Week 35: Everything changes at 8 months!

We skipped mom's group today to go see our friends Kerrie and Ryan. What a little man he is becoming - walking all over the place and talking up a storm.
















There were lots of cool toys to play with at Ryan's house, she was VERY fond of this red spoon and had fun on the zebra rocker.












Kerrie suggested that I try a straw and much to my amazement, Sophia actually sipped from it. She mostly chewed it, but I saw a few drops go in.












We had our Wed playgroup at my house and things sure have changed. We used to be able to contain the babies on a tiny blanket. Now everyone wants to play at the activity table.













Rylee is crawling away and there is Sophie again playing with the bottom side of the piano.












She had a ball with her friends!













We bundled up on Thursday for music class since it was a cold day - she got to wear her wool sweater from Great Aunt Denny.














It was bring a friend day, so Stephanie from church came along with Caitlin. The video below was from class.









Kerrie was able to lend us her jumperoo (thank you!) and Sophia is having the time of her life jumping up and down. It is better at containing her since she can drag her activity center across the room.



















Sophia's tupperware lid was a big hit at Friday's playgroup at Yana's house. First Pike was after it and there was a big fight, but Riley was able to grab it and the others gave up. It was such a nice day that we just sat on the front lawn and played outside. It felt like it was in the 70s again.








And then Ana came out all bundled up for winter!










So we decided we better bundle up and get ready for winter in Layla's snowsuit..











She can't wait to play in the snow..








On Saturday, Sophia turned 8 months. Happy Birthday Lil Boo!

At 8 months Sophia:
-is creeping.. and just started Crawling today!
-is taking 2 long naps instead of 3
-is eating 3 solid food meals a day
-has 4 sharp teeth
-sips from a straw (even if it is just a drop)
-goes to sleep around 7pm with hardly a peep
-loves to play with cubes, balls, stuffed animals and buttons on your clothes but most of all her tupperware lids
-still loves her Ocean's aquarium and turns it on first thing when she wakes
-brightens my day every day with her smile

At 8 months, she is still not:
-taking a bottle
-sleeping through the night
-saying Dada or Mama.....
but who cares, she is absolutely perfect and I wouldn't change a thing (well maybe the sleeping:)!



This is a dark video, but she is crawling on her knees!















We had a baby halloween party at the rec center. Sophia arrived in her cobra cai costume (Karate kid reference) and then added her lady bug outfit. The antenna was confusing to her because she couldn't grab it.
















The babies were too cute in their costumes- Rylee was a strawberry, Ryan was a dinasour and Layla was Pebbles.















"Hello Ryan. I am not phased at all that you look like a dinosaur"


















Caitlin arrived in her flower costume.




And the Dads got to have playgroup time as well.











All the papparazi Dads took group pictures of the moms.










That night Princess Leia, Darth mom and Darth vader went to a halloween party. She did great staying up until 9pm. I thought she would maybe sleep in after going to be late, but unfortunately she still woke up at 6:45am.

Udette and George came to visit on Sunday. What a treat to have them all the way from California!

Kristin came over as well to spend the day with us. Nick cooked a great meal and we all had a nice time catching up.

Week 34: Apple picking finally, 3rd tooth

Happy Columbus Day! My mom was off for the day and so were many of the mommy/daddy friends, so we all decided to go apple picking...finally. Every year I try to go and never make it. It was so much fun and the apples were delicious..not to mention the donuts and cider. ..I guess Randie didn't get the memo that it was jeans day.





Strike a pose! Mommy and Sophie sure know how to cheese it up for the camera.









Pumpkins are okay if they are behind me and I can't see them.











This impromptu photo shoot went better than the tutu party (no tears), maybe because we didn't drag them to gymboree and the mall beforehand.







Mommies and babies having fun.










My mom was a stand in for Nick today in the Daddy shot.. Justin is hiding behind Pike.







Three generations. .Sophie is just so thrilled to be on that pumpkin!









Pumpkins are great for many things, including a seat for nursing.













More fun playing with grass.







Already pretend playing..with their clarinets?




















We had Mother Goose and Music Together on Tuesday- all FREE!
Sophie's third tooth broke through on the top front today. This one seemed to be more bothersome that the bottom two.












Yes, we went wine tasting on Friday for "playgroup." Remember, Happy mommies = happy babies. It was a beautiful day with the leaves all changing color.











The babies were happy to be out and about with their friends. Sophia is so danty with her hand gestures.













oops, Riley took a tumble, but she bounced right back.












In case that wasn't enough action for the day, we went to a corn maze which was exactly how it sounds -- it is a maze of corn. We got lost of course and with our strollers all stuck in mud trying to ride over corn and rocks, we bailed out at the emergency exit. This didn't stop us from taking lots of pictures though. .Sophia is holding Rylee back- she must know she is ready to crawl away any day now.

















We did it! We finished the maze...now let's all nap please.










Sophia is enjoying playing the piano lately. Is she a pro or what?














All week Sophia has been on strike and will not eat in her high chair only in her bebe pod..hmm maybe because there is that super fun toy to play with. This week's new foods were blueberries and apricots.

On Sunday, we has our first trip to the museum and nature center. Nick's all time favorite place since he was a kid..we got to see all the barnyard animals and enjoy the fall day.













Janelle and Melissa (with the Dads) met us at the museum - Sophie and Rylee had matching teddy bear sweatshits, which was enough of a costume to receive a free toy.

We went to Aunt Mary Ann's house for Nonnie's birthday. Sophia had her first up close encounter with a cat and was so excited that she pulled her tail and grabbed chunks of fur- we had to keep the cat away the rest of the evening. Here are all the grand and great grandchildren celebrating!