Week 46: Miss Curiosity

Miss Curiosity is using her walker to get around the house and break-in to everything.

Sophia had fun with her new bowling game and...

she also found a new game on her own -- it is called pull out all the clothes out of the hamper and tip it over. Now if she could only fold the laundry we would be all set.

Sophia was always interested in feeding herself with the spoon, but she gave up early on and decided she would get more food if I fed her. Now she seems interested again and with less mess.

Happy First Birthday Ryan! Sophia went to her first First Birthday party on Tuesday. Her friends Rylee and Layla were there. She had fun playing and eating new foods - spinach and potato bites.

The telephone is such a classic toy that never goes out of style even though NO ONE has a rotary phone anymore. Sophia likes to mix it up a little and play with it upside down.

And here she is trying to break in to the bad (chemicals) cabinet. Good thing we started child proofing months ago.

Sophia has a new trick. She can take off her sweat shirt over her head. ..if she could only figure out that all she has to do is take her arms out.

Uh oh. Sophia got trapped under the stool and she couldn't get out..

Yummy. Sophia had her first taste of mac and chreese (that's right it is a vegan cheese substitute) and LOVED it. We are waiting to start dairy, but she is getting ready in theory for her first pizza party next month.

We went to Casey's house (late of course) on Friday for playgroup. Riley has a fun little house that Sophia enjoyed playing with.

Sophia finally found the courage to get on her new zebra rocker that she got for Christmas!

On Sunday we went to the acquarium. It was interesting trying to keep Sophia happy after skipping her afternoon nap, but she made it and we had a nice time catching up with old friends.

Week 45: Happy New Year!

Randie hosted a special Monday playgroup this week since she was off work for the holidays, but I am sure she is totally regretting it. The whole family ended up getting that same stomach virus that the rest of us had two weeks ago. As I write this Leah is still recooperating--get well soon!

We hada great time playing with Leah, especially since we don't get to see her often. There is a room full of toys but this yellow square with a knob is irresistable to both of them.

Sophia always takes her shoes off as soon as I put them on, and usually they go right in her mouth. I have decided to wait until we are in the car to put them on.

This last week Sophia has had a lot more energy and now wants to explore everything in the house. Here she is trying to get into her seat by herself.

We have a room of toys, but she wants to play with the kitchen stools. Since she is crawling on the hard wood floors, she now has bruises on her knees. But it doesn't bother her one bit.

Sophia wore her special sparkle pants for New Year's Eve and she stayed up late to watch the ball drop.. ha ha, not really, she went to sleep at 6:45pm. Our friends had planned to come up but there was a snow storm. So Nick and I watched movies and had a yummy fondue dinner to ring in the new year.

Happy New Year 2009! I cannot believe that we are entering a new calendar year and Sophia is almost 1 yrs old. 2008 was such a great year with us being blessed with a new baby and now in 2009 we get to continue to watch her grow and become this little girl who is walking around. It amazes me everyday.

Sophia can get off of her lion by holding on to this stool for balance and swinging her leg around -- even in a dress! Thanks to her Aunt Krissy for this pretty and cozy Alpaca wool dress.

Our friends (John, Johanna and Paul) came up to celebrate New Year's day with us. Paul had his construction hat on and was ready to work in the basement with Nick.

Yeah, more presents. Sophia enjoyed her new barn animals bowling set and nursery rhyme book, while Paul put on his batman pjs right away.

What do people eat on New Year's day? Indian food and chocolate fondue of course. ..Well, not Sophia. She ate her usual variety of finger foods.

Sophia knows how to dance to the beat. She seems to like Tribe called Quest the best (I didn't even listen to it when she was in the womb).

Someone doesn't like to put their coat on..

Luckily moods change quickly for the boo. Give her a little time to reflect (in the mirror) and she is happy again.

Give a child an orange ball and a plastic spatula and she will be happy.

Sophia uses her lion walker to get all around the house.

Grandma came to visit on Sunday and play with Sophia. I actually cooked. That's right, I made chili and it was pretty good. I am becoming so domestic.

Caught in the act. Sophia cruises all around the couch and always ends up at this end table trying to open the drawer. Maybe because I tell her not to.

Week 44: Merry Christmas and Happy 10 months!

Sophia and I went to visit my Grandma with my Dad who was visiting this week from Colorado. We celebrated Christmas early with Great Grandma Nell. We gave Grandma a photo calendar and she gave Sophia a ball popper that had balls flying everywhere. Sophie was pretty scared of it, even when it was still in the box!

Emma made all the Friday playgroup babies these adorable hats. We all think she is a superstar and should go into business selling these hats. Sophia loved her hat so much she let me put it on her for more than 3 seconds which is a record for her.

Grandpa came over to visit on Tuesday and played with Sophia some more.

Baby's First Christmas Eve. Sophia received this adorable hat and stocking from Barb and Tucker. We spent the morning playing and waiting for family to come over.

Sophia happily played under the Christmas tree in her new dress.

Jonathan gave Sophia a cute cloth book with baby animals.

Pop pop and Dorothy gave Sophia this stuffed horse to ride (they have real horses at their house, so Sophia can be a future rider). Her pony also came with a "Daddle" that Nick can put on his back to give piggy back rides around the house.

Merry Christmas!!! surprise surprise, Sophia and I were the only ones awake at 6am waiting for the others to get up. We started the celebrations with an early breakfast and then Sophia napped while the adults ate breakfast. I bet next year we will have to get to presents right away.

"I'm sitting on my new pony ready for Christmas!"

Sophia with her Auntie Krissy.. with presents everywhere!

The wrapping paper was the most fun new toy of the day.

That's right.. Santa gave Sophie her very own Gymbo the clown. It hasn't received quite the same reaction without Sam singing.

What a happy baby. We gave her her first baby doll (this one pictured here was a stand in for the real baby doll that didn't arrive in the mail yet :)

Of course I made everyone take family photos. ..

Grandma gave Sophia this cute polar bear ball toy that plays really catchy music that she dances to.

Christmas was also Sophia's birthday. Happy Birthday boo! At 10 months old she:

-Loves to cruise, stand or sit and play, but only crawls if she really really wants something badly

-Stood alone for a few seconds

-Claps all the time

-Waves bye-bye

-Dances to music (with this rocking bouncey dance)

-Has 7 teeth

-weighs about 20 lbs and is 28 inches tall

-babbles in full conversation mode

-Eats an entire banana, a piece of toast and cereal for breakfast

-Does well with finger foods that she knows (puffs, pasta shells, peas, carrots, corn, steamed apple/ pear on toast, banana), but new foods take some time.. I was getting nowhere with chunks of potatoes and green beans, until I mashed them together. yum!

-takes 2 naps usually around 9-11am and 2-4pm depending on the day

-usually sleeps through the night, but this week was up at 4:30, 5 or 5:30am

-is such a happy baby and we love her to pieces

The day after Christmas is always bittersweet. We had a wonderful Christmas, but it went by too quickly. .come back everyone!

With so many new toys to play with, where do we begin?? With this ladybug ride of course.

On Sunday we celebrated Christmas with Nick's aunts and cousins. Sophia was very serious after waking up from the car ride.

Aunt Mary Ann gave Sophia one of her late Great Grandmother Nonnie's teddy bears. We will be sure to take good care of this special teddy!

Amanda will make a great babysitter very soon. She helped watch Sophia and baby Christopher, while Jonathan snoozed on the couch with his hair covering his face (what a teenager!)

Meltdown! I guess her 20 minute nap on the ride over was not enough... Sophia freaked out during group pictures. After a diaper change and snacks with Daddy, she was good to go for the rest of the evening.. And that ended our Christmas week. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year!