Mexico trip

Last week we had a lovely visit to see Abuelos, Tios, and Primos!

La Xarisofi did marvelously on the plane--slept the whole way there.

Of course, that might be due to the fact that we had a 6am flight, had been awake since 4am, and hadn't gone to bed until 1am (X included). We rented our car without mishap (a first), when to IHOP for breakfast, did some shopping in El Paso and then headed to the Mexico side of the border.

She jumped right on in to play with all her cousins.

We tried to get pictures...hard with several babies/toddlers.

Febe is the next oldest after X. She's just 5 months older, but pretty big!

(That's her getting held by her older sister, next to Xaritas).

One of the items on our shopping list in El Paso was a grill. We got a small one and brought it down with us, so we could have a carne asada on Friday. However, this meant that Thursday we watered the dirt to ensure there would be less dust when we were all outside on Friday. The best part about watering the dirt? Playing in the hose.

X tried her first taste of carne asada, but still preferred eating an avocado.

And playing in the dirt.

Oh, and playing in the trash.

Apparently, playing in the trash is what makes her really happy!

Look at that filthy (but still oh-so-cute), happy girl!

Mama-snuggles for a not-so-happy girl after she threw dirt in her eyes and had to get them washed out.

I was washing the dishes later, with X sitting on the side of the sink. She was pretty happy to kick and play in the water (our sink at home doesn't have this kind of space--this was a new adventure). It turned out to be a great idea to just take off her clothes and wash her the same tim I washed the dishes.

A good adventure! Next up: Mission trip in 2 weeks!!

since it's been forever...

...about time for an update or two!

I had not uploaded photos in a long time + my computer was in the repair shop until today = the need to catch up with my blog!

First things first: Look what X is doing!

She took her first steps (8 of them in a row--way to start out gradually chica!) about a week and a half ago in the play area of Chick-Fil-A. She was watching all the big kids running and screaming, and she wanted in on the action I suppose. She walked back and forth between papa and I at home that weekend, but then stopped for most of the week and wouldn't show off her skills for anyone. But this past weekend we went to Mexico to see Ric's family, and she had cousins to try to keep up with so she picked it right back up.

These pictures were taken last Sunday at church, so she's gotten a little steadier on her feet since. I suspect she will be running in about 2 days :)

She also got her first "real" hair cut, although it was just bangs. That was about all I was brave enough to do. Her hair grows forward from about the middle of the back of her head on (think Linus). She has recently decided that pulling out her ponytails and clips is a lot of fun, so she would go most of the day with all her hair in her eyes (and nose and mouth, because it came down to her chin). So I cut bangs. Not sure if they're even, but I think she looks pretty cute, and it does help to not have to keep pulling her hair back or re-clipping it.

A cookie in one hand, a brush in the other (and in the mouth) kept her pretty content for the whole ordeal.

So grown up!

Another favorite is pulling books out of the shelves, which we can distract her from by giving her rides in papa's office chair. She loves both activities though, so usually the books still come out of the shelves.

She's finally cut her front top two teeth and has four more coming in (it's about time!) She's started getting freckles (younger than I did), and had her first strawberries and bananas (things we waited on because Ricardo's allergic--she doesn't show any signs). Still a happy baby who doesn't sleep through the night yet!

Next post: Mexico!

one, part two

Took a few tries, but got some more pictures uploaded!

Here's the birthday cupcake progression.

Blow out the candle (she didn't need to--the wind took care of it. Twice--it blew out while we were still singing)

She thought the sprinkles were toys...

What? I'm supposed to eat this??

Mama helping to take off the wrapper

Trying another taste

Nah. I don't want this. You eat it!

And that was as far as we got with the cupcake!

I was pretty surprised she didn't make a terrific mess of it, herself, and her clothing. But we still have plenty of time to train her in the way she should go, so I am confident we will eventually have a cupcake lover.

Today was her 12 month check up. Disappointed that they didn't want me to strip her down to a diaper this time (I brought a really cute hair bow to match her diaper for her dr's office picture). Since she can stand on her own, they just have her stand on the big kid scale instead of get weighed on the infant scale, and she was wearing a dress, so I didn't need to take off any pants for her vaccinations.

She's a whopping 17.4 lbs, fully clothed, shod, and diapered. 5th percentile.

28.75 inches, so her growth has slowed, but is still maintaining, so we're not worried.

New things: She got a dolly for her birthday, which she calls 'baby'. Her lovey (favorite toy to snuggle) is a monkey puppet. She can stand for 30+ seconds, while leaning, bending, moving--but as soon as she would like to travel, she bends her legs to get to the floor and crawl. She's still too chicken to try to take a step unassisted! We'll be sure to let you know when that does happen though!

one, part one

My computer and/or internet is having a rough time, and I'm not having much success with uploading pictures. But one batch went through, so here's Xaris Sofia's birthday picnic, part one!

We just had a few friends and family for a picnic at the Arboretum. Stormy weather was in the forecast all week, but we had a lovely day--cloudy, but not wet, the sun came out briefly and we got a little toasty, but it didn't get too hot for most of the day! We ate picnic food, played with bubbles, pinwheels, paratroopers, and flying foam discs (until we got reprimanded that frisbees, balls, and the like are not allowed), X opened some gifts, enjoyed a ride in the wagon, tried a cupcake and gave big smiles and love to everyone who talked or played with her. Thank you everyone who celebrated our precious girl with us! I'll try to post more pictures soon. Facebook seems to be letting me upload, so that maybe the route I take.

Cupcake time!

Standing solita!

Sharing a wagon ride with papa.

Learning about her new toy

Chomp, munch, slurp. Watermelon seemed to win her over more than the cupcake did. Is she really my daughter?