Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Our last Sunday before leaving (July 20) we drove to the WMWR after church and had a picnic. I was surprised I wasn't melting - in the shade it was pleasant enough. It was fun to do something special as a family. We hiked (well, walked) about 1/2 a mile up the trail and back. It started getting too hot, so we turned around. We left for Washington two days later!

Fun Stuff Around the House

We are done with all our traveling - Labor Day and all - so should be settling down for awhile. The unpacking is (mostly) finished and I can start to catch up on blog posts. I'm looking forward to sharing all our travels and special times.

Here are some photos from the couple of weeks between Josh's homecoming and our leaving for Washington (July 3-20). Looking at them now, I am shocked at how much Sophia's's changed in two months!!! She looks so little in these pictures, and she's so much bigger now (and has so much more hair!) You'll see the difference as I put up more recent pictures.

This picture is from June, actually, from my time with Geoff and Mindy. She's playing with one of Grant's toys.
























Mommy's busy unpacking in our new house and I fit in the cupboard!




















Just playing outside in the (hot) weather.

Daddy and I just woke up from a nap, can't you tell? And I'm wrapped up in a bed sheet!

























Mrs. Johnson, see how cute I look in this bumblebee dress you gave me? Thank you!

























Miss Intense Reader

Josh is Home!!!

Josh was finally reunited with his family July 2 at 1:15 PM!!!! Sophia initially took exception to being handed off to him, but after a refreshing nap she decided he must be alright. I'd almost call it a miracle because she didn't mind being held by him or even playing with him out of sight of Mommy that very same day! Now, just a few days later, she feels almost as at home with her daddy as she does with Mommy. Of course there are some things she still wants her Mommy for, such as feeding and drying off after a bath. Here are a few pictures from this past week:

Daddy and Sophia enjoying a big bouncer at Family Appreciation Day. Sophia wasn't big enough for most things but the inflatable bouncer was definitely a hit. She had the biggest smile on her face as she watched all the little kids around her bouncing away and had lots of fun trying to imitate them.

Mommy and Sophia on their way to the pool. Sophia loved it and Daddy had a lot of fun splashing around with her. She also thought it was great pretending to swim herself in the pool.

Catch-Up

I know I haven't posted anything since February, and I feel bad about that. But life will go on. So . . . here's one "catch-up" post of mostly pictures. Josh will get home in ONE MONTH!!!!!!! and I am leaving for Lawton June 10. Josh and I are planning to take a three-week leave the last part of July - Aug. Don't know the exact dates, but we will be leaving Sophia for 5 days with Grandma and Opa, spending a week with family, and then spending one week driving back to Lawton from Tacoma; truck, trailer, baby, puppy and all! :=)

Sophia has been crawling for two months and is now beginning to stand up all by herself. No steps yet, but that's ok, because Mommy wants Daddy to get to see that milestone. One month ago she FINALLY got two bottom teeth! So she's not toothless anymore, but those two are all she has - at 10 months! Don't know her current weight and height, but at her 9 month check-up a month ago she was about 18.5 lbs and just under 29 inches long. She was in the 50% for both. She eats great, and is finally sleeping without screaming herself to sleep. Don't know if there is anything more gut-wrenching or painful to listen to than that, but I'm so thankful I was able to tough it out (with Mom's help, of course).

MAY PICS:

My first swing!

Mommy and Sophia at the park.

All dressed up for Mother's Day!

Irresistible grin!

Mommy didn't put my hat on crooked, but it's too big for me, so that's just the way it ended up! Mommy thought it was pretty cute, and I obliged for the camera.

APRIL PICS:

Grandma and Sophia have matching outfits!

Aunt Jana and Sophie at the Daffodil Parade

Sophia in New York, in a spring outfit for the first time! (Nice tongue, Cutie!)

Laura with Nala at Adam and Meredith's house.

MARCH PICS:

Opa and Sophie share a snuggle.

You better lower this crib, Mommy, because I can stand up all on my own now!!!
Easter dress and Easter lamb

FEBRUARY PICS:

Valentine's Day at Geoff and Mindy's

What a grin for the camera!

Six Month Check-up

Today Sophia went in for her six month check-up and got up-to-date stats. Height: 26 3/8 inches, weight: 16 lbs 4 oz. What a cutie. Oh, I think I've mentioned that before! She's doing much better sleeping and has gone to bed without a fuss the last two nights. Now I just have to work at cutting out the now-habitual 4:30 AM wake-up!

Rice Cereal

Mid-January I fed Sophia rice cereal for the first time. It was one of my desperate attempts to figure out why she stopped sleeping through the night (hungry?). I can't really say it solved the problem, but she seemed to love it and now knows what to do with the stuff. She opens her mouth for the spoon (can we say baby bird?!) and sometimes lunges for it! What fun. I seriously think I'm learning more (as a mother) than Sophia is. She gets it once or twice a day. No real schedule yet for the cereal. I plan to add oatmeal pretty soon. I have to say that I've tasted it and think it tastes good - slightly sweet. Don't know if that's from the rice itself or the formula that I mix in with it. These pictures are from her first taste.

One two-hundredth of a century!

My baby is six months old today! I CANNOT believe it! And that means less than six months till Daddy comes home too! Sophia is sitting up on her own now and plays happily by herself for a little while, but is definitely a socialite and wants to be with people. She is going to be a social butterfly, I'm afraid! But Mommy is still number one in her book, as she will look around for me when I leave the room and someone else is holding her!

We're working to get back on the great 11-hour night sleep routine (and to sleep through the night again) and every night is a new challenge and guessing game (what shall we try tonight).

The title is courtesy of her Opa, and I thought it was worth sharing. Whoever would think of that to describe a six month old infant, but my dear father?! Enjoy the pictures below.

Hey, this Greek stuff is interesting!