places you can't go to (Baby stores, any store with children....etc) because she hasn't had her shots yet. But, those are coming in about 5 or six days.
So, off we went to the Farmer's Market. Had to pick up some eggs and some sundries at Sur La Table. Making cookies for a friend's birthday tomorrow. Chocolate Chubbies! I can't wait for Zoe to be able to help me make those in the kitch.
So, we hit the market and were almost immediately hit with the words that make my skin crawl and my hackles raise.
Woman behind the counter at Sur La Table: So, where's Mom?
Grrrrrr..
I don't blame her. I blame my own gender for refusing to take part in all the little things that come with babies: Diapers, feedings, etc. Every father that says something like "Poopy diapers make me gag..." or "Feeding is a mom's job" I want to punch in the face. I used to feel bad for them because they are missing out on the best times with their kid, amazing "bonding" times, but now I'm just mad because everywhere I go there is someone wondering how I can be out alone with the baby. Like, "Here comes dumbass dad, hope he doesn't kill the kid...."
Oh, it gets me!

I dressed up Zoe is a really cute "Going Out" outfit and we hit the stores. Picked up the eggs, the pecans and went to the park area by the water show at the Grove.
Zoe got fed. (I LOVE those cannisters that have 4 compartments and an opening perfect for a bottle)
She got burped.
Another father with his 7 month old who was also soloing saw me and we had a nice chat about our kids from across the quad.
Zoe got changed. Nothing is funnier than changing a poopy diaper next to three "sex and the city" wannabes in their Prada sunglasses and bejeweled telephones and their Nordstrom bags. I swear one of them almost gagged at the sight of Zoe Stew. Thanks Zoester!
Then up to Barnes and Noble to shop for books I will buy cheaper on Amazon and home.

Zo's about to wake up from her nap, so, I gotta run.

Some great shots of her after the jump.

Zoe and I read our first book together: Crunch Munch.
With illustrations by the younger brother of a woman I went to High School with. Awesome pictures, Michael Rex!


Stylish in pink!


Happy to be home

Zoe is a dog.

It was bound to happen. I have often said, um, not said, actually, pontificated, that if a name one wants to use for a child has already been co-opted by dog owners, then that name should be retired for humans. Names like Molly, Sadie, Rex. These are dog names.

Then I googled Zoe Lulu.

And this is what I got.



So, now I have to shut my mouth. I have named my daughter after a dog. My daughter the terrier.

More shots of Zoe after the jump.

BATH TERROR!



CRASHING WITH MY DAD

Batten down the hatches.

Wow, three posts in one day....someone must have a lot of time on his hands.....

The worst thing you can do as a parent is over protect. That is the highest on my list of inexcusable offenses. Children need noise, the womb is noisy and it's okay for them to fall down, that's how they learn.

But one of the most egregious offenses a new parent can do (what am I saying? Any parent!) is be one of those who thinks their kid is AMAZING! A GENIUS! AHEAD OF HER TIME!

So, I won't go on like that, because it's nauseating and no one wants to hear it.

That said, Zoe did something today that was a little freaky and, well, a couple weeks ahead of schedule.

She rolled over.

As a caveat let me state that at the time she was on her developmental gym. This is a pad with crinkly fake leaves, colorful creatures and a seperate u-shaped inflatable mattressy thing. The u portion is where the inflation is and it is designed to cushion and protect her when she is on her back, so she CAN'T roll off of it. And when she is on her stomach, if you place her hands at her chest and the top of her chest at the edge, she can learn to push up. Learn to push up, I should say. Ha! That's a joke, she has been pushing up and holding her chest up for days now. And for 10 seconds at a time. Even when she is flat on the soft floor pad she pushes up to that position for 13-15 seconds. That was amazing enough. except that we put her chest down on the U and she kept working and working until, flip, she rolled over onto her back. OFF THE PAD. THE ELEVATED PAD! This was really freaky.

And way ahead of schedule.

We're gonna have to put cushions all along the floor of her crib. She's gonna be an escape artist.

Okay, bragging dad time is now over. I return you to your regularly scheduled....stuff.

One more shot of Zoe after the jump. (now I sounds all journalisty and shit)



My daughter, the skeptic.

Sleeping Mina

Beth just took this and I had to pop it up. This is actually the Zoester about 75% of the time. 20% of the time she is awake or eating. 5% cry. Good numbers.....so far.

Zoe and the Blue Monkey

Ever have one of those days when the lack of sleep from caring for an infant finally catches up to you and you find yourself just, really, a walking zombie, motored by Wild Blueberry flavored Green Mountain Coffee?

Yeah, me too.

So, Aunt Julie requested some new pics of Zoe. She sends us shots of her kids via blackberry everyday. Trouble with the BB, is the camera kind of sucks. So the pics are all framed poorly and out of focus. (Get a real camera, Aunt Julie!). I decided to make a little video so everyone can see what Zoe looks like now. Then I accidentally deleted the entire project because I have baby brain. Instead, I decided just to put up some footage. No bells, no whistles. No music, even. And that's a rarity for me, you know that.

Zoe is in love with a toy on her gym. He's a blue monkey that hangs down and holds a bunch of bananas. Perhaps it's because she favors that side to turn her head or maybe she really prefers Blue Monkey. I like to think it's the latter, since she wants nothing to do with "Pineapple Guy".

Here is Zoe and her obsession: The Blue Monkey.
Don't pay attention to what the screen says. It's just a YouTube glitch

I am Zoester! Don't mess with me!

Zoe grows and grows and grows......more impatient with us and our demands that she eat and sleep and poop and.....grow.....




"I'll take ya all on, y'see! Nyah! Nyah! Why I oughtta...!"



Grandma is a big pillow and I sleep on her.



And when I'm not sleeping on her, Huck is my protector. And my slave!

Quick Pix from Auntie Kristen

Kristen has an amazing eye and a great cam. She posted a bunch of shots on her flickr site. I stole a few for here but you really should check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedancingkids/480455373/