Sophie's first Christmas

We had such a wonderful Christmas week in Spokane with my family. Sophie was well-loved and spoiled! As usual, my mom didn't stop cooking, cleaning, or entertaining from sun-up to sun-down. Both of my parents were extremely generous and thoughtful with their gifts to Sophie, Doug and me. We loved our time with my brother and Alison (Sophie's Godparents), and Sophie was also able to meet both of her great-grandmothers! Sophie slept some of the best nights EVER!! We hope to continue this trend now that we've returned home. She continues to smile and coo (especially while her diaper is being changed). Her alert and active eyes follow people, shapes, and light around the room. I also think she gets more and more beautiful every morning!

Doug took hundreds of photographs (no kidding), so I've picked out some of my favorites.

(Sophie's shirt reads: What SANTA doesn't bring me, Grandma will!)

(A Christmas cookie decorating competition occurred...Doug was slow but meticulous, Alison was creative and original, and I was boring but efficient!)

(4 GENERATIONS!)

(Doug was so proud of his wrapping for this present that we had to capture it!)

(It wasn't a white Christmas, but we still enjoyed the outdoors with a little fire on Christmas day. Doug and Ali even roasted marshmallows.)

2009 has blessed us with the birth of our baby girl, so we celebrate this year as as ring in the new one.

Love, D and E

"Over the mountains and through the woods...

...to Grandmother's house we go."

Merry Christmas to all of you.

Love,

Doug, Elizabeth, and Sophie

Can you pick Sophie out of the lineup?

(Photo taken at a holiday mom-baby party hosted by Kristin (and Tyler) Rose.)

Happy Birthday, Doug!

This past week has been filled with fun!

The best part about this week was Doug's birthday. I have always told Doug that I dream of opening up a Bed and Breakfast in Cape Cod; I'll make warm scones in the morning, tend to my garden, sit in my library, ride my bike to the market for fresh cheese....Doug always teases me because I hate small talk, I'm shy with strangers, I'm terrible at making beds, and I avoid cleaning bathrooms. So, he thinks this may not be my dream job...to prove him wrong, Sophie and I opened our own B & B as his first birthday present. He received a gift certificate inviting him to stay in his own private quarters (our downstairs guest room). He got uninterrupted sleep for one whole night! (Neither of us has been able to sleep in chunks longer than 4 hours since Sophie's birth.) He slept in, and then Sophie and I served him breakfast in bed while he opened up other presents. Without embarasssing him too much on this public blog, I'll just say that he was VERY emotional and thankful for such a thoughtful gift. The gift certificate was only good for one night and could not be duplicated or extended. He was back on Sophie duty with me the next night! haha....

Here is Sophie all dressed in her birthday cupcake onesie as we (im)patiently wait for Doug to wake up on his birthday morning.

Sophie is so lucky to have such an amazing father and she and I are both thankful for his birth! Sophie loved playing with her dad in his private guest quarters as the birthday celebrations began!

After delighting in my homemade breakfast, we enjoyed a family lunch at Ray's boathouse later in the day.

On Friday night, the Heidergotts and Minahans came over to our house for some mulled wine and cake. We then bundled up all three kids and six adults, packed some mulled wine in to-go cups, and headed to the Bellevue Botanical Gardens to see the beautiful Christmas lights. Sophie was tucked away in the Baby Bjorn and missed the whole show! It was freezing but festive!

I just had to post another photo of our smiling and happy baby girl!
She's soooo adorable. Sophie and I have had many play dates and look forward to several holiday parties and coffee breaks this week, too. I've also been dragging Sophie to Stroller Strides where other moms and I get our butts kicked by a trainer while we sing lullabies and entertain our babies in the stroller. (In my pre-mum life, I would have laughed at this concept....but now, as I sing "The Wheels on the Bus" and do lunges, I'm very happy.)

Merry (almost) Christmas!

E

We love her.

9 pounds, 13 ounces

22 inches long

but the best update of all:

SHE SMILES!!!

(12-12 is D's birthday and I'm giving Doug a present I wish he would give to me...stay tuned for photos!)

Sophie: 6 weeks old on Monday!

We have officially turned a corner! Sophie's days are filled with much more alert and awake time. I love how she grunts and coos as she focuses on objects. She spends minutes and minutes staring at lights on the wall. We have two Christmas trees in the house, and the sparkly ornaments and white lights fascinate my little baby. Her nights are getting better and better, too; Doug and I even were blessed with 5 consecutive hours of sleep one night this week. She is getting easier to put down in the middle of the night so I feel much more rested, calm, and confident! Sophie's eyelashes are growing, her belly is expanding, and her baby acne is spreading! My little girl is growing up before my very eyes :) She and I have been spending most of our days in the living room by the Christmas tree while I blast Christmas songs through the house!

Here are some photos of our daily enrichment! She's the daughter of an English teacher, after all....she needs to know her letters!

My black baby and my white baby taking a nap together:

Such a lady....

A Week of Thanks--photo edition

REALLY?

Can this baby be any more fun?!!!

(I know it's only Tuesday, but I couldn't wait until Sunday to post these funny photos of Sophie.)

Family Photos

This past month with Sophie has flown by! The days and nights seem to blur together...isn't that what all new and exhausted parents say?! Doug and I will both agree that we've never been so tired in our lives. But, we've also never been so happy.

Sophie and I love our days together; the days are filled with feedings, dirty diapers, and naps, but we're also able to meet up with friends, go for walks, enjoy tummy time, and "read" books together. The best part of the day is when Doug comes home. He is so hands on and I cherish every minute that our little family has together.

Sophie is finally gaining weight after a few slow weeks. Over the past couple days, we've noticed a lot of development with her eyes. She will turn her head toward our voices and stare at objects. She's just adorable and perfect!! She will sleep in 3-4 hour chunks during the night, but we are still having a hard time convincing her that when she wakes up and feeds at 3:45 am, she should want to go back to sleep afterward. Rationalizing with a newborn is difficult....

Here are some photo highlights from this week:

Doug and I left early Sunday morning to drive to Leavenworth so that Sophie could experience the wonder of snow. It was an awesome way to kick off the holiday season and Sophie was cozy and happy all day long! In this photo, she and I are sitting in the parked car after a feeding and diaper change.

The Whitfield family HAD to get a photo in the snow...but just as we got the timer set up, the snow began blowing. We ran out of the car and took this photo as fast as we could. Sophie was crying and Doug and I were laughing! The photo isn't the most beautiful of any of us, but we'll always remember this mad dash out in the elements.

My mom came over to visit and help out around the house this past week. I love having her with us and not just because she cleans our house, irons our clothes, and makes me dinners! Doug and I got dressed up and had Grandma babysit while we enjoyed our first date night post-Sophie! We were still home by 9:30, but after a few lemon drops and a wonderful meal with my husband, I was a happy mum!

I love this photo of my sweet mom and my sweet daughter cuddling and reading together.

Doug's parents are visiting this coming week and we all have so much to be thankful for on Thanksgiving!

Love, E