Sophia 15 Months Old

May sure was fun but June has shaped out to be even better!  Sophia is now fully walking and dare I say - she's become a little toddler!

At her 15 month check up she continued to show signs she's going to a tall and skinny girl (hmm - wonder where she got those genes).  But doc says she's doing just fine!

Developmentally she's learning more and more words (or rather mama is understanding she is trying to say more and more words), she's walking, running, opening doors when she can reach them, responding to simple commands when you ask her to stop doing something or come her or bring me that.  She points to things she wants and has mastered the word "that!"  It's her new favorite when she wants pretty much anything.

She also says...
please
gracias
zapatos - another favorite and she always wants to put her shoes on b/c she thinks it means she's going somewhere (she's no homebody - also wonder where she gets that from)
open
something that sounds like "i don't want it"
no
hey
ma-ma
da-da
bye bye
says some thing that sounds like she's saying "put on" like her shoes

She knows how to give "besitos" and likes to make the "mmwah" sound.

She waves and shakes her finger like to say "no no."

She has 14 teeth!  (6 molars and 4 top and 4 bottom teeth)

She's starting to really mimic sounds and likes to play a game with you if you repeat what she says.

She loves playing peekabo and having us chase her.

She loves playing outside with her mini coupe car and push car and loves running in the grass, going on walks and playing with her slide.

She's still a crazy dancer and loves music - and has started taking classes at the Music Class!  But boy you better watch out if you think you're taking maraccas away from her!  She doesn't like that one bit.

She is really girly and loves walking around with her purses - but not just one - she must have two!  That's my girl!  Did I mention she loves shoes too!?  Oh Trey - just you wait ;)

She's also learning to be a little stinker and has gotten into a whiney phase - we are certainly working on that b/c as Trey likes to say in the style of the Hangover scene, "that is not going on in this house.  Not in this house!"

taking a stroll with my buddy Colton Parr

Hi-ya!  Little devil - check out those teeth!

May Days

Ugh - keeps happening but this summer has been so fun so gotta try to recall our May Days with little princess.  We've been on the go all summer and it's hard to believe 4th of July is coming up next week!

All our travels really started the second weekend in May when we headed up to Wilmington for Trey's cousin, Rhett's wedding.  It was a fun weekend where we managed to sneak in some beach days that got me excited for summer and our longer beach trip that we just went on with Sophia.  She loves the water and practically ran into the ocean.  She's going to be a little swimmer and fishy like her mama was - I can already tell.  She's certainly not scared to just jump into the water (ocean or pool) and kick those little feet.  And on top of becoming a little swimmer this month she really learned to take off and trust her little feet and start walking!  She'd taken steps starting shortly after her 1st birthday but never had an interest in keeping going.  By the end of the month she was taking off!

Another thing to note is in May she really became super attached to mama (not that I'm complaining - but if you notice sad faces it's because she wants mama to hold her).  I suppose I'll look back longing for these days one day so I'm cherishing them now ;)

this girl sure loves her some strawberries!

The next weekend in May, Sophia got to stay with Abuela and Grandfather because mama and dada headed out of town on our first trip away from little punkin to Las Vegas!  What a fun weekend we had with some of our good friends from the neighborhood who went out there with us.  Thanks to their hook up at the Aria we got VIP cabanas at the pool and had fun dancing at the clubs and gambling.  I even learned how to play craps and found I was pretty good at making other people at the table lots of money.  It was definitely a fun weekend but I was glad to come home to my baby 2 days later.

The last weekend in May we headed up the lake with Uncle Robby, Aunt Carrie Beth, the kiddos and the Giambalvos for a fun water filled Memorial Day weekend.  It was such a blast and it was fun seeing Sophia really big enough to finally run around and play with her cousins and friends.  She's getting so big so quickly!  Sophia even got to go tubing while we were there and I have to note that finally after 10 sad years of trying I got up on the wakeboard!!!  I guess persistence is the key. :)

boat naps are the best

Sophia on the tube!

she loved driving with uncle Robby!

walking machine!

the kids had fun with some glow sticks and Sophia loved joining in with her glow bracelets

finally doing it!

I remember buying this swimsuit for Handley when she was a little baby and now my little girl is in it - time flies!

Sophia 14 Months Old

Just when I think I've all but given up on this blog I see a picture of Sophia or recall a memory that I know I'd like to remember or have her remember one day and here I am back at it.  So much has happened in the last month and I feel like our little girl grows leaps and bounds every day in every way.  She's so much more alert, she's taller, she's reaching new milestones.  It really is such a fun time and I want to bottle up every minute with her.  So here's my attempt.

At 14 months old:

"Da-da quit tickling me!"

• Weighs 20 lbs
• Sophia's vocabulary is growing and her cognitive skills are really expanding.  
• She says Ma-ma, Da-da, hi, bye bye, cracker, gracias, please
• shakes her head no, and nods yes, 
• signs "more" and "all done" and sometimes "milk," 
• points when she wants something
• understands commands in Spanish and English (like bring me that book or that remote)
• sometimes sends kisses when we ask for "besitos"
• claps
• Loves dancing and shakes her little butt whenever she hears music
• has taken steps by herself but really loves to hold onto your finger and grabs it when she's ready to head anywhere (did by 13 1/2 months)
• has 12 teeth (4 top and 4 bottom plus 4 molars)
• eats pretty well most of the time
  
• exclusively drinks cow milk
• loves puffs and mum mums
• LOVEs to read books (especially ones with flaps and touch and feel)
• Loves bath time and playing with her rubber duckies
• Can climb up her slide all by herself (did this by 13 months)
• Has started climbing downstairs (did this by 13 months)
• Loves her giraffe lovie blankets and wubbanubs
• Loves all super soft stuffed animals and always gives them hugs (especially bunny, doggie and monkey)
• Makes animal sounds like (Pit-i-co... Spanish for horse :) , ruff ruff and moo)
• Loves to swing and gets excited every time we head to the park
• Likes going on runs with mama and going on car rides with mama and dada
• likes to play the sort shapes game
• Is very curious and loves exploring and being independent but also loves to cling to mama
• Is starting to try to climb out of her crib
• Sleeps great!  Usually down by 8:30 and up no earlier than 8:30 but lately more like 9 or 9:30.... what can I say she is my daughter :)
• Is such a sweet girl and loves to give us hugs whenever we walk into a room and she hasn't seen us in awhile
• Pulls up your shirt and points when you say, "Where is mama's belly button" and points to hers when you ask "where is Sophia's belly button"
• Thinks her daddy is so funny and laughs hysterically when he tickles her

She's the best part of every day and we are loving this ride and watching her grow into a sweet beautiful little girl!

 Sophia's favorite things...

Half Marathon Weekend & Buckhead Bomber Photoshoot

What a fun couple of days it has been!  Everything started last Friday when the Atlanta 1/2 Marathon weekend kicked off.  I went with Trey and Sophia to pick up my packet and bib number at the Expo event at the World Congress Center and it really opened my eyes to a whole new world.  I tell you - I had no idea all the things that runners do and use for the sport and I guess I'd never really thought of running as a sport but it really is if you get into it.  There were tons of vendors at the expo giving away goodies and selling running gear and paraphernalia (Trey loved it to say the least! ;) ... but it got me so excited for the race on Sunday.

But the race would have to wait a day because Saturday we headed to Six Flags for the annual RaceTrac Family day event.  They opened the park early to RaceTrac employees but we didn't quite make it for that part.  We did manage to get there in time to ride 1 ride - the Batman before we headed to the RaceTrac pavilion to hang out with our friends and eat lunch.  It was a lot of fun but we left shortly after that so Sophia could take a much needed nap and in all honesty so I could get off my feet and rest up for the big race.

Ansley MacLaurin and Sophia

Someone was getting sleepy

Didn't even make it to the car and she was out!

And the day was not over because we went home and immediately packed up and left again to head downtown for a stay at the Courtyard Marriott.  We thought it would be better to be close to the race in the morning since I had to be there so early and figured driving there would be a nightmare.  The hotel was so nice and we were close to so many fun places downtown so we met up with parents to celebrate my mom's birthday at Azio's Downtown by HardRock.

Happy Birthday Abuela!

I wish I could say it was a pleasant night after that but little stinker kept us up ALL night long.  I'd say if I slept 4.5 hours before that race I'd be surprised.   5 am came WAY too early.  But my adrenaline was kicking and I was excited for my first big race!

I headed to my start corral (which was near the back of the pack) on Marietta St. and just took it all in.  There were SO MANY people there and you could tell who the serious runners were.  So many people jogging around to get their pre race warm ups in.  I had to laugh because I grabbed a coffee on my way out of the hotel just praying the extra boost of caffeine would help.  Not exactly the breakfast of champions but my pre race bagel and calm nerves served me well.  I did find a friendly face in the crowd and it put me ease as I prepared for the start.  Then before I knew it, the speakers were announcing the race had started.  There was loud pump up music playing as all 15,000 of us inched toward the start line waiting for our time chips to kick in and 12 minutes in I was crossing the start line on my way.

My view heading toward the start line 1/4 mile back at 7 am

And that's when it kinda becomes a blur.  I just remember thinking, I can't believe I'm running on these streets where I always drive to meet customers downtown.  I kept thinking this is so Neat!  We ran past the GA State Bar building, GA State Campus, MLK, Little Five Points and before I knew it was nearing Virginia Avenue and Piedmont Park.  I blew past Trey and Sophia the first time(we just missed each other in Va Highlands around mile 8 because I was going so much faster than I predicted I would to Trey so he had to race to meet me when the race exited Piedmont Park around mile 10.  It was so fun seeing them and gave me the extra boost of energy I needed to run the last 3 miles through midtown and GA Tech in 28 minutes.  I couldn't believe that I went from training an avg of 12.8 min miles to 11.18 (and I really didn't walk that much)... which likely explains why I can hardly move still ;)

I noticed others taking this break for a photo opp on the Jackson St. Bridge near MLK Center so I followed their lead.

It's true what they say that the energy from the crowd cheering and all the participants around you just keeps you moving.  It really was so fun!  I can't say I aspire to run a marathon after that one or that I'll be signing up for a half anytime soon but I can definitely cross that off my bucket list and I'm so glad I set my mind to do it 10 weeks ago.  It was an amazing feeling crossing that finish line in less than 2 and half hours.

About to cross the finish line

And the feel good vibes I had from Sunday continued into the week because I got to get all dolled up today for a photoshoot!  I can now say being a model would be so fun!  I was called to model for a possible spot in a calendar that is being created to showcase daughters, wives and granddaughters of WWII vets, and other military conflicts in their relative's bomber jackets.  All the proceeds will go to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah (that my grandfather actually helped found).  My grandfather was a bomber pilot in the 8th Air Force Army Air Corp during WWII and flew B-17 bomber planes over Germany and my dad noticed an ad in the AJC a few months ago saying this group- the Buckhead Bomber Girls was looking for models for this calendar.  You have to be a relative and have the bomber jacket of the vet, etc. but anyway he submitted it on my behalf and I got a call!

We shot today at the Peachtree Dekalb Airport and I felt like a little celebrity.  I can see how nice it would be to have an entourage at your service because I literally walked on set and had a pair doing my hair and makeup at the same time and they transformed me in a matter of 15 minutes.  It was Unreal!  And - I LOVED what they did to my hair and makeup.  Broken record I know- but it was so fun!

I really can't wait to see the pictures (they said they would share some when it was all done) and while I don't know if I'll make the calendar or the magazine they are also apparently using the pics for, regardless it was a neat experience.  One of the girls there was so nice and texted me some pics she took while her husband was shooting so I have some proof of the day.

All in all, it has been a fun few days and now we're looking forward to a fun weekend ahead to celebrate Trey's cousin -Kaitlyn's wedding in Wilmington!