Grandpa Dan's Visit

Last week Grandpa Dan came all the way from New York to visit Sophie. Everyone had a wonderful time, except Andy who was sick in bed the entire time:( Grandpa Dan and Mara took Sophie to the store on a search for a high chair. They had some exersaucers on display, so we decided to put Sophie in one to see if she liked it. Well, she put on such a performance, squealing and panting in delight, that Grandpa Dan bought it for her. It's quickly becoming her favorite thing to do at home! We also took Sophie on her first trip to the zoo. We thought she would sleep the whole time, like other family members we know, but as soon as she heard the monkeys whooping and hollering, she woke up and stayed awake the rest of the time. She especially liked the giraffes, the lions and the tiger. We plan on getting a zoo membership so we can go all the time (it's just a few blocks from our house!) Grandpa Dan went home, bringing with him a little bit of Andy's sickness, but we're pretty sure he'll come back again! Our next visit with family is in November, when Sophie will get to meet more of the Marshes and Giesekes in Indiana!

Five Months Old

Well five months is just a honeymoon for mom and baby. We have gotten into a little routine, and the daytime crankies have pretty much disappeared. We will cherish the smiles ang giggles, for this too shall pass! Sophie is mastering new tricks daily, but my favorites are her super wet kisses (which sometimes turn into a full face lick) and her amazing ability to blow the longest raspberries I have ever heard. I'm also especially fond of her giggle, although she can be a pretty tough audience. Most things only make her laugh once. Again, her picture really shows how much she is growing!

Pismo Beach

We are back from our wonderful vacation in Pismo Beach, California. It took awhile to get there, but once we got the RV and all of the quads set up on the beach, relaxation began. Sophie did great the whole time. The ocean air must agree with her because everyday she took a big 3 or 4 hour nap, and she slept through the night almost every night. We took walks on the beach every day, and while the boys were riding, the girls got to hang out and read. What a luxury! Andy and I went on a couple of rides together, and Sophie got to play with Becky while we were gone. Sophie also got to ride in the golf cart and in our new fancy backpack. All in all, this was a fun, relaxing trip, and we've already started making plans for next year!