New words: Pretty, sun, I spy
They can imitate: Crying, laughing, cranky, surprise, dancing, Stinky.

How do I love you? Let me count the ways.

How do I love you?
Let me count the ways.

I love you on your very best
and very worst of days.

I love the way you read your books
I love you little talks
I love when you make animal sounds
And wear unmatched socks.

I love you when you are dancing
I love to hear you singing
I love to see you smile
It is so very heart fulfilling

I am happy when you are happy,
I am sorry when you are sad.
And even though it may not show,
I love you when you are bad.

How do I love you?
Well, now, let me see…

I love the way you look when you are sleeping
I love your peaceful sounds
I love when you wait at the window for me
With smiles all around.

I love your kisses and laughs
I love to watch you play
And though I’m sure you’ll never know,
I love you more each day.

How do I love you?
It is impossible to say.

For it I had a million days
And time enough to all the praises,
I couldn’t tell you all the ways…

I love you.

Written by: P.K. Hallinan with a hint of Monica Smith

Today after dinner Sofia, Alessandra and Olivia were dancing to Barney's songs. Alessandra was jumping around and dancing and doing her own thing. Sofia and Olivia were holding hands and dancing together. It was the cutest thing and I just can't believe I didn't have my camera. Sofia had this smile on her face looking up to big cousin Olivia... It was priceless! This is the first time they show so much interest in playing with Olivia. Too cute!
This summer will be fun!

1st snow storm this winter 2/14/2007

Mommy, my hand is very cold!
Both girls enjoyed playing outside, but Sofia likes to be panpared inside with the heat on!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's day was a Wednesday and we went to Nanie and Papa's house for dinner. After dinner, Baby Chase, Olivia, my sister and I went ballroom dancing with Papa. We had a great time! Sofia and Alessandra

Happy birthday Tio Xande!

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday Tio Xande!
Happy birthday to you.

We love you!
------------------------------
Update: Its Bath Time! (as Sofia Says : Izz bah bime!)
The girls still takes a bath in a toodle/Baby bath tub. Alessandra does not like when the water is on because it splashes on her face. Sofia loves the shower on. She likes to feel the water fallen on her hands and feet. She tries to grab the water and looks up to find where the water is coming from. Sometimes she puts her head under the shower.
There is a ball I keep in the bathroom closet. Every time at bath time, Alessandra remembers the ball. She asks me to "open" the closet, pick her "up" and asks for the "ball". She is really trying to use her words.

Singing
The girls really like to sing and dance. The new thing is to sing the "Elmo's World". So funny!

We are back to Gymboree for the winter. We take classes Saturday morning.

Princesas do Castelo Smith

Pincesa do coracao da mamae

Espelho, espelho meu, existe alguem mais linda do que eu?

Sponge

2/3/2007 New words : Ernie, Gymbo, quiet please , pretty
2/1/2007
Sofia and Alessandra are little sponges lately. Every day they surprise us with all of the things they know. They have a book with pictures of first words (cat, dog, cup, duck, boy, girl, flower, banana, apple, orange...). If you ask for the object they will open the page were that object is. Alessandra will say the word if you ask, but mostly, only mommy can understand. Alessandra loves this game. Sofia is more interested in reading the book on her own, she wants the book in her lap and she flips the pages. They know all body parts. Sofia is a little grunter. Alessandra is really trying to use her words. They pretty much understand everything we say. It is amazing how a couple months can make such a diference.
New words (last month): Diaper, Zoe, Cookie, Elmo, up, open

1/22/2007
Sunday (yesterday) at dinner at my in-law's house, Sofia kept of offering Chase some food. Pasta, chicken, peas. Then Chase started to cry, so Sofia gave a hard look to the sippy cup in her hand and offered to Chase. My little angel is so generous and so caring and so loving! Friday I pretended that I was crying, Sofia got so upset, she started to cry so hard. I had to hug her and show her that I was ok, before she was able to settle down. They both get very upset when the other cries.

Alessandra is fascinated with Pharoah, Boo-boo and Chloe. Especially Pharoah. At my in-laws she is always looking for Pharoah. When she is in the high chair and Pharoah comes in her direction, she gets all excited and laughs.
At Gymboree Saturday, Alessandra was not herself. She is usually into everything, climbing everything. Saturday, she was not so active. She puked Saturday night in her crib. I didn't notice it until Sunday morning. I when in her room took her out of the crib, and put her back in it with the light off, so I never noticed she had puked. She is coughing and has a runny nose.

Sofia at Gymboree found a new Friend. Her name is Julia. She is 11 months older then the girls. Sofia kept on giving her balls of different colors and asking for the ball back. Sofia comes in quiet absorbs everyone and decides who she would like to play with.

This morning they learned "Hot". I touched the heater and said "Hot". They did the same.

1/19/2007
The other day I was looking at the girls all dressed up in pants. It is so funny how baby clothes now days look so much like adult clothes. they look so grown up and independent. They can express themselves, follow directions and speak a few things. Time went by so fast! "Dear Lord, please give me wisdom to raise my kids!"
Sofia escolhe a roupa que quer vestir, senta na sua frente, da o pe e a roupa para voce vestir nela. Ela te olha bem seria, she means bussiness!
Comprei maior para as meninas. E tava esperimentando na Alessandra primeiro, Sofia morreu de chorar, puxando a roupa dela querendo tirar e procurando no quarto se tinha um maior para ela tambem. Quando coloquei o maior nela, ela ficou toda feliz desfilando na frente do espelho. Para tirar depois foi um sufoco.
Sofia adora o Chase, ela beija, fica olhando com uma ternura, depois suspira... Imita o Chase, se ele tiver deitado de bruxo, ela deita de buco do lado dele. Too funny. Beija o tempo todo.
Alessandra e minha macaquinha, ela quer brincar num cantinho. Esconde atraz no sofa, atraz da porta. Vira os brinquedos de cabeca para baixo para entrar dentro. Enpura a cadeira perto do light switch, sobe e fica ligando e desligando na pontinha do pe. Ontem 1/18 comecei Time out. Eu falie para ela nao subir no baby sofa. O baby sofa e so para sentar igual uma lady. Ela fez de novo varias vezes. Teve uma hora que resolvi e levei ela para o berco dela. Acendi as luzes, abri a janela, tirei tudo do berco e coloquei ela em pe no berco. Disse que ela tava de time out e deixei ela sozinho um minuto. Quando ela deceu, ficou uma santinha. Foi milagroso. Hoje de manha a Carol (Babysitter) teve que fazer o mesmo. Ela disse que funcionou. Gracas a Deus!
Alessandra ta falando um bocado de coisa, Sofia fala menos, mas entendem tudo. They follow instructions, se pedeir para pegar as coisas, ou limpar as partes do corpo.
Ainda adoram brincar de peekaboo.

We went on a play date on Wednesday. Elas entraram na casa e nao conheciam nimguem. Sofia ficou em pe do meu lado nem moveu. Alessandra saio correndo para um bookcase do outro lado sala para pegar um Elmo que tava no alto. Minha macaquinha sem resitar comecou a fala "Elmo" e subir no bookcase para pegar o Elmo.
They are both very happy babies and we are very blessed.
I tried soy milk after Christmas, Alessandra got a little sick, so I stopped. I will try again soo.


1/16/2007
Hoje eu comprei maior para elas para o verao.
Antes de tomar banho a noite eu vestir elas com o maior. Sofia se olhou no espelho e se achou linda. Ela sorria, e se olhava no espelho o tempo todo. Ate chapeu colocou e ficou se admirando no espelho. Chorou ate quando eu tirei. Alessandra tambem gostou do maior, mas acho que a Sofia e mais chegada a essas coisas. Ja tem tempo que ela escolhe o que quer vestir e calcar. Pode uma coisa desta? :-)

1/15/07
se cantar a musica baba black sheep, or the wheeles on the bus, or dum ditty dumm Alessandra pega o livro que coresponde com a musica.
Sofia muito enteresada no primo Chase. Quer beijar, abracar e imitar.
Alessandra brinca com o Ferol.
as duas miam para boo-boo
new words
teeth (teetee)
cookie (coocu)
outside

1/12/2007 new words:
sox, shoes, stuck, open (abre), shush, apple,outside, dora, elmo, nigh-nigh, help, abre, alice
they know:
shimmer, Angelina balarina, hand, foot, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, eyes, hair, belly button

January 2007 - Sofia saying "Baby"

January 2007 - Sofia saying "Baby"

15 months Sofia Shoes

15 months Sofia Shoes

Our beautiful babies - Sofia and Alessandra

12/18/2006
1st trip to book store/Sofia's first tantrum in public
Friday 12/16/06 I took the girls (with the babysitter) to Barnes and Noblesfor the first time. They had a great time. There were some kids size chairs that the girls seemed amused to see something their own size. They also had a train table that they seem to like playing with. But the most fun of all was to pick up the books on the shelves. Sofia could recognize some of the books we have at home. They were running all over the place. At one point I tried to stop Sofia from running and she threw herself on the floor and started to cry. This is the first time this happened in public, it really took me by surprise when I didn't know how to react. At home I would normally ignore it, but I didn't know what to do in public. I need to get some advice on that.
On Saturday we went to the pet shop in the mall. The girls really loved to look at the birds. Sofia was so exhausted she felt asleep at 6:30pm till 7:30am. Of course, she did get up a couple of time in the middle of the night for a drink.
Sunday, we went to the in-laws for dinner. They danced and ran and had a great time. It is so funny when they try to jump or skip. They are amazed by Baby Chase, they just want to kiss him all the time.

11/20/2006
12 meses
mom mom
dada
wow
tchau, bye-bye
Shsh
Na na
13 meses
auau
ball
nice
14 meses
nose
mouth
eyes
lights
melao

9/15/2006
From 8/9/06 till 9/8/06
Sofia and Alessandra just turned one last Saturday. Sofia is about 19.5 lbs and Alessandra 22.5 lbs. Last month was the first time they got a little sick, but they felt better in a couple of days. They each have 5 teeth. When we come home from work, they come running to give us a hug. Alessandra blows kisses and kisses her dolls. Sofia shows one finger, when asked how old she is. Alessandra imitates the dogs barking and tries to sing along to her favorite song. They both love to dance. They love to play with shapes and colors and are getting very good at puzzle games, especially Sofia. They are each other’s best pals. They love playing pee-ka-boo and going down the slide. We had a wonderful 1st year, with lots of 1st. Looking forward to toddlerhood and all of the milestones to come.

9/12/2006
It is so surreal how our lives have changed in the past year!
Alessandra and Sofia are so big and so independent.
They both say mom, da-da. They each have 5 teeth. Walking is 2nd nature to both of them. They love going up the climing all and down the slide that nannie gave them and playing out side around the sandbox.
Alessandra blows kisses, kisses her doll, says "au-au" imitating the dogs.
For their birthday, I let them eat everything they wanted including their birthday cake. They certantly liked that.