Cheekwood & Aunt Laura

A couple of weeks ago my sister-in-law, Laura, came to visit for a few days. Sophie LOVED having Laura here, although I think she was a little sad that she came w/o Cosmo, her yellow lab. We had so much fun while she was here and enjoyed an outing one day to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Here are some pics from our time together:

9 Months Old!

Sophie turned 9 months on the 14th, but yesterday was her check-up w/ the pediatrician. She is doing well and staying pretty much in the same ranges [head = 45cm (75-90%), weight = 17lb, 13oz (25-50%), length = 28 3/8in. (90%)] so she is built like her parents (and therefore will never completely fill out the seat of her pants - at least not after she stops wearing diapers). She is wanting so badly to crawl but isn't quite there yet. But that doesn't stop her from getting from one side of the room to another w/o a problem. It is amazing the ways she finds to move. Still no teeth, but it looks like one is wanting to pop up any day now (I have been saying this for months, but I really think it's true now). She is starting to eat table foods and really enjoys it. See below for a picture of the day that I let her feed herself w/ her spoon. Erik was coming home late so we did it w/o him...he wouldn't have enjoyed seeing our daughter get filthy.

Along w/ all of these physical developments are coming some emotional ones. It is frequently a battle of the wills when we get Sophie in the high chair or on the changing table. I'm convinced that my mom prayed that God would give me a strong-willed child so I could see what she went through w/ me. Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter very much, but I recognize (more and more each day) that she is a sinner and that shepherding her is a huge responsibility. It just amazes me how quickly we went from tiny and cuddly to huge and independent. I know you're thinking, "how independent can a 9-month-old be?" You apparently have not met Sophie. She is very much her own person, and I consider that a blessing. It is a ton of fun to watch her work. But at the same time I need a daily measure of grace and strength to know how best to teach her and lovingly discipline her. My daily prayer is that Erik and I will "train her up in the way she should go so that when she is old she will not depart from it." I know we would appreciate your prayers as well :).

This is the saddest face you'll ever see...Sophie post-screaming. When she's REALLY upset you can tell because she gets splotchy.

It's hard to believe this was all 9 months ago!

Creative License

In order not to squelch Sophie's creative genius, we have recently been letting her play while naked. We recognize that clothes can be restricting and therefore have loosed her chains. You would not believe the symphonies she has been composing on her four-note piano. It's simply spectacular. Fortunately we keep a large waterproof pad under her for those moments when her music causes her to lose control of herself.

Better late than never...

It has been too long, I know, since I last blogged. We have been blessed to have lots of family in town over the past 2 weeks, and we traveled to Arkansas over the 4th to see my extended fam. Due to a time constraint I won't post captions on all of these, but here are some pics of Sophie's trip to The Natural State.

I feel like a bit of explanation is required here. My dad's brother's family went to Mexico on a missions trip and brought back a "luchador" mask for Erik (in homage to "Nacho Libre").

Sophie hitting her 2nd cousin, Chloe, in the face.

Driving home (we went through Memphis and I think The King left an impression on Sophie)

Zoo Day

Yesterday Sophie and I went on a girlfriends' date to the Nashville Zoo w/ Cate (and her mom, Nita) and Ava (and her mom, Amber). The other two girls took nice naps while there, but Sophie was so interested in...the children running around. I'm not sure if she noticed a single animal (save the goat picture below), but she LOVED looking at children of all sizes running and playing around her. She is excited to go back sometime w/ her daddy so he can see the children too!