Ahhh.....recovery is bliss.

I'm breathing a sigh of relief today. I finally feel better even though I still sound awful and cough a lot. It was nice to have enough energy to carry Sophia down the stairs today instead of scooting down on my butt with her on my lap. Although that act has sparked a renewed interest in Sophia learning to scoot her own butt down the stairs! YEA!! Believe me, she's no lightweight - she's a solid 30 pounds.

I was able to find a play kitchen on craigslist for Sophia and she's been having so much fun with it. She likes to open the cabinet doors and put her dishes inside. I think her favorite thing about the kitchen is the sink - where she does HAPPY (washes her hands). Oh yeah, another favorite thing to do is to walk behind the kitchen and peer through the "window" above the sink where she announces that she's SIDE (outside). Ha ha ha.

She ate breakfast at her "table" this morning. As you can see Barney and Baby Bop have chairs at the table too. Sophia takes turns feeding herself and offering some to her friends. She also decided that Barney needed to wear a baby doll outfit today. Too bad he's got a tail! Click here to see all the pictures.

Our tale of Friday....

I'll try to make this recap short and sweet:

4:00 AM - Sophia is awake! Are you kidding me? You got up at 5:30 AM yesterday, didn't nap at all and then went to bed around 8:30.

4:15 AM - I make a bed on the floor beside Sophia's crib so see if she'll fall back asleep with me in the room.

5:00 AM - Sophia demands to get DOWN and points with her finger to the floor. She wants out of her crib. Not only does she want out of the crib, she wants to go DOWNstairs to watch Barney!

6:00 AM - I try to get on my laptop. No connection.

6:15 AM - I wake up Will to help me get online to see how I can ease Sophia's pain. She's completely stuffed up and her nose is leaking non-stop and her cough sounds really scratchy and painful. He diagnoses that our wireless router is dead! OH MY GOSH...WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ALL DAY WITH A SICK KID AND NO INTERNET. I'LL GO NUTS. I'M PANICKING!!!! Relax, he tells me. You can sit 2 feet from the TV and plug into the cable modem. Um, okay - it that's what I have to do.

8:30 AM - Will leaves for work.

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Sophia alternates between crying and moaning, wanting to be held, wanting nothing to do with me. She refuses to eat anything.

1:10 PM - Sophia announces that she wants fries.

1:15 PM - We hop in the car and go to the McDonald's drive through window. I jump in the back seat and try to give her some fries. She throws them at me and all over the car. I notice that her eyes are rolling back into her head because she's sooooo tired. I decide to start driving to see if she'll fall asleep.

1:15 - 3:30 PM - I drive and drive and drive. I literally toured the entire city of Virginia Beach. I even took a detour along the way and hit the Dairy Queen drive through for a cherry chocolate blizzard (the flavor of the month). Not as good as some of the others in my opinion.

3:30 PM - We're home. It's now pouring down rain and Sophia wakes up as soon as we pull into the driveway.

3:30 - 6:00 PM - Barney and the rest is a blur to me.

6:00 PM - Will gets home. Thank goodness. I run out to the store to get a new humidifier for Sophia's room and some more vapor plug ins.

8:00 PM - We decide to give Sophia a bath before bed. She POOPS in the tub! Yep, can you believe it? That was the very first time that's ever happened and it was probably my fault. She didn't want to get a bath, but I knew it would make her sleepy so I told her she could wear a bathing suit in the tub. She must have thought that was "her diaper" and let loose. UGG!

I'm going to end it there, but believe me, it was one of the more interesting and trying days of motherhood.

Full Blown SMS

So, yesterday Sophia woke up well rested and I could tell she was feeling much better. Unfortunately, I was feeling awful. I actually feel worse today: totally drained of energy, stuffy nose, achy, ears are popping, low grade fever, throat hurts, and the list goes on... A definite case of SMS...Sick Mom Syndrome.

Will actually came home early from work yesterday so I could go to the medical center down the street to get tested for strep throat. And, the answer is yes, I have it too. In fact, I think the entire city of Virginia Beach has it. I overheard a mom on the phone yesterday at the medical center and she said that 80% of her son's school has strep.

Yesterday was the first day that Sophia actually took a nap, so I knew that she was feeling better. It was a beautiful 4 hour nap.

Swimming classes started this morning. We went. Sophia had a blast. She was a little unsure about leaning all the way back and getting her hair wet but she was thrilled to sit on the steps and then jump into the water. She also really wants to learn how to blow bubbles, but can't quite figure out how to keep her mouth closed. Today when she tried she took a big gulp of water, but that didn't seem to deter her. I thought all that water play would make her a bit sleepy, but she refused to nap when we got home.

Since it's 75 degrees today we took Sadie to the playground and she almost escaped from me. Well, she did escape. She weaseled her way through a fence and was on the side walk of London Bridge Road by herself! I literally had to pretend I needed help and was shaking the chain link fence to get her attention so she would come back. Once I got her attention I took off running away from her and she dutifully came running to save me. I'm sure Sophia thought our "show" was awesome as she sat in the swing eating her Teddie Grahams.

When we got home, she wanted to watch Barney. I wanted her to go to FEEP. We had a minor battle about it and I won. She went into her crib, screaming and crying, but she went in! She's not napping yet, but I know Mr. Sandman will be dropping by soon for a visit.

Will just called and he left his keys in the car at work this morning and probably needs me to bring him one of our jump start kits. Believe it or not, both of our jump start cables are in the garage instead of in our cars....for various reasons.

Alexander Update

Just wanted to touch base with a quick update.

We took Sophia to Doctor today because it didn't seem like she was getting any better. In fact Friday was the worst day for her (believe me, you want to read about our day which will be blogged about later in the week).

She was diagnosed as the proud owner of strep throat! This was traumatic for all of us considering that is was her first infection/sickness. She's on a liquid bubble gum flavored antibiotic now and it should kick in within the next 24 hours and start working. The doc also told us to give her Motrin to reduce the swelling. Unfortunately, Motrin has always kept Sophia wide awake and I've avoided giving it to her in the past, but I'm going to following the doctor's orders and just deal with the fact that it makes her bounce off the walls. Not that it really matters - she hasn't taken a nap in her crib during the day in over 4 days now.

To top it all off....our wireless router died on Friday morning and if you want to get online in the Alexander household now you must sit on a hard wooden chair or on the floor about 2 feet from the TV and plug directly into the cable modem! Believe me, this is no fun!

Oh yeah, how come nobody ever told me about the SMS....Sick Mom Syndrome? This is when the mom feels like she's getting sick and knows her body will stay strong and fight it until the child is feeling better and then the cold/flu/etc... will hit hard! It is at point this point when child wants to resume all normal activity and the mom is forced to comply.

Another Relaxer

Poor Sophia

Up at 5:30 AM this morning. Her little eyes already have purple circles underneath them - at 7:15. Bringing her into Mom and Dad's bed this morning was a futile attempt at some extra sleep for Mom. No dice! I ended up giving Sophia a vapo/menthol bath since she's been coughing up lots of phlegm. She loved her early morning treat and afterwards refused to take off her bathrobe. So, she's snuggled up on the couch in a blanket wearing clean pajamas and her bathrobe. (A true sicky!)

How ironic is it that today of all days turns out to be the day that I'm signed up for (and prepaid for) a Mom's Morning Out at the Y? From 11-2 Sophia was supposed to go to the YMCA today while Mom gets to do whatever she wants! Normally parents are not allowed to leave the facility when kids are in the Child Watch program, but one day a month they do the Mom's Morning Out and have special activities and lunch planned for the 10 kids registered. Today was going to be our first try at Mom's Morning Out, but I think we'll pass! I was planning to go to the mall by myself to find a maternity bathing suit. Sophia's swimming class start on Tuesday and Mama needs a new suit.

Circle, Nines, Green

THE CIRCLE

Sophia Alexander drew a circle this morning!

Then she turned around, looked at me, and announced CIRC. She's been saying the word so that doesn't surprise me, but she actually drew one or maybe even a few! She drew the larger ones on the top portion of the page and my single CIRC is the smaller, darker one.

My kid is a genius and I attribute it to the following: my own hard work, music class, My Gym and Barney (unfortunately). I'll explain...(1) I've been working with her on shapes for months. (2) In music class she would draw a note in front of the class each week with Ms. Virginia.(circle, stem, color it in, etc...) (3) At the beginning of each My Gym class we have to sit around the enormous red circle in the carpet and do our exercises and songs. Last week Sophia literally did forward rolls all the way around the circle and then dizzily stood up only to fall over. She got a kick out of that. (4) Barney. Yes, Barney does talk about shapes in some of his DVDs, but honestly, I think he mainly focuses on Triangle.

THE NINES

Another story to prove my theory that Sophia is a genius.

Nancy, my mom's good friend, gave Sophia a wooden puzzle and she's recently been playing with it quite a bit. When a piece is removed from the puzzle it empty number space shows that number of objects. For instance: nine soccer balls, one pencil, five bowling pins, etc.

When we're upstairs together, Sophia is usually playing in her room and running back and forth into whatever room I'm in to check in on me or to tell/show me something. Last week while I was putting on makeup in my bathroom Sophia ran in to show me NINES and she was holding the 6 and the 9. NO WAY! I couldn't believe what she brought to me! Part of me thought it was a very strange coincidence that she had picked up 2 numbers that could both pass for being a 9 and call them NINES. I decided I would "test" her later to see if she produced both 9s again. Minutes later she brought me the 1 and the 7! She didn't call them anything, but UM, they could be twins in real life, right????!

The answer to the NINES question is YES! She knows that 9 is a 9 and that a 6 is also a 9.

This past weekend when she ran to Will with her NINES he had the exact same awestruck feeling/look that I did!

GREEN

This one is definitely, probably, maybe a coincidence, but I'm on a roll.

Sophia's been really interested in colors lately and knows that Moe has red hair and that BOP carries around a yellow BANKY (blanket). She also is starting to call green things GEEN, but I've also heard her label blue and white things GEEN too. We'll see. Colors are next, it's just a matter of time. She repeats almost all of them and yesterday she tried an ORANGE for the first time and then said it. Some other favorites seem to be PINK, BOO, REH, PURPLE

Not feeling well

Little Miss Sophia isn't feeling well. I can't decide if she's stuffed up because she's getting another molar or because she's got a cold. She's been getting up really early (6:30 this morning) and not getting very restful sleep during the nights. She's stuffed up and her appetite has been less than impressive lately.

This is going to be a low key week for us so she can recover and feel 100%.

When she gets up so early I try to bring her into Mom and Dad's big bed, but she doesn't always like to stay quiet. This morning we came downstairs around 7 and she's been cuddling with Lamby on the couch watching Barney ~ and big surprise ~ she's happy!

We made a cake yesterday together. Sophia stirred in the sprinkles for me and while the cake was baking she kept looking through the glass door to see how the came was progressing. This morning as soon as I put her into my bed she asked for a piece of cake. She only ate a few bites when I offered it to her, but she was beaming with pride!

FIM @ the POOL

This morning Will and I took Sophia to FIM (swim) at the POOL. Sophia starts swimming lessons in a week so yesterday before we left the Y we took her into the pool area to show it to her. She had a mini temper tantrum when it was time to leave because she wanted to FIM. Of course we just HAD to take her today.

Will and I took turns swimming laps and playing with Sophia. She really enjoyed kicking her feet and moving her arms underwater. I could tell that she felt more comfortable with Will. Probably because his hand are bigger.

We played in the water for a good 35 - 45 minutes. Sophia cried her eyes out when we got out of the pool. She was desperately trying to get back into the pool. Her nap lasted for a few hours this afternoon and Will and I were able to organize the garage a bit.

The Alphabet Wall

Sophia's getting a new molar, or so it seems. She's been rubbing her ear, crying out in the middle of the night and acting extra sleepy this week.

This morning we went to My Monkey, our name for My Gym, and then we went to story time at the library to visit COCO the story time monkey. After story time the kids were allowed to stamp a letter onto the new alphabet wall.

Sophia sat in the middle of the floor for a while and watched everyone else. Eventually she decided she wanted to put a stamp on the wall too. She did an S for Sophia and she chose a dark shade of green for her color.

There was no way this kid was going to smile...not today. She's just way to serious today - another sign that she's getting another tooth.

Graduating from "SSSS" to "PEASE"

Please is currently pronounced PEASE or even PWEASE in the Alexander household. Sophia has learned to whine/cry/beg PEASE whenever she needs help with something. She's asking for HELP PEASE, but she can't combine the two words together yet so it comes out as plain old PEASE. Whenever she gets a piece of fake plastic food stuck in her teapot, she moans PEASE like it's her own hand stuck in the teapot. Or whenever she's trying to read a book that has sticky pages and some are stuck together she's start her shrill PEASE PEASE PEASE which sounds like she's actually in pain and cannot possibly sustain any more. She's my little Drama Queen!

Yesterday she threw a super temper tantrum right in front of me because I wouldn't let her open a box containing about 100 foam stickers. She crinkled up her face, stood in front of me and wailed! I didn't give in and I knew she was faking it so I tested her to see how long she was going to protest. In the end, I didn't let her go 'crying' on and on, I found something to distract her attention, but she wasn't going to stop - Stubborn - just like her Zodiac birth sign - TAURUS.

In these two videos Sophia is playing with "fun, nice guy" Dad before bed and wants him to PEASE keep doing whatever game they are playing.

More PONY PEASE


More ??? PEASE

WOKS

Sophia loves to play in the WOKS (rocks). She thinks it's really fun to dig them up with the beach shovels. Every single time we walk through the garage she's immediately into the basket of beach toys. Well, it's either the beach toys or dad's tool box.

It snowed!

Yes, it actually snowed. It barely covered the grass in our yard. It was fun to go outside with Sophia for 10 minutes - that's all I could stand!

She fell once and didn't seem to mind. She enjoyed playing ball in the yard and sitting on her snowy, wet chair. See the pics.

PAYING HAT ON and OAF

Sophia received a fireman's hat party favor at a b'day party in October and has not grown tired of it yet. She often puts it on, but I don't think I've ever had the camera around for it. Take a look at the rest of the pictures.

By the way, we were in the middle of PAYING BABY when she got distracted with the HAT. She was pushing a few of her baby dolls around the house in her stroller.

I think this is funny

While stopped at a red light yesterday on the way home from My Gym Sophia pointed past my head in the driver's seat and said NANAS. I looked through the windshield to see if she saw a Grandma somewhere because she calls all Grandmas NANAS and she calls all Grandpas POPPY.

Anyway, I didn't see a Grandma anywhere so I asked her again what she saw. She repeated NANAS. I looked through the windshield again and this time I noticed a Chili's restaurant across the street. There was an enormous Red Chili Pepper on the side of the building. A big red pepper with a giant green stem. Take a look next time you drive past a Chili's...

Sophia was pointing out the apple that she saw on the side of the building. Her name for them is NANAS and when I figured it out she was tickled pink with delight!

I chuckled to myself the whole way home.

Rain Rain Go Away

It's Saturday afternoon (4:30) and it's literally been raining since 10:45 AM. The meteorologists are predicting rain/snow by later tonight. We'll see. Regardless, it's a really gross day outside.

Sophia and I bundled up and went to the Y this morning. She likes putting her coat hood on and running outside in the WHAIN (rain) and in the WAHEE (water). She thinks it's really funny when Mom gets WEH (wet).

Adjusting to our new schedule

Sophia and I have a new set of "classes" and activities we're enrolled in for the winter season. I feel like we're starting a new semester, but I'm sure Uncle Rob and Aunt Claire would disagree.

Here's our schedule:
Monday - gym class @ 10:15
Tuesday - swimming lessons (in Feb)
Wednesday - library @ 10:30
Thursday - library (Jan - 10:45); swimming lessons (in Feb)
Friday - my gym free play @ 12:45

As you can see, we're gone most mornings during the week. You would think that Sophia would get tired out and want to take a nap at some point in the afternoon each day! Nope. A nap really hasn't worked it's way into the schedule yet. Last night, for instance, Sophia went to bed for the night at 6:30 because she didn't take a nap all day. Mom definitely doesn't like those days.

Today we went back to the library after taking a few months off and Sophia really enjoyed it. She remembered the name of the monkey stuffed animal that the instructor uses as her "child" as she shows us the moves to the songs, etc.. The monkey's name is Coco. As soon as Sophie saw Coco she yelled out CO. She picked out 5 books and a movie to bring home with us.

After lunch I had to go to the ATM and then pick up a heart worm pill prescription for Sadie at the vet's office. When I got back into the car Sophia told me she would like to EAT FIES (french fries). Thankfully there was a McDonald's across the street! We hit the drive through and picked up a hamburger happy meal. When we got home she dug into the FIES and ate all but 3 bites of her hamburger patty (a HUGE accomplishment). She also had some apple bites which she calls NANAS and BEANS (kidney beans - one of her favorites!).

And now, guess what? She actually went to FEEP (sleep) and is taking a nap!!! ..... Oh thank you for being a rainy, dreary day!

Q&A with Sophia

What does the cow say?
MOO MOO (She's graduated from the mmmmmmm sound, but never a single moo)



What do you use when you eat?
FOOD, PATE (plate), POON (spoon), MILK (for any cup) She played with a kitchen set for over an hour yesterday by herself at our play date. She stacked plates and put them in the cabinet, frig and microwave. She put them in the sink too. At home this morning she was pulling out my cookie sheets and placing her plastic food on it. I've got to get her one of the big kitchen play sets.

What are big dogs called?
SADIE

What are little dogs called?
CHARLEY

What do you want to do, Sophia?
She'll get a book, bring it to me, and command me to REAd (the d is silent) to her.

The Sophia Gazette

The Sophia Gazette is undergoing a slight transformation to make room for some new content additions and changes. We'll still be covering your favorite subject: Sophia, but we'll also be adding new material: the new baby girl. You will still be able to access the And Baby Makes 4 blog, but we make no guarantees on content freshness.

You may have noticed our new temporary name: The Alexander Journal.

Ultrasound photos

Here's a picture of the baby's face and her fists are up by her eyes. Can you see her?
















In this picture you can see her profile and her spine is really bright white. She's on her back.