Another day, another snow...

What a winter! We have had our fair share of the white stuff this year but we have weathered the storms by...

reading books...

baking cookies...

(and eating them!)

going for walks..

playing with toys..

wearing funny hats..

checking Facebook...

reading more books...

building forts...

and going sledding.

Daddy getting Sophia bundled up and...

heading out!

This last storm was really something. Everything looked so beautiful!

Grammy and Pop braved the storm to come visit. They gave us a much needed break from being indoors by giving us a tour around campus.

Going for a ride!

playing in the snow...

eating the snow...

My family

She's GRRReat!

Here's a small sampling of the tiger mania in the Sydnor house! Sophia is ALL about tigers these days! Thanks goes to our friend Jaime for passing along the cute tiger jacket.

Our growing girl...

Trying out the Sweet Briar chair...

Sophia loves books...and making messes.

Sophia in her wheels with Grammy and Pop at the mall in Fredericksburg.

Driving the taxi...

All bundled up and ready to go!

"This hat has got to go!"

Sophia watching a sign language DVD...

coloring...

Meet the newest addition to the Sydnor household, a life-sized stuffed tiger, given to us by a dear friend. Sophia can't believe her eyes!

Sophia reminding me to take my reusable shopping bags...

Sophia loves to play with my dance bag. That's a good sign, right?

Hanging out with Daddy.

Aunt Kate came over for a slumber party...and brought presents!

"Aunt Kate, you're crazy!"

So sophisticated...a mini skirt and a cell phone.

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in awhile...it seems like it's been a challenge to get back in the swing of things after the holidays. I am also busy with my dance classes and choreographing The Producers at WFS. I am having such a great time teaching and I love being able to dance. There is something to be said about being in the theater and preparing for a show...really, there's nothing like it.

We have also been planning a trip to Switzerland and we look forward to introducing Sophia to her extended European family. We leave March 11th and will stay for 7 days. While we are there we will celebrate Raph's 32nd birthday!

And now, onto Sophia...our little pint-sized wonder. She really amazes us these days with all that she can understand and communicate. Sophia is signing over 30 words and that count grows by the day. She can say "Mama", "Dada", "Pop" (my Dad loves that one!) and "Boo". Sophia studies all that's around her and is so observant. She can point to her body parts and is working on her animal sounds. So far, she can "moo", "meow", and click her tongue for a squirrel. She points, waves, blows kisses, and is really starting to imitate what we do. For instance, every time the phone rings she holds her hand to her ear and tilts her head. She is so much fun!

A visit from Grand Pierre

Three generations

Sophia helping Daddy with his game tradegy...

Reading bedtime stories...

Sophia not looking too sleepy...

Grand Pierre is pretty funny!

Taking Sophia for a ride...

Sophia and Grand Pierre making beautiful music together (Sophia is playing a giant lego!)

Dining on wooden fruit.

Raph's Dad, Pierre-Maurice (aka Grand Pierre), came from Montpelier, France to stay with us for a week after Christmas. Pierre-Maurice visited us this time last year when Sophia was just shy of 2 months old. Needless to say, Sophia has grown up so much in the past year and was able to show her French grandfather all that she can do. During his stay, we attended my Grandmother's surprise 80th birthday party, hosted a Christmas party for my Mom's side of the family, enjoyed many meals, and played games. Raph and PM visited several winerys, worked out, and went to the movies. It was a great visit and we hope Grand Pierre comes back to visit again soon!