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

Weekends with Daddy

I realized something this weekend. I'm not the only one who "lives for the weekends". I know Will also enjoys his weekends, but I swear Sophia becomes a different person on the weekends too- because she gets to spend time with her Daddy. She's so peppy, excited and just a ball full of energy. How cute is that?

She prefers Daddy to feed her, to hold her, to play with her, to read to her, snuggle with her before bedtime, etc... She's always mastered her major milestones with Daddy - creeping, crawling, taking the first few steps, etc... (However, to be completely honest, I think she still prefers Mommy for the diaper changes and multiple clothes changes each day, but otherwise Mom is chopped liver.)

The up-side to this story is that I don't actually mind. It's really nice to sit back and watch Sophia showing off and trying to impress Will. One thing is for sure - she loves her Daddy!

Dora The Explorer

You've all heard about Sophie's passion for babies...talking to them, rocking them, carrying them around, etc... Well she's now getting obsessed with Dora and Diego. I'm convinced it's because they both have really large faces and look like Sophia's babydolls.

She eats Dora and Diego yogurt and will grab onto the yogurt container and move my fingers out of the way so she can see them. I got her a Dora plate and bowl which she loves to use - and by "use" I mean that she loves to promptly flip over any plate or bowl placed on her highchair tray.

Sophia cut another tooth

I saw it this morning. It's her third bottom tooth. It's officially #7. It's no wonder she's been napping all afternoon. It was so nice to have the time to clean the house. :-) Thanks tooth fairy!

A bunch of Sophia movies....

I've been meaning to post all of these movies to the blog. They're listed newest to oldest.

Sophia, Daddy and Lambie - Sophia is learning to walk!


Sophia claps on camera


Sophia claps with mommy


Sophia signs giraffe


Sophia playing with her toys


Sophie shares her lunch


Her first word - listen close for her to say Sadie - minus the "s"


Eating breakfast

Mommy and Me Ballet

First of all, hats off and many thanks to Aunt Claire and her friend, Hilary, for the powder blue balerina leotard and skirt! We've also got the long-sleeved version in pink for the cooler months and dance tights for when Sophie gets a little taller.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon dancing on our tippy toes at a "girls-only" Mommy & Me Ballet event. One of the Moms was a dancer in a previous life and was able to lead the group in some baby-friendly stretches and twirls. Sophia was an excellent student. Her eyes were glued to the mom/instructor the entire time. Sophie really got a kick out of seeing all the other little girls dressed up as balerinas and squealed with delight when she was able to stretch her arms up and down like all the big girls.

And now for the pictures. There are even more on flickr:

Play date @ our house

Sophia had her library friend, Hailey, come over this afternoon for a playdate. The girls played really well together for a solid 2 hours. Of course at the end of the playdate I think Sophia was on the verge of a having a meltdown...but she played her heart out while Hailey was here.





Sophia was a gracious host and was happy to share her hat, juice, crackers, books and toys, but she was not ready to share either of her babydolls. Each time Hailey went for a doll Sophia prompty snatched it away from her. She also became a bit upset when Sadie preferred Hailey's attention over hers. Don't mess with a girl a her dog! It looks like we're going to have to work on sharing.

Hailey just took her first few steps last week, but she was really showing off for Sophia today - even holding onto Sophie for support as she tried to walk. Of course, Sophia does not want to be out-done and she stood balancing herself for about 15 seconds before falling on her butt with a thud. She was so proud of herself and showed us all how much so by flapping her arms like she was getting ready to take off into the sky!

Hailey turned 1 on April 2nd so she's a little bit older than Sophia, but they didn't seem to mind. Hailey doesn't really like to wear a hat and it was difficult to get this picture, but doesn't she look cute modeling Sophia's yellow sun hat?