Naughty or Nice?

The holidays are pretty special with this little girl around. She loves the "kissmass tee" and she walks around the apartment drooling on a candy cane saying "I suck. No bite it, Mommy." We have had some touch and go moments with Santa (see below) but generally Santa is pretty popular and we frequently hear Fia talking to herself saying, "I sit on Santa's lap" or "I see Santa now." Carols are sung with half words and flat notes (she gets that from me) and when a song ends she angelically asks, "more jingle bells?" or "more peace?" or whatever the last words of the song was coupled with "mooooore?"

We have finished work and now we are settling in for a New York Christmas, complete with the Rocketts at Radio City on Christmas Eve. And to all of our friends and family near and far, we wish you a wonderful holiday.

Thanksgiving

We just spent Thanksgiving in Dallas and this year we have so, so much to be thankful for - namely our family of three, our extended families and our dear friends both near and far.

Fia turns 2!

Last month, our sweet girl turned 2 and, as if on cue, began to exert her new 'personality.' This new world includes wanting to do everything her "self" (Fia's favorite word at the minute), tantrums when she can't do it herself (like putting on her shoes or eating an ice cream), and calling me by my first name, pronounced "A-shell." But don't worry - the sweet girl is still in there.

With her personality blossoming, she is also learning at light speed. She eats with a fork and spoon, counts to ten, knows her colors, and has a pretty large vocabulary which is mixed with some words that don't make sense to us but make COMPLETE sense to her!

The following is a video of Fia's first day of school, which was also her 2nd birthday.

Photo Book

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Blog Backlog

We have been bad, bad bloggers. We have let several months go by without an update and given the prompts we have been sent by loved ones - we are now feeling pretty guilty. So here are some pictures of Sofia's summer. Ps. She is calling herself "Fia" now. What a diva.

This is Fia and Uncle Bobo at my mom's place for the 4th of July.

This is Sofia and Nelly, Jos's puppy, playing in Newcastle in July.

And this is Fia making one of her favorite faces. The "wach yo talkin' bout" face. We have certainly entered the new age of 2!

Uh oh - no cry mommy. Is ok.

This is what Sofia says to me when when I am upset (e.g. Just heard bad news, stubbed my toe, etc). Well she had to say this to me when I was cursing under my breath when I found that I had disabled the blog. I was trying to upload a birthday video when I was prompted to put in my birth date. Not thinking, I put in Sofia's birthday and all hell broke loose. Under aged. Blocked, disabled and an official outcast. Google does not joke around. So it took a while to sort it out and now we are back in business.

Sofia's First Conversation

Mommy: "Sofia, do you want breakfast?"

Sofia: "Yeah."

Mommy: "Do you want oatmeal?"

Sofia: "No."

Mommy: "Do you want cereal?"

Sofia: "No."

Mommy: "Do you want toast?"

Sofia: "Yeah."

(Mommy makes a slice of toast and Sofia crams it into her mouth, as if it will be the last morsel she will ever eat. And with a mouth and fistful of buttery toast, she exclaims...)

Sofia: "More toast!"

Sofia at 20 months

When Sofia is awake, she is either running, eating or laughing (with a tantrum sprinkled here or there). She learns new words every day, still loves to give kisses and hugs and eats as much as a grown adult (her favorite word is "MORE" said really slowly with a long face).

Here are a couple of photos, the first is in an outfit and Super Meggy made for her. What a lucky girl.This is Sofia running in the woods in Portland, Maine. We were searching for fairy houses.


In art class.Enjoying a corn dog at Coney Island.

Going to one of Daddy's races in Central Park.

Playing in Uncle Nick and Aunt Kristin's hammock.

Delayed Spring Report, pt 3

These are a couple of additional videos that I thought our small readership might enjoy. The first is Sofia hunting Easter eggs. Actually, she wasn't great at hunting eggs but she was good at finding the large, gold, chocolate Lindt bunny.



The second is Sofia in the fountains in Savannah. Pay attention to the squealing. That is her favorite form of communication.



The last is of Sofia attempting to jump. Hilarious every time. I never want her to learn to jump properly.

Delayed Spring Report, pt 2

This is a video of Sofia enjoying running the grass. I hated grass at her age, but she seems to love it. This is at Old Grandma's house. This was the first time her pink skin was exposed after a long, cold winter. I have to admit that her pink, squishy skin is pretty scrummy.

Delayed Spring Report, pt 1

We have been bad, bad bloggers. Two months since the last entry?! We have no real excuse except for life getting in the way. We have also been busy: a trip to Old Grandma's, a trip to Savannah for Easter and endless classes and play park visits.

The following posts are photos of the "life" that has been getting in the way of blogging. I am trying to upload some video but the technology is grumpy.

These photos are of Sofia in some public fountains in Savannah. Fun and games until someone face plants into the cement and a gallon of blood comes out of her nose and mommy and daddy call an ambulance and the cancel it when they come to their senses and realize it is just a bloody nose and not a broken face. But this is a video of the fun - fully clothed and soaked to the bone fun.

The following are a few more photos of our Easter trip.

Watch the monkey in her natural environment...

Sofia's words at 18 months

(in no particular order)

Mama
Dada
Baby
Lulu
Shoes
Home
Thank You
Nose
Eyes
Teeth
Cheek
Toes
Apple
Meggy
You
No
I Know
Uh-Oh
Wow
Yeah
Max
Poppi
Gigi
Em (Emily, the babysitter)
Hot
Ball
Poo (with a pat on her bottom)
Bye-bye
Hello
Hi
Moo (for a cow)
What
Arm
Up
Woo
Taxi (said while hailing a cab)
Walk

Kids just do the cutest (and most disgusting) things

Ready for this?

Cutest:
Whenever Sofia is upset, both Antony and I console her by picking her up, giving her a cuddle and saying "I know, I know, I know you're upset." She obviously thinks that this is what you are meant to say when you're unhappy so when she starts to cry she whimpers a sad and consistent "I know, I know, I know." It is hard to keep a straight face.

Most Disgusting:
Sofia recently vomited (wait, it gets worse) and Antony promptly grabbed some toilet paper to wipe it up off the floor. He threw the soiled paper in the toilet bowl and then went find a baby wipe to clean a bit more thoroughly. Minutes later we found Sofia walking around the apartment with soaking toilet paper hanging out of her mouth. Yes, she went into the toilet and plucked out the vomit soiled TP and proceeded to EAT it. This was the beginning of the current and passionate love affair Sofia has with the toilet. We hope it is a short phase.

Lulu - The Dolly

This dolly cannot get enough love from Sofia. This is how she prefers to carry her.

The Holidays

We had an eventful holiday season: Thanksgiving with Grandad and Grandma in NYC, skiiing in Steamboat Springs with Gigi, Poppi, Meggy, Old Grandpa and Old Grandma followed by a three day delay (and detour to Dallas) getting home due to snow on the east coast. It was great to spend time with family, get fresh air and exercise but we were all glad to get home and begin 2011.

Here are some of our favorite pics from the trip. Thanks for sharing 2010 with us and best wishes to all for 2011.

Max and Sofia getting their holiday kissing on.

Sofia getting into Mommy's jewelry box.

Sofia and Meggy getting some quality time in Colorado.

Marshmellow girl.

Mommy and Daddy, hitting the slopes (badly).

Sofia in Daddy's ski boots. Too big?

The ski bunnies: Gigi, Meggy and Me.