And Baby Makes.....4!

Just after Christmas we found out that we would be having another little one! Of course, we kept it quiet until last week (12 weeks), when we started telling family and friends after we got the all clear from doctor visits and numerous ultrasounds. I'm due on 5 September, which means that surviving the lovely Texas summer will be interesting, but I'm looking forward to a lot of time in our pool!


Because of my "advanced" aged, I'll be undergoing genetic testing, so we'll find out what we are having about a month earlier than we found out with Sofia. Both CK and I have a feeling that we'll be having a girl, mainly because this pregnancy has been very similar to when I was pregnant with Sofia. I haven't been sick, although feel nauseous at night. Also, I get overly full when eating a regular sized meal, so have to eat several small meals throughout the day or snacks between smaller portions, which I never had to do with Sofia. I've also had more cravings than I ever remember with Sofia, but that may be due to the fact that I have a lot more options now and am not working behind a desk without any real food options during the work day. My biggest cravings have been grapefruit, milk, and vegetarian tacos from Taco Stand. Another big difference is that the pregnancy clothes have made their debut much sooner than with Sofia! I think I first pulled on my pregnancy jeans at 11 weeks! Mainly for comfort around my waist, but already at 13 weeks there is no way the waist of regular bottoms are fitting me!

We're excited for a new addition to our family and Sofia is convinced we are having a girl! In fact, she gets mad if we even suggest that it may well be a boy. She says boys don't like to hold hands, so she's 'getting' a sister! We'll soon find out if she's right.

Baby Lee at 13 weeks! Amazing!


My expanding waist.....Sofia was kind enough to take the photo.


Sofia's waist....she wanted me to take one of her.

Cousins visit!!

Over the weekend we had Ruel, Melanie, Devin, and Haley visit us! We had such a fun time and were able to do a couple of fun things, but mainly just hung out and caught up! Of course, Sofia was in Heaven having Haley to pal around with and I'm convinced she sees Haley as a equal rather than a much older cousin. We started out our weekend on Saturday night with burgers at home and a relaxed evening talking. On Sunday, we went to Meeting and then returned home for a delicious pancake, bacon and egg breakfast prepared by the guys! The rest of the day we relaxed outside and Devin, Sofia and Haley even went in the pool despite the water temperature being in the 50s. It was decently warm enough that they enjoyed soaking up the sun after their pool time. Sunday night we relaxed with pizza and watched the original "True Grit" movie. On Monday, we split up with the guys heading to the airport to watch planes and visit the flight museum and the gals heading into Grapevine to shop and stroll the street. We ended up finding a delicious cupcake shop and enjoyed our pitstop there before we headed to Yucatan Taco Stand for some outstanding quick Mexican food (one of my favorite places). We had such a fun time talking, shopping and spending the day together.

The weekend went by so quickly and after breakfast on Tuesday we headed to the airport to say our goodbyes. It was such a fun weekend and we hope for another visit soon!

Sunday morning pancakes, eggs and bacon - YUM!!


Ruel and CK hanging out and playing on CK's new banjo


Haley and Sofia playing in the water - Sofia LOVED when Haley would flip her wet hair and soak Sofia. She finally went and got her Thomas Train umbrella which made it that much more fun!


Playing together...


In Grapevine


A much needed cupcake break - delicious


What's a trip to Grapevine without a train? We visited the depot museum and picked this up for $5. It's so cute and perfect for trips.


Petting the baby chicks at the feed store (she's all black and hard to see, but she's there in Haley's hand).


Horsing around....


All smiles after a few tacos.

Go Scooter Go!

This past weekend we had amazing weather and Sofia and I decided to walk down to visit "Chocolate Kitty" (the best cat in the whole world) and walk around our neighborhood lake. While we were there, we ran into one of neighbors who has a nearly 5-year old girl named Natalia. Tali was riding her bike around the cul-de-sac and her dad offered to lend her scooter to Sofia so they could play together. Sofia fell in love! She was a bit slow to really get speed on it, but she quickly learned how fun the scooter could be. The girls switched back and forth so Sofia could also try the bike, but after she went faster than she was comfortable on, she opted for the scooter and never looked back. The girls rode around the neighborhood together for at least an hour and Sofia slept like a puppy that night.

So, at 7:15 the next morning, I awoke to a little face and these words "Mom, get up. Can I go ride the scooter?" She's ridden on the scooter every day since and has become even better at going fast. We've visited a local park that has a large lake and walking trail around it and Sofia has ridden the scooter around the lake five times (well over a mile) while I walk behind her. It's great to see how much she loves it and it's great exercise for both of us!

Sofia, her duck "Pinkie" and the scooter


Sofia and Talia riding together.....


And she's off!


All tuckered out after a visit to the park....

Valentine's Day 2011

This year we decided not to host a Valentine's dinner party at our house and instead kept things simple. I surprised CK with a couples massage at a local spa on Saturday afternoon, which was a very relaxing and fun way to spend time together. Afterwords, CK headed out to go quail hunting for the rest of the weekend with his boss and a couple of guys.

On Monday Sofia went to school ready for her Valentine's Day party (it was supposed to be on the prior Wednesday, but was changed to Monday after school was cancelled due to ice and snow). Sofia brought gifts for her teachers (chocolates and notecards) and Valentines for her classmates. I'd hoped to make it to the school to watch her party at 1pm, but got tied up with volunteering and some chores). She had fun at the party, decorated sugar cookies, sang songs, danced and exchanged Valentines.

That night we enjoyed a dinner at home that included filet mignon, bacon-wrapped quail (fresh from CK's hunting trip), potatoes au gratin and asparagus. I'd also made my Aunt and Uncle's molten chocolate cakes, but we opted to wait to eat them since we both exchanged gifts of candy and chocolates. Sofia also got a package from her Grandpa and Grandma that included an "I Spy" book (she loves it), socks and her all-time favorite Altoids! One happy girl!

All set for school and her Valentine's Party


Papa and Sofia make her "sleep chart." Since she was sick the week before she's found herself in our room nearly every night, so we decided to create a chart and after five nights in her bed (she earns stickers after each full night in her bed) she gets to go to Target and pick up one train! She's debating between "Diesel" and "Lady" for her choice of trains.


The finished chart with lots of Sofia chart


Sofia and her chart - ready to hang on her door.


All set for our Valentine's Dinner


All three of us!


Filet Mignon and bacon-wrapped quail - Yum!


Asparagus and potatoes au gratin


Sofia opens her present from Papa - lip balm!


Beautiful!!


Her chocolate dog - Yum!


Playing with her paper doll Valentine's card.

Cabin Fever Activities....

As beautiful as the snow is and as much as Sofia really wanted to play in the snow, we ended up being stuck inside for four solid days. Before snow we had an ice storm, so although pretty outside it was very dangerous to walk and especially drive! CK ended up taking Tuesday (the worst of it) and Friday off and took the Jeep the other two days to work, so I wasn't about to try and drive his car around town since it's real wheel drive.

I must confess, it was pretty fun to be stuck inside and Sofia and I stayed in our pajamas all day (we did get new ones each day), read stories, drew, played with finger paint, and of course played with Thomas the train. We also did a lot of baking and played in the snow at least once a day.

Sofia in my boots


Finger painting


She likes to paint her hand and then use it as a stamp...thank goodness for washable finger paints.


Napping of course. We had just settled in to read a story, when the phone rang and I jumped up to answer it. I only talked for ten minutes and came back to find her fast asleep.


Heading out with Papa on Friday to play in the snow.


So happy! She loves the snow!


The freshly falling snow


With Papa


and Mom...


Nothing beats a pancake breakfast!


I love our yard with a blanket of snow across it.....so pretty!


Some cookies we baked....

Snow!

Yesterday it snowed during the early morning and when Sofia first saw it she said "SNOW!! That's just what we wanted!" She's been asking where the snow is ever since Christmas since she had so much fun last year. So, she immediately wanted to go outside and play. We suited up in our best snow clothes (layers) and headed outside into the 20 degree weather. She loved walking around in the snow and especially tasting it. Here's a video of her tasting some snow and then clearing snow off of Hootie the concrete turtle, which she named after Mimi's turtle....

Snow Day!

We woke up during the night to the sound of sleet and freezing rain (I really don't know the difference, but it sounded like an army taking aim at our house with bb guns), and awoke in the morning to a nice fresh layer of snow! Sofia was SO excited! So, of course we had to get 'suited up' and head out to experience the snow. She wasn't sure what was more fun....walking through it and watching her footsteps or eating it off the table....

Since it was 18 degrees outside, we soon ended up returning to the warmth of the house and the roaring fire that CK built in the fireplace. Throughout the day, we did venture out a few times to explore the front and back yards and play in the snow. Unfortunately, there isn't enough to make a snowman, and there's really more ice than snow. Surprisingly, Sofia remembered the snow from last year "when she was a baby" and then asked when Santa was coming (since it snow at Christmas last year). I don't think she really believes that he's coming back in 11 months....it must be sooner than that!

All suited up! Two jackets, Papa's neck warmer, gloves, hat, and Thomas the Train rain boots (and her pjs)!


Checking out her first few steps in the snow...


Checking out the backyard...


Taking a sample of the snow....


Yum!