Half a year already?

It's hard to believe that Sophia has only been here for 6 months. It is a strange thing, it feels like she has been with us forever, and at the same time it seems like only yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. We have had so much fun watching her grow and change and are looking forward to seeing her grow into a little toddler!

She is our wee Wong!

Anyone seen my dinner?

There have been lots of firsts this past month. She has started eating veggies and still isn't too sure about them. We started with carrots, which I thought were a good choice. They are mild, sweet and full of good stuff! She took the first few bites ok, just made a little face, but the third bite she cringed..then coughed...then gagged!! I grabbed her out of her chair and started pounding on her back because I thought she was choking! Of course, it was all caught on tape and is pretty funny to watch. So we tried again the next night. Well, she wouldn't even let me near her with the spoon. She remembered!!! The third time, I mixed the carrots with some of her rice cereal, which she loves. Well, that did the trick. She has been eating the carrots happily ever since. Next we'll try squash, hopefully that will go a bit better.

Trying to sit up like a big girl...

But she will have to do more crunches before she becomes a pro!

She has started rolling around tons, and even sort of scooting herself in order to reach a toy. I think she may be crawling sooner than we expected. She also sits up, with some help. She also tries to sit up when she is lying down, so it looks like she is doing crunches. She can sit by herself for a few seconds too. It's so fun to watch her sitting and then maneuver herself from sitting to lying on her tummy. She is definitely much happier to play by herself now that she can move around a bit.

My Nana Voe, me and my cousin Seth on Thanksgiving

Visiting the Lindholms in Big Bear

I am really looking forward to the holidays, and Sophia's first Christmas! We had a great Thanksgiving this year at my Nana Voe's house. She cooked a delicious feast! There was a ton of food and even more dessert! We had a nice time visiting with my Nana and my aunts, uncles and cousins. Sophia was being a bit shy that day, but I think she had fun too. That weekend we also went to visit Lindy and Rosa, James' boss and his wife, in Big Bear where they had rented a cabin for the holiday. It was beautiful there, right on the lake. It was James & Sophia's first time in Big Bear. There was no snow yet, but it was still very nice. We would definitely like to go back, maybe for some skiing.


Sooo proud of my lemon meringue pie!


Now Christmas is coming and I can hardly wait! I think having a child brings some of the magic of Christmas back. I know she's too little to know or remember, but I am just looking forward to the years ahead and seeing her excitement on Christmas morning! I know she will be so eager to wake up that morning, and if she's anything like me and my brother and sister, probably wake me and James at 5 am just to tell us that Santa came! So much to look forward to with our little one, it makes me teary just thinking about all the joy and love she has brought into our lives.

Daddy and his little girl

Sophia and her Papa Scott

Five Months and Already a World Traveler!

We have had quite a busy month and Sophia has grown so much! Our trip to Ireland was grrreat! We had such a good time and got to visit with family and friends. It was a perfect trip, and Sophia was a perfect little traveler. We got the whole front row to ourselves on the way over and she slept quite a bit. While we were there we spent a lot of time at home, which was nice and relaxing. Ciara was home from New York, Brian took some time off work and Cliona, Ronan and Harry were all there too! We took Sophia for a few walks in the Phoenix Park (the largest enclosed park in Europe!) and showed her the scenery, the horses and cows. We also had her Christened in Dublin, at the same church where Harry had his Christening. Phyllis organized a wonderful luncheon, and everyone had a great time. Sophia did great and was a little social butterfly letting everyone hold her. I think she enjoyed all the attention! It was so nice to spend time with everyone and for Sophia to get to know her grandparents. She will be using the Chinese names for grandmother and grandfather, so she will call Phyllis "Ah-mah" and Peter "Yah-yah." Unfortunately, we had to come back home. It was a very sad good-bye, but we will see them again soon! Hopefully in the new year. Sophia at her Christening with her Godmother Cliona, Bapa (Daddy in Chinese), Mommy and her Godfather Brian

Her Ah-mah Phyllis, Bapa, Mommy and Yah-yah Peter

Having Dim Sum at The Ming Court in Dublin

When we got back in was almost Halloween, so we went to the pumpkin patch and picked out a Daddy, Mommy and a baby pumpkin! We didn't have time to carve them, but they still looked good on our porch as we handed out candy. Sophia was a bunny rabbit for Halloween, and she looked so cute! I bought the costume online a while back and thought it would never fit. It looked huge when we got it, but once Halloween came around she was actually big enough for it. I took her to Rio Vista, the elementary school where I worked, on Halloween morning for the Halloween parade. It was great to see all of my students and co-workers again. And to show them all Sophia, since many haven't seen her yet. We also visited Adelaide and Julie for a bit while we were in Apple Valley.

Dancing on her pumpkin at the pumpkin patch!

Sophia the waskley wabbit!

This past month has been a busy one alright. We also went to two weddings. Two of my cousins, Amanda and Jessica got married. They were both a lot of fun. Now we are just getting ready for the holidays! I am so excited for Sophia's first Thanksgiving and Christmas!! I know she won't remember, but I will take so many photos and videos, she will get to relive it again when she is older. It's hard to believe that she is already 5 months old. It seems like yesterday that we brought her home and she was just a tiny, little new born. I realize now that time flies and I have to really cherish every moment because before we know it she will be in Kindergarten!

James, Sophia and Cami at Jessica & Jeff's lovely wedding

Adelaide & Sophia "sitting" together! I don't think they really even noticed each other!

Sophia looking quite confused, and a bit cross-eyed!

At her command post, happily saving the world from danger!

Sophia is 4 months today!

So I know I say this every post, but I can't believe how big she has gotten! She is talking up a storm and moving constantly. She still loves to eat her fingers, and mine, and she loves to stand like a big girl and look around at the world. She is very curious and doesn't want to miss a thing. Which is why she loves being out and about. As long as we are outside, she is a happy girl! Speaking of being out in the world, we are heading to Ireland in one week! It will be Sophia's first trip, and it's a big one! I am sure she will be great. We are so excited to introduce her to the rest of her family, and for James' parents, sisters and brother to see her again. She is going to blow them away with how big she is. She's changed so, so much since they were here in June. It makes me so sad to know that they are missing out on her growing up, but we are lucky that we are able to see them as often as we do, us being so very far apart.

Family Photo

Mommy & her beautiful baby

Eating her fingers!

For a slide show of all the photos

click here

We also had another photo session with my Aunt Michelle last week. The photos turned out amazing! She did such a great job of capturing Sophia and her big blue eyes!! It was so much fun and Sophia even had a nap in the middle of it all, which made for some great sleeping photos. She may be the most photographed child ever! Please have a look at the link above to see more pics. She really did an awesome job, thanks Auntie Michelle!

Funny Faces

What a face!


Sophia is becoming quite a little lady, with quite the little personality. She makes such funny faces, all different and all very entertaining. We have been having fun discovering her new faces and what they all mean! It is so strange to look at her and see my own face, and yet the next moment she changes and I see James. I still can't believe she's ours!

She has also been discovering lots of new noises. Her favorites at the moment are grunting and squealing! She sounds really annoyed when she makes the grunting sound, but she is just having fun making a new sound. She is laughing more and more each day as well. It is the cutest little giggle ever! She has also started trying to get anything and everything into her mouth. Mostly it's just her hands and fingers, but she does manage to get her toys and clothes into her mouth too. Her thumb has gotten into her mouth quite a bit lately, so maybe she'll be a thumb sucker. She has nearly completely lost her taste for her pacifier, so we'll see if she takes to her thumb. She really likes her lovey, a little blankey that I got her. It is really soft and snuggly, and it must be very tasty because she always has it in her mouth!

Snuggling with her lovey.

Bath time! She is liking it more and more!

Tummy time!

Sophia has been having fun with "tummy time" and building up her little neck and shoulder muskles. She is going to be crawling around before we know it. I can tell she is going to be unstoppable once she can move around! She is so much fun and starting to reach for things and trying to eat anything she can get into her mouth. She is also trying to sit up, and does little baby crunches when she wants get up and look around. We have one strong little girl!

Such a curious little face!

Trying to eat her lady bug.

Getting a bit sleepy!

3 Months Old!

Sophia Elena is three months old today! We can't believe she's gotten so big and beautiful. She is doing great, always keeping us on our toes. She hasn't rolled over again, but I know she's just saving it for her daddy! She loves this little bear rug. It's really, really soft and cuddly. I am going to take a photo of her with it every month so we can document her growth. I got the idea from a friend (thanks Julie!) and only wish I had started earlier. Today she weighs 10 lbs, 11 ounces and is about 23 inches long!

Her laugh is the best!

Such a serious face!

Lazy summer days

Lounging by the pool!

Hanging out with her buddy Bunny

Having a nap with Daddy

Well, things are going great as Sophia is growing and doing really well. At her last weigh in she was 10lbs, 6 ounces! Everyday she seems to get more alert and interested in the world around her. She has discovered her hands and feet and her hands seem to be the most interesting things she's ever seen! She spends lots of her time staring at them, and wringing them as if she's pondering something very worrying. She has been sleeping great at night, some nights 6 or 7 hours at a time. This has been WONDERFUL for me, since that means I get 5 or 6 hours of sleep myself. I am a girl who loves and really needs her sleep, so these extra hours are much appreciated! She hasn't been sleeping as much during the day though, and we are still trying to figure out a pattern/schedule...I think it may be a while yet before that happens. Her days are filled with a series of naps, feeds, playing and catching up with episodes of Jon & Kate plus 8! Well, that last one is more for me (I can't get enough of that show, it makes me feel I can definitely handle one, the poor woman has 8!).

Wringing her hands- I wonder what she's thinking about!

We have been getting out much more, as Sophia is eating and sleeping less these days. She really loves being out and about, and especially being outside. She seems more content to be around lots of people, with lots to see. She seems to get bored easily, so in the house I have to work to keep her entertained, but when we are out she is happy just to watch what's around her. I am afraid we are going to have a very active little girl on our hands. She also really wants to move. I can see it in her eyes, when she sees something she wants she gets wide eyed and wiggles her limbs and her head bobbles everywhere-she wants to get to it but she can't! She gets frustrated, but I know she'll be on the move soon enough! In the mean time, her favorite thing is to "stand" and look around. She is so pleased with herself when she's standing up, it's really cute!

Here she is having fun with her friend Adelaide!

Last night she laughed for the first time and it was the sweetest thing I have ever heard! And this morning she rolled over for the first time! She was lying on her back on her baby "gym" and I was brushing my teeth. I turned around and she was on her tummy! I was so excited! I only wish I had seen her do it! Everyday she does something new and it makes my heart swell with love and pride. I still can't believe that she is here and she is our daughter. She is such a sweet little thing, I never knew I could love someone so much! I just want to just keep her a small, sweet baby forever.

Fun times!

Just wanted to share the newest pics of Sophia Elena.

She loves the camera!!

Here she is with her Daddy, hanging out in her sling.

Sophia and her mommy. Her hands are always moving!

Sophia and her first friend Adelaide, having a good cry.

Smiling away in her swing!

She's discovered her hands!

Look at those beautiful eyes!

You may have to listen closely to hear a little toot.

Eight pounds of cuteness!

We are so happy to say that Sophia is eight pounds, one ounce and growing. Her weight has been a worry and she is still only in the 5th percentile in weight for her age, but she is continuing to gain and eat, eat, eat so we are happy with that. She is starting to get rolls in her legs and arms and has a pretty adorable double chin! When else is a double chin so cute? She has started to smile and coo, and she even squeals when she is really happy! She found her voice recently and can make some serious noise when she wants to. She still sounds like a kitten, only louder! It is so amazing to watch her change everyday. It's hard to believe how different she looks every morning when she wakes up. It sounds crazy, but she does. She is much more alert now and really watches and listens to everything. I think her vision is getting much sharper, and she seems to see further and further away. I have been taking tons of pictures of her and trying to video her as much as I can. Once I figure out how, I will post some video of her.

As you can tell, my life is all about Sophia these days, but we have gotten out a bit. We spent the 4th of July with the Woltils, in Apple Valley. Sophia did really well on her first little road trip. She slept most of the day away and I got to visit and enjoy a lovely meal (Thanks Will!). Luckily we live really close to lots of shopping and restaurants, so we have been able to take her to dinner easily and still get home quickly if need be. Everywhere we go people stop us and say how cute she is. In the doctor's office last week, one woman said she was the most beautiful baby she's ever seen! I think so!


We have had lots of visitors in the past 7 weeks. The Wongs and Corcorans were all here in June to meet Sophia. They rented an apartment just around the corner and got to spent some time with us. Our poor nephew Harry didn't have such a good time, he got an ear infection. It was nice to have them here though. I only wish I had gotten to spend more time with them. Phyllis stayed a bit longer and helped out soooo very much. She was great and I was sad to see her go, but we are planning a trip back to Dublin in October. Most of my family has met Sophia. My sister Megan was here in early July from Washington state and will be back soon I hope. Sophia will be meeting her Uncle Kyle next month when he visits. Auntie Angie came down from Sacramento to meet Sophia, and all the Goulds stopped by as well. And of course, her Auntie Marika and Uncle Will have been visiting too! She loves them all!

We are planning a weekend getaway next month to Santa Barbara. It will be fun to take her to the town where James and I met and married. I know she will love it as much as we do. We may even take her to the beach and let her feel the sand. I hope she enjoys the beach because I have plans to spend lots of summers with her playing there. I can't wait!