A Big 'Ol Birthday Party!

Today we had Sophie's party at Gramma & Grampa's house on lovely Mercer Island.  Chock full of family and friends, it was just a splendid day all around.  Here the Guest of Honor is photographed arriving with her entourage of balloons.

Sophie meeting puppy Daisy (very small!) with Adelaide and Meaghan on the deck.
With Gramma Kathy having some lunch and, apparently, some champange...
Cutie pie.  Many thanks to Meaghan Darling for many of these sweet photos of the day!
Sophie showing off the dress I made special for the day!
What?  A cupcake for me?  We were also singing at this point, which Sophie loved.  She has been to several other birthday events since this day, and each time 'Happy Birthday' is sung, she gets all happy and looks around as if it's for her.  It's great.  Who am I to tell her that every day is not her birthday? 
Sidenote:  I am very excited at finally having the Very Good Excuse to figure out how to

un-high-altitude my mom's famous "Patty Cake" recipe from Colorado to Seattle.  It took three test cakes, but I finally got it, and Sophie's very first bite of cake was indeed a good one!  Now to master that icing.  Maybe for her 10th Birthday...

Presents!  We love presents!  Like shoes...
Tee shirts which flatter one's mother...
Handmade dresses...
And books.  Of course, books.
A littie fun with Owen Darling.
Birthday Cupcake Eatin' Yum!
Thank you, everyone, for a fabulous First Birthday Party!

Special Birthday Delivery

Saturday morning, during our Birthday Pancake Breakfast, there was a knock on the door.  In floated this amazing bunch of balloons with a monkey on the end!  Thank you so much, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Kelly and Cousin Addison!  (These balloons provided hours of "Dee?"  "Dee!" in the days that followed...).

Happy Birthday, Sophie! (What a big day!)

Sophie's birthday started out in the afternoon with our traditional lunch at Vio's with several other birthday babies.  Here she is with Alexa thinking, "What is it with this hat!?!?"

After lunch it's playtime and holding her own with Hiram, also sporting an awesome hat.

After a nap, it's off to meet dad at the Seattle Children's Theatre where it was his last day on contract at the end of the season, and Opening Night of the final show, 'Busytown'.  Also there happened to be an Opening Night Party complete with a pick-up rehearsal in the room, we just let Sophie think it was all for her.

After enjoying the "show", she cruised this table.

Then it's to the veranda with mom for drinks!

And finally off to the next party riding high with dad!

Our final festivity of the day was the monthly Cocktail Evening, hosted by our friends, Erika, Kevin and Theo, and Miller, Nathan and Mabry.  We don't want to embarass Sophie, but here she is coyly trying to get the attention of her crush, Dexter...

Ah, he takes the bait.  And whatever toy she's playing with.  

A wonderful day full of parties and friends, Happy First Birthday, Sophie!

Let the Birthday Festivites Begin!

Birthday Number One officially began this evening as we opened the box sent from Gigi and Grandpa Fred from Colorado.  Sophie is definitely getting the hang of opening presents!

Among the gifts of a fabulous green polkadot cardigan, and some books was this perfect hat!
Which, clearly, Sophie adored.  Ahem.
And also these cute finger puppets that came in a way-cool green polkadot lunchbox that mom appropriated for herself.  Thanks, Gigi!

Live Action Swinging!

Well, folks, I think we've figured it out. This here ludite has broken the complex ring of technology and figured out how to show you videos. Which is good, because we have go a lot of video as Sophie is just on the move these days! Here is some footage to start with, more to follow!

Park with Pop & Noltes

Today Sophie felt good enough to meet up with the Noltes with dad while mom got some sewing done.  Clearly, the park is very serious business.

Jake, with daughter Stella pushing Sophie, and son Isaac is the blur out front...

I get by with  little help from my friends....

Um, can you say future babysitter extraordinaire???

I uh, I din't do it.
Excellent photography a la Mr. Nolte.

This one is getting framed.

Feeling Better

At least I manage to keep her head warm...

Le Croupe

Well, we have been wholloped by our first Family Cold.  We think Sophie started it with a nice head cold, Brian managed to get through it with minor scrapes and bruises, but Heather came down with a 102+ degree fever at one point and had to get antibiotics for a severe sinus infection.  We took Sophie into the weekend Clinic at Children's Hospital when her cough started making her cry, and the doctor diagnosed her with a croup cough, and she'd just have to work her way through it.  We've spent two weeks inside and away from friends.  It's no fun.  Here's Sophie clearly trying to summon help outside the window.  "Help me, please!  My mom has trapped me in here and it's BORING!!!!"

"Well, whew, that was a lot of work.  I don't feel so good.  Maybe we should just stay in..."

More Swingin'!

Today we happened upon some friends at the park, here's Sophie swinging with friend, Dexter.  Great pants, Dex!

Our Little Reader