One thing I failed to mention in last weeks post was that when we left town we accidentally left our older cat, Dawn, locked in the office. We had left all other doors open in case they had been in those areas, but we never thought about the office since she rarely ever goes in there. She was in there from Wednesday afternoon to Sunday night. We are so lucky we didn’t come home to a dead cat. She could barely meow and felt so light. She ate and drank right away and promptly barfed it all back up in our closet. After a couple more days she was back to herself and was putting her weight back on. We felt so terrible and vow to double check the house before we leave.

Continuing to work on the potty training this week with no luck. Not once has she gone while sitting on the potty. I feel as if she is teasing us now about it. One night she says, very sincerely “Sophia poopoo potty.” My reply, “Sophia are you REALLY going to go on the potty?” “No, don’t think so.” I should have known….

I have this little sing song saying when playing with Sophia to get her to dance a little for me. I simply say “Jam out tttttttt, jam out! Jam out! She never once has repeated it but this week I caught her saying something that I couldn’t figure out. I am usually the one interpreting for BJ, but he nailed this one. She was saying “Jam out tttttttt” while bopping her head. I hadn’t said it in weeks so I don’t know what made her think of it but she sure enjoyed it.

Just in time for her birthday, Phoebe cuts tooth number one–bottom right. The exact same one Sophia had cut first. Phoebe has been flicking her tongue quite a bit over this new thing in her mouth.

Phoebe has also abandoned crawling. She started the week with what I call “momentum walking”. She would throw up her arms and take a couple normal steps, then she would see the thing she wanted or the place she wanted to go and she would start walking really fast with such a momentum behind her. Then the speed would catch up with her and she would fall forward or on her butt. By the end of the week she had learned some patience and paces herself better and walks everywhere. Sophia is helping too. She caught Phoebe crawling one day and said to her, in a firm voice, “No Phoebe, walk! Walking!”

A little scary thing happened for me. I had my teenage sister-in-law babysitting for me this week while I worked for my mom. I had the girls happily playing and watching a cartoon while I could take a shower. Just as I had gotten my bathrobe on I heard voices coming through the front door. I know I had both locks done up and I promptly found out what happened. When Mike and Catey knocked on the door (they said she started to yell mama right away) she went to the door and they were able to talk her through unlocking the door. When they heard the clicks they were able to get right in. I often bathe while the girls are awake with this same set up (otherwise I would never get a shower!) and so it makes me worried to do so now. What if a solicitor comes to the door? Or UPS delivering a box? I have thought about a doorknob cover but there is an open hole over the lock that would still allow her to get her little fingers in it to unlock the bottom one as well. As Pooh Bear would say….”think, think, think.”

Sophia got a new night light this week. We were so impressed with the pink flower from Ikea that cousin Gwennie had in her room we got one for Sophia. As soon as she saw it she said “Gwennie light!” We like it because it puts out about the same amount of light as having the scarf over her bedside lamp. But now she can’t turn this off or on or possibly knock over her lamp by pulling off the scarf anymore! Plus, she just simply loves it!

BJ was in Fort Worth for 3 days staying at the Fort Worth Stockyards Hotel. I called it “his vacation” since he really didn’t DO work, had a bunch of meetings, and ate steak and other great food while having no toddlers to bother him or drain him. Although, he was so ready to come home the 3rd day and he missed all his girls.

We bought a sit and stand stroller, finally! I thought I would try and put it together while BJ was gone. I had done well until the very end. I won’t necessarily explain the logistics of it but I smashed 3 fingers on my right hand very badly. My whole arm was shaking from the pain and still today my middle finger has pain and even some strange numbness to it. The pointer finger isn’t 100% either. I hope it is all better by next week. The girls were very impressed with it and Sophia wouldn’t stop sitting in it until she went to bed.

Sophia discovered broccoli this week and loves it. However, she held it up and proudly announced “a tree!” I explained to her what it was and then later she exclaimed “grass!” Oh well, like it really matters, right?

Sophia has also really taken to singing songs. I have sung to her all sorts of songs and she loves singing along now. Even her nursery leaders have commented on how she is the loudest and best during singing time.

Sophia has to be the one to say prayers every night now. She repeats as much as she can and does pretty well. A close friend of mine recently got diagnosed with diabetes. The first night we prayed for her Sophia was repeating me and actually managed to say diabetes perfectly, but then said “I don’t know” right after. BJ was busting up, very obviously I am sure, since she has never said that word before and doesn’t know what it is or means. We quickly ended the prayer for daddy’s sake and tucked our smart kid into bed.

Phoebe turned one year!!! We had a family BBQ on Saturday and enjoyed yummy ribs and good company. Phoebe (and Sophia) got some great gifts. One of them being a porcelain tea party set. Sophia adores it and it will be even better once Phoebe is old enough to play with it the ‘right way’ an not knock everything over sending her older sister into a tailspin. She also got a little cooking set with pots and pans and spoons. She already had plastic fruit and veggies so she and I have been enjoying ourselves “cooking”. She is so willing to do so and is very interested. Phoebe is having fun with the 2 push toys she received and the stability it gives her while she is still learning to walk is great. There is also this automated pat-a-cake bear that the girls both adore. The first encounter was one of just shock and awe. This is what I imagined they were thinking “This stuffed animal is MOVING!! They aren’t supposed to move! What is going on?” Sophia was so excited about the whole party idea all day long and since she got gifts too, how could this have not been all about her? When we did the birthday cupcakes and sang to Phoebe she was so hurt. She hung her head down and the saddest face I have seen. I think her heart was broken. We sang to her and re-lit the candle so she could blow it out too. When we started singing her face was one of unsure intrigue, then when we got to the part where we say her name she broke out into a HUGE smile and very proudly blew out the flame. This whole day only made us excited for Christmas for the girls!

I can hardly believe Phoebe is one year already. Didn’t I just have her?! I love her so much and enjoy every week that she is a part of my life. She is so sweet and quirky and fun. She is a great playmate for Sophia and I know things will only get better for the two of them.

Tags: birthday,bj,Heather,Phoebe,Sophia,torturing cats,Weekly Family Update
Categories: Heather, Weekly Family Update
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Granny and Grandad are painting their house and therefore cleaning out the house. They found boxes of some of my old toys they kept: Barbies and their furniture, She-Ra and her battle cat, etc. Sophia was so intrigued and impressed with the dolls and played with them for the rest of the day. I boxed them up again that night after she went to bed because I need to clean them and all the clothes. She didn’t even seem to remember them the next day but I know she will be delighted all over again when I get them out. I just know we will have lots of fun dressing them up and making houses.

Phoebe is fighting back and holding her own against Sophia. He big sister has a habit of smacking her on the head when she is doing something she doesn’t like. She is getting better about not doing it but Phoebe is retaliating and one day I caught them both smacking at each other at the same time with both their hands. It was the typical sissy, girl “cat” fight. I couldn’t help but laugh before breaking them up.

Phoebe has also taken to trying to bite Sophia when she is mad at her. I have caught her with her mouth wide open on Sophia’s hand or arm or face. I know EXACTLY what she is trying to do and Sophia (because it is more slobbering and tongue than anything) thinks she is playing with her and giggles. Alas, Phoebe still has no teeth. She has made progress, though, because you can actually see where the teeth are about to come in. Just a little more and both bottom teeth will break through.

We spent the 4th of July with Jennifer and her family. Grandad let us borrow their new Honda Odyssey and it made our trip so wonderful. We spent our time going to the pool, playing with the slip and slide, wonderful fireworks show, going to see the movie “Hancock” and lots of playing around with the cousins. Sophia is so attached to Gwennie. Whenever she couldn’t find her she would wander around the house calling out “Gwennie! Gwennie! Where are you?!” We can’t wait to go back.

Sophia has developed saying “I don’t think so.” to all sorts of questions. It has made me reflect on what I have been saying to her and wondering if she got it from me, or if it’s another random thing she has learned.

Phoebe is back to saying “mamamama” and I am loving it!!!!

She has also gained more confidence in walking and is choosing to walk more and more around the house. Sophia tries to be so helpful and do as I do by holding her hand to walk her. Their relationship is blossoming so nicely and they truly are playing better together. They are entertaining each other so well and I find them laughing at one another several times a day.

Sophia was getting a little stir crazy by the end of this last week since she had not left the house since we got back in town. Friday night I had an errand to run to Hobby Lobby and then we went out for ice cream at Marble Slab. While at the craft store Sophia enjoyed herself by walking around with a pirate hat she found. We were impressed when she was able to put it back without any fuss before we checked out.

Saturday night we ate dinner at our friend’s house, the Brady’s. They prepared a lovely dinner for us and then the Brady’s and BJ proceeded to have quite the fun time playing Rock Band. Sophia was a big help in playing the drums for them. I finally joined the fun when they brought out Sing Star. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, sounded absolutely terrible, and can’t wait to do it again!

I thought this would be so much longer considering I am covering 2 weeks worth, but that is really all I can report at this time. BJ is very busy with work because his big project FINALLY rolled out this past week for company use. I have been working for my mom and just trying to get by day by day with the girls and having lots of church meetings. Until next week!

Tags: bj,Heather,Phoebe,Sophia,Weekly Family Update
Categories: Weekly Family Update
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Tags: fireworks,photo highlight,Sophia,vacation
Categories: BJ, Photo Highlights
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This is just a preview. There are plenty more fireworks shots in the gallery. I’m also really getting the hang of light room.

Tags: fireworks,Heather,Phoebe,Photo Highlights,Sophia
Categories: BJ, Photo Highlights
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Yes, that is a paramedic van and a firetruck. Heather locked the keys in her parent’s van with Sophia inside the van. I admittedly bent a knife attempting to break the window before we realized the fire dept might be able to get into a car without breaking something.

Sophia had a good time but was pretty sweaty when we they got her out.

Tags: firetruck,locked in the car,paramedic,Sophia
Categories: BJ, Sophia
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Phoebe has found her voice—mostly in the evenings. It is usually after dinner and a bath but just before bed she just jabbers and jabbers with a few squeals mixed in.

Phoebe turned 11 months this week. Still no teeth but getting very close on the walking. She is much more cautious than Sophia was. She can walk alongside me holding one hand. The farthest we have gone is from the couch to the fridge, which for a little girl learning to walk it is pretty far! I am so proud of her and just know she will be walking independently by her 1st birthday.

BJ enjoyed a night out with himself and picked up some books at Barnes and Noble and then watched Incredible Hulk. He didn’t seem too terribly impressed with it but enjoyed seeing a movie in the theater more than anything I think. The books purchased were: American Gods by Neil Gaiman (which I am reading and thoroughly enjoying right now) The Road by Cormack McCarthy (BJ currently reading),The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett, and lastly Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card. It seems like it has been MONTHS since I sat down to a good book that I read every night before bed. Actually, come to think of it the last book was winter last year—Empire by Orson Scott Card.

Sophia and I went to the same pool we have gone to the last few weeks with the same group of friends. We had such a good time but I added to my sunburn from the week before. Sunscreen WAS put on my back but my neck and shoulders still burned. Grrrr, I am tired of hurting and itching. We went Phoebe free this time (daddy worked from home and helped watch her). I think it was totally to Sophia’s benefit. She spent the first hour in the same floaty and unsure of herself. Without Phoebe I was able to commit all my attention to her and by the second hour I had her out of the floaty, not clinging to me, and running from the edge of the pool to about 5 feet from the edge. I was also able to finally take some pictures!

BJ and I have mentioned here and there before about Sophia being a little GIRL and others also being girls or BOYS and such. She has really taken to it this week and we took the opportunity to clearly define boys from girls. She can almost always accurately identify each gender now and seems to be very proud of herself.

I am a clean, organized person and have tried to instill some of this lifestyle into Sophia. Teaching her to pick up after herself, don’t touch things when your hands are dirty, clean up spills on the carpet and tile, etc. One morning just before she got into her seat for breakfast she seemed distracted and upset by something on the floor. I finally saw what she was looking at….it was a dime sized spot of marinera sauce from a couple days before. She was determined to clean it up so I had to wet down a rag and let her (by herself) wipe it until she was satisfied with the results. I thought it a little neurotic of her, but hey, look at her example! I also thought it good and sweet of her to do so and try and help.

Working for my mom one day this week I allowed Sophia to play in the packing peanuts. She has a HUGE container full of them so I plopped Sophia into them. She wiggled around and stomped for a bit until it tipped over and she hurt her head. Granny had the good idea of getting her a smaller box to sit in and fill it up. We did so but while transferring some peanuts we realized what all her stomping around in the big bucket did. It was slowly shredding the peanuts into a fine pulp. So instead of big ones that were easy to pick up and clean I had fine little bits everywhere that were sticking to everything! I took a picture of some of the mess with my camera phone. It was exhausting to pick up and only vacuuming in the end really did the trick.

Sanctuary! Phoebe is consistently sleeping through the night! We had a couple nights where Sophia wandered in and that was about it.

We have tried to crack down on potty training and decided to use M&M’s as enticement. The first day I sat her on the potty and explained the reward system to her. She went tinkle and was given 2 treats. The next day she sat on the potty and wasn’t doing anything but asked for a treat. I was surprised she even remembered, but unfortunately she did not earn any that time but was not upset when she didn’t get a treat since she understands the terms.

Saturday we went to the Dallas Zoo and had a blast. We went as soon as they opened at 9am so we were able to leave by 12:30 when it started to get really hot. We rented a double stroller from there and hoped that with them sitting side by side they wouldn’t fight too much. It worked perfectly with only minimal fighting. (BJ, this makes me feel even stronger about wanting to buy a doubler stroller or a sit and stand!) Sophia got to ride a pony and pet a guinea pig and rabbit. Sophia got to bring home a large blue and white snake we have named “Hissy Fit” and a giraffe shaped sports bottle. Phoebe got a zoo keepers shirt with lots of animals on it. We can’t wait to go back!

Tags: Dallas Zoo,Phoebe,potty training,Sophia,Weekly Family Update,weekly update
Categories: Heather, Weekly Family Update
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I forgot to mention this last week. Sophia loves watering the flowers we have in our entryway/porch. One rainy day a week or so ago I walked out to see the rain. Sophia followed me since she was very, very interested in the rain noise. When I made it out the front door and stood looking at the rain, Sophia picked up her little watering can.

“Water, please.”
“Water flowers.”
“Sophia, do you want me to put water in your watering can?”
“Yes… water, please…”
“But there’s water falling from the sky.”
“RAIN!”

At this point she walks out into the rain and holds the watering can out so she can fill it with water.

Tags: flower,photo highlight,rain,Sophia,water
Categories: BJ, Photo Highlights, Sophia
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I forgot to mention this little story in my weekly update so decided to post it entirely separate. Sophia, being the climber that she is, climbed up onto the couch armrest and promptly fell (very awkwardly it seemed) right off of it. She landed on the handle of her toy stroller that had fallen over and was facing upward. OUCH! Well, she was very scared and had an abrasion just above her hip. I went to calm her down and told BJ to get her ice pack from the fridge. Only seconds later I heard this loud crash and moan come from the kitchen, followed by laughter. BJ had slipped on a little bit of water and tried to brace himself (very unsuccessfully) on the counter and dishwasher. He had really hurt himself and would have cried but for the fact that Sophia had fallen only moments before and this injury came about in the process of trying to help his child. Sophia was still in tears while mommy and daddy laughed as we continued on with soothing the booboo.

Tags: bj,climbing,falling,getting hurt,Sophia
Categories: Heather, Weekly Family Update
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Sooooo anyone who know me well knows I have a “sailor’s mouth” problem. I occasionally have it around my kids and have been working on not saying bad things around them, and then I can eventually work my way to not saying bad words at all. THAT will be a glorious day! Anyway, I am at my worst in the car because I HATE traffic and I think all other drivers are stupid but myself. Typical, right? On one particularly hard driving day something happened that caused me to say “shit” five times in a row. Sophia overheard me and and immediately started saying “shit”. I didn’t want to make a huge deal of it to bring a lot more attention to this new word of hers so I simply told her not to say it and went on with my exasperated attempt at driving. Days passed and no problems. This week we had return of ’shit’. I was driving to my mom’s house for work and we went over a bump in the road. A soft voice comes from the back–”Shit.” I redirect her and say, “Oh, you mean shoot. Shoot is what you are trying to say.” She pauses for a bit then says “shoot.” A few minutes later and another “shit” so another redirection back to “shoot.” At least for the rest of the car ride we managed “shoots” instead of “shits”. After this day we have had no other problems but I don’t put it past Sophia to have that little word still locked away somewhere in her tiny head to pull out a anytime. My ears are on alert. (BJ: and your mouth is on notice :p )

Phoebe has taken to saying “dada” completely. She has also learned to say “hi”. She says “hi dada” real soft one day when BJ got home from work. I am both proud and jealous.

Sophia enjoys playing with wooden clothes pins. She puts one in her mouth and uses her teeth the open and close it. I get a surprise on my bottom while doing the dishes when Sophia decides to pinch me with one using this wonderful mouth technique. She was so excited by my reaction she kept trying to “attack me”.

The same friend I visited last week at the airport called me in tears saying flights had been rearranged due to bad weather. She would miss her connecting flight at DFW. Her option at the time would be to spend the night at the airport. Hell would have to freeze over before her parents and I would let that happen so I picked her up at the airport Monday night. I did not get home until almost midnight and we were both up the next morning by 5:45am. I got her to the airport only for her to miss the 7:20am she was scheduled to be on, but she got bumped to a 9 something flight and eventually made it home! We were both exhausted but glad to see each other again and I was happy to help.

All I have to say with regards to the below photo is “Thanks daddy for leaving the permanent marker out where Sophia could reach and do this to herself.” The one small blessing is she ONLY colored herself–carpet and couches were spared.

I enjoyed another morning at the wonderful Sunset Pointe pool with some friends of mine. I very regrettably did not have sunscreen put on my back (this was the morning after just having had an Enrichment Night discussing Summer safety where sunburns, skin cancer, and the use of sunscreen were discussed). I suffer a terrible sunburn because of my stupidity and by the weekend I am peeling horribly and itching even worse. Phoebe had such a wonderful time and really loves the water. Sophia was once again being a water chicken and had to be in a floaty with my hand on the floaty at all times. Slipping under the water for a few seconds (about 2 weeks ago) has really affected her more than I could have ever imagined.

Sophia and Phoebe are playing so wonderfully together. They are getting along better and better each week it seems. Although, Phoebe (unknowingly) can really freak Sophia out. If Sophia is doing something or walking somewhere, Phoebe will inevitably follow. When Sophia sees her coming at her at a fast crawl she screams out in a terrified or anxious voice. There was one day in particular Sophia was leaving her room and coming down the hallway. I was standing near the hall closet watching over her. Phoebe came around the corner, pretty quickly, to get to Sophia’s room. It was so unexpected for poor little Sophia she gave the most high pitched, intense, frightened scream I have ever heard come out of her mouth. She even jumped! I had to reassure her and then we were all on our way to play. I can’t wait until Phoebe is steadily walking and then eventually running. Then they can REALLY chase each other!

Speaking of Phoebe walking…..she is still being pretty lazy and crawls everywhere. I have really begun to work with her on strengthening her legs and getting used to walking. I will walk behind her and hold her hands and help her walk. Sophia sees me do this and has tried to ‘help’ Phoebe do this as well. However, Sophia’s arms, obviously not being as long as mine, ends up right behind her sister with no room to spare so their feet just get tangled up with each others and I know it can only end badly. I have taught Sophia to guide her by holding her hands in the front. We had a very sweet moment on Sunday of her guiding her little sister around the living room for quite some time.

To also help Phoebe walk she uses the baby stroller as a stabilizer and toddles around the house with the babydoll in the seat. It is so cute too, if the babydoll falls out for whatever reason she stops and puts the babydoll back in then goes on her way.

Sophia has really taken to parenting BJ and I. If we are reprimanding her for something or yelling at her she “shushs” or “shhhhhs”. One day this week I was (very calmly) scolding her for something she did to Phoebe. She gets a scowl on her face, points her finger at me, and says in a low growl “TIME OUT!” I respond to her, with a bit of a giggle, “No, I don’t get time out. I am your mama. Only YOU get time out.”

BJ and I attend the temple again this Saturday to watch the Grumbles Family be sealed. BJ takes the family photos afterward and thoroughly enjoyed doing so. However, now it has him clamoring on how he can get more camera equipment to do more photos or portraits. He really has taken this camera and photography thing and run with it.

Happy Father’s Day to BJ! He enjoyed sleeping in, changing no poopy diapers (totally not on purpose though) and a long nap after church. I made baked parmesan chicken for dinner (which was fabulous and so delicious, will give the very simple recipe to anyone who wants it). It was a new recipe from a cookbook I had received for my birthday. We enjoyed trying out the new meal and were so delighted it turned out so well. We then ended the night with a homemade chocolate cake. Also a first time recipe from the Hershey’s website. The cake was so chocolatey and fudgy we almost couldn’t finish the slices we had. We are going to end up giving away half the cake to my parents because it is too much and too rich for us. Oh so sad, right? BJ and I eat too well and it shows.

Tags: Heather,Phoebe,Sophia,Weekly Family Update
Categories: Heather, Weekly Family Update
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Tags: duck pond,photo highlight,Sophia
Categories: Photo Highlights, Sophia
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