Periodic Posts From Nugent Drive

Dance!

2011-06-13T22:59:00.006-05:00

Sophia had her first dance recital. It was everything you could imagine a 3 year old dance recital to be. She even found time in the middle of the routine to pause and wave. :)

Here is the link to the video on you tube. Be patient with the black screen. The action doesn't get started until about 15 seconds into it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bQI2APYmN8

(Sophia starts out all the way on the right)

Toy Room!

2011-06-13T21:27:00.003-05:00

Now that we are all moved in to our rental in Sandy, I focused my energy on the toy room. The fabric came from Ikea and I "no sewed" them into curtains. Fun huh?

We then bought vinyl rain gutters and turned them into bookshelves. (I totally copied it from another blog!) For $25....I love them!

BIRTHDAY BOY!!!

2011-05-15T16:41:00.005-05:00

I can hardly believe it but Beckham is two today. :)

At two years old he...

sleeps in his crib with two burp cloths
LOVES basketball (and any other sport for that matter)
is a huge daddy's boy
is starting to talk more but still in speech therapy
runs, jumps and climbs on everything
often makes his body go "floppy" while wrestling
has four teeth still trying to make their way into his mouth
loves to watch High School Musical
asks for a cookie or cereal (in sign language) about 10 times a day
prefers juice to milk or water
seems unusually strong for a two year old
is very loving
can maneuver my iphone better than most
emulates his big sister

Here are a few pictures of our birthday bash we had yesterday. He is so much fun!

B's cousin Than came up from Vegas for the party. They had a great time playing together.

Grandma gave Beckham a poster of Jimmer and he paused the entire show to carefully study the poster. The love for basketball this kid shows is CRAZY!

Here is a group photo of all the party goers, with the exception of Nathaniel who opted out of the photo.

All fun and games until the pinata breaks.......! Once we finally busted the pinata open all the kids ran for the goodies and poor Beckham cried because his basketball was broken. It was pretty sad.

Thanks to Bakerella......here are our cake pops. :)

In honor of the birthday boy's love for cookies!

Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate and we missed those of you back in Texas .

Long overdue.....

2011-04-15T23:46:00.003-05:00

So I fell off the map for a few months.......nothing a night of insomnia can't change. :)

Some highlights of the past months:

*We are experiencing withdrawals from our home in Texas

*Due to chronic ear infections, Beckham got tubes in his ears.

*We built our first snowman (complete with potato head pieces)

*We have missed our friends

*I have learned the joys of Uggs

*Aaron has gotten back into running

*Loving being closer to Linda

*Sophia changes clothes 5 times a day and at least two of those changes consist of "ballerina" clothes

*Beckham has begun speech therapy

*We miss our family

*I have started laser hair removal

*Beckham has become COMPLETELY obsessed with basketball

*I have learned that five months in a furnished home is too long

*We have enjoyed going to the Gateway museum, the zoo, Thanksgiving point, Trafalga and am stoked for a season of water parks.

*We love being closer to family

*Beckham jumps off of anything and everything

*We read "how does a dinosaur go to school" 10 times a day

*I learned that Smiths is the same as Kroger

*Date night has seized to exist

*Therapeutic shopping has increased ;)

*Love being closer to a Naartjie store

I wish I could say that five months later we are settled and adjusted. However neither is true. We have a contract on our house in Texas!!! Hopefully the sale will happen and we will be moved into a permanent place, with our own belongings soon. The kids have adjusted great. Sophia asks about her friends often but is satisfied with my explanation of the distance. My heart often aches for the friendships and family relationships I left. I am optimistic that with a more permanent housing situation will bring an increase in my desire to find new friends.

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!!!

Park City

2010-12-06T09:05:00.001-06:00

Aaron and I had a great weekend in Park City. Thanks Renee for keeping the kids.

You can take the girl out of Texas but you can't take the Texas out of the girl!

2010-11-14T09:11:00.003-06:00

The day is fast approaching. In 13 days we will be leaving the proud state of Texas! I have lived here all of my life and am hesitant to leave its greatness! :) We are excited for the adventure and family that Utah will bring but sad to leave the friends, family, pride and hospitality of Texas.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T21:18:00.003-05:00

We have so enjoyed our Halloween this year! Beckham was a crabby crab. He hated the costume! I just told people he was in character. Sophia had two costumes. A princess pirate and a turtle. In the words of Sophia..."Mom, I just change my mind a lot." :)

I CAN DO HARD THINGS....DAY 1

2010-10-29T14:22:00.004-05:00

A few months ago I read a blog entry on the sullengers blog titled "I can do hard things". I loved the post and it has stuck with me. When I read the blog I did not realize how dependent on this phrase I would soon become.

Today has been a hard day. I have repeated this phrase in my head over and over. I hope I soon believe it.

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!

2010-10-12T11:29:00.002-05:00

My gallbladder no longer loved its home inside my body. It decided to rebell and consequently caused me a lot of pain. As most of you know my diet is not always the healthiest and so........I probably used my gallbladder often. I lobbied for a gallbladder transplant but my efforts fell on deaf ears. I am a bit nervous about life without this organ. But like it or not, here I go.

Pirate Party!

2010-09-23T19:07:00.004-05:00

(Let me first apologize for the underlining of this font. I cant seem to figure how to get it off. Yes, I have a college degree but yet can't seem to find the underline key on blogger.)

We had a party for Sophia's birthday. It was so much fun!!! Sophia requested a pirate themed party and it couldn't have been more perfect for her. Here are some of the party goers jumping the day away.

Arrrg Captain Max, Captain Jaxon and Captain Sophia!
Even Beckham joined the pinata fun. Look at that pinata. Whoever said pirates can't be pink?
Everyone enjoyed the cupcakes, especially Maddie. :)
This picture of Sophia makes my heart melt. This is why we had a party. For this amazingly beautiful, fun, happy little three year old.
Dressed to party! She is such a fun mini-me. :)
Cupcakes and cupcake toppers.
Rice krispy treat pirate popsicles. These turned out so cute. (Thanks for your help Lanni.)
We have been so blessed to have such great family and friends. We loved sharing the day with you. Thank you for loving my little pirate girl . :)

2010-07-30T14:15:00.002-05:00

We are living the good life this summer. It is full of pools, never ending watermelon, friends and the occasional tackle!

Sophia and Beckham are good buddies. Beckham loves to climb all over a Sophia and the crawl or "frankenstein" away waiting for Sophia to catch him.
Here they are in their jammies posing for a photo op before bed.
Beckham walks around with a burp wrag in his mouth about 60 percent of the day. It is pretty darn cute :)
Sophia and Aaron "resting the couch" before bedtime.
Beckham loves to open his mouth wide and smash his face into any part of you that you will let him. Sophia kept letting him do it to her and then she would tell him (while shaking her finger) "No! No! eating people, Beckham!"

a little late...but here is our little man at one!

2010-06-24T15:30:00.002-05:00

2010-06-07T21:05:00.000-05:00

Wal-mart fun!

2010-05-25T11:49:00.000-05:00

All work...no play!

2010-04-24T13:24:00.004-05:00

We miss you, Aaron! Thanks for working so hard and providing so well for our family. :) You are an amazing husband, dad, friend and companion.

NEBER, NEBER, NEBER!!!!

2010-04-23T17:49:00.004-05:00

Sophia has learned a new phrase to communicate her frustration. When Sophia does not want something to happen she says...

"I neber, neber, neber...eat my dinner."
"I neber, neber, neber...share my car."
"I neber, neber, neber...go night night."

It is hard to discipline because it is so darn funny. However something tells me when she is 5 and saying it then it might not be so cute. Right?

Beckham is doing great! Results from his MRI are in. The neurosurgeon says he is not sure what exactly the growth in B's brain is but at this point it is not causing any damage and does not appear to be problematic so...we will just wait. In another 6 months we will do another MRI to check the growth. Hopefully it will be the same and we will not have to take any action. :)

On a lighter note...we took new family photos a few months ago. Here are a few.

The good and the bad

2010-04-06T11:53:00.001-05:00

Beckham took a little tumble last week and so we took him in to get his head checked out. After a couple hours in the ER the doctor told us that the cat scan revealed his head to be fine from the fall. However they did find (what appears to be) a cyst on his brain. In that moment time stood still. I can't explain the emotion we felt.
Sine then we have decided not to worry until we know more. (nice in theory, right?) :) next week he will go under general antesthesia for an MRI and then we will consult with a pediatric neurosurgeon.
Well, today my little guy pulled up for the first time!

And for that moment...my worries, concerns and fears vanished. I was just so excited for my little boy who is growing up.

Potty training...

2010-02-28T19:57:00.000-06:00

Today is day five of potty trained and at 2 yrs and 6 months old. It is official this little lady is out of diapers. It is kind of bitter sweet. My little girl us not so little anymore.

Fo-hawk

2010-02-09T13:15:00.001-06:00

My shopping buds!

2010-02-02T18:08:00.001-06:00

motherhood....

2010-01-01T21:34:00.001-06:00

I have never tried harder at anything but, somehow I still feel like I am failing.

We have not forgotten you!

2009-12-31T13:35:00.006-06:00

Lots has happened since I have last posted.
-First, Sophia locked herself in our master bedroom at seven in the morning. Almost an hour later and after the police department arrived; she finally unlocked the door and walked out. (good times!:))
-Thanksgiving came and went in a blur all while frantically trying to finish up Christmas shopping.
-We took our annual trip to the local tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree.
-Beckham was screaming uncontrollably for two days until we increased his acid reflux medication and his first tooth broke through.
-Then both kiddos became ill with RSV, just a few days before we were scheduled to leave to Utah.
-Then Sophia fell out of her high chair and broke her arm and two days later we left for Utah.
-We drove twenty hours straight through the night. Well, let me rephrase that...Aaron drove twenty hours straight through the night.
-Beckham was SUPER crabby so I took him to the doctor in St. George and he had a double ear infection.
-Santa came and Sophia loved everything about it.

We survived the drive home and are all recovering and attempting to get back into some type of schedule. Thanks to "Mama" and "Papa" for having us for the holidays. We loved being there! :)

It has been a great year. I hope next year is as fun and exciting (minus the whole new baby and broken arm part). At the end of the year this is how we are feeling.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-02T13:18:00.005-06:00

Man! Halloween used to be so simple! I guess that is what kids do to life. :)

We had a blast!! The festivities started with a costume party with our play group on Wednesday morning. The party was pure chaos! We had about 30 children under the age of 5 all in the cultural hall for games, treats and lunch. Sophia had so much fun running around with her friends.
I love our ward!!

Friday Night was the Ward Trunk-or-Treat.

We rapped the weekend up with the Dallas Arboretum on Saturday followed by trick or treating.

Baby Beckham!

2009-10-13T22:46:00.000-05:00

Sophia! Sophia! Sophia!

2009-10-13T22:34:00.000-05:00

Potty Training

2009-10-01T13:28:00.005-05:00

While eating lunch today, Sophia began crying to go potty. I was a little unsure of what was happening but I took her from her high chair and took her diaper off. She ran to the restroom and with in a few minutes had gone to the restroom in the toilet.

The thought of taking my 'baby girl' to use a public potty makes me cringe. Slow down Sophia! We are in no hurry. I am just fine with another year of diapers.

Curious George Detox

2009-09-28T13:40:00.005-05:00

As mentioned in a previous post, everyone in our house has been completely under the weather for about the past week. As a result, I am embarrassed to say, our butts have been glued to the couch and our eyes glazed over with the ever-so-fascinating tales Curious George.

Well, we are feeling better now and this morning Sophia woke up to the harsh new reality of daily life sans Curious George (for at least a few days). As I explained to her that we won't be watching Curious George on TV for a while, the look on her face made me grateful her vocabulary is still too limited to allow her to properly talk back. Contrary to her initial reaction, we are surviving just fine and even having some fun feeding Baby Beckham some fake food.

The (not so) well child check-ups

2009-09-28T09:17:00.008-05:00

Since returning from Austin a week ago yesterday almost everyone at our house has been down and out with a cold. Of course, both kids had a well-baby check-ups scheduled during our sick week. No shots were given but both were checked out.

Beckham at 4 months:
14.5 pounds
occasionally... rolls over (more tummy time is in order)
is SO... smiley
takes... a daily medication for projectile spit up
drinks... thickened formula to help with the acid reflex
will not... start on solids until six months because of the acid reflex
LOVES... Sophia and any attention he can manage to obtain from Mom and Dad

Sophia at 2 years:
27 pounds
occasionally... does what we ask her to do
is SO... much fun to play with
takes... a little extra time to warm up to people she doesn't know well
drinks... and eats like a horse one day and nothing at all the next
will not...be dropped off at nursery without screaming as if we just cut her arm off
LOVES...her blankie, Curious George, her Aunt Jamie, her BofM and most of all-Beckham (If we go anywhere without the baby it has to be explained fully or complete hysteria will occur.)

The unexpected hiatus!!!

2009-09-28T08:54:00.006-05:00

Last weekend Aaron and I flew the coupe for the first time since little Beckham was born. We left the kids with Aunt J and Uncle S and were on our way to a weekend full of shopping, dining, football and sleep :). Being away from the kids was more difficult than I had expected, but in the end our time away was worth the mild heartache. Sophia had a blast with her favorite person in the world (her Aunt J) and Aaron and I were able to have a conversation and a meal or two without constant interruptions. Oh the little things in life!!!

At dinner in Austin!

We had tickets to the Texas v. Texas Tech game. The seats were AWESOME. We were on the 30 yard line and on the second row. Here is a pic of the incredibly passionate crowd behind us.

Despite out fantastic seats, this was our view for 95% of the game unless we stood up. The man on the FRONT row found it necessary to stand the entire time, which in return FORCED every row behind him (only about 150 rows) to stand as well. To say we were annoyed is putting it mildly.

2009-09-13T19:58:00.001-05:00

I think it is safe to say that everyone in our house, including Beckham, is excited about football season!!! :)

2009-09-10T21:06:00.000-05:00

Don't you just want to squeeze them!!!!!

Celebrations, Blessings & Parties!!

2009-09-07T20:15:00.005-05:00

I love these two babies sooooo much!!! I hope they grow up to be good, humble, hard working empathetic people.

This weekend was packed with one event after another. We started the weekend by celebrating our wedding anniversary. Then on Sunday we blessed Beckham at church and then had all our local family over for dinner and to celebrate Sophia's birthday. Between all the chaos here are a few pictures we managed to take.Here is Sophia playing with her birthday present. She loves it!! Thanks to her Nana and Grumpy for the fake food and Aunt D for the adorable vacuum.

I can't believe she is two!!! Okay Sophia....No more growing!
Post blessing photo.
The happiest baby ever!

Happy Birthday Aaron

2009-07-21T21:55:00.002-05:00

For Aaron's birthday we went to Texas Motor Speedway and both rode with a professional driver at 170 miles and hour and Aaron drove a Nascar at 150 miles an hour. Good times!

Baby Beckham!!

2009-07-21T21:06:00.002-05:00

Two months old:
Weighs 11.5 pounds
Is smiling and cooing all day long
Projectile vomits on anyone within yards of his burping
Is sleeping from 10pm to 5am (most nights)
Is beginning to show signs of rolling over
Is incredibly patient with his older sister hugging, kissing, poking, feeding, attempting to change his diaper (alone), covering him in stickers, and squeezing him
Beckham's facial rash diagnosed as Seborrhea has mostly cleared up
Is a joy to have in our family. :)

Summer Fun!

2009-06-24T11:15:00.002-05:00

Grandma and Grandpa Boyce were able to make the long journey to visit last week. We had a great time with them and were sad to see them go.
Never too young to start playing scrabble....
When you get hungry and no food is around...Sophia recommends eating your toes!
A family picture before church.
Aaron and Sophia playing at the splash park in Frisco.

Little Moments!

2009-06-01T08:25:00.002-05:00

This morning as Sophia and I sat down to breakfast together, Sophia folded her arms and waited for me to initiate the prayer. This is normal behavior, in fact she will pray as many times as we will say them with her. However, this morning she did a first. Halfway through the meal I look over to see Sophia with her arms folded, head bowed, eyes peeking as she mumbled sounds aloud and then simply said "Amen". It was absolutely precious!!

Thank you Heavenly Father for moments like these. I think I can handle one more day of NO's. :)

NO! NO! NO!

2009-05-30T21:27:00.004-05:00

Before having Beckham, I predicted that when compared to 20-month old Sophia, caring for the newborn, who requires a billion diaper changes and 7-10 feedings each day (all by me) that would be more challenging. Boy was that hypothesis wrong. Sophia has begun the phase of telling us "NO" to everything. She has never been more challenging. I had no idea how easy she was to raise until she began having her own opinion and that opinion is just about always the opposite of what we want her to do.

What do we do? Do we discipline her for it? Do we ignore it? How long does it last? Will I survive it?

Recent happenings

2009-05-30T21:09:00.004-05:00

Beckham weighed in at his two week check-up at a whole pound over his birth weight!!! Yippee!!! It makes all the pain and fatigue of nursing worth it.

Here is a picture of Beckham during his first bath at home. Isn't he beautiful?!

We met friends at the park this week. Most kids played in spray waterfalls but, our little Sophia was not interested in getting wet or dirty.

Jamie and Maddie came over for a few days to help out. Three babies under the age of two was complete chaos but, it was so good to have another adult interact with while living through the chaos.

Here is a picture of Sophia having fun with her "Wo-Wo". I am SO jealous of his tan!

Reality has started!!!!

2009-05-27T10:44:00.002-05:00

I have managed to find a few minutes while Sophia is playing independently and Beckham is sleeping to make a post. I cannot believe I have TWO babies!! Aaron was able to take a full week off work and unfortunately that luxury is over. Yesterday was my first day alone and thanks to good friends and a wonderful brother it went better than expected.

Beckham's demeanor so far, is absolutely pleasant. I can count on one hand how many times he has actually cried. He is sleeping like a champ at night. Allowing me to (sometimes) get a good six hour stretch. :) I guess he knows how badly his mom needs her sleep. Although Sophia was not Beckhams biggest fan at first she has turned into quite the lover, helper and care giver to Beckham.

I have exceeded Sophia's independent play time frame so...I must go.

More Pictures of Life with Beckham

2009-05-18T18:09:00.002-05:00

Who doesn't like to hide in a closet?

and on the second day...

2009-05-16T19:07:00.005-05:00

Well, we know fame fades quickly and the fan club is probably shrinking with each hour of inactivity on the blog, but for those select few who're still interested here are a few pictures of Day Two:

hanging out with socks on his hands

can I kiss the baby?

1+1=4?

Mom & baby bonding

Welcome Home

2009-05-15T16:44:00.007-05:00

BECKHAM AARON BOYCE
May 15, 2009
7 lbs 9 oz. 19" long

Mom and baby are doing great. Both are now recovering in the hospital room. Thanks to Dr. Daum, the staff at Mansfield Methodist and all of Beckham's aunts, uncles and grandparents who came to join the festivities or called to wish a speedy delivery. Here's a few more pictures:

And yes, for all of you who are wondering, Beckham has alreay pee'd on Dad during his first diaper change! :)

The BIG day!!!

2009-05-14T13:02:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the day we go from a family of three to a family of four!!! I am scheduled to report to the hospital at 7 a.m. to begin the induction process. I am anxiously excited. As much as I want to feel complete serenity about the upcoming events there is something about having to push another human out my body that does not allow me to be exactly worry free but, all in all... I am ready!

I can't help but think of how different tomorrow and everyday after that will be for our family. I hope I am ready for this enormous change.

Baby Boy Boyce: I hope I love you. I hope I enjoy you. I hope you are healthy. I hope I can meet your needs. I hope you come out easily. :) I really hope you are healthy. I hope we can decide on a name for you. I hope to be a good mom to you. I hope you will always know of the unconditional love that your mom and dad have for you.
See you soon!!!

2009-04-13T14:20:00.001-05:00

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What a "crappy" morning!!!

2009-03-24T12:47:00.003-05:00

This morning began at about 6:30, when Sophia began talking in her crib. I rolled over looked at the clock and decided it was too early for her to wake-up since she went to sleep at 8:00p.m. last night. (she typically sleeps twelve hours) So being a lazy parent I let her talk for about half an hour before she fell back asleep.

Thank goodness, right!?

That is what I thought too, until about 8:15a.m. when I entered her room to start our day (Aaron had already left for work). I was met at the door with an overpowering aroma of poop. I entered the room and found Sophia covered in poop!! The poor little girl was smiling up at me while trying to wipe up the poop with her little blankie! It was awful - I had to run out of the room several times to get sick while trying to clean her up. An hour and a half later, and just in time for play group to show up at my door, I finished disinfecting Sophia, the bedding, the crib, the bathtub, the sink and lastly myself.

Oh the joys of parenting!

Happy Birthday Sophia

2009-03-23T12:54:00.004-05:00

Sophia turned eighteen months old yesterday. She keeps us on our toes and despite her lack of verbal communication she is signing like crazy. I am amazed daily of how much she is able to learn. Here are some recent photos of her.

I took her to get her very first haircut last week. I thought she was going to hate it but, I was wrong. She loved sitting in the car and threw the biggest tantrum when it was time to go. The next two are pictures of Sophia around the house .

Recent Photos!

2009-03-02T21:19:00.003-06:00

This is the adorable almost eighteen month old smile we get from Sophia when we ask her to smile for a picture!!!

Package from Grandma!!!

2009-03-02T21:06:00.003-06:00

Renee and David sent a wonderful package to us recently and Sophia played in the box all night long. Aaron puled her around the living room turning sharply, sending Sophia tumbling out. Renee, we loved everything you sent and appreciate all the love and effort you put into each item. For future reference, Sophia only needs a box!!! :) Oh the simplicity of being a kid!

2009-02-18T15:49:00.002-06:00

A little story:

27 years ago today was the happiest day of my life. I wasn't aware of it at the time, but somewhere in the wind-swept tumbleweed capital of the world (Amarillo), an adorable, little surprise baby was born into the Republic of Texas. By all accounts, she was the youngest but feistiest child of seven. After going through a slightly rebellious phase in here early teenage years (ask her about the girl on the bus) she blossomed into a kind and caring friend to nearly everyone she meets. She loves to help others and is always ready to help you laugh when you're happy, cry when you're not, or a little of both.

Now, 27 years later, she's busy teaching her own feisty daughter how to navigate the world, and she's doing a terrific job. Soon she'll be doing the same for our little boy too, and I'm so thankful she's our family's mom.

So, to my fun, beautiful, amazing wife, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you.

- Husband.

I am His favorite!!!!

2009-02-06T13:57:00.003-06:00

Although, it pains me to tell you all this, I know that I am Heavenly Father's favorite!! After spending the day with my adorably fun, cute and playful Sophia, I know it has to be true. I am so blessed to be her mom and to get to feel her adorable hugs everyday! Thank you HF for the best little buddy I could have ever asked for. :)

Baby books...

2009-02-02T14:08:00.003-06:00

So, is it just me or does the ever so nagging "baby book" loom over your heads, too? I love them and I think they will be priceless years down the road. However, I cannot get caught up and then the guilt of not being caught up just plagues at me. I will hopefully make a dent in Sophia's today. Wish me luck!!! (Sigh)

A much needed update to our lives...

2009-01-26T14:03:00.010-06:00

It has been awhile since we have updated our blog. Life gets busy and consequently the blog suffers. I will start with an update on Aaron and I and then tell you what's new in the world of the one you really care about, Sophia.

Aaron is still working hard and doing a great job at balancing the roles of provider, father, husband, son and family member. I am slowly transitioning out of my daytime position and will be shifting my work time to the evenings and weekends. Taking Sophia with me to work is becoming a bit too challenging. When work in the evenings or on Saturdays, Aaron tends to Sophia and has enjoyed the one-on-one time with her. (I enjoy a little "Tina Time" too! Thanks Aaron)

Our baby boy is due to arrive around the middle of May. The pregnancy has been full of ups and downs but thankfully things have evened out lately. Although I have only gained about 12 lbs I look (and especially feel) like I have gained about 30! We are still searching for a name so if you have any suggestions, please send them our way.

My cousin Allie has moved in with us while she attends the Dallas campus of UNT this semester. She has been here for a month now and the transition has been smooth. Here is a picture of Allie before she headed out for her first day of classes. She's so cute!
Sophia is growing like a weed; she is already wearing size 2T! Lately she has been having a little trouble sleeping at night and we can't decide if it's just a teething issue or something more along the lines of night terrors. Nonetheless, we are working through it and hope to have it resolved by the time baby #2 arrives. These days Sophia is...
running
kissing
blowing kisses
feeding herself everything (no help allowed)
eating everything in sight one day and nothing at all the next
laughing
discovering cartoons
manipulating her parents with tears and cuteness
signing in context...eat, more, please, milk, finished, mom, dad, dog, cold and love.
saying at will...mama, dada, bye-bye, hot, trash and ???
testing boundaries, and
testing the quality of mom and dad's consistency (or lack thereof).

Here are some recent photos of her walking around in her little tutu. For a few days in a row she wanted to wear it all the time.
Next month Sophia and I are planning to take a 'Mommy and Me' swim class. I am hoping it will help her become more comfortable in the water. You are probably wondering what I am thinking getting into a swimsuit at 7 months pregnant, and as I write this, I am starting to wonder the same thing. Maybe I should give an apology gift to the other participants in the class for having to witness the horror :)

2009-01-02T21:26:00.004-06:00

Happy New Year to All!!!!
It is hard to believe that 2009 is already here. Our lives have changed so much over the last year and we are excited to see what is in store for us during the upcoming year. We enjoyed spending Christmas here in Dallas, and the festivities continued with a small "Wii" New Years Eve party at our house. Aaron and Tammi ski-jumped their way to top 10 immortality and Steve scarred us emotionally when his inner "Enrico" emerged as he hula-hooped with mesmerizing rhythm. Those hips don't lie.

We did decide to have tubes installed in Sophia's ears. The anticipation of surgery for our little girl was difficult, but everything went smoothly so thank you to all who called, emailed, texted, or prayed for Sophia and her surgery - especially to Tammi, as she came over that day (with a get-well basket) to help us through the day because both of us were feeling ill. Sophia has made a full recovery and is feeling better than ever. I could not resist including a few photos of her drugged demeanor just before surgery. She acted as if she was drunk. It was hilarious. :)

We hope that each of you finds peace, joy and good health in 2009. Happy New Year! :)

An update to the "tubes" dilemma

2008-12-19T20:46:00.002-06:00

After 11 documented ear infections, Sophia is scheduled to have tubes placed in her ears a week from today!! I am extremely nervous about the procedure but, we felt like we had no other choices. We consulted with a specialist and I was hoping to discuss different options to reduce her ear infections. However, after meeting with him we learned that our options were to either place tubes in her ears or do nothing and continue treating the reoccurring infections with anti-biotics. There was no real middle ground option. So...the surgery is scheduled. Above all, I hope the procedure is successful and that it brings Sophia relief, once and for all.

Christmas Tree!!!

2008-12-18T08:18:00.004-06:00

This past Saturday we went to chop down our Christmas tree. I know we were a little late in the season; the selection of remaining trees at the farm solidified that fact. So, as opposed to choosing a tree that was marginal at best but looked like we tried, we decided to find an extremely ugly tree that would have otherwise been homeless for the holiday season. Here is a photo of how it turned out. Surprisingly, we love it! It has actually turned out to be our favorite tree yet.

Sophia thought it was a great time for a kissing break. Don't mind Dad, he is just trying to cut a tree down. :)

Family Fun!!!

The Christmas Spirit...

2008-12-09T13:02:00.003-06:00

I received an email today with this wonderful video reminding me of the true meaning of Christmas. Sometimes we get so focused on traveling plans, coordinating family, planning meals, shopping, budgeting and decorating that we don't always take the time enjoy and embrace the real meaning of Christmas. I couldn't get the video to directly upload but if you have four minutes to spare during this busy season please click the link below and enjoy. :)

I cried all the way through it but, then again I am pregnant and HIGHLY emotional.

http://www.joytoeveryone.com/

Family Photos

2008-12-03T16:46:00.005-06:00

If anyone is ever in or near St. George and wants family photos taken...you have to use Malea @ Tickled Pink Photography (see link below). We had our much needed family photos done by her, when we were there for Thanksgiving, and they turned out great!!!

Thank you Malea!!!

http://mytickledpinkphoto.com/

Back from Vacation

2008-12-02T20:34:00.006-06:00

So...we have been complete slackers when it comes to updating our blog. After I returned from Boston on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, we were supposed to fly out to Las Vegas on that Saturday for a week in St. George. However, on Friday morning we learned that Sophia still had an ear infection and our plans had to change. So... instead of canceling our plans, we decided to drive! We left Dallas at about 5:00pm on Friday and arrived in St. George the following day at 12:30pm. We drove straight through the night. Aaron was a driving machine and Sophia was an absolute trooper! She slept through the night, waking only when we stopped for gas and bathroom breaks - then each time, as we got back out on the road, she went right back to sleep.

Our week was full of family, friends and sight seeing. Sophia had such a great time playing with her cousins. We had a fabulous trip and are grateful we had the opportunity to spend time with our family. Thanks for having us in your home Renee and David!

Far..Far...Away!!!

2008-11-17T09:07:00.003-06:00

After a very long flight, I arrived safely and on schedule to Boston yesterday. I have some time to myself today and will probably do some shopping, sight-seeing, napping and try not to worry about Sophia and Aaron. I have decided that after becoming a parent, I will NEVER be able to reach the same level of relaxation that I was once able to obtain. Even though I am far away from Sophia I worry like crazy about her. However I am grateful for the opportunity to enjoy a much needed mommy-break and I am excited about the conference this week. I just hope the week goes by fast because I miss my husband and baby girl!!

Aaron thanks for being such a great Dad to Sophia. You are a great partner in life. I hope things continue going well and (hopefully) I will be home before you know it.
P.S. I will try not to call the babysitter 100 times a day!

Tubes????

2008-11-14T07:51:00.003-06:00

Much to our dismay, Sophia has yet another ear infection. She has had many in her short life span. The doctor is starting to talk about putting tubes in her ears to decrease the number infections. Any strong feelings one way or another on the subject?? Inquiring minds want to know. :)

Happy Birthday Alex!!!!

And Now, Without Further Delay...

2008-11-08T14:13:00.006-06:00

Hello everyone. Sorry we've been such slackers about the blog lately; hopefully this post will make up for some of our blogspot drought. Its not really an excuse, because we know those of you who post regularly also have very busy lives, but it does seem like we've had a lot going on lately. Aaron spent a week in Birmingham at a training class for work, then another week in Colorado hunting elk with his Dad, his buddy from St. George, Brandon Ellett, and Brandon's two brothers, Dusty and Braxtin. They didn't shoot any elk, but otherwise had a great trip.

Meanwhile, Tina has found that managing a part-time job and a challenging calling with the Young Women at church, all while being shadowed by an increasingly active 14-month-old can be very hectic at times. Tina is fortunate to be able to take Sophia with her to work - her boss and her coworkers are wonderfully accommodating and understanding. But as Sophia has gone from scooting to crawling to walking on furniture and now to running down the hallway, she makes for a tiring work day. Tina is also preparing for an upcoming business trip to Boston with her boss. Sophia will be sitting out for that one - Tina's not too worried about how Sophia will get along without when she's in Boston, but she may have a side-bet on whether or not Aaron survives.

Sophia is still the center of the universe in our house. She is seemingly always laughing, smiling, eating, talking, singing or dancing. That's not to say she doesn't have her moments of whining or an occasional tantrum, but we continue to be amazed at her generally good-natured disposition.

Now, for those of you who are still reading this post, this is where it gets good. By way of announcement, please view this short video attached below, prepared for us by our ever-helpful brother-in-law, Steve.

Sisters Day!!!!!

2008-10-07T09:17:00.003-05:00

This morning I checked my email and a good friend had emailed me a "Happy Sister's Day" message. I had no idea this 'holiday' even existed. However, since it apparently does, I am grateful for an excuse to tell my sisters how much they mean to me.

To my sisters: Our personalities are different, our strengths vary and all too often our weakness are shared. Sisters, I love you and learn so much from each one of you. You bring me back to reality when I need it, you let me deviate from reality when I can't handle being brought back yet, you laugh with me (sometimes at me), you cry with me and most of all you love me. Thank you for the years of memories and the unconditional love I always feel from you. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he created sisters (sisters-in-law included).

Happy Sister's Day to All !!!!!

Belated Birthday Post

2008-09-29T15:56:00.004-05:00

So as many of you know, Sophia turned one. We had a small party at Nana & Grumpy's house with the rest of September birthdays, and then a small party at home with just Aaron and I. Here are a few pictures of her birthday weekend:

As shown below, Sophia is now old enough to be forward facing in the car! I can't decide who loves it more - me or her.
Here is Sophia about to open some presents. Don't you love the hat!!!

Sophia was not too excited about eating her cake; this is her reaction when I put some in her mouth.

It is amazing to me how quickly her personality is changing and evolving. For example, she is not as easily distracted, and therefore, remembers the reasons she started to throw her little tantrums. After I redirect her, she darts right back towards whatever I had removed from her. Grrr! I know that these changes are normal and I don't know when I was expecting them to happen, but I am not ready for them. :)

I must add though that with all the new challenges age has brought it has brought so many great things too. She is very affectionate - willing to give hugs to almost anyone, especially if they have her favorite blanket draped over their shoulder.

Sophia at age 1 is ...curious but not too daring, laughs at everything except the vacuum and dogs, prefers walking instead crawling, loves to feed herself but will still let us feed her, she talks a ton and very loudly - it just happens that we can't understand much (almost none) of it, she has only two teeth but has strong gums, she is in the 97th percentile for her height and 45th percentile for her weight and she loves to talk on the phone - even if nobody's on the other end.

Happy Birthday, little one!!!

Signs of Maturity

2008-09-17T21:23:00.003-05:00

I have always told myself that I'll know I'm getting old when I begin to care about
1. Genealogy &
2. Food Storage
Well....the day has come!!! Although I am not quite mature enough to be proactive about my genealogy, I have started to care about food storage. Aaron and I are gathering information and becoming more passionate about the need to have food storage (thanks, Hurricane Ike!). I have to admit that the task is VERY overwhelming. For example, whats better... #10 cans, aluminum pouches or Bulk? What is the difference???

If you have any wonderful ideas or suggestions of things to look for or things to avoid please let us know. Does anyone have the Shelf Reliance shelving system?? If so, do you like it?

Age and babies do crazy things to us! It even makes us excited about dry packed cheese. :)

Politics in America

2008-09-05T21:46:00.004-05:00

I, much like the rest of Americans, have been glued to the political speeches, debates and conventions. The history that is being made in our lifetime (by both tickets) is fascinating to be apart of. For all of you who watched Sarah Palin's speech probably saw this video. I think it is too cute to pass up sharing again.

If you are living on some other planet and need the background...this is Sarah Palin's daughter, Piper, holding her little brother during the RNC. Too cute!!

Piper Palin Grooming Her Little Brother Trig's Hair With a L Video

If you are feeling brave...share your political thoughts on this crazy race for the Presidency.

Swing

2008-09-05T19:11:00.003-05:00

I just thought I would share some recent pictures of Sophia swinging at the park.

Stay-cation!!!!!

2008-09-05T15:11:00.004-05:00

This past long weekend Aaron surprised me with all sorts of things planned. We starting by painting pottery for each other, then we went to the famous "Sprinkles" cupcake bakery (YUM!), we then went to dinner together and finally we checked into a hotel room. It was a great surprise and we had a blast. At the beginning of the date I thought my sister was only watching Sophia for the afternoon but, Aaron had actually arranged for Sophia to stay over-night. :) Thanks Tammi!!!! Here are a few pics from our adventures together.

Aaron...Thanks for working so hard to plan it. Your a great friend. The mini-getaway was great!!

Sunday Struggles

2008-08-24T15:09:00.005-05:00

Its the end of the week, and boy do I look forward to Sundays - church in the morning and a relaxing afternoon of naps, games, family dinners and sports.

However, Sundays are not nearly as relaxing and spiritual as I once remember them. Our service starts and nine and ends at noon - smack dab in the middle of Sophia's morning nap. I am sure you can guess where this post is headed. I work with the youth for the first hour and Aaron takes Sophia to his priesthood class. Or should I say... Sophia takes Aaron to the foyer. The second hour Aaron an I take turns leaving Sunday School when Sophia is talking or squealing uncontrollably loud. By the time we get to sacrament meeting Sophia has been awake for about three and half hours, refuses to sleep in our arms and we are expecting her to sit somewhat quietly so that those within 10 rows of us can still feel the spirit.

I know that we are not the first family with this struggle on Sundays, that it will only get more difficult with more children and that we will not be the last with this frustration. But it stinks!! We spend most of our time in the foyer or trying to entertain Sophia so that we won't have to go to the foyer. Lesson.......what lesson.

Now, for all of those older, wiser or more experienced than me; I have a question. I have noticed several families with many children sitting quietly and reverently on their pew. After asking their tactics they've told me they employ the "feet don't touch the ground" rule and if the child is taken out to the foyer for misbehavior they don't get down and walk or play.

I am a fan of this idea but at what age do you start it???? Obviously 11 months is too early to sit still for an hour but is it too early for her to know that when she screams she get to go to the foyer and walk around the halls and play with all the other kids that have been taken out??

Sophia at 11 months!!

2008-08-24T14:42:00.005-05:00

Sophia turned 11 months old a few days ago!! We cannot believe that she almost a year old. At eleven months old Sophia.........
is walking with us while holding one hand
FINALLY has two teeth that have broken through on the bottom
says (the ever so important word) mama
gets so excited when she hears our alarm sound around 5:30, indicating that Aaron has opened the door.
has a tendency to bite and hit when throwing a tantrum (we are working on that one)
and so much more!!!!

We can't wait for her one year photos to document her fun personality at such a young age. I would write more but she is screaming in her crib - gotta go!

Say hello to Bambi and Bobby!!!!

2008-08-17T18:32:00.003-05:00

On Valentines Day Aaron and Steve surprised Jamie and I with reservations to a murder mystery weekend. We had to cancel due to Sophia getting sick. Well...this weekend we finally redeemed our trip. My sister Tammi watched Sophia and the four of us started our trip after everyone was free from work on Friday.

We drove about three and half hour north of Frisco to my Aunt and Uncle's house in Guthrie Oklahoma (which also happens to be the small town that the B&B is in). We stayed with them Friday night and then saw all the local attractions and shops Saturday afternoon.

We had to report (in character) to the murder mystery/B&B by 6:30 Saturday night. My character was named Bambi. I was a blond "performer" who worked at a local night club owned by Aaron a.k.a Bobby Burns. The evening ended (meaning we cold finally get out of character) at about 11:00p.m. There were about 34 participants and an extremely complicated, twisted and strange plot. In the end, the host had to tell us who actually committed the murder.

The room Bambi and Bobby stayed in was titled "The Barrel Room". Yes, our bed was in a barrel. Our trip ended with breakfast on Sunday morning and then we drove back to Frisco. We all had a great time and were shocked how fun it was to do.

Thanks for spending the time with us this weekend Jamie and Steve. We had a great time.

Our Baby Olympian!!!

2008-08-12T20:28:00.003-05:00

Tonight we all had settled down in front of the television to enjoy our evening of the Olympics. I was playing with Sophia on the floor and she took her first steps!!!! Although, we can in no way consider her a walker. She, without a doubt, took two consecutive unsupported steps. ( A few times) :) Our little baby is 10 months and 3 weeks old today. We are both excited and nervous about this new to come phase we are about to embark upon. Yippee Sophia!!!!

BON APPETIT!!!!

2008-08-12T17:37:00.002-05:00

Does that dish look yummy or what???? ...I hate cooking!!!

2008-08-08T21:13:00.002-05:00

Our family from St.George came and stayed with us for a little less than a week. We only get to see them about two times a year and Sophia had only seen them twice. Sophia LOVED playing with her Uncle Ryan.

We loved spending time with you Ryan. Thanks for keeping us all laughing!!

As most of you know Sophia has not taken much of a liking to my sweet Dad too well. So...I was worried about how she would respond to her other Grandpa. However, much to my relief she did great!!! Grandma and Grandpa Boyce spoiled her with tons of attention and she ate it up all week long!

After moving in to our new house we renovated almost everything in the inside until we ran out of steam (and money). So there remains much to be done outside that we've been putting off. However, now that Aaron had some captive helpers, he and the guys repaired our fence. Yippee! Thanks for spending a portion of your vacation working (in the 100+ heat) on our fence.

You can never be too safe...huh Ryan?????

Sophia hard at work!!!

2008-07-29T13:39:00.003-05:00

Here is Sophia before leaving for work yesterday. I don't know if any of you have tried Pediped shoes for your little ones but, I LOVE THEM!!!
Isn't that butt just too cute!!!!
As most of you know Sophia comes with me to my fabulous job. She loves crawling all over. The filing cabinets magnetic labels are her newest favorite teething toys. (I don't know if you can see it in the picture but we have had to move them all to the third drawer up so Sophia can't reach them.) She tries so hard to reach them.

My husband is OLD(er)!!!!! :)

2008-07-15T20:14:00.008-05:00

Aaron recently celebrated his 30th birthday!!! Crazy huh?

Well we have always wanted to go see the sites in our nation's capitol and Aaron's most recent milestone gave us the perfect excuse to make it happen. We had a great time seeing everything and visiting the Rasmussens. We did not rent a car and instead just rode the metro around the city or crowded into Eric and Holly's car for off-metro stops. Sophia was a trooper and adjusted relatively well to the scorching heat, strange hotel, naps in her stroller and her first plane ride. To say that we walked a lot would be an understatement but we enjoyed being able to get away and spend time together as a family. I did learn a few things about "family vacations" that as a new mom I didn't know before.
1. The vacation really won't be relaxing...so don't expect it.
2. Always drug not only the child before a plain ride but you too!
3. Rent a hotel room with a separated living space so that when one is awake not all have to be.
4. Baby on board will slow the sight seeing down...expect it...don't freak about it.
and last but not least
5. Plan on at least two days at home afterwards to have a vacation from your wonderful vacation.

Here are a few pics from our trip. We took so many photos but here are just a few.

Warm & cozy in July

2008-07-15T19:58:00.007-05:00

Do any of you peeps purchase your kiddos clothes in advance??? I have been trying to buy Sophias clothes out of season to save some money. However, I am not sure I save that much. It seems that when I do attempt to estimate her size...I am wrong. I then have a ton of out of season wrong sized clothes. Does this practice work for any of you guys??

Here is a photo of Sophia's warm and cozy head in a beenie purchased for winter but fits her in the middle of July! :)

Glen Rose Texas

2008-06-29T21:59:00.005-05:00

This past weekend Aaron, Sophia and I went to Glen Rose, Texas and walked around Dinosaur Valley State Park. We had a good time and Sophia loved riding in that weird sling-looking thing.

It is funny because before having Sophia people told us to get ready to miss being able to "just pick up and go somewhere." Although I tried really hard not to place judgment on an area that I had zero expertise, I couldn't help but think to myself..."It can't be that hard" or "A baby isn't going to slow me down." Boy was I wrong!! On a day-to-day basis I do miss being able to just run into the store for a gallon of milk, the post office to drop off a letter, or Subway for a chocolate chip cookie without having to unbuckle and re-buckle my little sidekick!!!!!

On Saturday Aaron and I spent three times the amount of time preparing for the hike than we spent actually hiking. All in all ...I guess that those people who've experienced child rearing before us were on to something when they said that to get up and go is much more challenging with a little one :)

Happy 9 month B-Day Sophia

2008-06-23T18:23:00.002-05:00

Sophia turned nine months yesterday and went for her check-up today. She is average for weight and in the 90th percentile for height. (Thanks to me. :)) We celebrated Sophia's birthday with my oldest sisters kiddos. Sophia loves having them over and tries her best to keep up with them.

An update on us...ok, mainly on Sophia

2008-06-17T20:59:00.005-05:00

I can not believe that Sophia is almost nine months already. She is growing up so fast. This summer has started off super busy for us and has yet to slow down. Aaron is involved in several projects at work and I am still working at the FLIP and loving every minute (well most minutes) I spend with Sophia. Here are a few random pictures of recent happenings in the life of our family.Aaron and I at the Indy race. (Boy was that an experience.) Which reminds me of a quote I read recently that states..."An experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."
Sophia right before church on Father's Day
Happy first Father's Day !!!
Sophia still has no teeth so we are cautious with what we give her to eat. However, as we sat down for dinner we decided lets just hand her a whole pickle. She was a mess afterwards but surprisingly enough loved it.

This is the only picture we have so far of Sophia sucking her fingers. She sucks her middle two fingers upside down when she goes to sleep.
This is a close up of Sophia and I reading. She loves to sit in my lap and read (well listen) to books.
Here is Sophia in her small pool.

Talking in church

2008-06-17T20:55:00.002-05:00

Aaron and I have to talk in church this Sunday. I don't know about you guys but speaking in church causes so much stress for me. Our topic is "Establishing Faith". If you have any comments, thoughts, quotes, scripture references, stories or just plain 'ol tips on how not to vomit at the podium let me know.

Pulling up!

2008-05-30T07:33:00.004-05:00

Sophia's newest trick. After finding Sophia standing in her crib this morning I think we could say officially, she is pulling up to furniture. She is growing up so fast!

Bribery!!

2008-05-29T19:36:00.002-05:00

So as most of you know I work part time and Sophia comes with me. However, as Sophia is getting older having her at work is becoming increasingly difficult. She has learned that when we are at my work the minute she fusses I respond. Consequently, she is fussing more often at work than at home. So...I stopped at Target this morning and spent an undisclosed amount of money on toys, HOPING they would keep her attention while I work. I am sure you guessed it. Bribery of my 8 month old did not work!!!!!!!!! In the future I am not really sure what to do about the fussiness at work but I do know that more toys is not the answer.

Thank goodness for weekends!

2008-05-26T22:19:00.006-05:00

So...we have become slackers with our blog and our picture taking. A lot of nothing has been going on here. I am staying super busy between my calling in YW's, work, Aaron, Sophia and the most difficult lately...staying healthy. Aaron's work schedule has been taxing on him lately too. Needless to say this past long weekend was needed for both Aaron and I. We got to spend a ton of time together and take care of all the little things that we have wanted to do for awhile but, never had the time. Here are some pictures of Sophia in her swimsuit. We took her swimming for the first time this weekend. She was not a fan at first, settled in towards the middle and was again not a fan at the end. We think Sophia will have her fathers reserved, cautious nature. :)

Traumatic Kentucky Derby

2008-05-03T23:50:00.005-05:00

Aaron's co-worker hosted a party today commemorating the Kentucky Derby. Knowing nothing more about the Kentucky Derby than what was taught to us via Google, we went ready to enjoy our virgin mint juleps. The company was great and the exposure to a new sport was fascinating. However, I was floored at the (what appeared to be) common practice of "euthanasia" with the horses in the race. I may be a bit naive, sheltered or even just plain ignorant but I had no idea how many horses get injured and consequently killed due to this sport. How is this okay? The horse that I was cheering for won second place and moments after crossing the finish line collapsed due to breaking both front legs. As a result of breaking both legs she was instantly "euthanised". I was caught so off guard I had to fight back the tears. Don't get me wrong I love eating my meat and am married to a big hunting fan but it just seems so barbaric to breed, raise and train a horse to run around a circle and as a result potentially get killed. Besides the miniature men riding on their backs; what is the difference between this and dog fights?

crawling?

2008-05-03T11:23:00.003-05:00

2008-04-19T17:27:00.006-05:00

Is our child normal? Sophia's natural, self-taught (and sometimes overwhelming) affinity for peek-a-boo seems to have morphed into a general desire to cover her face. We often find her contentedly playing peek-a-boo with herself by pulling a dishtowel, burp cloth or whatever is handy over her eyes and kicking her feet for several moments before pulling it away and laughing. However, on a few occasions in the past couple of days, Tina has caught her putting herself to sleep using the same face-covering technique. She does it without complaining one peep, usually while drinking her bottle, or shortly thereafter. Who knows? maybe she just likes it to be dark while trying to sleep!

Oh, and one more tid-bit about Sophia's personality: she loves to see and play with other children, but she is absolutely smitten with herself - her favorite thing is to look in the mirror and giggle herself silly. Hard to blame her, though, for enjoying the company of such a happy baby!

Musical Prodigy?

2008-04-14T20:54:00.005-05:00

This weekend we went with Jamie and Steve to see and hear the BYU-I (as in, I wish I could get into the real BYU) Symphony Band, as they passed through town on their 2 week tour of the southern gulf coast. Pictured to the left is Sophia just before leaving, all dressed up in her new sun hat. In case you wondering, let us assure you that taking a six-month old to see the symphony might not be the brightest plan we've ever formulated. The band played great, at least that's what Jamie and Steve told us. They sounded alright from outside in the foyer, but I think we may have missed some of the evening's musical magic.

In other news from the Nuge', Tina has for the past week been living the American dream: house in the suburbs, one beautiful child, one perfect husband, and a mouth full of straight, pearly whites to compliment her fantastic post-baby physique (she is actually in better shape than before Sophia!). Last Monday, after 2.5 years of soreness, pinching, cutting, cleaning, picking, and general suffering, she flew down to San Antonio to have her braces removed. With transportation assistance from her Aunt Dina, Tina made it to two appointments with her orthodontist - the first to remove the braces in the morning and get fitted for her retainers; the second in the afternoon to pick up her retainers and receive final instructions. The retainers are a minor nuisance, but she's wearing them regularly and continually becoming more comfortable doing so. Keep up the good work, T!

I spent the week in Birmingham, Alabama learning how to optimize a crushed stone plant. On Saturday, after returning, I mowed the weeds in our backyard, then spread some Weed'n Feed. I'm pretty certain that stuff will end up doing more feeding than weeding, and more than likely it will feed the weeds more than the grass (since they occupy a proportionally larger area than the grass), making them even more difficult to remove. Maybe our backyard was destined for a swimming pool anyway. Or maybe just a trash pit.

Grumpy v. Sophia look alike

2008-04-09T14:17:00.005-05:00

Many people have told us that they think Sophia looks like my father. So my mom found a photo of my dad at about Sophia same age (6 months). What do you think?? For an easier comparison, I tried to get a photo of Sophia with her mouth shut but I couldn't. We hope Sophia grows up to be a cuter girl than what Dad would make!!! :) I love you Dad!!!

Sleep...Sweet Sleep!!!!

2008-03-27T13:59:00.002-05:00

Sophia has officially been sleeping through the night for one week solid!!! YIPEE!!!!

Spring time!

2008-03-23T17:43:00.004-05:00

Sophia received a package in the mail from her Grandma this week. Included was this beautiful spring dress. Thanks Renee, it fit perfect!

Happy 6 Month B-Day Sophia

2008-03-23T17:08:00.005-05:00

We can not believe that Sophia is already six months old. I remember when Sophia was just born we were receiving lots of advice from others. One piece of advice we received was "cherish every moment because they grow-up fast." I listened but as the sleepless nights began stacking up I didn't believe that bit of advice very much. However, I believe it now. Because time really has flown!! She is not all that little anymore. In fact, she must have her mother's genes because she is large for her age. :) She is sitting up, preferring to be spoon fed over drinking a bottle, smiling, laughing and LOVES to play pick-a-boo.

Baby torture!

2008-03-18T11:42:00.004-05:00

I have noticed that Sophia has begun to suck the same two middle fingers when she gets tired. So right before I put her down for a nap this is what I did. Is this baby torture???

2008-03-16T17:29:00.006-05:00

The weather was beautiful this weekend so, we spent some time outside. Here is a picture of Sophia before we went on a walk. She is doing great at sitting up on her own. By the looks of her "scooting" we think she will be mobile before too long.

2008-03-16T17:09:00.006-05:00

In memory of...

Ever since I can remember, the month of March has been a month of reflection for me. Fourteen years ago this March, when I was twelve years old, my nephew died of SIDS. As a child, it was my first experience with death and the memories of that time have stayed with me ever since. I am so grateful for the knowledge of eternal families and to know that we will see him again someday. Now that I am a mother myself this March was, I think, one of the most reflective for me. Sister, I love you and miss Nicholas too. Thank you for being such a wonderful example to me. I have learned so much from you and am a better person because I know you. Aaron, thank you for going with me to see Nicholas' grave. I love having your support.

Compared to eternity...Nicholas we will see you soon!!!

2008-03-14T11:45:00.004-05:00

After I took the picture of Sophia asleep in the bouncer this morning I got her out, fed her breakfast and then she took a nap in her crib. Once she woke up she had a little more to eat, we played together, changed her clothes and she was ready for some more bouncing. That is until 10 minutes later and again this is what I see! It is so bazaar to me that she has now done this two times within a 31/2 hour time span. Sophia is an incredibly happy baby EXCEPT when she starts to get tired.She is not shy to share that with you. However, both times this morning she has given no indication that she is sleepy. I wonder why she is falling asleep there???

Who needs a crib?

2008-03-14T08:49:00.003-05:00

Although I generally only work part time, this week Sophia and I went to work everyday and all day. Today is our day off and Sophia was so glad to be able to jump in her bouncer all morning. (The activity saucer at my office for her to play with does not bounce.) While I walked in the kitchen to make her breakfast Sophia decided she was pooped out and this is what I found when I returned. Adorable huh?

2008-03-09T20:22:00.004-05:00

Here is a recent photo of Aaron and Sophia playing.

2008-02-22T18:10:00.004-06:00

Happy 5 month Birthday Sophia!!!

"Give me cake! Give me cake! Give me cake!"
It is hard to believe that Sophia is already five months old. This was the first birthday that she actually reached and wanted some of her birthday cake. I wonder how long we will hold out?? She is becoming increasingly more aware of her surroundings and is excited and laughs at everything. Sophia has already managed to get her father wrapped TIGHTLY around her long little finger and I imagine as she becomes more interactive that grip will only get tighter. After being with Aaron for about four years now...and I still haven't accomplished that task. :) Way to go Sophia!

HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY TO TINA!!!

2008-02-18T09:22:00.003-06:00

Wife,

I know you're still feeling a little under-the-weather today, but I hope you can still enjoy your BIRTHDAY! Maybe we'll have to celebrate some more when you're feeling better :)

- Love,
Husband

Quarantined for the Weekend!!!!

2008-02-17T14:11:00.006-06:00

Sophia's first breathing treatment at home

Now she's a pro...

Mommy and Sophia crashed out after a long night!

As you've already read (cause I know you check this blog two or three times a day), Sophia went to the hospital Wednesday night and we were told she has RSV. Well, by Friday morning she had been again to the doctor's office and though she had improved a little, the doctor almost sent her back to another hospital (one with a pediatric unit). Then, as she was focussed on caring for Sophia, Tina began to feel ill on Friday, with a sore throat, aches and headache. So with both my girls feeling sick, I preparing for a long weekend as the family nurse. But that plan turned out to be short-lived because Friday night I became violently ill - vomiting, fever, etc. So even though she was still feeling sick, Tina had to take over the nursing duties. We decided Tina's symptoms were similar to what Sophia already had, but that we shouldn't let her get whatever I had come down with.

So Tina's had an especially long weekend, but she has done a great job!! I am finally feeling better, and Tina's starting to improve. And, as always, Sophia's too busy smiling a playing to care that she's sick. I guess the silver lining in all of this is that our plans to leave town for the weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day and Tina's birthday had already been canceled.