Here are the results of the 1 month photo shoot. What a star!
Month: December 2005
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Baby Soph had her 1 month check-up on Friday. Here are the stats;
12lbs. 3oz. (over 3 lb. growth because of the weight lost after birth)
23 1/2 inches.(1 1/2 inch growth)
14 1/2 inch head (1/2 inch growth)
She is VERY HEALTHY!
The doc gave me some cream for her acne and it cleared up the same day so we should be able to do her photo shoot today.
Saturday Brian was working so we tagged along and hung out with Mom and the kids in Calabasas. Dallas spent a good portion of the morning playing hide and seek with all the kids. When they exhausted all the hiding spots I brought out some playdough/cookie dough. It looks like playdough but is sugar cookie dough. The kids spent nearly 2 hours creating masterpieces. They ate them all too. Mom has pictures and can post if she feels inclined. When Brian was done we left SV behind and went and saw Harry Potter. It didn’t work out so well with Sophia. She was a little distracting and Brian spent a lot of time in the lobby.
When we got back to Mom and Dad’s they opened the mission call that finally came that day. With everyone, including David on conference call they announced that Texas will be the place. Mixed feelings on this end. That is pretty far but I am glad that Senior missionaries rules are a little more lax when it comes to keeping in contact with family.
Serra gave her first talk in Primary yesterday on the word of wisdom. I did most of the talking and she showed the pictures and told if things were good or bad. Pretty cute. When I held up a picture of cigars and asked her what it was, she said “hot dogs, good!” I guess she didn’t have a frame of reference for cigars. That is a good thing.
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One Month old: I can’t believe it has already been a full month since Sophia joined our family. We are adjusting nicely. I am able to tell the tired cry from the tummy ache cry now, and we are starting to get into a routine of sorts with nap times etc…
Brian arrived home from Las Vegas safely last night and we are so glad to have him home. It is going to be difficult being separated so often until he graduates and we are in one location permanently. He said he accomplished nearly everything he needed to with the starting up of the businesses (yes there are more than one) He was even able to look at a few properties. We can’t wait to be in a bigger place. We may move before we sell here if we find something that will accommodate us for a few years nicely.
Yesterday, Liesl took Serra for me in the afternoon so I could get the Christmas wrapping done. I was able to finish it and make a few stops on my way to their place. I watched their brood and mine while they attended a dinner. You would think that 6 kids would be more stressful but they are so well behaved and helpful it was no problem. They did the dishes and played well and then made popcorn and settled in for a movie.
We are still waiting to here from Mom and Dad Arnell on their mission call. It seems like it is taking longer than it should.
I won’t be doing official one month pictures today. Sophia is going through the breakout period of infancy and her face is showing the worst of it. It seems to be clearing slightly so hopefully this weekend or early next week will be the big photo shoot where we do naked baby shots etc…
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It is a little more difficult than I thought getting used to having an extra little one to care for and get other things done. Keeping the house organized is an uphill battle I don’t feel I’m winning. Saturdays are my saving grace when Brian is home and helps clean up and vacuums and does the other floors for me.
Sophia is a great little baby though and is usually good natured. She has difficult nights about half the time but that may be my fault as I haven’t nailed down the foods that seem to upset her. I fear after yesterday that chocolate is definitely a culprit for a bad night. So the question is: is it worth a bad night to indulge? This morning I say no way. We hit the month milestone next Thursday and I can’t believe how time is flying. We started getting smiles early last week and it warms my heart to get these little reactions from our little one.
Serra has been so wonderful and helps me more everyday. She tries hard to be a good girl. She loves to go places and asks everyday if we are going anywhere today. Her favorite places are anywhere the cousins are going to be. Christmas is going to be very special for her to have so many days with cousins and Aunts and Uncles. She told me on Thursday that she needed more uncles at Grandma’s house and when was David coming back. She really misses him.
Friday was our ward Christmas party and we had a nice although strange mixture of foods dinner. It was potluck with a theme of Christmas around the world. You can imagine the interesting things we tasted. I dressed our little critters in matching homemade dresses and Sophia had on the beautiful tatted bonnet mom made for her blessing. They were quite the hit. Santa made an appearance and Serra’s initial excitement waned greatly when it was suggested she sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. She did it though and got a treat from him and I got the picture.
Saturday we spent the morning getting the house cleaned and ready for our house guests. Brian’s Mom and Dad were here by noon. We spent a few minutes catching up and then we piled in their Expedition and headed up the coast to Santa Barbara. Serra has been asking to go to the zoo for months and I promised her after the baby was born we would make the trip. It was a beautiful day and we spent the afternoon leisurely walking around one of our favorite places. Grandpa treated us to a train ride capping off the zoo experience. Serra loved it and stood up in excitement most of the way. We then went out to dinner at a steak and seafood place on the pier and had a lovely evening enjoying each other’s company. As we were leaving Serra got ahead of us at the restaurant and we found her singing “take me out to the ball game” to a table of people. They were all laughing and telling us how cute she was when we found her.
Yesterday we blessed our little Sophia Rose. I was afraid of not getting everyone to our 9:00 church on time and so got up at 6 am. I got Sophia dressed a ready just to have her soil her britches. I was glad I had prepared with a little extra time. We made it with a few minutes to spare and were met there by the Arnell contingency all looking bright and shiny.
Brian gave our Rosey a beautiful and thoughtful blessing encouraging her to be an example to others throughout her life, to have the spirit with her, to educate herself from the best sources, and many other important things. She behaved herself well and looked beautiful in her great Grandfathers blessing gown and tatted bonnet from her grandmother.
We later met in Calabasas with everyone. I sent all the food up with Mom earlier and she and Liesl were busy putting it all together. I really couldn’t have done it with out thier help. We took a few moments and took some pictures. I will post a few of those hopefully later today.
Brian and his parents left around 4ish for Las Vegas. Brian is setting up his business this week. He is so excited about this next step in our lives and although it over laps a little with finishing school and wrapping everything up in So. Ca he can’t wait to be in full swing.
I encouraged him to take Mo along for company and he complied. Reports are this morning that the little beast has made a real nuisance of himself already. He escaped in Baker at a gas station on the way up and Brian had a difficult time chasing him down in the dark. (Black dog and dark don’t mix) Then this morning he escaped unbeknownst to anyone while Dwaine was getting the morning paper. Brian luckily saw him out the window later running down the street with a bag wrapped around his head that looked like a cape. He apparently had been in someone’s trash and scored some chicken. I think others are beginning to feel my pain in dealing with his antics. Anyway we miss Brian but are excited for what he is doing.
pictures to come when baby naps…
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First some T-day shots
Turkey taking effect on the oldest and youngest. Inevitable Risk game
The Anderson girls. Aunt Serra helped us obtain some good shots.
Pretty in Pink
Marshmallow roasting in the cousins backyard.
The rest of these cute baby shots are all around 2 weeks old give or take a day.
Serra has started drawing people and adds things nearly everyday. In these she started doing noses, mouths, and hair. The funniest is when she tells us who they are. I thought they were pretty good renditions.
