I Love This Kid (Part I)

When Lance and I found out we were expecting our first child, we were very open about the fact that we WANTED A BOY. Just for the first kid. After that, we didn't care whether we had boys or girls. The first HAD to be a boy. We had a bunch of reasons-- most of which I don't really remember because we had Zoie. Of course, like most parents, by the time she was born we were ecstatic about our daughter. And now, I am so grateful that our oldest is a girl. I honestly say that out loud on a weekly basis.

Let me share with you a classic "Zoie". Last week during Vomit Fest 2011 (see previous post), Tobin and I were down with a stomach bug and Zoie and Chase were healthy (so far). My sweet girl took matters into her own hands and took control of the house. She put Chase (who weighs almost as much as her) in his high chair and made dinner-- mini corn dogs. She then found me on my knees in the bathroom and quietly set down a throw-up bowl and a glass of water for me. She later had me lay down while she read a Dr Seuss book to me (moments later, she got sick). Lance and I joke that she will be running the house by the time she's eight.

Zoie is finishing kindergarten this week. Like many a "Slovacek" before her, she is an insatiable reader and also loves to write. I absolutely love to read her papers. Just today she made a book for her kindergarten teacher:

I KNOW YOU WORKT HARD. I CAN TELL. I LIRND ALOT FROM YOU. I WILL MISS YOU SO MUCH! YOU WERE GRAET!

Her teacher told us to let her write without spelling corrections-- in order to build confidence. And I love it. I love this phase where she expresses herself so well and will probably be sad when she has perfect spelling and grammar.

Zoie is super smart and funny and has (more than a little) attitude. I am so grateful to be Zoie's mom and I am looking forward to spending more time with this girl over the summer...