Austin

Several weeks ago, Sophia and I headed to the Austin area to see our great friends the Epley's. We had a great time visiting and eating Mrs. Gina's yummy food. Our time together was too short and we cannot wait to return.

It was only a 2 night trip!


Our lovely welcome sign.


The beautiful Epley offspring.
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My dear friend Gina and I.


The littlest Diddles.

Little Mike and Soph.


Insert "Whistling" here.

Sara and Soph. Thanks Sara for helping me take care of her. We love ya'll!!

Wowzers!

We have had a whirlwind of a time these last few weeks. Soph turned four months old, we hosted Reese's second "1st" birthday party, and we flew the coop and headed to Austin to visit some of our dearest friends, the Epley's. Mix in another birthday party for Aunt Lucie and the 4th of July and you will have our lives the past 8 days. Phewww!
My Spanish speaking (only) M.I.L. is on her way here for 3 weeks and my brain is not quite ready to think in two languages. It will be her first time to meet the little princess. I am praying Spanish will come quickly to my mind and my tongue.
Sophia is doing great and growing so much. Her personality is beginning to shine and her looks have changed. This is going by way to fast for my liking. On the 4th she had her first solids, home-cooked sweet potato. She loved it and did really well with the spoon. She can roll over, but sometimes gets stuck on her tummy. She is able to hold her toys and bring them to her mouth. She is belly laughing which will bless any heart. She is still nursing every 3 hours and gets up once or twice in the night. We are growing out of our miracle blanket and playard and into our crib. Still loves her binky and her Hohee (silky blanket). She is such a loving and beautiful baby girl and I am so proud to be her Mom.
The 4th marked a special time for us because that is the day we found out we were pregnant. I remember watching the fireworks with Jaime by my side, both of us grinning from ear to ear and filled with joy because God had so richly blessed us with a child. Here we are with a healthy bombolina and I could not be happier, nor more thankful. Enjoy the pics and I will be back because I have so much more to say. Pics from the Austin trip coming next.


4 month pics. Not too happy this time either.

Look how big she is getting.

Tummy time.

Birthday princess

Love this. I think she is looking for her toes.

Happiness at last. Still sporting the cloth!!

Almost 4 months

We have been having a great summer so far. Last week we went to Dallas to spend time with my sister. Soph did really great on the trip, minus the last hour on our way home. She had had enough of her car seat.
Our 2nd anniversary was this past Tuesday. I made a yummy dinner and my very first cheesecake. It turned out great and Jaime, Soph, and I enjoyed ourselves.
We have a full next few weeks. We have Father's Day, Anniversary parties, birthday parties, shots, and my mother in law is coming from VZA for 3 weeks. Whew. It is going to be busy around here. Here are some fun pics of our summer so far.


Tummy time really is fun!

Prefers her back. Can you tell?

Cheesecake a la strawberries and homemade whip cream.

The spread with my beautiful roses.

Love this!

Whop and Reesie Bear

Goshhhh!

First dip in the backyard pool.

Too cool for school. She is wearing a diaper, it is just green.

More cuteness from previous post

Oh it's so sad.

My favorite little sunhat.

One, Two..... Looks like she is counting to 3 before someone is going to get it.

Hello I am a gorgeous creation.

3 Months

Angel baby

3 month pose (she was cranky that evening, so I will try again)

Soph:"How can I help you?" Cracks me up!

Her and Daddy at the park.

My sweet baby is 3 months old. I cannot believe how fast this is going. She rolled over twice yesterday, from her stomach to her back. We took our first trip to the park and to the pool. She belly laughed for the first time too. This is such a fun age with all the "talking," laughing, and smiling. She is such a joy to be around and really brightens others days. It is such a neat experience to watch strangers light up, grin and coo at your child and offer you congratulations, when as before they would have passed on by. Children are truly a gift and a wonderful blessing. The Lord is teaching me so much about His love for His children through this child. His love is perfect and it casts out fear. Here are some recent pictures of my "Lovey" as I have come to call her. Happy beginning of summer!!

First Mother's Day

Look Reesie, I am wearing you from head to toe.


Is she beautiful or what? My precious gift.

My first Mother's Day was so special. On Friday afternoon I received beautiful red roses from my husband. Later that night we attended a double birthday party for our good friends from Canada. Saturday morning we spent quietly at home with a yummy breakfast we cooked together. We went to my niece's dance recital and Soph and I spent most of the time in the car, because she would need to eat when she woke up (not a public nurser b/c we can't be discreet). Following the recital we made a few pit stops and then headed home. Sophia had an awful afternoon and evening. She didn't eat for 8 hours and cried most of that time. We gave her two baths just to help her calm down. Finally at 11:30pm she ate and slept until 5:30am. Poor baby! We still aren't sure what was going on, except maybe a stomach ache. After she went to bed, I made these delicious cupcake bites. I got the idea from Bakerella's blog, which is so fun and she has super cute ideas for everything you can imagine. This was the second time I made these particular bites in two days. The first go-round was with Vicki and Gidget for my great friend Kari's birthday. Soph and I had to miss Kari's birthday festivities because of her eventful afternoon/evening. The second batch I made for Mother's day. See pics below. They are a lot of fun to make and quite a treat to eat. Sunday we got up and headed to church. Jaime also had a few more gifts for me, because he is great! For lunch we headed to the Ellis', in which Jorge had cooked a fabulous meal. Roast, roasted chicken, green bean casserole, rice, sister schubert rolls and some fantastic Halfmann's pies. Yummmy! We came home to rest and then headed to Mom and Dad's for supper. Blake and Brooks cooked hamburgers and chicken apple sausages. Again delicious! We then played Farkle and Pass the Pigs. My family loves games of all kinds. We got home just in time to bathe Sophia and call it a day. It was a fun-filled weekend and I am so incredible grateful to be a Mommy and to have such a great Mom.



Cupcake bites are so fun!!!

Updates and Picture Parade

A little on Sophia:

• moved up to size 2 diapers
• wore blue jeans
  
• laughed purposefully for the first time
• is finding her hands
• found her tongue and voice
• does not like tummy time
• wears 3 month clothes
• got her first diaper rash (owie, but not severe)
• loves evening stroller rides
• has a touch of colic
• looking more like her Daddy every day
• has a smile that will melt your heart

So on the whole, she is doing very well and developing more every day. What a blessing to watch a child grow and blossom. Can you imagine what God must feel like when we are enlightened by His truth and are changed. No matter how long we have walked with Him, we are continually molded into His image, and prayerfully we are renewing our minds in His Word. It takes effort on our part to be more like Christ. It is not just something that will haphazardly happen! I have been reminded of this time and time again, especially since Sophia has been born. Trying to make the most of each day's time has proven difficult for a host of reasons. I am still working through Beth Moore's Esther study and loving it! I sure have missed our Bible study group since Sophia was born as they began. I am truly enjoying this season and trying to make the most of it, because I have been told and I know in my heart it is brief and fleeting. I will leave you with a few pics from this past weekend. My sister and her family came down and we had a blast. Love you Whop and happy birthday Wallace!



My little sweetie in her jeans!



Jaime was having a little fun with the camera! He sounded like the paparazzi and Whop thought it was hilarious and you can tell by my look what I thought. These crack me up!


I am sure his abs were burning! Way to go Ashy!


Pigtails by Hatira and yes we are all 20+!


Bugsy anyone? That is intense Wii action.


"The" Reesie Bear and Whoppa!


Wallace and Soph. So pretty!

Have a great week.