summer days

Summer really is my favorite time of year. Soph and I love to take daily walks around the neighborhood soaking in the sun, admiring the flowers in others' yards, and watching the cars slow down for the local doves and ducks.

(which reminds me...) Let us take a minute to remember 'our summer dove'. Soph and I thought we were being so kind by rescuing an injured dove we found down the road. Note to self: hydrogen peroxide, covered aquariums, and small animals don't mix. Either way, we have a daily reminder of our fallen companion as her husband hangs out solo in front of our house every day. Eric and I still feel guilty.

Well here's to summer and summer strolls....

We're on our way to visit Daddy working down the road.

Let me get you a snack Daddy...

Got it.

Headed home....

But enjoying the view.

what's stinky

Oh, it's probably my kid.

For some reason our beautiful child is like a sponge for stink. Not really sure how it happens as I change her diaper every couple hours and she bathes at least once a day. But between her 'open gas station' (which is quite potent giving her small stature) and her general...dare I call it b.o. (??) she definitely has a funk.

Well I should clarify, she doesn't have a funk all the time. Definitely when she needs a diaper change, but somehow the smell hangs out with her for a bit. Lingering.

But don't get me wrong I am not raising that stinky kid in class. Oh no, she is clean as a whistle. And I love love LOVE those smelly feet (but how they get stinky is beyond me). I think my genetics may be to blame here, I know Eric can go lengths of time without deodorant; while I had to keep an extra stick in my desk at work for afternoon reapplication. Hmmm....sorry Soph.

I believe this is 90% to blame.

uh oh

Soph were you messing with Katt again?

whip me up some lunch

Gigi- I am coming over and I have a couple requests for lunch: sauteed scallops on a bed of jasmine rice, fresh green beans and bacon, a nice tomato and red onion balsamic salad, ribs and a peach crisp. Thank you.

At this rate my kid is gonna be difficult to pack cold lunch for. (Ummm...yeah...mom this sandwich really could have used some fresh basil and mozzarella.) It's coming, I just know it.

But its always a treat going to Gigi's on Sundays, and Soph loves it! She gets to see her family, try new foods, climb the stairs, and play in the beautiful yard. What more could a kid ask for.

Hey check out my skills!

I can do it by myself....

Hey, what's Grandpa doin on my stairs?
I had a good day!

i love my family

Sophie wanted to share a couple pictures of the people she loves most...her family!

I love my Gigi!!!

Hangin' with my sis is the best.


Oh Gramps!


Miss you Auntie Jess!
(PS...if you look hard my mom's mom is in the background to the right....yuck.)

Miss you too Auntie Naphtali!


Oh, my sweet little cousins.


Oh, I love you too Lucy.

daddy love

It has been very interesting to see how Eric and I play such different roles in parenting. I love that man, but he could not change a diaper to save his life. I would bet money on it that he has changed less than 20 diapers since she was born.*** But I'm not complaining about it by any means, I simply think its funny.

We have totally fallen into the stereotypical roles of momma and poppa, but it's totally great. Eric loves his sweet little girl and she LOVES her daddy. Everyday when he comes home from work she gets giddy to see him and cannot wait for him to get out of his after work shower. She just waits outside the bathroom door until at last he appears in a cloud of steam. And she thought her mommy was magic...her dad exits a room with steam...beat that mommy.

One thing I have figured out though is that while daddies might not be on the spot for diaper changes or feedings, they sure do love their little girls, and they make perfect jungle gyms. I have learned so much from Eric on how to be a parent, yeah it basically comes naturally, but it helps to have a great role model as well.

Where's Daddy?

I'm gonna get you Daddy!

Aha! Found ya!

*** Let us take a second and think about the number of diapers we've gone through thus far...
6 diapers a day.
11 months old.
30 days in a month.
6 x 11 x 30 = 1980 diapers!
cost?
1980 x .20 = $396.00
whoa.

she's turning japanese...

I think she's turning Japanese, I really think so!

Yes her daddy is a handsome fella, but come on! It was very disheartening that my Sopie looked nothing like me. That is up until a couple weeks ago, and it grows stronger every day! Grandma Glenna was expecting a dark skinned, almond-eyed, black haired, kimono wearing baby to pop out of my womb (oh she was gonna look good in white and kackis). Well she didn't arrive as Asian as we'd hoped, but we're working on it. Hooray for genetics!

My beautiful Miss Murphy...

Me as a little one...do you see the similarities too?!

go go go

She's a-walkin' and a-talkin'!

Since she realized that her feet weren't solely there for me to smell, all she wants to do is "go go go". She actually repeats it as you help her walk from one end of the house to the other. I know I was dead set against helping her walk (I knew she'd catch on eventually...) but her little voice and fat stompin' feet are too much for me to pass up!

go

go

go

lovely sunday

Art in the park has become highly overrated. When did it become ok to charge 200 bucks for a children's puzzle? Yes it is handcrafted and nearly one of a kind...but it's a children's puzzle. But it seemed that everything was like that this year. All the items that seemed to catch our eye were in the hundreds of dollars price range. And no we weren't browsing booths containing only one of a kind paintings or handcrafted gold jewelry....no were talking about lawn art and plain little silver necklaces.

Sophie sums up our thoughts of art in the park in this one look:

But it was an absolutely beautiful day and we did have a great time. Who couldn't love a sunny day of people and dog watching followed up by lunch at PF Chang's. Which I might add was delicious, just ask Soph she ate more lemon chicken than I did. Apparently strolls in the park make baby hungry.

Oh yes, and Soph liked just the lemon of the lemon chicken as well....

sophie's saturday story

For months Eric and I have talked about how amazing it would be to write children's books. Well today Soph and I were inspired by a box...a few pictures and 15 minutes later Ta Da! we have our first little story. We had fun I hope you enjoy!

Hi my name is Sophie Mae.

This is my box.

I really love this box.

When I sit in it...

I think about all the things I could grow up to be...

a fisherman sailing the high seas...
a Jamaican bobsled racer...

an astronaut taking flight...
an Olympic high diver.

I have so much fun thinking!

Hmmm...says Lucy....

What do you think I could be in this box?

show me your chompers

Soph has been workin' with these 4 beauts for about a month now and wanted to show 'em off!

It truly is incredible how cute they can be...but I am almost certain it's similar to a defense mechanism. They may not be able to talk but they sure know how to work their parents. 90% of the time they are pure perfection, but then out of nowhere BOOM! they go Mr. Hyde on your ass and just freak out. Happy, happy, happy, throwing myself on the floor having a fit and spitting like a cobra (it's her newest trick). Or happy, happy, happy, happy til 3 in the morning (2 nights in a row!).

Believe me it's hard to remember how stinkin' precious she is when all you're doing is replaying her favorite Curious George song over and over at 2 a.m. so she'll get sleepy. But their defenses are strong. So very strong. And she has me beat, I have been bested by my 11 month old.

Dang it I love my monster (baby).

happy 60th dad

That number is really freaking me out, doesn't it sound old to you? My dad isn't old enough to be in his sixties; he doesn't even look that old. Plus he still works hard, plays hard, is in near perfect health, and looks fantastic! Well I think I kinda feel old now. Dad stop getting old you're making me feel weird! :)

For his birthday Soph made the sweetest little present. Ahhh...the joy of making presents...they are the BEST! I am so excited (Eric hint hint hint) to get stuff made by my kid. I do love a nice bag or pair of shoes for my birthday, but sweet mementos never go out of season. Anyway we cut out the most colorful parts of one of her finger paintings and framed it into a beautiful masterpiece. It turned out so wonderful I almost kept it for myself.

We love you gramps now don't fall and break a hip or somethin'!

I couldn't resist adding this last pic...

It was the first picture of my dad and I where I could really see the similarities between us. Love it!

naughty baby!

How do people with small children keep their houses clean? I know it exists, I have seen it a million times. Not my house. Books mom...look i have books everywhere from the bathroom to the kitchen. Let's read a story next to the oven! Oh and that diaper rash cream you were looking for- it's in Lucy's dog bowl.

How does she do it? Somehow everything we own is on the floor and not in the room it originated. It's pretty incredible really. But any who she has definitely reached the exploration stage. Drawers, cabinets, toilets, animal bowls you name it and it is no longer safe from the Sopha Master.

I think I might like opening this up.

Even better! I love standing in it!

Hey this is fun...

and you probably belong here.