Rub-a-dub-dub

Blanket forts...

For our FHE activity we decided to make a mini blanket fort. Then Sophia proceeded to go back and forth in it about a zillion times.

Sophia saying good morning...

Marvin's Marvelous Machine Museum

A plethora of old to new arcade games, pizza, and prizes. Make-your-head-explode noise and lights. A fun afternoon of being a kid again.

Reading corner

We got this little rocking chair for Sophia and she just started doing this in it.
We read to her in the big rocking chair everyday before she takes a nap or goes to sleep. I guess the imprinting is working ;)

Mardi Gras

We aren't catholic, but we do like an excuse to party.
Our house smelt of jambalaya, lots of jazz music, and of course masks and beads. Sophia even took her shirt off at dinner- but then again she does every night.

Baby Godzilla

14 months

My big 14 month old! 

My favorite things about Sophia currently:

- 2 new teeth- she now has her 2 top teeth to match her cute bottom ones

-1 nap! She's down to one nap and I kind of love it because it opens up our morning so much more. She still sleeps for 13 hours at night and I super duper love that :D

- Music class- we started a music class with her and she has so much fun. We just sing silly songs and do stuff with basic rhythms and patterns. But she bounces along like she loves it.

- Old man walking- she uses anything that slides across the floor like a walker. Her little train here, the stool chairs, etc. We said that with her bald little head, and walker she looks like a little old man- hahaha. Don't worry baby girl- we know you're beautiful and cute!

- Obsessed with peek a boo- it is the one sure fire cure for crankyness. She plays all by herself and thinks she's hilarious!

- New words? Sophia had been saying this phrase of sounds over and over, we couldn't figure out what she was trying to say, or if it meant anything. Then we realized that she was repeating a Chinese phrase Rick is always saying to her that means 'do you want?'. Rick basically only speaks Chinese to Sophia, and it's crazy that she's already picking up on it. She's followed directions in it for a long time (like waving hi, jumping, patting her belly), but now she's repeating it back. Looks like I better get learning!

- Assertive baby- Sophia definitely knows how to communicate that she wants something. She'll come and tap you on the leg, then start pulling, then making very loud unpleasant noises.

- Yet independent- she's really good at entertaining herself for the most part. She likes playing with us, but can go play by herself when she needs to.

- Bath time- has become so fun! She loves to read her bath time book and has learned how to really splash. Beware, the first 3 rows will get wet.

-Bed time- she is so cute at bedtime in her little footed pj's, but my favorite thing is each night we read her Good Nite Moon right before she goes to sleep. She gets sooo excited when we pull out the book. She stands up in her crib to watch and laughs at the cow and kitties. Then by the end of it, she usually lays herself down and cuddles up with her blanket ready to sleep. I know that sounds way to picturesque to be true- but it is!!! I swear! (if you want to know how we got her to love sleeping so much, let me know)

All in all- what a fun little girl!?!

There she goes with her little train! She'll go back and forth ALL DAY.

Check out the video

Getting in to the DVD cabinet.

About to cry because mommy wouldn't let her touch the camera lens.

Playing with her trucks.

Baby hulk face- don't make the Sophia angry...

Favorite toy? Wooden trains! She LOVES them!

You're so cute!

She's getting chubbier I think too- she eats like a mad woman. It's amazing how much she eats sometimes. The Dr will be so happy :D

I love every little part of her.

Indian Wedding

One of Rick's friends, who is Indian, got married this last weekend. We got to attend her wedding and reception. Luckily we have some Indian friends who were more than happy to dress us up for it. It was by far the most fun wedding I've ever been to. So much energy, color, food, fun, music, and wonderful warm people. We had such a blast!

Here's us at the temple for the ceremony. We had to cover our heads and go barefoot. The ceremony was very cool and symbolic. 

As a funny side note (for the Mormons in the audience)- we had to go to a meeting with the Stake President straight from here. So we were all dressed up just like this when we meet with him. We had warned him, and are actually pretty good friends with him and his wife. So he just laughed and took a picture of us to send to his wife :) (second side note- Rick is now in the Bishopric! yikes!)

Okay- back to the wedding...

For the reception our friend dressed me up in a saree. Things I learned. 

1- Sarees are big long, heavy pieces of fabric (that is all super real beading- in the end weighing probably 15 pounds) that you have to wrap very elaborately. She was so kind to do it, and I loved the way it looked- but it was complicated!

2- I wore a bindi for both occasions (the jewel on the forehead of women) and it shows that you're married

3- I also wore real bangles. Real bangles for women (ie. once you're married) are made of glass and are snug. So imagine putting tight glass bands over your hands- and sure enough some are guaranteed to break. (we broke like 5 in the process- I have the cuts on my hands to prove it!). 

4- Indian women are incredibly beautiful and tough!

I felt so pretty though- we joked that it felt like going to prom. 

Guys just wore suits to the reception. At the reception the dancing and party was incredible. Everyone danced (from the little kids to the old men) - and I mean DANCED! Like Indian-night club. And everyone throws money at the bride and groom. It was so much fun. Such a cool night! I hope we get to go to another one, or Sophia marries an Indian guy ; D

Valentine's Dinner

So Rick and I enjoy throwing parties- the planning, the decorating, the cooking, and most of all- the fun we get to have with our friends. We decided that we'd throw a dinner party on Valentine's Day for our friends- because nobody wants to go to a restaurant that day anyway- right? It was adult only, with mocktails, appetizers, 3 course dinner. And did I mention we cooked all that for 12 people?! Yep- it was a bit busy, but such a fun night. I may have gotten too many good ideas from pinterest and gone a bit overboard with decorations, but it turned out beautiful. We strung lights and ballons on the ceiling, then had white candles everywhere. Turn on some bosa nova, and you got a very romantic evening.

Table for 12?! 

35 candle center piece. Yeah- it took a bit to clean the wax off, and it was a bit of a fire hazard. But was it worth it? Yes!

What a fun night with friends!

Happy Valentine's Day!

13 months

Another month gone by.

Sophia's personality has come out so much in the last month. She's so much more expressive and interactive. It is so much fun to play with her and watch her explore. Favorite things about Sophia right now:

- Clapping: she LOVES to clap. Whenever we say 'good job'- she claps. Whenever she hears people applauding on the radio (we listen to live concerts a lot)- she claps. When she's bored sitting in her crib or her carseat- she claps. 

- Playful: she loves to play peek-a-boo with us. She's got it down and will move your hands in front of your face for you. She'll do her version of peek-a-boo and cover her face, then raise her arms off, and squeal. She also loves to chase and be chased, bounce on the exercise ball, drop things from her high chair, jump, and dance. Her favorite band is Mumford & Sons. She'll dance to anything though- from hip hop to Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

- Show me some love: she loves to blow kisses. In the grocery store she'll blow kisses left and right from the cart basket. It's basically like she's a Rose Parade Queen or something. She also tells says hi and bye and waves to almost everyone. And Rick taught her to pat her belly, which always makes me laugh.

- Smarty pants: she loves the 'stacking rings'- thing (is there an official name for that toy?), and has gotten really good at it. She also is starting to figure out the shape sorter. She loves her wooden blocks, but mostly just hits them together. 

- Animal lover: One of her other favorite activities is to go in Petra's crate and tackle the dog, then laugh hysterically. Petra does not seem impressed by this game. Sophie also learned to feed the bunny rabbit his treats. She climbs up the stairs to where he is currently living, gets the bag of treats, brings it over to you to open it, then will take one out at a time and stick it in the bunny's cage and watch him eat them. She thinks this is the funnest thing, and could do it all day long. She tries to go up there almost every chance she gets. We're going to have a fat little bunny soon.

- I think she's got it!: one of the most amazing things is how much Sophia understands. She points at things to ask about them. She'll point to my picture around the house and say mama. She understands if I say to stop or no or ask her to go get something close by or when it's nap time. Even though she can't say much, she really understands more than I think we realize. It is so amazing and fun to watch everyday!

So we're all recovered from the holidays, and just kind of waiting for winter to actually get here. After the record breaking snow last year, we haven't had ANY snow this season. It finally snowed a little bit yesterday, and we decided to enjoy what little we had.

Remember this little snow baby this time last year? Amazing how things have changed!

Here we are now! She had a blast in the snow. The cold part didn't bother her at all. She just plowed right through it.

We're so lucky to have such an amazingly happy baby.

Make a path! 

She would not be difficult to track in the snow...