Summer Hair

The old hair. Cute, but I needed a change. The new hair, thanks to my wonderful sister Shayla. Really, I just wanted to be Posh Spice, but I'll settle for just the hair. (there are some bangs too, but I clipped 'em back...in the way already)

The side view. Ignore the dork-look on my face. I was talking when the camera went.

9 months

Sofie turns 9 months tomorrow! I seriously cannot believe how fast it's gone! She went to her doctor's appointment yesterday and is healthy as can be. She only gained 1/2 a pound in the last two months, so she is finally catching up to her chunkiness (sad times!) She crawls and babbles and pulls herself up on things. She is determined to stand up on her own and continues to practice despite the head bumps that follow! She's got two bottom teeth and some swollen gums up top. Her hair is starting to grow and she usually has a fro after bathing.

As for Mom and Dad, things are just plugging along. Derek is in full time summer school while working full time as well, so he's soooo busy, but always finds time for baby and mom. I haven't been too lucky lately and stressed myself into a wonderful case of Shingles this week! (No, shingles is not an STD, it's a recurrence of chicken pox after the virus lies dormant in your nerves for years, brought on by stress and lack of sleep) The doctor put me on a medication that he doesn't want Sofie to get via nursing, so I've been busy both bottle feeding Sofie and trying to maintain my milk supply in the mean time. Hopefully this goes away quickly, and let's pray that Sofie still takes to nursing after taking a bottle for this long.

I wish I could make this face bigger 'cuz I love the look!

Happy Baby!



Sofie and Great-Grandpa Bob

Sofie and her cousin Giuseppe met this last week. They instantly loved each other! Seppe put his arm around her and Sofie wouldn't stop kissing him. I'd put up the kissing picture but it looked a little disturbing ;)

Sofie has learned how to get into the kitchen cupboards! Oh no!

I didn't catch it on film, but Sofie has learned how to pull herself up onto just about anything these days. This video is after she found her way up against the dishwasher.

Memorial Day

For Memorial Day, Derek woke up early and worked all day to finish my parents' beautiful block retaining wall. Then Sofie, Derek and I walked down to the cemetary to see Derek's Grandparents' graves. We're so grateful for the awesome weather we had today! Now the yard is ready for Roo's Mission Farewell.

Here is the lovely garden that Derek first made ready, and that my mom put together. (Derek and I planted the chives) We were so excited to be able to use our radishes, chives, and spinach already this week!

Workin' hard!

Still a little bit more work to be done around the stairs, but the rest of the wall is done!

Fort Collins, CO

Brother Tommy graduated last week from CSU with his masters in "Natural Resources Stewardship; Forest Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship." Basically he got his masters in getting paid to hang out in the forest. The multiple car caravan made the trip to Fort Collins to enjoy a riveting graduation ceremony.


All the siblings (minus Scott who is working for the Forest Service Fire Management this summer in Cedar City). Tommy made sure he had a well groomed mustache for the occasion!



Us being bored during the ceremony. Of course, out of over 700 graduates, Tommy was the 5th to the last name called...
(Sofie was interested in the program even though it only had lists of graduate names and no pictures.)



Pictures of the family visiting Horsetooth Reservoir overlooking Fort Collins.



Sofie "Hermione" Blatter having fun and practicing her wizardry at the city park.


Posing at the other park we visited (they had one every two blocks or so).

Sofie exhausted after all of our running around.


Sofie and dad visiting Rocky Mountain National Park.

Baby Tricks

TRIANGULARS: the best birthday desert. This was a Centennial II apartment 14 classic! Thanks Roo for remembering the greatness. They're so easy and tasty! Just mix up a cake as the box directs and instead of baking it in the oven you just use a sandwhich maker. Pour it in and a couple minutes later you have a triangular, perfect with your choice of frosting.

Clapping

Whatever this is called

The first day of official crawling from one place to another. On my birthday! She takes the pegleg approach. One stiff leg that pushes and the other one bent underneath. So cute. A little inefficient, but it works!

Derek's Project

Derek has been working this Spring on building my parents a new retaining wall in their backyard. Hard work! He also turned their old swingset/sandbox into a new spot for a garden.

The wonderful and heavy block.

Working hard! Note the cute garden there to the left. Derek is actually a lot further along now, but I haven't had a chance to get an updated picture.

Quarter Century!

Today is my birthday! I'm 25...granny! It's been one long day of birthday fun all weekend. It all started on Wednesday when my family and I all went out to Bombay House (Indian food is one of my all time favs!). Then Saturday I had some long time high school friends over for homemade pizzas (dough courtesy Pizza Factory). Sunday, was of course Mother's Day, my very first one (and I had to give a talk in church!) so Derek gave me my gift then. Now, today is finally my real birthday but I don't think there is anything planned! And of course, I woke up with a terrible sore throat, and Sofie's got somethin' brewing as well. :(

Opening Derek's Mother's Day/B-day gift to me!
A Queen size memory foam mattress pad. The best thing in the whole world!! I haven't slept that well in a long long time! So amazing!


The birthday party. And of course, as always, lots of babes. Ashlynn, Chloe, and Sofie. (Serena's isn't due for another week or so, and Lisa's didn't come, so there could have been even more!)

The topping spread.

Derek and I didn't plan the matching shirts, I promise!

Pic of the Day & Bloopers!

yikes!

Happy Mother's Day to me! So Cute!

8 months

Learning to stand against stuff! Don't worry, Mama's near by!