Ever-Expanding Vocabulary

This morning, like many other mornings, I heard the sweet little voice of my darling daughter crying out, Moooommmmy. So naturally, I went to get her up for the day. She is cute as ever in the morning, so happy and grinning from ear to ear when either Charlie or I walk in. As usual, I took her from her crib and laid her down to change her diaper. I was still in my nightie at the time, also not unusual, but this morning something different happened...

She poked one little finger into my breast and said, "bub", smiled, then did it again. Awesome. I blame Charlie.

Shady Lady

Party Animal

Here is a good picture of Sophia's birthday threads, courtesy of Grandma Sue. I had picked out some other (very cute) onesies and shorts with dogs on them, but when Grandma Sue gave us this we just couldn't resist! It is perfect for a girl having a dog party!
Sophia and Daddy lighting a sparkler in the shape of a 1
Make a wish!
Ummmmm, frosting!

Now that Sophia is one and the doctor has given us a the green light on any food (except nuts) I am a little nervous about it. People, and I probably was one of those people once upon a time, just want to give your kid sweets. Obviously for her birthday I encourage a little cake eating, frosting licking fun, but it does open a door that I'm not too sure I want opened. Once that sweet tooth habit begins, it sure is hard to break it! But, like I said, it's a birthday so let the butter cream in!

I had a great time at Sophia's party, but honestly I felt a little out of touch. It was almost like our wedding where I was running around trying to greet everyone and make sure everyone/thing was taken care of that I felt a like a tornado! I hope it was fun for our guests! We were so happy to have both our friends and Sophia's friends in attendance and time did get away from us as most people left before present opening, and I do apologize about that! But, on that front, she made out like a bandit. Her gifts included a Fridge Farm magnet set that she played with before we could even open it, a ride-on van that is too fun, a few baby dolls that she is already mothering, a bounce and spin Zebra that looks amazing, clothes and jammies, books, and more! Thank you so much to everyone!

Dog-Gone Cute

Here's a few pics of our cutest party-goers

I love this picture of Justin...he looks right at home in his floppy ears!

Luca caught with his hand in the doggie bowl! He's enjoying some Scooby Snacks, but just wasn't feeling the ears.
Wendy and Ray
Charlie, Jason (the newlywed!!), and Neil
Shelby with Aunt Chris in the background sporting her ears too!
Matt and Jill

Dog-Gone Organized

Okay, so I apologize for being so tardy in getting Sophia's birthday party pictures up but I still feel a little bit of the whirlwind from this weekend! Whew! I would just like to reiterate that I am a girl who loves her themes. I mean seriously, this began in college, partly due to Kathleen. If you haven't met Kathleen, she's a lot like me and when you put us together there can be trouble. We did some pretty awesome theme parties on a budget, because when you're in college, you really don't have extra cash flow. I'm telling you all this because I was mocked, hard to believe, by some who just don't understand. I had fun with this theme, but I really, truly did keep reality in perspective, I just had fun, dammit! :) So, here are a few snippets of thematic fun!

These were the treat bags. The red tag, which is hard to read, did have every child's name on it. They were filled with a stuffed dog, a slinky dog( Toy Story), a mini Frisbee, a dog finger puppet, and a rubber ducky that was painted like a dog.

Plus, each child got a reusable dog themed cup with their name, a dog ear headband and a dog nose.
The front path to our house was paved in doggie prints!

Here's a shot of the buffet table, the main course...hot dogs! I also made a dog bone shaped jello mold that I really should have gotten a better shot of! The center piece was stuffed dogs.
Here's the dessert table. And yes, the plates and napkins did have puppies and paw prints on them. I will admit right up front that I did not make the cake or cupcakes. I am seriously the world's worst cake froster and this was just too important of a cake. I did make, however, the bowl of dog-bone shaped cookies and brownies in the back.
A cake almost too cute to eat...almost!
Each cupcake was decorated just like Walt: blue eyes, one black ear, and one white ear. I know they're kind of hard to see, I would have placed them all facing the same direction, but I couldn't get upset with my kitchen helper, sometimes you just gotta take what you can get! (haha, love you, Mom)

Sophia Updates

Sophia had her one year check-up on Friday and she is still growing well. Her doctor was very pleased with her development and said that whatever we're doing, keep doing it because we're doing everything right! Hooray! How often do you hear that, right? I only wish we could have recorded it so that when Sophia gets older and starts to question our parenting, we'd have hard evidence against her ;)!

Her eye also looks well and there were no signs of infection. She is completely off the bottle now and only uses a sippy-cup and transitioned easily to milk. I would like to get her using a straw too, but have been rather lazy in practicing that one. Then I recently read that using a straw helps kids develop language skills faster because of the muscles that is uses...hmmmm, don't know if that's true, but it does kind of make sense. Although, she is adding words to her vocabulary already! I posted recently that she has 3-4 solid words, now she's at a solid 5: momma, dadda, uh-oh, woof, and doggie. She is now even in the habit of dropping things off her high-chair just so she can say uh-oh. However, it has come in handy a couple times when I wasn't looking at her, folding laundry or whatever, and I hear that tiny little uh-oh, I know it's time to drop and run! :)

Things we're working on...
Well, obviously walking is at the forefront. I think it will be soon, but then again I've said that before! She stood up yesterday on her own, but I truly don't think she realized that she did it because she was right next to the chair. She is still scared to stand alone or walk with even holding one of your hands, she needs both for comfort. But, she does love her walkers and goes to town using them. We are also going to have to focus more on using utensils and plates along with the aforementioned straw.

Her official one year old stats:
weight: 25lbs 5oz (95%)
height: 32" (95%)
head: 18.25" (80%)
looks: cute as ever
attitude: stubborn

Cake!!!

As mothers, we are bound to do crazy things for our children. I went ahead and got started. As kids, both Stacy and I had cookie cakes from the Cookie Factory every year on our birthday. He kept on the tradition with his daughter and I kept on the tradition for myself. :) I even had one for my 30th birthday, but then, suddenly and without reason, the Cookie Factory closed! Booooo! The only one that is left in business is a mere 40 minute drive (one direction) from us, so I figured what better way to begin her second year of life than with a cookie cake. I got Mrs. Potato Head on it for my dear brother, who still calls Sophia 'Tater'. That was his nickname for her in the womb. Oh, and just for the record, they are still Deeeeee-licious!
Sophia started by just picking the frosting off and licking it...not bad, she thought.

Here she is really getting into it! Chocolate and frosting are everywhere!

Yay for cake!

Double G B-Day

Sophia had a double G celebration tonight...Grandmas and Godparents! The rest of the gang is coming Sunday for the party, but we had to have a small gathering for her actual birthday! We ordered pizza and had cake...the part everyone was really waiting for!

PRESENTS!!!!

Mom had lots of practice putting stuff together and was kind enough to volunteer putting Sophia's first birthday present together too! This walker was a fabulous gift from Jason, Jenn and family and wait until you see how cute it is...
some very serious pushing going on here.
She loves her baby doll stroller/walker!
Lizette didn't fit, but Mousie sure did! Sophia took him for the ride of his life!

Grandma Sue gave her an adorable talking book that she was enthralled with and the cutest little dress with dogs on it! Yay for themes!

Bama also got Sophia one heck of a fall collection of clothes! She really needs fall/winter stuff so it's perfect! You will see many of those outfits soon!

Stacy, Pam and Shelby also stuck with the theme...check it out...



Meet Coco...she is a stuffed Golden Retriever. She looks so life-like doesn't she??
Here she is petting her just like she does Walter! :)
Niiiiiiice, Coco.

Sophia is already (or should I say always has been??) spoiled on her big day! Thanks, guys and we look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday for the big party!

Cake pictures coming soon...right now I must retire, I think I'm just as tired as Baby Girl was, it was an emotional day for the both of us! (okay, maybe just me)

Birthday Visiting

Bama was anxious to come over and spend the day with her baby. We went and picked up her birthday cake, played, read books and more!

We also went to visit Aunt Bess on our special day! We had all of AB's office out in the lobby to play with us. Seriously, at one point there must have been 7-8 people all crowded around playing with Sophia. Nothing like a baby to bring people together!

Here's Aunt Bess helping Sophia walk.
And here's Sophia helping Aunt Bess with some paperwork.

Sophia playing peek-a-boo with any one who was willing!

We also got some visits from the Jason and Alex across the street and lots of phone calls, texts, and emails from friends and relatives!

Good Morning, Toddler!

Straight from the womb...
...one year later!

Precious, tiny baby...
...crawling, busy toddler!

Sophia and Daddy are all smiles on Birthday Morning!

It is amazing how different things are! Just look at the way she looks, in some ways she looks exactly the same, in others, not so much. She is looking more and more like Charlie now a-days. She still has my dimples, but that may be where it stops! Poor, Mommy! But, on the other hand they are both pretty darn cute so I can't complain!

Oh, and if it looks like she has a bit of shiner, it's not bad photography, she does. She had a fist-fight with Walter yesterday. Walter won. No, seriously, I think I cried more than her, but she got a little too close up in Walt's grill and he went to push her away and unfortunately hit a tender spot. I did take her to the ER but she stopped crying on the way there so I knew it wasn't too serious. Her scrapes are totally superficial and we are just putting some ointment on it...it'll heal in a few days!

This was Sophia's present from Mommy and Daddy...a ride-on elephant!

One Year Ago...

It's hard to believe that this was us, exactly one year ago tonight. I look back at all my anxiety and I laugh. I laugh because it seems so foreign now, but I also laugh because I know me, and for pregnancy two I'll probably have double the thoughts of craziness and be just as anxious!

I looked at Sophia earlier this week and I thought to myself, "I can't believe I didn't know it was you in there all along." I keep coming back to that statement and I am so happy to have such a beautiful, loving, smart little girl. I would have been happy with a boy, of course, but I didn't know how much I really wanted a girl until she came.

It is truly amazing how much she has grown, developed, changed and learned in such a short amount of time. I was thinking tonight that it would probably be difficult for most adults to say that they've accomplished that of a baby in just one short year. It kind of makes you reflect on the whole meaning of life thing and realize that you do have to live trying to do the things you want and enjoy, and yes everyone has to work, but trying not to let it consume you. If nothing else, work harder at winning the lottery so that you can live that life of leisure you want! ;)

Lastly, I am left with the thought of ALL the phone calls I received one year ago tonight, telling me that my life was over, I may never leave the house again, I won't get to eat a warm dinner or take a long shower (that one was for sure true) for a looooong time and I smile. I smile because although some of that was sort of true, I gladly traded it all for my beautiful daughter.

Umm, until she goes to college that is, cuz then it's back to party central in the Hirner house! Look for more postings tomorrow too!