First Chore

We like to encourage Sophia's desire to help whenever possible. Unloading the dishwasher has become the alternative to her preferred activity of crawling into it.

First Birthday

The first birthday celebration began in New Hampshire.

Photo credits: Becca Archambault

The day Sophia officially turned one, her parents, and her Gran and Uncle James woke her by singing happy birthday. She kept her eyes shut and swatted her arm at us.

She seemed more pleased with how her day ended. We served a meal of her favorite foods including Salmon, Mango and Avocado Salsa and broccoli. 

After dinner she enjoyed opening cards and presents.

For dessert she had chocolate ice cream (frozen bananas and unsweetened cocoa powder)and cake made from bananas, apple sauce, oats, whole wheat flour, coconut oil, baking soda and cinnamon, with a cream cheese and apple juice icing (without added sugar it tasted more like a muffin than cake).

The celebration also included a dance with her Dad. A birthday tradition I shared with my own father for 19 years.

Sophia's First Car

There are many May birthdays in the Archambault family including Sophia's Aunt Aimee, her cousin Levi, her cousin Aaron, and her Grandpa (Sophia's actual birthday is on the same day as one of her Great Great Grandmas).

We went to New Hampshire last weekend to celebrate them all.
One of Sophia's birthday gifts from her Archambault Grandparents was her very own car. 

Her favorite thing about it is the radio....

First Easter: Part 1

Gran had high hopes we would capture a picture of Sophia with the Easter Bunny. Unfortunately when we arrived at the mall two days before Easter the line was impressively long, and nap time was nearing. Instead of waiting the forty-five minutes it would take to have a sitting with the official bunny, we went off on a scavenger hunt in search of bunny substitutes. 

A chocolate bunny taller than Sophia at the candy store and a pink stuffed bunny at the stationary store served as stand-ins.

Later that afternoon we saw an ad in the newspaper for "Bunnyland" at the nearby Linvilla Orchards. The next day we headed to the Orchard and boarded a hayride with our friend Danny to find the full-sized bunny.

My Mom got the photo she was hoping for, and Sophia, though slightly nervous, didn't cry at the sight of the huge white rabbit.

My Mom also provided the traditional Easter baskets. 

Sophia wasn't allowed to eat any of the actual candy, but she did enjoy taking it all out of the baskets and playing with it.

Since she couldn't eat the candy, her Grandpa gave her a fluffy yellow duck.

She seemed to prefer this soft animal more her size, than the giant Easter Bunny.

First Christmas Part I

Our Christmas season was spent all over the east coast this year. It began with a celebration right after Thanksgiving when we were in Pennsylvania. Every year we alternate between celebrating Christmas with our New Hampshire relatives and our Pennsylvania ones. Since we would be in New Hampshire this year on December 25th, my Mother called our November visit in PA "Thankmas", as she wanted to enjoy as much of Christmas as she could with Sophia. 

When we were in Washington DC during the first week of December we were able to see how our Nation's capitol was decorated. This tree at the World Bank had flags from many different countries represented.

The following week in Florida it felt odd to be listening to Christmas carols with the car windows rolled down, but it was fun when the Beach Boy's "Little Saint Nick" came on the radio. We loved the palm trees covered in lights and the beach themed decorations.

 

Back in Quincy, we had a special visitor at our house on the Saturday before Christmas. 

Our friend Hazel happens to be well aquainted with the gentleman who has been the Mayor of Boston's official Santa for many years.

His visit was a secret surprise for Sophia's Gran to enjoy with her on this first Christmas.

Christmas to be continued...

Family Firsts: First Food

We decided to start Sophia on solid foods when she reached 6 months, and chose avocado as the first one to try. The morning after her 6 month birthday we gave her the tiniest bit. It wasn't entirely clear whether she disliked avocado, or if she was just confused as to why we were putting green mushy stuff in her mouth.

A few days later on Thanksgiving morning, she tried banana for the first time with the assistance of her father and her Uncle James. 

She has continued to eat small amounts of avocado and banana, as well as some strawberry and gnawed on a piece of watermelon without making a dent. In the coming weeks we are looking forward to trying some sweet potato, carrots and pumpkin- hopefully she doesn't turn orange!

First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving began the Saturday before the holiday at our church's annual dinner. 

The table of desserts was almost as long as the table of different side dishes that were brought to share.

What seemed to delight Sophia the most(which is fair since she isn't really eating solid food yet) was the brown paper table cloth and the crinkly sound it made.

In a similar sense, the texture of her Uncle James' beard was a highlight when we went down to Pennsylvania for the actual Thanksgiving day.

Sophia's Grandpa Ray had gone to great efforts to decorate the house prior to our arrival since we will be in New Hampshire for Christmas this year.

Lights in particular are one of her favorite things right now.

She is also rather fond of her Gran (and wearing funny Santa hats).

When it came time for the Thanksgiving feast, Sophia was napping.

She did wake up before we ended the meal and enjoyed making funny faces with her Dad (again her options were limited without being able to eat anything on the table).

Despite the fact that there was no actual food on the table for Sophia, her Gran had bought her a purple crystal cup. She enjoyed the glass this year, and next Thanksgiving she will get to actually have something in it!

Family Firsts: First Fair

While I was still pregnant, I was planning a trip to the Marshfield fair with my then to be three month old.

Ever since we moved to the south shore about five years ago, I have wanted to go.

Joshua was away on his first business trip since Sophia's birth to Florida, so we decided to have a sleep over with our dear friend and Marshfield local, Hazel. 

The beauty of Hazel's home and the warmth of her hospitality made it feel like we were staying at a bed and breakfast. Fresh flowers from her garden and homemade waffles graced the breakfast table.

I learned that the fair had been in existence since 1867. About a century later Hazel went as a little girl. She made friends quickly at our first stop in the barns.

I was a part of a 4-H club when I was younger, but didn't live very close to a rural environment. Instead my 4-H club focus was 'microwave cooking'.

I think it would be wonderful if Sophia has an opportunity to have an experience like these girls.

Clearly Sophia and I weren't the only mother daughter pairing at the fair.....

....and Sophia wasn't the youngest one there by far.

As has been common of much of her three month existence thus far, Sophia slept through most of the fair until we stopped at a booth selling baked potatoes stuffed with broccoli and cheese for lunch, followed by ice cream. While she has been known to wake for food,she seemed unsure of this fair business.

Our last stop was the agricultural exhibits.

Hazel is a master gardener and has won many first place ribbons for entries she has made to the fair.

Sophia was asleep again by the end of our trip. Perhaps next year, the ability to actually pet a cow and eat some fair food will be enough incentive to stay awake.

Family Firsts: Trip to the Beach: Part 1 and 2

First Trip to the Beach: Part 1

When Sophia was only a couple weeks old we brought her to the beach a few miles from our home. 

Our pediatrician told us that she wouldn't be old enough for baby sunscreen until she was 5 months (November), so Joshua kept her completely covered.

Aunt Aimee, Nephews Blake & Aaron, Aunt Becca & Mark

While our nephews enjoyed finding shells, Sophia didn't have much of a view, but two months later she was surveying the sand......

First Trip to the Beach: Part 2

 

This was a long weekend trip to the Jersey Shore. A tradition that began before I was born with my father's side of the family coming from New York City.

It included her first toe dipping in the ocean....

http://youtu.be/mYu1ddYI9c4

Family Firsts: Meeting the Greats

Great Great Aunt Anna Mary [L's Mom's Dad's Sister]

I come from a small family. I have one sibling and my parents have one sibling between the two of them. Our closest family was in New York City, about two hours from where I grew up. 

However, I married into a large family. Thanks to a couple of family reunions this summer, she had the opportunity to meet all of her 'greats'. 
 

Great Aunt Jan & Uncle Ray [L's Mom's Sister & Husband]

Great Great Aunt Betty [L's Mom's Mom's Sister]

Here my 93 year old Aunt has taken to the floor to get a better look at Sophia upon arrival. She did get a chance to hold her while sitting on the couch as well.

Great Grandfather [J's Dad's Dad]

Great Aunt Sandi [J's Mom's Sister]

Great Uncle Lee [Aunt Sandi's husband]

Great Uncle Dick & Aunt Linda [J's Mom's Brother & Wife]

Great Aunt Connie and Great Uncle David [J's Mom's Sister & Husband]

Great Uncle John and Aunt Chris [J's Dad's Brother & Wife]

Great Uncle Randy & Aunt Sheryl [J's Mom's Brother &Wife]

Great Grandmother [J's Mom's Mom]

Sophia is her great grandmother's 28th great grandchild. Meeting her Great Grandmother was particularly meaningful, as sadly she passed away a few hours after we left. We didn't know that day would be her last, but we are grateful that Sophia was able to meet her and that her Grandmother found pleasure in their time together.