Month 9 (and part of month 10)

Good evening,

The post is taking longer and longer each time. This time, it is Michele doing the post. I broke the pictures out into four different groups: Friends, Family, Around the House, and Around Town.

Here are a few quick items since the last posting about a month ago:

We are really happy and enjoying spending time with our precious, happy girl. She has been sick a termendous amount (ear infections, pink eye, stomach bug ....) and we are fortunate to have jobs that let us be flexible about how we get our hours. Since Sophia started Jan 12th, she has only been to daycare all five days in a week twice! I think she missed more school than she went in March.

Sophia just moved into the next class at Primrose. I think she is in love with the teacher, Mrs. Lopez. She is from Columbia and speaks Spanish to Sophia. When I used to get her, she was ready to go and held onto me for dear life. Today, her first full day in the new class, she kept pushing me away to get down and play and move around. She also ate and slept really well there. It made me really happy that she enjoys where she spends so much time.

With how much Sophia was sick, her 9-month check up revealed what we guessed ... she weighed less than she did at her 6-month check up. She went from the 75% in weight to the 25% in weight. Luckily, she's already gained a few pounds since then and is well on her way again. The leeks, potatoes, carrots, and peas puree is one of her favorites along with yogurt, apple sauce and the always popular Cheerios.

Even though we don't get out as much as we used to, I realized when looking at the pictures that we get around alot still. Two weekends again we spent some time with Layna from KY, Maryjo read Sophia her bedtime stories and put her to bed, and we visited the Floyds, the Tanners, and the Turners. By Sunday though, we skipped out on a BBQ b/c Sophia napped the entire time of the BBQ.

For Easter weekend, we took a trip to DC to visit Dave's family and celebrate Grandpa Peter and Great Aunt Eileen (the twins) turning 70. Mike and Renee spent alot of time organizing and Elizabeth flew in from Spain. Sophia had a blast getting to know her family better.

Tonight Sophia moved from the infant tub to the real tub (pictures in the slide show). Luckily, I had no items on the Town Council agenda, so I got to play with Sophia instead. Other updates include her almost walking on her own (she now holds just one of my hands), three more teeth are coming in (that will make five), and she now knows Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa. I LOVE hearing her blabber Ma ma ma ma. She is happy and doesn't really whine ... her nickname with many is the "amazing baby". We truly adore her.

Without out any more blabber from ma ma, here are the links to the pictures. I'm going to leave the posting of the videos to Daddy Dave.

Click here to see Pictures of Sophia--Friends if your Flash isn't working.

(Just a few pictures)


Click here for Pictures of Family Pictures in DC



Click here to see Pictures of Sophia around Town -Just a few pix


Click here to see Pictures of Sophia around the house

Several pictures (about 30)--only the die hards will sit through this :).

4 months

This morning was Sophia's 4-month-check-up. She is now 15 lbs 9 oz (90%) and 24.5 inches long (75%). Considering she was in the 50 percentile for her 1 month visit and 75 percentile for her 2 month visit, we no longer have any worries about her eating. She is in her 9 months clothing, but I'm guessing she won't stay there very long.

The doctor recommended we start her on rice cereal and move into solids. Moms and Dads out there, let us know your experience and how you did it. What brand did you buy? How did it go?

Since the last post, Dave got a new camera for his birthday. It is a Canon digital SLR. I signed him up for some camera classes. He will be getting a tripod at some point so that he too can be documented in the family events. I'm going to leave it him to post the pictures, so you'll have to check back later for those updates.

Miss Sophia has progressed well with her sleeping also. She sleeps between 11 and 13 hours a night. She started waking up at night when it got cold at night here. I bought her some heavier sleepers and a little space heater and she is now sleeping like a champ again. On Sunday, she took 6 hours of naps and was only awake 4 hours total that day. She usually only naps twice during the day and for only 1 hour at a time plus a quick nap in her stroller in the late afternoon when we go for a walk.

A quick round up of other developments:
-She is sitting up with assistance in her exersaucer, on our laps, and in her bumbo (video in next post)
-She rolled over 4 times about a month ago and hasn't done it again since. The Dr. said most babies don't roll over until 5 months, so we don't know what that was about. There's video there that I think Dave already posted.
-She went to the babysitter WHILE awake for the first time. Thanks to Marcela, Nikki & Ivan, and the grandparents.
-Dave's parents came for a week and had a blast with Miss Sophia. They helped entertain Miss Sophia while I got the house a little cleaner.
-I went to work for three days and left her w/ Dave and his parents. The first morning was a little hard. The second day, I stayed late to go to a reception after the conference. She was in good hands.
-She is babbling.
-She is ticklish, especially under her right arm.

Things are going to be changing in October. Wednesday is Dave's last day at Duke until January 12th. I go back to work October 20th. I'm very proud of Dave for taking his FMLA time to spend with Sophia and get to know our daughter even better. I'll only be 3 minutes away, so I can always come visit during lunch, which makes the transition easier for me.

Miss Sophia is waking up from her nap now. Best wishes.

Michele