Daddy's Home

Although the exact hour and minute varies from day to day, this photo shows my favorite time of day. We come home from day care, Sophia eats dinner and we play and play and play until we hear the door knob rattle. At that exact moment, Little Bit hightails it to the railing and peeks her little head through the slats and waits for her daddy to walk inside. Instantly a ginormous smile takes over her entire face! It's sooooo cute! After a hard day of work during tax season, a greeting like this would have to brighten even the longest of days.

Big Time

Awhile back I met a fabulous photographer and super nice woman named Anna. Back in November she took some great photos of Sophia and occasionally I have posted a few of them for everyone to see (like this one of Sophia in her tutu). Especially on nights like tonight when momma is suffering from "the day care crud" (sorry ladies but that's what every parent with a child in day care in this Valley refers to it as, you guys must have supersonic immune systems which should be studied in labs) and getting my camera out is the last thing I want to do. Well Anna updated her website the other day and a few of Pipsqueak's photos made the page! So in our little world, she's famous! Check it out:

http://www.annafinlayphotography.com/portraits/portraits.html

Anna does amazing work and if any of you are looking to have some unique photos taken send her an email. She has a little one too so she might not get back to you right away but keep trying, it is well worth it!

Daddy's Little Helper

This past Sunday marked a huge milestone for Little Bit. She moved out of her infant car seat and into her big girl car seat (but still facing backwards of course). Her new seat is Lazy-Boy all the way. Brown suede with lots of room to stretch out for those long trips to and from daycare. Here she is helping her daddy put it together. She was a little too helpful and the whole process took longer with her help. But she just looked so darn cute trying to be a little assistant!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Little Bit had to be all bundled up today since it was a whopping 28 degrees and spitting snow this morning. Get a load of those chubby cheeks! Looking at this picture makes me laugh! Would you think by looking at it that this kid is only in the 10th percentile for height and weight? No way! I'm actually surprised that I was able to snap a photo of her with her hat on. She usually tries to pull in off immediately. Of course my mother blames this on me. She tells me constantly that since I didn't have Sophia in hats from day one that I can forget trying to make her wear them now. Maybe I should have listened to that advice!

Earning Her Keep

Since yesterday Sophia busied herself with making messes every time I turned around, this morning we decided to sit her down and have a long chat with her about doing some chores around the house. YEAH RIGHT! So here she is attempting to fold her own laundry. I should say her unsuccessful attempt as she found it more fun to remove each article of clothing from the basket and toss it on the floor. I'm not so sure that our little chat sank in. Besides it's always easier and more fun to make a mess!

Sophia Was Here....

(Ok first start humming the Witch's theme from the Wizard of Oz. You know the song that plays as the tornado is sweeping Dorothy away and Miss Gulch cruises by on her bike and then turns into the witch on her broom. Ok, got it.)

Sophia was here....

And here....

And here....

All before 8:30 am this morning! Apparently being sick doesn't slow Pipsqueak down. How I ask you am I not a size 6 from chasing and cleaning up after this tornado? And she's not even walking yet! My friend Andrea has twins (or Twinkies as we all call them) to keep up with, how in the WORLD does she do it? Andrea, you amaze me! (Oh and as to the reason why I'm not a size 6- that could be due to the bowl of ice cream and the Milky Way that I scarfed down last night!)

SICK

Contrary to the appearance of the above photo, my baby is sick. I knew we were in trouble when the runny nose showed up. The runny nose lead to a cough. Then last night poor little Pipsqueak began sounding like a barking seal! Last night was horrible. She laid in her crib sniffling and coughing (which would cause her to shoot her pacifier out), and whimpering. It was the most pathetic sound I have ever heard and it broke my heart. I hate it when she's sick. She can't tell me where she's hurting and it truly is heart wrenching.

So we headed to the doctor this morning. You would NOT have thought she was sick by the way she was tearing into the paper on the table! (By the way, I'm so glad that we have a wonderful doctor who could give a hoot that we waste almost a whole roll of paper every time we visit. He usually tells her to "go to town on it," and she does!)I do believe that I am fine tuning my mommy skills because as I predicted, Sophia has an ear infection. Along with some serious congestion, an oozing runny nose, which has begun to bleed because it is so raw, and a swollen throat. We had to get the trifecta of drugs for her ears, nose, and throat. My kitchen counter looks like a pharmacy!

Daddy's Little Princess

No time for a new photo tonight. I'm in the process of creating a video montage of Sophie's first year. Yes, I am quite aware that she is only 10 months old and we have two months to go until her birthday BUT do you realize just how many photos I have to go through! TONS. No doubt it is going to be an Oscar worthy montage. Not to fear, I will make all of you watch it at her first birthday party!

Since I am in the process of going through photos I've decided to post a picture of Sophie and her daddy. He's been working super hard for the past couple of weeks. So when he sees this first thing in the morning I'm sure it will start his day off on the right foot.

And by the way I need some comments here! I'm not sitting at a computer every evening posting pictures for my health. I'm here for your enjoyment, we get to see Sophia everyday. So whether we know you or not, we wanna her from you!

At the Library

"Hmmm, what shall I read tonight?" "A little Shakespeare, a little Dickens?"








"This book looks interesting."







"Oh decisions, decisions. I'll just read them all."

If there is one thing that Sophia picks up from me (ok, well there are many things that I hope she takes from me, after all I can't think of anyone else better to take after) I hope it is a love of books. My mom and I read like it's no body's business! It's nothing for me to go on vacation and read six books. Oh and to all of you who said my book reading would come to a halt once Sophia came into the picture, I'm here to prove you all wrong! She is currently in training. Mark my words, momma ain't giving up the books. Just like momma didn't give up her TV shows (thanks to TiVo baby). Where there's a will, there's a way!

Vegging Out

Sometimes being 10 months old is hard. You wake up early, spend a hard day at day care playing, you don't nap, and you have a runny nose. So what do you want to do after such a hard day? You want to come home, pop in a Wiggles DVD, lay back with a sippy cup of H2O and veg out. And that's exactly what Miss Sophie B. did today. Doesn't she look like such a little grown up! She just recently started getting in to DVD's. Usually ten minutes is her limit but there's something about the Wiggles that grab her attention. She'll clap her hands and do a dance along with Greg, Anthony, Murry, and Jeff. To tell you the truth, I don't mind one bit! I find the songs rather catchy myself, "Fruit Salad, yummy yummy."

One for Ms. Carrie

Little Bit was a little under the weather this weekend. Seems as though the runny nose (which we haven't seen in a few months) has decided to come for a visit. No fun! But I did manage to snap a few pictures of Sophia on Sunday morning. Here she is in her Pooh outfit which our friend Carrie bought almost a year ago. Our little pipsqueak is just now growing into some things. What can I say, I guess she gets her towering height from her momma!

Still a Steeler

So the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't come anywhere close to making it to the Super Bowl this year but that's okay. That doesn't deter our pride of the black and the gold in this house! We've got the cutest Steeler Cheerleader this side of the three rivers! I tried to take a few pictures of her standing up so you could get the full effect of the cuteness of the outfit (thanks Aunt Amy!!) but she wasn't having it this this morning. So instead I had to settle for this pose. I like to call it the "please mommy put down the camera look."

Share & Share Alike

I didn't have time to take any pictures tonight. But I came across this picture that I took last Saturday. Here Sophie is "sharing" her extra pacifier with Oscar the Boxer. Isn't that nice? This picture got me thinking back to something that happened a few months ago which I wrote about on another blog. For those of you who didn't get to hear the story the first time here it is again:

Friday 9/22/06- My my mom (GiGi) was babysitting and Sophie was happy as a clam in her "spin-o-rama" (exersaucer). So GiGi walks out of the room to grab a load of laundry (btw, thanks mom!). When she comes back she sees Oscar sitting happily beside Sophie. Upon further inspection, my mom notices that Sophie is sucking on something. Well apparently, Oscar thought it would be a great idea to share his nasty ass, chewed up, slobbery, wet, RAW HIDE!!!!! My daughter, cute little pip-squeak was going to town on a RAW HIDE!!!!!! Needless to say my mom just about flipped her wig! I mean, that dog licks his own butt, eats cat poop, and loves to play fetch with dead rabbits!

I guess she's no worse for the wear. Right?

The Gang's All Here

I had to post one more picture from day care. It's just too cute not to. Here is Sophie B., Noah, Gracie, and George. All four of these kiddo's are less than a month apart. Can you imagine trying to keep up with all four of them! As you can see, Sophie is getting ready to dive over the barrier.

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful day care. I love how I carry Sophie inside and she kicks her legs and starts to giggle when she sees her teachers and her little friends. She wiggles to get out of my arms and onto the floor, a kind of "let me at em, they're playing without me'" attitude. Besides, where else is she going to finger paint. Do you think I'm going to let that happen in my kitchen? Um big N-O on that one!

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Everyone meet Gracie. She's Sophie's bestest friend. These two have been together everyday since they were only three months old! And wow how they have changed over the last seven months. They use to spend their days chilling in a swing, napping (well Sophie not so much), and drinking bottles. Not anymore, those days are OVER! They now have something very important, mobility. With mobility comes trouble. See the plastic blocks in these pictures. These "barriers" divide the playing side of their room from the sleeping and eating side. Well it didn't take long for these two to figure out how to go over the barrier. First went Sophie. Then went Gracie. As her name implies, Gracie is very graceful going over the barrier. She gingerly slips one leg over, and then the other. My child goes over head first in an Evel Knievel type dive and she has the bruises to prove it! Aren't they cute?!

A Big World Out There

There is absolutely nothing "technically right" about this picture. The coloring is all wrong and it really isn't in focus but I love it anyway. What's going through that little mind of hers? She's probably wondering whether or not she can escape since she always wants to be where she's not suppose to be. Today she took her first steps! Just 3 small steps but they were big to her and even bigger to me! Of course it happens while Steven is out of town. When I told him the big news I could tell he was disappointed. I love the fact that Sophia has the kind of daddy who wants to be there for everything. It means so much to me and one day it will mean so much to her. What is next for our Little Bit? I guess before we know it she'll be taking on the world! Get ready!

CPR

"Teddy Teddy are you ok?






"Quick someone call 911, I can't hear his heartbeat!"






"Nevermind, I'll just give him CPR"




Ok so she's not really giving "Honey Joe" CPR, she's actually giving him kisses. Big, open mouth, wet kisses! We need to work on the kisses. They are sweet but definitely slobbery! Sophia is a such a sweet and loving baby. She loves to give Oscar hugs and pats (which are more like beatings) and say "ahhhhhhhhh." As pictured above, stuffed animals don't stand a chance. She kisses them as though they are leaving for war! How did we get so lucky?

Good morning sunshine!

This is the face that greets us every morning. I truly believe that there couldn't possibly be any better to way to start the day. Who needs Folgers, Starbucks, or Maxwell House when you have this kick start to your day! Twelve hours of sleep can do wonders! Last night poor little bit was Miss Cranky Pants but this morning she was Little Miss Sunshine ready to start the day. It amazes me that she wakes up smiling and in a good mood every single morning. I've only known this little person 10 months and I can honestly say that there has never been a morning that she has "woken up on the wrong side of the bed." Maybe all of us should take a lesson!

Shhhhh.....

Sorry, no pictures of Sophia tonight. My subject was, hmmmm how can I put this nicely, does possessed by the devil sound too harsh? Yes I guess it does. How about, she was as tired as a one-legged man in butt kicking contest (to use one of my grandpa's Lincoln County sayings). Once 7 o'clock hit, it was on. Nothing could please this child. So instead she screamed. She screamed as I was getting her ready for her bath (which is usually her favorite time of the day), she screamed in the bath (resulting in a very short bath), she screamed when I got her out of the bath, she screamed as I put her pj's on, and she continued screaming until she got her bottle and passed out in my arms. Of course when you flat out refuse to nap at day care this is what happens. My child is so funny in the napping department at day care. She must think that her teachers bring out the clowns and ponies when she goes to sleep. I promise, Sophie, nothing happens! Gees, I wish someone wanted me to take two naps a day.

Say Hey Good Lookin'

Sing with me now...."whatcha got cookin'?" "How's about cookin' somthin' up with me!"

Sophia and I headed over to GiGi & Papaw's this evening for a visit. Anything goes at GiGi & Papaw's house, and I mean "anything." Including removing every single pot, pan, and cookie sheet from the cabinets. Why is it that we parents spend hundreds of dollars on toys when Tupperware, pots, pans, and wooden spoons seem to be the objects of desire? So for anyone wondering what to buy Sophie for her 1st birthday, some Rubbermaid containers might be a big hit with her! (kidding, although I could use some of those!)

Mt. Everest

This is what happens when we turn our head for 10 seconds. Little Bit hightails it for the stairs. I imagine that successfully climbing seven steps is a big feat when you are a nineteen pound, twenty five inch person! The stairs are like her own personal Everest which she has conquered. She giggles and buries her head into the steps when we tell her "no." She then has the most pathetic look of defeat when we swoop her up and carry her back down. It's as though she's thinking "gee thanks a lot, do you realized how hard I worked to get up here and you guys bring be back down in .5 seconds!" Too cute!

Silly Girl

Gotta love this picture. I'm not exactly sure what that face is all about. She's a silly girl! Sophia tends to make this face a lot. Papaw Scott can really get her going! My mom and I always tell her it is "not very lady like," but like that matters to a 10 month old!
Today was just an ordinary day in the life of our Little Bit. I love that! Nothing major except for an unexplained "boo boo" on her cheek from day care. She is clueless to the fact that her daddy is packing to leave for nine whole days! I know he is going to miss her terribly. So tonight they had to read their favorite book together "Guess How Much I Love You." It it "their thing" and I love that too! She loves it when her daddy reads to her. For some reason she'll sit still for him but not for anyone else. I think it is the cute voices, which he adds for effect!!!

Safety 1st

Baby proofing has been way over due in our house. So up went the baby gate, and the cabinet latches, and the plastic wall socket plugs. The baby gate has been such a relief. Now that she is mobile there was no stopping her from taking a header down the stairs! Sophia finds it amusing to navigate "up" the stairs but has yet to learn the concept of "down." Oh and the plus side of the baby gate, it's a great "Oscar" gate to boot!

Tis the Season

Last year one of Steven's co-workers told him about a conversation her little boy had with his kindergarten teacher. It went something like this:

Teacher- "How many seasons are there in a year?"

5 year old little boy-"Five"

Teacher- "No, there are four."

5 year old little boy- "But my mommy always talks about five seasons: winter, spring, summer fall, and tax season."

Ain't that the truth!!!! At least when you are married to a tax accountant it is the truth. Soon we won't see Steven during daylight hours. Poor Sophia is probably going to forget what her daddy looks like! As of right now we are "planning" on visiting daddy's office every Wednesday to have dinner with him. Otherwise, Sophia will be in bed by the time he gets home! But I found the perfect accessory for Steven's desk to lighten up those dark depressing days when he is slaving away in his little cube. Tax Deduction. Enough said!

Baby Legs

Are these not the cutest darn things you ever did see! They are called "baby legs" and they are fabulous, not to mention highly fashionable in the one and under category. No more red knees for our baby. You just slide these suckers on and off she goes to wreck havoc on sleeping boxer dogs and/or refrigerators!

The "eyes" have it

I ask you, how adorable is this picture? Actually, I take that back, I don't even have to ask. I love this picture soooooo very much. Her big bright eyes show so much expression. Every time I look at this picture I wonder "just what was this kid thinking at this very moment." Everything is new to her. Even things that we take for granted, such as eating a kiwi for the first time or climbing up the stairs. Sophie's eyes are always open wide, as though she is "taking in life" around her. I love that we get to experience new things along with her, it makes you appreciate the small things. (this photo was taken by Anna Finlay Photography.)

3 Carrs

So this is us. One happy family, minus our dog, Oscar the Boxer (he was on vacation when this photo was taken.) But including ole Oscar, I'd like to say that we are a fabulous family (I enjoy the word fabulous so I'm sure you will see it used often.) I've decided to start a blog. With family and friends being spread out all over the eastern seaboard (and some out west), I figure that this is the perfect way to keep everyone updated on our lives. More importantly I want to document our amazing, crazy, drama filled, laughter filled, kooky, never boring life with Miss. Sophie B. Oh and I just got a fancy schmancy new camera so once I get photoshop up and running I hope to add a picture a day, so stay tuned. (this photo was taken by Anna Finlay Photography.)