So much to blog about

UPDATE! Our friends Mike and Rhonda got their referral this go around go take a look at their blog for some BIG news. Congrats to them and to all the other new parents who received a referral this time.


It has been to long since we have updated the blog. It gets harder and harder to find the time with a toddler running around and being back to work..
We both went back to work on Sept. 2 and we both agree that we are glad to have jobs but it really stinks having to leave Sophia even with our parents. We both so much want to provide the day to day care for her. We have noticed some subtle changes in behavior in the few past weeks. We are attributing this to us returning to work and Sophia having to adjust to new care givers. We were talking this morning and it is really hard some times to remember that Sophia has only been with us for 3 months. She has had so much change in her life in the last 3 months. Her whole life is different then it was 3 months ago. Her routine is different, her food is different, her clothes are different, her caregivers are different. Really it is no wonder she is now reacting to yet one more change in her little life. We have been told by experts that consistency is really what she needs. It will help her to feel safe and secure. It will help her to know that although we are not there with her every moment any more that we will come back and that we are still part of her life. We can not be there to provide her with the daily care anymore but we feel that our parents are the next best thing and that they will provide the consistent care that we provide for her while we are with her. She loves her grandparents and is having a blast getting to know them better each day. We have a whole new respect for working parents and just how hard it is to turn over care of your child to others no matter how close they are. It is just human nature that everyone does things a little differently and no matter how well meaning or intentioned children see the differences and react to them.

This month we celebrated both my mother and father in-law's birthdays. It was my mother in-law's 60th birthday this year and father in-law is 62. Riz's mom reminded him that when she was his age ( Riz just turned 40) Riz and I had just met and started dating. WOW has it really been 20 years since then? Riz, Sophia and I took my mother in-law out for breakfast and then we did a little shopping.We had the whole family over to celebrate my father in-laws birthday. We had a nice time and we look forward to many more birthdays as a family....

Happy Birthday Mom and Dad

We have been to Disney a few times with Sophia. Most recently with our good friend Wendy and her two girls Kate and Claire from Savannah, Ga.. We had a blast and Kate in her oh so sweet way said to me the morning they were leaving for home "Is Mama Sophia's Auntie" I looked at her and said "well yes Kate she kind of is" Kate looked back at me with the biggest smile and said "well then that makes me and Claire like her cousins" I said yes Kate it sure does Kate said " That makes me happy" I said Me too Kate... So sweet....

This past Sunday we had company from out of town visit. Our friends Sharon, Ken and Shu Shu Harp are here this week vacationing at Disney World. It was so nice of them to take time away from Disney fun to come to our home and than take us out to dinner. We always love to see them and Shu Shu is growing so much I can hardly believe she is the same child. We have waited almost 3 years to see our girls together so it was very sweet to finally do it. Getting pictures of a 17 month old and a 3 year old well that is an other whole story but we did capture a few.

Sophia and her friend Shu Shu.

I will smile first, OK now you smile Shu Shu

Me with Aunt Sharon and

Uncle Ken

Come on Shu lets have a tea party

this past weekend we celebrated Sophia's 1 1/2 year birthday. See we missed Sophia's first birthday and decided to celebrate anyway when she turned 1 1/2 (technically she turns 1 1/2 tomorrow). We had a great time and are so glad we had so many friends and family there to celebrate with us. We rented a condo on the beach and had some family and friends join us for a day of swimming (well really more of floating and sitting in the hot tub LOL), pizza and cake eating and gifts. Sophia got some great things and spent the day with very special people in our lives. We want to thank everyone who came to share in that special day with us.....

Let me at that Cake Sophia turns 1 1/2

Grandma and Grandpa meeting my friend Stephanie

Cousin Breanna, Grandma and me

Me and my friend McKenzie and Stephanie in the background

Look I got a tricycle for my Birthday come on daddy push me around

We had to get a picture with our friends and travel buddies Mark, Gigi and Stephanie.






More random cuteness

look at this pretty outfit my aunt Kathy sent to me...

















I just love this picture (Thanks Amy for the headband)