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.

Feline that Fetches

Sophia's first feline is named Betty.
Betty is a member of our local animal shelter's foster program.

She had lived with an older woman in an apartment complex, but the policy changed, and cats were no longer permitted. Little cues like Betty attempting to sleep in our bed, and seeking to drink water right from the tap, lead us to believe that this was a cat who was very much loved.

So far Sophia's only interaction has been to headbutt Betty. Fortunately, Betty is tolerant, and aside from an occasional sniff, (this is progress from when she initially ran away from Sophia) she pretty much ignores her.

We had been participating in the foster program for several years before Sophia was born. When we learned we were expecting a baby, Joshua would have had to take care of the litter box, because of the potential risks with pregnancy. His response to this was, "I'm going to be dealing with a lot of poop very soon." There was really no way to argue with this. 

When Sophia was about a month old, the foster coordinator ran into Joshua at a restaurant. She asked him if he was with a church group (he was) and then said she would 'pray that he would say yes to taking a cat again'. Again, there was little argument here. So, now Betty is staying with us.

Betty is a rather extraordinary cat, she has removed an impressive amount of paint from the outside of our bedroom door, she has scratched our faux leather couch (which we had purchased after researching materials that cats don't like to touch), and she fetches......

Sophia Smiles

Sophia started smiling more regularly at around six weeks of age. 

At seven weeks we noticed that this happened most frequently in the morning (perhaps she will love mornings the most, like her Mama). 

We are enjoying that it is still novel.

When we catch her giving one, we stop and relish it, as it takes precedence over everything else. 

I also love how well we are getting to know her other expressions. 

Sometimes it seems as if she flashes through about ten in a few seconds.

It is becoming easier to tell if she is about to erupt into tears or smiles. 

When someone else fears that she is about to cry, we can often tell that this is not where she is actually headed, and feel privileged to know her so well.

Sophia, we wish for you the joy of many reasons to smile. 
Always know how much joy your smile brings to us.

My Eight-Week-Old has an E-mail Address

After being shown a video commercial with another little girl named Sophie, I set up an account for our Sophia and drafted the following email:


Hi Family,

Mama set up an email account for me..... so that letters could be sent to me before I can read. She wanted a place where she could write things to me.....even if it were just a quick sentence that she didn't want to forget......fun things we did together.....funny things that happened.......

One day I will be able to enjoy reading these things or seeing the pictures that were sent.

She was inspired by this......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4vkVHijdQk

.....she says it makes her cry every time.

Thanks for being my family.

Much love,

Sophia Gayle (Via Mama)

One of the e-mails I have already sent to her was a 'Thank You Note' after the first time she slept through the night. I love that the e-mail is automatically dated so I can remember the exact occurrence of such momentous occasions.

If you are a friend or family member of Sophia's, and would like to participate in this time capsule of sorts, she can be reached at sophia (dot) archambault (at) gmail (dot) com

Mental Pictures

From 9:30 in the morning until 6:30 pm (with stops), we had been on the road driving to visit my family in Ohio. At 11:00 we were finally ready to go to bed, but Sophia wasn't. 

I was frustrated as she laid on my chest, seemingly undecided about eating but convinced about being upset. 

Right then Joshua encouraged me to take a mental picture. For a few seconds I just soaked in her wrinkled up face. 

Before our wedding a friend had encouraged us to take 'mental pictures', knowing how fast the day would go. Now knowing how fast the years will go, I appreciated Joshua's encouragement. 

Sometimes I think to myself.....'will I someday wish I could have this moment back even if I'm not enjoying it right now?'

The answer is there will never be enough time......but I am attempting to pause long enough to take some mental pictures.....perhaps particularly during those moments when I need to remember what a gift I've been given. 

First Fourth

For Sophia's first fourth of July we drove to upstate New York to visit Rob and Di, whom after 23 years of friendship have now been classified as family.

We spent the rest of the day swimming in the lake, sitting on the porch, and eating outside.

 

The next morning friends of theirs (several shared by us) came for breakfast bringing strawberry rhubarb crisp, blueberry crumble, scones, fresh cherries and other treats, as well as magazine clippings that Di pasted into a picture book she was making for Sophia. She also lent us several of the books she owned as a child, including an original 1933 copy of Babar, a series Joshua loved when he was little.

 

 

In the afternoon we enjoyed the lake of another pair of dear friends, Nadine and Ira. They provided a delicious BBQ Buffet for dinner that night.

Nadine holding Sophia for the 1st Time

Before heading back home the following morning, we had a pancake breakfast outside and lingered until noon.

 

We delayed getting back on the highway, and instead drove on a smaller road through the Berkshire Mountains. To cap off our trip we had a wonderful lunch at the Blueberry Hill Market Cafe.