Zoe hit the great 18 month milestone while we were in Carlsbad, CA for our annual vacation. Wow. It is really a kick in the butt. She has started talking quite a bit. Using more words everyday, and learning new ones is the cool part. We are splitting the penthouse suite of an ocean front beach house with Momma’s mom and grandma. Ya-Ya and Little Ya-Ya, respectively. We all sat around the table with her the other night. telling her “Say Momma” and she’d reply “Ma-Ma”. Say “Daddy” and she’d pop out “Da-Da” in her usual tone of voice. But then we’d ask her to say Ya-Ya and shed say it back to us, pitching her voice about 3 octives higher in a soothing sweet tone, as if to say, “I love you Ya-Ya.” Apparently the family’s manipulation skills are hard-coded in her DNA!

We are all having a good time on the beach. The first day we went down to the ocean, Zoe ran straight for the water without hesitation. She was having just a great time. Then, on day two, Momma decided to put her on a boogie board and let her catch a small wave. Wrong! The small wave caught her and tossed her under the salty brine filling her tiny mouth and lungs with bad ocean memories. It took us 5 days just to get her to go back in the water. Momma felt so bad, thinking she had ruined all hope of her every enjoying the ocean or event just drinking water again.

We took her to Sea World yesterday and she had a ball! She watched all the shows, all the way through. Each show was about 20 minutes long and every one kept her interest. We were amazed, especially considering that she never got a nap and was in a great mood the whole time.

Momma got to do the “Interact with the dolphins” with Ya-Ya and looked like a little girl again, smiling from ear to ear, as she stroked the dolphins head like a new found puppy. Afterwards, she told me it was the most fun shes had her entire life. Judging from the smile she had in her face, she wasn’t joking. Zoe had a tough time watching her have so much fun and not being able to be with her, but a quick handful of fish crackers wooed her into a pleasant state of gluttony, forgetting her woes, if only for a short while. When Momma came out dressed and ready to leave, it was as if Zoe hadn’t seen her in a week!

Zoe conked out as we headed for the car to leave with dreams of dancing sea mammals in her head, and a plushy Shamu in her lap…

Categories: Milestones
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