Zoe's first trip to Michigan and Walking

We've just returned from Michigan. Zoe took her first plane ride, met her cousins Maggie and Samantha, ate her first strawberries (and LOVED them), played with Grammy and Grandpa, met several life long friends of mine and last but not least, finally started walking!!! Some highlights:

Walking
After posting several weeks ago that Zoe had taken her first step, she had not taken any more steps until a few days before leaving for Michigan. While in Michigan, she started daring a bit more and more. On Friday, the day before flying home, she began taking 4 or 5 steps at a time, trying to get to a big ball. She LOVES balls. After missing the first few times, I was able to record these steps on video.


Fever they day we left
Zoe developed a fever the night before our flight out. By 2 AM on Saturday 10/13, her temperature was 102, no other symptoms. We decided to pack up the car, leave a bit early and stop in the pediatrician's office, unannounced, on the way to the air port - with the hope that they could squeeze us in to make sure Zoe did not have an ear infection. Can I just say, I love the folks at our Pediatrician's office. They worked us in, even though they had a full case load on a Saturday. Turned out there was no ear infection, probably the beginning of a cold or a delayed reaction to immunizations she received a few weeks earlier. So we were clear to fly! (The fever turned into a cold, which was subsequently passed to Vera and my dad, ah germs!)

The Flights
After weeks of anticipating that Zoe would be antsy and fussy on the plane, we had an uneventful flight! Zoe sat on either one of our laps and watched her Signing Time DVDs the whole way. On the way home we were able to get three seats together so we strapped in Zoe's car seat and she slept 3 of the 5 hours. Check out these clips, waiting at the gate at SFO and Zoe's first plane ride.



The People
Zoe met my life long friends the Sandbergs (who drove 3 hours each way in one day just to meet her) and the Taubes (alas, not all of the Taube clan were able to make it, hopefully next trip!) Also my dear friend Teresita also drove 3 hours each way in one day to meet her. It was wonderful to have these important people, my extended family, meet her. Zoe also got to meet her cousins, Maggie and Samantha and her Aunt Kaite. All three of the girls got along and really enjoyed playing together. How cool it was to have my brother's kids playing with my kid. I guess I'm still in awe that both my brother and I are parents. Zoe had such a great time the first evening they met, that after she left, she hung out by the door waving and asking for the babies to come back. She calls all kids "babies", check out this video.



Grammy's Birthday
The main reason for making this trip at this time, was to celebrate my mom's birthday. Grammy was in heaven. She had all of her grandchildren there to blow out the candles with her. It was truly a special celebration. Check out the video of Zoe playing with Grammy's musical birthday card. A gift for my mom was to have professional photos taken of our family. Which we did.




A concert and 2 movies
Vera and I took in a Brandi Carlile concert and two movies. It was great to be able to leave Zoe with my folks, who were more than happy to spend quality time with her, and have some quality time of our own.

It was a great trip!