Go Steelers!

In order to gear up for the upcoming football season, we had

to pull out our team gear... we were oh so lucky that Matthew's 1st jersey fit Sophia wonderfully. it's amazing how much some clothing can be worn.... Matthew was wearing this jersey when he was learning to walk- though last football season, and not little sis is able to get some use out of it! Matthew of course was thrilled and had to put his jersey on too- and then later wanted to share a spiderman shirt with her when he changed... so they could play together, 'cuse you know your play mate HAS to somewhat match what you're wearing. Sophia, of course, didn't mind one bit.

Sophia's birthday party

We threw a party to celebrate Sophia's 1st year... and I lost my camera that day... well, I didn't really lose it, it was just put away in a special place that I'd forgotten about.... until after the party was over. :(

as a result, if you didn't see it yourself, you'll just ahve to believe me that everything was beautiful and that I wouldn't have been able to do it with out my party helpers....

and if you were there and took a picture.... can I get copies of those from you?? :)

the little church

when we were on vacation, there was a TINY Church that we would pass on our walks, we'd tease Matthew that we were going to take him there and that he'd have to say Mass because there would be no room for anyone else in the Church....

a few weeks later, he asked when we were going to go to that tiny Church. ... :) His memory amazes me sometimes. :)

Fire Aunt Will!

a little transformers mis-communication....

Thanks for the gift!

Another little tradition that's gone on this week is the sharing of toys with dad for work time use.

let me explain....

Just before Erik will leave for work, if we're awake, Matthew will find a toy and give it to his dad to borrow for the day, you know, so he can play with it at work when things are slow...

imagine Matthew's delight when dad came home with a gift for him...

that's right- not only did Erik bring back the truck that Matthew handed over that morning- he also pulled a used sandwich container and a picture of Matthew as a baby out of his backpack. Matthew was over the top thrilled, he rushed the gifts to his room, where they stayed until he fell asleep that night.

Erik didn't mean for these things to be 'gifts', but I guess when you love someone that much, it doesn't matter what they hand over. If you perceive it as a gift from the heart, it's as good as gold!

Yum

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are good.

We made these by request of Matthew, who likes to take a cookie back to his room after dinner so he can sit with Dad and "talk about our day".

needless to say, Sophia has to eat her cookie in the kitchen in her high chair.

So cute how little things become traditions....

we're out of the cookies now, so maybe we can swap in an apple....

us

here's a self portrait of us. in most that we took, Sophia was smiling way more than this, and Matthew was looking off to the side or making a funny face. silly kids. I love them so much. :)

masked vigilante

Sophia found it quite fun to join in the super hero fun last week. She cracks me up with some of her little "requests"- for a bow in her hair or some other accessory. It amazes me how she can communicate to well with hardly a word.

tomato

Matthew was thrilled to pick his first tomato from his plant this past week. unfortunately, he got a little excited and pulled off the whole branch.

two posts in one day?

wow- I'm really stepping it up here....
had to though because I found that this gal is giving away a set of these herb crates that are topping my wish list.... check it out!

shoe girl

Sophia loves to wear her shoes. I'm not sure if it's the footwear that excites her or the fact that she knows we go outside most of the time after she puts them on. Frances can be my witness- she kinda says "shoe"... I'm going to credit Frances with teaching her this one- All I've taught her is baby- or "do da" ha!

step, step, step

by request: Sophia walking.

Kiwi

Sophia tried some Kiwi yesterday- and despite the look on her face from her initial taste, she really did like them!

She also got to try some blueberries on Sunday at a friend's birthday party- she'd have eaten them all day if I'd have let her.

big girl

We reciently moved Sophia's car seat to forward facing.
I know the AAP or whoever now says that it's safer to leave them rear facing until they're 2.... but all along they'd been saying rear was the safest and they should stay that way for as long as possible... and I'm a bit of the mindset that a happy baby makes a safe driver- so we're going with that.... :)

all with in a two weeks span, Sophia learned to walk well around the house, had her first birthday, had her car seat turned around and decided she'd like to walk around the store when we shop.... she's growing up way too fast.

love it all.

check out this new online shop- everything there is so beautiful!

the lettered cottage home

I'm ready for a room renewal.... :P