In recent months we've hosted a slew of family members visiting to see new baby Nico, plus John's best bud Ted from Colorado, my dance friend from Bend, our old neighbors and their daughter from Bend (twice, I think), a friend from Alaska getting ready to move to Portland, my sister and nephew, and in our craziest hosting event to date, the entire Danilava-Smith clan moved in for several days when they moved to Portland from Alaska (two parents, three young daughters, and one non-English speaking Baba -- at least their cat stayed in a kitty motel!). It's been chaotic but all sorts of fun. I love that we're able to welcome so many of our loved ones into our home!
Besides all the hosting duties, Nico (aka Little Dude, Tank, Chuckles, Tiger, Milkshake) has suddenly gone from a newborn to practically half a year old! When did that happen? Oh right, over the last five months. We don't currently have an official weight, but as of his last checkup about two months ago, he was already almost 15 pounds -- that's half of his big sister's body weight!
The Little Dude is something else. He charms the socks right off of me. Nico began smiling very early and hasn't stopped. He loves seeing the faces of his favorite people, and is always ready to greet you with a lopsided grin and a chuckle. And boy oh boy, is he a boy! What a loud little kiddo. His current favored time for joyful yelling and squealing and grunting is between 5-6 a.m. Awesome.
He's trying so hard to roll over, and he is one strong guy. But he's got quite a bit of mass to heft around, so I don't expect a roll to be imminent. He's also got a faucet for a mouth, drooling more than any bib can keep up with. The first time I called him "Drool Bucket," Sofia promptly went and found a little bucket and held it under his chin :) The crazy gumming and chewing has commenced, so I'm sure teeth are pretty close around the corner.
Oh, am I one lucky mama. Each night I stand between the two doors of my sleeping kids' rooms and enjoy a silent little moment of awe at the family John and I have created. How can I love two kiddos any more? I treasure those little innocent moments, because I can see now how quickly they fade, and grow fewer and farther between. I see Sofia becoming independent, creating space between herself and Mama. I deal with her emerging temper and willfulness. I listen to the new phrases she picks up from her friends at school, and wonder what she experiences when I'm not there. I can't help but look ahead to the teenage years...
Back to the present, here a bunch of unordered photos posted in an attempt to catch up (Aug.-Oct.):
Sofia and Aidan at the Alaska Zoo during our Sept. visit:
Randomly bumping into my best college friend, Emily, at the Alaska Zoo:
Father and son, chillin:
Back at the zoo, Sofia bustin a sweet move:
First day of VBS for Sof!
This is what happens in the backseat when I'm not looking:
Sofia and her friends found an awesome dirt pile to play in while at the Soap Box Derby on Mt. Tabor (which was super duper fun):
Laughing guy!
Sof getting silly with Mommy's boots:
Sofia began her first ballet classes this summer:
Cannon Beach with Uncle Keith and Aunt Toni -- Sofia learned how to fly a kite!
She also completely encrusted herself in sand:
She is such a great cook. She serves me a glass of wine before she begins, and makes things like strawberry-vanilla-carrot soup.
Cannon Beach again -- we're getting better at building sand castles! I did the bulk of the construction with Nico in the Moby wrap, making it more impressive than it looks...
Back in Alaska, at Shawna and Jeff's beautiful Chickaloon wedding:
Sofia and Shiva:
Cousins Cody and Nico:
Glow stick and necklace party at Grandma O's:
Most of the dancer crowd at Shawna's wedding:
Back in Cannon Beach, family shot at our favorite place to eat, JP's. The family who ran it closed it down this season, sadly. The owner/chef/grandma was kind enough to hold Nico and take him on a tour of the restaurant while we ate!
Super fun trip to Sunriver with Vegas friends Micah, Lisa, Grace, Joey and Cheyenne:
Sofia's first day of preschool! So proud...
Loving the hammocks in Chickaloon:
Rare Jo/Johnny shot:
Nico in the Chariot:
Real men sit in pink Bumbos:
A gloriously hot day at Mirror Lake:
Sofia's first field trip! Lee's pumpkin patch:
Cousins!
Sofia helped me get my costuming ready for a photo shoot:
Mets fan at the pumpkin patch:
Hooray for trampolines!
Fabulous gene pool:
Hey. You talkin' to ME?
Halloween party at school for our Pink Flower Fairy (costume by Mom):
