My Walker

Our little Sophs has all the sudden really started to wanted to walk. She does it now from object to object- table to chair- with out being prompted or bribed by the cell phone or remote. Ah, what would we do without the phone or remote? Sophs would never have learned how to crawl or walk with out them. She now really enjoys using her walker- although she is a terrible at steering, so she requires Carl or I to follow along behind her as she is constantly running into walls.
Here is my latest video of her- Warning- do not watch on a full stomach as much shaking occurs. The Blair Witch Project might have nothing on me.

Trials and Tribulations of the Sippy Cup

Upon turning one, all the parent books recommend that you switch formula for milk and stop giving a bottle. This is supposed to be done cold turkey, and apparently babies have no problem with the switch. Well, this seemed rather harsh to me- you turn one and you suddenly have to give up the one thing that has been comforting to you since the day you were born. On the upside, you get a piece of cake. Let me just say- the guide books were wrong. I decided to go slow- I added an ounce of milk to her bottle each week and thought that I would switch her to a sippy cup once she was drinking all milk. The switch to milk, even an ounce at a time, was horrendous. Sophie had a horrid diaper rash for the first 3 weeks- it even cracked and bled, poor baby. And I don't know who these babies are that don't seem to notice or care that they have cow's milk in their bottles, because Sophie let me know- very strongly- that she noticed and cared about the extra ounce. After 5 long weeks though, she is finally drinking all milk. Hooray!

Now the battle to give up the bottle began. I had an inkling that this was going to be a fight as well. The prior weekend we were at the cabin and I forgot her bottle. No problem, i will just put it in her water bottle- exactly like her milk bottles, except it holds 4 ounces instead of 8. She flat out refused to drink her milk from this bottle. I still charged ahead and decided to make the switch to the sippy cup. It did not go well. She refuses to drink from one, no matter what is inside it. Everyone kept telling me to try different kinds, she will find one that she likes. I am now the proud owner of 12 sippy cups that she refuses to drink out of.

I thought that I had a genius idea and decided to try some role playing. I brought out pooh bear, he drank from the sippy, then I drank- all the while she is laughing and smiling- and then I gave it to her- nope. Now I have apparently traumatized my child because even the sight of a sippy cup makes her scream or cry. Perhaps we will skip the sippy cup phase and go from bottle to cup. Hopefully this will happen before kindergarten. If not, good thing she's cute- they can get away with anything.

Happy Mother's Day!

I would like to say that Sophie was aware that it was Mother's Day and decided to sleep in for me, but she was up and at 'em at 6:15. She did however give me the best gift- she took 3 steps! Hooray! Carl and I are so proud of our little muffet that we feel the need to tell strangers about this amazing ability. I am trying to get pictures of her standing and walking, but the camera is so distracting that she immediately stops what she is doing and comes right at it. But I will keep trying!

Sophie on Mother's Day this year-

Sophie on Mother's Day last year. What a difference a year makes!