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.

A House Full of Girls

Here are some pictures of all of the "girls" in the house. Next time, I will post a picture of Kiwi the cat, who is also a girl! Poor daddy!

A Few More Pictures

Here are a few more pictures of Baby Juliet. Isn't she cute? Mommy just gave her a bath and Juliet's hair started to stick-up in the air!

I am enjoying my days with daddy. He is home from work for a month. Last night, daddy was giving me a bath and daddy asked,"Who is your favorite 'guy?' " I have a bunch of small plastic superheros that I call "guys" that I play with in the bath. Daddy went one by one and asked, "Superman? Hulk? Storm? Collossus?" Each time I said, "No." Finally daddy asked, "Well...then who is your favorite guy?" I pointed at daddy and said, "That's my favorite guy." I do not think that he was expecting that for an answer!

Baby Juliet is here!

My new baby sister:

Juliet Frances Heffelbower

January 29, 2008

7 pounds 7 ounces

20 inches

I visited mommy and daddy in the hospital with White Bear Lake Grandma the day after Juliet was born. I insisted on wearing one boot and one shoe for this momentous occasion. I came into the hospital room with a smile on face, looked at mommy holding Juliet and said with my arms out-reached, "I want her. I want her." I sat in a chair and got to hold my little sister for the first time. I love her already.

My Last Day of Gymnastics

Today was my last day of gymnastics for the semester. On the last day we have an awards ceremony. All of the parents bring their cameras and it is a fun event. Notice that there are no pictures of me for the awards ceremony. Read on and you will find out why.

Here is the scene. We are in the gymnasium. About 12 parents and their kids are sitting on the big red mat looking at the "stage." The stage is a thick mat about three feet high and three feet wide with little stairs going up each side. In the background there is majestic, Olympic-type music playing.

Teacher Allie begins calling each kid by name to come up the stairs, receive their medal around their neck, and raise their arms in triumph. I anxiously await my turn. A few times, I start to stand up to run to get my medal, only to realize that it was not yet my turn. Some of the kids are too shy to come forward, so their moms have to come with them. Most kids run up the stairs as their proud parents take pictures.

Then, Teacher Allie called my name. I jumped up and ran up the stairs. I had a huge smile on my face. Teacher Allie put the medal on my neck and I raised my arms in the air and smiled even bigger. I was looking at mommy and she was smiling so big, too. I ran down the stairs, ran up to mommy and said, "Mommy! Take a picture!" That was when I found out that the batteries had died in the camera mommy brought with her. Oh, well. Mommy says that some memories will just have to live-on in our minds. I know that I won't forget this!

The New Baby is Coming Soon!

The new baby is coming really soon. Mommy and Daddy have been busy rearranging their bedroom so that the new baby can sleep in the pack 'n' play in their bedroom. I am enjoying trying out all of the new baby's things, including the bed. Often, I pretend that I am the baby. Today, I asked to be put in the baby's bed. I then insisted on having my dollie's bottle, a blankie put on me and to snuggle with Bunny Bun. I then cried like this, "Wah, wah, wah, I need a bottle," or "Wah, wah, wah, I need a diaper change." It was great fun.

I try to image what it will be like to have a little baby in the house. I often say, "The new baby can't eat soup" or "the new baby can't talk" or "the new baby can't play with toys" or "the new baby will cry" or "the new baby will drink milk from Mommy's boob." I am getting pretty excited.

Markers

We all know that markers are for drawing. But did you know that marker caps look great on your fingers? I figured out this trick and I think that it is fantastic. Unfortunately, I get a little messy in the process. All of the marker ink gets on my hands, shirt, face, etc., but it is worth it to have those little colorful caps on your fingers.

I know I have been posting a lot of pictures of Daddy lately and not many of Mommy. As you probably know, Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy. The baby is scheduled to be born in exactly three weeks. Mommy has a big round belly and has not been in too many pictures for the last few weeks. I am certain we will have many pictures of her and the new baby once she is born.

Happy Little Mommy

I few months ago I started drawing faces. At first, I was not very good. I continued to practice and practice, and now I can make really great faces. I love to draw them. I made this face on my easel. When I was done, I said that I drew "Happy Little Mommy!" In the drawing you can see the head, eyes, eyebrows, forehead, nose and mouth. I think that my drawing looks just like my happy little mommy.

Making Music

I enjoy music. I listen to music, dance to music, sing to music, and I make my own music. One of my favorite ways to make music is with chopsticks. I take my little red chair and pull it up to our silverware drawer. I open the drawer, find the chopsticks and start banging. Sometimes, I tell mommy and daddy to dance while I make the music.