Thursday, October 15, 2009

New Discoveries

Me and my shadow....it moves everytime I do.
Amazing


Waving hello to my shadow

With brother Mike blowing bubbles in Central Park on
a beautiful fall day in New York City


I've gotten pretty good at blowing these 
bubbles

Just stuffin' my face...

There's that shadow again; keeps following me around.
Pretty cool.



All set to fly with these angel wings


In one of my more studious moments, 
reading one of my favorite books in our
sun room

Playing peek a boo: first I cover my eyes

Then I blow a little kiss

And voila....here I am


Love hangin with my big sis Laura




Discovering a big hay stack at a farm with Michael 
and Laura on a beautiful fall Sunday




Pretty comfy seat...

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Summer fun and Referralversary

Now and then.....Last year on August 27, 2008
we received our referral at about 3:00 a.m., just 3 days 
before the US/Vietnam program officially closed. This is
the picture we received that day, and we are so blessed
that Sophia Rose has developed so remarkably over the
past year. 

Sophia and Laura in our pool, but she actually prefers her
mini pool or the bath.  Oh well, maybe this will be more her 
thing next summer.

We took 2 day trips to the Jersey Shore, and
Sophia LOVES the sand. She dug and sifted in 
it for hours!


Sophia's hair finally got long enough for
Laura to put it in pigtails.  Well, at least 
it's a start.




The pigtail days were short lived once she discovered
how to pull them out


On August 10th, Laura turned 16 and we celebrated it
with a family dinner at one of our favorite Mexican 
restaurants in NYC.


Never too young to support the Yankees, our favorite
baseball team!

A few more times on this slide and she'll be ready for the
big time at 6 Flags.

Who needs stuffed animals when you have your plastic
'dog dog' to carry around?

Always willing to share her snacks, especially
with Molly, our 4 pound Maltese.

All dressed up for Labor Day, the biggest
weekend of the year in our little town with
parade, carnival and fireworks.

With Laura at the end of the parade after the Cheerleader's
dance routine.











Monday, July 13, 2009

Summer vacation

Since her first birthday on June 5th, Sophia has 
been walking and has totally given up crawling. 
She can say a few words like "more" (applies to 
anything she happens to be eating at the time); nana (for banana),
ma ma, da da, and la la (for Laura).  Even with her limited
vocabulary, she understands everything we say. She has
boundless energy, is busy all day long, always exploring,
touching and (usually) tasting everything in sight.
She is enjoying life immensely, and loves to give kisses
and hugs to her family, and even to Molly (although 
Molly doesn't always appreciate it, especially when 
she's munching on a dog biscuit).


On the phone booking my flight to Santa Barbara
for our family vacation


Molly helping me remove my bow while
mommy isn't looking


Now I can take some of the pictures for
a change



Taking a nap with my favorite dolly


This TV remote looks like a phone, but doesn't
seem to work like one!


In Santa Barbara with my Aunt Karen, Uncle Rich and
cousin Sara

My big sister Laura enjoying the california sun; what teenager doesn't!


Eating my first plum from a tree 
growing in my aunt and uncle's back yard




On Sterns Wharf in Santa Barbara

Sophia's first time at the beach



On my own with my yogurt and spoon

I may have gotten just a bit carried away

With Mom and Michael at the Santa Barbara zoo on 
my first train ride

Meeting my cousin Eamon at his home
in Pacific Palisades


Back home in my pool


My sister Laura has crazy ideas at times; she
put all my bows in my hair at once!  Mommy 
loved it.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Happy 1st Birthday and 11th Month!

This was a big month -  a month of Sophia's first
steps and her first birthday

Hugging my favorite dolly




Taking some of my first steps

Hanging with my sister Laura and her peeps, on my swing


With friends I met at a "Families with Children from 
Vietnam" (FCVN, New Jersey Chapter)





In mommy' s garden checking out the 
bleeding heart bush


Looking for just the right cup in here


Admiring the mess I made

Watching our kitties on the back deck


In my first car, about to go for a 'ride' with Molly


I wonder who gave me this shirt???


Trying on one of mommy's shirts I found
in the laundry


Decked out for Memorial Day






Relaxing in our hot tub and pool with Laura on Memorial Day
weekend




I have my own pool too!!


In front of Michael's apartment in NYC on our way to
the Bronx Zoo


Walking with Michael at the Zoo


Wearing my Birthday Girl shirt just before
my first birthday party on June 5th


Wearing my Ai Dao (the traditional Vietnamese
dress) on my birthday


Getting ready to dig into my first birthday party cake.


Dressed for Laura's dance recital

Hey, I'm on my first cell phone....Isn't anybody there?




Sunday, May 3, 2009

Tenth month


 Tenth month pix

Getting into lots of trouble now that I can crawl at warp speed

Pretending to eat with bowl and spoon


Havin' fun


Clapping hands, one of my favorite new
activities


Getting ready to go to the Pellegrinos for Easter dinner 
with my big brother and sister








Showing off my bottom two teeth





Can't wait to see daddy when he gets home


Molly and I are waiting patiently


Sitting in my new chair; just the right size
 




Catching up on some light reading


Contemplating something






My big achievement for month 10: taking
my first steps alone!!! (Let the games begin) :)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

My ninth month!



Having fun with my big sis...


Meeting the Fitzsimmons girls; can't wait to run around
with them in the neighborhood soon


Mom sure loves playing with me!!

splish splash in my yellow ducky tub


Can't wait to hear what Simon thinks of my 
singing

Oops.. I think I'm sounding just a bit
too karaoke

At least my fam thinks I'm great :)

I love to laugh and act silly with my family


I love it when my big brother Michael
comes out to visit from NYC. He loves coming
out to see me, and I love seeing him too






Born to sing..even using a brush as a Microphone


Little cat nap waiting for dinner


Love taking these blocks out of the basket


Waiting for Daddy to come home


I think I hear him coming (that's Molly, our
little white Maltese, standing next to me)


Clapping my hands when Daddy walks in





Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Eighth Month Update

Some highlights of Sophia Rose's busy eighth month:

Hangin' in the kitchen with my yellow blanket and some
wrapping paper, which makes the best noise when I
crinkle it :)


I love my big sis Laura

Molly and me



At the airport with some of the cheerleaders on our way 
to Orlando for Laura's national cheerleading competition

At my first character dinner at Disney World, with Prince
Charming. I'll play hard to get...

With Cinderella, pleading with me to give Prince Charming
back to her.  

My big brother Michael came to Orlando to surprise Laura
at the cheerleading competition.  He's the best brother!!


Love hanging with the big girls

Touring Disney with Michael in my snugli


At animal kingdom waiting with my peeps for the sarfari 
ride


Back home from Disney, showing off my ability to stand
all by myself

Laura is so proud of me when I stand by myself

Pretty cool, huh?

Helping with the laundry

All dressed up for Valentine's Day



Celebrating Michael's birthday in New York City