Happy 5 Months to Me!

I will try to not be TOO cheesy, but 5 months is just the cutest. We get smiles like this all the time and often full on laughs. Thankfully she thinks we're really funny...and really good singers. I spend the majority of my day making up songs about anything and everything. For example, tonight Amy-Jo called and I made up a song about "Enzo's Mommy" that she just loved.

Quickly catching up to the bear.

Cool stuff this month:
* First two teeth came in last week
* Has rolled over from front to back a number of times, but is not doing it consistently yet
* Still sleeping great at night and taking three 30 minute naps during the day
* Weighed in at 15.5 lbs (75-90th%) and measured 25 inches (50th%) at her 4 month appointment, which was actually at about 4.5 months

A change of scenery...tummy time in "Rag's Room."

Cannot get enough of the TV.
Doesn't even matter that it's that crappy Deal or No Deal.
I rationalize that it's helping her get closer to rolling over. Even if it's rotting her brain.

Just my favorite photo of the month. She doesn't really like this hat.
It's too big and when she turns her head the hat does NOT move with her.
But it's so cute, I put it on her all the time anyway.

All I Want for Thanksgiving Are My Two Front (Bottom) Teeth

Just in time to gnaw on a big turkey leg...or anything she can get her hands on...

We welcome the FIRST TWO TEETH!

With very little of the drama we've heard so much about, the first two teeth sprouted this past week. I have a feeling we were let off the hook with the first two. And to answer everyone's question, no, she has not allowed "The Good Doctor" Nono to take a look at them yet.

Red Hot Chili Pepper & The Other One

Sandy came to visit all the way from Connecticut to help celebrate Sofia's baptism! Sandy is a wonderful family friend who is more like family. She grew up next door to my mom in Pennsylvania and has watched me and my cousins grow up. It was so wonderful to have her here to meet Sofia and celebrate the baptism and Halloween with us. We lovingly refer to her as "the other one", a phrase coined by my cousin Jennifer's daughter Abigail (our flower girl) a number of years ago. Abigail, age three at the time, couldn't remember our names. When she came down in the morning one day while Sandy and I were visiting, she asked me "where's the other one?" and it's stuck. Mostly because I think it's funny and keep bringing it up.

Sandy and Sofia - already great friends.

When you let Daddy choose the costume, a chili pepper is what you get. To be fair, I found the costume online and only gave Daddy two options, this or a ladybug. A ladybug was far too boring and not at all in the realm of "culinary." So, cute, hot, fleece chili pepper it was.

Trick or Treating (aka showing off the cute bundle) at Daddy's office.
Mommy took Sofia's share of the treats: candy, pizza & a coke.

The cutest monkey around - Grant celebrates his 7 month birthday (10/30) by going bananas!

Princess Lauren protects her stash. Not long after this we witnessed a sugar high like none other.
There was spinning in the front yard, bumping into furniture and many, many giggles.

Sandy and the pooped pepper recline on the Imelli's couch.

Savannah Keane (18 mos) the flower looks a little nervous about all this Halloween stuff.

Sofia v. Devil

"It's the perfect day to cast out the devil!" was the response that my mother-in-law gave me when I scoffed at the idea of having Sofia's baptism on Halloween. And when I thought about it, she was right. What better day? So we all gathered at the chapel at Bellarmine to celebrate baby's first Sacrament. She is officially tied with mommy, who also has one Sacrament under her belt (marriage). But I'm not sure it counts if you don't do them in order. Godmother/Auntie Jen will have to advise me on that.

Father Cobb (who presided at our wedding) and Father Wade, both from Bellarmine, performed the ceremony with their usual wit and grace. It was great to have them both be a part of Sofia's special day. Post-sacrament, we celebrated, as we like to do, with much food and drink back at the homestead.

Sofia with the Jesuits, mom and dad and her proud Godparents, Jennifer & Nick.

The whole crew

When it came time to provide Sofia with the holy water, Fr. Cobb was a bit...well, heavy handed.
He splashed her whole face and proclaimed many times "Oh man! I really got her good!"
She cried briefly, then rallied like a champ.

Back at the house we took a few more pictures in her lovely gown that was also worn by Godmother Jen and cousins Marissa & Andrea!

She changed into her party dress and tights to coordinate with Grandma.

Gabriella, Lauren (with Sofia's SJ Sharkey), Claire (mommy to Lauren & Grant) Grant and Dominic. Chaos ensues.

Happy 4 Months To Me!

We're loving four months old! She's such a joy and such a good, happy baby. We've been enjoying seeing the changes in her recently as she explores the world around her and really starts to notice things.

*She rolled over for the first time, from her front to her back. She hasn't done it since, but we know it's possible!

*Each session of tummy time she's a little stronger. It won't be long before she can sit up on her own.

*Smiles are given often and without much provocation. They are the best. We've started to get lots of giggles too!

*She is still sleeping like a champ...typically 11-12 hours per night. She's still being swaddled in the Miracle Blanket, although about 75% of the time she's broken free by morning. Sometimes she likes the pacifier to fall asleep with, then mommy or daddy play the game of "catch the paci" so she doesn't roll her face onto it and wake herself up. Often mommy will sit in the dark and wait for it to fall out for up to 30 minutes...while playing on her iPhone. Sigh. The things we do for good sleep!

*She's finally able to hold her head up enough to ride facing forward in the Baby Bjorn and she seems to LOVE it. We've gone for a walk around the block, to Erin's birthday pre-party and to a Stanford tailgate in our Bjorn. For those of you that aren't sure, it's pronounced "Bee-Yorn."

This is "Monkey Friend", who appears to be the favorite.

We spent a lovely October afternoon playing in the backyard recently. So much to look at outside!

Some tummy time in our Halloween duds.

Army crawl through the jungle.

Football Game? What Football Game?

Since Steve is at the game and Sofia is sound asleep after an exciting day of tailgating, I figured I'd actually blog about something the same day it happened. It'll keep me from obsessing over how to avoid the Swine Flu.

Currently, Stanford is leading Arizona State 24-7 in the middle of the 3rd quarter. Per usual, there was a fun and yummy tailgate leading up to the game. I long ago realized that this is the best part of the day, and if I can, I skip the game entirely (although the new stadium is quite nice). Having a four month old really helps my cause.

Steve has been anxious for Sofia to make it to her first Stanford tailgate. He even bought her her own Cardinal onesie in hopes that she'd make it to a game this season. She made an appearance at a SJSU game awhile back, but it was a bit much for her. And for me. But we've turned a corner in the last couple weeks: she's a better passenger in the car and MUCH better around strangers. So I told Steve last night "if she takes one of her power naps in the morning, we'll come to the tailgate tomorrow." Low and behold, her morning nap lasted longer than 20 minutes! It was nearly 3 hours, so we ate, packed up the car and met the crew in Palo Alto. It was almost like she wanted to go.

She was trooper the whole day. Everyone got some smiles, cousins Marissa and Andrea, Auntie Jen, Great-Auntie Val, Noni and Grammy Marcia got to hold her and she spent some happy time in the Baby Bjorn.

Stanford, I think we'll be back.

We didn't want Sofia to feel left out, so we smoked her bottle.

Three generations of tailgating expertise.

Go Indians!

Marsh & Sofie and Gretchen & Alex (almost age 1).

Charlie (age 3) and his really cool balloon 'pider.
Charlie tells us he also plans to dress up as a 'pider for Halloween.

Family Red. I mean Cardinal.

26 and in the Mix

Last Sunday we celebrated Andrea's belated 26th birthday (it was September 15th) at Aunt Valerie's house in San Mateo. A good time was had by all, especially Sofia who was rocking her black leggings with the lace trim.

Debuting this adorable outfit that was a gift from my friend Tina at my LA Shower.

It was a very similar outfit to what I was wearing that day at the shower (leggings and all).

Someday Sofia will get to join us at the table.
For now, we prefer to keep her happy and vibrating.

The apple of their eyes - Sofia hanging out with Great-Noni and Great Granny.

Happy Birthday Andrea! With Marissa and her cute new do.