First Reds Game

In honor of Sophie turning 22 months old, we took her to her first Reds game. The Reds are pretty important to me and Joe. Our first date was at a Reds game and he proposed to me after a game. Going to a game was something we really wanted Sophie to experience. We didn't want to take her when she was too young (sometimes I feel bad for the little newborns out in the heat), so we figured this day was as good as any other. Of course, watching a game with a 22 month old is a little difficult. It was really hot and she became bored pretty quickly. We only stayed for a few innings (a few in our seats, and a few watching in the shade) before heading home. Still, it was great to be able to share our love for the Reds with Sophie.

Sophie was covered in sweat. It was HOT outside! 

Popcorn cheered Sophie right up. The bag was just as big as her!

Cooling down with some ice cubes.

You get a certificate for the first game you attend. I think that is pretty darn cool. 

22 Months

It is getting closer and closer to Sophie's 2nd birthday. There are only 2 months to go!

I have been doing my best to keep Sophie busy and entertained this summer. If you are an avid reader of this blog, you are probably caught up on the major things that have happened this month: zoo trips, Kindermusik, getting locked in a car, trips to Maw-maw's pool, story time at Joseph Beth, three new teeth, etc. If you aren't an avid reader (aka everyone besides my mom), feel free to look at some of the older posts.

Talking to Maw-maw on the phone.

Here are some other highlights from the month:

• We have been working really hard on good manners. I try to get Sophie to say 'please' when she is asking for something and to say 'thank you' when she receives something. She is doing really well with it. I don't have to remind her as much as I used to, though she still needs prompting. There are times when she picks something up or puts something away and she reminds ME to say thank you! So funny! I love hearing her use good manners. The funniest though is when she wants Joe or me to get up. She will push our backs and say, "Go! Go!" If we don't get up, she changes her command a little by saying, "Go, please!" We do as she says since she asked nicely. Bossy little thing. 
• Speaking of Sophie being bossy, she is all about telling people where to sit this month. Once she gets comfortable sitting somewhere, she will point to the spot next to her and command you to 'sit!' She is very persistent.
• Everyday Sophie is adding more words to her vocabulary. It is surprising what she remembers. I really have to watch what I say now. 
• Sophie is recognizing/memorizing the pattern of numbers now and can count to three. We have to start it out by saying, "One..." and the she will continue with, "two, three." When we walk up the stairs together (me holding one or both of her hands) I always count the stairs (there are 13). This week she has started counting with me. Besides 1, 2, and 3, she also will count 5, 7, and 9. Not sure why she skips the even numbers, but it is still something. 

•  Sophie has become incredibly attached to her blanket and pacifier. She has always liked them, but she could go without them if needed. Now she demands them to be around basically at all times. She can't have one without the other either. If she has her blanket, she wants her 'papi' and if she has her pacifier she wants her 'blankie.' I hope this is just because she has been teething. I really want to get rid of the pacifier this summer and now I'm not sure how that is going to go. 
• Whenever Sophie gets a 'boo-boo,' we can instantly fix it by giving it a kiss. Sophie also has us kiss old scratches and bruises. She will even kiss my 'boo-boos' and Joe's. It is so cute and sweet. 
• The most exciting thing for me this month is that Sophie is becoming a better passenger in the car. She has always been rotten in the car - crying, screaming, throwing things (including pacifiers that she will cry for a minute later). There have been times when I would be going somewhere with her and turn right back around and go home because I couldn't take the screaming. I just can't tune it out. This month though has been so much better. She still has some meltdowns, but they have been very infrequent. I'm not sure if this is because we have done so much driving that she is getting used to it or if it is because she has her pacifier and blanket with her at all times. Whatever the cause, I am loving it. 

Click below for more pictures from this month.

Mmmmm...donuts

Someone needs her bangs cut again.

Cheeeeese

Sophie has discovered Cheetos this month. She loves them, especially when she gets to hold the bag.

This is the best onesie in the world! (the best band, too!)

My little teenager

Kissing Cosmo

So dramatic

Sad face

Kindermusik

This week Sophie attended a Kindermusik camp, Zoo Train.

At camp, we did a lot of singing, dancing, moving around and playing. Well, I should say that I did a lot of that. Sophie did a little bit of dancing, lots of moving around the room, and a ton of playing with her hair (it is a security thing for her I have decided. She constantly does this.) Sophie was more interested in doing her own thing than following along in class. It was pretty entertaining to me to see what she would do next. She usually started out class in the middle of the circle (while most of the other kids were standing with their moms), playing with her hair and looking at everyone else. When we sang good morning to everyone, I would pull her back to sit on my lap. As we sang, we would do different actions to the kids, such as waving or rocking. When I would do this, Sophie would stop playing with her hair long enough to grab my hand and say, "Mommy, no!" I think I was embarrassing her! Already a teenager... After that, she would get up for more time in the middle of the circle. She would edge towards some mom/child combo and stare them down or start 'talking' to them. (I was told many times that she was so social and friendly.) Then she would run over to me so that I would hold her. My favorite thing to watch Sophie do was when she would sit down on Ms. Cindy's pillow. Once Ms. Cindy would get up, Sophie would find her way over to the pillow and sit down, a big grin on her face. Today she down on it while Ms. Cindy was still on it, which put a big smile on Ms. Cindy's face.

Sophie really liked playing with the different instruments and materials. She didn't usually do what everyone else in class was doing with them, but that is okay. She had fun doing her own thing. She played with shakers, bells, scarves, hoops, noise makers, drums, and so on. Whenever Ms. Cindy would pull out a tub of materials, Sophie would scurry over to her so that she could get one. She was always one of the first kids to get something, as well as one of the first to put them away.
Sophie's favorite part about Kindermusik had to be the stamps that they got at the end of class. She would follow Ms. Cindy around, sticking out her hand or foot so that it could be stamped. Sophie would stare with confusion, wondering why she was being ignored. When it was finally her turn, Sophie would excitedly hold out her feet to get stamped and then her hands. Kids only get two stamps at a time though, so Sophie had to wait until every had two stamps so that she could get more. So yet again, she would follow Ms. Cindy around the room.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

We were given a craft each day to do at home. This really means that I cut out and put together the craft and Sophie played with them.

Day 1 - Sophie helped tape the arms and legs on the monkey. We hung  it up in her room. Each morning when I get her up, she points to it and says, "ooohhh ohhhh eeeee  eeee" (her monkey noises).

Day 2 - We tried stamping Sophie's fingerprints on the giraffe. It didn't work out that well, but  that is okay.

Day 2

Day 3 - Sophie loves lions, so she roars whenever she plays with this. 

Day 3 - This one was probably her favorite craft. She has played with it each day.

Day 4 - So this is supposed to be a penguin. I was supposed to trace one of my hands and both of hers to create it. It didn't turn out so well. Sophie immediately tore it apart, so I guess she didn't like it either. 

Day 5 - homemade play dough (Sophie requested that I make it purple.)

Day 5 - We were supposed to make animal shapes with the play dough,  so I guess this is a snake. (There, we followed directions.)

Sophie liked playing with this. She did not enjoy eating it though. As soon as I gave it to her, she  bent over and bit off a piece. She looked pretty disgusted. 

All in all I think Sophie enjoyed her time with Kindermusik. I'm not sure if it is something we would do again (I'm not the 'Mommy and Me' type), but I'm glad that she was able to have this experience. Now I just wish I could get the songs out of my head!

 ♩ ♪ Everyone sing hooray, hooray! We're going to the zoo today... ♩ ♪