Happy Fall, everybody. Things are finally settling down in the Norris-Meritt household. My mom is now officially retired (her last day was Halloween) and is handling her new job — official stay at home mom — well so far. The past two months, though, have been very stressful for all of us. My dad went back to work full time, and Mom’s job made her do a lot of silly things wrapping up. She spent a lot of time doing fieldwork, and was in Yonkers quite a few times. It was very busy for everybody.

Some happy things happened the past two months. We went to Hardscrabble Day, which my mom helped organize. It was a lot of fun! As you can see by the pictures, I had a great time with my friend Karana. And there was a bouncy house there!!! Uncle Mike and Suma came up for part of the day, and it was fun hanging out with them.

Suma became my Aunt Suma when they got married in September. Suma’s mom had an Indian outfit for me to wear — I looked great. I love my Uncle Mike and wanted to dance with him all day. Every time I see a red Jeep around town, I think it’s him and get excited.

Mom had asked me what I wanted to be for Halloween. I told her “popcorn.” So, good Mommy that she is, she made a popcorn costume out of a cardboard box. Dad even helped with hot gluing all the popcorn to the box. Unfortunately, “you can’t sit in popcorn” (boxes) and we ended up taking off the costume and putting on the strawberry costume from last year. Although Halloween freaked me out a bit at first, I eventually got the hang of trick or treating.

I am sorta kinda potty training. Don’t get rid of the diapers yet, but I’ve been fairly consistent with #2. My folks, needless to say, are thrilled.

I have a “new room.” Mom finally got rid of all her junk from my room (her desk, phone, computer and fax machine), and it now has my table and chairs, easel, toys, and a rug. I love my new room. I will eagerly show it to anyone who comes in.

I continue to be hysterical. Of course, I do have my diva moments, and sometimes take the “terrible two” label and run with it. But I am also very sweet and will frequently proclaim my love for people and things. So, I love you, and will update you after the holidays!

Some juicy quotes:

Jen: “Can we cuddle?”
Sophie: “No, we can’t cuddle, we can nurse. That’s a good plan.”
–9/27/05

“Daddy’s in New York City. He’s working. I miss him.”
–to Mark’s parents, unprovoked, 9/29/05

“Yes, yes I do. I want to talk to Uncle Mike. So how’s Uncle Mike?”
–in phone conversation with Aunt Suma, 10/8/05

“Hi, my name is Sophia. And I’m going to be popcorn for Halloween.”
–to the guy at Monroe Mufflers

“Hi, my name is Sophie. I’m two years old. I was popcorn for Halloween. But you can’t sit in popcorn. So I turned into a strawberry. I like strawberries. I like strawberries a lot.”
–introducing herself at the Little Gym, 11/4/05

Woooweeee. I was busy this summer. I had a great time, though. I love the playground and the pool and running around half naked. I also love going to Holy Cow for ice cream. “It’s really really cold.”

I went to Mystic twice (to my Grammy & Grampy’s “new” house) and went on my Grampy’s boat. I loved wave hopping — I would say “whoa, whoa” whenever a wave came. My favorite thing to do is go on the beach and wake the clams. I would toss rocks into the water and the little clams would squirt!

My birthday was a lot of fun. I invited my friends over for a Mexican fiesta. The day coincided well, as it was the same day as the Red Hook Fireman’s Parade. So, we took a wagon caravan downtown and watched the fire trucks go by. It was fun, but loud! They would do their siren, which was shocking and sometimes scared us.

I have started singing along to songs. My Dad started a singalong group called Shindig and they had a party. I got to go for a bit. I sang “Downtown,” one of my favorites. I also love to sing “Build Me Up Buttercup.”

I went to the Dutchess County Fair with my Grandma and Grandpa and Mommy. It was fun. I saw pig racing! There were a lot of animals there and I went on a few rides. My favorite ride is the carousel.

Mom has taken me down to Grandma & Grandpa’s every week so they could watch me when she goes to the office. It is so much fun, I don’t want to leave. Mom and I have good conversations in the car during the commute. Sometimes we sing along to songs together.

I have had a great time playing with friends this summer. I have discovered the joy of the “bathdate,” when Eva and I will take baths together. We like to rinse each other.

I am quite a hoot. Some quotables:

Jen: “You’re an only child.”
Sophie: “No, I’m a Sophie.”

You have a boo-boo, I’m sorry.

Sophie: Look at all this mess!
Grammy: Who made this mess?
Sophie: Sophia.

You know what? My sister… (I’d say this and then not say anything that my sister did, and it took me a while to grasp that I actually don’t have a sister. I was just mimicking another kid I heard at the Mystic playground!)

Jen (explaining why Sophie had to get dressed before going out for a wagon ride): Public nudity is against the law.
Sophie: Why?
Jen: Because people are-
Sophie (cutting off Jen): Because of gravity.

“I like nursing. It makes me giggle”
Unprovoked, 7/11/05

“That’s a fun song, isn’t it? It’s silly.”
Listening to “Build Me Up Buttercup,” 7/27/05

“One for nursing, one for squishing.”
“Like a sandwich.”
Two different statements about Mom’s breasts

“The crayon is broken. We need batteries to fix the crayons because we don’t know how the crayon works!”
Drawing with crayons, 8/9/05

Conversation, 8/10/05:
Teresa: Ada mazhum! (Portuguese exclamation)
Sophie: Ada mazhum!
Tom: Is that part of your Portuguese heritage?
Sophie: No.
Tom: Is that part of your Hungarian heritage?
Sophie: No.
Tom: Is that part of your English heritage?
Sophie: No.
Tom: Is that part of your Irish heritage?
Sophie: No, I’m just ticklish.

Sophie, to Jen on computer: 8/14/05
“Are you all done working? ‘Cause I’d love to nurse.”

“Hi Daddy. Let me see him. I wanna type.”
Asking to type an email to Mark while Mark was downstairs on a conference call, 8/15/05

That’s it for the quotes.

I have gotten a bit fond of my mom’s Pooh bear. I also have a small baby doll I named Pahtee.

I finally have a new babysitter. I played with Gina for a while, now I have Sally. She’s a great driveway chalk artist.

I think I am getting my 2-year molars. What a blast!! My folks had finally gotten used to a nice sleep pattern, but ha-ha! Just like old times — sleep deprivation rules!! To make my parents even more insane, I’ve decided to be hit or miss with naps. Why be routine? Fortunately for them, if I skip a nap, I usually am asleep by 8, but they’re both so wiped by then they usually go to bed shortly thereafter anyway.

My Dad has been super busy with work. I miss him during the day and frequently want to play with him. My Mom’s work is wrapping up. Her last day is Halloween. (Long story short, they gave her an offer she could refuse.) So, starting in November, it is Mommy & Me!! We’re taking bets now on how long my mom lasts as a “stay at home mom” before she goes completely off her rocker.

Pictures: 7/ 6/05 Photos

Happy Summer Everyone!

I am certainly enjoying warm weather. It means more playground time! Golly, I love playgrounds. I even figured out my parents’ secret code for playground– PG. Ha! They think they’re so clever. I have no fear when it comes to the playground. I even climbed a huge ladder by myself (with supervision, natch). I am also able to climb on the rocking animals by myself.

The big event for May?? Apple Blossom Day in town. Let me tell you about the bouncy house (ed. note: a large inflatable castle for kids to jump in). Holy Moly, I loved that thing. I went back for a second go-round and got to be the last kid in for the day. But then the guy had to clean the bouncy house and the bouncy house had to go home!! I still get so excited talking about that.

I’ve started to do some chores. I have a little rake and hoe, and Mom found me a lawnmower at the recycling center. I also have a clean up song: “Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share.” I learned that song from my friend Karana.

I like to go grocery shopping with my mom. One of my favorite things to do is steal the list from her and throw it on the ground. I find it absolutely hysterical, and will do it over and over again. Once when we were shopping, a page came across the loudspeaker and I exclaimed, “I hear Old MacDonald in my head.”

I have begun sharing my food. I will frequently ask my folks, “Would you like a small chip?” “Would you like some, Daddy?” Of course, I am also a bit of a moocher and will take other people’s food.

While watching a nature movie with my dad, there was an image of an avalanche. He told me what it was. I very smartly said, “I get out of the way!”

I have become quite possessive of my clothing. If I’m wearing something, I don’t want to get out of it. No way. It’s a new struggle for my folks. Heck, I can’t be charming all the time.

I continue to love music, and will latch onto songs I hear in passing. I got addicted to a Cat Stevens song that I heard on a CD. But nothing compares to my new favorite! Mom and Dad got the soundtrack to Monty Python’s Spamalot from the library, and I immediately hooked onto a very silly song that I called “Dennis!!!” Again, Dennis!!! I also heard 409 by the Beach Boys in the car and said “again, giddyup.” My parents happened to have it in a Beach Boys boxed set, so now I get to hear it at home, and I also discovered that I really like Surfin’ USA.

I was able to see all my cousins. Emma and Owen came to Poughkeepsie to visit, and Leah and Eli came to visit my house in Red Hook.

My Grammy and Grampy moved to Mystic. I spent a lot of time “helping” them pack. This mostly consisted of taking things out of boxes that had already been packed and riding on the handtruck.

Some of my friends turned 2. Maggie had a party at the Saugerties carousel. What fun!! I still talk about that. Eva also turned 2 and we had a fun time at her house. They had a roller coaster thing for our go-go cars. What a blast!

My drawing has improved. I can now draw lines and circles….or things vaguely resembling circles. I also like to draw with chalk on the driveway. Dad drew a slide on the driveway and I pretended to slide down it. I’ve also drawn slides on the driveway myself and then slid down.

I have a male suitor. His name is Evan, and he’s exactly 1 week older than me û an older man. We’ve really grown up with each other–we met when we were about 6 weeks old. We went to the playground together, and he wanted to hug me. He would come running over to me and hug me. I played hard to get: “Evan, no doing that!” However, I have since (unprovoked) told the story that he hugged me, and I hugged him, and he’s my favorite guy.

I’ve also hung out at the pool at the Red Hook recreation park û I call it the blue pool. We have a baby pool in the backyard- I call it “the puddle” and will splash around naked in it. I’ve also enjoyed communal baths– Eva and I had a great time taking a bath, and Aurora and I had a good time in the bath when Mom and Dad babysat her.

I have a new babysitter. Her name is Gina, and luckily for all of us, we instantly hit it off. She lives next door to Daisy, a dog I’ve grown quite fond of. Daisy barks a lot, and for a long time we thought she wasn’t friendly, but it just turned out she didn’t like to be cooped up. When her owner, Jami, brought her out into the driveway, she was very calm and quiet and sweet, and we warmed up to each other nicely. I really enjoy animals, especially cats and dogs.

Warm weather also means ice cream at Holy Cow!! I do take a long time to finish it, and will tell people, “I’m not finished yet û I’m still eating ice cream.”

I will be turning 2 shortly. Well, enjoy your summer.

Pictures: 5/4/05 Photos

Happy Spring everyone!! I am so glad the weather has gotten better. I love playing outside. My favorite thing? The playground!! I love slides. I am a bit of a brave girl, and my most loved slide is the “green one”- a rather large slide that’s in the “big kid” section of the playground. I also like the tube slide and the red one and the green one and the other one….and I will happily give you a rundown on all the activities at the playground.

A few milestones the past two months. In March, I decided I wanted out of my crib and Mom and Dad’s room. I am now in my own room, and sleep in my “butterfly bed.” My great Aunt Holly made me a quilt with butterflies on it, and we keep it on my bed. I also have a butterfly mobile above my head. I really like my butterfly bed and am sleeping much better. I generally only wake up twice a night now. Still not perfect, but sooo much better than before. I am also going to bed at a more reasonable time. I generally get up around 7 and take a nap late morning. I’m usually asleep for the night by 9. My folks are very excited to have time for themselves at night. They’ve been able to watch DVDs!

I also decided to “hop on the potty train.” For a few weeks, I was consistently doing “number 2″ in the potty—oh boy were my folks psyched!!! Then, I decided that was just too advanced, so I cut back. I like to hang out on the potty at least once a day — I love toilet paper — and sometimes I pee. My folks are very patient and humor me. They put me on there even when they know I just want to play with toilet paper.

I’ve become creative. I’ve invented a few games with my folks. One of my favorites is “I wonder.” I go behind mom or dad and they say “I wonder where Sophie is?” I wait a bit, then run out from behind and give them hugs. I like to knock down my dad and climb on his belly. I also came up with cute nicknames for them: Daddykins and Mommykins, based on my friend Aurora having her Mom call her Aurorakins.

I like to monologue and sing. From time to time, my folks will find me singing by myself “that’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it” and “who put the bomp.”.

I have discovered the broccoli pop! It’s really just a regular piece of broccoli, but my dad started singing “broccoli pop” (to the tune of Lollipop) and I am hooked. I think they may be pulling a fast one on me….

I continue to like baths. Mom came up with a drying off song. I even sang it to her while she dried off after her shower!

Well, I should be going now. I’ve been saying “a few more minutes, then bed” for a few minutes now, so I guess it’s time to sign off.

Hugs (and kisses now too), Sophie.

Pictures: 3/5/05 photo album.

I continue to grow. I am a real kid, with a real personality. I’m talking a mile a minute.

I like the snow, which is a good thing because we seem to be getting a lot of it. Mom figured out I like to hang out with her while she shovels. She’s made a little game of it, shoveling Sophie paths so I can follow her around while she works. I also enjoy sledding too. It’s quite a workout for my folks!

I’ve done a bit of traveling the past few months. In January we went to my first cousin-once-removed’s bat mitzvah. It was a little loud. I had a great time hanging out with my cousins, though. I even danced a little bit to own of my favorite songs, “Hey Ya,” which my dad requested especially for me.

We visited my cousins Leah and Eli in February. We went to the New York State Museum in Albany, and I went on a carousel. I loved it. It was a good thing it was free, because I was on there at least 10 times.

I have recently discovered the Baby Einstein videos. Baby Shakespeare and Baby Dolittle are my favorites. My folks only let me watch once a day. They’re hoping when the weather gets better I’ll be more reluctant to stay inside and watch TV, but for now, it breaks up an inside day. My dad has been looking for “non-kid kid” videos, like Stomp, and The Way Things Go.

I can’t think of what else to report. I’m sleeping better, down to one solid nap a day. Mom has started a nighttime routine with me which seems to be working. I love Cheddar Bunnies and mac & cheese (into which my folks sneak a jar of carrots as “sauce”). I continue to love tomatoes and pizza. I’ve started to make hints about toilet training — which sometimes works, and sometimes has disgusting results! My favorite books are “Click Clack Moo” and “Duck for President” by Doreen Cronin, and “Once a Mouse” by Marcia Brown. I really like taking baths now. Guess that’s it!

Hugs!!

COMING UP NEXT ON SOPHIE’S WORLD:

A trip to NYC… Dad’s birthday… Leah’s birthday party… final trip to Grammie & Grampie’s house in Tolland… better weather!!!!

Pictures: 12/31/04 photo album.

My mom and I have a new year’s resolution. To keep this updated every month. We have a monthly to-do list, which includes such things as recharge batteries, check the water salt level, and now, update the website.

The big news: my dad got a haircut!!!

Halloween was fun. I was a strawberry. We had 3 different events over the weekend. There was a playgroup on Friday, then a party on Saturday, then trick or treating on Sunday. My friends Eva and Kaelen came over for trick or treating. I did get to eat a piece of chocolate—albeit in the wrapper (I sneaked it by my folks).

Halloween was also when my folks discovered my amazing knack for remembering songs. We were coming back from the aforementioned halloween party when Petula Clark’s Downtown came on the radio. From the backseat, my folks heard me clear as day sing “downtown” at the appropriate spot in the song. I now can sing along to several songs, and a musical CD of my favorite songs has been distributed over the holidays. I am a fantastic dancer, and can wiggle my buns to any tune.

My folks have created a play area for me in the basement. There’s a swing down there that I started to fall asleep in. I will often tell my dad to “boot up” “itunes” so I can listen to my favorite songs “no more no more Jack” (Hit the Road Jack) and “Ona” (My Sharona). The most fascinating part of the basement however, is the stairs. Baby gates are such a bummer.

Thanksgiving was fun. All my cousins came to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. We had a fun photo shoot with the 5 of us. Christmas was spent with my Grammy and Grampy in Connecticut.

I continue to be quite a character and say all sorts of things. I am a great monologist, and will sometimes talk to myself for several minutes. My parents lost count of my vocabulary several months ago at 300. My big words include prodigious, ultimatum, and capucchino. I am very loving, and will say “hugs” and “kiss” when I want to get close to people, or things (like a train or a book). I am also a director at times, telling people “get up”, “take it off” “sit down”, and “get it”. Some could consider this as being bossy, I however believe I am sharing my vision, much like a Spielberg or Hitchcock.

The weather is getting lousy again. Fortunately, my mom joined a gym with free child care. There’s a play area for the kids, but I prefer to do the exercise stations with my mom. My favorite is the blue trampoline. My folks are also utilizing their friend Jennie as a caretaker for me for a few hours during the week. Jennie has two kids, and I love to talk to them: Karana and Aurora.

If our resolution works out, I will talk to you all at the end of the month. Until then, HUGS!!!!

Ok, Ok, before you get all mad– I know this update is a long time coming. Not all my mom’s fault. It’s mostly her fault, but not all. We got a new computer, a MAC, which is different from our old computer. Mom had “mastered” (as much as my technologically challenged mom can) updating my website on the old PC, now she has a whole new thing to learn.

Where to start?? Basically, I can do everything now.

My birthday was great. I had some cake, and since then my folks have been pretty lax about my food. I eat healthy 97% of the time (favorite foods: tomatoes and broccoli) but I have had ice cream, pudding, cookies and chocolate chips. It is good, and I do say “mmmm yum!”

Got some really neat presents, but one certainly stands out. My aunt Dana made me a pillow that looks just like the cow from my favorite book Barnyard Dance. Everytime I see it, I say “cow!

I started walking in August—really walking during our second vacation to Mystic. As I’m writing this, I can walk and run like a pro. My friend Eva (whom I lovingly call “Ayba”) will play “go go go”. We each have a little cruiser thing and walk up and down the driveway. We’ve also grown fond of pushing each other on the wagon. For Andrew Pearlman’s cinematic masterpiece “Go Go Go! A Short Action Film”, head to www.andrewpearlman.com/eva/go-go-go.mov

I can also walk backwards. My favorite maneuver is walking backwards into my parent’s lap so they can read me a book. I also like to scoot my bum into my rocking chair.

I love repetition. I will often request the same book read over and over and over and over again in one sitting. I will say “again” at the end of the book prompting them to start over. When I am finally done with the book (after my folks have gone nuts) I will proudly say “Tada!” and move on to the next one.

I am quite the chatterbox. We lost count on all my words. I can say a ton of things. Some things I just repeat, but I am learning about all sorts of things. I get very excited whenever I see the “moon!” or a “manana” in the grocery store”. When we walk into town I will frequently say “good morning!” to all I see.

I love to dance. My parents aren’t terribly proud of this fact, but my absolute favorite song is “Hey Ya!” by Outkast. My Mom is a little concerned that my favorite song comes from an album with an “explicit lyrics” warning on the label. Whenever I hear that song, I stop whatever I’m doing and start bopping ,and will sing along saying “Hey Ya!” I also now play the piano with my dad. We have a little sing a long act to Roy Orbison’s “You Got It”. I can say the “got it” at the right parts”, as well as the “bay-bee”

If my folks thought regular teeth were bad, nothing could have prepared them for the wonder of molars. Now, just one molar is a drag. Pain, wakefulness, irritability. Multiply that by four—oh yeah, I have a molar festival happening in every quadrant of my mouth. Holy cow.

I have increased my cousins by 400%. Aunt Lauren and Uncle Tom had Emma and Owen July 28, and Aunt Dana, Uncle Jeff and counsin Leah welcomed Eli August 15. I’ve spent time with all these new babies. I’ve tried to teach them some things, but they’re all really small. Leah and I have a great time together. We like to run around like crazy!

Halloween is right around the corner, and after that the election. Can’t wait for it to be over. My mom has noticed I sleep particularly poorly on a debate night. At the last debate, I pointed my finger at the TV and said “dirty dirty” over and over, agreeing with most that this is an especially nasty election season. In any event, I plan on voting with my folks (Mom did take me to vote in the primaries) so it will be nice to be a part of democracy in action.

I am a very happy kid. And really cute too. I’m a little character, that’s for sure. Hope to see all of you soon. And I will force my mom to do the next update before I get my driver’s license.

Some people have been asking Dad if they could see some more pictures of him online. With little time to scan in older material, Dad is represented in the digital photographic record mostly by photos taken since the birth of me! Even though many more photos with him are available through my other pages, I thought it would be nice to have a page with a few special selections from my first year with Dad.

Mark and Sophia doing as his T-shirt says, walking away. Poets Walk Park, Red Hook.

Mark wearing Sophia at Tiberio’s Red Hook IGA grocery store.

Mark and Sophia in the Amtrak cafe car on their way back from Sophia’s first NYC visit.

Mark wearing Sophia at the Rhinebeck Farmers Market.

Mark holding Sophia at the Norris cottage in Mystic, CT.

Mark and Sophia in the playground at Dutchman’s Landing park, Catskill, NY.

Mark, Jen and Sophia with Mr. & Mrs. Garlic at the 2003 Hudson Valley Garlic Festival in Saugerties.

Mark, Jen and Sophia snuggle up at home.

Mark as bed for Sophia.

Mark often gives Sophia a “walkaround” to get her to sleep.

Gee Whiz. I know you haven’t had an update from me in a long time. Well, you see, there’s a problem. I can’t type, let alone speak English, so I have to rely on my Mom. She has been super busy with work lately. I don’t know what pre-trial reports are, but I know they drive her batty.

In any event, I continue to grow and do new things everyday. I have long since mastered the roll, and can sit up like a pro. I can move around pretty well. I have the backwards crawl down, and have within the past two weeks started the “army crawl”: flat down letting my arms do all the work. I also like to bend my body all sorts of ways, like the “downward dog” pose from yoga. Baby proofing is now a priority!

I am a non stop babbler. My new favorite phrase Is “a-duck, a-duck, a-duck” which I say over and over again. I have said a few words: “Mommy”, “Look” (complete with pointing) and “Bird”. I also said (in context) “Mom Boob” which freaked Mom out. My parents aren’t convinced that I’m talking yet, as nothing is a constant.

I have responded to my name for several weeks now. I also wave when someone says “bye” and clap my hands on command. I can pick out specific books when asked.

I continue to have a weird relationship with food. Sometimes I am so into it, I can’t get enough. Other days, eh, I don’t really care for it. I am quite good at shaking my head no.

My friend Eva just turned one. She had a birthday party and there were a bunch of babies from my old exercise class there. It was fun getting together, crawling over each other, stealing each other’s toys and trying to eat each other. We do get together other times too: Dad’s music group has taken off and is a lot of fun. Red Hook Moms has started their potluck dinners again too.

Thank goodness the weather is getting better. I try to take walks everyday. Grandma and Grandpa watch me twice a week, and we usually take walks to the store to get lunch. Mom and Dad now both work and are somehow able to get stuff done and take care of me too. Nap time is prime work time for both of them!

I have been doing a lot of traveling. In April, we went to my cousin Leah’s 2nd birthday party. Glitter hair was optionalùyet I was the only one to show up with funky hair. Mom and Dad also took me to NYC to visit some friends of theirs (and mine too by proxy) It really was a good time. We borrowed Eva’s super compact stroller and hit the town. We went out to brunch on the Upper West Side and then hit Central Park.

We went to Mystic for Memorial Day weekend. Dad flew out to Indiana for IshCon (read about it elsewhere on Potluck) so Mom and I hung out with Grammy and Grampy. I took a couple of boat rides and was pretty bored- I fell asleep both times. I had a good time relaxing at the shore.

I enjoy hanging out with my family. Cousin Leah continues to be enamored of me, and still calls me “Ofie”. My Uncle Mike will be living a bit closer to me when he moves to Stamford, CT, where he recently got a job. I will soon be bombarded with cousins: My Aunt Lauren and Uncle Tom are expecting two babies, and Leah is expecting a baby brother.

My mom has worked through her denial and has accepted the fact that I will be one July 21. She is trying to figure out a fun way to celebrate my birthday. I think birthdays should really be about the moms and not the kidsùI mean, really, she’s the one who did all the work, I just wiggled my way out. Anyway, we’re planning on a potluck picnic at a park with some live music. Details will be coming soon!

There are 7 volumes of pictures on Yahoo. Mom apologizes for duplicates in some albums, and they’re not as chronologically accurate as she would have liked! Oh well!!

I’ve learned something this past few weeks. It’s tough to grow. Teeth, man! They are a bummer! I now have two sharp little things in my mouth. I didn’t really have fun while they came in. I needed to bite things—unfortunately, “things” included my mom.

Dad went back to work recently. There’s a lot of creative scheduling going on in the household. Grandma and Grandpa Meritt watch me twice a week. It’s fun!

I am in to food! I’ve tried bananas, yogurt, prunes, pears, oatmeal, brown rice, avocado, green beans, flax seed and egg yolk. My favorite? GREEN BEANS. Maybe because I am “the bean”! My least favorite: egg yolk! I’d like to meet the genius who thought egg yolk would be a good baby food. Yuck! I am also a fan of the teething biscuit–hey anything I can put in my mouth and chew on while providing food at the same time–count me in!

I continue to be very active. I’ve gone to a few different playgroups. Mom’s friend Barbara had a party and there were a lot of babies there. It was in Woodstock, so I hung out with babies named Arrow, Akira, Afton and Niko. Dad and Eva’s mom started a musical playgroup which is a lot of fun. Mom takes me out to the mall on weekends when she gets stir crazy–stimulation city for me! I’ve gone out to a couple of restaurants–Eva and I even went out together!

I like to read. My favorite book by far is the classic “Barnyard Dance” by Sandra Boynton. The character development and plot twists keep me glued to the very end. Every time I even see the book I smile and get excited…..and try to eat it.

My mom bought me a present: the “bouncer”. It’s this super fun thing that attaches to a door frame and I bounce away! I love it. I also love to be naked–I hate clothes. I can’t wait for summer- maybe Mom and Dad will let me hang out in a diaper like last year. Of course, sly one that I am, I figured out how to remove my diaper! Velcro is no match for Sophia!

As I can’t possibly be a perfect baby, I’ve decided to have sleep issues. Mom and Dad started to impliment a “bedtime routine”: eat and shake my sillies out to Hawaiian slack key guitar, books (including the aforementioned “Barnyard Dance” and another page turner, “Pajama Time”) and then sleep, either via the “breast and rest” or Dad’s shoulder. I have improved! I used to wake up every 40 minutes to an hour. I now am a 2 hour girl, with the occassional 4 hour stretch thrown in so mom doesn’t lose her mind. We’ll see how long that lasts. I am quite the reluctant napper, too. My house is just too fascinating–I don’t want to sleep. So many things to look at and talk to: the ceiling fan, light fixtures, closets….

That’s all for now. Mom wanted me to tell you all that there are 3 albums for March 24 in yahoo. She’s become quite “p.o’ed” (whatever that means) at yahoo as she doesn’t have the editorial control she once had. Oh well.