Vacations!

We just got back from our vacations to Oregon and California, where we had a wonderful but exhausting time! Sophie and I went to visit Nana for a week, flew home and then left the next day for a wedding in California. Sadly, I did not take any pictures when we saw Nana- not sure why, and kicking myself now- but took plenty in California. One of the highlights from our CA trip was going to the Pepperdine campus. Full of nostalgia, we toured the campus and decided that we should try to go back to college. It was unbelievably beautiful, and we could not believe that it's been 10 years since we graduated. Carl and Sophie walking in Alumni Park.

While we were at the hotel, we had some time to kill so Carl took Sophie for a swim in the pool. She was a little shocked by the cold temperature of the water, but happily played until her lips turned blue. Below is a video of her fantastic diving skills. We are certain that she will win a college scholarship for her belly flop skills. Prepare to be impressed.

This last picture comes from the mall. Sophie was thrilled to find a playground in the mall, where she could play with other kids. She was very cute to watch as she wandered around to all the different kids and watched them play. She then became fascinated by this blue car- of course blue- and thought that she was such a big girl driving it. We had a blast!

I Love the Sandbox!

We spent our first weekend of the year at the cabin. This was an especially exciting weekend, because Sophie got to have birthday cake! Oh boy, does she ever love cake and ice cream. It is lucky that she does not get it very often, because she did not take a nap due to all of the sugary goodness. Instead of a nap, we decided to take her down to the lake and let her experience the sandbox. This may have been just as exciting as the cake. After she had been in the sandbox for a few minutes it became apparent that she needed to be stripped down. She had sand everywhere! Even, we discovered during bath time, inside her belly button. She played for a straight hour, and cried when we took her out. We foolishly thought that she would try to take a nap again. Silly, silly, parents. With birthday cake and the sandbox, who has time for naps?

Happy Father's Day!

We celebrated Father's Day a week early because Sophie and I will be gone the following weekend. Carl got to plan the entire day- he slept in (till 7:30 wow!) then we went on a hike to Avalanche Lake, and went out to the cabin for a steak dinner. It was a gorgeous day- finally no rain, and we got to experience a Montana rarity- short sleeves! Sophie Loved the hike, she babbled to each person we saw, pointed and babbled at different things , and kept patting Carl on the back of the head and saying "Da Da." She absolutely loved the backpack. We were hoping that she would fall asleep on the hike, but no such luck. It was way too much fun. Here are some of our favorite pictures from our hike:

Nightly Activities

This is Sophie's new favorite nightly activity- walking back and forth between objects. She will start this right after dinner and do it until it's time for bath. I'm sure you're thinking that this must wear her out and she goes right to sleep, but no. She is so impressed with her walking ability that she can take up to an hour- or more- of playing in her crib before she finally goes down. Walking is just way to exciting. Also- notice the Pebbles hair-do, it's a BIG hit with all the old people at church and at the grocery store. She's kind of a big deal around here.

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!