Sophie's First Painting!

We were so proud of Sophie while she was painting- she was so engaged and so serious about her art work. She held her paintbrush perfectly; and ever so delicately, she dipped it into the color palette and onto her paper. (The painting center attendant was very impressed with Sophie's fine motor skills and attention span as well!) It's so hard to believe that only 9 months ago, our 13 month old Sophie Lu could not even pick up a cheerio- and now she is our talented little artist! (and she looked pretty cute in her smock, too!)
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Here it is! Sophie's very first original painting! Her Daddy and I think it's just beautiful, and we are going to frame it and hang it someplace very special!
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*Sophie made this painting at KidSpace which is a wonderful childrens' museum and activity center. So much fun!

Happy 9 Month Anniversary!

Today, Sophie turned 22 months old, and we also celebrated 9 glorious months together! It is also the day that Sophie finally referred to herself as something other than "baby". With all the nicknames we have for her (kitten, kitty lu, lovey lu, etc.), we wondered what she would call herself. Well, leave it to our daughter to come up with something entirely new. Today, she pointed to me and said, "Mama", and then pointed to herself and proudly said, "Fi Fi"!!! I guess this makes sense because "Fi" is how the end of Sophie sounds; and she called Seymour, "Mour", and Pookie, "Key"...

Fi Fi! Oh my goodness. Well, Happy Happy 9 month anniversary, my sweet FiFi Lu!

All my love,
Mama xoxo

Sophie Is...

Sophie is sweet, she is loving, and she is kind...

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She is joyful...

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ssShe is innocent...
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She is appreciative...

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She is playful...

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She is gentle...

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She is jubilant...

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She is hopeful...

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She is contemplative...

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She is happy...

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She is spirited...

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She is mindful...

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She is adventurous...

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She is silly...

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She is captivating...

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She is resolute...

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She is thoughtful...

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She is enchanting...

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She is expressive...

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She is delightful...

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She is elegant...

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She is attentive...

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She is funny...

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She is inquisitive...

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She is cheeky...

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She is determined...

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She is vivacious...

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She is assertive...
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She is curious...

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She is whimsical...

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She is impassioned...

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She is irrestible...

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Sophie is beautiful. She is love.

And thanks to God and all of his angels,

She is mine.

While I was making coffee....

Let's just say things got a little too quiet while I was making my coffee and scrambling some eggs for Sophie. I thought she was enjoying her bowl of appetizer cheerios at her Dora table; but, noooo, she was placing her cheerios on her playmat- and one by one, she was using her blue marker to make them explode! You will notice that she did, however, use her Sophie-sized broom to sweep them up (well, kind of)...


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I guess I'll have to hide the art supplies next time I serve her cereal. Hmmm... well, at least we know she is creative! :)

Is My Daddy the Brawny Man?

Hmmmm...

In my never-ending quest to find rainy day activities to entertain Miss Sophie Lu, we decided that stacking rolls of paper towels would be both fun and safe. Next thing I know, she's kissing the paper towels! This is what happened..
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What do you think?

Guess who's going to be a big sister?

Miffy is Sophie Lu's very favorite show (she even loves it more than Dora!) It is the most simple, sweet, darling little show I've ever seen (and don't tell him I told you, but Michael loves it too!) Miffy helps Sophie develop number sense by providing experiences with a range of mathematical concepts. (Maybe that's why Sophie is so good at "popcorn" math...) Also, Miffy is a wonderful role model; she is a loving, good natured, well mannered bunny with excellent morals; and she values friendship, family, and education.

We are very excited to learn Miffy is going to have a baby sister bunny in this week's Miffy's Spring Special! Congratulations Miffy!

* Sophie's other shows: Little Einsteins, Play With Me Sesame, and Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends (all educational, of course!)

Our Special Song!

This is the music video for Sophie & Mommy's very special song, "Everywhere I Go" by Moose A. Moose from Noggin. Whenever it comes on, we both stop whatever we
are doing so we can dance, laugh, and sing along together. This song is so meaningful to me (click here for the lyrics) because "Days are the sunniest..." where ever my Sophie goes. That's why I always add a special verse at the end: "Sophie Lu is the Luiest- everywhere she goes!!!"

Shashoo!!! (Pleeeeaase?)

Sophie's vocabulary seems to double every week now; still there are two words she just can't say: "yes" and "ice cream". Instead of yes, she answers with "Please" or just recently, "Sure!" And, as you'll see, she calls her beloved ice cream, "Shashoo!" *


* Sophie's shashoo: Julie's Organic Mandarin Sorbet & Cream

Sophie's Smiles

There is nothing more beautiful to me than my daughter's smiles! I am still sorting through all the photos from this day; and when I came across these, I instantly felt so much better-

Thanks again to everyone for your beautiful comments regarding Seymour- they really helped to cheer me up! xoxo

Seymour (In Loving Memory)

Our sweet Seymour was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure back in November. For several months now, my wonderful husband has been giving him fluids so he could enjoy more time with us. Sadly, he took a sudden turn for the worse; and we knew it was the right thing to do to have him put to sleep. It was very very hard for us, but we both stayed with him until the end. Seymour was such a wonderful kitty. Gentle, loving, and so patient- Seymour, we love you, and we will miss you very much. We wanted Sophie to share a few last moments with Seymour. First, she shared her Play-doh with him, and then she gave him a very sweet good-bye kiss.

Seymour loved Sophie from the very start. He was so sweet with her. And it's a good thing he practiced his patience, because Sophie sure did enjoy kitty-back rides on her very patient Seymour Kitty (whom she called, "Mour").

I guess the hardest part for me has been staying strong and cheerful for Sophie. It is so hard not to cry when I feel sad, but I wouldn't want my baby to worry. Until now, I always thought my Mom never cried (I've only ever seen her cry twice). Now, I realize that she probably did cry- she just never let me see it. Thank you, Mom. Now, I understand...

Sophie's Favorite Number

Sophie's very favorite number is 2! And this is her favorite treat, which she calls, "Poporn". We read lots of counting books, and we count everything. Sophie will repeat the numbers and point/count with me; but she always somehow ends up concluding that there are "TWO" of every item. Yesterday, I was counting out her favorite treat- I said, "One, two, three, four, five popcorns." As expected, she then argued, " Two poporn!" So, I tried to show her that there were 5 as I counted them out again..."One, two, three, four, FIVE popcorns. Five popcorns, Sophie Lu!" After she insisted again that there were only two popcorns, I patiently started counting them out again. This time, as I counted them- she ate the first 3 pieces of popcorn, smiled, and then proudly exclaimed...
"Two. Two poporn, Mama!"

My little mathematician- you gotta love her!

I will never ever forget this day...

Today, my amazing daughter actually told me she loved me for the very first time. For a while now, she has tried to whisper it back to me when I say, "I love you" to her. But while I was cooking dinner tonight, she tugged on my pants, looked right up at me, and said:

"I...ruv... YOU!"

It was just the sweetest thing I've ever heard! I love you, too, Sophie Lu! I love you, too!

Pookie Update! (by request)

Pookie has never been happier!

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He still enjoys lots of hugs from Sophie Lu (his kitten)...
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and LOTS of kisses!

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He loves to make her laugh!

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And he enjoys their cat naps.

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He's even gotten used to wearing hair bows...
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and doesn't mind being her pillow.

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Sophie loves you too, Pookie!

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Sophie & The Kumquats

Mama, take me to my kumquat tree!

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Pull!!!

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Yay!!! I got some! Can't wait to taste one...

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Hmmm... they taste- well, interesting!

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I think I'll try another one.

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Ewww.

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Ewwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Now, what am I supposed to do with all these?

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I guess I have to eat them...

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Ohhh! I just can't eat any more!

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Want one?

Made in Vietnam

I am slowly but surely going through the 244 photos I took of Sophie the other morning in the darling outfit her big sister Amy sent her (thank you, Amy!). When I put the outfit on Sophie, I noticed that the tag said "Made in Vietnam". Could this be a sign of things to come? Hmmmm... Just a thought... ;)