Turkey Day

This year for Thanksgiving we headed North to Grammy and Poppy's house.  We arrived Wednesday night to celebrate our oldest nephew Austin's 6th birthday with a pizza party and cake and presents.  

Thursday we spent the day inside relaxing and playing with the kids, while Grammy whipped up a roast, potatoes, cranberry mold, rolls, green beans, and pumpkin pie for dessert. 

 Poppy also took some family pictures which turned out great.

Then he took some pictures of the kids....

Later Bob snagged the camera and got one of Poppy with Sophie...

On Friday morning Bob and I braved the Black Friday Sales while everyone else slept in except Grammy who had to work.  We got some great deals on Christmas gifts and the crowds were not as heavy.  Sophie spent the morning playing with her cousins and Aunt Becky and Uncle Eric.

Later in the day we joined our friends Ryan and Carla for lunch at the Mexican restaurant and had a great time visiting with them since we only see them a few times a year.  Then when we returned I played a few rounds of Twister with Austin while Sophie and Aaron napped.  Poppy, Uncle Bob and Austin also took a quick walk.

Saturday morning we had breakfast and headed home to put up our Christmas decorations.  We had a great time, but as always glad to be back at home.

Early Thanksgiving

A week before Thanksgiving, we packed up and headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house to celebrate Thanksgiving with them since they were headed South to spend the holiday with Uncle Michael, Aunt Lisa, and Scarlet and Gray.  Sophie spent some good quality time playing, reading books with Grandma, and watching her special show with Grandpa.  We had a scrumptious meal and enjoyed relaxing for a few days.

Baby Jesus

This past weekend we put up the Christmas decorations.  She loves the Christmas Tree and all the lights...but her absolute favorite thing currently is her little manger scene that Grandma and Grandpa bought her last year.  She loves all the animals, but her favorite is baby Jesus.  She carries him around in his little bed...saying his name "gsus"

Reading Time..

Over the past few weeks Sophie has really developed a love for sitting and looking at her books on her own..but she also really likes to pick them out of her bin and climb up in my lap while I'm sitting her chair  and be read to.

On most days this could last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour.  I love it and treasure this time with her because it gives me snuggle time with her without her realizing she is sitting still, since there is very little time doing that these days.

Time with Grammy and Poppy...

Last weekend Grammy and Poppy came for a short visit to watch and play with Sophie while we went and got a new microwave since the old one blew up.  When we got back from Sears they had been out for a walk with her wagon which she fell asleep in.  After lunch Poppy helped Daddy install the new microwave while Sophie took a nap...and when I say our child can sleep through anything I mean anything.  They drilled through ceramic tiles to install the new one and it sounded like they were going to tear down the house...but Sophie slept right on through it.  Afterwards we went out to dinner and Poppy and Grammy headed home.  (Note froggy needed to be in the picture, this is Sophie's new found friend).

Rubba Dub Dub...

Sophie and her cousins are in the tub.   About a month ago we decided all three kids needed baths so we put them in the tub together...Poppy took some pictures, they did a little playing, within ten minutes they were all ready to get out..   Short lived...but they had a good time.

Sophie's First Haircut

This past Sunday we went to my best friend Julie's house for me and Sophie to get our hair cut.  I went first so she could see that is was a piece of cake.  Then I sat on a stool Julie talked to her and tried to get her attention focused on books and her talking rather than what she was doing.  She was successful in cutting Sophie's hair. She did really well sitting still and there were no tears, but still wasn't quite sure of what was going on.  When all was said and done she looked adorable and even more like a one year old.

Trick or Treat....

 Smell my feet, give me some yummy treats, and a good time with my cousins and Mommy and Daddy.  Okay so this year we headed down to our nephews house to trick or treat with them..we decided what better fun then to dress up too.   So the Herberts went as the Flintstone family and the nephews went at Darth Vader and Yoda...priceless.  The kids had fun and so did we.  Sophie really enjoyed taking her candy out of her pumpkin and putting it back in one piece at a time.

Leeds Farm

Then later on in the day we decided since it was in the upper 70's to head down the road to Leeds Pumpkin Patch for a Hayride which Sophie loved.

We did a lot of walking around the farm to look at the animals, there were pigs, baby goats, cows, and a donkey.

Last we went to pick out her pumpkin for Daddy to carve for Halloween.  The day was a success we all had a lot of fun.

Pumpkin Patch

The Sunday before Halloween we headed to the pumpkin patch at our church to take some pictures.  

One and Lots of Fun

Well now that Sophie is a big one year old.  She is doing all kinds of fun things.  She's walking really well and only occasionally tumbling.  She's starting to drink milk right now we are 50/50 on the milk and formula...we tried the full blown milk and her gag reflex started in...so we decided to take it a little slower.  She loves eating more options as far a table food goes..some of her favorites include mixed veggies-green beans, carrots, peas, corn, all kinds of Gerber ravioli, hash brown cubes, watermelon, cantaloupe, bananas, applesauce, blueberries and yogurt.  We tried eggs, chicken nuggets cut into small bites, and bites of string cheese.none of which were successful yet.  She loves looking at her books and magazines, and enjoys being read to. As far as playing goes she now can put the coins in the slot of her toy piggy bank without any help and likes to push her little tikes car around the living room, and likes handing us blocks to build with.  She definitely is starting to repeat or try to repeat more of what we are saying.

We had her one year old checkup last Friday and she weighed 21.5 pounds and was 29.5 inches tall.  So she is average.  However, the visit was one of the worst since she had to have four shots and a finger prick.  Let me tell you how glad I was to see Bob at the doctors office.  It was the first time he'd joined me since we were there when she was two days old since his work schedule won't usually allow for it.  Honestly I think the worst part for all three of us was the finger prick..her poor little finger kept bleeding and seeing how at the age she's at she doesn't comprehend what they are doing and we need to sit still and hold the gauze on it until it stops makes for a fun time..I ended up with quite a bit of blood on my shirt, she ended up crying for quite a long time, and thank God Bob was there to help me hold her and her hand.  We all survived it and he will definitely be joining me when she's four that's the next finger prick.

Partying Monkey Style

Saturday we had Sophie's 1st Birthday party here at our house.  Between friends and family there were about 15 people present.  We went with the monkey themed pink and green birthday party because we saw it fit for our little monkey.

 She had a blast playing with her cousins, and one of our friend's little boys.  She also thrived on pulling tissue paper out of the bags that her gifts came in and tugging on her balloons.    Grandma B and Mommy made the monkey cake that she got to smash.  

She did great with her cake, she stuck a couple of fingers in and licked them off, then stuck her whole hands in, and ate some more, and then she gave some cake in her hand to Mommy and then to Daddy, and then she ate some more and had an itchy eye and rubbed it in her hair and across her face.  So she did not create a huge mess, but a descent one worthy of a bath following.

She loves all of her new toys.  We got her a little chair with her name on it, and a little tikes car which she loves to ride in.  She got lots of nice books, clothes, mega blocks, stuffed animals, her own pillow and blanket, and some bath tub toys.  She is having a great time with everything.  It is so nice to see that she thinks all of her gifts are fun to look at, play with and enjoy.

Happy 1st Birthday Sophie

Dear Sophie,
It it so hard to believe a whole year has gone by since the first time we held you in our arms. I remember that morning and all the events that took place.  I went into labor at midnight and managed to stay at home until about 6 am.  We got to the hospital at 6:30 am, about an hour later I was having an epidural and at 12:46 pm your daddy and I watched as you came into this world.  As they handed you to me I had all sorts of different emotions, the strongest were happiness and love.  Both of us had tears of joy as I held you, you nestle into my chest and you wrapped your little hand around my fingers.  Daddy and I remember the day and the events as if you were just born yesterday.  Now here we are today looking at you and you are now walking, still a little wobbly.  You are eating table food, and jibber jabbering up a storm and we think to ourselves where does time go.  In the past year we have watched in awe as you have learned new things, and grown into a girl with your very own little personality.  We just want you to know you are our world.  We love you with our whole hearts and you bring us such joy and happiness.

Mommy and Daddy

Sophie Walking

About a week before Sophie's first birthday which was last Saturday we were at Grammy and Poppy's house and Sophie just let go and walked her first three steps from the rocking chair to Daddy.  So Daddy moved back and Sophie walked a few more steps.  By Sunday we had her walking clear across the living room at our house to get her little pumpkin.   Here's some footage we captured of her.

Happy 32nd Birthday Daddy

Daddy,
I was looking for just the right CD to play you on your birthday.. I found one.  Push play to listen and watch. I hope this is your best birthday yet cause this is the first year you've got me to spend it with you!

I love you lots 

xoxoxo.. 

Sophie

.

P.S. Sorry I messed up your CD's in the making of this video.

First Wiener Roast

This past Saturday we spent a good portion of the day with daddy's friend Doug, his wife and their kids at Doug's family farm.  They invited us for a wiener roast that evening. However, we got there at three so Daddy and Doug could spend the afternoon viewing the massive amount of acres this farm had to offer taking pictures while Andrea, Caroline, Elliot, Sophie and I played inside the house and outside.   That evening we roasted hot dogs and Sophie enjoyed chasing and petting the dogs Sadie and Lady and she started saying dgge that is right doggie without the o.

Daddy Roasting our hotdogs

"Come here Lady"