Phil Graduates Tonight!

Phil is finally graduating and is now OFFICIALLY a licensed journeyman electrician! He passed the journeyman test, first try. He interviewed with Mr. Electric and was offered the job. It may or may not be what we're looking for permanently, but its great for right now. Here he is in his uniform:

8 Months Old!

Sophie is 8 months old today! She is SO close to crawling. She is scooting herself around and getting up on all fours, propelling herself forward, but only to faceplant on the ground. She is taking longer naps, but not sleeping very well at night. We tried to take the binkie away the other night and let her cry for a few minutes. It only took her about 3 minutes to throw up all over herself and the crib. We've decided to take away the 4th nap and see if that helps her sleep. She likes to gnaw on raw carrots and her favorite toy is a little tube of Aquaphor or one of Phil's Powerbars. (Why do we even buy toys?) She is already trying to pull herself up on things and will stand up, holding onto the ottoman for a few minutes at a time. She still fits into all her 3-6 month clothes and even some 0-3 month. We discovered at her last appointment that she has finally doubled her birth weight. We're trying to feed her more solids, but she just doesn't eat very much. Still no teeth!

We are starting to teach her some signs and hopefully she'll be able to do them herself in a month or so. She likes pat-a-cake, but I can't get her to open up her fists and clap. That is also causing a problem when she tries to put crackers in her mouth. She gets one in her fist, puts it up to her mouth, but then can't figure out how to open her fist so she just starts sucking her thumb instead!

My Kiwanis Boys

Last Friday was the Kiwanis Choir's tour and Music Week performance at the Taco Bell Arena. We met at 8 am at Boise Choir, sang for them, went to North Jr. High, sang for them, went to East Jr. High, sang for them, went to BSU, sang for Ryan Olsen, ate pizza for lunch, went to the YMCA to play basketball, raquetball and wall climb, ate Subway for dinner, bused to the Taco Bell Arena and performed in front of thousands of people!! This was our last day of Kiwanis and I will really miss these boys. It was scary conducting in front of all those people. The boys did really well though, I was proud of them. I'm looking forward to next year!

Sophie's BF

Nate and Amy Tenney's daughter Lucy is only three months older than Sophie. They are betrothed best friends! It won't be long until you won't be able to tell who is older...

Waiting for Teeth...

We are still waiting for Sophie's first tooth. In the meantime, she goes through at least 5 bibs a day because she is such a drooly face. I'll be glad when the drooly phase is over with.




Sophie loves to read books with Dad. Her favorites are "My Personal Penguin" and "Crocodile School Bus".

She isn't crawling yet, but likes to hold onto the bars of the baby gate and try to pull herself up. She will even stand there, holding on for a few minutes by herself if we help her grab on first.

Sophie Loves Deja

Sophie adores Deja. If she is crying and she sees her, she will stop crying to smile. Deja and Ali can make her giggle really hard when they are play fighting in the yard.

Sophie's Bedtime Song: Here We Have Sophie Joy

I usually sing Sophie a few songs before I put her down for a nap or bedtime. The songs I would sing used to be pretty random. I've been teaching the Kiwanis boys the "Here We Have Idaho" song so one night I sang it to her. She calmed down quickly and went right to sleep. So...I've changed some of the words and now it is officially her song! Click on this link and it will take you to the accompaniment, seriously! Here are the words (Sing along if you know the melody! If you grew up in Idaho, no doubt you learned it in elementary school):

http://www.50states.com/midi/0id.mid

HERE WE HAVE SOPHIE JOY

There's only one girl in this great land of ours,
As silly and pretty as you.
Your mommy and daddy, we love you a lot,
And hopefully you love us to.

And here we have SOPHIE JOY,
Winning her way to fame.
Silver and gold in the sunlight blaze,
And romance lies in her name.

Singing, we're singing of you.
Ah, proudly too.
All our lives through we'll go singing,
Singing of you, singing of SOPHIE JOY.