More Birthday!!!

After her party, and a good nap, Sophia woke up to this from Mommy and Daddy and other family who sent her stuff. This was kind of a lot in my opinion, but we're going to California for Christmas, so a lot of the bigger things we decided to give her for her birthday.

The first thing she went for was the bike. She was sooo excited.

Riding around the house right away.

She couldn't stop.

Finally (a half hour later) we were able to get her off her bike to open more presents.

She loved her new easel
(has been playing with it every morning first thing)

Fun butterfly game from Aunt Jen

Loved the book from Oma & Opa

She loves her puppets!!

(hey look- a picture with mommy!!)

(who knew she was still around?!) haha

My beautiful little girl.

Loved her balloons.

After we finished with presents (it seriously took forever- she had to play with everything) we went to dinner in downtown Rochester. They gave her a balloon at the restaurant. I've never seen her so happy. This should be required at all restaurants.

Downtown Rochester lights up all 3 city blocks. It was amazing!

Sophia with her little balloon, running around to see the lights.
Laughing, and so happy, the whole time.

Just so cute...

Beautiful!

And looking in the windows

Looking...

Going in for a closer look...
( "it's so beautiful...")
She cracks me up.

And to finish it off- some frozen yogurt.
Happy Birthday my little girl!!
We love you!!

Meetin' Santa

The Royal Oak Farmer's Market had Santa stop by. Sophia wasn't her friendliest, but she also didn't cry  (compared to last year)

And she ended it with a fist-bump. So he couldn't have been all that bad?

A Christmas Tree

We decorated our tree the other night, and I kind of went overboard taking pictures of Sophia helping. There's something so magical about small children and Christmas.

Every morning she asks to turn on the Christmas tree, and she just says wow to the lights. 

She LOVED putting the ornaments on.
Then taking them off.
Then putting them on again.
(endless fun)

 

 

Learning to 'jingle'

Each year, this season gets more fun as she is able to participate and appreciate the traditions and activities more and more.

Helping Daddy put the star on the tree.

"Sophia hat"

"Wow"

The best part- turning all the other lights in the house off.

And still putting ornaments on.

I love this picture, because that little ornament is a picture of Sophia on her first Christmas, when she was only 5 days old. She's my Christmas baby, and this time of year will always make me think of those first few weeks with her.

 

Looking at the baby picture of herself. When I asked her who it was she said "Baby Sophia".
Smarty pants.

DIA: Peter and the Wolf

Rick and I love the arts, and we were super excited to get to take Sophia to the Detroit Institute for the Arts to see her first live theater performance. A puppet show of Peter and the Wolf- one of my very favorites! She had such a good time, and was attentive and well behaved for the whole show.

Very into it.

It was a super cute production, and very well done.
Peter and his Grandfather.

The hunter and the wolf.

Afterwards we went and explored some other parts of the museum. We come here a ton because we are members, and Sophia grows to love it more and more each time.

Now that she's talking so much, she loves to point out things she knows in the paintings and sculptures.

And she thought this video of a traditional 4 course French meal was very cool.

Her favorite part is running from section to section, and playing on the benches. Climbing over, under and all around them. 

What can I say- it gets her creative juices flowing?