Loving CA

Sophia and I have been keeping very busy at my parents house. We have done so many fun things this last week. We feel so blessed to be able to visit my parents for an extended period of time. Sophia is loving all of the attention and playmates. Here are some highlights from last week.

In-N-Out: One of our first stops was of course In-N-Out. Love this place so much and miss not having it on the east coast. I ordered a cheeseburger "animal style" and Sophia had some of my fries. In case anyone is wandering yes there are some hidden scripture references amongst the wrappers and cups. We found a Revelation reference on the burger wrapper and a John reference on the bottom inside rim of the cup.

My New "POB": I have been long over due for a hair cut. I told the stylist that I wanted a "POB" (you know a Posh Bob) I think she did a pretty good job.

Sisters: So much fun having my sisters around and Sophia's cousin Bree. Aunt Steph loves to buy them matching clothes.

Aunt Ashley: She loves her nieces so much!! She is so great with Sophia and Bree. She will make a great Mommy in the future. There is the cutest little train that rides along the mall. The girls loved riding around.

Fast and Furious: We went for a ride in my Dad's sports car (ok it was a rental) but still fun to have our hair blowing in the wind!




Chick-fil-A: (I know another highlight revolving around food,what can I say we enjoying eating) We went to family night at Chick-fil-a and Sophia made a new friend with the girl cow! She loved playing pat-a-cake with her.

Flying 1K style

We really were spoiled while flying to CA. We got to fly with my Dad so he was a big help with Sophia and all of our luggage. Not to mention he is a frequent business flyer so he has a 1K status (has earned/flown over 100,000 miles) with United. So for check-in, security screenings and boarding we waiting in little or no lines at all. We got to use the premium passenger lines!! While waiting at the airports we didn't have to sit a the gates. We waited in the Red Carpet Club. These member only lounges are sweet! Comfortable chairs, big, flat screen TVs, complimentary drinks and snacks...you almost forget your waiting in an airport.

The jet lag took it's toll on Sophia and I. She wanted to go to bed so early here, but the sun was shining strong which made it quite difficult to accomplish falling asleep for the night. I think we are finally getting adjusted.

Sophia is loving all the attention, hugs, kisses, tickles, and snuggles. She has been to the park with Grandpa and Grandma and taken a bath with cousin Bree. The weather has been great also sunny, breezy and in the 70's. We can't wait to hit the beach.

But the biggest news of all..................Sophia cut her first TOOTH today!!! I'll try to get a pic when it grows in a little. She had been a little extra fussy and clingy, but I thought it was jet lag and her new environment. When she started gnawing on my shoulder and clavicle I knew it had to be something more. To our surprise today we saw and felt her first tooth. Of course this is just two days after leaving Rob. We miss you Dad and we're sad your missing the first tooth!

Checking in at the Red Carpet Club

Strolling to the park

Playing with Grandma at the park

Practicing walking

Playing with cousin Bree's old baby toys and stylin in her new clothes from auntie Steph

You choose.....

Rob's home for the next 8 weeks ( studying for finals and USMLE Step 1 -only the most important board exam of his life)Hence Sophia and I will make our home for the next 8 weeks with my parents and the beach!


We will miss our Daddy but know that it's better if we are out of his hair while he is studying. Sophia and I can't wait to head out to CA on Sat. and stay with my family. Sophia will get to spend time not only with my parents, but also my 2 sisters and her cousin Bree. Don't worry I'll be blogging from Cali so everyone can stay up to date on our happenings! Adios!

Newseum

A couple of weeks ago the Newseum opened up in DC. It's a new museum all about news and journalism. Well the first day it opened to the public they were letting everyone in for free (admission for adult $20). Sophia and I had nothing better to do so we hoped on the Metro and went to stand in line. To our surprise the line to get in was not very long and moving very fast. Well I guess too many people had shown up and they were not letting any more on for the day, but were handing out free tickets to come back tomorrow. So I got 4 free tickets for Sat that way Rob could join me and also a couple of friends.


We came back the next day and had a great time. I was more impressed with the museum than I thought I would be. There were a lot of floors with different galleries and theaters. We didn't make it through the whole museum, but here's some things we did enjoy:

• The top floor terrace had some great views of the Capital






• The 9/11 Gallery had some impressive and tear jerking footage and photographs, also on display was part of an antenna that was on top of one of the trade towers






• The 100 ft. long video wall
• Part of the Berlin Wall
• Most of all we enjoyed hanging out (literally for Sophie) with our hubby/Daddy

I would recommend this museum even at the steep admission price. There were lots of other things to do that we missed out on like the 4-D theatre and the interactive news room. Maybe next time.

Eight is great!

Showing off her new push-up skills

Enjoying the big yellow swing
Wearing her blue doggy dress

Just this last week Sophia turned 8 months old and with came some new highlights. First off she now puts her consonants and vowel sounds together. So instead of always hearing aaaaaaa, we now are graced with Ba, ba, ba, ba, Va, va, va, va and we thought we heard Da, da, da the other day.


Since Sophia's birth she has hated tummy time. She usually cried the entire time, therefore; we didn't do it as often as we should. Although within the last couple of weeks she has enjoyed it more and more. She now does push -ups and scoots herself backwards. I know some of you parents are thinking this is not a big deal. It is for us and Sophia! Tummy time use to = trouble time. Not anymore!! We are very excited about this new progress towards crawling.


She still loves to continue to stand with support. If you stand her on the ground sometimes she'll take just a couple of baby steps. Sometimes when we try to sit her down she won't bend her body. She'll just keep it straight because she would rather be standing. Silly girl.


One thing I've neglected to mention in the past is her love of Tags. She will find a tag on anything that has one: books, blankets, stuffed animals, rattles. She loves them. Earlier this week she went shopping with me. As I carried her around the store to look at the racks of clothing she would reach out and grab the tags on the clothing. This girl can be anywhere and find amusement in any tag. My friend Alyssa told me about these blankets and toys that have tags all around them. I'm thinking that would be a good investment for Sophie.


She continues to amaze, entertain and bring smiles, laughs and joy to our lives. We LOVE you so much Sophia.

Thank You Ruby!!!

Today was beautiful, warm and in the 70's. I decided to break out some jean capris that I hadn't worn for couple of years (remember last summer I was way pregnant). Anyhow these capris have somewhat shallow pockets. Still deep enough to hold something, so I thought. I always carry my cell phone in my front jean pocket so I did the same today. I went to Target with Sophia and looked all through the women and juniors department for swim wear and other clothing. I finally made my way to the dressing room tried everything on. As I left the dressing room I headed for the men's department saw they had men's swim trunks and reached for my phone to call Rob. I wanted to know if he wanted some new ones for the summer. Well my phone was not in my pocket. I immediately went back to the dressing room and looked for it. Couldn't find it...... Looked again and again. I then decided I had left it in the car. I accidentally do that sometimes. Well I got to the car and it wasn't there. So I took Sophia out of the car seat and back into Target to do what I dreaded. I was literally down on my hands and knees with Sophia. No I was not teaching her how to crawl. I was retracing all of my steps and looking under every rack and wall of clothing for my phone. It was horrible. I'm sure people were looking at me strange. Well, no luck. I doubtfully checked with customer service on the way out and no phone had been turned in. I'd been defeated. Someone had scored a new phone today. Get a new cell phone moved up to the top of my to do list.

Well I got home and my evening quickly filled with other things that had to be attended to. The cell phone would have to wait. I got Sophia to bed and started surfing the web for some kind of a deal. Then around 8:30pm Rob's phone rings and it's Ruby. My prayers had been answered!!! She has my phone all I have to do is come pick it up. So I jump in my car and run back to Target. I stop at the movie theater and buy a gift card. I can't show up empty handed. I had to repay her kindness and honesty with something. She saved me so much money.

I head back to the dressing rooms and the first female employee I see I ask, "Are you Ruby?" Before she had finished saying yes I had my arms around her in a hug. Yes, I was hugging a complete stranger. I don't know what had come over me. She gave me my phone and I thanked her once again and asked to please accept this gift to the movies. Then we hugged again!

I am so thankful that people still believe in being honest. I hope Ruby enjoys that movie with her granddaughter. She deserves it!!!

Cherry Blossoms x3

Sophia and I were lucky enough to go and visit the Cherry Blossoms 3 times this last week. Last Sat. Rob had to study for a big exam so Sophie and I jumped on the metro to go see the Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin. It was a beautiful spring day.

Then on Monday morning we walked around the entire Tidal Basin with some friends from church. It was a little rainy and overcast but it didn't take away from the beauty of the trees.


Our last visit to the Blossoms was with Rob. After his big test he wanted to relax. So Sophia and I met him at school so we could head over together. Before we left the school I decided to use the restroom. When I came back out to the lobby I couldn't see Sophia because she was surrounded by a group of Rob's classmates. The girls were so excited to see her. She put her charm on and had them all melting. We then went and enjoyed the blossoms one last time.