Sofia Lu Spjute - 1 Year Birthday Bash!!

Miss Sofia Lu Spjute has turned 1. What a year it has been! A year full of tears, laughs, prayers, aggravations, increased patience, messes, and anything else involved with raising a baby. Sometimes I revert back to my days before kids, just to survive some moments, but looking back over everything I have realized I would do it all over again. Sofi Lu has rocked our world!

This was Sofi the morning of her birthday playing peek-a-boo. She's starting to say words, and they all seem to start with the letter 'b'

Sofi had a low-grade fever all week and was pretty fussy, but we decided to chance having people come over for her birthday party anyway. My cute mom surprised me the morning of Sofia's birthday by telling me she wanted to come up and be with us. We were thrilled!

It was funny to relate back on the day Sof was born and realize the weather last year and this year were pretty much identical - cold and rainy with a hint of snow. It was funny remembering Greg not believing I was in labor, then driving like a mad man to come get me. Me pacing like an angry hippo around our apartment waiting for my hair to dry, then having to straighten it before letting Greg take me to the hospital. What a diva, right? :) Anyway, what a fun day to reminisce! 

Sof was still being a bit emotional on her birthday, so I kept singing, "It's your birthday, you can cry if you want to!!!" at the top of my lungs to her. 

My mom and Greg made it to our apartment at about the same time, just in time to watch my ice Sof's cute little smash cake! I should've gotten better pictures, but the ones we have will have to do. 

Sofi and my mom! It was so fun having her with us on this fun birthday!

The smash cake

Cupcakes for our guests! 

For some reason Sofi doesn't handle people invading her castle too often. She would much rather be at a party somewhere else. Luckily for us (and everyone else) her birthday is only once a year.

She doesn't look too sure of things ...

Sofi didn't handle smashing her cake very well. She has been going through a phase where she does not want to be put down, even in her highchair to eat.

\

But once she realized how yummy the whipped cream icing was on her special little cake, she calmed down pretty quickly.

It's hard being little sometimes ...

But luckily she has her Daddy to snuggle her

It was so fun to have family celebrate Sofi's birthday with us! Even if she was crabby ... I'm hoping that she is a temperamental toddler and a super easy teenager ... one can only hope, right? 

Regardless, we love her and love watching her grow and learn new things every day. My motto holds true: "This too shall pass," as it has. Time has gone quickly and I can't believe how sweet life is.

She reads her books all day. Forget toys!

These balloons go with her everywhere; on the couch, in the kitchen during meals, you name it.

Easter 2016

I love that Sofi is small enough that I don't feel pressure to go all-out on holidays, just because I know she won't remember anything. This year was no different. Our Easter candy was found in a Walmart bag, left on the counter. Surprise!

What a beautiful day Easter Sunday proved to be. We were able to go on a walk before Sofi's morning nap, and it was fun to spend some much-needed time with Greggy.

Can you spot her cute baby tongue sticking out?

Sofi is hilarious and insists on sitting forward instead of relaxing while walking

Toby and April were kind enough to invite us over for Easter dinner. It was soooo good and fun to spend more time with family; Sofi adores her cousins! She was still on her whiny streak though, so she wasn't very pleasant to be around. Oh well, she looked absolutely adorable in her Easter dress!

The many faces of Sofia Lu. All was made well when we gave her back the baby hammer.

Photo cred: Megan

Greg was so proud of himself when he took this picture. I will admit, it is pretty cool. No, it isn't photoshopped.

Easter took on a whole new meaning for me this year. I love that I am able to be with Greg for eternity, but now that I have a baby I can't imagine life without her. What a tragedy it would be if I wasn't able to see her again after this life. I am grateful to my Savior and his all-encompassing love, for this gospel, and for the sealing power on this earth. God is good, and I am grateful.

#Hallelujah

Easter Getaway

Sofi and I took a quick getaway to Cedar City to enjoy the festivities leading up to Easter weekend. Once again, we made it a girls trip while Greggy stayed home to waste his life away in his cubicle. Oh how I HATE busy season!!!!!!!! However, it is nice to be able to escape to Cedar City without feeling bad like I'm abandoned my husband.

Packed, and ready to go!

Sofi was super whiny all week, so she didn't handle the drive down too well. I knew she was just being a pain, so I was prepared with headphones and music. She eventually fell asleep around Nephi and slept until Beaver, which was perfect because we were both in need of a break by then. 

This is Sofi after sleeping for 3 hours, 10 minutes. She slept from 3:30-6:40 pm. Something unheard of for this child, and I learned my lesson that it was a bad idea to let her sleep this long - she didn't go to bed until around 9:30 pm. Oh well, we were on vacation.

Sofi loves blueberries ... and I have no idea how this one got here. She obviously has Greg's talent at
keeping a straight face in a hilarious situation.

All ready for our morning walk!

Great-Grandma's house was perfect to walk to! She was ready to snuggle Sofi :). 

Sofi found grandma's kitty!! They are best buddies.

The girls!

My nephew Dayton was turned 9 while we were down in Cedar, and he wanted to have his party at Fiesta Fun, in St. George. I hadn't been there since Middle School, so a lot had changed. We traveled down with my parents and sister and had so much fun! Between the pizza, go-carts, laser tag, and beautiful weather, that party alone was worth the trip! Sofi was a trooper and didn't go to bed until 11:00 pm - her new record.

The selfie we sent to Daddy

Grandpa Todd on the go-cart. His smile says it all.

Grandpa was a trooper watching the granddaughters while us parents had fun. Sofi wouldn't let go of that
 balloon and carried it around all night.

Grandpa Todd decided to let Grandma have a round at laser tag

My family has a tradition of going to the Virgin, UT park every Saturday before Easter. I haven't been since before I was married, so Sofi and I decided to go. The weather is usually hit or miss, and this year was no different. It was so cold when we woke up that no one wanted to go to the Easer Egg Hunt. Due to the late night, everyone slept in anyway so we wouldn't have been able to make it.

Our afternoon at the Virgin park always consists of flying kites, eating lunch, and ending with the annual Thorley softball game. Sofi had a rough time falling asleep, so she was strolled around in the stroller by my Aunt Janet while I got to play softball. Poor Sofi ended up getting pretty sunburned in the process, which was weird because it was cold and windy. 

This gives you an idea how cold it was - but it eventually warmed up

The city park hasn't been updated - ever - so it still had dirt and a metal playground. It was awesome! Sofi had never played in dirt before, so she was pretty much in heaven.

How scary is that swing?!

Oh Jess ... I have no words. 

I kind of wish I could I could zoom in to see up her nose ..

We got back from Virgin Park, had dinner, put Sofi in the tub, in her jammies, fed, strapped her in her carseat, and we left around 8:30 pm to be home in time to spend Easter with Greggy. It's been a long time since I've traveled that late at night. We arrived home at about 11:50 pm. My wonder baby didn't make a peep. I love that fact that although it has taken 11 months, she has finally accepted her carseat.

Sunburned cheekies!

What fun we have had the last little bit being able to spend some time in Cedar City. I'm slowly accepting the fact that I might not ever be very close to it again, but that is okay because it makes it that much more special when we do get to visit. I can't wait until the summer when we can get the Sofi loaf on the mountain. I really hope she comes to love it the way I do!

Sofi's 1st Bike Ride!

One warm day, Greg was actually home at a decent time on a Saturday, so we decided to steal April and Toby's bikes for the afternoon. What fun we had!

We rode down to the Lagoon trail. There was a group for MORP or Sadie Hawkin's or whatever dance was going on the middle of March, and they were standing in the middle of pretty much the only hill by the Grizzly River Rapids ride. I had so much momentum, I wasn't going to stop - and I told them. I said, "You better move because I'm not stopping." And they jumped out of the way just in time to make cute noises at my adorable baby holding on for her life in the carrier.

When we turned around, Greg wanted a turn pulling the Sofi Loaf.

Sofi needed a snack, so I gave her a graham cracker

Greg and his weird "I'm-not-looking" poses. I can't help but think of the Wicked Witch of the West's theme song "de-duh-de-duh-de-duh" whenever I see the basket on this bike. :)

We survived. Or more importantly, Sofi survived. Notice that her positions haven't changed much between leaving the trail and arriving back at April and Toby's...

I think the graham cracker was used more for a coping mechanism than a snack.

Spring Break 2016 (part 2). Turning 25.

The main reason for going to Cedar this week was because of my birthday. I'll be honest, I didn't want to be alone on my birthday and I knew I would be if I stayed in Bountiful. Greg couldn't promise he would be home early enough to make the day fun, so I opted to spend it with my people :).

My cute mom and Shelby surprised me with breakfast in bed - crepes and nutella smothered toast. They know me so well. I devoured the crepes and Sofi couldn't get enough of the nutella - she is my child after all.

Jess and her kids came up to Cedar to spend the day, and my cute grandma Jolley came down for lunch. Sofi didn't really warm up to her the way I hoped she would, but at least she got to see her. Slow progress ... it just means we need to visit more :).

Hangin' with her buddy Ridge.

Ice cream cakes are a fun tradition in my family. My Grandma Thorley was quite the cook and would make them for all family occasions. The oreo cookie crust has been fought over by more than 1 Thorley in the past.

My mom couldn't find a '2' so I got 2 one's. No, I'm not 115 yet ...

Mint chocolate chip ice cream is my favorite, so I got a mint chocolate chip with french vanilla ice cream cake. I'm debating whether I will make Sofi one for her birthday. They are easy and oh so delicious!

Oh Shelby. There are no words. The little turd stole my 25 year old birthday wish. How, you might ask? She blew out my candles!!! She has started a war. You better believe I won't forget and in 16 years when she's 25, I will be there ...

The next day, my family packed up and headed for Disneyland while Sofi and I sadly had to pack to go back north. I texted Greg one day and said, "We have decided to stay until May. See you in 2 months." I wasn't joking at the time, and I'm still contemplating it. One night he told me, "I don't care what the weather is like as long as the A/C works." You better believe I won't forget that. My 5 year plan is moving closer south ... we'll see who wins.

Cute Greg made me a delicious Nutella trifle thing. It is so rich you can only have a few bites at a time. He is the best :). We went to the Brick Oven Saturday after we got back. Cute Sofi sat like a big girl on a booster in our booth. I love Greg for making my birthday special, even though it was the day after. Birthday's aren't a big deal to him, but they are to me, so I think it's so cute when he makes the special effort. He even hung up the "Happy Birthday" sign. I just love him so much :)

Who do you think missed who more?

What a fun trip we had! I'm already planning on going back down for Easter. There is a fun park in Virgin (the only park in Virgin) where my family congregates to eat lunch, fly kites and play softball. The last time I went my cute grandpa made it around the bases. It's been 4+ years since I've been, so I've decided this is our year. I'm glad we always have somewhere fun to escape to. It makes life bearable having something to look forward to.