Sophia says hello!

This video was taken today as Sophia entertained herself on her playmat.

Sophia Laughs

You have to wait for it towards the end of the video but Phillip gets Sophia into a pretty good laughing fit!

Summer Travels

I realize it's been a while since I've posted. So here's what we've been up to. Sophia is now 12.68lbs and 25.5 in. long.

We went up to Ohio a few weekends ago to visit family. She enjoyed her first road trip. I'm sure there will be many, many more in her future. She did great in the car and actually slept through most of the trip. I think she even enjoyed her first trip to Cabela's! It was a convenient stopping point since I had to feed her. Phillip was pleased with the strategic stop as well.

Sophia hadn't yet met her Grandpa or Aunt Julia. She also had the chance to meet her Uncle Buck (Bob) and Aunt Lindsay and her Great-Gramma. Kelly's friends Eric and Jenn and the divas also came over for a visit. She got lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles.

Gramma has been in town this week watching Sophie because Phillip was teaching summer camp. They enjoyed their week together laughing, playing, and just doing gramma and granddaughter stuff.

We travel to NC next week for vacation and for Sophia's baptism.

Here are some other photos of learning how to play Farkle, my college roommates and I with Sophia, Sophie trying to escape her swaddler after a nap, and some Daddy time.

Summer Fun

Well first of all let me tell everyone that I returned to work on June 23rd. The first day was really rough. I cried about 1/2 the way to work and got a bit choked up when people would ask "How are you? How is the baby?" It's not easy to suddenly go from being with her 24/7 to having to leave her sweetly sleeping in her crib at 6:00 a.m. But each day got a little easier. I still miss her like crazy throughout the day but I know she's in good hands--her daddy's!

We have spent the past two weekends getting out of the house and doing some "family stuff." Last weekend we ventured down to Quantico to check out the Marine Corps Museum. It is by far one of the best museums I have ever been to. I highly recommend it if you are in the area. It is an excellent overview of American History and the wars we have been involved in. It is much more than just a tribute to the Marines. In the Vietnam display you walk thru the belly of a Chinook helicopter. Below is a video I took so you can kinda of see how it is done. What was so fascinating to me was the sound of the propeller. In the video it isn't super loud because it was just restarting but at full go it is amazing.


Yesterday, The Fourth of July, we went into Warrenton for the annual Kids and Pets parade. It is one of the shortest parades I've ever seen. Kids on bikes, in wagons, walking, being carried and dogs of all sorts were decked out in red, white, and blue and walk about 4 blocks from the center of town to the courthouse. We got there with about a block left to go!
We did see Uncle Sam.

And stopped for ice cream on the way home. Since it was a little before 11 am when the ice cream stand opened we decided to take some self-family portraits.

Next weekend we hope to go up to Ohio for a few days. Bob and Lindsay are still in town and Gramma is coming to visit as well. So Sophia will have the chance to meet her Aunt Julia, Aunt Lindsay, Uncle Bob, Grampa, and Great Gramma. I can't wait!

Here are some other photos taken over the last few weeks.

Nap Time!

Sophia really enjoys playing on her play mat. There is a monkey to pull on, a giraffe that rattles, music when she kicks her feet just right, and a mirror so she can stare at her reflection. But all the playing wears her out...Daddy too it seems!

2 months old today!

Sophia is celebrating the first day of summer by being 2 months old today! We have been working on tummy time to strengthen her head, neck, and chest muscles, lying on her back looking at herself and grabbing at objects, smiling and cooing, and learning to enjoy her 3 hour afternoon nap!

She is the proud supporter of Bum Genius diapers. They are reusable cloth diapers that function more like a disposable. Although they look like she is wearing baby Depends she seems to like them and I like not having the waste that disposables create!

She also puts up with my ridiculous photo antics! I love this outfit because it matches the color of her room. I thought it would funny to hold her up to the wall as she camouflaged herself!

And she had her first horseback ride!

Phillip has learned how to be a great Dad. He enjoys his one on one time with Sophia very much. He learned from a colleague the other day that the average American Dad only spends 8 minutes a day with their child! He spends far more time than that with Sophie! He also knows how to keep me happy. Sophia got "off schedule" a bit yesterday and didn't go to bed until 10pm. That meant I was feeding her from 9-10pm when I'm usually winding down for the night and going to bed myself. To boost my spirits he made me some ice cream....but I told him I couldn't eat it because I only had one hand. One hand was holding the baby and I wouldn't have enough leverage/grasp to hold a bowl and put the spoon to my mouth...but Phillip being the inventive man he is came to the rescue!

I'm sure I'll take some photos today of Sophia's 2 month milestone. I head back to work on Monday. It is bittersweet. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and having something intellectual to do but I know I will miss being home with Sophia and Dolly very much. It has been so enjoyable just watching Sophia each day grow and just be!

Father's Day, Bath time and 2 month check up

Phillip celebrated his first Father's Day this past weekend. It was a nice laid back day with his three favorite girls (me, Sophie, and Dolly). Sophie and I will be taking him to an Asheville tourists game later this summer to honor his Dad-hood.
We are starting to get into an evening routine. After I feed her in the evening we give her a bath and then she's off to bed. Phillip and I usually both participate in bath time but the other night I was cleaning up the kitchen while Phillip suds up Sophie. I did catch him enjoying one of her cool hooded towels though!Sophia had her two-month check up yesterday. She weighed in at 11 pounds 4.5 ounces and measured 22 inches long. She had her first round of vaccinations too. She did a great job dealing with the pain after the shots. She wailed for a little bit but not very long. I nursed her for a few minutes to help calm and comfort her which she seemed to appreciate. She promptly fell asleep on our way home and even slept long enough for us to do some grocery shopping. I am really impressed with her resiliency! She is a tough cookie.

Surfs Up!

Sophia doing a little Tummy Time!

Sunday Best

So the snake post was yucky and I thought the absolute opposite was in order...so more pictures of Sophia!

We went to church on Sunday. Sophia was an angel...not a peep out of her the whole mass. We waited until everyone had exited church so we could speak with the pastor. As the parishioners exited most of them stopped by our pew to gawk at Sophia. "Oh, how adorable." "She's so cute." "How old is she?" "What's her name?" It was delightful! And thank goodness she was in her Sunday best. I should have had Phillip hold her to take the photos but she was hungry and I just wanted to capture her looking so adorable so propped up on the couch it was!




Dolly is becoming much more comfortable with Sophia and I think they mutually enjoy each others company. I think when we are not looking Dolly gives Sophia lessons in being cute!


That's all for now. I'll be sure to post next week after our two month check-up! I'm looking forward to posting her new stats.

Too Cute!

I think I'm obsessed with my daughter. She's just so cute! I have been trying to take a photo a day of her and the past few days I've taken more than one because she is just soooo darn cute! Take a look...Testing out my snuggle bunny.
Napping on the porch.
Shopping just wears me out!
Relaxin'
Hanging out in my crib.
Counting sheep and falling asleep.
Dolly and I finally decided to be friends!
Me? Yeah, I'm cute.
Can I get the full body massage too?
Tummy time on my surfboard. Aunt Julia when do we go to Cali?
Kiss me! I'm Cute! No worries there!