Green Bay Grandma and Grandpa

Green Bay Grandma and Grandpa were in Minneapolis for the earlier part of this week. We had a lot of fun going to the Mall of America, seeing the flowers at Macy's downtown and playing with all of my toys! However, there is one thing that Grandpa did that I will certainly remember.

Grandma and Grandpa came over first thing Tuesday morning. Grandpa handed mommy a cup of coffee and told her that they picked up a cup of her favorite hazelnut coffee at Brueggers Bagels. I looked at Grandpa and said, "I want a Bruegger's Bagel, too." I must have looked oh-so-sweet because Grandpa immediately left and drove to Bruegger's to get me my bagel! I told mommy and Grandma that I was going to wait right by the door until Grandpa came back, and I did! I was so happy to get my bagel and gave Grandpa a big hug and kiss when he returned.

Sleepy Baby

Baby Juliet sleep a lot. However, she mostly sleeps in grown-ups arms. She does not like to be set down very much when she is sleeping. Most of the time that is fine, but it can get a little annoying and I will say to mommy, "Set Juliet down!" This week, Green Bay Grandma and Grandpa came into town and they helped to hold Juliet while she slept. Mommy took pictures of Juliet sleeping in every one's arms: Daddy, Mommy, Grandma and Grandpa. Mommy often puts Juliet in her sling and carries her that way. Even Grandma gave the sling a try!

Easter Party

Juliet sure looks cute! I was not in the mood to have my picture taken on Easter, so you will not see any pictures of me in my blue Easter dress. I just wanted to party! We went to White Bear Lake Grandma and Grandpa's for Easter dinner. It was quite the party. All of my uncles and my aunt were there along with great aunties and uncles and many of daddy's cousins. I ate lots of candy and had a great time. Everyone had fun holding Juliet and admiring her bunny slippers and bunny hat.

New Look

It is a new look for a new era in the Adventures of Sophia blog. I had to make the difficult decision whether to continue the web address of the blog even though the blog is going to now be the adventures of both myself and Juliet. I decided to keep the blog address, because I would not want to confuse my loyal readers. However, as Juliet grows she will be appearing as a blogger on the site as well. I would ask Juliet to blog now, but her thoughts right now are so simple:

Juliet: sleep. sleep. sleep. cry. cry. cry. eat. eat. eat. poop. poop. poop. happy. happy. happy.

As Juliet grows I am sure her thoughts will become much more exciting. I hope you enjoy the adventures of both of the Heffelbower sisters.

Easter Bunny

Last week we were at the mall and guess who I saw? The Easter Bunny! He started to wave to me and I said, "He wants to talk to me! He wants to talk to me!" So, I got to talk to the Easter Bunny. I felt very happy about that.

Happy Easter!

We had an Easter egg hunt in the living room when I woke up. I found a peep in one of my eggs. Yummy!

I LOVED the Easter egg hunt. I had mommy and daddy hide some eggs again because I had so much fun finding them.

Here we are playing with the fun things I got in my Easter basket. I got stickers, books, a work book, and a kite!

Since I have been born, we have gone to church for Easter. This year, however, we did not go. Mommy said that it is too hard go to a crowded, long mass with an infant during a snow storm. We typically do not go to church on Sunday. However, mommy and daddy have started doing prayers with me, which I call "Bless" (i.e., "It's time to do the bless."). At night time, we bless all of the people and things that I love ("God bless mommy, daddy & Juliet; God bless bunny bun; God bless my new stickers..."). At dinner time we do another bless. It goes like this:

Thank you for the food we eat.
Thank you for the friends we meet.
Thank you for the birds that sing.
Thank you, God, for everything.
Amen.

I say "Amen" very loudly and passionately. If we accidentally start dinner without saying the "bless" I remind everyone to say it. Often, I ask to say it a few times. I am enjoying this new tradition.

Mommy, however, has a request for all of you blog readers out there. Does anyone know of a good kid's night-time prayer that does not involve the phrase "If I should die before I wake...?" Let me know and I will pass it along to mommy!

Snow

Lots of snow in March! Daddy and I made this great snowman today. By the end of the day his head fell off because it had gotten so warm. I had so much fun making the snowman.

A day in the life of Juliet

It is strange living with a little baby. When people ask me how I like having a baby sister I tell them that "she cries a lot."

Juliet is usually awake by the time that I get up, which is around 8:00. If she is not awake, Juliet is often snuggled in mommy and daddy's bed. Apparently, Juliet does not particularly enjoy sleeping alone in her crib, so mommy brings her into bed during the night. We then go downstairs and have breakfast. Mommy manages to make breakfast while holding Juliet and I sit at the table waiting (not always patiently) for my food. Mommy often nurses Juliet and eats at the same time! Juliet is then usually tired and mommy either puts Juliet in the swing or wears Juliet in her sling. Often times, we go out for a morning activity (a walk outside to Java Jacks, play date with friends, children's museum, gymnastics, etc.). Juliet usually sleeps contentedly in the sling during this activity, however she hates her car seat and often cries along the way in the car.

In the afternoon, I take my "non-nap" and Juliet often sleeps again. However, Juliet has a super fussy period starting around dinner time and lasting until her bedtime, which is pretty late (11:00 pm). I get a little annoyed that Juliet is so fussy and that mommy and daddy cannot always play the super fun games that I want them to play.

Generally, having a baby sister has been fun. I am really helpful to mommy. I get diapers and wipes when we change Juliet's diaper; I can get my own slippy cup and yogurt out of the refrigerator; and I can play nicely next to mommy with my sticker book while mommy nurses. And, when Juliet cries, I am learning to cope---I usually just put my fingers in my ears!

Bubble Bath

A few weeks ago I went on a bathing strike. I absolutely refused to take baths. Luckily, mommy let me take "baby baths," like Juliet used to take. A "baby bath" is when you simply wipe yourself down with a wet wash cloth. However, I started taking baths again when I realized that I could take bubble baths. Mommy's friend Monica gave me little bath soaps shaped like farm animals---you can see them resting on the ledge of the bath in the picture. The soap makes the greatest bubbles! I had so much fun in the bubble bath, and my bathing strike is officially over.

Nursing Bunny Bun

Mommy nurses Juliet a lot. Who knew that babies liked to eat so much??? Whenever Juliet cries, I look at mommy and say, "I think she needs to nurse."

As it turns out, Bunny Bun likes to nurse, too!

Here I am nursing Bunny Bun

I am now burping Bunny Bun and rocking him in my arms so that he will not fuss.

Here is a picture of super content (and well fed) Bunny Bun that I took all by myself!

Sk8ter Daddy

Daddy has been teaching me a lot about skateboards lately. He has a skateboarding book with a lot of colorful pictures in it that we look at together. Apparently, daddy used to be a skater when he was younger. Recently, daddy has begun selling some of his mint-condition vintage '80's skateboards on ebay. To the surprise of everyone, they are valuable! Daddy told me that the two skateboards pictured above sold for several thousand dollars each! Can you believe it! I see a shopping trip at the toy store for me in the near future!

Quilt from the Grandmas

Green Bay Grandma and Great Grandma made Juliet this beautiful quilt. We love to snuggle under it!

Tired Mommy. Cute Juliet.

My Daily "Rest" Time

I no longer take "naps." Instead, I "rest." Every afternoon at about 1:00 mommy reads me stories in my room until about 1:30. Then, she puts me in my crib with a bunch of books and a bunch of my animal friends. I stay in my crib and rest for any where between a half hour to 2 hours, depending on my mood. I really enjoy this quiet time to play. But, mommy learned a while ago that I can be a bit destructive in my crib. I am only allowed to have non-rippable books in my crib. I will destroy books that rip. Today, mommy thought that she put only "board" books in my crib, but she was mistaken. You can see the results below:

When mommy saw the destruction, mommy said, "Oh, no! Sophia you ripped-up a really good book!" I said, "You can fix it with tape!" Mommy sighed. Then she laughed.

I am a little chef

One of the things that mommy and I like to do in the afternoon is bake. We LOVE to bake sweets, but mommy says that we may have to switch to healthier things so that she can fit into her pre-Juliet clothes by summertime. I mostly like to lick the bowl. I take little licks until I think that mommy is not looking; then, I will stick my whole hand in the dough and take a big hand-full. Yummy! I also like to pretend to cook at my little kitchen. Mommy's friend Monica gave me this wonderful chef outfit to make cooking even more fun!

Tea Party!

The Wilenskys gave me this wonderful tea set. Here I am having a fabulous tea party with my stuffed animal friends.

Here is another picture of one of my tea parties. However, notice Bunny-Bun snuggled in Baby Juliet's swing. I put him in there, strapped him in, and turned on the swing and the music on the swing. Bunny-Bun loved it. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter Mommy told me that she needed to put Juliet in the swing (it is one of her favorite napping spots). At first I told Mommy that, no that it was Bunny-Bun's turn. Finally I relented, but told Mommy that Juliet would have to share the swing with Bunny-Bun. See the picture below.

More of Baby Juliet!

Just a week or two ago baby Juliet could barely fit into this cute little newborn outfit from Green Bay Grandma and Grandpa because she was so little. Now, she can barely fit into it because she has gotten so big! In fact, when Juliet was first born she was so little that Daddy had to buy a few extra-small newborn outfits that would fit Juliet!

Here is a picture of Baby Juliet in one of her favorite spots---snuggled in Daddy's arms.