New Blog!!!

Catch up with me at our new family blog:

http://rockintheredvan.blogspot.com

hugs and kisses,
Ben

Lazy summer

We enjoyed a "lazy in a busy way" kind of summer around here. We spent lots of time playing in the pool, going to the beach and avoiding wearing real clothes and going anywhere where it got ridiculously hot. (My Mom is having a hard time finding photos of me with clothes on.) :)

There are so many things that are new with my world. Here are just a few of them:

The gaps in my teeth are slowly closing as new chompers come in.
I say lots of words, like show, snake, rock, walk and dog.
I like to jump - even when it is from one piece of furniture to another.
I cheer whenever anyone does well at a sport (or not).
I play sports with Benjamin. Boys, watch out.
I love to color and paint.
I prefer to play in the sand when we go to the beach.
I wrinkle my nose when I don't get my way.

Here are some pics of the newer, older me.

Mud eater

I LOVE to eat mud and rocks. Benjamin loves the pool... I love when the pool gets emptied and the backyard is damp and muddy. My favorite is when the sprinkler toys come out and it gets muddy. Don't believe me - just see for yourself!



At least I clean up nice!



Oh, and a BIG thank you to Sister Church for my adorable swimsuit that gets lots of compliments! I love it!

Goofy Teeth

My Mom has been saying it for awhile, but yesterday my Daddy told me I have "Goofy teeth." You tell me... sometimes my Mom also says it's a toss up between Goofy or Dale from Chip 'n Dale.

Hello world!

So I fell off the bandwagon. Apparantly neither Benjamin or I have been up to blogging, so we are catching up now. My life has been busy and fun. I started walking in February and haven't stopped. I speed-walk to get away when I have something that I shouldn't or if I am playing hide-and-seek. It's funny to make other people run after me.

I also celebrated my firs birthday with a cupcake party. Everyone came and decorated cupcakes and I got to eat TWO! They even had cherries on top. It was a lot of fun.

I was visited by the Easter bunny for the first time too. He brought me a stuffed monkey and a Piggy Bank toy that I have a lot of fun with. Benjamin got a hockey stick and a Handy Manny toy. We went on an egg hunt at Grandma and Papa's house and all of the "eggs" were actually little balls. It was awesome because I got a lot too and Benjamin and I both really like sports.

Lately I am talking more. I say words all of the time and ask "this?" to know what something is. I say "all done," when I am done eating. Mostly I just point to the things I want - like to go in the swing or go in the highchair to eat.

My favorite sports are basketball, soccer and LaCrosse. I started kicking the soccer ball yesterday and I like to try to shoot baskets. I am trying my best to keep up with Benjamin so he picks me for his team and I don't end up being the goalie like Winne the Pooh or Stitch.

I am off to explore, but hopefully I will post again soon. Oh, and there are tons of pictures that my Mom and Dad need to post. We've been to Dineyland a bunch - we went for Ben's 2nd birthday - and of Easter and my party too.

Love,
Sofia

My First Word and other news.

So it is official, today I said my first discernible word, "Mama." It is only fair after all, that I say Mama first when she does everything for me. Benjamin said Dada first, so I figure this is the least I can do for my Mom who I adore.

In other news, I stood up all by myself on Sunday. We were all hanging out in the living room after dinner and I pulled up on my Mom and let go. She laughed and said I looked like I was taking snowboarding lessons. Dad and Grandpa were too enthralled in the TV to look, but Grandma is a witness too.

Mostly I spend my days following Benjamin's every move. He leaves a trail of cookie crumbs or something else delicious behind him, and you never know when he might drop his sippy cup. It is always filled with something MUCH better than the stuff they feed me from a bottle. I coo and giggle a lot and love to eat crayons. I don't give my Mom much of a break from chasing me or cleaning up after Ben, but I am happy and still don't mind much when I am diverted or thwarted in my attemps to have the things I am not supposed to.

And, for your viewing pleasure, here are some recent pictures of me.



This one was taken at the beach. I ate the sand. And, I didn't mind. These were going to be Christmas card pictures, but I think you can agree, none are really worthy of the project.



Love, hugs, cuddles, and drool all over...
Sofia

On the fast track!

I am LOVING life in the fast lane... except when I hit my head. My Mom and Dad thought it was a fluke last week when I pulled myself up on my carseat, but now I pull myself up on everything! It has only backfired twice. Once I slipped and hit my head on my crib, and the other time I hit the coffee table, so the table bumpers are going up again soon.

It's been so hot lately that I have had trouble sleeping. My Mom and Dad are sure tired lately. But I've been enjoying being naked.



I'm doing better at eating everyday and I love spending more and more time crawling around the living room. My Mom has found all of my tickle spots now - wouldn't you know it, my right cheek is ticklish.

Oh, and it looks like I might have green eyes!





Good Night!
Sofia

I can CRAWL!!!

So it is official. Today I managed to move from the kitchen to the couch and do a lap around the coffee table. I guess you can't be called a runner until you've done a marathon. So now that I have proven myself, I can officially be called a crawler!!! I would take a bow, but I don't really know how yet.

Life has been busy. Obviously with learning how to crawl, moving up in the world of eating solid foods, and crashing my brother's ideal sleeping situation. Did you know that Benjamin talks in his sleep??? He makes car sounds, and sometimes he says, "ball, ball, ball." Really, he says it all day, I don't think he should say it while he sleeps too. He'd never tell you these things himself - that is what he has a sister for.

Not much else to report. Maybe my Mom will post new pictures soon. I know she added more to facebook, so look over there if you are dying to see how cute I am!

Knock on Wood for my Mom & Dad

Last night I slept through the night! I haven't done that in a few months and my Mom and Dad are hoping it becomes a trend. Then I can move back into my crib and they can have the living room back! I guess they really want to play Nintendo before bed again.

Solids and More

SO I am 5 months old today!!! I can hardly believe how fast the time is flying by. I'll be honest, some days seem to drag, it's just the same old thing, but then there are crazy days when everything is a blur and the next thing we know another month has passed.

I went to the doctor a little late for my 4-month check up and I am a growing girl. I am 26.5 inches long and I weigh 14 pounds, 9 and a quarter ounces. With the car seat, that means my Mom is lugging an almost even 25 pounds in each arm when she takes Ben and me places. She should have bigger muscles from all of that lifting.

I am also big enough to eat solid food, but I'm not so into it. I am happy, I love the attention, but swallowing just doesn't really suit me. I mean, come on, I know Benjamin isn't eating this gruel. Give me the good stuff and then maybe I will be inclined to actually eat it!





I am keeping busy with other things though, like sitting up on my own - I do really well unless someone walks by me and I try to follow them with my whole body, or I lose my balance - but I usually make it a few minutes before I fall. I am also getting ready to crawl (the doctor warned my Mom it was coming shortly). I manage to do a full push up and then fall onto the floor to roll and push around the living room or my pack-n-play. It's fun and I smile and giggle until I get stuck or decide I would really rather have a bottle or a nap.



My favorite person in the whole world is my Benjamin. I smile whenever I see him and I love it when he comes in the pack-n-play to play with me. He tries to pick me up and give me hugs and he gives me a kiss every night before we go to bed. I just adore my big brother and I am trying really hard to catch up to him so that we can play and he can teach me all of his new tricks.

I love everyone and hope to see you all soon!
Love Sofia

Prey!

So I went to the zoo on Wednesday for the second time in my short life, and I thought my life was going to end! (or at least my Mom did). We were walking though cat canyon to catch up to Kelli and Heather and the rest of the group because I stopped to eat, and a mountain lion was staring me down. Everyone was pretty amazed. This mountain lion was eyeing up all small children in strollers. Thanks Maren for the tip that this particular mountain lion has a stroller fetish. It was cool, but scary at the same time. My Mom is usually not afraid of animals, but even this kinda creeped her out. I loved the zoo though, and did great!

Still giggling

There isn't much to report in my little world. I am still just happy, giggly So-So. I am getting bigger though and the pile of clothes that are moving into storage and out of my wardrobe rotation is getting larger and larger. And it is true, girls have WAY more clothes than boys. ;)

Sitting up and spitting up

So the two new things in my life are sitting up! Hooray! And spitting up - not so great. Sitting up is awesome. I always would rather be sitting or standing. I kinda get ticked off if I have to lay around on my back. But then, I tend to get ticked off whenever things aren't EXACTLY the way I want them to be - I am the princess after all. The spitting up kinda stinks, but my Mom says it is probably A) because I am more active and don't like to sit still after I eat, and/or B) I DROOL like crazy and that puts more acid in my stomach and makes me more full. It's a good sign though that I am swallowing more of my drool - just proof that I am getting ready to start solid foods in a few weeks.

Here is me on my first attempt at sitting up:


and here is the fall that occurred a few seconds later!

One Tough Cookie!

So far, I have taken lots of blows to the head. I can take the teddy bears, and even some of the "pats" I get from Benjamin. But I cry bloody-murder when the soda cans come flying, and like the other day, I get whacked with a golf club. I know, sometimes, Ben doesn't mean to hit me, but I just gotta say - it hurts! I have been told that I am one "tough cookie." So we'll just add that to my list of nicknames.

Rolling over and over and over.

So last week I rolled over from my tummy onto my back for the first time. This week I am working on mastering the reverse. I get on my side and then just can't seem to get the momentum to go all the way from my back to my tummy. It shouldn't be too long though. I have "abs of steel," according to my Mom.

Here's a new photo. See how cute I am???

All Smiles

So I have officially passed the 3-month mark, and as my Mom says I have entered my "Princess phase." I wake up smiling, and pretty much coo and giggle all day long. Shhh, my little secret, it could end at any minute. I wish there was more to report, but really, I just smile, and that is enough for everyone!

Latest Stats

So, for those keeping track, here are my latest statistics:

Height: 24 inches - about the 85th percentile
Weight: 11 pounds, 13 ounces - about the 50th percentile
Head Circumference: 39.5 centimeters

The report on me is that I am a mover and a shaker. I have good head control and a bubbly personality. I had a fun time other than my shots, but like my brother, I am a trooper. He was sure a good example for me.

I am Growing and Growing!

Can you believe I am almost 12 weeks old?? I know my Mom and Dad sure can't. I've spent a lot of time sleeping and eating and getting to know my world. So far my favorite things are my family (especially Benjamin who always makes me smile), going for walks in the fresh air, and making faces at people. My Mom says I make a Popeye face. I don't even know who Popeye is!

The only real big thing that has happened to me lately is that I caught my first cold. On Monday I woke up from my nap with a fever. When Mom called the doctor they said they needed to see me because of my age. So I went in with Mom and Benjamin went down to Aunt Heather's house. They checked my ears and eyes and throat and couldn't find anything, so they made my Mommy feed me and they put a catheder in to get a urine sample. That came back clean as a whistle, so they sent us to the lab at the hospital to have my blood drawn. It was really scary, but I was a trooper. The bloodwork was inconclusive, so we went back to the doctor to get a shot of antibiotics. I had a really rough night and went back to the doctor on Tuesday morning. My Mom told the doctor I had trouble eating that morning, so he checked my throat and sure enough, I had blisters all along the back of my throat. The doctor said he usually doesn't see that in kids as young as me, but it is just a virus and it should pass. Today I am back to normal and I am eating great and sleeping again.

The funny thing is that the doctor told my Mom no one else would get sick unless they swapped spit with me, and yesterday Benji took my binky from me and sucked on it. He was smiling and laughing when my Mom caught him. If I had felt better, I think I would have laughed too. But so far, no one else has gotten what I had. Phew.

Just in case anyone wants to know, I weigh 11 pounds, 12 ounces now. My official stats will be in on Monday when I go in for my (really late) 2 month check up. :)

Good night!
Sofia

Here I am World!

Well, I am not as computer savvy as my brother. It has taken me almost 2 weeks to get started with blogging. But my Mom insists I start early, so here I am.

I arrived in the world rapidly on Monday, March 31st, 2008. My Mom started having contractions while she was making dinner on Sunday at about 4:00. They were sporadic, and she chalked it up to having been on her feet all day. Mom, Dad and Ben went downstairs and had dinner with Heather and Travis and played. They came back up for Ben's bedtime, Mom and Dad watched a movie and then went to bed at about 10. Then I really decided it was time to come. My Mom had contractions that weren't too close together, but they hurt a lot, so at about midnight Mom took a shower and decided to try the hospital. She called Grandma and Grandpa to see if someone could come and be here with Benjamin while she and Daddy went to the hospital. Grandma and Grandpa got here at 1:30am and the contractions were 3 minutes apart. Mom checked in to the hospital at 2:05am, they checked and she was dilated to 6cm. They called for an epidural, the Dr. came in and Mom was dilated to 9cm. They started the epidural, waited until Mom's pain level went down, then Mom pushed and I came. My official birth time is 4:07am. My Mom has asked me to tell my Grandma and Grandpa that they do not need to call and wish me a happy birthday at my exact birth time like they do with Benjamin. That will just wake everyone up.

I weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces when I was born and was 19 and a half inches long. My hair is brown, it looks dark normally, but lighter in the sun. My Mom thinks there is a little bit of red in it, but it is still too early to tell for sure. My eyes are grey-blue for now, which my Dad says means that I have my Grandma's eyes and no one will ever know what color they are (except for a Kresal woman who will exclaim with delight that they never realized how green my eyes are!) And of course, everyone else will roll their eyes knowing that there isn't a speck of green in my beautiful irises. :)

I go back to the pediatrician tomorrow, Friday, to get my weight checked. I should be back up to my birth weight, so we are keeping our fingers and toes crossed. (I also have my arms and legs crossed). So far life has been exciting. I like to eat - A LOT! Pooping is not my favorite thing. I do "Lamaze" breathing when I have to go, and I let out little cries. My Mom giggles at me, but she is a supportive "coach." I still sleep most of the time. I have funny dreams, at least my Mom says I do because I laugh and smile a lot while I sleep. Speaking of sleep, it's time for me to get back to it. Mom is hoping for a repeat of Tuesday night when I slept from 9:30 until 5am. Wish her luck!

Hugs and Cuddles,
Sofia