one month later....

Time has been going by quickly. Sofia is growing and growing. She now crawls when she feels like it. She likes to butt bounce to get her from place to place. She is still a happy baby. Her cough is finally gone but I caught something. For the past week, I cough and cough. Then when I am done I cough a little more. Christian is starting to sleep on the couch.
Last Sunday we took Sofia to the park. She was a little confused by the swinging but enjoyed it in the end.
AS far as the rest of us are concerned. Chewy is eating new food and losing weight. He is much happier outside since the weather has turned warmer. He loves being near Sofia. However, since she figured out he has soft fur for her to pull he is keeping a bit more distance between them. Christian is Christian.
I on the other hand am exhausted. It is a busy time at work and being sick doesn't help. I haven't figured out how to fit any me time into my life. I wondered why some women seem to let themselves go after children. I don't wonder why anymore. I am sure by the time I figure out how to get me time, little Sofia will be off to LSU.

The virus that showed up uninvited

I thought I would be spending this post telling and showing about a baby shower my friend, Crystal and I threw this weekend. Ahhh,all star theme, ball park food, nacho station...HOWEVER, Monday evening Sofia started wheezing. Sofia and I went to the doctor on Tuesday, we were given some meds, a nebulizing machine and made an appointment for Friday afternoon. Wednesday, a daycare teacher calls me to ask if I could bring some Baby Orajel for Sofia. She was fussy and they couldn't find it in the meds basket.I didn't leave any at school due to the fact her bottom teeth have broken through. It was after school hours so I rushed over there with a brief stop by CVS for the Baby Orajel. When I came in, Sofia was sitting on another teacher's lap in the rocker looking very pathetic. Gave her the meds, packed her up and brought her home. At home, I gave her Walgreen's version of Infant Tylenol. Everything was great!
Then Thursday morning, she had a fever. I struggled with whether or not I should take her to the doctor. It was ATMS writing at school that day and I had a small group I needed to take. It was decided I would call my dad, take a half day and get an afternoon appointment. My dad would stay with Sofia while I was at work. Thank goodness he is retired! Luckily when I got to work a co-worker told me she would take my group.
At the doctor, they took blood and confirmed she has a virus- bronchiolitis! I spent many hours tracking meds and breathing treatments. As of today she is better but still getting breathing treatments until we go back to the doctor on Friday.
Everything is finally better now that the virus has left our house

***Note added 1/20---I think the virus was hiding somewhere in the house. Christian isn't feeling very swift right now. He bough NyQuil on his way home from work. This could be the story of the rest of my life.







Look! No hands!

Christmas and New Years in a flash

What a crazy two weeks it has been. I can't believe I am back to work on Monday. December flew by.
Christian's sisters came to Texas to celebrate Christmas with his parents. The cousins were all together for the first time. On Christmas Eve they all wore matching pajamas Noelle found.


Christmas morning, Sofia and I went to Mass. She was so happy to be at church. She smiled at the priest when he blessed her during communion. After we got home, I changed her back into her pjs and headed to the Brennan house. Mia cooked Vietnamese soup for brunch. It was yummy! Sofia spent some time eating with her papa and then took a nap with her big mama.



For her first Christmas her godfather, Peter and his sister, Maggie, tried to corrupt my poor little Tiger with clothes from other universities! In the end I think she showed her preference.



Then we rushed home, changed and headed to the Schick house for dinner. We took more pictures.


For Christmas, Santa brought her a chair with her name on it. Right now she has to share it with Chewy since he thinks it is for him. I have to keep a towel covering it whenever we aren't using it for her. If not, Chewy gets in it and sleeps. To get him off of the chair, you literally have to pick him up or shove him off.




New Years was fun. I thought Sofia would sleep at the Castellanos house but no. She proved to be, as her Tia Noelle said, "a true Venezuelan." She stayed awake until we got int he car to go home at 2 a.m. She cat napped at times. She slept through the midnight celebration but woke up shortly after.
She has slept today away. Poor thing has also vomited this morning. She stopped and rested all afternoon. On the way to dinner tonight she spit up her whole feeding. She managed to get all of the liquid under her piddle pad. Christian and I spent this evening taking apart her car seat so we could wash the cover and clean it. I only have one picture from New Year's and it is on Christian's phone. I haven't been very successful with getting photos off of the phones.

With all of the craziness, I realize I did not get one picture of the three of us at Christmas or New Year's together. It makes me a little sad but I know we will have many more Christmases to take pictures together.

Happy New Year! We hope this year brings you much joy and happiness.

A long break and rice cereal

School is out for Winter Break. That used to signal sleeping in for two weeks. Now it means spending time with Sofia and attempting to go back to the gym.
Sofia is eating rice cereal when she has the patience for it. Sometimes she will eat about 15 bites and doesn't want anything else to do with it. The video is a little long. It was also Christian's first time to use the new camera. It was also close to Sofia's bedtime and she was getting sleepy.

Christmas card photo shoot

Last Saturday and Sunday,our little Schick family had some firsts. Saturday night we left Sofia with Fran and Kat from next door to watch Harry Potter. That was the first time, other than daycare, Sofia was left in the care of someone other than family. The girls did a great job. Their dad was also next door the whole time. Sunday, we had our first family Christmas photo shoot with Alex from next door. I just realized we needed each of the neighbor kids this weekend. I am feeling very grateful Steve's kids are great. Alex is a wonderful photographer. He is the same neighbor who took my maternity photos. Originally I wanted to go to City Center, but Christian vetoed that idea. He suggested going to the Galleria. He changed his mind when I asked if he was going to go into the mall on a Sunday afternoon. We settled on the Water Wall. If you are ever in Houston you should check out the Water Wall by Williams Tower. It is a pretty cool free place to go. I am lucky we were able to get a good picture near Water Wall area. I wasn't able to use any of the ones from next to the Wall. Oh well....maybe next year.

Here are some outtakes.



A face I have never seen before on Sofia. Plus do you see the flip flops? I couldn't believe it!!!




It was chilly when the wind blew the water on our backs.


Hand in mouth. Mom remove. Repeat.


I don't know what was on the ground that was so fascinating.


It may appear as if Christian was pulling me back. He wasn't. I was attempting to get my hair out of my face as he tried to put his arm around me. No violence happening.

Thanksgiving week

I had the week off of work but I can't say I got much accomplished. I am more behind than ever. My hats off to those who can juggle a new baby, work, laundry, a tidy house and still have friends.

Some big news...Sofia has pierced ears! I couldn't hold off my sister, Mia, any longer. Sofia was more mad when it happened than anything else. I, of course, cried and cried. Some of my family and friends probably think I am horrible for letting my daughter's ears get pierced at such a young age. I could take offense but it is probably one of the few Asian things I do. Also, Christian is Venezuelan and they pierce ears when the baby girl is days old. So you can think bad things about me,but I think I did pretty well waiting till she was 5 months (according to the week calendar).
Sofia is also teething. Poor thing is fussy,fussy. I finally bought Baby Orajel. It helps her immediately. I was amazed the first time I used it. She was crying and fussing and I rubbed the dosage on her gum..Poof..no more crying.
This week Sofia also had her first stay the night visitors. My dear friends, Shy and Jonathan with their kiddies, came to visit. They were in Texas to visit Momo and Papa. I was able to see Shy, Jonathan and Oliver at night. It was my first time to meet Oliver. He is so cute and sweet. He never fussed! Sofia, on the other hand was showing him how to be a fussy baby.
Even though I did not get a lot accomplished I had a great week.


Our first Thanksgiving photo. Not a great picture but it is as good as it was going to get.


Christian, Sofia, and Susie (Christian's godmother)


Shy and I with our babies.


Sofia and Oliver chillin' out.

Been a long time

I haven't posted in a long time. I am going to try to do better about posting. I plan on working on my December daily this week. I hope to have it done for December 1st.
Sofia is growin and growing. Chewy has recently been fascinated with her hair. He comes up behind her and licks her head where her hair sticks straight up. It is kind of funny to watch. She always has a shocked look on her face with his first lick. He usually can only get two or three licks in before Christian and I are pushing him away. Check back later in the week for some other big things Sofia has done in November.

Carlie and Sofia hanging out by the school library teepee.