One Year Pics

Here are Sophie's 1-year pics. We had them done at Portrait Innovations again and were very pleased. She was not in the best mood and cried almost every time we stepped away from her, but regardless we got some great shots.

And for you moms of sweet girls, I bought the tutu at Sara Rose Tutus - she did a great job and we LOVE the tutu. She's offering 10% off if you mention that you found her through Sophie's blog!

First Birthday Princess

We had such a great time for Sophie's birthday on Thursday night. We celebrated with lots of family and a few friends. It was a special, blessed time!

Below: Delaney hugging her birthday cousin; Sophie and her little friend Addie.

Notice below how Addie wore a princess shirt to Sophie's princess party? We were so excited!

Sophie LOVES her cupcakes!

The video is of us singing to Sophie (she didn't know WHAT to think), and her eating a cupcake. In between, she tells us how old she is... too cute!

Happy Birthday, Sophapilla!

I just can't believe it was a year ago today that we first held you in our arms. You were so perfect! Ever since then we've had a wonderful journey and it's amazing how we truly love you more every day! Happy first birthday, Little Monkey!

Love Me Some Spaghetti!

How Could You Pass Up THIS Face?!

We weren't chosen for the Good Morning America contest. Seriously, what's wrong with those people?!

The Beehive State

Wow, what a great time we had in Salt Lake City! We always enjoy our trips there, but this time was extra special as the girls were old enough to interact a little with each other. Ben's sister and her hubby, Jen and Chris, have a little girl, Elyssa, who is seven months old. It was so fun to watch the girls play. They both are so pretty with huge blue eyes and long eyelashes, so of course we had lots of attention wherever we went.

Our first full day there was Thursday, which was pretty uneventful as Sophie was a CRANKYPANTS after having spent the previous day on airplanes. However, we did manage to go out to the park. Notice my happy daughter on the swing.



Friday found us on our first real outing, which was to Hogle Zoo. Ben's aunts Jani and Sandy, and two of Ben's cousins, Chris and Merina, met us at the zoo as well. Sophie loved seeing the elephants and especially the meerkats (such a funny thing for her to like!). Jen and I also took the girls on their first carousel.



Saturday we went to a family reunion. Here we are hanging out in the grass at the reunion. Ben's dad, Bill, LOVES being grandpa to these two little girls.


Sunday was busy with a breakfast in the morning (for the reunion), then to church, home for naps, and to more fellowship that evening. The girls were not digging the drive back to the church that night. Jen and I get "Momma of the Year" awards for "busting a gut" laughing at our daughters, and taking pictures, instead of calming them.


Monday we had a fun, lazy afternoon in the wading pool. Oh, the girls were so cute. They loved the pool and played until they were both TUCKERED. That evening we went to Ben's aunt and uncle's house for a little early birthday party for Sophie.





After eating her sugar-filled cupcake, Sophie was going 90-miles a minute! She would walk back and forth, back and forth; then she'd fall down and laugh at herself; and the whole time she was jabbering in baby language! It was hilarious!

As you can see, it was a busy, BLESSED week, and we are so thankful that we were able to go be with our Utah family!

Blogging Hiatus

We're in Utah visiting Ben's family. I won't be posting until we get back, probably Wednesday. Please say a prayer of thanks - our house is SOLD; we closed today!!! It's no longer ours! Praise God!

Air Mattresses, Home Repairs and Good Friends... Oh My!

(Brace yourself for a marathon post.) What a FABULOUS weekend we had in OKC! It was a whirlwind but we had such a great time and we got so much accomplished. Being Momma to an always-busy 11-month-old, I was not able to take many pics this weekend; but seeing as I am OCD about posting with pictures I found some great substitutes.

On Friday, we arrived in OKC around 11 and Ben and my Daddy set to work on the house. They had a list of about a dozen things they needed to knock out, and they worked hard! By 5:00 that evening they were finished, and my dad was back on the road to Wichita (who can blame the man for not wanting to sleep on an air mattress?!). Thanks, Daddy, for all your help - it was so appreciated and WE LOVE YOU.

In between repairs on Friday, I took Sophie to lunch with my friends from Jim Thorpe Rehab. It was so great to see everyone and catch up on all the latest (*gasp*) gossip. This is a pic of my going-away Speechie lunch from back in March (Speechie lunch b/c the invitation was to Speech-Paths only, plus one honorary speech path, our music therapist Suz). Might I add, that if you look closely you can tell this lunch is at Pizza Hut. Am I related my sister or what?!

After lunch on Friday Sophers and I met Ben at the title company, where we signed lots of papers (but not as many as expected). It felt great to sign, but it will feel even better on Thursday (yes, it has been pushed back) when we hear that all is final.

Saturday morning we got up and had a BLAST playing on the air mattress. Sophie had so much fun on it and had the greatest belly laughs while her Daddy bounced her around. Then we went to a yummy-o lunch at the Arbuckles. It was so great to see them; we miss you guys so much! And while I failed at taking pictures again, I also managed the title of "Bad Mommy of the Year" by forgetting to take a bottle with me to their house. This found us departing prematurely for our house, where Sophie got a bottle before we headed back out for a little graduation dinner with two of the kids from Capitol Hill, Maricarmen and US.

Sunday found us meeting Heather, Joey and Emelyn for lunch at Chili's. Heather is one of my dear friends from graduate school. She has a beautiful daughter, Emelyn (Emme for short), who is two weeks older than Sophie. Her hubby, Joe, is a member of the National Guard. We were lucky enough to catch him during his 2-week leave, before he returns to Iraq for another 4-5 months. Please PRAY for Joe and his unit as they travel back to serve our country. At last, I finally captured some great shots.

Notice my daughter, the perpetual bully, poking out Emme's eye. I cry tears of pride.

Of course I had to include the random cute pic of Sophie. In the second pic, Emelyn is signing "please" for some food. Cute!!

Daddies with their girls, and below that, Mommas.

Sunday afternoon while Ben let Sophie nap, I took out a few of the girls from Capitol Hill for a Sonic drink. Nikki, Shameka (MooMoo), and Ikia are my GIRLS and it was so great to spend some time with them. This pic is the three of them, me, and Lauren (one of the most amazing and dedicated servants for the Lord).

After Sonic, we all headed to church at Capitol Hill Church of Christ, where Ben, Sophie and I got to enjoy worship with our old family. It was so great to be back, and Sophie LOVED the upbeat singing and clapping. Too, too, cute and I wish I had video.

Wow, did I say whirlwind? I think I meant more like Tazmanian Devil-ish weekend. But, unlike said character, we did not leave destruction in our path (at least, we didn't mean to if we did). Thank you, Father, for great friends, perfect memories, and a place to visit that will always feel like home!