Sophia had her 12-month doctor's visit yesterday.  It was a disaster.  Not because there's anything wrong with Sophia, but because we waited for an hour and the latter part of that hour corresponded to the start of her nap time.  By the time the nurse came in at the end to give the shots, Sophia was already completely pissed off and screaming.  A needle to the leg and another to the arm didn't exactly help matters.  Oh well... in the end we all survived, but this is the first time that I was also in tears.  It just gets really frustrating to see her so upset and know that there's not much I can do about it.  I suppose that, like so many other things, this is just good preparation for my future challenges as a mother.

 

So, her current stats are:

Height:  31.75 inches (still 100th percentile)

Weight:  21 pounds (50th percentile)

Head:  18 inches around (75th percentile)

 

The doctor wasn't concerned by the lower weight percentile given that she's been walking for nearly 2 months now and is super active.  He actually said that long and lean was a good place to be in, so we'll just keep feeding her well.

 

I also got her to pose for a few 12-month pictures yesterday.  Here are a couple that look reasonably cute:

 

 

There were presents, of course!

This present will probably land us in an insane asylum.  It hasn't been given a name yet, but I suspect it won't be a very nice name once one is assigned.  Here's a video of the bunny in action (god help us all... she must have asked us for it 10 times in a row after the initial shock wore off):

(permanent link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8551707000061778551&hl=en)

   

[UPDATE FROM THE NEXT MORNING: Sophia has already learned how to turn on evil bunny by herself.  Esen sums up our reaction nicely, "Oh no... it is the end of civilization as we know it."]

 

Grandma and Grandpa Griffith, the source of this evil bunny, should be very concerned about their own birthday presents this year.  Oh, and they have birthdays in the next two months?  Perfect.  My evil wheels are already in motion. 

 

What did Suzy think of all this birthday craziness?  I imagine her saying, "Is it over yet?"

 

There was lots of playing with Uncle Kaan... reading and general silliness:

     

 

Esen bought Sophia a present... one that everyone except her enjoyed after she went to bed!

 

It was a great day... nice and low-key for the adults, but the best part was this smiling face:

 

Happy 1st Birthday to our dear Sophia Lale!!

I think every mother has probably instructed their child to "open wide" in order to more easily shovel in some food.  But Sophia really takes this to extremes.  They actually make fun of her at daycare because she opens her mouth so wide!  See for yourselves:  (permanent link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7583232242748919997&hl=en)

  

 

I'm sure that Sally and Katie will chime in here... all the Sautner girls can open their mouths this big.  Finally, something that Sophia gets from me!  The upside of this is that Sophia rarely has any food on her face to wipe off and we also rarely use a bib. 

 

In other news, Esen has landed himself a nice tenure track job starting in the fall.  It happens to be in my department, but I don't think his association with me actually did him any good... he earned this one fair and square.  Some have asked whether it will be strange to work together, but we've been in a department together for quite a few years before and I don't imagine it will be substantially different.  I'm devising plans for how I can make him into my coffee wench, but I'm not sure that's going to work out.  They tend to frown on hazing the newbies.  :)

 

We've got family coming in tonight for Sophia's big FIRST BIRTHDAY WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA.  I don't actually have anything extravagant planned.  Good thing she won't remember.  Maybe we can just make a few of the pictures look really awesome and then tell her what a phenomenal bash it was.  Motherhood makes you exhausted and lazy, what can I say?

Sometimes Sophia gets something that she has to grow into.  Most of the time it's clothes, but occasionally she's not quite ready for a certain toy.  After Christmas, when Sophia was really close to walking, Esen and I bought her one of those walking-assistance things with wheels that are supposed to encourage her to let go of the furniture and set out for the open living room floor.  Well, she just wasn't stable enough on her feet (and it isn't a particularly stable toy), so it quickly revealed itself to be a bit of a hazard for her.  We put it into the closet and decided to just let her do her own thing.  Well, I packed up the Jumparoo today (which she's pretty much outgrown and we're tired of having in the living room) and I saw this walking toy and decided to bring it out.  She was flying around with it and really seemed to enjoy it!  Of course, she repeatedly rammed it into things (couch, door, us!), so we're a little worried about what she's going to be like behind the wheel 15 years from now.  :)

(permanent link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1988297212796903070&hl=en)

   

I think most of you know that Sophia wears Robeez shoes, which are all-leather and soft-soled.  That's what most kids wear these days.  Gone are the days when doctors advised putting chubby little baby feet into rigid shoes.  As she's walking more and more, it is inevitable that she'll be doing more walking outside.  At this point, we still either carry her or put her in the stroller when we're out somewhere (on the way to daycare or in the mall, for example).  But I know that very soon our toddler isn't going to tolerate that and she'll want to get out and walk!  One option for a transitional shoe is made by Pediped.  They also make really nice all-leather shoes, but the sole is just a bit firmer leather.  I think that's what makes it "transitional"... it's still very flexible, but seems like it will be more durable for wearing out and about.  Grandma and Grandpa Sautner got her a pair of little white Pediped sandals for her birthday (to match a little red dress that she'll be debuting in her one-year pictures).  She's had them on a few times in the house, but mostly she's just liked to carry them around like a new toy.  For some reason, when I put them on her today they must have felt like magic and we were treated to a little tap dancing routine.  She clearly enjoys the sound of them on the hardwood floors.  :)

(permanent link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4708046580640321899&hl=en)

 Sorry for the jerky images in the middle of the video... sometimes it's just so hard to position myself so that I can capture what she's doing!  By the way, if you happen to watch the video twice, take notice of the look on Suzy's face when Sophia first walks over to the couch.  By this time, Suzy was getting a little tired of having her nap time interrupted and the sideways glare that she shoots Sophia's way is priceless.  I did eventually get Sophia down for a nap this afternoon, but I had to take off the magic shoes first.

 

Many thanks to Ilke and Lulu for the beautiful tulips!

Although the card also wished Esen a happy birthday, Sophia and I claimed them as our Valentine and have decided not to share with him.  :)  Tesekkur ederim!

We just came back from the hospital where we visited our friends Lauren and Maria and their new twins, Evan and Eliana.  These babies were born a full 2 months early and only weigh a little over 4 pounds.  Holding 4 pound babies seems pretty surreal when you have a 22-pound toddler at home.  With Sophia's first birthday looming on the horizon, I can't help but be just a little nostalgic about this past year.  I even went back and looked at some of those first blog entries from March and April of last year.  Videos of her first bath, first smile, and first giggle left me feeling amazed at how much she's changed.  Almost makes you want to do it all over again. 

Sorry I was up so early this morning Baba... I didn't want you to miss out on your birthday morning, especially since it's such a BIG BIRTHDAY!

Seni cok seviyorum Baba!!

 

(Happy Birthday to you, too, Ilke Amce!)

... and all you other tofu-haters out there.  :)

(permanent link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7845432104558562691&hl=en)

   

 

Here was a rare quiet moment today.  I know she looks like a sweet angel, but that's only true about 2 percent of the time!!!

(permanent link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6170339028442881188&hl=en)

I know I said that my blogging was sort of slow because we've had a busy week or so, but there's another reason why you haven't seen much of Sophia in pictures.  Here's what happens these days when I bring the camera out:

 

That's right, desperate grabbing for the camera is what I'm immediately rewarded with.  This leaves me two options: (1) give her the camera and forego any chance at taking any pictures of her, or (2) keep the camera and endure the punishment that follows.  When I'm tired, (1) happens a lot.  When I attempt (2), this is what the resulting pictures look like:

Now are you starting to see my dilemma?  My "February 2008" folder is full of pictures of Sophia making this less-than-attractive face.  I should have taken a video just to share the sweet sound of screaming with you.  :)

 

That said, I have been able to get a few decent shots, too.

(1) Sophia "enjoying" her new red table and chairs from Grandma and Grandpa Griffith (this is her thrilled face):

 

(2) Sophia comtemplating some soccer and perhaps running away from home:

 

(3)  Entering the brave new world of popsicles (only the 100% fruit juice kind, of course!):

I only wish I could have captured her face when she first kind of bit into the popsicle... man, did she ever pucker up... hilarious!

 

(4)  Now that she's super mobile, she doesn't like to let us out of her sight.  She's turning into quite the bathroom stalker... here she's waiting for her baba:

 

(5)  And one of her fairly new cutie-pie tricks is letting us tickle her neck.  She exposes that tender spot under her chin and just giggles and giggles when we tickle her... practically begging for more:

 

Of course, like any good giggly play session, it usually ends in tears.  This one ended abruptly when she hurled her head back in fun and smacked it hard on the floor:

 

And that takes us back where this blog post started... with crying pictures of Sophia.  :)

 

 

I know I have been ignoring you and shirking my blogging duties.  What can I say?  Life is a little insane right now... hopefully it will slow down in the next couple of weeks.  In the meantime, let me at least tease you with a few Sophia updates:

 

1.  She gets cuter and more fun by the minute.  Seriously... every day we are converted more and more to *those* parents (you know, the really annoying ones) who can't help but watch their kid's every move and ooh and ahh about cute she is.  It's just so hard not to!

 

2.  She continues to make lots of progress on the food front.  She's eating cheese (shredded mozzarella is the current favorite... picked up piece by little piece), chick peas, cauliflower, pasta, chicken, tofu, avocado, and more!  She still seems to prefer most things pureed, but is making progress with finger foods.

 

3.  The report from daycare today was that Sophia has stopped watching the fun from the side lines and has joined in the crazy toddler play.  Today, they heard an unfamiliar laugh from the other room and when they went in to see what was going on, Sophia was rolling around on the floor with a little 2-year-old and just laughing her head off.  :)  I take this as a good sign obviously, but I'm sure this also increases the probability that she comes home with bumps and bruises and bite marks.  Oh well.

 

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.  Right now it's time for dinner (and, of course, a little American Idol while we eat!).  Pictures and videos are coming... just as soon as I catch my breath!

Who, Sophia?  Nah... the first baby in our house is SUZY!!  Where on earth would we be without Suzy?  Who would warn us when someone is approaching the house or when something was in the yard?  Who would clean up all the food that Sophia throws on the floor?  Who would snuggle in bed with us every night?  Who would make Sophia laugh and giggle as hard as Suzy can?

 

 

My first baby is at the vet today getting her teeth cleaned.  While that sounds completely harmless, it actually requires that she be put under general anesthesia for a while, which is always a little dangerous.  I'm sure she'll be fine, but I was so sad to leave her there this morning.  She was shaking and looking at me with her big brown eyes... what mama wouldn't shed a few tears?  Be strong and safe sweet Suzy... we all need you!!

 

LATER:  I'm happy to report that Suzy came through just fine and that I can pick her up shortly.  I'll try to get a picture of her shiny white teeth if she's willing to smile for the camera.  :)