The girls cuddling in Sophie's new rocking chair, courtesy of Mommy and Daddy via Hanukah
Our first photo Holiday card
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of celebration and change. First, we celebrated Hanukah and Christmas. We lit the candles, said the prayers, attended parties, had a yummy Christmas Brunch (Mommy made it and everyone ate until they were sick, fun!), and Sophie received many, many presents. We even got our very first real christmas tree to add to our collection of menorahs, dreidels, stockings and our "Hanukah Bush". Sophie was extremely excited by the tree and very sad when we took it down about a week or so ago.
For New Year's, we went down to NY for a few days to visit with Grams, Gramps, Aunt Allison, Uncle Alan, cousin Naomi and Mommy's best-friend, Meredith and her whole family. While Mommy had fun oggling Meredith's new baby boy, Mattie, Sophie had a lot of fun playing with Meredith's Grandpa and playing with Meredith's sister, Diane. Mommy and Daddy also greatly enjoyed talking with Larry, Ruby and Jim. Diane got lots of great pictures of the babies together which will hopefully look great in their future wedding album. Hee hee....
Sophie and Naomi holding hands on their playdate at the American Museum of Natural History
Gramps playing with Penny
Upon returning to MA, Mommy returned to work. The first two weeks have so far gone over pretty well, despite Mommy needing to re-inforce "law" into her classroom. Mommy's substitute teacher did a pretty good job with the students and she is impressed that they seem well on their way to finishing up the year in good shape. However, kids will be kids, and Mommy now needs to remind the students that SHE is their teacher and that anarchy will not be ALLOWED! Hopefully, the students will get their act in order shortly and Mommy can return to the world of nice teachers.
Penny has taken to daycare brilliantly. She is smiley and happy and has lots of baby friends, all within a few weeks of her. Nonetheless, Mommy was very happy to have had a few extra days off this past week when there was a massive noreaster that permitted Mommy to have two snow days from school. It meant extra time with both Sophie and Penny.
Noreaster/Blizzard of January 2011
Penny has made a few changes herself. She contracted pink eye from Sophie a few weeks ago and so has had her very first, real contagious disease. She took to the eye drops like a pro and is now pink eye free. She also now weighs nearly 15 pounds and is almost ready to switch up to her 6 month-sized clothes. She also during the past two days has mastered rolling onto her sides. It is very impressive to see her navigate her way around her playmat on her back just by lolling her legs around. Penny also enjoys sitting and standing alot, so Mommy has begun to place her in the exersaucer. She really likes it about once a day, for about 10 minutes. She also now has a bumbo chair. She seems very smiley in it, but Mommy has never owned one before, so it gets Mommy a bit nervous.
Sophie has become masterful and many skills while at school these past few months. She is now excellent at pouring liquids and can get herself her own cups of water from our water pitcher. She also is attuned to where her snacks are and will often try to get them for herself too, despite her penchant for that snack being a piece of chocolate from the refridgerator stash.
At school, Sophie has made many friends and apparently, become quite popular. However, her best friend is a little boy with whom Sophie has had a few playdates. Today, they will even go to the Museum of Science together.
Sophie has also mastered POTTY TRAINING! Yes, it is a happy time in the Miranda household! Sophie mostly prefers wearing her pull-ups at school, but has become so good at potty training that she is now permitted to attend school in her underpants. To celebrate, Mommy bought Sophie Disney Princess underpants. Sophie also enjoys going potty on the actual toilet, so her toy toilet seat has been stowed away. We could not be happier or prouder of her!
