21 Months Old!

Happy 8 Month Anniversary, Sophie Lu!

Sophie turns 21 months old today, and we also celebrate 8 months together! They have been the happiest, most amazing 8 months of my life. Michael and I thank God every day for blessing us with our precious daughter.

I try so hard to live in the moment, not to take anything for granted, and to relish every single moment with Sophie Lu. I want to remember everything- all of her little cutenesses (that's what I call them). Things like...

The way she smells illustrations of flowers inside a book-
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How she notices a plane, a bird, or the moon even when I don't-
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The way she looks up at me when we snuggle, blinks her eyes, and waits for me to blink back-
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How she says, "Moon!" when we get to the "C" page of her ABC book (because the letter C is shaped like a crescent moon)-
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The way she places my hand on her tummy when she wants a rub-
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How it take us an hour to walk what used to take 5 minutes because she has to smell every flower along the way-
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The way she says, "Bye Bye" and waves off strangers who invade her space at the grocery store-
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How she makes me say, "Ahhhh" when she wants to know what is in MY mouth-
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How she shares her food and insists on feeding all of us (even the kitties and stuffed animals)-
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The way she exclaims, "Blue!" "Red!" and "Black!" but softly whispers, "Purple"-
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How she closes doors and drawers after me when I forget-
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How she'll put almost anything on top of her head and call it a hat-
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The way she licks her fingers when she turns the page-
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How she hugs every child she sees, but won't let me anywhere near another child (not even my niece)-
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The way she touches my face, plays with my hair, or twirls Pookie's tail as she's falling asleep-
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How she answers every question with "No" even if she means "Yes"-
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The way she dances and tries to sing along to every song she hears "La la la la.."-
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How she says, "Uh Oh!' before she drops something-
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The way she kisses pictures of kitties and yells, "Hiiiiiiii Ga Ga!"
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How she reminds me to put a bow in her hair and insists on wearing one (even when she sleeps)-
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The way she softly pats my back when she gives me a hug-
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The way she puckers and says, "Mmmmmm" and then gives me kisses with her "Kissy Face" lips-
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How she takes my hand and places it in her Daddy's hand- and then proudly smiles-
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But most of all, I want to remember the feeling I get when she says, "Mama", or when she reaches up for me to hold her, or when she wakes me up in the morning with her sweet, soft kisses.

I can't believe how lucky I am. I am so very very lucky!

Happy 8 month anniversary, Sophie Lu! I love you!
xoxoxoxo

Sophie's Latest Hair Accessory...

LEAVES! Sophie had so much fun "raking" leaves with Daddy! There were so many cute pictures that I had a hard time narrowing it down (as usual)!

Happy Valentine's Day, Sophie Lu!

Sophie Lu loves purses, and she got 3 purses for Valentine's Day! (from Mommy, Grandma Loretta, and Grandpa Elliot!) It's so cute the way she puts them on her arm and goes about her day!

A Valentine for my Waiting Friends!

Stickers: Not Just for Paper Anymore...

Happy Valentine's Day, Mom!

For those who are wondering...

Yes, she was quiet again, and no- I guess I didn't learn my lesson!

Love the world as a mother loves her only child~
Buddhist Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

A Visit from Uncle Willie & Grandpa Elliot!

Uncle Willie & Grandpa Elliot (Pappy) came for a visit on their way back from golfing in Palm Springs. Pappy brought lots of gifts for Sophie, and Uncle Willie just passed his PAT test and is now a professional golfer! Thank you, Pappy- and congratulations, Uncle Willie! Sophie loves you both! :)

Squeaky Shoes & Goats Who Don't Like Them!

Squeaky shoes from China: $4.00
Tickets to the L.A. Zoo: $20.00
Goat Stampede at the petting zoo... PRICELESS!
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Okay, so I made the little mistake of dressing Sophie in squeaky shoes for her second trip to the zoo! I also forgot my video camera, but here is a little clip of her squeaky shoes before we left!




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And this is what happened when we got there...
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As soon as we got into the petting zoo, Sophie saw a crowd of school boys gathered around a goat. Before we knew what happened, she ran over there, pushed her way through the boys, and planted her hands firmly on the goat (as if to mount him)!
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I guess the goat didn't want to be mounted, so he started to take off...
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This kind of scared the school boys away, but not Miss Sophie Lu! Nooo, she decides to CHASE HIM!

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In her SQUEAKY SHOES!

He kept on running, and she just kept on chasing! The petting zoo workers had never seen anything quite like it...

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I guess goats don't much like Squeaky Shoes! In any case, I never dreamed that my 20 month old daughter would cause a stampede at the petting zoo!

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Finally, Sophie tired the poor goat out! She tried to get cozy with him- but somehow, things seemed different now...

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So, she found a new goat! And she told him allllll about what a scaredy cat the other goat was!
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Sophie's new goat was really cool! He didn't seem to mind her squeaky shoes at all... and he even let her mount him!

More Peek-a-Boo & Sophie Kisses Too!

Peek-a-Boo! (Sophie Lu x 2)

Where's Sophie?

Where's Sophie?

There she is!!!

"Please?" (Sophie's secret weapon & her 1st victim)

I am starting to wish we'd never taught the irresistible Miss Sophie Lu to be so polite... When she wants something, she uses her sweetest voice, tilts her head, and says, "Pleeeeeease?" This was wonderful at first- when she wanted a snack, a book, etc. Of course, we wanted to use positive reinforcement to encourage her, so if she said the magic word- she would get that snack, book, etc. Unfortunately, I didn't count on her asking "Please" for things I didn't want her to have... say, the turquoise Sharpie marker...


So, I'm in my office at my computer- and Sophie wants the turquoise Sharpie. Thinking that she couldn't possibly get the cap off, and since she said, "Pleeeease" and I can't resist that- I gave it to her. Minutes later, things were just a little too quiet. She was sitting in her play corner with her back turned to me (sneaky little thing!). This is how I found her- caught in the act of defacing poor Hello Kitty!


Sophie did it! In Mommy's office with the Sharpie...

Sophie's Story (problem fixed)

Thank you to Susan who pointed out that "Sophie's Story" was set to private. I have resolved this issue; and the video may again be viewed by clicking the link under "Videos". :)

Dim Sum with Travel-Mates!

Sophie Lu enjoyed Dim Sum in China Town with her friends (from our China travel group!) From left to right: Grace, Sophie, & Maya!



It was so wonderful to see some of our travel mates! I'm sorry I didn't get more photos, but here we are with Carol and her darling daughter, Maya!

Sophie loves to eat, but today she was more interested in the balloons!

She wanted to hold her balloon, and everyone else's!

She surprised us by eating with chopsticks!


Sophie stares lovingly up at the balloons...

Here, she is trying to steal some little boy's balloon!

This is Maya (yes, 2 Mayas!). She is from the same orphanage as Sophie! Maya is one month older than Sophie and the only girl in the group that is taller! It is amazing how the girls from this orphanage have such similar features! (again, I wish I had taken more photos...)

Sophie had lots of fun walking around in her squeaky shoes from China!

Sophie had fun with Maya, Grace, and Maya, and she sends kisses to her other 23 China "cousins" from our travel group! Happy New Year! xoxoxo