Getting stuck

Earlier today I was sitting back silently watching Sophia play by herself. She was playing in the formal living room and walking around the table with the coasters and then depositing them in the open drawers. This was a really fun game for a while, but eventually she tired of it.

The next thing I knew Sophia crawled right underneath the couch. Believe me, it's not a very large space and she realized she was in a pickle as soon as her whole body was under the couch. I could hear her getting upset as I ran for the camera. When I returned she was on her way out from underneath...but I was able to catch these two images on film. What an adventure for Sophia!

This is her completely under the couch. All the white stuff at the bottom of the picture is our carpet.

And this is her as she poked her head out and crawled out of there.

Sophia flicks

I think this is my favorite video of Sophia to date. She really loves up Lamb at the end. She always shoves her face into Lamb. It's adorable!

This is probably Will's favorite video.

Sophia was practicing her walking skills after church on Sunday. See what she found.

Sophia not listening to Mommy.

Sophia on the trampoline.

A pool party

We went to a Memorial Day pool party on Monday. What a great day. The sun was so hot that day and the cold pool water was so refreshing... after braving a few minutes of shivering.


Sophia warmed up to the pool after about 10 minutes of climbing up Will's chest to get out of the water. I think the cool water was a shock to her system, but once she was used to the water she even felt comfortable splashing around a bit.

Of course the best part about the whole day for her was playing with all the big kids. She's really getting to know a few of them because we see them every week. She thought the trampoline was super fun! She was grinning harder than ever before and she kept looking about me as if to say, "I cannot believe I'm having this much fun".

Strawberry Festival

Every year during the Memorial Day weekend there is a Strawberry Festival in a town called Pungo close to our house. I honestly think this 2-day festival has the biggest annual economic impact on the entire town. Scary! Festival goers have their choice of yummy strawberry treats including strawberry shortcake, strawberry daiquiris, strawberry funnel cake, strawberry lemonade, even strawberry tacos. The only you can't get is strawberry pie. Every year we search for it, but every year I am I to settle for the strawberry shortcake.

I have to say that this year was the best year so far ~ all because of Sophia. We went into the petting zoo area with her and she was able to pet a 6-day old baby duck, ride on a tractor bike and get up close and personal with a cow statue! It was a really fun day.

A look back at how much you've grown

One Day Old


Two Weeks Old


One Month Old


Two Months Old


Three Months Old


Four Months Old


Five Months Old


Six Months Old


Seven Months Old


Eight Months Old


Nine Months Old


Ten Months Old


Eleven Months Old


One Year Old

At the kiddie area in the mall

Check out this cool play area for kids at the Lynnhaven Mall. I've been going to this mall (only 10 minutes from our house) for over 3 years now and I NEVER knew there was an safe indoor play area on the same level as the food court. Will found it the last time we were at the mall together and took Sophia there. Today was my first time, but we'll definitely be going back for more fun and more pictures! These pictures do not do the play area justice.

Sophie's b'day party

We had Sophia's first birthday party at our house last weekend. It was so much fun. She loved the chocolate cake and surprisingly didn't get very messy. She got more on Grancy than she got on herself. And the highchair did have be hosed off outside when everyone left, but otherwise Sophia was clean!

Our themes were balloons, Winnie the Pooh, Time Capsule and WALKING. OK, you're right, walking was not a planned party theme, but that didn't stop Little Miss Sophia from walking across the room in front of all the guests. I think she was enjoying her caffeine buzz or sugar high from the chocolate cake. She had walked a few steps here and there before, but now that she's had this crowd-pleasing moment she walks all the time! Here's the tail end of one of Sophia's birthday party walks.

To see all of the birthday pictures - click here

Sophia uses a spoon.

Sophia has graduated a bit in the meal department! For the most part Sophia eats with "her own utensils" which happen to be her hands, fingers, fists and arms. She'll use whatever she can to get the food in her mouth.

I'm happy to announce that we're able to add a real utensil to the list. She's able to feed herself with a spoon if you load it up with food for her. Usually there are 2 spoons in action and she's using one while I'm scooping food with the other one for her. It's actually less messy to use two because she's less inclined to twist the spoon around in her mouth and taste it from all angles.

Just look how far she's come. Here's a video of Sophie eating solid food for the very first time:


Here's a video of Sophie using the spoon on her own:


Some of her new favorite foods now include:
spaghetti
french fries
chicken fingers/nuggets/shapes
juicy pears
frozen peaches
green beans - she still loves 'em
cheerios
bananas

Sophie loves the flower people

For Christmas a few years ago my mom got me 2 of the cutest little ceramic flower people that have movable leaf arms and legs. I've always had them "sitting around" my plants in the kitchen. From her tall highchair view, Sophia recently discovered these little people and loves to play with them when she gets the chance. I would love to know what "make believe" game she's playing with them here....

This video is really really short - but she's holding onto one of the flower people.

Thanks, Kansas Alexanders

Uncle Mike, Aunt Misty, Terra, Madeline and Baby Alexander got Sophia Bitty Baby's stroller for her birthday and she loves it. In fact, her eyes lit up when she saw it across the room. She knew exactly what to do with it.

On the first day she was content to push Bitty Baby and Pacy Baby around in it. She even gave them toys and books to "play with" while she was strolling them through the house. She put extra toys in the basket underneath and was really playing the part of "mom" to her babies.

All of that changed when Sophia realized that it's even more cool to RIDE in a stroller inside the house! So now she demands to sit in her umbrella stroller and be pushed through the house all day long. She likes to stop to visit all the babies in the picture frames on the low shelves throughout the house.

Here's the best part - as of last night - she actually doesn't even want to be pushed around the house anymore. She just wants to sit in the stroller for hours on end. She wants Mary (her Mary Had a Little Lamb doll) to sit in Bitty's stroller beside her and they play together. It's all very complicated...unless you're Sophia or Mommy!

Regardless - THANKS TO THE KANSAS ALEXANDERS!!!!!!!

Sophia turned 1

WOW! Sophia turned ONE on Monday, the 14th. Her official stats are:
Height: 31 1/4 inches (97th percentile)
Weight: 23 pounds 6 ounces (85th percentile)

What a year!

It's so hard to believe that 12 months have already passed. It seems like yesterday that we brought her home. She was so small and delicate. Now she's a full-fledged toddler of epic proportion! She had her very first temper tantrum on her birthday. We were leaving Grancy's house and Daddy picked Sophia up from the learning table toy and she immediately started leaning out of his arms, crying and kicking her feet as if to shout "Put Me Down! I Was Playing With That!" Believe me this kid definitely knows how to display her frustration to alert us to what she wants. It's her way of talking to us before she can actually talk.

That and the signs and words she uses. She's got quite a little repetoire now.
She knows and uses these signs: giraffe, dog, duck, milk
She understands these signs and may do them soon: bath, flower, drink
She says these words: Sadie, baby, Dada, Ma. I'm waiting to see what word she comes up with for "Lambie".

Thanks for the sunglasses, Grandma

Grandma sent Sophia a pair of sunglasses the other day. They are a HUGE hit. Sophia loves to wear them - inside and outside. Take a look at her this weekend at the playground. She wore them for the whole stroller ride to the playground (at the tennis courts) and for most of the time we were there. The best thing was that it wasn't even sunny.

Sophia goes down the slide

Having fun on the swing

Going Super High with Daddy