Zooey from May - June

I realized I never finished my update for May (sorry!), so I thought I'd just update for May and June. Zooey is adorable. I love how "big girl" she is! I feel like she's gotten taller in the last two months, as her legs look a lot longer, and she's already outgrowing some of the clothes I got her in April.

I love listening to Zooey's language develop and the funny things she says. Here are some silly stories from the past two months:

At a 2 hour doctor's appointment last month, I prayed with her that God would help us both to be patient. She started praying, "Help me God obey, go to Chick-Fil-A soon."

She ran out to say goodnight to me recently, and some ladies were over for Bible study. She saw we were eating chocolate and asked for some. When I told her no, she excitedly told everyone that there is chocolate in her boogers.

When I got her up to go to CO, I said, "Zooey, are you ready for the airport and to go on the plane?" She sleepily responded, "Yeah," then excitedly said, "OH MOMMY! Yeah!"

Handing me a picture "Me make beautiful picture for Mommy."

When Gideon was crying at our house, "Baby Gideon! It's ok it's ok it's ok! Me come out me come out me come out!!" She was very concerned and wanted to go help him.

She's started holding her dolls up to her chest and saying, "Me hold baby Tennyson on my boob."

She told us she is going to marry Peter Pan in two months. This was on our anniversary, when we were explaining marriage to her and that she may someday get married, too.

Zooey freaked.out about her swim lessons. So much so that I had to move her back to the parent-tot class with me for a few weeks. The second day in that class, I had her swim to the teacher, and when she was swimming back, she started singing "Trust and Obey," which is a hymn we learned at BSF that I sing to her when she's afraid.

One night after a difficult day, we prayed about obedience. As I was singing her bedtime songs to her, she rolled over on her tummy and began praying, "Help me obey. Amen!"

We went to a birthday party on Saturday. Zooey LOVES cake. Girl after my own heart. She was a good distance away from me and the little girl's mom, who asked the birthday girl if she was ready for cake. Despite the noise and distance, Zooey shouted, "YEAH!!" and ran over to the cake table.

I've had a nasty cut on my arm. Zooey has been looking at it and kissing my boo boo. The other day, she asked, "You boo boo better?" I told her that yes, it was healing. She said, "Jesus heal that."

We were listening to her Veggie Tales CD in the car. A song came on about how God makes us special. She said, "Me special too! Me special (to) Jesus!"

I got Zooey up from her nap one day this week, and she tried to pull my shirt down and put her doll on my boob to "eat mommy's milk." I told her no, so she put the doll up to her own chest.

As you can probably tell, Zooey's pretty excited about baby Tennyson! She loves babies. We're working with her now on being gentle with baby Gideon. She just, in the words of my pastor's wife, and like many little kids "loves big." She doesn't understand her own strength. And, man is that girl strong! Her swim instructor even commented on how strong her kicks are. She's like her daddy in that way.

One of the things that has been a blessing with Zooey's language growth is hearing her talk about God more. She's also really started to attempt to sing the last couple weeks, and it's neat to hear her try to sing along to the hymns at bedtime. Working with kids, and now especially her, it is such a privilege to see the way that small children have a BIG faith in Jesus. They take what He says at His Word. Oh, how I often wish I had that kind of faith.

Zooey's such a sweet girl. Last time I updated I mentioned that 3.5 is a tough age. Although we're not past all the rough spots, I have noticed the last couple weeks we seem to be in a calmer, more obedient phase. I love these times! I've been having fun with Zooey. She loves playing in water and swimming. She's crazy about puzzles right now and doing them "all by meself!" She also continues to like arts and crafts, especially learning to cut with scissors; she's getting better all the time. She is becoming interested in the words in books, and pretends to read and tell stories. It is so fun being her mommy, and I pray many nights before bed that God will help me to remember and cherish these sweet times when she's so little. It's truly a treasure.

Serious sleepy day

Loving on her baby in her "moby wrap"

flying a kite with Daddy

TV time snuggles

A serious daddy's girl

petting a hedgehog at Chick-Fil-A family night

being cute

so much love!

a rough night with extra snuggles at bedtime - this is how she self-soothes