Blast From the Past

Okay, now I know that I sometimes give my mom a hard time because she can be somewhat of a pack rat...but this time, I have to say it paid off! Mom has saved my Fisher Price Little People things from when I was a kid. She had the fire station and the Sesame Street brownstone in an obvious place and Sophia has been playing with those for about a year now, but just last week, mom unearthed the mother load! In a box deep in the recesses of her basement she found so much more, including my castle and camper set pictured above. These were both 2 of my absolute favorites that I honestly had forgotten about until I saw them. The castle has a trap door in it that Sophia immediately found and began dropping people through and the camper folds down and hitches onto the back of the Jeep. I also found, which I will really have to get a picture of, a sort of community with apartments, garages, stores, etc. At some point in time Lisa and I had converted it into condos because I found all sorts of funny things that we had created and taped in, on, and around this toy. My personal favorite was the hand drawn Bon Jovi poster, made Little Person size that I know Lisa made (I recognized her handwriting cuz I sure didn't remember her doing it) for one of the "kid's" bedrooms. Absolutely hilarious! After this fun trip down memory lane, I realized that I too will now have to save all of Sophia's Little People so that her children can play with it. I'm sorry mom for always mocking you! I guess mothers are always right! ;)

Hangin' Out

With such frigid temperatures that keep on hanging around, we've been keeping busy indoors! Here are some snapshots from the past week or so...

We played and ate pizza with Grandma Sue
We've seen lots of Uncle Stacy and Shelby

Bama and Sophia rode the panda bear...twice!!

This is my favorite picture...Sophia took the camera, gave me Leo's toy and said, "snuggle this and smile!" This is her best picture yet...you can almost see my face!

cooking up some breakfast goodies

peek-a-boo!

a regular concert pianist

clementines are our new favorite food...thank goodness they're in season! Her record so far is 6 in one day and that's only because I finally stopped her! It is nice that she can peel them herself too!

You can't read it very well, but Leo's shirt says Mallow Out, Dude. Priceless, and just what he likes to do!

Sophia helping Leo learn his numbers

Other noteworthy things:

• Leo's skin is noticeably clearing up...a sure sign we're on the right track with soy
• Sophia has an imaginary friend named Gay-Gay. Gay-Gay lives in her own house, she's 5, has blond hair, and comes and goes through the front door. We've also run into her at various restaurants and shops around town. A new friend, Geri, also popped up yesterday, but we're not sure if she's going to stay around or not.
• Leo rolled over in his sleep the other night. It seems to be a one and only event so far (thank goodness!) but we're keeping an eye on him.
• Both kids really love swimming!
• Sophia is asserting her "two-ness" wholeheartedly. I am a big fan of Love and Logic and use their techniques to get me through my days and nights. These techniques are the best choice for us and they do work, but it's hard. It is hard to be consistent, it is hard not to be sarcastic, and sometimes it's really hard not to raise my voice. BUT...I'm doing it even when it's hard. :)
• Speaking of nights, I'm still not sleeping. Both kids wake up at some point or points throughout the night. Leo will sleep through the night a day or two and then not again for a week. I don't know why or how to fix it, but I wish I did. Sophia is still having separation anxiety issues from me and I don't know why or how to fix it.
• Here are a couple of Sophia's latest quotes that I found too cute!
• As she was looking in the refrigerator she said, "Mom, I need something for my mouth."
• She was getting out some colored pencils and she looked and Walter and said, "Don't eat these, they're not sticks."
• I'm very glad Leo is still immobile. Even as it is, they both keep me moving all day long!
• I'm trying to set some goals to get more done during the day since it doesn't seem my night routine is going to be without interruption for a while. I am trying to get back to cooking every night and getting laundry done in a more prompt manner. I have struggled with the laundry goal the last week or so though!! Good thing we have a lot of underwear.

Count Milkula...or not?!

Okay, I just couldn't resist this picture!! I mean, c'mon...with his little widow's peak and the milk dripping down, he did look like my little vampire! Speaking of milk however....it seems that Leo may in fact be allergic. We are still unsure, however, all the signs are pointing to 'yes'. Big Bummer. The irony of the whole thing is that my entire pregnancy with him all I did was eat ice cream by the gallon! With Sophia I ate a ton of soy based products...there's just no justice! ;)

I switched him to a soy formula on Tuesday and he doesn't seem to be having any major problems, but I think it's too early to tell if the other things are clearing up. We switched him to a low-lactose formula about a month after his birth when the breast milk and regular formula were making him extremely uncomfortable and gassy. This new formula helped quite a bit in that area, but after chit-chatting recently with one of my friends, whose daughter has a milk allergy, I realized that Leo had all the same symptoms. He has a major case of eczema that covers his entire body, and although it doesn't bother him now, it's really only because he doesn't know what's going on. Secondly, he has major mucus issues. Both things we attributed to the winter weather and didn't really think much of it. But, when I really looked at everything, it all added up. I called the pediatrician's office and the nurse seemed to confirm my suspicions. So far the downfalls with the soy formula are that the gas is back, although it doesn't seem to be as painful this time around, and he does seem to be spitting up more. Now, these things could be because of the formula or because we switched up his diet so quickly and his system needs time to adjust.

I know that we need time to assess the situation, but as a mother I feel a bit anxious about it. I mean first off...if he is allergic, I hate that we didn't catch it sooner and that I've been pumping him full of stuff he can't have! I also feel bad that we keep changing his diet (he's been on 4 different formulas plus breast milk in his short life span) and his poor little system is all out of whack! Lastly, and this is mostly selfish, I really, really hope this isn't permanent (although I'm not holding my breath) because we eat a lot of cheese and ice cream in this house! I know we can make substitutions and things will be just fine, but it really is such a bummer. His next appointment is Feb. 1, so we should have a much better idea by then, in fact, we should have a better idea in a week or two, depending upon whether or not his skin clears up...so we'll see!!

Preoccupied

So, I usually have some sort of project going on on the side to keep me busy, and this time it was a photo book. Now, this was not just any photo book mind you, but the granddaddy of all photo books! After I made a baby book of sorts for Sophia after her first birthday I decided that there were just too many other pictures of the family, etc. that wouldn't fit into just a "Sophia" book, so I decided I should start making yearly photo books. Leo will get one for his first year also, but after that it's just going to be year by year and whatever other ones I throw in the mix (I've also done a Thanksgiving and Halloween photo book) for good measure. The small theme based ones are way easier and take up much less time, so that's no biggie! Anyhow...since the first of the year has passed I was anxious to finish up the book and it was difficult to do that and blog, which explains why my posts have been a little lax lately! Just to give you a little more insight into my craziness, I've crunched some numbers...observe below: Oh, but first I should preface this by saying that this book is actually more than 12 months because I stopped Sophia's baby book at her first birthday so that left from mid-Sept through December and that could not go undocumented, so I added it in, which made it for about 15 months instead of 12. Okay, so here are the numbers ...






Number of pages in my book: 124
Average # of pics/page: 9 (this is a guess, b/c I didn't actually count!)
# of pics (approx) in book: 1, 116
# of pics I actually took within those 15 months: 5,641
% of pictures I used in the book: 20%






So, even though the book is going to cost me a fortune...just think of what it could have been! ;) (Charlie, I hope you're reading this!!!) Regardless of price, I think it's worth it. It's a year of memories that can now be cherished for a lifetime.






I'd like to say that next year it won't be as many pictures, therefore costing less and taking less time, because it will be fewer months, but let's be real...I don't work like that. In fact, last Christmas ('08) the spread was 5 pages, this Christmas it was a whopping 16 page spread. I know, I know, a sickness. BUT...this year was way more exciting because Sophia had a Christmas party, and helped us pick out the Christmas tree, plus she was actually into Santa Claus and opening presents so there were more priceless moments! And next year, Leo will be bigger and more involved, so that is going to account for more pictures too.




Anyway, I'd love for you all to view my masterpiece next time you're over, as pretty much everyone I know makes an appearance somewhere in the book, so all you have to do is ask!!! :)





So, here are a few pictures to what we've been up to in the mean time...we had a very low-key New Year's, which was much needed after all our Christmas craziness! We ordered some chicken wings, popped some champagne early (b/c let's be serious....we weren't staying up much past midnight and we had to drink that sucker up!), and hung out with our friends Jason and Jenn and their boys, Cayden and Alex. Sophia went to bed about 9:30, the boys went to bed around 10 and the four us hung out and talked until the ball dropped. New Year's Day we met Jodie, Greg, Emma and Isabelle at the bowling alley for Sophia's first bowling experience. She had a blast but was definitely done after 1 game.

My little rap mogul with her velour jumpsuit and gold chains

Mommy's snuggle-saurus

Sophia actually ate chicken wings...she rarely eats meat, but apparently no one can resist the chicken wing!

Alex pushing Sophia in the wagon....

... Sophia pushing Alex in the wagon!

This was a little trickier, but she insisted and Alex wasn't complaining!

I would have happily kissed this cutie at midnight!

the perfect way to start the new year...snuggling with Daddy and watching football!

Between frames Isabelle and Sophia enjoyed the slick alley floor to practice their break dancing moves

Our little bowling champ!

I'll just watch, okay mom?

Big Snowfall

This was the most excited she ever got about the snow
How do you expect me to move under all these layers?

getting ready!

Last year, same face

Wasn't too thrilled with the snow then either!

Okay, so I posted these in the reverse order, but quite frankly I was too tired to change it. We had our first big snowfall of the year and we both tried to get her excited about it, but no-go. We've decided that maybe she's just a summer girl like her mom. Or, it could be that she just needs time to adjust to this thing called snow. She doesn't adjust well to change (also like Mommy I'm afraid!) and since it doesn't come around much, she just might not be into. Either way, I suppose I should be thankful so that I don't have to schlep my little behind into the frozen tundra either!

Brothers

Leo

December 2009

Sophia and Walter

December 2007

Sophia

Leo

all three crazies

So because I'm always a girl after a theme, this set was sent to Sophia for her first Christmas and it was resurrected again today! The hat and slippers had been tucked away and I was almost afraid that Leo wouldn't fit in it any more! Yikes! Luckily, that was not the case and he is now the center of some embarrassing pictures too! Walter was about as cooperative this time around as last, which means, not at all! I got better pictures with Sophia, but he wasn't having it at all this time! Oh well...still adorable!

All Our Christmases Were Bright

Make a Smilebox slideshow

All our Christmases really were bright, it's just that there we so many of them! ;) It is nice to have so much family around, but I must admit, it is also tiring...and I mean that in the nicest way! :)



Our Christmas really began on the 23rd when Charlie and I hosted a dinner party for some friends. Some girl friends and I started a monthly dinner club where we head to a new place each month for some good food and girl talk. We decided it would be fun to do a little Christmas pot luck for the holidays too. So we welcomed everyone over here and had delicious food and wine and even better company!



Christmas Eve we hosted a low-key chili dinner for friends and family. The weather was awful, it began snowing and didn't stop... that prevented a few guests from coming, so we had plenty of leftovers. No worries, though, because we've been enjoying them all week! Shelby spent the night with us, which was pretty fun for all of us, especially Sophia.



Christmas Day started off with a visit from Santa Claus and plenty of presents. We also had breakfast here for mom, Stacy (who just got off work) and Cody. It was delayed however with all the snow...mom was snowed in and had to work her way out as did we. Cody helped both mom and us shovel out and we finally got breakfast on the table just before the four of us had to load up and head to Leo John's (Charlie's brother) for lunch. We had a lovely time with all the family and the cousins played and played. There was much present opening and rejoicing. Chris had Lasik surgery on Christmas Eve and was sporting her ever-so-stylish Stevie Wonder glasses all day. After those festivities we all piled back into Marsha, dropped off Cathy and Sue who had been snowed in themselves, and headed to my Aunt Bess' House for more Christmas cheer. We had a fabulous dinner there of beef tenderloin and of course, more presents. Sophia just didn't quite know what to do with all these presents!



The following day, the Little Bears came over for a post-Christmas Christmas and the three girls had a lovely time playing. Walter was also pleased to have more little girl faces to lick and both Lauren and Aubrey were happy to oblige!



So...after all is said and done, to say I'm tired is an understatement. It also explains why it's taken three days to get Christmas pictures up!



This Christmas was exciting and Sophia really enjoyed it. I think next year will be that much more exciting for her and it will only get better in the years to come. She enjoys her kitchen and all it's accessories supplied by family and friends, she loves all her books especially the books she got from Aunt Cathy and Bama, and the Magna Doodle from Uncle Nick and Misty. She's still working her way through her loot and figuring out what she likes best about each toy and book. She's even already done some painting in her Wonder Pets paint book supplied by Santa. We are so fortunate to have so many loved ones with which to spend time and exchange gifts. I am thankful for our family near and far and cherish the times we spent together this week. It's always sad to see the Christmas season end, but at least we always have next year!