Where is Zoe?

Baby Zoe,

Grandma Roza returned to her home. I left work, and am taking care of you until I have another job. Being a housewife is not the future I envisioned, but having a retarded, low pay work or catching your milestones, I'll take the latter when I can. So here are some things I caught lately:

The other day, as  I was pushing your stroller around the lake, you lifted the blanket up over your face, and when I asked "Zoe, where are you?" you revealed a grinning face, followed by my exclamation "here you are!" We've been playing hide-and-seek during diaper changes, but I was surprised that you transfered the principle of the game into a different environment and actually initiated it. We played the game all the way home.

When people wave "Hello," you wave back, lifting your arm, moving your hand, and studying how your little fingers move independently. You study everything. I don't like waving "Good bye" to you, because I don't think you know the difference yet.

You have your own shelf in the kitchen cabinet. When I work in the kitchen, I open the door, you stand up, and pull all shelf contents on to the kitchen floor. You shake things and bang them against one another. I join you on the floor, and show you how different materials make different sounds. Your interest goes beyond, and you pull things from the surrounding shelves. I removed all fragile objects within your reach. Papa pointed out that you can actually reach a fragile salad bowl - you are so tall - but I'm out of available shelves.

Your goal lately has been to stand up without support. You squat, and try to pull yourself up, holding to nothing. You're very close. With a little push, you managed to stay up on the bed for a couple of seconds once. Soon you'll stand on your own and walk.