Fun Farm Days Picking Strawberries

What a great day for a visit to the farm. Not too hot or sunny and no rain - all kids awake and happy both ways during the one hour car ride - all kids napping peacefully in their beds after we arrive home. We have plenty of berries for making strawberry popsicles, had lots of time to bounce on the jumping pillow, good times were had on the slides, and the farm animals were eager to be fed. The only downfall was that the Kettle Corn machine wasn't working so we went home empty handed on that front.

5 Hours and 30 Minutes

That's how long the surgery took to repair the space between two discs in Grandpa Randy's back last night. That's a very long time!

Feel better soon Dad!

We love you!

Firsts

Sophie, last night you slept from 7:40 PM until 5:50 AM. At nine weeks, that is a major accomplishment! Well done!

On previous nights you have slept for 5, 6, or even one or two 7 hour stretches. I know that technically sleeping "through the night" means a 5 hour stretch or longer and that any of those other nights qualify. However, in our house, sleeping "through the night" means through a night of sleep similar to ours where no one gets up to nurse in the middle of the night. Great job, Sophie!

(And, it was an added bonus that both of your sisters were asleep by 8:30 PM and slept past 6 AM.)

One More Look Back

I just found these photos in a "Miscellaneous" folder and couldn't resist posting them. What a sweet girl she was! Here, she's nestled in Scott's jeans.

That's my sling that she's dominating in this photo.Did I say that we didn't co-sleep that much in our house?She loved to burrow in sheets, boxes, or any other small space.

Sophie - Two Months

Sophie, I can't believe you are already two months young! This time is going by too fast for me. I nearly cried when we moved you from the co-sleeper to your crib this month. I missed having you in our room! But, the time was right and you are now sleeping (as of two days ago) for a five hour stretch and a four hour stretch at night in your crib. What a champ!

You are thriving. At 10 pounds, four ounces, you are on the growth charts at the 25th percentile for weight, and 23 inches tall makes you in the 75th percentile for height. Those are big numbers as far as I'm concerned.

You are smiling this month, and notably able to lift your head. You are also quite talkative with delicious coo sounds. You are awake and engaged for much more of the time with bright, wide-open eyes. At night, you sleep for four to six hours before needing a snack.

We still have our nice gazing time after breastfeeding, and we've also started having some massage time together a few days each week. You really enjoy it. You seem to think that some of the exercises are funny too. When I bring your feet and hands together, play "so big" by reaching your arms overhead, or bicycle your legs, you seem to want to laugh.

Zoe and Mia continue to be chief members of your fan club. Zoe complains if she doesn't have enough "Sophie time," and Mia is the first to give you gentle pats or kisses on the head. They also love all the "gear" that comes with being a baby and are excited to have bouncy seats and a swing in the house.

You've enjoyed visits with Grandpa Randy and Grandma Mickey as well as Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Ed this month. There are no shortage of eager people who want to nuzzle with you.

I can't tell you how lucky I feel. I was seriously expecting the first couple of months to be torturous. I expected to be exhausted and not at all prepared for the sleep deprivation. I know that there will be lots of bumpy times ahead, but the first couple of months have been wonderful. Thank you Sophie.

I love you,

Mom

The Day Has Arrived

Zoe: "Mommy, how does a baby get in a woman's tummy?"

We Love Soccer!

Thanks to Coach Noah who invites all of Zoe's class mates out for soccer and donuts each weekend in the Spring and Fall. He does this out of the sheer kindness of his heart. They play "junior varsity" for kids under 3.5 first followed by "varsity" for the older kids. It's a light easy atmosphere where the kids do some stretches and run around chasing a ball.

Zoe has had the chance to play with her classmates this Fall and Spring and has grown to really love playing soccer. Although, she has developed an odd Pavlovian association between soccer and donuts.

Thanks also to the nice 12 year old boy who donated his shin guards to Zoe. She can barely bend her legs in them but she insists on wearing them each weekend. One day they'll fit.

And Mia always has a chance to get in on the action too! They are very relaxed about you doing the exercises and running around with the older kids. Fortunately, there is also a playground at this park for you to enjoy when you prefer that.

Our favorite part of soccer though is the warm up portion. Coach Noah asks the kids to recommend which exercises they should include in their warm up. Zoe always hollers out "The Hula!" as in hula hoop. Of course that would be the most relevant warm up activity before soccer. It's cute watching them all mime hula hooping.

Things We Like To Say

Zoe and Mia, when Grandma Barbara first visited after Sophie was born, she was helpful in explaining what things are like with a new baby in the house. You had already been prepped to expect crying, strange sleeping behavior, and lots of diaper changes, and you loved your books about babies that taught you about their different cries and how they try to communicate. You also both began nursing your baby dolls in solidarity with me. Grandma Barbara would help by quizzing you, for example, by asking "Can baby Sophie eat pizza?" and you'd both reply together in a sing-song voice "Sorry Sophie!" This turned in to a game of never ending questions about what Sophie as a baby can or can not do. You both loved chiming back "Sorry Sophie!" A day doesn't go by when one of you doesn't ask something like, "Can baby Sophie run down the block?" Followed quickly by "Sorry Sophie!"

When Grandma Barbara came to visit a few weeks later for Mother's Day, she introduced you to a new sing-song game. She would call one of you by name, for example, "Hey Zoe?" who'd reply "What!?", followed by Grandma's "You know what?" and then Zoe's "what?!" And then Grandma would sing, "I love you!" and then you would respond right away with "Hey Grandma?", "What?", "You know what?", "What?", "I love you!"

A few days after her return home, Grandma left a message on our answering machine. As soon as you each heard the voice on the machine say, "And Zoe, Mia, you know what?", you both screamed "what?" and then burst in to giggles when she said "I love you" in time on her recorded message. Well done Grandma!

We love these games now. This morning, I was nursing Sophie and Mia ran in, ignored me and whispered close to Sophie's head, "Hey Sophie? You know what? I love you!"

PS: I didn't feel passed over this morning Mia when you went to Sophie first. I already knew you loved me because you stayed in bed last night at bed time and didn't wake up until 6 a.m.

Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Ed Visit

Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Ed came up to visit for the weekend and to celebrate Mother's Day.

Sophie showed her enthusiasm by conking out on Grandma's lap.Mia lucked out with some swim time with Grandpa Ed.

And Zoe had an excellent partner to share her love of letters and reading.

We had a great trip. I'm so glad you were able to be here!
Happy Mother's Day mom.
Love,

Laurie

Thank You "Aunt Nancy"

The quilts are beautiful! Anyone looking for some stunning fiber art can visit Nancy.

Silly Stranger

One of Scott's clients opened a new restaurant today. (Quick shameless plug...it's called Ted's Bulletin and it's a.w.e.s.o.m.e.! Check it out!) We went for the "soft opening" which is generally an all you can eat smorgasbord to help the staff prepare for the real opening the following night.

We took Sophie with us. After we ordered, the very doting and somewhat anxious waiter came by to offer to bring a snack and some crackers for the baby. He didn't want Sophie to be hungry. We assured him that Sophie was full. Sophie, are you sure you don't want us to put a Saltine in your mouth? Seriously?

Sunny Day

A little wading pool, a sprinkler, four cups. A simple recipe for fun on a hot, sunny day.

Worms

You are both very excited about any kind of bug. We catch them in the house, we watch caterpillars morph, and we go on "worm safaris" when it rains. Imagine the excitement when I moved the basketball net and found scads of worms underneath. You watched the worms for nearly 40 minutes. I should pay them for babysitting time!