Our Christmas Tree

On Monday, Mom (Grandma Fryer) and I decorated the Christmas tree with the multitude of "Joy" ornaments. However, there are a few newly-made Sofia ornaments and a couple for CK. The tree really looks great and Sofia loves to stare at the blinking lights.

Grandma shows Sofia her ornaments and the blinking lights on the tree




Grandma reads to Sofia


Grandma and Sofia share a laugh


Sofia in Grandma-made duckie hat

Finding the perfect Christmas Tree

On Sunday 25 November, Uncle Steve, CK, Grandma Fryer, Sofia and I went to Frager's Hardware for the perfect Christmas tree....well, two perfect trees (one for Aunt and Uncle and one for our house). Sofia liked to touch the pines on the tree and despite the cold we found our trees.

Uncle Steve and CK looking at trees


Uncle Steve, CK, Grandma Fryer and Sofia


Sofia and her tree!


Carrying the tree home to decorate

Sofia at 4 months

Sofia is 4 months old today and we can't believe how big she is! She weighs 16.8 lbs and is difficult to carry around. She just started sucking her thumb (she only sucks her left thumb so far) and is really getting strong on her belly and also sitting and standing with help. She still hasn't laughed yet, but smiles a lot and is still a happy baby.




Sofia has found her thumb!



Tummy time!

Sofia's First Thanksgiving

We enjoyed our first Thanksgiving with Sofia and had an outstanding meal. Aunt Shirley and Uncle Steve cooked a moist and delicious turkey (cut in half which was a new method), excellent stuffing, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, and two different types of cranberry compotes. Mom (Grandma to Sofia) cooked the root vegetables, an excellent tomato tart, and made yummy ginger snaps for dessert. CK cooked his pecan pie (with Georgia pecans) and I made the sweet potatoes. It was all delicious and one of our best Thanksgiving meals (although I think I say that every year!). It was a very warm 71 degrees for most of the day, so we enjoyed the appetizers sitting outside! Sofia enjoyed visiting with everyone and meeting my niece Melissa and her husband Fabian, who flew in from California for Thanksgiving and a few quick days of sightseeing.

The table is all set!


Our menu


The turkey


All of our yummy Thanksgiving food


Uncle, Aunt ,Joseph, Melissa, Fabian, Mom, CK and Sofia

More Thanksgiving Pictures

Here are more pictures from out Thanksgiving....

Daddy and Sofia


Uncle Steve showing Sofia the Fall leaves


Mommy with Sofia


Aunt Shirley and Sofia


Melissa and Sofia - Melissa was the first baby I held when I was 8 years old!

Our weekend with Ruel, Melanie, Devin and Haley

CK, Sofia and I arrived at Peachtree City Airport early Friday evening to spend the weekend with Ruel, Melanie, Devin and Haley and to attend a wedding reception of some family friends. We also met the newest addition to their family, Toby, who is a chocolate Cockapoo and a cute little dog. CK took Ruel and the kids for a flight while Melanie and I checked out a sale going on at an adorable kids boutique, oh, and talked! We had so much catching up to do that we would lose track of the story we were just telling! CK's Aunt Lila and Uncle Paul (Ruel's folks) came over to meet Sofia for a few hours. Saturday night we went to the wedding shower for Krystal and Jamie Trotter which was held in a barn north of Atlanta. After dinner, speeches, and a slideslow of their wedding in Michigan, CK, Ruel and Ruel's two brothers, Huel and Joel took the stage and entertained the whole crowd! They were fantastic with Huel on the piano, and the rest of the guys singing. It was a lovely event.

It was so much fun to catch up with Ruel, Melanie, Devin and Haley and meet Toby and we hope to see them all again soon. My favorite story from the weekend was when we met Ruel, Devin and Haley at the airport. I asked Haley which she thought was cuter, Sofia or their new puppy? She had to think about it before saying "Well, you'll have to see Toby...." (After spending the weekend with Toby, I would have to agree!)

Great Aunt Lila and Great Uncle Paul with Sofia


The boys singing at the reception


Melanie and Toby


Haley entertains Sofia with Melanie


Devin, Haley and Toby

Sofia's first flight on the Baron

Sofia flew on the Baron for the first time down to Peachtree City, Georgia to visit CK's cousins and for a wedding shower. The flight down was smooth and clear and we had a wonderful view of the changing colors of the Maryland and Virginia countryside. Sofia seemed to love the flight, and was smiling and looking around when CK started up the Baron. After take-off she fell asleep and pretty much slept the entire flight down. It was a good test for our planned trip to Ocala, Florida for Christmas.

All set to go! (Note: Sofia had the biggest bag of the three of us)


Flying into the airstip at Emporia, VA for a refuel


Pilot and co-pilot infront of the Baron


The co-pilot doing what she does best - naps!


At the end of our very fun weekend with Ruel, Melanie, Devin and Haley

Sofia's first friend from Uganda

CK's long time friend Heidi visited us for dinner and spent the night Sunday before heading back to Uganda. Heidi was back in the States for her annual visit and we are honored that she spent her last evening in the U.S with us. She and Sofia hit it off immediately with Sofia falling asleep in Heidi's arms - the ultimate sign of Sofia's acceptance. It was great to hear about Heidi's work and life in Uganda and CK and Heidi were able to visit while I put Sofia to sleep. So now Sofia has someone to visit in Uganda!

CK, Heidi and Sofia


Heidi and Sofia


During dinner


Yummmm, steak!

Aunt Shirley's Photography Reception

On Saturday 10 November, we attended Aunt Shirley's "Intimate Streams" photography reception held at The Corner Store on Capitol Hill. Her photos were from her time in New Mexico and are incredible! The reception was a great hit and CK took Sofia around to look at each photograph. Sofia also met her first U.S. Senator (although she was asleep at the time). We met Hawaiian Senator Akaka and his wife, who was enjoying the exhibit and food.

The exhibit


Sofia and the artist


Senator Akaka

Sofia's favorite things...

Sofia started reaching for her toys and staring at her hands last week. Her favorite toys are the lion hanging from her floor mat gym, the frog on her stroller, and Mr. Whossit hanging from her swing. When her lion "talks" to her (I help the lion talk and give him a funny voice), she gets a huge grin and gives her little start of a laugh! If the lion doesn't move and talk, she will stare at him nearly the entire time she's on her floor mat gym! The frog on her stroller also creates great smiles of joy from Sofia and she loves to grab at his multi-shaped arms. Mr. Whossit currently hangs like a mobile on Sofia's swing. She loves to stare up at him while swinging and has started to grab him when he is placed within reach. In the past few days she has also had great conversations with the baby in her play mirror of the floor mat gym. She likes to go for stroller rides (usually) and loves to look around! We're still waiting for her real laugh, but she has a high-pitched squeal that is close!

Sofia's frog..



SO happy!


Mr. Whozzit!


She only has eyes for her lion!


Sofia's happy eyes....

Sofia parties!

We had a big day on Saturday November 3rd, as Sofia attended her first wedding and her first 60th birthday party! Early Saturday afternoon, we attended my friend Yvette and Bret's beautiful wedding at the Naval Academy's chapel. It was a wonderful ceremony and Sofia was as quiet as a church mouse (she slept through the entire wedding). After lunch in Annapolis, we headed back to DC where we changed clothes and went off to Uncle Steve's big 60th birthday bash at the O Street Mansion. The mansion was an amazing puzzle of amazingly overdecorated rooms, and the party was fantastic! The best part being that Aunt Shirley held Sofia while CK and I discovered some of the crazy rooms, and later Uncle Steve took over! Many of their friends wondered if Sofia was our birthday present to them! :-)

Mommy and Sofia (My beautiful top was one of my presents from China!!!!)


Bret and Yvette get married!


Daddy and Sofia


Uncle Steve's 60th Birthday Bash


Uncle Steve and Sofia (sleeping, as usual)