Sunday, August 26, 2012

20 months



So, this is like a week late, but it's because we were on vacation.
I think that's a pretty valid excuse.

So here are some of the things that make Sophia awesome right now:
1) WORDS!!!! SO MANY WORDS!!!
While we were on vacation, a lot of people remarked on how much she could say. She's a parrot and will repeat everything. Here are some of the words she's learned this last month.
Amen, bless you, open, excuse me, dip, good girl, towel, I see you, kitty/meow, map, abre (yep, Spanish thanks to Dora), potty, poo, splash, cool, pants, fun, play, cow, monkey, feet, elephant (in Chinese), duck, dog, let's go, hao (means good or ok in Chinese), pool, swim, yesss (she really drags out the sss sound), bonk, stuck, hot dog, bump, hug, ouch, Petra (not just puppy anymore). And basically all of our family members' names we saw on vacation. Her favorite name to say was Uncle Matt (she still says it every day almost). There are definitely more, but I can't keep up.
2) No boundaries: she is quite the little adventurer. You know how some kids have this 'safe-distance' that  they will go from the parents? Like where they can still see them? Well, not Sophia. She just goes. She really is not afraid of anything. She just will go up to the biggest slide across the play ground without a second look back at me. I'm glad she's so confident and independent, but it's a little unnerving too.
3) Little fishy: We went swimming everyday in California and Sophia loved the pool. She'd run to the edge, sit right down and lower herself in, and push off the wall (all the way underwater) to us. It was crazy! She just loves the water. Once again great, yet unnerving. We have to keep a very close eye on her around water now.
4)BIG hugs! Sophia now gives these great big hugs with both arms and a tight squeeze. I love them...
5) Fast walking/running: you hear it all through our house. The quick thud, thud, thud of little feet going back and forth, back and forth. Everywhere she goes has to be at a fast pace. I wouldn't necessarily call it running, but very fast walking. She inevitably looses her balance and falls down, or runs in to something soft (like the couch) and laughs. It's a strange game.
6) Climbing: she climbs anything you put in her way. She got all the way up on top of the table to get some bread the other day, seriously within seconds. She can climb up the ladders at the park now too.
7) Coloring: she finally figured out coloring and is having fun with it now.

She is just a ball of fun, and we love playing with her every day.
So her are some quick pictures of us playing in the backyard.

She loves our bikes.
 

"Hello ball. We meet again."


Sophia and Daddy kicking the soccer ball around.

She actually does pretty good at dribbling it. We got a little soccer player?

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Carpinteria 2012

We had our annual family gathering in Carpinteria, California.
It was wonderful as always!
Here are a few pictures, but the rest will all be on Facebook.


Sophia became quite the little swimmer in our time in California
 
 

Ocean = cold + scary

Help me daddy!


Beautiful sunrising over the beach.
 

As scary as it was, she was totally memorized.

Sophia and Oma


Playing in the sand


Kicking in the pool with cousin Samuel


All the cousins on a surrey






Sophia and Grandma


Rock painting party!


With Rick's family

Sophia trying not to get her feet wet
 

Rick digging holes (like always)

Then filling said holes and sliding in to them.


At sunset




More holes!

Really really deep holes!


Father son kayaking


Sophia and Aunt Heidi sun-bathing together
(Sophia decided she didn't want a swimsuit)


We made a stop to the Santa Barbara Mission.
So fun the visit there again! I haven't been there since I was a kid.
 
 
 
 
And now some instagram moments:

My little California girl

Breakfast with cousins

Some wonderful friends and dinner for my birthday

Sleeping on the plane

Cousins all in a canoe

Some real mexican food

The perfect view

Sophia loved getting to know her cousins more.

The whole gang- 48 people all together!

All in all, another perfect California trip!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Pinckney Camping


We went camping this last weekend and had a blast at Pinckney. Camping by beautiful Silver Lake. I've decided Michigan has amazing State Parks!

The lake was seriously bath temperature. Felt so nice.
 

And Sophia LOVED swimming in it.
(although all the facial expressions here may not show it)

 

The other great thing about lakes is how shallow and calm they are.
(sorry Pacific Ocean- I'm starting to really like lakes)


Mommy and Sophia!

(sorry for my weird smile)


Sunset down by the lake (we could see it from our campsite)

Daddy and Sophia walking down the dock
 
 

beautiful lake with tons of water lilies and Herons flying everywhere

Next morning started with us using our new cast iron set to cook our yummy breakfast over the fire.
Grilled toast, bacon, and eggs.
Nom, nom, nom.

Rick the egg-master

Sophia with our new tent (yes, it is bright orange and we love it)

Right after breakfast, and nice 5 mile hike through the woods...

... and wetlands. They're beautiful, but deadly (Rick and I have soooo many bug bites on our legs!!!!)

Another great camping trip- so wonderful to be outdoors as a family.