Whitfield, Party of 4

As announced in SMW's 2nd birthday blog, we're expecting Baby #2 (B2) in mid-May! Thank you for all your congratulations!

After a miscarriage this summer, I feel extremely blessed to now have a healthy pregnancy. This pregnancy has been 100% different than my pregnancy with Sophie. I have felt so sick for weeks now, battling low energy, nausea, headaches, dizziness. It has felt like the worst hangover! I cannot wait for 2nd Trimester ENERGY to return! There have been some sick days at school before first period and one particularly low morning when Doug, my mom, and Sophie had to pick me up from school because I was too ill to drive or even sit up. B2 has a mind of his/her own!

We can't wait for May! Sophie knows that she will be a big sister, and we're confident that she will be so nurturing, compassionate, and sweet to her baby brother or sister. Take the gender poll on the sidebar! What is B2??

Sophie only has a few more months of being the center of attention, so I'll help her take advantage of that by documenting more photo highlights from her birthday week and Halloween.

Playing in her fort:

Seeing her two new fish on her birthday morning:

(She named one fish, Dumbo, and the other fish, Beauty and the Beast. After only a few short days, Dumbo went belly-up. It was a harsh reality for a 2-year old.)

Decorating Halloween/Birthday cookies with Grandma and Papa:

Playing with her new birthday toys:

Enjoying her new game, Elefun:

Carving pumpkins with Daddy:

Composing masterpieces and reading music:

Trick or Treating:

Yep, that's right. Sophie refused to wear a costume of any kind. Instead, she dressed up as Sophie. She was the one who tweaked her hat to the side. Also, rather than carrying a bag, she brought her monogrammed "Sophie" purse. She's a trend setter, shattering the expectations of Halloween.

We have until May to gently help her realize that there will be another child in our family who takes away attention...we will need every day between now and then!

TWO

Happy 2nd Birthday, Sophie.

Proverbs 23:25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice!

Sophie, We are so glad you were born.

We're so glad you were born because you have a sassy and independent sense of humor.

We're so glad you were born because Daddy and I always smile when we hear your sweet voice singing songs.

We're so glad you were born because of your creative and imaginative ways of playing.

We're so glad you were born because you love to read and memorize your favorite stories (your current favorite is "Pete and PJ.")

We're so glad you were born because your beautiful, brown eyes captivate everybody.

We're so glad you were born because you are stubborn like me, so we outnumber Daddy.

We're so glad you were born because you are curious, compassionate, and kind.

We're so glad you were born because you constantly surprise us.

We're so glad you were born because you epitomize all that is good and right, and you put life into perspective.

We're so glad you were born because you're going to make a fabulous big sister to your sibling due in May!!

P-A-R-T-Y!

THE Birthday Week has begun. We invited a small group of friends over to celebrate Sophie's birthday. Remember our big party last year?!! 200 corn stalks....

... and several days of prep later, we were ready for Sophie's Birthday Party, Year 2!!

The end to a great party? Sophie and her best friend, Connor, jumped in leaves. (Doug took 110 photos of this adorable playtime.)

Happy Birthday week, SMW!! We love to celebrate your birth.

Pumpkin Patch

The three of us took advantage of the beautiful afternoon and snuck away to another farm. October is the BEST month!! The gorgeous photos speak for themselves...

Fox Hollow Farms

I love how the entire month of October becomes filled with leaves, pumpkins, farm visits, and cozy days. It truly feels like the entire month is a big celebration of Sophie's birth!

We joined our friends, The Heidergotts, and braved the lines at Fox Hollow Farms this weekend. Ben and Sophie pet a lot of animals, rode a train, and explored this storybook farm!

(2 important items to note: 1. Ben is one of Sophie's favorite boys and 2. Sophie had to bring her blanket, appropriately named Purple, to the farm. That poor blanket was dragged in some farm-related things, and Purple probably wished it hadn't left the cozy confines of the crib.)

(Sophie may be shy and reserved at times, but when the girl wants to get behind the wheel, she'll put those personality traits aside. This is her new friend, Finn, with whom she was happy to ride along. Daddy wasn't far away, keeping tabs on these two driving around. Finn's parents happened to be Australian, so Doug was happy with Sophie's choice of chauffeur.)

Next weekend: SMW's 2nd Bday party!! Can you believe it?