Zoe LeAnna

I meant to post this a long time ago, but never got around to it. I guess it's because Zoe is such a unique, complex little girl... it's just hard to sum her up, especially in one little post, but I will do the best I can.

Zoe Anna is definately full of personality, to say the least. This can be so, so wonderful and also at other times not so wonderful! I have without a doubt met my match. So many times her response to something just completely throws me off guard. So much so that I don't have a clue what to do or say back to her. For instance, the other day I told her for the umpteenth time to pick up her toys and if she didn't do it this time I would just throw them away. Now, I'm a firm believer in mean what you say and say what you mean so I fully intended to do it. This is where she throws me a curve... "Ok mommy, I want you to throw my toys away". Well, as you can guess that is not how I expected things to go. She knows exactly what she is doing. She knows that I don't really want to throw away the toys. She knows that I really want her to pick them up. She is teaching me that I have to learn new ways to work with her.

Before Christmas she had spent the day with Nanna. As they were on their way home, she decided to get a little attitude. Well... big attitude. Anyway, Nanna reminded her that she needed to be a good little girl because Santa was watching her to which Zoe replied "No he's not!! Santa's at the mall!!" Nanna gave her some explanation as to how he was still watching her even though he was at the mall. Zoe thought about this for a few minutes, then in her sweet little voice told Nanna "you know I was just kidding with you!".

I could tell a million stories about that little girl. She surprises me everyday one way or another. Good and bad. She acts like such a little grown up at times. I don't mean in a responsible grown up way, I mean in a dramatic grown up way. I'm sure some things she picks up from me, but there are things that she says and does that I absolutely cannot figure out how she would even begin to know anything about. It amazes me. She just turned 3 in December, but she acts more like a 4 or 5 year old. She has always seemed a lot older than she really is. I always thought it was just because she's big for her age, but it really is so much more than that. I honestly cannot put into words what it is about her. Those who know her though know exactly what I am talking about.

Zoe Anna is also such a loving, sweet little girl. She loves her sisters more than anything. I love watching her with Heidi and the way she talks to her. They are only 20 months apart but Zoe acts like a little mama to her. Sometimes Heidi will be crying and Zoe will say "it's ok baby. I'm right here" or " it's ok baby. don't cry. I will take care of you" and she does take care of her. She will get her a blankie or paci or if she can't help she will tell me in a very matter of fact voice what I need to do for Heidi. Tonight when I was getting them to sleep, Heidi did something funny and Zoe looked at me and said "awww, she's soooo cute" and just giggled.

She adores Caleigh too. She wants so badly to be big like Caleigh and to dress like her and hang out with her and her friends and do what they do. She can't understand why sometimes they don't want her to hang out with them and it hurts her feelings so, so bad. Or she could just be manipulating me again... who knows;).

I could go on and on but I won't. Hopefully I will be a better blogger and stay on top of things... wish me luck!!!