She is also beginning to show possession. She says “my” or “mine” before all sorts of stuff: my daddy’s shoes, my mommy’s cup, my shirt, etc.

Our struggle over the last 2 months (it seems) has been Sophia fighting taking naps and coming to our bed in the middle of the night. One of our methods came back to bite me the other day. In an attempt to get some rest myself, and get Sophia down, we laid in my bed for a nap. Anytime I moved, even a little, she pointed her finger at me and said in a firm voice “Lay down! Night time! Sh!”

I weaned Phoebe a few weeks ago and she has been packing on the weight very quickly being on formula. She has finally graduated to size 3 diapers this week. I thought it worth mentioning just because she is 9 months old and only now going up in size.

Sophia and I had play group again this week. We went to a fabulous duck pond with an ever better bike trail. The kiddos brought their bikes or scooters and we enjoyed riding around the trail and feeding the ducks. It was so great I went back with BJ on Saturday and he got some wonderful photos. Click on the duck pond photo here and it will take you to all the rest.

Sophia now responds to us calling her name by saying “what?” or “yeah?” She used to simply look at us with her sweet face but now she has more sass. It seems each week she is talking more and more like us. It makes it so much easier to communicate and get her what she needs.

Phoebe can stand alone for several seconds but then realizes she has no support and lets herself gently down by bending at the knees. I know if she really tried and had more confidence she could be taking steps by now. All in her own due time though.

Phoebe has also become quite the chatterbox. Most days my house is filled with the sound of her babbling all sorts of sounds. It is fun to hear and I babble right back at her.

The memories of me nursing Phoebe must not be too far off from Sophia’s mind. The other night we were snuggling on the couch with her head on my stomach. She leans her head to my chest and starts opening and closing her mouth real wide as if pretending to be a fish. But she was so specific about the area and was nuzzling me. When I finally figured it out I looked down at her and asked “Sophia, are you nursing?” She just looks at me with a big smile. Silly girl.

The big event of the week was having our front yard re-landscaped. Ever since we moved into this house 4 years ago I have hated the front yard. The planter boxes and bushes were not taken care of and BJ and I did not have the energy or desire to do it ourselves. With it being out front and not in our faces every moment of every day we have let it go this long. This was finally the year to no longer have one of the trashy looking yards on the street. We hired my mom’s lawn guy and he did a beautiful job in just 2 days. I still can’t get over the difference and love being in my front yard now! See the before and after pictures below.

We ended the week with Stake Conference. Three stakes were asked to meet at the Coliseum at UNT and it was announced that a new stake was being formed. BJ and I are now apart of the new stake and are excited about the change. We were blessed to hear from 2 members of the Seventy. The weather was so lovely that day and we were all in a good mood we went to the neighborhood park. Phoebe had her first time in a toddler swing. I really couldn’t say what she thought of it, I think she was more bothered by the sun being in her face.