A Weekend Away

Trying to feed a plaster duck some food to no avail.

Ahoy Matey! Have you seen Orlando Bloom? My mom is looking for him.

Playing in the pool is lots of fun, especially when Aunt Sog filled it with warm tap water.

Just hanging around.

We visited Auntie Kiki and her dog Killer.

Sophie nonchalantly reaches into Auntie Kiki's top...I guess it's warm and soft there. :)

She samples Auntie Kiki's famous deviled eggs.

Now she's learning how to play "Stairway to Heaven" with much success!

Sophie has some BIG dreams!

Aunt Sog helps Sophie touch a squishy sea cucumber at the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla.

Help! We got eaten by a big shark!

Sophie enjoyed seeing all the fish, jellyfish, starfish, frogs, and seahorses.

Thinking the doggy door is just for her, Sophie goes in and out of Aunt Sog's house freely.

What's new with Sophie?

Last week we visited Aunt Soggy in Temecula for her 40th birthday (can you believe she's getting old?). We loved going to the park, eating macaroni and cheese at Applebee's, playing in the baby pool, going to San Diego to see the aquarium, visiting Auntie Kiki, and making a mess of Aunt Sog's house. Sophie owes Sog her first paycheck to pay for the coasters she broke while she was "playing". Anyway, we had a lot of fun and can't wait to go back, we just hope Aunt Sog childpoofs her house next time we come.

Well, let me tell you...she is making more sounds and intonations like she's talking. We thought we heard her say "I love you," "amen," and "apple". It's so nice to hear her little voice. You should see her face light up when we actually understand what she's trying to communicate. It's like the excitement you feel when you're playing charades. She smiles, nods her head and squeals!

What else? She stacked 9 blocks on top of each other before they tumbled over. The physical therapist said that was a skill of a 30 month old toddler and she's only 17 months! She's so advanced in her fine motor skills. Just the other day she picked up a centimeter sized paper and threw it into the trash. We're all amazed!

She's also doing all the normal toddler things like going down the slide by herself, imitating me when I clean the house, pretending to read a book, running everywhere instead of walking, giving hugs and kisses, and dancing to the Wiggles.

Yesterday we went to a Mother's Day Tea at my school and she was so comfortable talking and playing with all the students and their mothers. Sophie is definitely at home in social situations. She gives them the eyebrows, shines that gorgeous smile (you know the kind that makes your eyes close), and lets out a little giggle. She is always so happy.

Her favorites at this time are sweet potatoes, grapes, strawberries, apple juice, black beans, the sandbox, taking a bath, and reading Goodnight Moon with her papa (even though she highly prefers her mama to put her to bed).

But one of her favorite joys is riding on the back or shoulders of her big brother "Bubba" or big sister "Mei Mei." By the way, they both are over the moon in love with their little Sophers. They both express time and time again how they can't wait to get home to play with her and how much they love her. Josh thinks she's so cute when she gives him a high five, followed by knuckles called "pound it" and finally all her fingers pop out for the "explode" motion! Courts think she is as sweet as honey and loves to take her to the mall and show her off to all her friends who work there. I secretly think she loves it when people mistake her for the mommy.

So that's what's new with our darling little Sopheroonies. Until next time...