We're off to California!

Ella's jumping for joy! To California we will go!

We're all packed and ready to go...


We're not ready to be on the road by 4:30 am but we'll survive. We'll be back on the 4th of September with lots of pictures I'm sure!

Have a great Labor Day!

Playing with Jordy and Sammy

These pictures are a couple weeks old but everytime I look at them they make me smile. We were playing at Jordana and Sam's house and the kids just had a blast.

Sammy and Sofia sat back to back in this swing for a good 30 minutes. At one point Sofia was even resting her head on Sammy's shoulder.

I love this picture of Ella spinning Jordy. It just says, "Young Summer Fun" to me. Look at those smiles!

I can't believe summer is almost over!

Sofia' 1 year Well Baby Visit

We had Sofia's 1 year Well Baby Visit this morning. Ella and I took Sofia together and Ella was such a big help. While Sofia was getting her shots, Ella sat right next to her saying, "It's ok baby Sofia. It's ohhhh kaaay."

Sofia for her part did great, especially since there was an hour wait this morning and it was right during nap time. She cried a bit during her shots but didn't scream and quickly got over it. I'm impressed because Ella usually cried until we were in the car after her shots.

Sofia has been sleeping horribly this past week. We knew that she was getting in her front two teeth but the Dr. looking in her mouth and said her molars are coming in too. UGGG. Molars are horrible. I'm hoping they break the surface soon, because I am tired and I know Sofia is too.

Now for the stats:

~Sofia the Gigantor~

Weight: 24 lbs (90%ile)
Height: 31 inches (95%ile)

She's seriously so tall it's crazy!

I still can't believe she's 1!

What is it about walking in our mother's heels?

I'm sure all us woman remember walking around in our mother's high heels...what is it about our mother's heels that is so special?

Saturday night Ricardo and I went out to dinner in the city with some friends and as I was getting ready, Ella found my shoes and walked around in them for a good 10 minutes without triping...impressive.

I don't know what it is about this picture that I love so much...sure I love her little face and that smile, but I think I also love the memories it brings back for me. Seeing my little girl wearing my heels reminds me of the joy I got out of wearing my mom's heels and hanging out with my her while she was getting ready to go out and now here I am...a mommy.

Sofia's Birthday Celebration

On Sofia's birthday, we took a family trip to The Land Of Make Believe in Hope, NJ. What a perfect place for young kids and it was only an hour away.

There was little to no wait for any of the rides and although the water park was slightly more crowded it was never so crowded that we couldn't enjoy ourselves.

Even though this was a celebration for Sofia, big sister Ella had a mighty good time as well.

Before we left the house. Happy Birthday Dracula!

First stop-Daddy on the Barney train

On the Choo choo train

Ella, always the daredevil went on every ride by herself. When I asked if she would like me to go on the roller coaster with her she said, "No mommy, you're too big to ride the roller coaster." She just climbed on with this little boy and had a blast. Now if only we could get a smile out of her like this on command!

On the carousel

Sofia, ummm, I think I like this...

Wait, no, no, I don't like this at all

We then headed to the water park which was a blast but unfortunately I value the life of my camera so I was unable to take pictures, but trust me, it was fun.

I would say the day was a success We aren't having Sofia's big 1st birthday party until we go home to California at the end of the month. We're doing a joint party with Tissie, my grandma, who is turning 90! We didn't want to overload Sofia with sugar but we couldn't let her actual b-day go without a little taste of sugar so Ella and I made her some chocolate chip cupcakes. Bakers we are not, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Singing Happy Birthday!

What is this thing?

Ella knows what to do with it

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY SOFIA CECILE!!!!

At 1:33 am on August 14, 2007 Sofia Cecile was placed in my arms for the very first time. We looked at her with astonishment. This was real. We are now the parents to two little girls.

Sofia was born screaming and she didn't stop screaming for 3 1/2 months. Like her big sister, she had colic. The first three months were rough. Very rough. Sofia was terrified of her own arms and spent the majority of her life wrapped tightly in a miracle blanket, in a sling against our bodies, while sucking on a paci. But like magic, around 3 months this adorable little personality came out and our funny, fiesty, little Sofia emerged.

Sofia, we love you more than words can say. We love you (and your sister) with a strength and depth that can't be understood until you have your own children. Nothing gives me more joy than watching you and your sister play together. I love when you just look at each other and break into a fit of laughter. You make my heart smile.

Thank you for being our little girl! We can't wait to celebrate many more birthdays with you.

Sofia at 1 year old:

We don't got for her 1 year WBV until Monday but I weighed her on our home scale and she was 24 lbs!!!

Sofia says:
Hi
bye bye
Mama
Dada
Hi Dada
Ella (ya ya)
Doggy
Cat
done
giraffe (gaffe)
I did it
Ashes Ashes aaa faa DOWN!
da dadada da!
thank you (although she really is just copying the sounds)

Sofia does:

She's so close to walking but not yet letting go of us. She can walk holding on to one finger and cruises like a maniac but still prefers crawling to walking.

She climbs EVERYTHING! Including the couch, the stairs, chairs, small tables, she even tries to climb into the bath tub.

claps
waves
gives high fives

plays peek-a-boo
signs: done, more, milk

Now, lets take a walk down memory lane...

Still in my belly-8/10/07

Hello World! I'm here!

Meeting her big sister

The sling/swaddle-where she lived for 3 months!

Even Gaga got in to the sling action

But then around 8 weeks in between the crying, she gave us a little glimpse in to the future. Look at that smile!
She discovered she loved jumping!

and just generally being cute



HAPPY 1st Birthday Sofia!!

One year ago today...

Well really, it all started one year ago yesterday (8/12/07). I was 39 weeks pregnant and had cramping on and off starting in the evening (Sunday). I thought nothing of it, just that I was 39 weeks pregnant, it was hot, and I was carrying around a 22 month old. When I woke up the next morning (8/13/07) I was still cramping on and off.

Ricardo urged me to call the Dr. but it didn't hurt and I didn't think anything of it but I said if I was still having the cramping after I woke up from my nap (oh how I miss the days where I could nap when my kid did) I would call.

So I woke up around 3pm and still had a little cramping so I called. They told me to come in right away since I was 39 weeks pregnant. So I left Ella with my mom (who had just come in town to be on baby watch) and headed to the Dr. with Ricardo.

They got me in right away...it was nice to not have to wait for 30+ minutes like I usually had to.

So I get in, the Dr. comes in and does the exam and looks at me cross-eyed and says, "Sweetie, you are 5 cm dilated and in active labor. Do you not feel the contractions?" Ummm, I guess not.

So off we headed home to pack our bags (remember how you pack the bag weeks early with the first? Ya, you don't do that with the second...) and then off to the hospital.

We checked in a little after 5 pm and anxiously awaited the birth of our second daughter.

Of course it wasn't without a little drama. The Dr. refused to give me an epidural due to my MS. It wasn't until midnight and a trip (out of my pocket) from a neurologist to give me the OK that I was finally allowed one....but this takes us to tomorrow, so you will just have to wait for the outcome (I'll give you a hint: It ends well.)

A Brief/Goldstein Kind of Weekend...

We had a really nice weekend which was spent mostly with the Briefs and Goldsteins.

Friday night the Goldsteins (Rich, Erika, Harrison, Bennett, and Aydan) had us and the Briefs (Andy, Jessica, Jordana, and Sam) for an evening BBQ. I forgot my camera unfortunately, but Rich and Erika took some pics so hopefully I'll have some soon.

They have a beautiful yard and the kids had a blast on the swingset and trampoline. We dined on crab and steak while the kids enjoyed homemade mac n cheese and hotdogs. Erika and Rich are most certainly fabulous hosts. I still need to get her white wine sangria and coleslaw (but not really coleslaw) recipes. Yum!

Last Saturday we were supposed to go to the beach with the Briefs but it rained all day so we had planned to go this Saturday. Rich and Harrison were going fishing, but Erika, Bennett and Aydan joined us.

We went do to the Conover Pavillion Beach Club in Deal, NJ. It was so nice because it had a little boardwalk where you could by food and ice cream and a swingset which the girls loved.

Enough talking, here are some pics.

Sammy and Sofia getting ready to go to the beach-yummy thighs!

The girls (Aydan, Ella, and Jordy) spot the beach!

I decided to do something fun with Ella's hair to keep it out of her face while running around. It's kind of fun, right?

Jordy and Ella loved being in the swings with their Daddys. Ricardo and Andy were multi-tasking and playing football with Bennett while swinging.

Bennett, Future Heisman Trophy Winner?

Ella, always the dare-devil, spent the majority of time on the rocks with Ricardo looking for crabs.

Sofia and mommy

Sofia had a blast in her little pool. She spent at least 2 hours just sitting and playing in it.

Sammy was so tired he just passed out in Jessica's arm. So sweet.

The girls all had ice cream on the boardwalk-CHEERS!

This is the closest we got at a picture of the girls together.

It was a great day. Both girls passed out on the car ride home for a bit, which was nice, espcially since Ella has totally given up her naps. She now does "quiet time" in her room. Well, maybe quiet time for an elephant. She basically runs back and forth from her dollhouse to her chair to her bed to her dollhouse, but at least it gives me a little break from hearing, "what's that? What's that?" for an hour.

We just hung out on Sunday and now I have a sinus infection...hopefully it will be better by Thursday because that Sofia's 1st birthday!!!!

Sofia the Monkey and Ella the Princess

Sofia is SUCH a monkey. All she wants to do it climb. She climbs things that Ella would have NEVER EVER even thought to climb. She gets such a smug look on her face when she climb up on the couch. Yes, she climbs on to the couch! I don't think Ella was able to climb up on the couch until she was close to 16 months old. She climb on to toddler sized chair and then stand on them to reach up on cabinets and tables. It's insane!

With Ella we never really had to baby proof. We would just tell her no and she would listen. With Sofia, we tell her no and I am almost positive she flipped me the bird.

Here she is climbing in to one of Ella's chairs. This was about 5 days ago. She's already doubled her time.

Some pics

And just because I can't believe she has so much hair at 11.5 months! I'm also proud to report that she is 100% off of bottles. She drinks her milk from a regular sippy cup and her water from a straw sippy cup.

She's such a little chatterbox. She says: hi, mama, dada, doggy, cat, done, "I did it", and she kind of sounds out "ashes ashes we all fall down". She's obviously hearing the last two from Ella.

I've been trying to catch "I did it" on video and I got this one the other day. You can also see her vampire top teeth. The front two are actually coming in now.

In addition to the above words, she signs: milk, more, and done. I cannot believe my little baby is going to be 1 year old in less than two weeks!

As for Ella-Gone are the days where I get to make every decision for her. She gets really upset if she doesn't get to pick out her outfit and the other day I told her that I was going to do a monkey party for her 3rd birthday. I thought this was a great idea since we are doing it at an indoor play area called "In The Swing".

I was informed I was sadly mistaken that a monkey party was a good idea. " No mommy, I don't want a monkey party. I want a princess party. A purple princess party!" Ok! So it must be a three year old thing because out of the 3 birthday invititations for girls that we've received for the month of August, 2 have been princess themed.

Of course, Ella is ever so untrusting, and has to remind me daily that I am NOT to throw her a monkey party but a princess party. Yes Ella, I got it! A purple princess party you shall get.