Yawn....

I just had to take this picture before I but her in bed...Why is it they are so sweet when they are asleep?

CaLiFoRNia

Once again September was quite the busy month. Sophie Turned 1 year old-Hooray Sophie!- Matt and I celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary-I love you babe-And we spent a week in southern California. Sophie got to play at the beach for the firs time and she really loved it, the sand, the water, everything.....

A Visit To the Getty Museum

I think we enjoyed the gardens and architecture more than the art inside











A Day At the Beach

Sophie loved the water.....

And the sand. I was pleasantly surprised she didn't try to eat it.

Sight Seeing.....

Rodeo Drive

Santamonica Beach

The Santamonica Pier

Venice Beach

And It Begins

I have my food blog officially up and running! Horay, so please check it out.....
thepickledpear.blogspot.com

So.....

I know I haven't posted anything in a really long time. We have kept pretty busy this summer and it seems the second I stopped to take a breath....pow! it's already fall! What is a girl to do?

I feel like I have kept extra busy in my new kitchen experimenting with all sorts of new recipes. I have been officially able to cook in my kitchen now for over three months and I am yet to repeat a main dish recipe. So...... I was thinking I might start a food blog and go a whole year, cooking something different each night. I know food blogs are a dime a dozen so I'm asking for feedback from you folks before I jump into anything putting forth needless effort. So what do ya think?.....

Sophie's First Pig Tails....

Horay!

So we are FINALLY in our house. Matt has worked so so very hard and Sophie and I really appreciate it. I'll be posting before and after pics real soon.

We love you Li'l Miss Dusty

On May 26th 2009 the decision was made to send our sweet Dusty Dog to doggie heaven. Among other issues she could no longer walk and the quality of life just wasn't there. She was not just a dog but a member of our family. She was a sweet heart to everyone especially when it came to putting up with all of the kids in the family......crawling all over her and pulling on her fur. She was such a good girl and we will all miss her :)





Although a family dog, Dusty was technically mine. My siblings and I had begged for a dog for years but it wasn't until I got sick with pneumonia in the 8th grade that i was promised a puppy. I was so sick that my Dad was saying anything to get a smile out of me. Finally he said "how about we get you a dog?" Although I still had to force it out, my Dad got his smile and I got my dog. So here we are 15 years later with and end to more than a decade of terrific memories. I will never forget Dusty and all of the fun we had with her. Love ya Dusty lou......

My little Helper

I was planting tomatoes, raspberries, and strawberries the other day and Sophie was definitely helping.

I'll have to ask her how they taste so far. Notice the dirt around her mouth....yummy!

Sunny Dayz!

We have had lots of fun lately enjoying the beautiful weather. Sophie's first trip to the park with Matt and me was lots of fun .

I think Matt and i were more excited about being there than she was but there were plenty of smiles and giggles from her as well.

Playing Peek-A-Boo :)

This is her firs time down a slide...Although i don't think she really thought much of it.

Sophie was all tuckered out after trying out all of the playground equipment and was ready for some snuggle time with Daddy.






Then I met up with my sis in law and her hubby to take our little ones to the park a few days later.

Someone actually asked if these two cuties were twins! Ummmmm......Hellooooo......
By the end Sophie had her grumpy pants on
But sweet little Pierce was up for anything.

It's Official.....

I'm a single mother of two. Ha!

I found Matt having more fun with Sophie's toys than she was. By the time he noticed me taking pictures it was too late.

I'm glad Sophie has such a playfull dad. Now I just need to teach him to share.....

The Happy Six Tag

Six things that make me happy in no particular order......

1. My 5 month old baby who can put herself to sleep in her crib

2. When Matt comes home from work

3. A date night....without Sophie (not that I don't love her of course :)

4. Yummy food

5. Spending time with family and friends

6. Doing something for myself...like shopping for a new outfit or getting my toes done

I tag anybody who is happy enough to do it ;)

New Family Picture

I can't believe Sophie is already 5 months old! She loves to giggle, is rolling over, eating cereal, and talking up a storm with her jibber jabber. I just love being her Mommy.

Playing Catch Up.

So as i said before i have a list in my head of all the things i need to catch up on for this blog. So here it goes....



Sophie is now four months old weighing in at 12.5 lbs and 25 inches long. She changes every day and I'm trying my best to soak it all in. She is such a happy baby. Sophie likes to hear her own voice by "talking" and Matt is really good at getting her to giggle, she is super ticklish. Besides a flare up of eczema every now and then ( if any of you moms out there have any secrets to keep eczema away...please share) the Doctor said she is doing great.



The holidays were wonderful...Thanksgiving was delicious and Christmas time was busy but festive, and boy did we get spoiled. From baking gingerbread to Siegfried's to Sophie's first visit with Santa to getting together with friends and family we had lots of fun and loads of yummy food. (yummy food is always of utmost importance on my list)



New years was fun as well. We hung out with our friends, made dinner, watched football and stayed up late to bang pots and pans on the front porch at the stroke of midnight. As for any new years resolutions...I think they are too cliche so I didn't really make any. I figure if i want to make a change in my life i can do it any time....I don't need January 1st to roll around.



We had a chance to go to the body worlds exhibit. It was interesting to see how complex the human body really is. My favorite part was the human embryos. It's hard to believe we all started out that way.



I wanted to give a shout out to my sister in law Ali who is recently engaged to a really great guy Stephen. I am so excited for the both of you!!! You are going to love the married life, it really is the most fun! I love you guys :)

I decided to cut my hair to a little shorter than shoulder length. Sophie is always grabbing and pulling on it and I've always had a tender head. I loved my long hair but hair grows...so i can have it back any time, especially since my little sister does hair extensions.



And last but not least a special hello to Ben, Jen and Pierce in far far away Alabama. I miss you guys so much and i can't wait to see you in a month or so. XOXO :)

SLACKER!

I know i have been a total slacker in the blogging world lately. I suppose i got all wrapped up in the holidays and never found time to sit down and post about anything that's going on in our lives. But have no fear i have a running list in my head with all the things i want to catch up on. So wen i find some time over the weekend hopefully i can post some of the pictures and video I'd like to share with you all, along with a tag that has been long overdue. Stay posted :)