Gardening!

When I was growing up, one of my very favorite memories was growing things from seeds - especially having an avocado seed perched in a glass of water until it sprouted, and having our huge garden to pull yummy vegetables from (except for all those zucchini, but I've made my peace with that!). So, after we enjoyed avocado on toast this morning (yes, she is my daughter - she LOVES it, unlike her Papa), we poked the avocado seed with toothpicks and put it in some water..... We then planted it in it's own pot.

Playing with the water!


Wiping the water on her shirt (she thinks her shirt is her little napkin)


Posing with the newly-planted avocado seed


All done, so where is that avocado tree?!

Sofia at 18 months....

Sofia is 18 months today and growing up faster than ever. She still loves wow-owls, puppies (live and stuffed) and reading books. I wanted to record all of the words she says, which is very difficult because she tries to mimic just about every word or noise that we make now. So, I've made a list (over the past few days, as I hear her say words or remember words she knows), of all those words that she uses regularly with us! So, here it is:

Papa
Mommy
Mimi
Grandpa
Grandma
Baby
People

Hi
Bye Bye
No (trust me, she knows this one VERY well - she says it a million times a day)
Yeah (her version of yes)
Puppy
Wow-owl
Ah-yoyo (Aligator)
Bear
Fish

Wa-Wa (water)
pizza
cookie
Nana (Banana)
Ice
Pea
Carrot
Squash

Eye
Ears
Tail
Mane (of her pony)

Key
Trash
Car
Truck
Pool
Ball
Bubble
Walk

Shoes
Boots
Hat
Sock
Watch

Our big girl


With her puppy and wow-owl


A close-up


Ready to get down

Different Day, Different Park

CK worked from home today, so in the afternoon and with 80 degree weather, we ventured to a new park in Grapevine, TX. It was a nice park and Sofia enjoyed the slide and swings, as well as the walk over to where the koi are (although the fish food is closed for the winter, so we couldn't feed them). Also, a puppy labradoddle was playing nearby, which caused lots of squeals and laughs out of Sofia. At one point they were both wrapped up in each other and had a great time! It was great fun!

Getting ready to go down the slide


Looking over at Papa


Papa and Sofia on the swing


Mommy and Sofia on the swing


Walking through the park holding Papa's hand


Smelling rosemary with Papa


Looking at the koi with Papa


Looking at the koi with Mommy


Playing with the puppy


Such fun!

The Zoo!

Yesterday we went to the zoo with a friend and her 1-year old boy. It was great to get to know Jenny and Blake (I met her through one of my mommy groups) and hope to see more of both of them, but I sure missed Alice, Megan and Sandy and Grayden, Aria and Emily and all those visits to National Zoo! It was a beautiful day for a zoo visit and we really saw a lot. Unfortunately, about 10 minutes after Sofia fell asleep for a much needed nap, we came upon an owl exhibit with a barn owl and handler not 25 feet away! I did take a video which Sofia LOVES to watch over and over. Nothing much happens but she sqealls "WOW-OWL" each time! We also saw an Eagle Owl who kept looking at us, which she enjoyed earlier in the day. Now that she's mobile, it's difficult to take her in and out of the jogging stroller and yet she's still in her 'zen-like walk' as CK calls it - she meanders every direction and isn't very focused on walking forward in any one direction. So, by the end of the day we were both exhausted but had a very fun time at the zoo!

All set in her jogging stroller - Looking at flamingos with baby and puppy.


The Eagle Owl looking down on us


Sofia and I next to the Bengal Tiger


Sofia and the Bengal Tiger (the blur in the background) - Also, she loves when her Papa writes her name on her arm and says "Sopia" when you ask what her name is.


Looking at a large newt


Baby turtles


This is a Burrowing Owl, which is located in Texas and Arizona and lives in holes. They are only about 1 foot high and very cute.


Playing with the Ah-yoyo's eyes.


I liked this picture because if you ignore the fence in the background it reminds me of our honeymoon.

Baby's new crib

We...ok, CK....finally put together Sofia's baby doll crib that she received from Grandma and Grandpa Lee for Christmas. She LOVES it - in fact, she was so excited while CK was putting it together that she couldn't even contain herself and kept squealing! It was very cute! Now she puts her baby dolls into the crib - usually with a puppy, covers them with a blanket and says "night, night." She particularly likes the mobile that plays music.

Turning on the mobile (she can't actually do this yet, but she lets me know that I need to turn it on!)


Lifting baby into the crib


Making sure she's cozy


Proud of her efforts!


The puppy goes in next (missed that action shot)


Everyone is covered with a blanket (and patted "night, night")

Rainforest Cafe

On Sunday we went to Rainforest Cafe for lunch, primarily because they have this great Alligator in the front entrance that "comes alive" for a few minutes - Sofia LOVES the "Ah-yoyo" as she calls him and can't stop watching him. She and I visited the Alligator a few days prior and she kept wanting to visit him, thus, our idea of having lunch. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of eating at a Rainforest Cafe, we'd recommend not changing your mind now.....the food is overpriced and not very good. You're paying for the 'experience' of the Rainforest! Anyway, it was fun to watch the animals come alive and we were sitting underneath a leopard, which Sofia enjoyed growling at during lunch.

Visiting the Ah-yoyo


Looking at the bubbles (and fish) with Papa


Lunch


Watching the fish

Cowgirls Only!

I finally put together the rocking pony that Grandma and Grandpa Lee gave Sofia for Christmas! CK brought it back in the plane on Saturday and despite our plan to assemble the pony and baby crib on Sunday, it just didn't happen. So, I assembled it this morning - with Sofia, which basically meant that as soon as I would put a piece together she would take it apart, sit on it, or play with something necessary....I finally got it together though and she LOVES it! So cute! Thankfully she's able to get on and off it by herself! Next up: the baby crib (to be assembled while she naps!)

Weeee


Riding on the pony!


Do you think she likes it?!


So cute

Sofia's Wow-owl!

After searching through book stores, toy shops, and even the grocery store, I finally turned to the internet to order Sofia her own stuffed owl (or "wow-owl" as she calls it). She is in love with owls right now and wants to read all of the books that contain owl pictures or drawings. So, the owl named "Hootie" arrived yesterday and there was much excitement when the box opened, however, Sofia quickly tossed Hootie aside to play with the 'birth certificate' that also contains a picture of an owl.....so much for that idea! Since then she has warmed up considerably to Hootie and carries him around most places and slept with him last night and during today's morning nap.

Wow-owl!


Still happy with Hootie


Playing with Hootie's "birth certificate"


Sofia's favorites - her baby and Hootie - giving hugs to both




Going out to pick up our mail. Sofia insisted on bringing Hootie, CK's lunch pail, or "bag" as Sofia calls it, and cloves, which I was using for dinner.....I'm sure our neighbors think we're crazy!

Not only do we live in Texas....

but we eat Texas-shaped grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch! We also eat DC-shaped sandwiches too (thanks, Miss Yvette!) Here are some pictures of her Texas sandwich as well as her lounging with her books.

Sofia and her Texas sandwich


Yum!


Lounging in her room with books


Her It's Time for Bed book