Hi, gang.
Sorry, not too much to report. Well, there is but I am loathe to sit down and write all about Zoe's new pre-school.
I really should, though. They dig her there.
In the meantime, Beth's phone got a new update which included a video camera application. So I took some video and sent it to myself and uploaded it all for you.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
From the set
Zoe shot her first commercial today. They had three other kids that they shot for the same bit and I just don't think that Zozo made the cut. (I don't think she was the first choice, is what I mean). But, she had a blast. Made us proud.
This is Beth and Zoe near the process trailer (the vehicle that carries the car that Zoe was in). Zoe loved the process vehicle. And she loves her mom. This might be the best picture I have ever taken.
Here's the process vehicle.
Zoe was a trooper in makeup and wardrobe. (The wardrobe lady was a C**t that seemed to hate both children and her job).
Here's the little TV star with her mom.
Beth got a shot of the playback of Zoe in the car.
Needless to say. I was pretty effing proud.
This is Beth and Zoe near the process trailer (the vehicle that carries the car that Zoe was in). Zoe loved the process vehicle. And she loves her mom. This might be the best picture I have ever taken.
Here's the process vehicle.
Zoe was a trooper in makeup and wardrobe. (The wardrobe lady was a C**t that seemed to hate both children and her job).
Here's the little TV star with her mom.
Beth got a shot of the playback of Zoe in the car.
Needless to say. I was pretty effing proud.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Zoe Lulu. Working Actress.
Zoe at the first call for State Farm.
For those of you who don't follow our doings on Facebook here's the skinny:
I got a call last week that Zoe had an audition for State Farm Insurance. I took her to the session and actually, for the first time, got to see what my daughter is like "in the room". She's a pro. Doesn't need me anywhere to charm the casting director.
All she had to do was sit in a chair, eat grapes and be cute.
Oh, boy was she.
So, sure enough she got a callback.
I met up with Beth at the casting office to find my daughter goofily running from man to man asking them to pick her up and let her read to them. She was charming everyone in the place.
I went in with her, but it could have been Beth or no one. Zoe is super independent and hyper cute.
It wasn't such a surprise when we got the call that Zoe was on "avail", in other words, a top choice for the spot. And I confirmed with her agent that, when they are casting little children like this, they always cast more than one because you can't be sure how a child is going to behave on the day. They have limited time with the kid because of labor laws and if they don't get the shot, they have a better chance with another kid.
They cast 4 for this commercial.
Zoe was one of them.
My daughter, on her 5th audition, just became a working actress.
I couldn't be more effing proud of her.
She's gonna have a blast. And make a little coin for her future.
Zoe Mina. Actress.
And so it begins.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
An early farewell.
A little over a year ago I was tearing my hair out.
Beth was knee deep in studying and, for all intents and purposes, I had become a defacto nanny-dad. Now, this is fine, I'm not complaining, except that it was killing me. ;)
I love Zoe. But I also love going to the gym, auditioning, having coffee, lunch with friends...it's been 20 years of establishing a lifestyle like mine and to turn it into, well, daddy-sitting was making me nuts.
All of this doesn't really make me sound so great, does it? Oh, well. This is what I get for being honest.
I adore Zoe. And I adore sanity. Call me selfish.
Anyways, after complaining (again!!) to my brother, he had the wisdom to convince me to hire a babysitter.
It was a daunting task, to say the least. We didn't want to put Zoe in day care. THAT seemed extreme. So, we needed to find someone.
As per Jonathan's advice, I took an ad in Craigslist.
In an hour I had a response.
We didn't need to talk to anyone else.
We hired Michelle that week and, because of her I am sure, Zoe started walking on her 1st birthday. She encouraged reading and the importance of simple play.
In a word, she was excellent.
Was.
We've decided that it's time for Zoe to get some socialization. She needs to be around other kids. And she also needs some slightly standardized education. Something formalized. Otherwise she will spend her days demanding to watch Wonder Pets all the time.
So, we're looking at pre-pre-Ks. We've found two that we are interested in. Basically, the cost is the same.
But, it is the end of an era.
So, in the next two weeks or so, we say farewell to Michelle. Zoe's first teacher that wasn't her parents. Her first best friend. Her first babysitter.
Thanks, Michelle.
Beth was knee deep in studying and, for all intents and purposes, I had become a defacto nanny-dad. Now, this is fine, I'm not complaining, except that it was killing me. ;)
I love Zoe. But I also love going to the gym, auditioning, having coffee, lunch with friends...it's been 20 years of establishing a lifestyle like mine and to turn it into, well, daddy-sitting was making me nuts.
All of this doesn't really make me sound so great, does it? Oh, well. This is what I get for being honest.
I adore Zoe. And I adore sanity. Call me selfish.
Anyways, after complaining (again!!) to my brother, he had the wisdom to convince me to hire a babysitter.
It was a daunting task, to say the least. We didn't want to put Zoe in day care. THAT seemed extreme. So, we needed to find someone.
As per Jonathan's advice, I took an ad in Craigslist.
In an hour I had a response.
We didn't need to talk to anyone else.
We hired Michelle that week and, because of her I am sure, Zoe started walking on her 1st birthday. She encouraged reading and the importance of simple play.
In a word, she was excellent.
Was.
We've decided that it's time for Zoe to get some socialization. She needs to be around other kids. And she also needs some slightly standardized education. Something formalized. Otherwise she will spend her days demanding to watch Wonder Pets all the time.
So, we're looking at pre-pre-Ks. We've found two that we are interested in. Basically, the cost is the same.
But, it is the end of an era.
So, in the next two weeks or so, we say farewell to Michelle. Zoe's first teacher that wasn't her parents. Her first best friend. Her first babysitter.
Thanks, Michelle.
3 pics
We're two years in now.
I think some of the energy to post here got knocked out of me. After all, 2 is HARD.
Here's some pictures and I implore you to come to Facebook where I post pics a little more regularly.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Smile!
I have GOT to get better at this. After all, I'm supposed to be documenting my child's life.
Well, today was a milestone. At the birthday party for a friend I was snapping pics like a madman. Some of them can be found here: Facebook Pics
But this one moment I trained the cam on Zoe and I told her to "Smile!".
This was the reaction.
One of those moments that you don't realize you will want to remember as incredible is the moment your kid realizes how to do what you ask.
When she comprehended the concept of a smile.
Bliss out.
Of course, just moments later I asked her to do it again and I got this:
So, as you can imagine, I'm really proud.
Well, today was a milestone. At the birthday party for a friend I was snapping pics like a madman. Some of them can be found here: Facebook Pics
But this one moment I trained the cam on Zoe and I told her to "Smile!".
This was the reaction.
One of those moments that you don't realize you will want to remember as incredible is the moment your kid realizes how to do what you ask.
When she comprehended the concept of a smile.
Bliss out.
Of course, just moments later I asked her to do it again and I got this:
So, as you can imagine, I'm really proud.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
"I cry!"
Okay. The terrible twos are in full gear. Zoe is a ditto machine. A recorder. A sponge.
We made the mistake of letting her see some Christmas movies, figuring, "Hell, it's X-Mas, it's special time, let her watch Frosty, fer god's sake!"
Wow. What a can of worms that opened.
Zoe is addicted to Frosty as I may have mentioned before.
She wakes up and talks about "Fossy Sno-men."
Then she points to the stuffed Frosty we made the mistake of giving her, thinking it so adorable that a child who has no concept of snow would fall in love with a SNOW man.
Then, she toddles out of her room, points to the living room and says, "I watt (watch) Fossy?!"
And, of course, the holiday is over so our answer is, "No."
Then she cries, sometimes the tears are real, other times they are crocodile tears.
But they are always followed with the exclamation of:
"I cry! I cry...... I CRY!"
In a way that seems to be saying, "Don't you understand? I was crying and, therefore you should give me what I want, for I was crying. Tears were streaming from my face and they were tears of sadness, be they imaginary or real. See, I CRIED for Frosty, Dad, and you should let me watch. Otherwise you are a very very bad dad."
Master manipulator? or Whiner?
You decide.
We made the mistake of letting her see some Christmas movies, figuring, "Hell, it's X-Mas, it's special time, let her watch Frosty, fer god's sake!"
Wow. What a can of worms that opened.
Zoe is addicted to Frosty as I may have mentioned before.
She wakes up and talks about "Fossy Sno-men."
Then she points to the stuffed Frosty we made the mistake of giving her, thinking it so adorable that a child who has no concept of snow would fall in love with a SNOW man.
Then, she toddles out of her room, points to the living room and says, "I watt (watch) Fossy?!"
And, of course, the holiday is over so our answer is, "No."
Then she cries, sometimes the tears are real, other times they are crocodile tears.
But they are always followed with the exclamation of:
"I cry! I cry...... I CRY!"
In a way that seems to be saying, "Don't you understand? I was crying and, therefore you should give me what I want, for I was crying. Tears were streaming from my face and they were tears of sadness, be they imaginary or real. See, I CRIED for Frosty, Dad, and you should let me watch. Otherwise you are a very very bad dad."
Master manipulator? or Whiner?
You decide.
Swingin'
I know this is ridiculous and every parent is amazed at every little thing their kid does but, heck, it's been so long since I was part of a toddler's experience that I am giddy every time there is something new. And I am getting dangerously close to that time when it's all new and alien. (I was only intermittently in Liz's life from the time she was 2.5 til she was almost 5. It was a long time and a lot was missed.)
Zoe is a swingaholic. Most toddlers are, I guess. They love that feeling. Me, I get nauseated just thinking about it. I can recall being very young, maybe 5 and there was a swingset on a concrete slab behind the apartment we lived in.
I only have one memory of swinging on it, though. And that is immediately accompanied by a memory of that tingling feeling one gets on roller coasters. To some, it's exciting. I guess. To me it just feels like my insides are being tickled and not in a good way.
I took Zoe to the park today. The housekeeper was cleaning and Beth was doing stuff and we just needed some Dad and Daughter time. I wheeled her up to the park in her plastic car. She made a beeline for the swings.
There are only two at this park and they are side by side. One is a baby swing with a chain and the other is a big kid swing.
There was a kid on the baby swing. A four year old. His older brothers (way older) were swinging him. When all of a sudden, whoosh, he slid right under the chain.
He's four.
He didn't do it on purpose.
As we made our way over we were headed off by a woman and her 2.5 year old daughter. I assume the daughter is mute because she didn't utter a word the entire 30 minutes she was on the swing.
No matter. Beth had told me that she had, on occasion, put Zoe on the big kid swing at this park, since there are few options.
I did.
She immediately grabbed the chains.
And she swung.
For about a half hour.
Never needed to get on the baby swing.
I'm impressed.
What can I say?
Here's a couple of shots.
Well, more than a couple.
Zoe is a swingaholic. Most toddlers are, I guess. They love that feeling. Me, I get nauseated just thinking about it. I can recall being very young, maybe 5 and there was a swingset on a concrete slab behind the apartment we lived in.
I only have one memory of swinging on it, though. And that is immediately accompanied by a memory of that tingling feeling one gets on roller coasters. To some, it's exciting. I guess. To me it just feels like my insides are being tickled and not in a good way.
I took Zoe to the park today. The housekeeper was cleaning and Beth was doing stuff and we just needed some Dad and Daughter time. I wheeled her up to the park in her plastic car. She made a beeline for the swings.
There are only two at this park and they are side by side. One is a baby swing with a chain and the other is a big kid swing.
There was a kid on the baby swing. A four year old. His older brothers (way older) were swinging him. When all of a sudden, whoosh, he slid right under the chain.
He's four.
He didn't do it on purpose.
As we made our way over we were headed off by a woman and her 2.5 year old daughter. I assume the daughter is mute because she didn't utter a word the entire 30 minutes she was on the swing.
No matter. Beth had told me that she had, on occasion, put Zoe on the big kid swing at this park, since there are few options.
I did.
She immediately grabbed the chains.
And she swung.
For about a half hour.
Never needed to get on the baby swing.
I'm impressed.
What can I say?
Here's a couple of shots.
Well, more than a couple.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Zoe's first haircut.
I haven't written much lately, I know. It's not that there hasn't been anything going on, there have been holiday parties and celebrations and dinners and events ad nauseam.
And it isn't that I post pretty regularly to facebook (seriously, people, get on facebook, it's sooooo much easier to keep up with people and self blogging is a dying...um...art)
All that said, the reason I haven't posted too much here is that because of one person and a letter that I received.
I won't mention who that person is, because it would be embarrassing and I'm not here for that. Suffice to say it's someone whose opinion meant a lot to me. And that person seriously chided me for using the various mediums (YouTube, Blogger, Facebook) to report on my daughter. This person made it seem like it was an invasion to them and it made them feel like I was bragging about my kid and/or they felt inadequate about theirs. (Either their child or the fact that they don't bloviate about their kid the way I do.)
I was taken aback and it took me a while to realize....
I don't give a damn.
You don't like the show? Change the channel.
The lengths that some people will go to to control others or judge is astounding.
I recommend unsubscribing from this blog if you feel that reading about Zoe and her life is an imposition or overindulgent, self-aggrandizing ballyhoo.
So, here we go.
As you know, Zoe was born with hair that would make Sweeney Todd salivate. The thing about this stuff is, it keeps growing. Bangs in the eyes, hair in the face, it's unmanageable and hard to cut, for all of Zoe's energy and need to wiggle her head in the direction of the point of the scissors.
So we took her to Yellow Balloon, which is a barber shop in the valley that specializes in children. They have toys, tv's playing Kung Fu panda, pinball machines, balloons, it's quite festive. (Adults get their hair cut there, too. And when we went there were two men, both in their 40s that were getting their hair cut. That was scary in so many ways.)
Zoe approached the barber chair, oblivious to what was about to happen.
The odd thing was, once she got in the chair....She was remarkably co-operative. Just. Sat there.
She even seemed to enjoy watching herself in the mirror at times.
She did everything the barber asked and more.
And in the end, she ended up with a nice cut and some glitter. (We didn't ask for it and had we been we would have declined as it was close to naptime)
The thing about Zo's hair is the way it waves, when we brush it we can either bob it under like you see here or give her a Carol Brady flip. And you KNOW which I prefer.....;)
See ya in the New Year, folks!
And it isn't that I post pretty regularly to facebook (seriously, people, get on facebook, it's sooooo much easier to keep up with people and self blogging is a dying...um...art)
All that said, the reason I haven't posted too much here is that because of one person and a letter that I received.
I won't mention who that person is, because it would be embarrassing and I'm not here for that. Suffice to say it's someone whose opinion meant a lot to me. And that person seriously chided me for using the various mediums (YouTube, Blogger, Facebook) to report on my daughter. This person made it seem like it was an invasion to them and it made them feel like I was bragging about my kid and/or they felt inadequate about theirs. (Either their child or the fact that they don't bloviate about their kid the way I do.)
I was taken aback and it took me a while to realize....
I don't give a damn.
You don't like the show? Change the channel.
The lengths that some people will go to to control others or judge is astounding.
I recommend unsubscribing from this blog if you feel that reading about Zoe and her life is an imposition or overindulgent, self-aggrandizing ballyhoo.
So, here we go.
As you know, Zoe was born with hair that would make Sweeney Todd salivate. The thing about this stuff is, it keeps growing. Bangs in the eyes, hair in the face, it's unmanageable and hard to cut, for all of Zoe's energy and need to wiggle her head in the direction of the point of the scissors.
So we took her to Yellow Balloon, which is a barber shop in the valley that specializes in children. They have toys, tv's playing Kung Fu panda, pinball machines, balloons, it's quite festive. (Adults get their hair cut there, too. And when we went there were two men, both in their 40s that were getting their hair cut. That was scary in so many ways.)
Zoe approached the barber chair, oblivious to what was about to happen.
The odd thing was, once she got in the chair....She was remarkably co-operative. Just. Sat there.
She even seemed to enjoy watching herself in the mirror at times.
She did everything the barber asked and more.
And in the end, she ended up with a nice cut and some glitter. (We didn't ask for it and had we been we would have declined as it was close to naptime)
The thing about Zo's hair is the way it waves, when we brush it we can either bob it under like you see here or give her a Carol Brady flip. And you KNOW which I prefer.....;)
See ya in the New Year, folks!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Zoe meets Sinterklass
Yes, we did it. We introduced Zo Zo to the mythical figure and uber-lie that is Santa. To the Grove we went where Santa's house is ginormous, fake snow falls from the sky and miniskirted rockette type dancers ride the trolly and shake it to Holiday tunage.
We get the video of the experience but I am not uploading it here right now.
If you want to see the short flick, come on over to Facebook, add me (or Beth as a friend) and you can see it there.
Hope to see you there!
update: Here is the video for those who don't wish to come to the Facebook gulag.
We get the video of the experience but I am not uploading it here right now.
If you want to see the short flick, come on over to Facebook, add me (or Beth as a friend) and you can see it there.
Hope to see you there!
update: Here is the video for those who don't wish to come to the Facebook gulag.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Been a while....
I guess I should just shut down this blog, right? I mean, I spend much more time informing the world of Zoe's doings on Facebook.
But I keep this because, well, it's a blog and that means its a place to talk about whatever I want, in this case, in relation to having a daughter that is blowing my mind.
Why?
Because she is 19 months and can count to three. She can also count to 10 if you accept the fact that she skips "4".
Oh, and she is picking out EVERY letter in the alphabet by sight! It's a little daunting, having a kid that is smarter than you.
But she is.
And she loves "Cickies". especially Chocolate Chip ones!
I will write more but I'm just gonna dump a handful of pics here and encourage all of you to come over to Facebook, be my and Beth's friend and then you sill see (and comment) on whatever pics we put there.
We're up in Sonoma with Beth's Aunt's family, her dad and Nana for Thanksgiving. It's our yearly sojourn. But it's even more special this time because Zoe's so much more fun.
But I keep this because, well, it's a blog and that means its a place to talk about whatever I want, in this case, in relation to having a daughter that is blowing my mind.
Why?
Because she is 19 months and can count to three. She can also count to 10 if you accept the fact that she skips "4".
Oh, and she is picking out EVERY letter in the alphabet by sight! It's a little daunting, having a kid that is smarter than you.
But she is.
And she loves "Cickies". especially Chocolate Chip ones!
I will write more but I'm just gonna dump a handful of pics here and encourage all of you to come over to Facebook, be my and Beth's friend and then you sill see (and comment) on whatever pics we put there.
We're up in Sonoma with Beth's Aunt's family, her dad and Nana for Thanksgiving. It's our yearly sojourn. But it's even more special this time because Zoe's so much more fun.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Zoe Rocks
Liz Loved Green Day. It wasn't forced upon her, she just heard it, dug it and started dancing.
I've been wondering what kind of music Zoe would like. After all, we play EVERYTHING in this house.
You name it, it gets played.
There is one kind of music that she dances to every single time it's on.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Trick or Treat!
In eleven days Zoe will get her first taste of a real bona-fide kid's holiday. Before Santa comes in the dead of night. Before ChanaClaus spins the dreidel. Before She gets stuffed on Nana's Broccoli casserole. Before all that is the great dusk walk of toddlers for candy.
Up til 3 weeks ago we were all set to send her out as Boo from Monster's Inc. She looks JUST like Boo. We even got a bunch of Monster's Inc dolls, showed her the movie, everything. And then we realized, shit, it's just too hard to explain to those who don't recognize the character.
Then Beth had the lightning bolt idea to send Zo out as a hippie. Only, she seems to be less a hippie than she is sort of Grrl Rocker.
I prefer that. She's no groupie and with her attitude and force of personality, she ain't no hippie.
Up til 3 weeks ago we were all set to send her out as Boo from Monster's Inc. She looks JUST like Boo. We even got a bunch of Monster's Inc dolls, showed her the movie, everything. And then we realized, shit, it's just too hard to explain to those who don't recognize the character.
Then Beth had the lightning bolt idea to send Zo out as a hippie. Only, she seems to be less a hippie than she is sort of Grrl Rocker.
I prefer that. She's no groupie and with her attitude and force of personality, she ain't no hippie.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Zoe's first tat.
Zoe's friend, Sadie, turned two and had a party.
Songs.
Food.
And a face painter.
Once Zoe got her arm tattoo she begged for more.
All in due time, goth girl. All in due time.
Zoe wants to make an educated decision.
Zoe loves stickers.
Zoe loves to say "No-o-o!"
Zoe loves to eat peas.
She loves to sit on the counter while I cook.
She loves to dance.
She loves balloons.
But nothing seems to fascinated her as much as the Sarah Palin issue of Time Magazine.
God help me.
Zoe loves to say "No-o-o!"
Zoe loves to eat peas.
She loves to sit on the counter while I cook.
She loves to dance.
She loves balloons.
But nothing seems to fascinated her as much as the Sarah Palin issue of Time Magazine.
God help me.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Chocolate chip cookies!!!!!!!
Beth made chocolate chip cookies this afternoon. Zoe got ONE and went kookoo dancing in place bananas. So much for the sugar free baby.
Ah, screw it! Bring on the chocolate, right, Zozo??
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