Thursday, February 28, 2008

Girly Day

The other day when I was in Stride Rite another mom came in with her little girl. The little girl was about the same age as Sophia and had her hair up in little wispy pigtails. I asked the mom how she did it because I would like to try and do Sophia's hair like that. She told me she uses Claire's club clear plastic rubberbands. They are the only ones that will stretch really wide around grownup fingers. So I went next door and got some and here is my first attempt at doing Sophia's hair:

This is what the back looked like:

This one is a little blurry but cute none the less. Check it out she is wearing her new shoes also. Oh yea and I do change my daughters clothes I just realized she is wearing this same outfit in some other pictures I posted on here. I just think this outfit is really cute! :)

My little peanut looks like such a little girl these days. Where has the time gone!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Ball Family Cheese

It looks as though Phil, Sophia, and I are in the cheese making business. Let me explain. I was so good about keeping Sophia's bottles clean and in order but since she has switched to cups I'm afraid we have become a bit forgetful. We always have clean cups for her but I have a few favorites that I love to use. I've misplaced two of them the last couple of days and I finally found one. This is what I found.

I found it up in the loft hiding in a corner. It looks as though we have started our own cheese business. :) I'm afraid this is one of those times I'm not even opening the cup and it is going in the trash. Very wasteful but I don't think I can bring myself to clean it. There is another one hidden somewhere. If you can believe it I think it is in the truck somewhere but is hidden very well. I think some cup fairies have run off with it or something because the truck is not that big. Thankful that one only has apple juice in it so there will not be any cheese made from that one...hopefully. :)

Britian had an Earthquake?!

Seems an odd place to have one but Britian had an earthquake. Phil's dad wrote us to say that they were okay and that the earthquake shook the bed for a few minutes waking them up but all in all a good laugh.
Here is a youtube video of the earthquake.

Don't Take My Shoes Off!!

Sorry it has been awhile since we have written but there really hasn't been much to speak of around here. We are just trying to enjoy the weather when we can and stay inside and warm on the other days. The strange weather has been messing with my allergies though and I (Tara) haven't felt very well the last couple of days. It is so cold this morning that it has been flurring off and on. Phil is in Indiana today though and he has told me it is really really cold up there and I have other friends that live in Wisconsin that have pictures to prove it. :)

One thing that Sophia and I did do yesterday was go buy her some more shoes. She had some brown ones that we bought her back in December but her poor big toe was about to bust out of them. So off we went to Stride Rite. There shoes are a little more that what I like to spend but at least I know she is sized right and she always has a good time when we go. Yesterday her foot was measured at a 5 1/2 and the poor girl was wearing a 4 1/2 I couldn't believe how fast her foot had grown. There wasn't anyone else in the store either so she had a really good time running around thanks goodness she hasn't figured out that it is a lot of fun to pull things off shelves because she mainly just wanted to play with the toys they had available and show them how she could twirl. :) Here are the shoes we got:

This is her everyday shoe

This is the dress shoe we got for church


I had to run an errand first thing this morning so I threw some clothes on Sophia and put her new shoes on. Well I got finished quickly and we came home and I thought she would be more comfortable with her shoes off. I was sooo wrong she started fussing as soon as I touched her shoes and screamed when I took them off. She ran around the house fussing at me until I put her shoes back on. So now she is wearing her shoes while she plays. :) I'm not sure if she is just very girly and loves shoes or if it is because she has never worn shoes until the last three months or so. Either way she LOVES shoes! I know what her allowance is going to be spent on when she gets older.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Our Weekend and Sophia is 14 Months Old

I hope everyone had a good weekend I can't believe it is Tuesday already. Phil and I had a great time friday night celebrating Valentines Day. We went to the Senoia Coffee Company to have dinner and it was very tasty. There was also a lady there singing love songs and she was very good. We were the youngest people there but that was fine everyone we met was very sweet. There was also a couple there celebrating their 51st wedding anniversary. Phil got me a pair of diamond earings for Valentines Day. I was shocked when I saw the little box and they are gorgeous. I thought it was very sweet of him seeing as I just got my ears pierced back in December. :) I got Phil an assortment of British candies and put them in a Valentines Day tin. I also made him Tres Leches is a heart shaped cooking tin it turned out really good! It was also very tasty if I do say so myself. :) I know candies compared to diamond earings doesn't sound equal but I have something special planned for our anniversary. :)

Sophia also turned 14 months old yesterday! Where does the time go. It seems just like yesterday I was planning her 1st birthday party. Here are a few things she is doing now: babbling a lot but saying more and more words everyday
Her newest thing is to twirl(spin round and round) especially when she has a dress on :)
She drinks from a regular cup now with a straw I don't have to take sippy cups with me anymore
She still LOVES the teletubbies
She dances a little now it looks more like a bounce but she only does it when the music comes on
She likes to feed herself with a spoon now but isn't very good at it :)
She likes to bring me things

We go for her 15 month checkup next month which I'm not looking forward to. She is suppose to get a couple of shots and it breaks my heart to see her cry like that. She recognizes the Dr. Office now and doesn't like it one bit. :) Sophia's ear infection is much better now also. We still have a few more days of the antibiotic but she isn't rubbing it quite as much. Well it is bath time here I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday!


Daddy's little Valentine

Valentines Day. Phil got Sophia a purple puppy. :)

Look Maga I can talk into my cell phone. So what if it is upside down. :)

Hiding from mommy!

Monday, February 18, 2008

More Favorite Things

Okay to be honest I never really got to finish the favorite things post below. Sophia was in a bad mood that day and wouldn't let me put her down to take pictures. So here is the rest of some of her favorite things.

Here are some of her favorite books. You may see a theme she loves animals. Her newest favorite is turtles I'm not sure why but they intrigue her. :) The dog in the center plays the song "head shoulders knees and toes" and she will make it sing and then run into the kitchen to dance. I've tried catching her on video but she stops as soon as she sees the camera.

Some larger toys that she enjoys and one book I was able to snag from her for a quick photo. Emorie just gave her the teletubbies toy in the background yesterday and she hasn't stopped playing with it. Well I got her to stop playing with it long enough for me to take a picture of it.

Some of her favorite eats! Don't laugh but she is a very picky mac n' cheese eater. I've tried making her homemade macaroni and cheese and it just won't do. She HAS to have Stouffer's. We have three bunches of bananas on our counter top right now and she will probably eat most of those by the end of the week. She doesn't like regular oatmeal but she loves the baby oatmeal. Which I have tasted and it tasted like cardboard to me but she likes it and that is all that matters. :)

I just thought this picture was cute. This is one of those baby leash backpack things. She actually likes wearing it but I think it is because she likes to play with the latches. She eventually figured out how to get this one closed and then cried because she couldn't get it to un-latch. I did it for her and then she latched it again and cried I undid it again for her and on and on and on...

Thursday, February 14, 2008

60 Things You May Not Know About Me (Tara)

Feel free to copy and answer these on your own blog.
60 Things You Possibly Didn't Know About Me

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
A carseat, a plastic Wal-Mart bag and probably one of Sophia's cups I've been looking for all morning.

2. When was the last time you threw up
I'm glad to say it has been awhile probably back in High School

3. What's your favorite curse word?
I would rather not say..I'm trying to cut back on the cussing seeing as I have a toddler now that is learning how to talk.

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
Phil and Sophia I haven't seen a third person yet but I talked to Emorie and she always makes me smile. *SMILE*

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Watching Sophia play with her new broom...this pretend stuff is great she actually does clean the floor a little.

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
putting clothes into the dryer

7. What will you be doing 3 hours from now?
it will be 12 so I will probably be trying to figure out what Sophia might eat for lunch.

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
No

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
"It's a baby!" Sophia is showing me her baby doll.

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
birthday cake/buttercream YUM!!

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
diet coke...bit odd for first thing in the morning but it has caffeine in it!

12. What are you wearing right now?
Pajama pants a gown over that and then a Georgia sweatshirt over that...I'm cold..and I'm looking very cute! :)

13. What was the last thing you ate?
a bowl of fiber one cereal...caramel delight it is actually very good..just don't eat to much if you know what I mean. :)

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
Nope

15. When was the last time you ran?
last night

16. What's the last sporting event you watched?
Some of the superbowl

18. Who is the last person you emailed?
Phil. I e-mailed him the pics I took of Sophia

19. Ever go camping?
Yes on Cumberland Island. We had a great time and I would do it again.

20. Do you have a tan?
HaHa that is funny!

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
Depends on where I'm at. If in a restaurant yes if at home no

25. What did your last IM say?
IM?! I'm never on the computer long enough to IM!

26. Are you someone's best friend?
I hope so

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
I'm spending the day with Sophia as normal but tomorrow night Phil and I are going to the Senoia Coffee Company to celebrate Valentines Day. Ahh how romantical. :)

28. Where is your mom right now?
I'm thinking probably at work

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
The living room ceiling fan...I'm upstairs looking over the living room.

30. What color is your watch?
I don't wear it but I think the band is red

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia ?
g'day mate!

32. Would you consider plastic surgery?
no I don't really like knives and needles aimed at my body

33. What is your birthstone?
aquamarine

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit thedrive thru?
drive thru when I'm by myself go inside when I have help

35.How many kids do you want?
I wanted one and I have her we will see about any others. :)

36. Do you have a dog?
yes his name is cleveland

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Emorie we chat while she is driving to work. With kids it is hard to get schedule a time to get together so we talk when we can. :)

38. Have you met anyone famous?
Does Mickey Mouse count?!

39. Any plans today?
Wal-Mart ICK! I have to get some diapers for Sophia and they have the cheapest ones...that place is like a black hole though I never realize how long I have been in there.

40. How many states have you lived in?
Two.

41. Ever go to college?
Yes and I eventually finished. :)

42. Where are you right now?
Home read above I'm looking really cute in my pajamas but I don't think everyone needs to seem me they might get jealous.

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
What will this little girl eat?!

44. Last song listened to?
Mahna mahna :)

46. Are you allergic to anything?
getting up early sophia is helping me get over it though. :)

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
Tennis Shoes very comfy for running after a toddler.

48. Are you jealous of anyone?
Not that I know of

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
Would someone actually tell you if they were?

51. What time is it?
9:00 am

52. Do any of your friends have children?
All of them now. :)

53. Do you eat healthy?
I'm trying but somehow a snickers bar ends up in my bag sometimes. :)

54. What do you usually do during the day?
Entertain Sophia as best as possible..which means taking her to the park but it is to cold today so we will see what happens.

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
hate no..dislike maybe

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Yes..Sophia pretends to talk into her cell phone so I talk back to her saying Hello

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
30!!!!

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
No I'm not a big fan of roller coasters and they have a lot

60. How did you get one of your scars?
I had a baby by c-section

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Some of Phil's work

Okay since I showed off some of my photos I will now show you some of Phil's. I couldn't fit all the pictures in the last post.



Playing with Phil's new Camera lens

Well we still don't have a whole lot going on around here. Phil and I had to take Sophia to the doctor today she had been rubbing her ears on her shoulders and I was afraid she might be getting an ear infection. When we got there the doctor confirmed it. She said it wasn't to bad yet and gave us some antibiotics to start her on. Other than that we are both looking forward to Valentines Day which is tomorrow but Phil and I are celebrating on Friday. When you have to find a babysitter it is quite a bit harder to go out on the actual day. :) We are going to go to the Senoia Coffee Company this year they are having a really nice dinner and entertainment. I think our friends Emorie and Fernando are going to meet us there so it should be a lot of fun.
Anywho...I was playing with Phil's new camera lens today and thought I would show off my work. It isn't great because the new lens is manual focus and I'm used to the ones where you press down and it will focus for you. They turned out pretty good anyway. :)

Sophia enjoying a banana. She had just finished her mac and cheese so that is why her lips are a bit orange. :)

Oh we must share our banana!

Yummy milk! She had zoned out and I thought she looked pretty.

Phil trying to wipe her face. To funny!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Phil's new lens

Phil ordered a new camera lens the other day and it finally came in today. He was testing it out and took this really pretty picture of Sophia. She is eating a vanilla wafer so you may see a few crumbs. I hope you like it!

Here are a couple more phil took. He was playing with depth of field for those of you who know about cameras. :)

These are a few of my favorite things

Since both Phil and I have been out of commission this week we haven't been doing a whole lot so I thought I would show you some of Sophia's favorite things. A lot of these were given to us by family and friends. Thank you all she has really loved everything you have given to her.
Here we have a singing bear, prayer bunny, "Who's Hatching?" sliding book, a picture of Isabella, animal pop up, the many moods of babies, and a cheaping chick.

Sophia with her favorite drink grape juice. Look she is drinking from a straw!

A favorite activity of hers after she is done eating is to tease Cleveland with food and will most of the time give him what she doesn't want.

The drink that helps mommy and daddy through the day! Also one of Sophia's favorite because it makes mommy and daddy a lot more fun. :)




















Friday, February 8, 2008

There Should be a Rule!

There should be a rule that both parents cannot get sick at the same time! Who takes care of who at that point?! Both Phil and I caught a stomach bug this week and it was horrible. Neither one of us could barely do anything or eat anything. Poor Sophia looked bored out of her mind for about two days. She did really well though and entertained herself pretty good. I wish I could have gotten a picture of her poking Phil as he lay sprawled out on the couch. I think she was checking to see if he was still breathing. :) Thankfully it hasn't lasted long and I feel much better now and Phil is on the mend. But just for future reference this is now a rule....PARENTS CANNOT GET SICK AT THE SAME TIME!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Favorite YouTube Video

I forgot to add this to the last entry but this is Sophia's favorite YouTube video. she always gets a big grin when it starts playing. Enjoy!

Sophia at the park

Since it is raining today and I can't take Sophia to the park I thought I would post some pictures of her there. I took Sophia to the park on Monday and it was just beautiful. While we were there she made a new friend. The little boy would just follow her around and watch what she was doing. Sophia would get excited when she turned around and he was standing there. After playing at the park we took a long walk into downtown Senoia. It was such a pretty day and Sophia is like her daddy...she always wants to be out. :)



She bangs on the slide when she wants you to push her down. :)



Look we have already put Sophia to work! I'm just kidding but her favorite new game is to open and close the dishwasher door. I caught her sitting on the door when it was down the other day.

Push the farmer to play the music....

Then bust a move....strange little dance but she likes it. :)

Taking my puppy for a walk. Best little toy I've bought! She used to drag around my handheld mixer until I got her this puppy. For awhile there I thought I was going to have to paint ears and eyes on my mixer. :)

Monday, February 4, 2008

Here We Are!

Okay I guess I'm going to join the blogging brigade! So many of you are doing it now and with a little encouragement (thanks charlotte) I've decided to take the plunge. Hopefully this will make it easier for our families to watch Sophia grow!
I guess I will start with a little summary of my family. Phil and I met in 1996 and kept in contact through e-mail and phone calls until we met again in 2000. Phil moved to Indiana from Britain to work for Caterpillar. He drove 15 hours down to St. Marys to see me. Now that is love! After a couple of visits I went to see him in Indiana and stayed for two months. We decided to move in together and get married in June 2002. We lived in Indiana for about 3 years braving the horrible snow! :) He eventually got a transfer down to Georgia and I jumped for joy! We have lived here since 2004 and love it very much. We have a wonderful group of friends and a great church family. I definately think we were suppose to be here. So much has happened we were baptized in November of 2004, we have bought our first house, and have a sweet baby girl. So in honor of Valentine's Day here are a few pics of Phil and I through the years. Enjoy!