Zoe's First Seven Months
(continued)

Zoe has found her voice in the last couple of months and engages in long chants of �aaaaaaaah�. Lately she�s added a few consonants to the mix, and makes sounds like �bahwahhh�. She enjoys when you imitate her sounds, and she�ll imitate you back. Another favorite Zoe sound is spitting through vibrating lips like a trumpet player. She�s created a unique cry of alternating �waaah�s and trumpet blowing spits. She enjoys the game of fluttering her lips with your hand while she chants �aaaah� which becomes �ah ah ah ah ah� in vibrato. She�ll go from silence to her chant when you flutter her lips.

Zoe used to be a tough customer for a good laugh, but she�s been growing happier and laughing more over time. Her favorite time for a good laugh is in her crib when she�s supposed to be going to sleep. After being put down in the crib to sleep, she gets a major second wind of hyperactive energy. The energy combined with being punch drunk tired leaves her well prepared for silly laughing. Most of the time Zoe will smile or chuckle instead of hard laughing. What makes Zoe laugh? Lifting her blanket over her head and letting it drop on top of her. Then pulling it away with a �peek-a-boo�. She likes when you hide your face with the blanket as well. She laughs hard when you hold her over your head and rub your head into her stomach. She�s also ticklish and responds well to light squeezes on her neck and stomach. Fake sneezes and blowing in her face make her laugh. She recently displayed immense enjoyment and laughter while on a swing at a friend�s house. Zoe�s ability to laugh depends on her mood.

For a short period of time, Zoe cried when anyone other than Jodi or I picked her up. A stranger saying �hello� to her in the stroller would make her cry. When she wasn�t crying for strangers, she�d be indifferent to them. She may have an aversion to certain new experiences. The cold swimming pool made her cry, and it took 15 minutes or so for her to be neutral about the experience.

Zoe has been a champion eater, and took to strained baby solid foods very well. Her eating and swallowing technique is well coordinated. As an infant, you�d know Zoe had enough milk from the bottle when the milk started pouring out the sides of her mouth.