everyday delights

Making friends at sign class

helping dada with the dishes and then
 having a sweet moment at dinner

reading and chomping on board books-looks yummy

started full on solids, and so far it seems like you are loving
the sweet potatoes, apple and avocado that mama made for you.
Yes you now have a section in the freezer.

world needs color

My heart has been sad lately when reading or listening to the news. 

 Your Aunt Chenai and grandpa-world biggest history lovers- say/said this often and Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NLT) "History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new." has so eloquently stated that since King Solomon. 

Being born and raised in a country that only gained independence 31 years ago I have heard and seen injustices all my life. I was born during a colonial era, my first plane ride was to South Africa at 9/10 years old during Aparthied-Segregation of Races- And a week before that trip the Mozambiquean president had just had his plane shot down by the soldiers of Apartheid South Africa. So to say mommy had nightmares that week  would be an understatement. What was meant to be a the coolest experience ever- first plane ride- was the most frightening because I was certain they'd shoot us down too, because like the dead president Samora  Machel- we were black. I didn't tell your grandparents how I felt, mostly because they continued to be excited about our impending vacation and so were my brother and sisters. I was confused. However this  was the first of many vacations to South Africa, and I'm grateful to your grandparents for that, because inspite of the fact that we could only stay at black-only hotels, stop for potty breaks at black-only restaurants etc we always had a ball. On one trip we drove and crossed the border really late, none of the motels were "friendlies" so your grandparents found a nearby truck stop, talked to the guard, and we slept in our station wagon with your grandparents taking shifts on watching us sleep. This and many other insistence's taught us kids that being black didn't mean we couldn't do or be who we wanted to be. We got this lesson taught to us many other times by them by how they conducted their lives, how they treated and talked to people or let people of all races talk to them. With respect.  Yes in some cases you have to work harder, make adjustments but it can be done. We my dear are not defined or confined by what we look like. But not everyone thinks that. And as a mother to a little black girl it hurts my heart to hear and read things that remind me of Aparthied .A 16 year old boy being shot because of what he looked like, a little  12 year old girl gets a movie role in the biggest movie of the year Hunger Games, and people are upset and cruel because she's black. Yes it's 2012. Know that as your dada and I have said when these things happen, we don't spend much time thinking about our race or racism. We just are. And if someone wants to read into our skin color that's their business not ours. But that doesn't mean we are not aware it's there. We don't let racism in our lives, but we will fight it by educating you and your cousins, just like grandma and grandpa did for us. 

So my sweet, smart, beautiful little black girl, know that you're defined by who you are, and that is Child Of God.  Who according to his beautiful plan blessed you with  gorgeous brown skin color. How you love, respect and treat others, your heart, your soul, your lovely smile and your contagious laughter. All these things make you uniquely Zoe. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. 

energized signing baby

on the slide with dada

let me up mama

cooking bible study

you like how i feel this week

Oh my gosh what a week. this has got to be the most mind blowing "growth spurt" you've had so far. I say "growth spurt" because I'm not sure what else to call it. it's like you received a memo that said " live out loud baby!!"
you've been hitting milestones this month but this last week, you're trying to pull yourself up every chance you get. then with our help you start moving your little legs backwards one at a time and then squeal with delight.:)) when you're sitting up you find a "chewable"- that includes anything from Sophie to Dada's foot- and lunge until you're in a semi- crawl position for a minute and you really love going to the park and just being outside. you also experienced your first bible study and all i can say is thank you for being such a great cooking assistant and socializing well with our guests.
you have so much energy these last 10days or so, it's been hard to get any work done. but I'm not complaining!! I've loved watching you become this cray cray baby, especially when you do your squeal sessions..ahhh the best:)) unfortunately you seem to have painful gums from teething so we've had more tears than normal and night night time has been brutal. I've lost my mind at night at least twice this week. HOWEVER yesterday orajel came to the rescue.. last night was the best sleep we've had since, gosh since I was in my second trimester-glorious- and today's naps have lasted longer than 30mins:)) God is good!!
And now for the BEST part-I'm still trying to figure out what to do to reward you- today you SIGNED!! the last couple of weeks we've going to baby sign class and you absolutely love it, especially song time. I love watching how focused you are when our instructor Joann starts signing to music. when we sign at home you always smile when I'm trying to "communicate". and now when I play any music you look at my hands as if looking for the signs to start..hilarious!! -she held you today and when she gave you back you whimpered and reached out to go back, so i'm going with you like what she's doing a lot-so anyway today you were in the carseat and seemed like you were getting testy, I signed milk and you smiled AND signed back, ahh i flipped out and dada was super excited too!! It was truly a MOMENT!! so good job baby girl we're super proud of you!!
Now let's see what the rest of this week has to offer...
Thank you God for my special baby girl.

los angeles fun

so on thursday your dada decided it was time for us to get away and get some much needed rest and relaxation, and instead of waiting for auntie chenai driving down this month, drive down and see her. great idea dada. even better because we would get to see uncle chandi, and aunt lizzie and uncle rich. well God willed it and everyone was free. as if that wasn't enough our friend miranda in san clemente was going to be able to take time off for lunch on our way to LA. spontaniety can be so delightful, so thank God your dad is mr spontaniety.

fun times at Griffith Observatory

 i'm so glad we did it, it was an absolutely blessed time for our little family, and mama and dada courtesy of uncle rich and aunt lizzie got to eat the best burger EVER, free room and board-THE BEST SLUMBER YET!! in their gorgeous home.

tons of kisses for aunt lizzie

BEST burger EVER!! and you slept in the moby the whole time
so mama could LOVE on this baby for a minute..appreciated

girls morning stroll with aunt lizzie

and beach day with aunt chenai and uncle chandi felt like a massage for all our souls. you'll hear of priceless moments, we had a priceless day. and you were the best as always, enjoying all the activities and HATING the car seat-don't feel bad i'm not a fan either.

playing with uncle chandi

holding on to auntie chenai

family snapshot

cousin love

"get me out mama" same look everytime

already looking forward to the next trip

first swing ride

maybe it's just me but i think you LOVED, your first trip to the park and swing ride. obviously i did.

family fun

5 months of munchkin love

5 mos of sweetness

your favorite hangout

helping dada unpack boxes

or not

yesterday I received a text from a mommy friend who asked me if I was now settled in my "new normal",and I thought "yes!!" that's what I've been feeling lately, "normal" again. you've obviously made it my favorite normal ever, but of course I still having new mommy issues. you know when I squeeze your hand, or feel your heart to make sure you're still breathing when you sleep; when I wake up at 3am to google a perceived ailment or check what other moms are saying on baby center; or when I go back and forth on whether you need solids today or a month from now;...and on and on.but I guess that's what Cathy mean't by "new normal". she might've been too polite to ask " are you now more accepting of the neurotic personality that showed up five months ago?" I would've answered "yes, and cheers to 18-forever years of that!!"
the neurosis gets better though as your little personality develops. as I pointed out awhile ago you're sitting up all by yourself..yes I'm still beaming with joy; like any five month old you like to reach and chew but your lunges for food are a little aggressive, dada loves watching you dive for my food and he pumps his fists in the air with pride. a little disturbing but hey he's a proud dad right?; we love how you look around with a huge grin on your face when we call your name, even when dada with an exaggerated Italian accent calls you ..Zoe Battafucco..a proud moment for us both.not. but you laugh so who am
I to complain; when you sit in your pack and play and at first sweetly chew and play and then suddenly start pounding your toys on the mat with an aggression that makes dada want to get you in karate yesterday:)) your laugh that we're graced with more and more, and that smile that just gets more beautiful with each passing day. as a new still slightly neurotic mom I unabashedly look forward to the next month with the anticipation of a kid in Charlie's chocolate factory-another movie we have to watch.
in case I haven't said it enough today I love you and I thank you for being you..

birthday week celebrations

beautiful emerie

sweet joshie

Feb 25th- happy birthday sweet, beautiful cousin Emerie. sweetest little girl with a gorgeous smile and the most beautiful big brown eyes. she loves to walk around "talking"to herself and is an absolute dada's girl. we love you and miss you cousin Emerie and wish you a happy 2nd birthday.
March 2nd- happy birthday to auntie bebe's sweet joshie or thomas depending on who he wants to be that day:)) we absolutely adore your gentle heart and Thomas train engine loving spirit, enthusiasm for life and that amazing smile that always melts our hearts. you're a big boy now joshie but you'll always be auntie bebe's sweet tubby who still gives the best side hugs. love you joshie happy 6th birthday.