Sophia turns 1!

I can't believe my little girl is a whole year old. It has been the best year of my life. Not that it hasn't had its challenges, but I can't express the love and growth I have now in my life.

New things with Sophia:

- cruisin': she's gotten so good at walking along things, and she sure is proud of it

-copy cat: she lots to imitate things you do. Talking on the phone, 'fist bumps', blowing kisses, and folding her arms when we pray. It is so cute and so fun to see her learning so fast

- puppy love: her and Petra's relationship is going to a whole new level. Sophia has officially figured out how play with Petra. She'll give Petra a doggy toy, then pull it on it, and then laugh uncontrollably. Petra seems still unsure about it.

- mama: she definitely knows me by name, but she does have a tendency to call everything else mama too!

-little talker: her baby babbling now sounds like full (non-comprehensible) sentences. Always, always talking. I love to hear it.

So today was all about Sophia. The day started with a pancake breakfast and reading Birthday Monsters! 

Yummm...pancakes

They Sophia went on a Daddy-daughter date to an awesome toy store with a play place indoors. She loved the slide and didn't want to leave it.

And her favorite toy was the wooden train sets.

Hi!

After a good nap, Sophia woke up to all her presents and some balloons.

She thought the balloons were so fun!!

And she loved unwrapping her presents

a super cute scarf and hat from her great-aunt Margie

She loved all the toys everyone sent to her- thank you!

And her cool new activity cube.
We finished the day off playing at the mall, and going out to a fun dinner. It was a great day, and just perfect in every way.
Happy Birthday my dearest little one- we love you so much!

Sophia's 1st Birthday Party

We had a 'Brunch in Paris' themed birthday party for Sophia a few weeks before her actual birthday. It was so fun with all of our great Michigan-made friends, and lots of yummy food. I made Sophia this cute tutu and matching hat, but she would have nothing to do with her hat. This was the best we could do.

The spread- crepe bar, french toast casserole, croissants, baguettes and yummy cheeses.


Parisian decor

The coup de grace- the Wolf chocolate cake!

Sophia unsure about this whole cake thing

thinking about it

warming up to the idea


thoroughly embracing the cake-ness
baby smash!

We also did a photobooth with everyone stocked with mustaches, monocles, and berets

Thank you for coming!

milk

Rick feeds Sophia a bottle of breast milk on the days I've worked and am sleeping. He got these adorable pictures of her and her love affair with the bottle.

All done!

So happy.

My little turkey

I had to just post some pictures of her cute Thanksgiving outfit. I made the tutu and she was totally my little turkey, and the hit of the party.

11 Months!

11 Months?! Where does the time go...
Sophia is a ball of fun- she just cracks me up every day. Here are some of her favorite things...
1. First words- "All Done!" It started with the baby signing that we've done. That was the first she did. Now she emphatically yells "all done" for everything. When she's done eating, done getting her diaper changed, done playing with something. She'll let you know.
2. More signs- she can sign more and milk (which she does for all food). It is so cute, I love her baby signs.
3. Other cool baby tricks- she will wave when you say hello or wave to her. She'll also give hi fives and start jumping when you say the words to her. Mostly if you say the words in Chinese though... yep, Rick only speaks Chinese to this little girl and she definitely is picking up on it. Oh geez, I'm going to be the odd one out aren't I?
4. Stair master- as evidence by these pictures. It was seriously like one day she all the sudden climbed our whole flight of stairs 4 times in a row. She loves them. The pictures here happened because we were about to go out (hence her cute jacket and hat- yes it's that cold already) and I turned around and she made a b-line for the stairs. She was so cute and happy, I had to get some pictures.
5. Happy to play- she loves to play, and entertains herself so well. I've started taking her to the gym childcare, and at first I felt guilty, like I was abandoning her- but she LOVES it! Every time I pick her up she's talking up a ball and crawling and playing with all the kids. It's so fun to see.
6. Super sleeper- she takes 2- 1 1/2 hour naps, and then sleeps 13 hours at night. It's kind of awesome. She totally got that from me :D

I am becoming nostalgic for this time last year, when she was about to come. It seems just like yesterday. I have loved every minute.

Saying hello to bunny

What's that?

Meh! I'll keep climbing..

Oma & Opa!

My parents came to visit us in Michigan at the end of October. It was so great to have them here. We tried to give them the real Michigander experience. We went and did lots, but I didn't take a ton of pictures. Here we were at Yates Cider Mill.

Aren't they too cute?

Hiking along

We went to the Edsel (Henry Fords' son) & Elanor Ford House. It was really really cool! I had never been there before. The grounds were beautiful!

Opa so lovingly raked all of our leaves, so of course we had to play in them.

I don't know why Sophia looks so terrified in this picture- haha

Oma with her two grandchildren (I think Petra missed Oma the most once they left)

We miss them already and hope they come again soon!

Bubble Beard Baby

I love her.