The Whitlock Family » zoe

Miss Zoe

Curtis — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:29:46 +0000

IMG_1986

Originally uploaded by Curtis and Stephanie

Zoe enjoying the late afternoon after I got home from work yesterday.

The Ninth Day

Curtis — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:55:23 +0000

Today almost felt normal. I was able to pull weeds and turn dirt in a few of the boxes in the garden. I was also able to plant the onions I bought almost two weeks ago. I had put on wool socks, a beanie, gloves, and my rain jacket just to keep warm though. We had a cold front come though yesterday or so and we were in the 40′s today. It feels like winter again.
It also felt half normal as we didn’t make the second trip to the hospital for the day. Stephanie and I just kind of sat on the couch with Zoe and watched a few movies. It felt good to have a bit of normalcy in the house. Though now I feel horrible that I didn’t say goodnight to Ashleigh. This past week we have made a point to go to the hospital twice a day, usually sometime early in the afternoon and then after 8pm. I know that me going up there doesn’t do much good (or does it?), but it just eases my mind knowing she is okay. We have the direct line to the NICU if we wanted to just call and check on her, but doing it in person is much better.
Stephanie and I have both grown to like one of the night nurses, Ashli, and a few of the day nurses. Yesterday we were able to speak to the Neonatologist about the PDA. It got smaller. It’s now 2mm, which is very small, but not good enough. So he started the second round of Indocin treatment. The last dose was given around 8pm tonight. Tomorrow, Ashleigh will begin feedings again. Monday will bring another Echocardiogram to see if the PDA has fully closed. Lets hope it does, as the next step is surgery.
I also found time to crochet a cute little hat for Ashleigh. I’m not sure how long she’ll be able to wear it though. I’m hoping she grows fairly quickly.

Down in the dumps

Curtis — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:12:12 +0000

Zoe is sick. We took her to the doctor and she has strep throat and a double ear infection. Today she went to the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor since she has had so many ear infections. He says that their was no real damage in her ears and that we could put tubes in but at around 2 years there is a chance of them falling out and may or may not need them put back in. He thought it best just to wait.
Tonight she hasn’t been feeling good at all. Moaning and not really wanting to take a bottle. She’ll lay with Stephanie for a bit and then moan “Daddy.” She doesn’t really want me, it seems she just want me to fix her not feeling well. Which sucks, as everything I would get her she didn’t want. It makes me feel so sorry for her. On top of that, she threw up a big load about 30 minutes ago. Thankfully it was in the kitchen.
She’s now asleep in our bed, spread out across it, with no room for me or Stephanie, and if we try and put her in her own bed she’ll wake up.
Poor kid.

A not so ho hum Monday

Curtis — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:58:46 +0000

Who cares if I didn’t write anything yesterday? Not me. I had better things to do, like fall asleep on the couch after watching Sunday Night Football. NaBloPoMo was a bust. At least to me. It was difficult to write, or at least think of something to write about. Posting just a picture seemed pretty lame to me. So when I woke up at 12:45 this morning I really could have cared less that I missed writing yesterday.

I had to make the long 60 mile drive to McKinney this morning to install a few parts on a machine that were ordered before Thanksgiving and after finishing up I did a search for “yarn” in google maps on my phone. Low and behold Yarn Again popped up. It showed to be less than a mile from where I was, so I figured I’d drive by. It was located across from the county courthouse. I parked and went looking for the address. 208 E Louisiana St. The sign read Antique House. I guess Google wasn’t up to date or something. I figured I go on in since I was there. Lots of cool things, some I’d consider ‘junk’ if it were in my garage. Though, there were some nifty pieces of furniture, old Christmas items, and even a hand crank meat grinder. Upstairs was mostly just a wrap around with a big hole looking down. There were three rooms at the rear of the second floor. I guess Google was right, because posted above the last one was the sign I was looking for. Yarn Again. Inside were various selections of baby alpaca, merino, and hand painted cotton yarns. Nothing really suited my fancy. There were some patterns for knit socks and a scarf. All in all a good find. I had a photo but my phone doesn’t want to upload it for some reason.

We won in volleyball tonight. We lost in volleyball tonight.
No, that is not a mistake. We did both. Our match at 8:30 tonight went to 3 games and we came though on top. We then turned around and played at 9:30. That game didn’t do so well, not even needing the tie breaker. We pulled a “Cowboys Can’t Pull Though in December” moment and lost against yet another team we defeated in the regular season. I can’t say we didn’t play bad, but we didn’t play well either. See you in February.

Zoe says, “Hello.” Look at all those beautiful teeth. They are still coming in.

Here is the skinned up knee she got after falling in the drive way over the weekend.

Zoe says, “Leave my ouchy alone. It still hurts.”

Doing chores

Curtis — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:33:26 +0000

Nana is training Zoe early to do chores the right way. Get them done early and you can go play!!

ZG

Curtis — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:41:01 +0000

Here are two photos of the Z the weekend before Halloween.

She was just chillin’ on the couch at her Poppy’s house.

Today we had some errands to run and presents to buy for Christmas and it was a perfect time for Zoe to take a nap.

All Hallows’ Eve

Curtis — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:33:43 +0000

This was Zoe’s second Halloween and the first where she sort of remotely had any idea what was going on. She held her own bucket, collected most of her own candy, walked up the drive way. I must say, she was the prettiest lady bug on the streets that night. I went as myself with a south-of-the-border type hat, and Stephanie as a cat. Next year I’m afraid we’re going to get really dressed up with her. That should be interesting.
We didn’t even carve a pumpkin this year.
I remember many moons ago, I went as a vampire, clown, and a bear. I’m not sure what else I was. I think I went as a vampire a few years in a row, complete with slick back hair and plastic fangs. My sister went as a bag of Lays potato chips once. She and mom got creative that year. As I got older, my neighbor friend and I would would climb up and hide in the pecan tree in the front yard and scare little kids. Those were the days.

The 31st also marked the end of Daylight Savings Time. Most people I know dread the change. I just remind them that we are now back to normal time. The normal time the sun should go down.
For me, it also marks the early beginnings of the holiday season. Pumpkin pies, no more mowing, and brisk mornings.

You’ll also notice the little NaBloPoMo image on the right. Yes, I’m going to try and write every day for a month. My sister has participated for the past few years and I figured I’d follow suite. So get ready for lots of posts.

A Year in Review…

Curtis — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:09:07 +0000

A year has come and gone and Stephanie and I now have a one year old on our hands. Where did the time go? Words cannot express how fast it came and left. We are having a birthday party for Zoe on Saturday. I’m hosting a birthday party for my kid. WTF? I remember yesterday I was having a birthday party at the mini golf course and riding bumper boats with my friends. It’s all kind of surreal to say the least.

12hours to go time.

Zoe’s first closeup

First family portrait.

Two peas in pod.

“This thing is choking me”

One of three great-grandmas.

Brr…hold me closer.

Mimi and Grandpa

Poppy and Gram

“I’m thinking of a number…”

There are my favorite pj’s she has….and can no longer wear.

“Mom, cover my mouth. I think i’m going to sneeze”

“What are you looking at?”

About to take her first plane ride.

Mom and sissy at church function

“Dad, I don’t want a picture”

Zoe reading to daddy

“Mom, these are not hiphuggers, these are ribhuggers.”

Learning to crawl.

Making Aunt Misti happy and mad all at the same time.

Starting to sit up…with assistance.

I’m so cute

“Mom, you can put these shoes on me now, but when we get in the car I’m taking them off!”

Aunt Misti came to town and we when to the zoo.

Happy Easter.

Like father, like daughter.

Learning to walk.

Hey look ma’. I made a mess for you to clean up!!

My first tooth.

Umm…a little help please?

BOO!!!

“Hey Dad, can I come in there and help you?”

Happy Birthday, Zoe. Here is to another year. I hope the next twelve months are as enjoyable as the first 12. I know you come from a long line of Kincade’s, but can you grow some longer hair?

Retirement

Curtis — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:37:09 +0000

Another year has come and gone. Fast. Extremely fast. I turned 26 a few days ago and 30 is fast approaching. Last year Zoe was born and life has gone in a totally different direction. Actually it hit that fork a few years ago. I’m no longer a carefree 20 something. I’m a father. A husband. A provider. Caring for a baby is one of the coolest things. The unconditional love is awesome. Last year proved to provide THE happiest day of my life. Marriage(sorry sweetie), graduation, moving out on my own. Nothing compares. Watching the miracle of birth is an amazing thing. I cried the hardest I had cried in a real long time. Twentyfive was a growing up year. I finally considered myself a grown-up. I’m leaving for Colorado in less than 12 hours to go backpacking for a week. Though I haven’t told anyone until now, this will be my last hiking ‘trip’. There may be the occasional weekend getaway, but its time to move on. We are going to Arizona at the end of August for a week long vacation with Zoe. As the years go on I want to give Zoe the most memories that I can. I want to be able to take her to Disneyworld, Mount Rushmore, and to other cool places that I never got to do and share them with her. I just don’t want to take that extra week away from her. When she gets older and starts looking at all the old photos of me in my prime and wants to know what I did, then perhaps I’ll dig out all of my gear and show her the ropes.
So until a great opportunity shows itself or Zoe peaks interest, I’m done. This next week is kind of like a farewell tour. Or it could just end up being a like a Cher farewell tour….

Until then, I leave you with the words to a song that means a lot to me…more times than not, it seems I succumbed to what I never wanted to happen.

“I Don’t Mind” – by Peter Bingen

Well I am looking, I am searching, I have found
Near the ground, my soul, myself, beneath this trail.
There’s no other place I’d rather be.
Can’t you see me out here walkin’ in the rain and hail.

Purpose of life seems to me is
Not to take yourself too seriously.
I wouldn’t want to be an old man sittin’ in an office
Building someplace far away, with worry on my face.

Well you can take my car, my stereo, my little money.
Leave me with nothin’ but my trail family.
Take my dress up clothes, my cheap cologne,
My college loans I don’t mind, I don’t mind.

Well if that taxman comes lookin’ I’m at 10,000 feet
Cookin’ up some oatmeal or some rice and beans.

I worship the Spirit who doesn’t just look down
He looks up and through and all around,
Find Him in the rocks and trees. Cause there’s no reason to pray
When you wake up every day to the sunrise over Cito Peak.

So find some ground lace up your boots start walkin’
And you will find reason, enough reason to believe.

Well you can drop your worries at the parking lot
Or way down in the city where the sun burns hot.
Although civilization is a nice place to visit,
I wouldn’t want to live there.

Oh just one final paragraph of advice don’t burn yourselves out. – - -
Be as I am. It’s not enough to fight for the land.
It’s even more important to enjoy it while you can, while it’s still here.

So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around.
Ramble out yonder, explore the woods, encounter the grizz,
Climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers,
Breathe deep that yet sweet lucid air.

Sit quiet for awhile contemplate the precious stillness
That mystery and awesome space enjoy yourself.
Keep your brain in your head and your head attached to your body.
Body active and alive. And I promise you this much.

I promise you this one sweet victory, over our enemies.
Over those desk bound people with their hearts in a box
And their eyes hypnotized by calculators.
I promise you this one sweet victory…
YOU’LL OUTLIVE THE BASTARDS!

The not so nice side….

Curtis — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:16:25 +0000

So, there was a certain someone that wondered if there was any other side of Zoe other than the cute happy one. Here she is throwing a fit because she wants her mommy. Enjoy.

The end where you can see me talking I was supposed to say something like, “That one was for you, Aunt Sissy.” But it didn’t really work.