Ms. Sophia
Our Sophia is now 9 months old. Actually, 9 months, 2 weeks. 17.5 lbs and 27 inches, shorty mc shortpants.
At this point I can honestly say that all of the advice, support and hugs you all gave me during those early days paid off. I made it. It was not an awful trip, but it was hard and difficult. It most certainly is not over but I can unequivocally say to those behind us that it DOES get better. Not only better - but AWESOME. (BTW - if you’re just finding me and a new mom check out the comments in some of the old posts - they are incredible.)
She is a blast. Funny, goofy, smiley, innocent, endearing, snuggly and incredible. She giggles, tells us “stories”, rolls and pushes herself around. She is always “giving” us stuff, although she doesn’t always like it when we take it from her. Ah, the nuances of being 9 months. She claps, waves bye-bye and pinches until her heart is content.
Yummy, Beans and Rice
She loves to eat - anything we give her she gobbles up. We have discovered that she loves watermelon in particular. Peas and Bananas aren’t far behind on the favorite list. She’s working on expanding her world. Pulling up, standing on our laps, pushing her voice to new octaves. She thinks the animals are hilarious and loves their kisses.
We bought a $6 car for her at a garage sale - her dad pimped it out for her with flame stickers and everything. She loves this car. She sits in it with her hands at 10 and 2 rocking back and forth until we make it go. It’s hilarious to see her cruising around the neighborhood with my mom behind. This is, by far, her favorite toy. She also loves her johnny jump up - she has taken to spinning herself silly in that thing.
She still isn’t the greatest sleeper but she has improved. This has actually been the most difficult thing for me - the lack of sleep. We had quite a journey getting to the point we are at and I hope we made good decisions and continue to do the best we can do in this arena. Ahhh, sweet sleep.
Sleep? Who needs stinking sleep?!
We had her 9 month check up yesterday. The pediatrician (who was my pediatrician!) was asking the usual developmental questions. I mentioned that Sophia had started to throw temper tantrums. The Dr. looked at my with a grim face and said, “Already?!” Ha! Here we come world - stubborn, intelligent, curious, active, and passionate all words that will likely describe the adult Sophia. Incredible attributes in an adult woman - in a baby and toddler? Not so much.
She is an incredible traveller. Flexible, good humored and up for the adventure.
It has been an incredible joy to see the world through her eyes, to love her and hold her. We feel very lucky.
These pictures are fabulous. LOVE the one with Dad.
14 Nov 2007 at 12:24 pm
What a beautiful post, Wendy. It makes me remember Hannah and that age, such a truly special time.
14 Nov 2007 at 12:34 pm
Your post makes me nostalgic! 9-12 months were some of my favorite times. Sleep *does* continue to get better, though I’m still holding out for the time when we can just *tell* Jacob to go to his room for the night.
She’s such a darling. Glad to see you’re enjoying it, tantrums and all!
14 Nov 2007 at 12:35 pm
Awww. Happy 9 month birthday, Sophia!
14 Nov 2007 at 12:38 pm
Funny, goofy, smiley, innocent, endearing, snuggly incredible, stubborn, intelligent, curious, active, and passionate … sounds like her mama! And those photos … ouch, my ovaries are cramping!
14 Nov 2007 at 12:39 pm
She’s just gorgeous. 9-12 months were some of the most fun for me. I need to hug my daughter.
14 Nov 2007 at 12:41 pm
Excellent post, Mama Wendy. Sophia is so adorable in those photos. I can tell you that the next couple years, you most likely will find yourself saying “this age is my favorite” over and over at each month/stage as it keeps getting better and better, if you can believe it. Then they turn 4 and…well…not so much, but you know it’ll get better again
14 Nov 2007 at 12:43 pm
That is one gorgeous lil’ chicken.
14 Nov 2007 at 12:43 pm
I’m all weepy and stuff.
I’m so glad that you and Rob are parents. It makes me feel like maybe we’ll all be okay as long as wonderful people like the two of you are bringing new little people into the world.
Love you guys!
14 Nov 2007 at 12:46 pm
holy god, the cuteness is overwhelming!!!! congratulations on your beautiful family
14 Nov 2007 at 12:52 pm
and lucky you certainly are!
enjoy Sophia, she is just an amazing gift (to us too!)
14 Nov 2007 at 1:01 pm
While I have a lot of internet mom friends, I enjoy your posts the most since Sophia and June are only 2 days apart in age. I love reading all the new things she’s doing as June is doing them at the same time! I love the picture of her eating the rice and beans! June is still very tentative about eating non-baby food. She acts really interested in other foods, and will take bites of our food and enjoy them, and eat finger foods as snacks, but if she’s hungry and I try to give her a plate full of chopped up table food as a meal, she gets so pissed and throws them on the floor. Hopefully she will be as adventurous as Sophia soon!
14 Nov 2007 at 1:03 pm
She’s glorious! I’m so glad you’re happier and enjoying her to the full.
~x~
14 Nov 2007 at 1:10 pm
Dear Lord…that bald head…so damn cute. This is my favorite age and going forward is pretty great. the sleep might get better or it might just be what you get. My first one did not sleep, my second one slept through the Northridge earthquake. It is what it is…
14 Nov 2007 at 1:21 pm
You most definitely are lucky! Thank you for sharing her with us
14 Nov 2007 at 2:02 pm
she is such a cutie. man, i love the big eyes and bald head. so adorable.
14 Nov 2007 at 2:16 pm
What a cutie she is. As the mother of a stubborn, intelligent, curious, active, and passionate 11 year old I can tell you that you and Sophia will have your moments with each other (Three was a year to remember at our house), but that the reward is sweet, sweet, sweet.
14 Nov 2007 at 2:48 pm
She’s gorgeous. What a wonderful post, Wendy. I hope you save/print some of these posts for her baby book or some kind of keepsake. So much love.
14 Nov 2007 at 2:58 pm
Gosh she is glorious!
14 Nov 2007 at 3:35 pm
You all make such a beautiful family! She’s going to be quite the young lady and you’re in for an awesome ride.
14 Nov 2007 at 3:53 pm
Such a beautiful post - thank you so much for sharing it. That is one precious family you have there.
14 Nov 2007 at 5:53 pm
She is SO pretty! It’s amazing how much happens in the first year - she’s only 5 months older than our munchkin, but doing such different things. It’s fun to see what’s up ahead!
14 Nov 2007 at 6:18 pm
Baby Sophia couldn’t look more like Rob in pic #2 if she tried. She’s an adorable baby, and her temperament might just be a reflection of her intelligence. And that would be you and Rob’s fault…
14 Nov 2007 at 7:40 pm
She is too cute for words. I love to see babies make giant food messes! My first wasn’t and still isn’t a very good sleeper. Just stay the course and you can learn to live with the lack of sleep. I figure when they’re teenagers we’ll probably wish they would sleep less.
14 Nov 2007 at 7:55 pm
what a beautiful post. she is a super-cutie! i’m sure its crazy to think she’s been “out” now as long as you waited for her 9 months ago!
14 Nov 2007 at 10:54 pm
I absolutely *love* the pumpkin photo!!!
14 Nov 2007 at 11:31 pm
Sophia = cute. I can’t get over what great photos you take of her. They would make me want a baby if I were of the proper age. (Been there, done that, twice.) Vicki already said what I was thinking: save these posts and put them in her baby book. She will love reading them every year on her birthday.
15 Nov 2007 at 12:30 am
She’s just beautiful. Spirited, opinionated, curious, intelligent….wonder where she got any of that from? I say this gazing at my two stubborn, inquisitive, curious, independent boys (one of whom also feels sleep is for sissies, just like I did/do). Sigh. Not an easy road, but a rewarding one all told. You’ve done an amazing job and should be pretty darn proud of yoursef :-).
15 Nov 2007 at 12:32 am
All that is understandable since she is . your. kid.
That you guys would make such a human was inevitable.
Now, how about another? ::ducking::
Man is she cute.
15 Nov 2007 at 10:30 am
She is the sweetest thing. And it seems like you are doing a really good job of enjoying every second of it all. Back when LS was in the blobby stage I kept thinking, when are you going to sit up? Now, I sort of wish I enjoyed the blobby stage a little more (this, of course, is exacerbated by the fact that his is now fully mobile and won’t sit down for longer than 2 seconds). Congrats on making it this far. Start planning your, I mean Sophia’s one year blow out bash.
15 Nov 2007 at 10:54 am
I am not surprised at all that you and Rob have an awesome, happy, inquisitive, baby.
And that picture of Rob and Sophia is awesome.
Miss you guys.
15 Nov 2007 at 1:00 pm
Hi, I only discovered your blog a few days ago and hadn’t left a comment yet… Thank you for the wonderful post - Sophia is gorgeous! All the best to you and your family,
Sanne (from Germany)
P.S. I also love your header photo
15 Nov 2007 at 3:18 pm
Yay! You’re at the fun part! The good news is that it is all the fun part! When my youngest was 4, I was really sad that I didn’t have a toddler in the house anymore, because I thought, “wow, I just love the toddler phase,” but now, I’m thinking what fun we are having now that we are in the little kid phase!
And Sophia — gorgeous!!!!
15 Nov 2007 at 3:31 pm
I love seeing the pictures of you and Sophia. I loved when Allison was that little, but she’s just as much fun now. [as long as i don’t speak to her before 10:00 a.m.] I’m sorry to hear about your friends’ loss. It’s hard to understand how these things can happen and how people proceed with their lives. Where is the house by the way???
15 Nov 2007 at 8:42 pm
Aw!! She is just way too cute and I smiled all the way through this post. Are you settling into your new digs?
16 Nov 2007 at 7:49 pm
Now that my kids are teens, I see that they have the same basic personality traits that they had when they were babies. You can get a pretty good idea right now just what your little beauty girl is going to be like when she’s older. Aren’t they just an incredible amount of fun!?
16 Nov 2007 at 11:43 pm
She’s beautiful!
19 Nov 2007 at 1:18 am
Wen.
Want to know your blog’s reading level? Really, I find so much widgety excellence from you, I’m just returning the favor: http://www.criticsrant.com/bb/reading_level.aspx
Hope all is well.
jdr
19 Nov 2007 at 2:05 pm
You do realize that Rob and Sophie have the same facial expressions, right? And she has your eyes.
19 Nov 2007 at 5:13 pm
What a beautiful post!
Thanks for sharing all your pics and for being so honest about the journey into parenthood so far.
19 Nov 2007 at 5:27 pm
Hey Wendy - I love your blog. It’s just so sweet. Feel free to check out my NEW blog BabyHereau.blogspot.com as Josh and I just found out we’re expecting our first baby in June!!! Very exciting time, as I’m sure you can remember. Hope all is well with the new house.
Best to you, Rob and Sophia!
xo
Hayes
21 Nov 2007 at 11:24 am
Happy nine months to all three! You should be making sure there is hardcopy of all this (including pix) for the youngster’s 21st or 18th or whenever this will mean stuff to her. So cool!
28 Nov 2007 at 2:27 pm
Is Sophia helping with all the renos at your new home?
I am sure she is excited to have her own place, just as much as her parents are. Your pics of her are gorgeous! She is definitely her father’s daughter!
08 Dec 2007 at 12:34 pm
What a great post! She is so beautiful, and sounds like a real character too. It’s also great to hear that it gets easier. and awesomer.
13 Dec 2007 at 12:56 pm
Sorry I’ve AWOL for so long. I think that babies begin to really be PEOPLE at 9 months. Glad you made it over the hurdles. I’m sorry for your friend’s loss.. and will read more when it isn’t after midnight!
17 Dec 2007 at 2:20 am
What a beautiful girl! It’s amazing when kids begin to develop personalities and really start to become tiny people.
17 Dec 2007 at 3:29 pm
I love this post. She’s adorable and so full of life! Hope you’re doing well!
10 Jan 2008 at 12:13 am
Hey Wendy! You okay? It’s been a looooong time!
10 Jan 2008 at 11:10 pm
Looks like I’m not the only one thinking of you today, and hoping that the blog silence just means you’re busy with lots of really wonderful things.
17 Jan 2008 at 3:37 pm