16 Months

Favorite Song: I'm in the Lord's Army

Favorite Things to Say: "Oh, baby" "Oh, man" "Yes, Sir" "Big step"

Mama's Favorite Things Sophia Says: "Thank you, Mama" "Help, please" "Nigh, night, kisses" "Whoa" "Coming, Mama" "Peek-a-boo (giggle, giggle)"

Favorite Toy: A naked hand-me-down Barbie that Sophia named "Dolly"

Favorite Things to Do: try on shoes, play in the sand, give kisses, count ("1,2,3,6,8,10 yeah!"), run fast, tickle people, say the names of people she knows, make silly faces

Favorite Place to Be: anywhere people are who will give her attention and wave at her

Favorite Food: Mommy's homemade popcicles

Hokey Pokey

Babysitters

Mike and I got to head out without Sophia to attend a wedding while Sophia hung out with three of her favorite people: Brian, Susan and Collin. They had a great time and so did we as you can see from the pictures below. Thanks for watching Sophia for us, friends!

I guess she talked around with this bowl on her head for quite a while

Collin is so sweet with Sophia!

15 Months

Pretty sure this is her first school picture

It won't fit at Halloween, so we decided to wear it around the house

She came up to me the other morning with these pants on her head

Here's what Sophia has been up to this month:

* Helping me clean-up after she eats her food

* Using a spoon and fork a lot better than she used to

* Bringing me fake food from her kitchen and having me eat it

* Feeding her animals tea

* Listening really well when we tell her not to do something or ask her to do something

* Doing a whisper voice

* Climbing the stairs at the playground all by herself while using the railing instead of crawling up

* Doing jumping jacks (her version)

* Setting up pillows and jumping on them

* Going and comforting her stuffed animals when she sees they have "fallen down" (she even fake cries for them)

* Sleeping 11.5-12 hours a night and taking a 2-2.5 hour nap

* Loving watermelon

*Being a continual delight to her mom and dad

They Don't Miss A Thing

Sophia is one of those kids who doesn't miss a beat. If she hears a noise outside while she is playing inside she copies the noise. If she hears my keys rattle the smallest bit she runs over to me and says, "Bye, Bye." When I am sitting and rubbing Mike's arm, she will run over and rub his arm, too.

The other day I was looking in her closet for something and I kept saying, "Ummm, let's see, ummm, ummm..." I didn't know I was saying it until I looked down and saw her looking in the closet saying, "Ummm..." Since then, I noticed that when she is looking for something in her toy bin she will say, "Ummm..."

The realization that kids see and hear everything is exciting and scary at the same time. It's wonderful that they can pick up on the good things and can learn so quickly. The scary part is that I am a sinner and she will pick up on some bad stuff, too. Thank God for his grace in parenting!

30

I turned 30 on Thursday. I sort of enjoyed my 20's so I was a little sad to say good-bye, but time must move on and I'm sure that my 30's will be full of joys.

Mike and I got the whole day kid free thanks to my friend, Julie. We went snorkeling, took a nap, ate lunch, walked around Balboa Park and then enjoyed cake with Sophia and my neighbor friends. It was a perfect day!

Me at the wishing well. I can't tell you what I wished.

Kisses by the pond

My favorite gift was Sophia singing, "Happy Dirthday" to me!

Del Mar Fair

Mike took a couple of days off this week so we have been having a blast. We took Sophia to the fair and she loved walking around and seeing all the sights. I thought it was bit overstimulating, but she is always up for a a good time.