Sofia at 15 Months

I have been wanting to write and update on Sofia for a while now, but how do I encapsulate this delicate firecracker in a blog post?

She continues to melt Chris's and my heart more each day. When I was young, I used to wish I could have the snuggle laundry bear for my own. I remember almost being in tears, that's how badly I wanted to hold him. And now, although she is climbing all over the place and turning the house upside down, the moments that she comes up to me and lies her head down make me feel that I have a snuggle bear of my own.

Lucas finds her a tad annoying at times. Still, he's good with her and it's obvious that she's captured his heart too. She plays soccer (since she could walk, she began naturally kicking the ball) and loves cars, dirt and rocks so they already have many activities to do together!

Here are some highlights of Sofia's life at present.

Words to describe her:
Hopeful, adventurous, graceful, resilient, impatient, observant, well-paced, gratuitous and approving when something is being done for her, smart, funny, demanding (but with a smile), always ready to have a good time, and known for her gurgles, inquisitive looks and her eureeka sounds (oooOOOOooo).

Her sleeping style:
Sofia still often wakes up multiple times a night from teething, or just whatever. The waking is erratic though. Several nights in the past few week or so, she slept straight through. Then last night she was up three times. She still has to be nursed to go to sleep. Sometimes more than once in a stretch, but she always goes down drowsy and falls asleep on her own. Any attempts at letting her cry it out turn into a hyperventilating hysteria, so I've decided we are going with the "Wait It Out" plan. She often sleeps through the night when she is about to come down with something. And that is pretty often - lately it seems we've been having a lot of weird bugs come through here, most recently a mild tummy virus that she is still working through. Her illnesses are much more brief now and she is usually able to play and eat through them.

She sleeps with a blanket and her cloud b ladubug. The lavendar insert in the ladybug was quite strong so we are letting it ventilate for a while before putting it back in. Lucas has one in his giraffe that is a year and a half old so more subdued but he does enjoy the scent - he says it helps him fall asleep.

Her eating style:
With Lucas I had a free hand and enough energy to keep his eating a bit neater. With Sofia I do not, so she often has oatmeal in her hair and chili in her ears. But she is getting better (one positive of being left on your own - you learn quickly!) and has already mastered the spoon. She is now onto the fork and has not quite figured out how to pierce food, but when I help her achieve this she gets giddy with delight! She hands-down prefers feeding herself and oftentimes refuses to let me help her even if it's something she enjoys. But she makes an exception for smoothies.

Favorite Foods:
smoked salmon, blueberries, raspberries, chili, chicken, broccoli (a new one!), warm broth from the sippy cup & smoothies

Favorite "inside" things to do:
having tea parties with her singing teapot from Gigi and Papa (Chris's parents), following through with little requests ("Sofia, please through this napkin away" or "Please put this sock back"), reading books, helping herself to things from the pantry, putting laundry away, baths, having us hold her upside down like a bat, Uttanasana the yoga pose and peeking at us upside down between her legs, pressing the pause/play button over and over on Lucas's stereo playing "Back in the USSR", dancing (is there anything cuter than the toddler bopping up and down move?)

When I am getting her dressed I act completely distraught when her hand is still in the sleeve, as if it is gone forever. Then I get overjoyed when it comes through and kiss it like crazy. She things this is the funniest thing in the world!

Favorite "outside" things to do:
digging, collecting rocks, kicking the ball, swinging (although this is becoming too passive an activity for her), going down slides head first, navigating the ramps at the multi-level treehouse/deck at Lucas's school

I am amazed at how babies develop naturally and teach themselves this second go around. Without even a suggestion, she began opening the silverware drawer and setting the table by herself to indicate that her tummy says it's time to eat! She loves order and understanding where things go, getting her shoes and other items by herself. After dinner, she marches straight to the bathroom, knowing that it's probably bath time. And even if she doesn't particularly want to take a nap, she takes initiative and walks herself to her room when I tell her it's time to read and "sleep with ladybug."

And now, naptime is over, so that's the end of the post!

Sofia is no longer anti-fruit

The girl loves berries now. Hooray!

Eating

Sofia now enjoys eating snacks at the island, standing in her learning tower. I like it because I can chop and prep and we can keep each other company.

Lucas is taking more initiative in preparing his own snacks. His signature sandwich is jam and cheese on Ezekial bread. This morning he taught Chris how to make it and they sat on the bench together and enjoyed their breakfast. "I'm so glad you like my sandwich Daddy!" followed by a proud lion's chomp.

Walking

I think the official date that my baby became a toddler was Wednesday February 1 (or was it the 8th?) Well, it was a Wednesday and Sofia was just around 13 months. In recent days, she has completely abandoned crawling and walks all over the house. She has really improved, but still falls a lot. It's very cute!

Lucas and Sofia's Birthday Party 2012

Lucas and Sofia's birthdays are seven days apart. This year we decided to have more than just a family party and invite a few friends. Here are some pictures that give an idea of the atmosphere. Many of them were taken by Elizabeth Poole, a best friend for almost thirty years and soon to be mom! Thanks Liz!

The themes happened to be "Lucas Oil" and "Flowers/Sofia Coppola Sparkling Wine." There was Lucas Oil Stadium paraphernalia placed throughout the party rooms that I purchased on-line or nabbed from my mechanic. Very fitting considering that is where the Superbowl was played this year!

Another amazing cake by Chris's mom, "Gigi"

I got a wild hair and made "trips around the sun" posters.

These are used "Lucas Oil" bottles from our mechanic Greg (Appollon Auto Repair, Chamblee) with branches from the yard. It's a high-performance oil used often used by race cars. There is a stadium named for it too.

Sofia Coppola sparkling wine

Kids' Table

Hanging above the kids' table

Sofia, a.k.a. Ruffle-stiltskin...

...getting a kiss from Dyedushka (my dad.)

Maria and my brother Sasha :)

Lucas and Benton acting natural

Harris scoping out the scene

Elizabeth's husband Jason practicing with Jody & Britt's baby Troy

Elizabeth taking a turn practicing

The Potts minus Britt

Chris's Dad B.J., his bro Matt and Ryan a coworker

Melinda and her and Ryan's baby Lawson - beyond edible

Gabriel, politely requesting if he can dig in the big pot of dirt - also Sofia's favorite pastime.

Digging in!

Lucas, you are 5!

Dear Lucas,

Happy birthday! We can't believe that you are five. Thank you for bringing so much joy and excitement to our lives! You are fun, smart, handsome and engaging and you certainly keep us on our toes. People often tell us how much they enjoy your company and that does not surprise us.

Even at this young age, you have shown a tremendous capacity for loving and understanding your creator. Keep the questions coming and we will keep racing to grow alongside you. We love you with all of our hearts!

You have taken five trips all the way around the sun and they have been filled with many great adventures and accomplishments. Here are a few...

First trip around the sun

In your first trip around the sun you learned to smile, laugh, crawl, walk and run. You got your first teeth and your first shoes. You learned to climb stairs and other things that are easy for you now. When you were a baby, you also learned how to be a good traveler. You took your first trip in a car when you were six weeks old and we traveled to Ben and Sarita's wedding in Tampa, Florida.

Your first plane trip was when you were five months old and we flew to Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. We were hoping that the three hour time difference would take care of your midnight bedtime, but you showed yourself to be a true party animal and stayed up until 3am west coast time with no problems (6am Atlanta time.) We continued to party late into the night, first with Devin Reynolds and his family in Seattle and then with the family in Vancouver. "Look at the face on that little guy!" said our cousin Oleg with a beaming smile. Those late nights led to some serious naps in the stroller allowing mommy and daddy quiet sushi lunches and leisurely shopping in Vancouver's downtown stores. One of your first foods was green tea ice cream. On the way back from Vancouver, we were delayed and later diverted through Tennessee so we were on the plane for nine hours. Luckily there were some cute teenaged girls behind us for you to flirt with. You didn't fuss the whole time!

That year you also traveled to Gulf Shores Alabama, Lake Hartwell, Portland Oregon, Fort Worth TX and Winnipeg, Manitoba. And then you were 1.

Second trip around the sun

In your second trip around the sun you learned to do many things with your hands. You taught yourself how to eat with a spoon, pet dogs and play with cars and trains. You rode in a boat for the first time and learned how to rock in a rocking chair and slide down slides. You learned to be an even better traveler and visited some new places: Boston Massachusetts, Providence Rhode Island, and St. Augustine Florida (the oldest city in the United States of America.) And then you were 2.

Third trip around the sun

In your third trip around the sun, you learned to have tons of fun playing. You learned to ride a little motorcycle (like a balance bike only smaller.) You learned to go on see-saws, make things with play-dough and splash in puddles with your rainboots. During this year you explored puddles and many other things in Prague and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic as well as Amsterdam, Holland and London, England. We lived in Europe for three months while Daddy worked there. This is also the year that you started school at Arbor Montessori! In this picture you are trying three different fresh juices in a vegetarian restaurant in Prague where we went twice a week. Every time we ate there, the waitress gave you a suitcase filled with fun things to do while you were at the restaurant. And then you were 3.

Fourth trip around the sun

In your fourth trip around the sun, you learned how to play soccer and ride really fast on your balance bike (that is a bike that has no pedals and no training wheels.) You learned to rake leaves and write your name. This year we visited our family in Denver, Colorado for the first time. We also stayed at the Unicoi Lodge in Helen, GA where I stayed when I was a little girl. There was a kids space for sleeping and playing that was so high up you had to climb a ladder to get there. That’s what you are doing in this picture. I taught you how to jump from that ladder and onto the hotel bed. You did that over and over again! But the most important thing that happened this year is that your baby sister Sofia was born seven days before your fourth birthday. And then you were 4.

Fifth trip around the sun

In your 5th trip around the sun, you learned to do many amazing things. You learned to swing by yourself, swim without floaties, play mini-golf and ride a pedal bike with no training wheels. During the summer, you learned to make salad people. You just took different types of food and made it look like a person but with macaroni for hair and carrot sticks for arms. You traveled to two new places this year: Savannah, GA and Navarre Beach in Florida where you spent many days jumping in waves and digging in sand. This year you also got to know your baby sister. You are a great big brother! And now you are 5!

Teething Status Correction

I hadn't felt the top of her mouth until today. Sofia has not one, but three molars plus the lower left incisor cutting through. The fourth molar is bulging and about to make it's debut. Sheesh!

According to baby center, the top two molars usually show up between 13-19 months and the bottom ones between 14-18 months. This is a cool little set of diagrams. So she is definitely on the early end of things. At this rate she will be eating T-bones before she takes her first steps!