It's OFFICIAL!!...

For those of you we haven't already sent this video to...Sophie's a true TODDLER!!!



Seventeen months and one week...she's actually walking! We're so proud Peanut!!

Love to everyone reading!

Way Overdue...

I finally got through all the pictures of my sister's wedding. Of course, that was back in March but hey, better late than never! So as promised here are a few pictures of Princess Sophie in her flowergirl dress. She was crashed out most of the reception so she missed out on most of the action. Thanks Keri for capturing these!!






[and stud Evan]

My sister was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. She's just stunning...even without being a bride so I had to share a few more pictures. Chachie...you're a lucky man...but you already knew that! Love you guys!







We love weddings! A congrats are order, [again] LATE, to our friends back home...Eric and Mary Jane Ritchey!! What a great couple, wish we could have made this wedding too but we are already looking forward to the vow renewal next year in MEXICO!! Welome to the club!!! See you in a few weeks!

Love.

Doumeng Reunion...

My Mom came to visit for a few days last week and boy did we enjoy the visit. Sophie was dragging Rammie ALL OVER the place showing her all her coolest tricks and talking up a storm. It was crazy...I could actually cook dinner in PEACE!! She brought all kinds of gifts, to NO surprise. Sophie was so spoiled she was pulling everything out of Rammie's luggage to find more presents. Little toot!



Wednesday GGB and O came to town. We celebrated GGB's birthday luau style and were so excited to visit with both her and "Mr. New York" himself...Uncle O! Of course, Sophie was showered with gifts yet again so she was won over quite early. She LOVED the bubble blower and kept signing "more" to keep them going. She's been putting her puzzle pieces together and gives her frog hugs almost everyday. Thanks you for all the the great presents.







Happy Birthday GGB!! Thank you guys for making the trip to Holly Springs. We truly LOVED the company and miss you already.



Gosh, goodbyes are a bummer. Unfortunately, we also had to say our last goodbye to our Crawford friends. We miss you guys too and hated having to say goodbye to such great people. You guys are awesome and we are so lucky to have met you. We wish you the very best in KANSAS CITY!!

[Sigh...]

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Love.

Happy 4th of July!...

Loaded up and went to Wilmington for the Fourth. Tried to hit up the beach in Wrightsville but parking was virtually impossible so we hit the hotel pool instead! Sophie loved it...outdoors and splashing in the water, right up her alley. I think we stayed parked on the steps for over an hour so I'd say that was a good afternoon!

We rested for a bit then headed dowtown for fireworks! Ate good food at Circa 1922 before the grand finale of "Boom-Boom-Pow's". Sophie was completely freaked out at how loud the fireworks were to the point where she was directing us back to the car, but after a couple minutes she was okay and watched without blinking. Spectacular show that lasted about 20 minutes...long enough, for sure. Sophie crashed out almost immediately after getting in the car.







Before heading out of town we decided we needed to take the tour of USS North Carolina of World War II. So AMAZING! There are no other words. Thanks to all our soldiers!!







Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Happy 4th!! Love.

Seventeen Months...

Yup, it's official. The terrible two's DEFINITELY start way before 24 months. As usual, she's totally got her own opinions [without say, literally] and can do ANYTHING all by herself!! She'll walk when she's darn good and ready, even if that's when she's 16...who's counting anyways?? She loves the outdoors, playing with chalk, walking Sampson or pushing her stroller. And most days [when Daddy's not working] you'll find her attached to his finger walking endlessly around the house or outside.





She's a fantastic eater and will eat anything you have on your plate. And she has figured out how to use a spoon. Silverware is a MUST as well as "dipping sauce". Yogurt and ketchup mainly...having either on our plate makes everything even that much yummier. Her hair has gotten so long I actually got it up in a ponytail for the first time! So cute and she thought she was so cool.



She's a jumper...or so she thinks she's jumping. She can find airplanes in the sky and does a motion like she's flying. She loves to look at you out of the corners of her eyes. She does "magic" hiding things under blankets or inside things, waits for you to search for them, only to magically make them appear again.

Still our little angel. Our lives wouldn't be the same without her!



Hope everyone has an awesome week. Lots of love!

Oh and I can't believe I forgot to post for Father's Day...SHEESH! I'm terrible!! Anywho - Happy [late] Father's Day to all the wonderful Daddy's.

We love you, Daddy!!

Sixteen Months...

Sophie turned 16 months old last week. She's about to cut 4 more teeth and her hair is so long! She mimics EVERYTHING we do and loves to make herself laugh. If she weren't so caution she'd be walking on her own. Books, books, books...we can't look/read through enough books each day. Her favorite...Not Norman, A Goldfish Story. Little Einsteins has become another cartoon favorite. And Train's "Hey, Soul Sister" is another tune she shakes her bum to.





She's learned this new "I don't know"" gesture. [So cute] We listen for birds and make animals noises. Bear growling is the best, by far!! She likes to push the shopping cart or stand inside it. Climbing in anything is so cool and she likes to roll from her back to her belly, over and over, on the floor.


"I don't know..."





Have a great week everyone. Lots of love!!

The Cape...

Grumps and Memaw came to town Friday to join us on our Cape Hatteras vacation last week. It was so nice to have company and enjoy the beach life with some familiar faces! Sophie loved watching the seagulls fly overhead and didn't want to stay indoors. She loved walking on the balcony and looking through the fishing book to point out all the different fish.


View from the balcony


Showing Grumps the fish


Walking with Memaw

Okay so a little history for you...Cape Hatteras Light is a lighthouse located on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks of NC and near Buxton [where we stayed]. We could literally see the lighthouse from our house. AMAZING! Anyway...over 1 million bricks were used in the construction of this structure in 1868-1870 and the lighthouse is still considered "operational" although modern GPS makes it easier to navigate the ocean without. It stands at around 200 ft naming it the tallest lighthouse in America.



Back to the beach...Water was super cold so only the feet came in contact [for me personally]. Daddy and Grumps were the brave ones and jumped in with Sampson. Unfortunately, Sammy had to learn the hard way NOT to drink the salt water. We sure felt bad for the people swimming upstream...ICKY!!!









And lastly, we took a ferry to the island of Ocracoke where we saw the Banker Ponies. The legend says that the ancestors of the ponies seen there today came from shipwrecked vessels in the Graveyard of the Atlantic or from Spanish explorers. Historians think the ponies came with Raleigh expeditions and were left on Roanoke Island. Bet you didn't think you were going to get a history lesson today, eh? Anywho - Sophie LOVED watching these ponies.







That's our trip in a nut shell. Had so much fun and very much loved the visit Grumps and Memaw. Thanks again for making the trip!!!

Hope everyone reading had a great holiday weekend. Happy Memorial Day, again, to ALL our soldiers!!

Love, love, love.