T'was Two Nights Before We Flew to Pittsburgh!!

Just a quick post as we are getting organized for our Christmas visit to Pennsylvania. We're excited to see all of our family and friends and we can't wait for everyone to experience Sophia. She's so much stinkin' fun.... she's really belly crawling well and we've had to pick up a number of breakables already! Seems she only goes after the things she can't have. Even with the three thousand dollars worth of toys on the floor.... Right now, as I write this, she's banging on the back door... Do you think she wants out??

Anyway, I wanted to post some of these photos that our friend, Jack Rogers took of Soph at Thanksgiving time. Jack and Sue visited us for a couple nights on their way through from Florida to Northern Alabama and we had a great time. Jack is a professional photographer... which you can plainly see. Thanks, Uncle Jack, for capturing me in all my glory.... If you'd like to see ALL the photos, feel free to look me up on Facebook!

Happy Christmas to all.... safe travels and enjoy the time with those you love!

Thanksgiving... We're VERY thankful this year!

Sophie-girl decided she liked Auntie Therese's sweet potatoes! That's the big news outta Thanksgiving here at Ft. Rucker. We had a lovely day at the Dolan's and they fed us well. Auntie Therese pulled out all the stops with her beautiful vintage linens and family heirloom china and crystal. Aside from a little red wine on the boys' shirts because soldiers have a hard time drinking from dainty crystal!; no one broke anything or embarassed themselves, so we consider it a good day! We then carried Soph across the street to our friends, the Barclay's, and had a nice evening visiting with them and their family. Debbie and Jim are wonderful to Sophia and of course, sent her home with a new toy. Spoiled doesn't even begin to describe our girl! I'm posting a photo or two of Sophia in the outfit that Aunt Jeanne sent even before she was born. We put it on her to wear on Thanksgiving and took the photos and then when we put her on the floor, realized the pants were still a bit too big (she was scooting herself right outta them!) so we had to change her for the day.... but we just loved the photos, so here they are. The hat cracks us up! I'm also posting a photo of our little Penguins fan. On Friday after Thanksgiving, I left my little lovey (and my big one) to head to Nashville for a wedding. Daddy and Sophia had almost three whole days together. They mostly sat around in their diapers and watched hockey. Fortunately, Daddy did dress Sophia in her Penguins onesie. I'm also sure, that since it was pretty cold outside, Daddy also got dressed. I think the diaper comment was meant to scare me. It didn't. I had a great time in Nashville and didn't worry one bit about my two ragamuffins. Alan is twice the parent that I am, and it doesn't even occur to me to worry when Sophia is in his care. I was able to enjoy myself, do some shopping, sleep without worrying about the monitor being on or anyone's binky getting lost.... And the wedding was beautiful. I thank the Gant's for their hospitality and for including me in their special day. It was a good weekend.

So, our Thanksgiving was wonderful and of course, being the emotional gal that I am, I spent the day thinking about my blessings. I thank my lucky stars every day for this husband...and this sweet child. And I am thankful for you, dear family and friends. As always, we send our love to you and wish you great Joy in preparing for Christmas. Stop for a minute among the cooking and wrapping and decorating to really think about the season and send up your thanks and prayers. And, as always, I ask you to keep our heroes serving in harm's way in your heart.

Helicopter Mania!! And it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Hey all friends and family. A little post to go along with these photos of Sophia taken last weekend. We had our annual spouse's club Christmas bazaar on Ft. Rucker and Sophia got to meet Santa and sit in his Huey!! One of his pretty little elves was there too... She liked him for about a minute, and then started crying. What she didn't realize, was that Santa was really one of Mommy's friends' sons... who had babysat with Soph before and she really likes him!! But not with that ole' funny beard. The other photo is of us hanging around (and sitting up really well on the chair!) and showing off the "Fly Army" romper that we sport quite often here in the land of the flight student! Sophia loves the helos and it doesn't even faze her when fifteen or sixteen Blackhawks fly over the house every day, three times a day.... even when she's napping, it never wakes her. Amazing. She's a pilot's daughter all right.

She's growing fast and changing often. Each day she gives us something new to laugh at. Lately, everything within her vision is fair game and if she can reach it, it's hers. We're learning quickly that if we don't want her to have something (a pen, the remote, my reading glasses, a butter knife, etc.) we'd better move it out of her reach and fast! She no longer likes to be down in her stroller when there are people above her .... she's gotta be up and seeing stuff. She's scooting herself around on the floor quite well and I can't leave her for more than a minute or two because she manages to get herself either off her blanket and onto the carpet or up against the coffee table with her foot or leg entangled in the wrought iron!! She's a pistol.

No real new foods lately.... she does like pumpkin and pears though (weird combo for baby food, but it's actually kinda good mixed with her cereal!)... and her latest favorite fruit is baby food Mango. One of the ladies that works with Alan sent home homemade applesauce for her today... I'm anxious to try it out on her tomorrow. Everyone around here takes such wonderful care of us. The folks at Al's office are always thrilled to see her when she comes in and they fight over holding her and toting her around to greet everyone. My fellow military spouse friends that I see often are quick to pick her up and keep her occupied so I can get a moment to eat some lunch or do some shopping.... or if I bring her to a meeting, I'm always able to take minutes because I know someone will hold and entertain Sophia. I'm so lucky to have these friends here.... Everyone loves that she's so pleasant... and she is. Except when she isn't getting her way or Mommy is trying to get boogies outta her nose! I know, gross... but true. She used to sit still for it... no longer. So, now I have what I always feared.... a snotty-nosed kid! Really, it's not that bad.... but you know, you just want them to be perfect all the time. Not happenin'!

So, that's the report from here. We're looking forward to a visit next week from our friends Jack and Sue Rogers.... and then it'll be Soph's first Thanksgiving. We're having dinner with friends here. I'm hoping to let Sophia try, at least, the mashed potatoes!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.... We'll take some photos ... perhaps of her dressed up like a turkey!!

Note From Sophia!

Hi everyone...It's Sophia! I'm blogging...can you believe it?? Mom said I could write this installment of my life story as I've been pretty quiet so far and also because it's been a big weekend and someone needed to report on it. This has been a combined holiday weekend in our house. It was Mom's birthday on Sunday, and tomorrow is Veteran's Day.... I'm not really old enough to understand that, but Mom tells me I should be very proud of my Daddy and his service to our country. I'm sure that someday I'll be able to understand and tell him these things, but for now, I'm hoping you will be proud of him for me. Mom's birthday was a fun one for her.... she says she has the best friends in the world. Dad took me and Mom up to Montgomery on Saturday and our friend Lisa babysat me while Mom and Dad went out for a birthday dinner and did some shopping. I had a blast at Lisa's house with Lauren and Logan and their friends. I met Logan's girlfriend and woo-hoo...she's a sweet one. She and I hit it off big time. We girls all hung out around the fire and I learned makeup and hair secrets and found out that teenage boys are yucky.... Well..the girls didn't think that, but I kinda do. At least mom says I do! On Mom's birthday, we went to visit my favorite photographer, Ms. Townley...and she took my Christmas photos. They turned out pretty darn cute. Mom thought about posting one as a "teaser" here, but she decided she'll just wait and spring them on you at Christmas. I'm pretty stinkin' cute, if I do say so myself. My friend, Keriem, came over and visited me in the evening and she's soooo nice. I can see why Dad says she's so great to work with! And, tonight, mom had yet another party at Aunt Jen's house with her and Uncle Ken and Aunt Cindy and Uncle Scott. Of course these people aren't my biological Aunts and Uncles, but they sure do treat me as though I'm part of their family. I love them all and they are all so good to me and mom and dad. Mom says she couldn't ask for better family here in Enterprise.
So, as you can see, we had a big weekend. I've done lots.... Did I mention I'm sitting up by myself pretty well now? I do a lot of sitting and playing and I'm figuring out my hand-eye coordination and can save things from falling with both hands now! Dad tells me that's a milestone. I don't know what milestone means, but if Daddy says it's good, then darn it, it must be good!
So, just want to send my love out to everyone and tell you to be looking for more photos soon. This post is photo-less...but we'll do better next time, we promise.
Drooly kisses to you....
Sophia Marie

Sophia's First Trick or Treat!!

Well, Sophia enjoyed her first trick or treat night last night. We joined some friends on their lawn on Ft. Rucker and built a fire, had some nice hot soup from the crock pot, drank a few beers and handed out candy to about a zillion little Ariels, High School Musical cheerleaders, Pirates, Ninjas, Princesses, and kids with no imagination who didn't dress at all and were too old to be begging candy! Anyway, Soph had a great time and so did we. We went as the "family from Pittsburgh"... with Sophia being the Steeler and Al and I the Penguins! She wore a cute little cheerleader outfit that her cousin Phyllis sent when she was born.... I bought her some black tights and away we went.... I'm posting the photos here, and there's one where she looks like she's just eaten all the candy in the bucket! Fortunately she can't do that just yet. But, Daddy can... and he did! I made the mistake of buying our Halloween candy a week early.... He couldn't leave the "Nerds" or "Swedish Fish" alone.
By the way, Sophia's 6-month check up went well on Thursday. Doc says she's "one perfect baby"! Only 3 shots this time and she did fine, but it still makes me cry when they make her cry!
Sending our love to you all....
Principessa's mom

Six Months... Gee Whiz, Time Flies!

Sophia is six months old! Her birthday was on Saturday, the 25th. We celebrated with bundt cake at Aunt Michele's house in Knoxville. We were there helping Aunt Michele recover from surgery. That's Aunt Michele there...way before her shoulder got all messed up! She was there the day Sophia was born and she shares her birthday! We're sending good thoughts her way for a speedy recovery. The week was good, but long. It was the first time Sophia was away from Daddy for any length of time... he really missed her!

I'm also posting a photo that we took with our friend Lisa Hughes, who we stopped to visit on our way back from Tennessee. Sophie girl is growing so fast... and changing so much. She's been a bit on the grumpy side today since our return from the big trip, and I'm guessing it may have to do with getting used to home again....or possibly she's beginning to teethe....or it could be her belly.... there's just no tellin'! Daddy says he can't wait until she can articulate her needs and tell us why she's unhappy. I have to agree, although I'm not sure how I'll feel about that when she really does start talking. She jabbers on and on now, kinda like her mommy!

All is well and I'd love for this to be a lengthy post, but she's really whining now and I think Dad needs some help. So off I go. Thanks for keeping up with us!

We Begin In the Middle!

I'm starting Principessa Sophia's blog today, on the 9th day before her 6 month birthday. As is evidenced by the fact that we have birthed our first child in our 40's.... obviously, it takes me a little while to get things going!! Shout out to Uncle Doug for starting us on this blogging adventure. I'm going to try to do my best with it, but I apologize in advance for being a slug and not posting as often as I should.

Anyone who checks out this blog has probably gotten Sophia's updates until now. So, I'll start with her report as of today, the 9th day before her 6 month birthday.

She's awesome. What more can we say. She's very busy all of the time. Her current love is the Fisher Price Jumparoo.... where was this thing when I was babysitting in the 80's?? She just loves it, and it wears her out, so that's double good. She's eating more and more cereal and fruit and veges and we've tried some turkey and rice baby food and she's not that crazy about it. My all-knowing mom friends tell me not to give her the baby food meats...they're gross. We can just process up some chicken into a nice paste for her and mix it with some veges and that's way better tasting. Not sure exactly what they do to that baby food meat, but it is kinda gross. I disguise hers by putting sweet potatoes in it, but she still gags about every 4th bite!

Sophia's become so much more active and has reached the point where we can't walk away from her while she's on the changing table. She kicks her way up so that her head hangs off the end!!

She discovers something new every day it seems. She and I took two of our "auntie" babysitters out to lunch today and before I even realized what was going on, she had the silverware roll and extracted the spoon and put it in her mouth.... in like a nanosecond. Jeez. I realize this is just the beginning. Send me some of that 5 hour energy stuff please!!

We're playing a fun game lately, her and I. I take her binky and put it in my mouth and she thinks thats the funniest thing ever. Then she takes it back from me and this goes on and on. Repetitive, I realize.... so goes my new world. And, to all you germophobes....leave me alone. I birthed her, I'll share her paci if I want to....

She continues to sleep well with usually only one or two episodes during the night where Mommy has to go and put her bink back in her mouth for her.... Wish she'd figure out how to get it herself. I'm going to try to plant two of them in there tonight and see how that goes!

But, I can't complain, she gives us a solid 8, sometimes 9 hours of sleep.... well, she sleeps that long, we don't always! Of course, Alan still arises at o'dark-thirty to do all his "he-man soldier"-type exercising and such. But, she sleeps right through all of that. She's obviously from good Italian stock, our automatic cappucino maker's noise doesn't even wake her!

We go at the end of the month for her 6-month check up and more shots. I'm anxious to see how much she's grown. I'm convinced she's closing in on 18 pounds, and the last time Alan measured her, she was almost 27 inches long! She's gonna be a tall one!

More soon.... Love from Principessa's Mommy