Daddy's first

Yesterday was Sunday which usually means family day, which also means that Rick is typically around for the full day, which for me means that he gets a lot of bonding time with Sophia. During his morning bonding time (i.e., my time to take a shower in peace), he witnessed Sophia pulling up for the first time. As I'm leisurely walking into the family room, where Rick is watching football and Sophia is happily playing with her toys on the mat, Rick says to me ever so non-chalantly "Sophia just pulled up on the fireplace." My calmness was over in a split second. "WHATT?!! When? How did she do it? What did she go after?!?" As I'm running around trying to locate the camera and video camera. I swoop down beside her and clap my hands enthusiastically yelling, "YAY Sophia!!" startling the heck out of her. I place the toy that she was so smitten over back on the fireplace hearth, and poise my camera in anticipation. Oh yes, believe me, it did cross my mind to stage the photo-op. I thought maybe if I just stood her up, I could recapture the moment. But that would be cheating, wouldn't it? And somehow, it would take away from the memory that Rick got to witness his daughter pulling up by herself for the first time. And I suppose I'm OK with that.

Merry Christmas!

Notable quote

Our cat and dog were in the same room sleeping. This never happens, so I ran and got the video camera to capture the moment. Ruger, the dog, does not like cameras and I didn't know this included video cameras too. As soon as I turned it on, he went running out of the room. I told Rick I didn't know what his problem was. Rick looks at me and says, "Ruger's been hunting with me and he knows what happens when something gets pointed at them."

Not sure who's had more milk and cookies

8 months old

21 pounds 6 ounces and 28 1/2 inches at Sophia's 8 month check-up.

First tooth!!

I have yet to see this mysterious tooth that seemed to pop up out of nowhere, but I can sure feel it. And that split-second look I did get at Sophia's gums shows another trailing not too far behind!

Happy Thanksgiving

Love Bugs

It took me longer than anticipated to report a happy Thanksgiving. I'm now recovering from a cold that Sophia caught from either Love Bug #1 (Amanda) or Love Bug #2 (Alyssa). Those little girls looove their cousin Sophia so much, they can't get close enough to her. Which is sweet, and I am so grateful there is no jealousy of the new addition to share Grandma's attention. So why are they Love Bugs? Well Amanda is in school now so basically she's a walking petri dish. She does really well washing her hands but, well, she's a kid and that's just that. Now Alyssa, she's a Love Bug because the kid just loves to bug. She definitely takes after my side of the family, with that devilish twinkle in her eye. I think we attempted to get Sophia down for a nap at least 4 times, each time the effort foiled by Alyssa. Here's a picture of my love bugs with Sophia!