A Message from Mommy

Happy birthday, Sofia Elisabeth. You are a year old now, and it has been the happiest year of my life. We've been through a lot together, you and me. From a wobbly neck to Weeboks, first smiles to first solids, teething to toddling, I have learned more from your year here on Earth than I can even begin to describe.

We've traveled all over the place -- Chicago, New York, Puebla, Taxco, Queretaro, Mexico City. You love to be on-the-go, and as long as there is someone to flirt with you're happy as a clam.

Your friends include Maya here in Metepec, Olivia in NY, Caroline in Queretaro, and Anderson in St. Louis. Aunt Liz just had Elliott, and Aunt Donna just had Jackson and Allison, so you'll be meeting them shortly. We are hoping you don't bite them.

You took your first couple of steps on August 17 (Daddy's birthday!), and now you can get halfway across the room before you plop down on your pamper.

You say "Mom" sometimes, usually when you're angry, and you currently have a boyfriend named Bruce. We can't figure out who he is, but you talk about him often.

As if having a beau isn't teenager enough, you are also quite obsessed with the phone. You put it right to your ear and say "hola?" over and over again.

You love daycare. Seriously! I'm not just trying to make myself feel okay about you being there three days a week.

You are a social butterfly. When we are driving, you like to shout to random people out the window. Everyone smiles -- even surly taxi drivers.

Your laugh melts my heart.

Your cry breaks it.

We have gotten through a year without Mom causing any permanent damage. You fell off the bed once, but that's a rite of passage.

Your room is decorated with a quilt from Aunt Nancy, a teddy bear from Uncle Brian, and a blanket from Abuela. You finally sleep in a crib, but only for half the night. That's okay -- we like having you with us when we wake up in the morning.

You are beautiful, vibrant, intelligent and curious. Perfection.

My only wish, my daughter, is that Papa Skip and Grandma Youngerman could be here to meet you. That said, I have no doubt that they helped get you here safely, and for that I thank God every day.

Next steps: baptism, open-toed shoes and escargot.

I love you so much, Sof. More than I ever knew possible.

Happy, happy birthday.

Love,
Mom

Exploration

My new philosophy is that life is too interesting for sleep. This makes for very tired parents, but I just can't help myself! I love boxes and kitchen utensils and leaves -- anything that isn't edible goes right into my boca. I still only have two teeth, but I've mastered Ritz crackers and Cheerios just fine with what I've got. I can go from horizontal to vertical in 2.3 seconds, which means no more playtime on the bed. I fell off once already, which I really don't care to relive. There were pillows just in case, but it scared the bejesus out of me and Mom. I'm working on moving forward, but right now I just sort of roll around and sit up until I get to where I want to be.

I had my first wedding, and of course I got more attention than the bride. Sorry, lady! I danced with the Mariachis and drank apple juice with my tio. We also had a professional photo shoot done, which wasn't nearly as much fun as I was expecting. I'm not a fan of giant red bows on my head, and the lacy stuff under my dress was just plain annoying. Give me a pair of overalls any day of the week!

We went to La Condesa with my friend Luc and Mom's friend Marisa. Mom wants to live there. I wouldn't mind -- lots and lots of doggies on leashes for me to bite. But it's like New York in so many ways, including the rents! I think we'll have to wait a while to make that move.

One more month until Uncle Brian and Aunt Lauren get married! I don't know if I'll be walking just yet, but hopefully I'll steal the show somehow. I can't wait to see Timmy and Lucy, and Grandma and Mr. Dave. And Aunt Donna is pregnant with TWO of me, so Mommy's looking forward to seeing her bump.

I have started going to daycare four hours a week. Yes, a week. That's enough for Mom, although I kind of like it. Mommy showed up early a couple of times to make sure I was happy. I was completely ambushed and unprepared to turn on the waterworks, so she caught me playing happily. I also went swimming with Luc, and I had my first tortilla. It's been a busy month!

We are off to the feria in town. I'm still too little for the rides, but I love watching all the silly adults coo over me. Hasta luego!

Breakthrough!

Alas, after six months and ten days on the planet, I have a tooth! Mom keeps telling me not to get all crazy and chow down on a filet mignon, but I'm very psyched, nonetheless.

What else... I'm still trying to get a hang on this whole forward motion thing. I can go backward just fine, but that doesn't help much when there's a cell phone, water bottle or plastic baggy just within my reach. Oh, and I've slept in my crib for more than half the night for four nights now. I think Mom misses me a little, but it sure is nice having my own space. Plus I get a huge kick out of watching Mom climb out of my crib when she thinks I'm finally asleep. Grace is clearly not her middle name.

Daddy is working as a doctor in Totoltepec. I get to hang out with him there two nights a week while Mommy teaches the engineers. It's fun, and I am happy he's helping people who can't afford the fancy hospitals.

Eddie is still my favorite buddy. He hangs out in my brand new high chair because Mommy is still afraid to put me in it. Something about it not having a seat belt or something. How the heck did anyone survive a century ago???

We are getting ready for my very first wedding on Saturday. I have a new dress and a red bow and even shoes!!! I'm quite excited, although it'd be nice if I could figure out how to keep them on my feet. Dad says I'm Mom's kid -- I totally prefer being barefoot!

Uncle Brian and Aunt Larlar are getting hitched in two months. No wardrobe for me yet -- Mom is still trying to convince them that I'll be the first baby in history to be walking at eight months so I can be the flower girl. We'll see.

That's it for now. Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Drink a green beer for me -- I'll be the one sporting either the cute new onesie from my Fairy Godmother or the awesome Irish jersey from Uncle Bri (it depends how long it takes before I need a wardrobe change. I love crackers.).

XOXO,
Sofia Elisabeth

Mobile Me

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm mobile now -- I can go from sitting up to a serious face-plant faster than you can say "if you give a pig a pancake," and I can turn over if I see something I really want, which is usually something I'm not supposed to have. The problem with this whole rolling around bit is that I get my arm stuck under me. Not sure what I'm supposed to do once I'm in this particular predicament, so I usually just holler and Mom or Dad flip me back over.

I also had my first playdate, with a gal named Maya. She's a few months older than me, but age ain't nothin' but a number. I like to chew on her foot. She likes to take my plastic baggies, which are apparently a favorite of hers, as well. We're working on the whole sharing bit -- both of us are new to the social life.

I guess I should at least outline my adventures in New York at some point before I start driving. Let's see -- highlights included hanging out with Mia the Pug, meeting Olivia, taking the train to Yonkers to see Mommy's Godparents and Thom Jr., brunch with the girls and their significant others, and passing out on the super-fluffy bed on New Year's Eve. I'm the first baby in Mommy's immediate NY crowd, so there was a LOT of attention bestowed on my royal self. I enjoyed it immensely. Mommy can't wait to go back again, but we're trying to save a few pesos by staying put for a few months. We'll see how long it takes before she books an emergency flight to the Upper East Side.

Daddy and I are hanging out a lot now. Mommy is working part-time, so me and him chill by ourselves for a few hours a day. It's cool, but I'm happy to see Mommy when she gets home. I do my little excited dance and she gets all emotional about it. You'd think she was gone for days at a time, but I am quite missable. Anyway, she's teaching at some hoity-toity school for rich kids. It's like Gossip Girl, in Spanish. She likes being back in the classroom, I can tell by how she already talks about her students. They sound a bit bonkers, but that's why she teaches. I myself am going to be an independent business owner, with no boss. Gotta work on the whole teething bit first, though. Something tells me people will take me more seriously when I can actually chew stuff.

Off to the Abuelos for comida Mexicana. Hope their loco perro doesn't try to chew my leg again.

Christmas with Eddie

My sincere apologies for not updating my blog sooner, but I spent the first two weeks of 2009 catching up on sleep from my big trip to the U.S. Now that I'm well-rested, Mommy never has enough time to type during the day. A sidenote: I like to freak her out by staring at her when she's sleeping. She wakes up slightly startled, and I laugh a little to myself. Excuses made, let me tell you about my very first Christmas.

We got to St. Louis on Christmas Eve, and my jaw dropped (and a little drool rolled out) at the size of my pile of packages. Santa went a little nuts, but I'm certainly not complaining. On Christmas morning I got to open everything (with Daddy's help) and found a Cabbage Patch doll, lots of cute new outfits, a silver cup and spoon, my very own Wedgewood dish set, a stuffed doggy from Poppy George, a real doggy (she's for Grandma), and a teddy bear just like Uncle Brian's Freddy. We call mine Eddie (pictured here). Aunt Lauren got me a really warm blanket and Mister Dave got me a St. Christopher's medal to keep me safe. Mom wears it around her neck since I'm always close to her. I could go on, but fear that itemization might make me seem greedy. Uncle Brian learned how to play "Feliz Navidad" on his guitar, and I was serenaded (badly, no offense) by Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Brian and Aunt Lauren. It was a great first Christmas and I can't wait until next year when I'll be able to eat the wrapping paper. I hope to have teeth by then.

We spent a week at Mrs. Bennett's house, visiting with Poppy George and Timmy. Then on New Year's Eve we headed to Mommy's favorite city in the world -- New York! I will have to tell all about that trip in various postings because we did so much and met so many of Mommy's friends. Daddy loved it, especially since everywhere we went someone was speaking Spanish!