Sign of a smart girl

For the past month, Sophie has started signing with us to communicate. She's not speaking yet - not even mama or dada - but she has found a way to 'talk' to us. She can sign more, eat, light, dog, hat, up, all done, and no. She has also signed a complete sentence: eat more (that's my girl!). We are working on the difference between eat and drink as well as bath, water, and yes. It's pretty cool to watch her learn and you can see it in her eyes when she gets it and how proud she is of herself. I'm pretty proud of her too!

In other news, Baby C2 is doing well and growing like a weed. I'm sure she must be 5 pounds now - at least that's what it feels like! She was 1lb 5oz a few weeks ago, so maybe she's closer to 2lbs now. She is kicking me all the time and I think she's going to be a ninja at the rate she's going. Benoit and I are desperately working on naming this baby before she arrives but can't seem to settle on just one name. We like several, but it's so hard to commit! We've ordered her baby furniture and bedding so far and will move Sophie out of her room in a week or so. Sophie is moving to the old guest room, which has been freshly painted a soft shade of green called 'Spring Reflection'. I want to get Sophie in her new room well before the baby arrives to ease the transition as much as possible.

Our next big trip is to LA (as in Lower Alabama) for Easter, so stay tuned for updates and pics!

Baby's First Portraits

Baby C2 had her first set of portraits this week at the doctor. There's a cute button nose and tiny toes ready to be kissed! Can't wait to meet her! I'm feeling good and can really feel her moving around now. She weighs 1lb 5 oz and is 11 in long. Benoit has been able to feel her kicking too, which is fun to share. Sophie gives my belly kisses and pats my tummy with her hand to say 'hi' to the baby. Love to all!

Fairytale Village

Sophie and I flew to Kansas City last week to stay with Benoit since he had a conference in town. We visited with some of my old friends (FUN!) and just hung out. Of course, she'd just be happy playing in the hotel room! We stayed at the Westin, which is attached to the Crown Center mall where we visited Fairytale Village. It was a cute display of child-sized fairy tales including The Three Little Pigs, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, and more. Sophie enjoyed walking around from room to room and especially walking over the miniature bridges! She was hard to keep up with, but a blast to watch. Here are a few pics....

Sophie enjoying the new hotel room

Plowing through the Three Little Pig's House. Cooking dinner with The Little Red Hen.Strolling through the forest with Little Red Riding Hood.Visiting Grandmother - no wait, that's the Big Bad Wolf!!!

Winter wonderland

Yesterday we had over 9 inches of snow in the Dallas metro and we've got a real winter wonderland outside. Cody is having a blast chasing the snow and is running laps in the backyard. Sophie and I went outside today to let her walk in the snow and play a bit. She seemed to like it but didn't quite know what to do. So we just walked around a bit and I let her taste some snow and touch it. Cody kept stealing her mittens and hoping we would chase him. Here are a few pics to enjoy!

Front of house

Benoit shoveling patio

Cody in the backyard

Sophie checking out the snow

Sophie tasting the snow

Cody barking at us - he wanted to play chase!

Hide and Seek

Sophie is enjoying her own version of hide and seek these days. She has a cabinet in the kitchen she can open and play in full of tupperware and plastic water bottles. Lately she's started 'hiding' them all over the house. The other day, I found the following....

Baskets in the cabinets....

Cups in the dining room....

Cups and tupperware in the living room....

Splish splash

Tonight was Sophie's first swim class with Benoit and she seemed to enjoy it. She's usually a little slow to get excited about something new (like the birthday cake) and she had the same reaction at the swim class. She just takes it all in and processes it before reacting. She never got really upset, but she never got really excited either. I imagine after a few classes, she'll start to understand what's going on and have more fun. Tonight, she practiced kicking her legs, holding on to the side of the pool, blowing bubbles (which she didn't quite do), being 'dipped' by Daddy, and jumping off the side of the pool into the water. I think she like jumping in the best! Enjoy some pics below!

One year ago today...

...I met Sophie Belle for the first time. I'm amazed at how wonderful this first year has been and am overjoyed to be home with her to soak it all in. I'm sure I'll blink and we'll be celebrating her 30th birthday (that's a little love for my mom who's baby boy turned 30 yesterday - Happy Birthday Brad!).

We had a birthday party with our Frisco 'family' of friends yesterday and Sophie had so much fun. She wasn't sure what to think of her cake and she just squished it in her fingers mostly. I'm not sure she ate hardly any of it! She just enjoyed spending time with her friends on the floor and playing. Benoit and I are thankful for all the love and support from our family and friends this last year. He thinks we should have a party for us to celebrate surviving the first year! Sounds good to me!

A few pictures of Sophie's cake and her reaction - she wasn't sure about what to do with it!
Sharing with Daddy!
Showing off her birthday dress - she would NOT wear her bow!

Sophie opened her gifts from family after the party and started climbing in her new swing.
Whoops! Toppled over!