Busy Summer and Busy Baby

It's been a few months since the last post and there is a ton to catch up on. We've had a busy summer and things look to stay that way into the fall. Sophie has begun to crawl and express herself more and more everyday. Dada and Mama have become part of her vocabulary, along with giggles and screams of joy anytime she sees Maddie. She has also become quite the jumper and dancer.

Summer started early for us with a trip to Carolina Beach the week before Memorial Day to help Mommy relax after starting her new job with Corning. June brought my first Father's Day with Sophie and Alli treating me to a homemade breakfast and relaxing day that included Grammy and Grampy Breeding. We ended the month visiting friends in Hickory and celebrating the 30th birthday of Charlie Zagaroli. He's all grown up now folks.

The last month and half has been action packed on all fronts. July started with a trip to Delaware to visit family and friends over the 4th of July. Sophie and Maddie were in their element. Maddie got to stretch her legs in wide open spaces and Sophie got to show off her smile and two new teeth. Sophie's love of the water grew as she got to swim in Uncle Butch's pool and try out her new float. We loved spending time with everyone at the cookout and catching up.

After that, it was back to the grindstone for Mommy and Daddy.

The end of July closed with a boys trip to NJ/NY. Rich, Sean, Caps and I set out to win riches and live the city lifestyle. We ended up realizing we like the slower pace of North Carolina and the friendliness that the South brings. However, we made the most of our three days by gambling in Atlantic City, watching Bruce Springsteen perform at the Meadowlands and taking in our last Yankee game at the original Yankee Stadium.

There's a few thoughts from the trip that I'd like to share. Atlantic City was fun, but one night was plenty. If you've ever had a Nathan's hot dog, Burger King Whopper, KFC mashed potatoes and a chocolate milk for breakfast, you have more in common with Sean Gill than you know. Seeing Bruce Springsteen live is the only way to truly experience his music. Add in the 60,000+ at the Meadowlands singing the chorus to "Badlands" over and over to get an encore and you've seen the best live show ever. Yankee Stadium isn't beautiful, it's breathtaking. Walking out of the tunnel from the concourse and laying your eyes on the same field where Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle and so many others played makes you feel like a little kid all over again. I can only hope that Sophie will one day have that kind of connection with something she loves so much.

I was lucky, as the boys limped into work that next Monday, I sat in a beach chair at the Outer Banks drinking a cold beer. I got home that Saturday, packed up Alli, Sophie, Maddie and myself and headed to the coast for a week with the family. We were joined by the Breeding and Dillard grandparents for a relaxing week no one wanted to end. Sophie got her first taste of the beach life and ocean. She was hesitent about the waves, but warmed up to them by the end of the week. I'm sure she'll be running out into the waves in no time with Daddy running after telling her to be careful. Maddie was extremely excited as she got in the ocean for the first time in years. She definitely didn't want to leave and certainly didn't listen to Daddy when he asked her to be careful.

So here we are with schools back in session and Fall just around the corner. Sophie is working with six teeth now and has somehow learned how to shake her head no. She continues to leave her mark on Daddy's heart. Mommy and her went this weekend to throw Aunt Carla a baby shower and by all reports it was a hit. However, it just wasn't the same around the house without them. Sure, it was great on Saturday morning when I was able to get up at my own pace and sit on the back porch having breakfast and reading the paper. Yet once that was over, I wondered what to do. I wondered what Alli and Sophie were doing. Were they having a good time without me? What did I do in this situation before Sophie? I missed them. Luckily, they weren't gone for long and I got my two favorite smiling faces back home.

Looking forward to the Fall and all the new things that fatherhood brings. Take care and enjoy your favorite smilng faces.

Sophie's been busy!

Today's Mothers Day- and I thought it justified a quick update in our family blog. I had a great day, and weekend. Sophie and her Daddy spoiled me rotten! I am SO in love with motherhood, and so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter and husband!

Enough with the mushy stuff. =) Where to start? It's been a busy month and a half since we last wrote. Sophie had her 4 month appointment, and is growing like crazy! She's in the 75th percentile for height (so once again taking after her Dad), and her head size is off the charts! (again, like Father like daughter.....) We like to think it's because she's going to be REALLY smart! And get this, she already has a tooth, with another on the way! She is also moving ALL over the place. From one end of the crib to another at night- and enjoys showing off her new rolling over talent. (See picture) She's growing up so fast, and we're really trying to cherish every moment!


Her Doctor told us she's ready to start rice cereal once a day. I was really expecting it to be a difficult transition for her, but as you can see by the picture-she absolutely loved it! She was desperately trying to hold the spoon, and LOVES her new high chair. She now sits and squeals in delight as I mix the cereal up each day. We can't get over it.





Sophie has been quite the social butterfly of late. With a week long stay in Hickory, Supper Club, visits from the Grandparents, a Kentucky Derby Party, a neighborhood cookout, a trip to the Farmers Market, and her first Church visit, her calendar is overflowing! I've attached a picture of Sophie and the winning horse at KK and Sean's Derby party- oh... and of course she had to show off her winnings with our friend Angie. She's one lucky lady!


Enough for now, we hope all you Mommies had a Happy Mothers Day! We'll blog again soon!

Better Than Ever

The Tarheels get destroyed, the Yankees are 3-3 and I've been fighting a nasty cold the past few days. So what, I still get a smile every time from Sophie and I swear she can understand me when I vent about the Heels and how they broke my heart. She is quick to give me an enthusiastic response on just about anything. Sometimes it's directed at her duck or even Maddie, who she has become instant friends with. Maddie just gives a sniff and a lick and Sophie smiles and coos. I'm sure it won't be long and they will be chasing each other around the neighborhood.

The spring signifies the time when almost all things are reborn and starting over again. This is never as true as when it is shared with a child. It seems that every day is filled with a new action or sound. The beauty is how children only see that which is right in front of them. Looking no further than the present. Not worried about what's going on tomorrow or tasks to accomplish down the road somewhere. They're just living in the joy that represents the now.

This philosophy is now my new goal. Work is for work time and everything else is meant to be enjoyed with family and friends. So, if I see you outside of work, I promise not to ask you about it as long as you will reciprocate. Let's make those moments about friendship and family. Let's make those moments about laughter, surprise and enriching the soul. Most importantly, let's give those around us the best of each of us, everytime. Alli and Sophie, this is my promise. And Maddie, too.

First of many visits to Elon and the Beach!!!

Life is good! It's amazing how you feel as though you're seeing everything for the first time when you're looking through the eyes of a child. Never has the sky looked bluer, the grass looked greener, or the beach looked more peaceful. Now that Sophie is becoming more aware of her surroundings- we've begun planning special weekend getaways to some of our favorite places. Granted- she sleeps through a lot of the experience- but that's OK!



So- let us catch you up on our almost 3 month olds latest escapades! The weekend before last we headed to our old stomping grounds- Elon University to catch a baseball game and walk the campus. It was a beautiful day, and Sophie seemed to enjoy it. She travels really well as long as the car is MOVING. As Paul says, the apple certainly does not fall far from the tree. Sophie may look like her Daddy- but she IS her Mommy. This as I'm sure you'll soon see can be both a good and bad thing. =)

Last weekend we took our first beach trip with KK, Sean, Jenn, Rich and her best friend Caitlin! It was Sean's first triathalon, so we went to cheer him on and for some much needed R&R. We stayed at Rich's mom's house in Carolina Beach. It is such a great place! KK, Sophie and I headed down early and- after going through a drive-thru with Sean's bike on top of my car (oops! Sorry Sean!!) and going the wrong direction on 40- KK took over and we got to the beach all in one piece. Sophie traveled great and slept like an angel all weekend. We had a wonderful time. The weather wasn't great- so we did not actually go out on the beach- but we did get a chance to walk around Fort Fisher and saw a dolphin jumping in the waves very close to shore!

A Wink and a Smile

Not surprisingly, this little girl is showing a mischievous side already. For those who know her mother, this seems natural. However, this leads daddy to wonder exactly what she's up to.

For those just catching up, we would like to introduce Sophia Grace. Our beautiful baby girl was born December 12, 2007 and has filled our lives with nothing but joy and happiness since.

Allison and I created this blog for a couple of reasons. The first, obviously, is to keep family and friends up-to-date with all things Sophie. We also wanted an outlet to share our own insights, vent when the time arises and create a working journal to communicate our thoughts, hopes and dreams with Sophie. Our topics may be varied and we encourage everyone to participate in this process with their advice and musings.

I'll lead off with a comment about the most common statement made by people when they find out that you are having a child for the first time. I know you've heard, "Your life is going to completely change.". Seems simple and harmless enough, but I've noticed that people usually say it like they're trying to warn you, not encourage you. The sentiment is understood loud and clear. I certainly felt this way for awhile, but recently I gained a new perspective.

These are the changes I've seen: a wonderful wife add loving mother to her resume, parents hearts melt as they fall in love all over again as grandparents, grandparents cherishing the expansion of the families they've helped build, and a husband admit that he has a new love in his life that has stolen his heart.

I hope this finds you all well and looking forward to the journey we are on.