DNCL

Do Not Call List. What a wonderful idea. I'm already signed up. If you want more information or are interested in signing your phone number up click here. Now maybe we can make it through dinner without the phone ringing!

What does Mumma say?

Just for the record Mumma doesn't say all the things that Sofia claims she does. Her usual response is the last one in the video. The video was taken at the end of dinner, spaghetti night with blueberry applesauce for dessert. Sofia managed it all by herself!

The "eedle eedle eedle eedle" is how Sofia reads to herself. She is a true chatterbox and rarely stops talking. Well talking is not quite the right word, let's use vocalizing instead.... She is a true chatterbox and rarely stops vocalizing. This little girl of ours is the most perfect mix between Grant and I, I am SO in love with her.

I hope that you enjoy the videos of her. I find it impossible to capture Sofias spirit in pictures.

Happy Friday. Can you believe it's the end of September?!? Where does the time go?

Sofia reading a book

And the winner is....

... Nikki!  Watch your mail box.

GoodBye Sofia Grant Johan

Hello Sofia Ann Tahir Dybdal!  That's right, our little girl is now officially a Dybdal!  YIPPEEE!!  This also means that we are almost done the paper-portion of parenting an adopted child.  Just citizenship left and then we are free and clear of paperwork (and fees).  

Sofias personality is showing more each week.  She's a big ham and loves spinning around the living room jabbering away.  She's a big sponge right now and is trying out a couple of new words each day.  This week she added juice, shoes, keys, and bum to her vocabulary and is still test driving water, bed, and nap.  I've done a count and she's up to about 20 spoken words!  Pretty good for 4 months.  Her comprehension is growing also, the other day I asked her to go from the kitchen into the living room and bring me back her sippy cup and she did!  It's still hit or miss but it's getting better.  She is also able to bring you her shoes although it's a gamble whether you'll get a matching pair!

I've also had a big week, I realized that I am a mess-o-phobe.  Who knew?!?  Not my parents that's for sure!  I'm not sure if it's my advancing age or Mummy-hood but I have trouble allowing Sofia to make a mess.  I realize I've got to get over it because I'm retarding her learning.  Sofias been feeding herself finger food since we got home but I've still been doing the messy stuff ie: cereal, yogurt, and soup.  For the last few weeks she's been working on her utensil eating at dinner.  This morning I sucked it up and let her eat her oatmeal/yogurt all by herself!  I'm still picking pieces out of her hair but hey, that's all part of learning.  She did a great job and got the majority of it in her mouth.

Here's some pictures from our week:

Sofia eating dinner with a fork!

Horsy rides on Papa.  Qimik's not too sure he likes it.

My favourite Sofia face!

Wordless Wednesday

When 2 become 1

Can anybody tell me where I stole that title from?  There's a prize in it for you ... Leave a comment telling me where that title is from and I'll do a random draw for a mystery prize.

So, in the risk of jinxing all the goodness Sofia is now napping once a day.  The two naps were still working but for 5 days in a row last week she was having trouble sleeping through the night and it was taking longer and longer to get her to sleep.  Yesterday we made an executive decision and have changed her to one nap.  The first day went well and so far the second day is ok too.  Just until we get over the transition her nap time is now 1130.  In Ethiopia Sofia was taking 3 naps a day, when we got home I changed her to 2.  It took me at least 6 weeks to finally get her settled into a good schedule.  I'm hoping that this isn't the case this time.  I think that it shouldn't be nearly as bad and I'm planning on her being disrupted for about a week.  Any BTDTs want to chime in?  

This morning we were on our way home from a visit at 1040 when Sofia got very quite.  I turned around to find her eyes closed, so  I cranked up the radio and started grooving like a crazy woman.  Luckily it worked and I was able to get her home and fed before putting her down.  I'm also hoping that this will allow Sofia and I to be able to get out and socialize more, with the rainy season coming that's very important.

A day in the life

I realize my posts have been a bit sparse lately.  I have a lot to say but no ambition to sit down and try to say it.  Being a Mum is so rewarding but such a balancing act.  Sofia is so much more active than I was expecting a girl to be.  I must admit though she is well balanced, although she is mischievous, she also likes to sit and read.  Let me tell you about a tiny slice of our day yesterday... 

1210 - Mum settles down in the living room with the laptop.  Sofia settles down in the living room and plays with her stacking rings.

1212 - Sofia is feeding her stuffed cat with a toy bottle

1213 - Sofia is reading her stuffed cat a book

1215 - Sofia plays with  her stacking rings

1217 - Sofia plays with her turtle shape sorter

*this toy seems to hold her attention longer than most because of the annoying music it plays*

1221 - Sofia heads off to the kitchen

1222 - Sofia takes some of Mums pots and pans out and scatters them randomly around the first floor 

1226 - crash

1227 - Sofia enters the living room and says "uh-oh... no ... uh-oh" and toddles back to the kitchen.  Mum decides to just see how it plays out and stays in the living room.

1229 - After a minute or two of hearing paper and a gum package being played with, Mum hears coins hitting the floor and realizes that intervention is needed.

1230 - Sofia is found with Mums purse on the floor (When did she get tall enough to pull stuff off the table?) and has taken the coin purse out and is making a 'pattern' on the floor. (When did she learn how to open zippers?) 

1231 - Mum places her 3/4 full travel coffee mug on the table to clean up the purse mess, phone rings and it's Papa

1234 - Sofia and Mum head back to the living room, Sofia goes back to stacking rings and Mum goes back to the computer

1236 - Sofia heads back to the kitchen

1237 - crash

1238 - Sofia enters the living room and says "uh oh... no ... uh oh" and toddles back into the kitchen.  Mum decides to see how it plays out and stays in the living room.

1239 - splash splash splash Mum thinks "she better not be playing in the dogs water dish" and Mum puts the computer away and heads into the kitchen to deliver a beat down (not really, honest) 

1240 - Sofia is found belly down in a coffee puddle splashing around like a happy seal!Mum wishes the camera were surgically attached to her left hand because it's in the car and of no use to her ... How many of you guessed the second crash was Mums coffee cup? (I wish I had your foresight) 

ahhh, such is life with an active toddler!  I could go on and tell you about her playing 'boat' with a receipt she pulled from my purse in the dogs water dish.  Or the brilliantness of her when I asked her to go in the living room and bring her empty cup to me in the kitchen so I could fill it with milk.  (Which she did and then pranced around and saying "I did it!")  But I've shared enough for today and my girl needs her "nana, nana, nana, naaaa-naaaa!" so I must go find a banana ... 

Salt Spring Get Together

Last Saturday we had the joy of spending the afternoon with our friends.  Diane and her kids Trevor and Lidya and Shauna and her kids Molly, Selamnu, and Dexter.  There were some other parents-to-be there and we look forward to meeting their kids too.  Sofia has a special affinity for Ethiopian children, I'm not sure how she knows but somehow she does.  Sal and Lidya showered her with kisses and attention, both enjoying feeding her.  Sofia just sits back and soaks in all the attention.  

Lidya and Sal conspiring to get Sofia out of the backpack carrier.  Lidya put on the straps and wanted to carry her!

The settled for smothering her with kisses.  (despite the look on her face Sofia was loving it)

Molly and Sofia, best friends.  Molly is so good to Sofia and took her on the playground and pushed her in the swing.  Here Molly had let Sofia try on her bracelet.  (Hi Molly, we miss you!)

Brothers

Dexter is about 5 weeks younger than Sofia.  I can't wait to see them running around together next summer!

Friends

Sal is about 1/2 year younger than Lidya.  They had fun together.

Christmas Help

Grant and I have two nephews (3 and 1) and 4 nieces (7, 4, 2, and 2) and I'd like to make their Christmas presents this year.  As much as I'd love to spoil each and every one of them it's just not reasonable, so I thought a homemade something would be better.

I know that many of you reading this are crafty so come on, give me some ideas.  I promise to share the completed projects with you!

My first time on a boat

It was Sofia and Qimiks' first time too!  A BIG thank you to the Patterson/Klem family for inviting us to spend the night on their boat.  It was a great experience and it has solidified our retirement plans.  Grant and I are mariners in the making!

The boat, it lives on Salt Spring Island but is a world traveler.  

Qimik looks a bit scared here but he was fine after about 10 minutes.

After a long day of playing with friends.

Doesn't he look like he belongs here?

Can you imagine a better night?

We had a great time on Salt Spring, there was an Ethiopian family get together.  It was so lovely to see all the kids playing together.  I didn't take my camera out but I know Diane took some shots.  If she emails me some I will post them (as long as that's ok with all the Mummas). *Hint hint*  

Finally...

... we made it out in the canoe.  Poor dusty canoe that's been sitting in 'new baby' exile in the back of our yard all summer.  Over all I'd say the trip was a success and so I'm looking forward to going out again.  I think Sofia was a bit confused by wearing her life jacket but not getting 'in' the water.  

At Langford Lake

I love this expression on her face, I think she is saying "What have my cuckoo parents got me doing now?!"  or "SERIOUSLY!" 

The whole Dybdal crew minus Sativa, cats do not do well in canoes.

He wasn't really going to  toss her in, just letting her feel that water.

See mom-cars don't totally suck.

Saanich Fair

Last Saturday we went to a local fair, we brought Auntie Kiki and Uncle James along with us. 

A fashionable(?) Sofia with Uncle James and Papa

A chicken says "Bock bock bock!"

This picture says a lot about a mothers love.

Practicing her horse riding skills

A cow says "Moo"

Sadly my camera batteries died about 20 minutes after we got the fair.  Sofias animal noises were very entertaining.  I think the goats were her favourite but it's hard to say because she seemed to enjoy all the animals.  She was much much braver than her Mumma and is a lucky girl to have a Papa that can keep up with her.  She was more than willing to pet all the animals that Papa held her near.  Sofia seems to have no fear, it's so great to watch her.  She did have a bit of a fright from a very large turkey who "Gobble Gobbled" right in her face!  But Sofia loves to be scared and so it was fine.

90210

I know I know, lame right?  Grant asked me on the weekend if I was going to watch 90210 (2008).  I think he was joking because it's not something I would normally watch, in fact I don't think I ever watched an original episode that wasn't a rerun.  However I, like most people who were 90's teens, was intrigued.  And decided to give it a try.  I'm watching it as I write this...

The first few minutes had me, a trans racial family, how normal!  At least it is to me and should be to everyone.  It will be interesting to see how this Dixon Wilson story line continues.  Oh, and now Mrs Clarke gave birth to a love child that was Harry Wilsons' and chose to put him up for adoption.  2 adoption stories in less and 60 minutes!  

Well, since Grant has soccer on Tuesday nights I guess I have a new activity .... at least until the show pisses me off or I'm over the cuteness of the actors.  I've been waiting for a "Gilmore Girls" replacement for a long time now, could this be it?!?

The Best Toy

Sofia found a toy at GrandMa and GrandPops house, slight unconventional but she enjoyed it all the same...

"GrandMa can you move this toaster for me?"

Hmm, Where's Sofia?

Oh, there she is.

Um, Where's Sofia?

SURPRISE!

Oh and for the record, my parents house had tons of toys for Sofia to play with but nothing can rival a child's imagination.

Randoms from London

Yummy Ethiopian food!

My Mom was trying to teach Sofia to blow bubbles but Sofia just kept licking the pool instead.  She thought it was hysterical and I didn't really care because it was a salt water pool.

Sofias first piece of corn on the cob.

Look at that dimple!

I'm not sure who had more fun.

Eating fish that GrandPop caught.  

 She makes a cute fish face but it was impossible to capture on film.