Approaching the big ONE!

Well, the time has arrived.  Our little girl is about to celebrate her very first BIRTHDAY!  I can't even get over the fact that at this time just last year I still didn't know if I was having a boy or a girl and I was sitting around eating anything I wanted and enjoying the wonderful beauty of pregnancy.  I loved the last trimester.  It was glorious and what I had always wanted to experience for myself.  My little belly contained a baby that was a good deal larger than we all thought, including the doctor.  Even minutes before my delivery everyone in the room (hospital staff) was placing bets that the baby was going to be somewhere around 6-6 1/2 pounds!  Then there she was...all 8 pounds of her!  Simply perfect.  Dark black hair, chubby little cheeks, full lips.  She was exactly as I pictured.  And although I never wanted to say what I thought I was having, deep in my heart I knew it was a little angel girl.  

Who would have thought that now she has blonde hair and the bluest eyes!  I just knew she was gonna have all of her Daddy's dark features.  You really never know!  

There was that time in my life, not long ago at all, that I had come to term with the reality that we may never have a baby of our own.  I thank the Dear Lord above each and every day and night and sometimes even more than that!  She has made what was already a home filled with love to one busting at the seams. J.R. and I could not be happier.  So now it's time to CELEBRATE!!!!  We are having her birthday party at our house in the back yard (please don't be TOO terribly hot!) and the decorations and balloons and bounce house and everything else is a go!  There will be food and cupcakes and music and lots and lots of love.  I just couldn't leave anyone out of our celebration so the list ended up being a tad long but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I know she won't remember it in her mind, but one day she will see the pictures and videos and see all her family and friends that came to celebrate her very first year of life with us.  I can't imagine anything better :)

Thank you to everyone who supported me before, during, and after pregnancy.  It means more than I can ever express to you.  I love being a Mommy to this precious little girl and I am so excited to celebrate and create her first birthday!!!!!

Her actual day of birth is June 5th so I will post a little bit on that day too!  

Next time you see her she will be the big 1!!!!!

Beach Time!

We recently returned from our second beach trip since having Sofia.  It was wonderful!  We went to our usual and favorite location, Rosemary Beach.  This time it was just our little family plus my Mom and Dad, or Nani and Poppi :)  It was absolutely perfect.  Low key, relaxing, and unlimited attention for sweet Sofia.

We drove half way Saturday to Montgomery, AL.  One of the perks of my Dad being retired military is that he gets to stay on base instead of hotels (nice discount!) and it's so fun and not to mention you feel extremely safe.  Here are a couple of pics of Sofia arriving for her first "military" stay.  The family one in the bowling alley was of the night we ate dinner on base.  It was "70's Night" and burgers, fries, and cokes were $.75!!!!! We all ate for under $9!!!!!  Awesome!  Also, it was great to stop halfway with an 11 month old.  She is not fond of carseat riding but we won't talk about that ;)

 The next morning we were on our way only 3 1/2 hours to go!  It almost took that long to get our breakfast at Cracker Barrel!  Seriously, even Sofia was like, "Come on!  It's just pancakes people!".  By the time we were done eating she passed out on Nani's chest from all the exhausting waiting!

 Then, the time came.  BEACH time!!!!  Sofia was ready...shades and all!

She really didn't care for the sand but tolerated it.  

Her favorite place was the swimming pool!  This girl could be pushed around in the pool for hours!  Plus, the water made it easier for her to stand up and she loved standing on the steps and thinking she was big time!

Here she is with her chicken that lights up like a disco ball.  She just had to have it while out shopping in Rosemary.

One of everyone's favorite thing was riding the bikes together.  We did this several times, but every single night.  It was wonderful!  Oh, and if you see my Mom, don't mention her MANY encounters with shrubbery while riding.  All I can say is that she is lucky the camera or video camera wasn't on me at the time or she would be in for it!!!!  

J.R. and I also got to have more quality time than we have had in months!  One of the perks of vacationing with parents :)

Sofia being escorted around the pool by her daddy.

"Hey look!  I'm up all by myself!"

We found these little sunglasses and they were perfect!  She looks pretty stinkin cute in them too!

She is totally into wearing other people's hats and sunglasses as well.

Sam got to go along for the trip this time.  I don't think he had a good time though ;)

Actually, he was hoping we were all moving there together I'm sure!  He LOVES my daddy and this is pretty much what they did most of the time.  

Shopping in Seaside

The men golfing at Camp Creek.

The beautiful sunset

One of my favorite times of day on the beach is at sunset.  I could stay there forever!

 Sofia scooting all over the place at the house!  She was pretty rotten about 24 hours into the trip being the only baby with four adults (and one dog).  But, isn't that what it's all about?!

Family photo on the porch where we swang and visited several times a day.  We meet wonderful neighbor's and made new friends and memories.  Our neighbor, Allison, is taking this picture while her boyfriend, Brandon, is getting Sofia to smile.  She's such a flirt!  Watch out Allison!

Our little Rosebud was completely exhausted on the way home!  She did great the whole time and we couldn't have ordered a better trip.  

A special thanks to Nani and Poppi.  We love you and always love spending time with you both. XOXO

Now, back to reality and the blow up pool in the back yard :)  Life is good!

The Week in Review

 Sofia is officially 11 months old!  I seriously can't believe that it has ALMOST been a year since we meet our precious angel.  I know people say that it goes fast all the time, but man, I had no idea that it was going to be THIS fast :( She is still a baby, even in medical terms, but people keep saying she's becoming a "big girl".  Just hold it right there you all cause she is still a baby.  Let's let her be that as long as we can!  

 She is changing and developing more each day.  We just can't get over how much she does now!  New words and sign language signs just pop out of her little self all of the sudden!  These little babes take in more than you realize...trust me.  It is so fun though and we are enjoying every single minute of it.

 Now we are planning the first birthday and it is overwhelming and exciting at the same time.  Since it is in June, we are planning an outdoor party and praying that the weather cooperates.  She loves to be outside, as do most children, so it will be perfect.  Some of the plans you may ask???  Well, we are PLANNING on having a miniature pony and possibly a mariachi band!  This Mexican restaurant we visit every Friday night has a band she loves and they can be "rented"!  How fun is that??? Ponies, mariachi, and BBQ and wings!  Doesn't get much more fun ;)

We will see though because I am sadly behind on the planning.  Something I am working on at this very minute!

 Another thing we are enjoying thoroughly is the pull behind Bert and Tammura are letting us use.  We go for bike rides almost every morning.  It's great exercise for me and she loves it.  She seriously smiles the entire time!  I don't even know what she is smiling at but she is smiling.  Geez, I love her :)

 We also have been going to the ball park a lot watching my nephews, Ian and Alex, play ball.  As I have mentioned before, she is a huge people watcher (can't imagine where she gets that!) and she loves to watch sports as well.  Anywhere we have taken her that has a ball involved she is into it!  Watching J.R. hit golf balls, play basketball, or watching the boys play baseball.  You name it she loves it!

 Sofia and Daddy after Alex's game.  

 And here she is with her Poppi watching Ian's game and enjoying her FIRST sucker!  She made a mess but really enjoyed it.  I don't give her many things sweet at all, considering she still nurses, she really doesn't eat much "real" food but she was all about this sucker!

Happy Monday to everyone and I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too!  

Enjoy as much time as you can with those you love!  Life is much better that way :)