Memorial Day Weekend Fun

For Memorial Day weekend, we finally made a trip up to Connecticut and New York to visit Zio Gioel and his family. We were all excited to visit everyone, but were especially excited to meet Sophia's new cousin, baby Max! For the first couple of days, we went to their beautiful house in Connecticut. We ate lots of yummy food prepared by Zio Gioel and Sophia had a lot of time to play with her cousins.

Cousin hugs!


Cheese!


Baby Max has big feet!


Mmmm...steak


On our way back to New York, we stopped at Jason's Aunt Celia's house for Pa's birthday party! Sophia got to meet many of Daddy's aunts, uncles, and cousins for the first time, and got to see Grandma and Pa too. Cousin Simone took Sophia swimming in the pool and she had a blast!

Mommy snuggles


In spalla


Swimming with cousin Simone


Floating on the raft with cousin Luca


Aunt Ronni and baby Max


Grandma and Pa


Blowing out the candles!


Sophia eating her new favorite food


For the last 2 days of our trip, we stayed in New York City. Sophia had a lot more play time with her cousins, and by the end of the trip, was a pro at crawling on her knees. She got to go eat some yummy New York pizza, and had fun taking a bath with her cousins too!

About to eat some NY Pizza


Bath time with the cousins!


Luca wetting Sophia's hair


Thanks so much for having us Zio Gioel and Aunt Ronni! We had a blast!

11 months!

This past month was an active one for Sophia. At the beginning of the month, she learned how to sit herself up from a laying down position. She has been practicing her army crawl and is very fast now, and a few times has even crawled a short distance on her knees. She also figured out how to pull herself up to a standing position. There are still many things she hasn't tried to pull up on, but is a pro on the playroom futon and the chair and ottoman at Grandma's house.

Mid army crawl


Sophia cut her 3rd and 4th teeth this month, on the top, second ones over. When we ask her where the light is (in English and in Italian), she looks up and points. Her favorite things to play with are her activity tables, opening and closing the microwave, doors, and drawers, the trash in the office trash can (only pieces of paper!), and tearing apart magazines. With all of the toys we buy for her, her favorites are the things she isn't supposed to have! Sophia loves to "share" her food with Mommy, loves her swim lessons and throwing herself off the wall into the water, and has started giving kisses! They are the sweetest!

Reaching for her activity table


Playing with the trash


Splashing with her friends from the neighborhood


Playing with Colin


This month we started ordering Sophia food at restaurants when we go out. A few of the yummy new foods she tried this month are Yoforia, turkey bean chili, yogurt melts (favorite!), grilled cheese (also a favorite!), fish, cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese, bbq pork, and pancakes. Since she got sick at the beginning of the month, Sophia has been a very picky eater. What happened to my baby who ate anything and everything?? She spits out any food that she doesn't like, and is very anti vegetable right now.

Eating a bite of Daddy's pizza

First grilled cheese at My Friends Place

Having lunch with her bff Olivia

Hanging out with Uncle David and Cousin Jason


Snuggles with Daddy


Sleeping on her knees

Valdosta and Julia's Birthday

Earlier this week, Sophia, Nana, and I went to Valdosta to visit Sophia's great grandmother. We had so much fun visiting, and Sophia was wonderful. She loved playing with all of Grandma's toys, and became very good at pulling herself up on furniture! While we were there, we had a play date with cousin Julia, and even got to celebrate Julia's first birthday with her! At Julia's birthday dinner, Sophia tasted birthday cake for the first time. The first bite she almost spit out, but then she decided it wasn't too bad and ending up eating about half of the piece. Sophia loved playing with one of Julia's toys, so Julia let her borrow it for the rest of her visit! Sophia had a blast playing with it. Thanks Julia!

Wearing Mommy's sunglasses in the car


Emptying the diaper bag is so much fun!


Playing with cousin Julia


Kisses from Grandma


More kisses from Nana


Playing with the toy she borrowed from Julia


Pulled herself up!

Sharing is Caring!

Here is a cute video of Sophia sharing her FAVORITIST of all snacks - yogurt drops. I guess if she is willing to share these, she must really love her Mommy!

Swim lessons

A couple of weeks ago, Sophia started taking Baby and Me swim lessons at Sarah's School of Fish. She took to the water very quickly and loves being in the pool! Last week, Daddy got to come with us to see what her class was all about. He took lots of pictures of Sophia having fun in the water!

When we first get in the pool, Sophia gets in a noodle to float around and play before the lesson starts.



Then we sing some songs and Sophia practices floating on her back.


After that, we go over to the wall and practice jumping in and then grabbing onto the wall. Every time she jumps in she closes her eyes and scrunches up her face to brace herself for the water.





This time was Sophia's first time gliding under water! She did great!

Swimming to Ms. Pat


Kisses from Mommy when she was done


Then we went back over to the wall and practiced jumping in and rolling onto her back. The first couple of times I had to pull Sophia's arms so she'd come in the water, but after that she was trying to jump in before I even had time to move back from the wall!

On the wall, ready to go!


Jumping in by herself (eyes closed, face scrunched!)








That was so much fun! Let's do it again!

Zia Micol Visits!

Last week Zia Micol came to visit from London! We had a lot of fun eating our way around Atlanta, but the best part was how much Sophia loved being around her. The first night Micol got home Sophia studied her intently for a good 10 minutes, just staring at her, then she warmed up and loved playing with her.


Hi Zia! So happy you're here!











This book is relevant to my interests. Let me see it real quick!












Uhhh, excuse me, i wasn't done reading.









What is this thing in your hair? Let me examine it closely.











Look, I can even dress like the Zia. So fun!!!!










Micol is gone now, but we hope she comes to visit again soon.