Look who's coming to town...

La, la lala, La la lala...It's Elmo's World!

We are gearing up for our little girls first birthday party. Since Sofia has been watching Sesame Street since she was about 6 months and she LOVES anything Elmo, we decided to throw her an Elmo party. We are so excited, we can't believe that a year has come and gone so quickly. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital.

Looking back over this last year, I'm really happy with the way things have turned out. We've created a family, something Nick and I never thought would happen. Sofie has developed such an awesome personality, she really makes Nick and I laugh over something new each day. Seeing her continue to learn and develop is such an amazing thing. Sofia is starting to talk! We can hardly believe it.

So far she says-

-Ma ma ~ me

-Da da ~ Nick

-Wa wa ~ water

-Ba-ba~ bottle

-Na-na ~ banana (sorry mom...she points and wants her banana)

-bubal ~ bubbles

-bebe ~ baby

-hey ~ hey

-dat ~ that

and she is starting to understand where her eyes, nose and mouth are. So far she's pretty good with the eyes and the nose and mouth are hit and miss.

It's funny, I can remember when Nick and I brought her home and how careful we were and how we wanted to do everything just right. I remember so vividly, giving her sponge baths while singing to her, waiting for her to poop (she was terribly constipated)...Nick and I were so worried that we must have taken her to the doctors half a dozen times. I use to watch her sleep at 2 a.m. and fighting the urge to pick her up and snuggle. Those memories will always be in our hearts. The best memories are yet to come.

Seeing our little girl turn one year old will the a memory that we will cherish...after all, it only happens once! Sofie is gonna have a blast next weekend. We can't wait to post the pictures!

Snifflin' Sofie

Well, Sofia is sick again and this time she has Bronchitis. If it's not one thing it's another. It seems like she has been sick this entire month! Nick and I have been really stressed and hate seeing her uncomfortable.

We picked her up from daycare on Thursday and she had a temperature of 101 degrees. So, we took her to her Pediatrician she was diagnosed with Bronchitis. He gave us this breathing machine called a nebulizer and prescribed antibiotics. We have to put medicine into the chamber of this machine which then turns the liquid medicine into vapors. Our poor little girl has to wear this mask over her nose and mouth and breath in the vapors for 10 min., four times a day.

WE FEEL SO BAD FOR HER!

Sofia has been such a trooper. She has been out of it for the last four days. She only drinks and eats when she feels like it and she WILL not be forced or tricked for that matter into anything.

So, this evening we decided to take her into Urgent Care after consulting her doctor. It's been three days and her temperatures have varied from 101-103.5 and without improvment. So, by the time we arrived at urgent care, her temperature had lowered to a normal temp. The doctor listened to her chest and let us know to keep up her breathing treatments and continue giving her antibiotics and Motrin for the temperature. At least pneumonia was ruled out. Thank the Lord.

Sofie is such an amazing little girl. She continues to amaze me each and every day. Each time I pick her up and she rests her little head on my shoulders, I remember that I have the best job in the world, I'm her Mommy. The feeling is AMAZING and I will never be able to describe it perfectly.

Zoo-licious

Our little monkey-see, monkey-do!

Sofia is well on her way to turning the big 1. She is doing new things everyday. She has not started to walk but is really close.

She enjoys when we hold her arms and she takes a few steps then wants to sit. She'll get it! Here she is showing off her new Curious George "Big Girl Jammies".

Last weekend we took Sofia to the Phoenix Zoo for the very first time and she LOVED it. Despite the fact that she had no idea what the animals were, they fascinated her! Her favorites were the otters. She watched them swim around and just looked amazed. We loved the fact that she was able to focus on the animals. We are planning on going back when she gets a little older.

Here are some great shots we took of our day at the Phoenix Zoo.

We went to the zoo with our friends, the Revolts. Their daughter loved the animals too.

These guys were Nick's favorite. The wallaby sanctuary. They were able to walk around freely and were very friendly.

Here is Sofie having her first taste of a cherry snow cone. We only gave her a little bit...it was pretty hot and she LOVED it!

Then the only problem was, she wanted nothing to do with her lunch. All she wanted was snow cone!

Here is Sofie seeing a horse up close for the first time. She was a little afraid but still was a big girl.

Nick pointing out some funny named animals...thanks Nick. We can always count on you!

She enjoyed watching the otters swim around and play with their toys. She was intrigued my the lions and tigers and was amazed by the Orangutans...

A face to love!

WOW, I think this is the longest I've gone without a post. Never to disappoint, here is the latest...

Sore throat, cough, diarrhea, teething and drool mixed in with a few sleepless nights. All in that order for the last couple of weeks.

This month has been a bit of a wreck. Sofia has had her share of sickness. She's had the flu, a virus, teething, a cough and the poops...the list goes on and on. She is working on her second tooth while experiencing some pretty bad diarrhea.

We took her to her doctor and we were told that she has a virus that she just has to work through...easy for him to say. Meanwhile, we are knee deep in stinky diapers and trying to deal with a super fussy Sofie.

In hopes to make her happy, we have been alternating frozen teething rings with bits of toast, pieces of bananas and sippy cups filled with Pedia-lite. Parenting is TOUGH!!.

Nick and I are getting through it and love watching our once newborn baby turn into a precocious soon to be one year old angel. I am so proud of Nick and the father he has become. He was made for this role. He is thoughtful, caring and patient with his little girl.

Sofie's first Christmas celebration

Merry Christmas to our little lady bug!

This was a special Christmas holiday for us. It was Sofie's very first one. All through the season she's loved seeing all the blinky lights, the wrapped gifts and bows but most of all the decorated trees. She stares at them and gently tries to pick off the ornaments. We helped my mom decorated her tree this year and Sofie loved playing with the decorations.

We opened gifts at Nonnie's and Grandpa's house Christmas morning. And then went over Nana and Papa's house for Christmas dinner. Nick and I feel so blessed to have both of our parents play such an active role in Sofia's life. Being able to have two sets of Grandparents is something Nick and I did not get to experience. I was lucky enough to have one Grandpa (Papa Tom) and can remember some things and hold those memories close to my heart.

We get so happy seeing Sofie spend time with her Grandparents.

Being her first Christmas, Sofie was unsure of what to do so I helped with the unwrapping. Sofie received some really great gifts. Thanks everyone!



She loves anything Elmo! Nick and I got Sofie the Elmo Live doll and she goes crazy for it!
Here she is with her mini Elmo doll.

This was one of Nick's favorite toys that Nonnie bought for Sofie. It's baby Hulk. He sings the "Hulkie Polkie"...get it.

Nick and I had such a blast seeing Sofie experience her first Christmas. From the twinkle lights, shiny ribbon and bows to the dressed tress. We cherished each moment. We can't wait until next year!

At Sofie's Nonnie and Grandpa's house they have these little dolls of Laurel and Hardy. They sit on this little wooden bench in the hall. They have had these dolls for years. Well, Sofie just discovered them not too long ago. In these pictures she's decided to get rid of poor Hardy and take over the bench.

One last thing...We would like to send out some well wishes to the Harris family in Idaho. They have been experiencing some true Christmas weather and had themselves a White Christmas. They've dubbed it "snowpocolyse". Well, ever out here in the southwest, we also have been experiencing some pretty nasty weather. It's our version on "Snowpocolypse"

We've been feeling the cold too...it's been in the 40's! Brr~~
We love you guys! Stay warm!

Our little one.

I found some really cute pictures of Nick and I when we were kids. Sofia totally looks like Nick! It seems like the only thing I've contributed is my temperament and those "Mata Cheeks". Take a look and have a good laugh!

What we are most thankful for this Christmas.

Sofia Addison Allen

Each Christmas we ponder what we most would like to unwrap on Christmas morning. What our significant others will buy us or surprise us with. Well, this year for the first time in my life I can honestly say... I received the best gift in the world last March. Our Sofie has given us the meaning of family and what is most important. She has given us indescribable joy, genuine laughter, and a sense of innocence that only babies can give.

This year, Nick and I are on such a suspended level that each of us knows that God truly blessed us with the gift of Sofia. We waited and waited. And now, we could not imagine our lives without her. Every other materialistic thing is totally unimportant. Seeing the dazzling gaze of affection in her eyes is mind melting. It takes the place of all other "things".

Sofia has been sick these past few weeks with a double ear infection and for a few nights suffered from 104 temperature. Nick and I had many sleepless nights or just about. But still, the next morning just looking at her we were totally hers! She is getting better now, with the exception of teething. She just got her first tooth. It's the bottom right. It's so cute! She is showing all the classic signs of teething. Tugging at her ears, drooling and yes, has a bit of "the poops".

Nick and I were so excited to buy her some new "big girl" toys for Christmas. She totally loves Elmo. So we bought her the talking Elmo doll and whenever she watches it sing she smiles and claps her hands. Ahhh freaking adorable! She loves to see the decorated Christmas trees and all the twinkle lights. It's fun, Nick and I are experiencing Christmas in a whole new way.

I do have one personal Christmas wish that I think of everyday. I wish Mama Chana was here to see Sofia. Even for just one day I wish she was able to hold her, rock her and sing her a song "papitos, papitos"... Each night I show Sofie Mama Chana's and Papa Tom's picture and we say "na-night". But, it's just not the same.

Festive Festivites

Today we had an interesting day. We attended the first annual Queen Creek Holiday parade and were somewhat disappointed...I guess we had higher expectations? Never the less, Sofie had fun just being a spectator.

It was they typical "small town" parade...advertising local business and showcasing local school groups and talent groups. Nick and I always enjoy getting out to local festivals, fairs, and parades. Mainly we just people watch and hang out. It's cool to be able to do all this stuff with Sofia now. We love to point out things to her. Today she got to see horses, goats, Santa Claus and tons of glittery floats.

This was the typical float... Not spectacular but cute!

Just more pictures from the "Holiday Parade" These belong to some local historical military transportation group. We're not sure why they were in the parade but the were still cool to look at.

Later us and our neighbors went to look at some Christmas lights that put our houses to SHAME! They are setting the bar for us next year. We've agreed that we'll pull out all the tricks and boost up the wattage and light up our street with twinkle lights and holiday decor.

Then our friends told us about this house that was covered in stuffed animals and had their entire yard filled with odd random things. At first we doubted and couldn't picture it. Well, we found the house and the weird collections. We could not believe what we were looking at. There was no rhyme, no reason just MADNESS. I don't get it! We are going back tomorrow to see this house again during the day. It's totally crazy! This house is done up like this ALL YEAR AROUND.

Here is Jenny pointing out the "care bear house" in all it's glory!

This is the view from the street. Okay so this is actually a trailer...and the owner has compiled a massive collection of JUNK and then carefully situated it in the yard covering literally every inch! Look, it's even hanging from the freakin' trees!

Here is a great shot of this...well, thing looking out onto the street from the front of the "Care bear house". The protector of the goods! What are those things around his hands...chains?

I JUST DON'T GET IT!!

Here you can kind of see the owner coming out to see what we were up to. At this point we were all getting a little freaked out and then this dude came creeping along. I think that's an old miners hat he has on. You know, the ones with the built in light. We just drove away REALLY fast and vowed only to return during the day.

We think this is a total fire code violation. What do you think?