Olivia at 8 Months

Olivia is growing up so fast and at 8 months is now 18 pounds and 27 inches! She just started clapping to "patty cake" thanks to her Papa and her Grandma who is visiting right now. She loves to smile and is very curious when others are talking around here and wants to get their attention if they aren't paying enough attention to her. I'm getting the sense that she's going to be just as social as Sofia. She gets up to her hands and knees and knows something is supposed to happen but isn't sure what exactly, even though big sister Sofia is all to happy to demonstrate how easy it is to crawl. "It's like this, Olivia. Hand, hand, knee, knee..." She still adores anything and just about everything big sister does and loves to watch her play. She babbles a lot and said "Mama" about three weeks ago when she was annoyed that her breakfast wasn't coming fast enough, but since then I haven't heard it. Her hair seems to be coming in pretty well too, and is light with strawberry highlights. Her favorite toy is the giraffe that is in her car seat and each time we get into the car she plays with him as if it's the first time she's seen him, slowly turning him over and inspecting him. She still wears size 3 diapers and is in 9 months clothes and a few 6 month still fit her but not many. Everyone comments on what a happy and easy baby she is and she absolutely is such a joy!

What a sweet smile

Such a happy girl - she loves playing with her toes

She's sort of doing the "roll it" portion of "Patty Cake" with her hands

Such a big girl! She's wearing one of my favorites that Mom made Sofia....looks just as cute on Olivia and I know Mom would love to see her in it.

With big sister

Another with big sister after both girls are dressed

A Day at the Dallas Zoo

Yesterday we spent the day at the Dallas Zoo, which we haven't visited in ages, even though it is my favorite zoo. We took the TRE train to Union Station and then switched to the Dart train that took us directly to the zoo...probably the highlight of Sofia's entire week. Every time we talked about the zoo prior to our trip she would get most excited about the train trip.

We started with a visit to the children's section which was a little river the kids can play in along with all sorts of play equipment. We packed our lunch, so after Sofia splashed for awhile we enjoyed our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. From there we visited the frog habitat , walked along the birds of prey, and then headed over to see the animals of the savannah, my favorite area of the zoo. We did have a full day, although it was incredibly busy with school groups for the first few hours we were there. After about 3pm it completely cleared out and we basically had the zoo to ourselves.

The highlights for both girls was feeding the giraffes and watching the lions rest while we had ice creams. Sofia also loved climbing on the metal elephants too, which she remembers most from our last visit. Actually, I'm not sure that climbing on the metal elephants wasn't her second favorite part of the day..after taking the train. After watching the lions lounge in the shade, we headed back to the Dart station for our trip home. Olivia passed out and enjoyed a lovely nap the entire ride - something I think all three of us could used.

Heading to catch the TRE

Sofia and the TRE engine

Her favorite part of the day - riding the train

Playing in the zoo's river

Olivia has fun too!

Checking out the turtles

A butterfly in the butterfly garden (there were tons of them!)

Sofia's second favorite part of the day - playing on the elephants

Good thing there is glass separating them!

Olivia LOVED petting the giraffe!

Olivia and a sleepy lion

Enjoying an ice cream with a lioness

Ah, a nice nap after a long, fun day.

Our California Visitor

Chuck, my good friend from college visited us for a few days from California before he heads off to live in Switzerland. Chuck and I met freshman year in college, lived together for a year after college and have remained good friends since. He met Sofia when I visited Mom and Joseph in early 2008, but hadn't seen her since and hadn't met Olivia yet. He arrived on Tuesday and Sofia and Olivia immediately loved having their new friend around. Olivia even liked being held by Chuck and flashed her usual smile his way regularly. Sofia, of course, talked his ear off and they got into a "discussion" on whether the word is pronounced "pegasus" (Chuck) or "pegacyst" (Sofia). She explained to Chuck that the little pig with wings on our kitchen counter is a "Pegapig." We really had beautiful weather over the three days he was here and enjoyed driving through downtown Dallas, walking around the posh area of Highland Park, lounging at Starbucks, walking around Dealey Plaza, and relaxing poolside in our backyard. It was a quick trip, but a lot of fun to reconnect and catch up and I'm happy Chuck met the girls before he moves to Europe.

A Texas-size breakfast to start off Chuck's visit (we had just dropped off Sofia at school)

Walking around Highland Park looking at the amazing multi-million dollar homes

Hanging out at Starbucks

Walking around Dealey Plaza

Chuck and the girls

My little pool girl...it's still a bit too cold for her (and me) but she sure looks cute!

Chuck, Sofia, Olivia and me

Best Friends

The other day Sofia's best friend, Maggie, who she has gone to school with at Spanish Schoolhouse for the past two years, and Maggie's little sister, Lily, came over for a swim play date. Our pool is still cold, but apparently if you're under 5 years old you're impervious to the temperature...The girls had a great time and I really enjoy watching Sofia and Maggie play together, I guess since they are both very similar in that they are happy, silly, funny girls who just enjoy being together, laughing, making up stories, and having fun together. They were good friends last year and have really become best friends this year, which has meant that I've had the added bonus of becoming good friends with their Mom, Melody. We've tried to explain to Sofia that she and Maggie will not be in school together next year and she gets so sad that she nearly starts crying. I really think they will stay friends and have more fun meeting up for play dates rather than spending their day together at school, although I also know both girls will befriend others. I do hope they are able to maintain the simple fun they share together.

Telling secrets

Doing what they do best...giggling!

More secrets

Sofia and Maggie hanging out together

We recently visited the aquarium and I snapped this photo of the girls, which is one of my favorites

Looking at the fish together

Our Day Out With Thomas Train

Yesterday morning we went to Grapevine for a day out with Thomas Train. Sofia has literally been asking when Thomas is coming to town for months, and it sort of snuck up on us. I waited until Wednesday to tell her and I really wish I had made a video of her reaction when I told her of our Friday morning plans! She was SO excited! We met up with her friends Clara, Christopher and little Carissa and their mom Cheryl and Grandma Deb for a full day of fun. Our tickets to ride Thomas were at 9:45am, so we really rushed to get ready (CK was on his way back from Virginia with the Blue Bird) and get there on time. We met up with our friends and rode the train together which was a lot of fun. After, we visited all the fun stuff - the tent of Thomas train tables to play with, the huge sand box, the model train exhibit, the miniature train ride, and the bounce house. Of course Sofia also got a couple of train tattoos, met with Sir Topham Hatt, and got our picture with Thomas train. Luckily it wasn't very busy so the kids really had a fun time running around and visiting all the fun things to do. We walked up the street for lunch and said goodbye to our friends and then Sofia, Olivia and I returned for another few hours of fun. It was a long day, but I keep wondering how long Sofia will really love Thomas Train and all the associated activities and if this is her last year of enjoying it all I want to be sure she really gets to have fun with it all. It really was a pleasant day and so nice to have Deb there to watch over Carissa and Olivia while Cheryl and I followed the kids into the various tents. By the time we left, both girls were tired and ready for naps. ..................................................................................................... Playing with trains....not that she doesn't already spend hours doing this at home. She could literally have spent the entire day playing with the trains here.

Carissa (4 months) and Olivia (7 months)

The three of us ready for our ride on Thomas

Excited to get started down the track!

Olivia checks out her ticket (and eats a little bit of it too)

Sofia and her ticket

Sofia and Thomas

With Diesel 10

Getting her first of three tattoos

Rosie

Olivia playing in the sandbox. She had a great time and loved feeling the sand and letting it run through her fingers. She didn't even try to eat it.

She did manage to get it all over her face though

A little nap while Sofia plays

Sofia and Clara

With Sir Topham Hatt

Happy Easter!

I took the girls to see the Easter Bunny on Friday and Sofia was so excited to see him and gave him a hug as soon as we arrived. It was cute to see the girls with the Easter Bunny and Sofia had to go back near the front of the line to wave goodbye to him when we left. It's funny how much she loves costumed characters!

We celebrated a lovely Easter on Sunday. We spent the morning at Meeting and returned home with Scott, Brenda, Crystal, Oliver, Brandon G, Sarah and Andrea to enjoy an Easter lunch together. We tried to make it as easy as possible so we didn't return home and have to cook forever before we could eat, so we ended up cooking a lot on Saturday and picked up a Honey Baked Ham. We made glazed carrots, a leek and goat cheese quiche, rosemary rolls, and a big strawberry salad. We also made a carrot cake from scratch and I had no idea that it would take so long to make, but it was worth it.

After lunch, the three kids had an Easter egg hunt which had to be held inside since it was pouring rain outside. We sent the kids into Olivia's room while Scott and CK hid the eggs and then let them go find them all (we hope). Actually, few of the eggs held candy, so even if we find a few eggs later on that will be fine. Sofia ran around and filled her basked with eggs pretty quickly then said "I think I have enough" and sat down and started going through her goodies, even though there were other eggs to be found and the boys were still searching.

Following all the dishes and farewells , the girls got their Easter baskets. Sofia has wanted Bash and Dash, two trains that are friends of Thomas Train, and I told her that maybe she'd get it for Easter. She did along with some little toys and chocolate eggs with white chocolate chicks inside. Olivia's basket included two adorable dresses - one from her Grandparents and the other from her Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Jay. Also, there were a few toys passed down from Sofia that Olivia hasn't seen yet. It was a great Easter.


After her Easter celebration at school on wednesday


Happy Easter.


Visiting the Easter Bunny on Friday!


The girls in their matching dresses on Easter morning....Olivia isn't quite awake yet.


Sweet girls!





Lunch is served! Honey Baked Ham, glazed carrots, homemade rosemary rolls, goat cheese and leek quiche, strawberry salad followed by homemade carrot cake.


The kid's table - Sofia, Brandon G, and Oliver


The adult table - at dessert time.


Ready for the Easter egg hunt....inside due to weather.


One egg found!


Going through her eggs and seeing her Easter egg treats.


An Easter family photo


The Easter Bunny has arrived!


Sofia's basket


Olivia's basket


Sofia goes through her basket....


Dash and Bash - Sofia has hoped she would get these two trains for weeks!


Olivia checks out her basket....filled with goodies from her Grandparents and her Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Jay as well as some of Sofia's toys she hasn't yet seen.


She fell in love with this rattle, which was also one of Sofia's favorites.