in which I try to learn how to post videos.

I know I've posted videos in the past, apparently those were by accident, because I still don't really know how to do it.

The biggest problem is getting the videos off our camera, and onto the computer. But, this was taken with my phone, and so here goes!

it's....ginormobaby

We spent the evening of the 4th of July with some dear friends John and Debra. I've put pictures of them and their darling boy Marshall up on the blog before.

Debra and I ended up pregnant at the same time, Marshall is not quite a month older than X.

And he's been double her size nearly their entire lives.

It's still about the same. She's not yet 20 pounds and he's pushing 40. He's a good few inches taller than her as well.

But he's sweet as can be, they played together and he did a good job of sharing his toys and his dinner with her!

Only one mishap, but it's mostly her fault because she couldn't run yet so she wasn't quick enough to get out of the way in the "let's-run-in-circles-around-the-crib" game. She's doing much better at running now, she's nearly there!

They both love balls, and cars, playing in the pool and food. Destined to be best friends for life I imagine. Xaris surprised us all by showing how she could fit through the small "cat door" John and Debra had cut out of a baby gate across the bathroom--so the cat could get away from the baby when needed. Apparently not our baby, she just followed the kitty right through!

We enjoyed such a wonderful dinner (thanks John!) and conversation with our friends, and are so sad that soon they will be moving several hours away. Plus, we were in unincorporated Tarrant County, so fireworks were not only legal, they were abundant! We got to sit and watch amazing shows from all sides. X just sat on my lap and cuddled for an hour, and eventually fell asleep. I enjoyed the rarity of the stillness...because she's rarely that still for that long. It was delightful...but just as delightful were the photos that followed, a few days later Debra sent the pictures she and Ricardo had taken while we were there.

There's some great perspective and angle tricks here--the difference in size between these two really isn't as much as portrayed. But don't you just love how it turned out??

middle earth

On our way home from San Antonio we stopped at the caverns as a treat for all the kids (and adults) who worked so hard on mission trip.

We were our own tour--but somehow we got one extra person in our group (orange shirt in the front)--she didn't seem to mind and chatted with a few of our group and made some friends.

X getting ready to go to middle earth. What's this on my head?

Pink's your color papa!

Our long string-bean baby in her moby ready to go underground! Look at those long legs. Still 5th percentile in weight though...

Admiring the elements.

Papa taking a picture of his girls...

We saw some bats. Not a dwarf, ring-fellowship or misplaced hobbit to be found.

Mission Trip 2010

We made it!

Mission Trip # 2 with a baby. Although she is much more of a toddler than an infant. (not sure which is harder/easier, to be honest!) She did great though--quite a trooper the whole week, especially considering she had nothing close to a routine or schedule while we were gone.

Gramama came along to be "team X". Her mission trip job is baby support--she took care of Xaris when I needed to do my job. A lot of my mission trip work included them...like delivering cookies to each of the work sites every day!

Of course everyone was happy to see both her AND cookies.

One team had a 'family' of blue army paratroopers (who had lost their chutes). X gnawed on one for awhile. I think another ended up in a water bottle and one got sawed in half by a chop saw. This one didn't have it that bad, comparatively.

Saturday morning before we head back home:

3 Generations of mission trip girls.

Work team group photos:

Team TieDyePteradactyls (Ricardo's team)

Team Sweat (just sweat)

Team Bearded Crew

The whole group

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?