What a Fabulous February!

February was certainly a crazy month here in the Russell household. I can't even believe it is already over! Can you believe we are already 1/4 of the way through Sophie's second year??? It is hard to believe she turned 15 months old in February!

What all has happened you ask? LOTS!

Sophie turned into a baby model this month and modeled for a clothing company called Kickee Pants! (www.kickeepants.com) We cannot wait to finally see her photos and find out if they picked her to be in their spring catalog! They also already asked us to do another photo shoot in May! So excited!!

Sophie finally got her very own potty! Right now we are just getting her accustomed to the idea of going to the bathroom on the potty & trying to understand when she has to go. She doesn't like the idea of sitting on it very much since every time we sit her on it she whines. We are making progress but she had her very first poop in the potty! We are no where near potty trained but we've got our foot in the door and that is what matters!

Sophie has a new found love for sunglasses and shoes.. I adore that Sophie loves wearing sunglasses now. It is so cute to see her walk around with them on! At first she would come running to us to put them on her but now she can do it all by herself. She loves walking around in her own shoes or moms! If she can get her foot in them she is going to attempt to walk in them.

It is amazing watching this little lady grow up and do new and amazing things each and every day! I am so proud to be her momma!

Stay tuned next month for another update on little Miss Sophie!

-Heather

My last post for {2013}

Time really does fly when you have children and they grow so much in such little time right in front of your eyes. In the past year alone not only has Sophie changed, but us as parents as well. I know I have grown incredibly as a person & mother over this past year than I thought possible. 2013 was an incredible year full of firsts, lots of love, tons of laughter, and family time. We held together through hard times and cherished the good times.

Colton} This past year has been filled with lots of good news in our home. One being Colton getting his promotion to Senior Airman in the Air Force. I am so thankful for all the hard work he does to provide for this family. I know I do not show him near enough appreciation as I should but I hope he does know I love him and I am so incredibly thankful for all he does. I will always be by his side throughout his career and cheering him on. I hope he achieves everything he wants in life and I hope I can help him in any way possible.

I, personally, have grown in more ways than I can count. I have learned for the most part not to give a (excuse my language) shit about what other people think. It's pointless. That friends, if they are truly friends, will always be there no matter what. Nor should I go completely out of my way all the time to make things work. Roads are a two way street. All children are different and progress at different rates. Colton & I will raise our daughter in the way we think is right.

Sophie} First I want to say I love you and also thank you. I want to thank you, because you are the best thing that could of ever happened to me. You completely changed my life. I could not of asked for a more beautiful, happy, and loving little girl than you. Right from the very beginning you were all smiles. You have taught me the true meaning of sacrifice. I've watched you grow from the tiny little baby burrito that you were when we brought you home to this beautiful amazing little girl. I love that you look around with such wonder at the world. I love watching you accomplish something new. Whether its a new word, a new tooth, or a new gesture. You've crossed milestone after milestone and amazed me each and every day. I love your undying love that you have and I hope it never fades.

I cannot wait for what 2014 holds for us. Have a happy new year from our family to yours!







How far we've come

Recently I obtained pictures off of my old computer that had been lost because of it breaking down. I looked through a lot of pictures that I actually hadn't seen since we first moved here. It's been interesting to see how far we've come in these two little years of being married.

When we first started out we didn't have much at all. We weren't given much but some kitchen supplies, an old box TV, and a microwave that barely worked. No furniture. No bed. Just an air mattress.

The transition from sleeping on the floor/air mattress and having nothing else to having an actual bed and furniture in our house has been an amazing feeling. The feeling of pride and accomplishment knowing that WE did this together.

I am no way trying to sound materialistic. What I am trying to say is...
I am thankful that my husband provides for us. I am thankful he works hard to provide so we could buy an actual bed, a couch to sit on, food to eat, a crib for our daughter, etc. (Although sometimes I may not act like it) We have made this house a home & created a loving environment for our daughter to grow up in.

I am thankful for amazing parents that taught us to work hard for what we get and appreciate what we have. I am glad knowing that I don't need to spend a lot of money to make my daughter happy, but rather spend a lot of time with her to make her happy. I do hope, however, to be able to give her everything she deserves and could possibly want. Also, I hope as we continue to grow as a family and that we can instill the same values in Sophie as our parents did with us.

We've come so far in the past two years. It will be interesting to see how much we grow in the next two as well.

Adventures at the Zoo!

   Yesterday Colton, Sophie, & I embarked on our first (of probably many to come) trips to the zoo!
   I am so happy that Sophie had so much fun and enjoyed looking at all the animals. (I mean I am pretty sure she enjoyed looking at the trees & sky more but still!) During lunch time we were visited by a peacock & it got REALLY close! She was so intrigued! I couldn't get her to sit down until the peacock finally went away. Sophie also had an awesome experience with a friendly baboon! She kept giggling because he was right up against the glass so she was able to sit right next to his face & he kept opening his mouth for her.
   On our way out we stopped in the gift shop & bought Sophie two stuffed animals! A panda (her favorite) & a monkey!
   Overall we really enjoyed ourselves and cannot wait to return once Sophie is walking so she can have even MORE fun!

Finally realizing my camera has a timer on it.

Another Family Photo Op.

Sophie being excited.

Sophie laughing at the Baboon

Daddy pointing out an animal to Sophie.

Sophie meeting a Peacock during lunch.

AND She is out.

Where is the time going?

Six Month Photo Shoot

Has it really been over four months since my last update? Sophie recently turned 8 months old and I still do not believe it. It feels like just yesterday I was meeting her for the very first time.

What all has happened during all this time? When Sophie was 4 months old she started sitting up unsupported but still had lots of trouble and was very wobbly. She didn't fully master it till the end of 5 months old right before she was 6 months. She started saying "Momma" but I don't think she has made the connection that I am Mom. We are working on Daddy and Bye-Bye. She is very vocal and loves other kids. At 7 months old she pulled herself to a standing position for the first time while I was FaceTiming with Grandma. I loved that we got to share that moment being so far away! Sophie now loves to pull herself to a standing position at any chance she gets. She even loves to play in her crib by standing and looking at herself in the mirror instead of napping. She has been crawling like crazy! It's not a perfectly mastered crawl but it certainly gets her places! She loves to climb all over Colton & I while we sit on the couch. No teeth yet, but I am sure they will come soon! Sophie started eating baby food at 6 months and loves peaches & carrots! They are her favorites by far. She also loves pizza crust, wontons, and french fries! Sophie loves Kung-Fu Panda. Anytime she sees that panda she gets a big smile her cute little face! It is adorable!

Being a mother has brought me joy more than I ever thought was even possible.

Standing for the FIRST time.

Three Months Later...

Little Miss Sophie is three months old now & I can still think back to her birth like it was yesterday. In the past 13 weeks she has grown SOO much. I cried really hard when she couldn't fit in her newborn clothes anymore! It has been a pretty crazy adventure since we got home from the hospital. Waking up every HOUR to feed her because she was a hungry little girl, the hundreds of diapers, giggling when she farted unbelievably loud, & saying GROSSS when she spit up on us! Parenthood has definately come with a lot of uncharted territory for me but it certainly has been quite a interesting adventure.

She has accomplished so much & has been growing like a little weed! At 2 months old she had almost doubled her birth weight & grew 4 & 1/2 inches! She also started sleeping through the night at about 5 weeks old. At first it was from about 2am to 10am but I managed to work it to 8pm to 6am. I literally screamed when she rolled over for the first time. She loves laying under her mobile, kicking her little piano, & swinging in her swing for play time. She doesn't enjoy tummy time but can lift her head very well! She loves to coo, make gurgle noises, & smile at us all the time but she does not like smiling for the camera! I think she gets that from her father & being the cutie she is that will definately HAVE to change! In the past 3 months she has experienced her first Christmas, two month shots, & Valentines day!

"Having a baby is like falling in love again, both with your husband & your child" -Tina Brown
 

1 Week Old. I love Motherhood.

1 Month Old. Angry Sophie.

2 Months Old. Happy Sophie!

 

Beginning of Parenthood

On November 15, 2012 I had my 38 week doctors appointment to check on how our little girl was doing! Not only was I in a lot of pain but I was ready to not be pregnant anymore! After sometime at the doctor we found out that she had turned from being head down & ready to come out to breach! Change your mind did you little girl?! They gave me two options which were they could try to turn her back by pushing on my belly or scheduling a c-section. Colton & I talked about it and weighed our options and did not feel 100% comfortable with them trying to turn her so we scheduled a c-section for November 28, 2012.

The time came & I was not to eat after midnight and had to be checked in at the hospital at 9:00 am. I remember on the way to the hospital the ONLY thing I could think of "what if she doesn't like me?" Not even like what if I die in surgery or about the fact that I was going to be super naked in front of a bunch of doctors while they cut me open. Just "what if she doesn't like me?" We got to the hospital a little bit early and got checked in. We spent FOREVER waiting for them to prep me for surgery. Before I knew it, it was 12:00 pm! I was so hungry & my early labor pains were feeling pretty terrible. At this point, I could feel the momzilla in me. I went down to the desk and asked how much longer it would be & their response was about another hour. ANOTHER HOUR?!! Oh man I was pissed. Finally, about 1:30 or so they took me back to get prepped. Colton got into his scrubs & I got into my gown. I was wheeled down to the operating room and colton wasnt allowed in just yet. They told me after I got my spinal & I was numb he would be allowed in. Unfornately, I had trouble getting numb. The spinal was not working & they had to try a second time. It was taking forever & I was about ready to punch the doctor that was pinching my legs and stomach asking if I was numb yet. After about an hour they decided to give me an epidural to numb me up. They laid me back down and the only thing I could think of was where is Colton? I kept asking for him but they said not too much longer. Once Colton was finally allowed to come in I was fighting going to sleep. I HAD to stay awake. I was thinking "Lets get this over with! Can you start already?!" when they told Colton to look over the sheet to see our daughter being pulled out! WHAT!? When did you start?! Colton said watching her come out was the most amazing thing he has ever seen in his life & he honestly had no words to describe it.

On Novemeber 28, 2012 at 3:52 pm I gave birth to the most beautiful little girl named Sophie Elizabeth Russell weighing in at 5 lbs 15.8 oz & 18 inches long. The first time I heard her cry it brought tears to my eyes.  I never knew I could love someone so much that I had JUST met!

Parenthood is such a beautiful thing. Yes, there are sometimes where I just want to pull my hair out but everytime I see that cute little toothless grin it makes it all worth it.

Sophie Elizabeth Russell