Sophia Playing and Talking

Well, I am finally posting something again! I'm not sure I'm even going to try to make up for lost time. I guess we'll see how I feel the rest of this week. We had a good time last week in Christchurch at the youth camp where Travis was speaking. Sophia loved all the attention. She had great fun playing with lots of new people, but by the end of the week was quite happy to spend all her time with Mum, which was a bit tiring for me. :) We've all slept quite a bit since being back in Auckland. We heard from others that Travis did a good job (but we didn't hear much of it first hand as someone is just a bit distracting).

This video is just something I took while we were playing after dinner tonight.  Aunt Josie made those bean bags for Sophia for her birthday.  At first she wasn't quite sure what to do with them, but now she finds them all in her toy box and throws them and goes to get them and throws them, etc.  It's a great game she'll play by herself for quite a while.  Thanks Josie!  That is how she crawls, by the way.  She does her little bum shuffle.  She's never really gotten the hang of real crawling, but that does not seem to slow her down at all!  

One Month Later...

I will be back to post some of our latest adventures, really, I promise! I can't believe I haven't posted in a month! Our friend Jordan has been here for the past while and we've had great fun with him. Travis, Sophia, and I head to the South island for a youth camp in a couple of days so we will be away from civilization for a week. I will get my photos organized and get posting when we return. Just so you know, it was very strange having Christmas when it's warm, but it was great to have a barbeque and go to the beach. Very relaxing! We did miss all the family and friends though.

Sophia's Birthday

Well, I'm only about a week behind in this post. Most of you know I have not been feeling good at all because I'm pregnant again! Crazy! I am about 10 1/2 weeks along now. I'm really hoping this morning sickness will end with the first trimester, but we shall see. Now for some more pics of Sophia's 1st birthday (Travis already posted some).

We didn't want to make too big of a deal about this birthday, but I did make her a sign and a hat.  I did not, however, make her a cake.  I had the flu a couple of nights before her big day and could not function enough to get a cake made so Travis went to the store and bought a couple.  That's why there's no photo of a beautiful cake!  Maybe next year. As you can see, it was around Sophia's bedtime when the party started, so she looked a little dazed.

She was not impressed with some of the activities of the evening.

She was wondering what this song was that we were all singing to her.

She didn't even want to eat the cake at first. Travis put a bit of icing into her mouth, and then it was all over. Unfortunately, she didn't make that much of a mess! For once she was a fairly neat eater. Oh well. 

She was happier after her sugar rush.

She was happy with her presents from the few party guests.

Catching Up

Wow, this is LONG overdue! Finally, here are some photos from our trip to the states for my sister's wedding. Unfortunately, I left my camera at a friend's house accidentally (Sophia took it out of the diaper bag and it got stuck somewhere out of sight) so I didn't take any photos the day of the wedding. :( I will have to get some from my sister to show you.

Sophia really enjoyed being in the bassinet while she was awake on the plane because she could look out and see everyone.  She is so social.  I don't think anyone was looking at her, but she was looking around and smiling at everyone and laughing.  

On our flight from Chicago to Grand Rapids.  She was so tired by this point because she had slept about 6 hours in the last 24.  She fell asleep on the woman next to me.  Thank God for nice people next to me!

My sister tried on her wedding dress for me and my mom a few days before the wedding, and I tried mine on too!  It was a bit difficult to zip around the ribs, but we got it.  :)  I'm just glad mine wasn't tight around the waist.  I love my sister's dress!  It's very beautiful and so her.  It was also really nice that it didn't have a train because then I didn't have to mess with it at all during the service.  :)

Sophia dressed up as a pumpkin for Halloween while we were in St. Louis.  Thanks to Josie for the costume.  My nephew wore it last year.  

Sophia didn't eat any candy, but she had fun playing with it.  The trick or treaters kind of scared her though.  

Sophia on the Santa Monica Pier on her first ride thanks to Grammy C! She liked this one, but got scared on the second one.  

Not a very good photo, but this is the 4 year old girl who sat next to me on the return flight and she really liked playing with Sophia.  She said she'd like to be a babysitter when she grows up.  She sure kept Sophia entertained!  

I am so thankful we were able to go to my sister's wedding, and also thankful for all the prayers lifted to God on our behalf for safe and sane travels.  

Home?

Sophia and I are settling back into life in Auckland after being gone for almost 3 weeks. I have thought a lot about the concept of home in the last few years, especially since we had moved around so much during a couple of those years. Did I come home to Auckland? Or did I leave home to come back here?

I'm not convinced home is an actual place. To me, home feels more like people who know me and still love me. I could consider Grand Rapids home, because that is where I spent the first 25 years of my life. That is where most of my family is. That is where so much of my history is. That is where I discovered many parts of myself.  That is where some of my best friends are.  

I could also consider St. Louis home. To date, that is where Travis and I spent the majority of our married lives together. That is where we learned so much from school and work. That is where I found a community of Christians I really connected with, and continue to do so, even from across the world.  That is where we had our first child.

Travis asked if it felt like I came home when I arrived in Auckland. I told him I wasn't sure if Auckland was my home, but he was my home. I felt like I was coming home because he is here. I look forward to the ultimate homecoming when I will be with my Jesus forever. He is my true home, and in his father's house are many rooms.

Ahhhhh

My suitcase finally arrived this morning from Rome. ROME! How does that happen? Grand Rapids sounds nothing like Rome. Whatever. I am going to see what American Airlines will do for me for all my trouble. We'll see if they do anything.

My sister got married last night! So, we are all breathing a sigh of relief that the suitcase is here and my sister is married! I would post some photos but I cannot seem to find my camera. No, that was not in the suitcase. It was here, but I am not sure what happened to it. That is so sad! Hopefully we can find it.

Tomorrow Crystal and I are heading to visit Travis' grandparents, along with Sophia. Then I go to St. Louis on Tuesday! Yay! That's about it for now. I have to get some sleep.

Welcome to America!

Sophia went to sleep a little before 9 last night and she did not get up until 11 this morning! Now she's sleeping again. She is doing really well considering what we just went through. :) I went to sleep around 9:30, but woke at 1:30 and was up until about 3. I started to read "The Secret Garden" which I have not read since I was a kid. Very enjoyable! Then I slept the rest of the night and took a little nap this morning.

Sophia, Grandma, and I went to Target! Wooo hooo! Target was always one of my favorite stores, but it's even more now since not having anything quite like it in NZ. I was just so excited and my mom was cracking up at me. I found some shoes for the wedding which were a good price and I'll be able to wear them again. Since my suitcase has still not arrived I also purchased some underwear. But then I just started throwing things in the cart because everything is so much cheaper! I got some tights and socks and stationary and I could have gone on and on, but I thought I would wait. The check out guy asked how I was doing today and I told him I was just really happy to be here because everything was such a good deal. He thought I was pretty funny too. I'll head back some day without Sophia to do some clothes shopping for myself and Travis. I'll get to do lots of shopping if my suitcase never arrives. But I would prefer to get my suitcase.

We also visited Sophia's Great-Grandma today for a little while. She was happy to see Sophia and how much she has grown. The last time she saw her in person she was only 1 month old.

Oh, a little more on the lack of suitcase. I left my planner with all my phone numbers in my suitcase, so if anyone isn't getting a call from me, that's why, so call me at my parent's house. Beckie was over today and was able to go and scrounge some clothes together for Sophia and me so I am now showered and in clean clothes! Yay! Although, my hair is looking pretty crazy because my hair gel is also in my suitcase. At least I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow and I can get some more gel there! I think God is still trying to teach me patience. Please pray for my suitcase to arrive soon. Thanks!