A New Kind of Bath

There hasn't been as much going on this wek. We spent a lot of time just hanging out at home. The two teeth are still there. You can almost see them when he smiles. He had gotten pretty quiet for a couple of weeks but he found his voice again and talk sto himself and anyone who will listen all the time now. Dunkin has found his new favorite job...being Tommy's Mommy. He cleans him, goes to him when he cries, and everything else his paws will handle Rolling continues to be Tommy's primary form of mobility. He's getting better and better at it every day. He continues to think about crawling, just hasn't put it all together yet

Dunkin Taking Care of Tommy

The expressions of a 6-monther

We are always spending time trying to get that perfect shot. And usually the first thirty are a waste. But all of a sudden when you see them all together, it looks pretty funny.

I can't eat another bite!

What 'u lookin' at?

OMG!

Hey baby!

Not the bottle...Don't take the bottle!

Just like the puppies

Happy Mother's Day!

In celebration of Tommy's 6 month birthday tomorrow, we had a home photo shoot. And here are the results.

Bath Time

Surf's Up

Beach Bum

Nap Time

All the Sopko Babies

Busy, busy, busy...take 2

Don't let that bubbly face fool you because this one really knows how to wail. Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday night this week were ridiculous! He was only asleep for about 2-3 hours at a time. All night long. But we finally got to the "root" of the problem on Thursday. Tommy's bottom two front teeth finally popped through (LHS first).

The lack of sleep and usual weeknight schedule has kept us quite busy and away from the computer. But that didn't stop a lot from hapeening all week. Sunday morning, we hit the grocery store & Lowes circuit for various supplies and we ran across the most wonderful sight...The World's Largest Grill from Johnsonville! Tommy's first trip of many.

Sunday evening we had the v-ball crew over for the season's first cookout. Tommy hung out on the deck and trampoline taking it all in. The puppies only got one brat out of deal since they're on a diet.

Tommy & Jason hanging on the Deck

Tommy Hanging On the Deck

Monday night we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Mark, Lindsey, & Wang at Jalapenos. Margaritas were flowing. Monday was aso a big day because we switched over to size 3 diapers. Much more room and hopefully more absorbancy. Tuesday night we met up with our friend Troy from OSU to catch up on everything with him. He is getting married this August, moving to Chicago afterwards and is going back for his MBA this fall. Now he has a busy life! Wednesday was v-ball. Katrina hung out with Tommy through the game, evil front tooth and all. Thank goodness for Baby Tylenol. He still wanted to chew on everything including her sweatshirt strings, her fingers, and even her socks.

Tommy & Katrina at V-ball

Thursday night we finally stayed home and had dinner in his very own high chair. That entire effort is still a complete mess. Tommy is a very good helper and trys to help himself to his spoon each and every bbite. Unfortunately he hasn't figured out the useful-ness of the handle end just yet. On Friday, Jess and Adam were in town for a wedding and we were able to meet up with them for dinner. They saw Tommy last January when we were in Colorado on our snowboarding trip but he spent a lot of the night sleeping. So this time he was much more interactive.

Tom, Tommy, & Jess at Logan's

Saturday and Sunday we had a big wakeboarding/camping trip planned with Troy and Amy. But Mother Nature wasn't in favor of the whole thing as a big storm came in last night. So we canned the camping portion of the outing and headed over to Lake Clinton for a day of wakeboarding. Temperature was between 65 and 70 most of the afternoon and the water was between 70 and 80 depending on where we were at in the lake. This was Tommy's second boat trip but we did have a first-timer along. Troy and Amy's new dog Vettey had her vary first boat trip ever. Her lifejacket didn't come in in time, so he didn't get to jump in the water, but she had fun hanging out on the boat. Tommy and her are about the same size and they had fun giving each other kisses.

Tommy Checking out the Boat Floor

Vettey's First Boat Ride

Busy Busy

It's been a while since I've gotten anything added and I know the T3 fans are getting anxious about it. So here goes with what we've been doing for the last couple of weeks.

We had to get a new vehicle when we got the puppies so it is only reasonable that we would get a new ride once T3 hit the scene. So after much research, a fair amount of "debate" we settled on an F150. It's an '06, low miles, and pulls the boat great! And the rear windows are nicely tinted so Tommy doesn't get mad at the sun poking through at him anymore :)

Tommy's Pimp New Ride

So now with the new ride we needed to get the boat out and tow it around some. Fotunately, there's a nuclear power plant nearby, ergo warm water, so we could take the boat there and get a chance for Tommy to take his first boat ride. We headed over last Saturday on a balmy 62 degree day and dipped the wakeboards in for the first time. With wetsuits on, it wasn't too uncomfortable in the water. Tommy did really good all afternon hanging out with Amy.

Tommy and Amy in the Boat

We also had to get a new toy to start off boating season this year. Tom had to have a trampoline so he could practice his wakeboard jumps and flips. It serves a dual purpose though since Tommy likes it too. He giggles and smiles when he goes up and down on it!

Tom & Tommy Chilling on the Trampoline

And lastly, we had a baby shower last night for Trent and Amy. Tommy got to play with his friend Dax. And he got act as a twin "sit-in" so Trent could practice holding twins.

Tommy, Trent, & Dax

And in the meantime Tommy's been working on his food repertoire. We've gotten through almost all of the stage 1 foods. Green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, peas, applesauce, peaches, pears, & bananas. We're skipping prunes because that seems like cruel and unusual punishment. Tommy is starting to sit up. He gets about three seconds in a tri-pod position before he tumbles to one side or another! Everything in the world ends up in his mouth. Hair, hands, book, doggy tails...you name it, he's gummed it. No teeth yet but they're still coming...we've got the drool to prove it. And the biggest news is that Tommy has graduated from the sling in his bathtub sitting/reclining in his blue bathtub. A little practice like this and he'll soon be in the big boy tub.

Rubber Ducky Fun

Just a fun evening at home waiting for the pizza guy. Whose toy is it going to be???

Tommy & His Ducky

Dunkin, Tom, Tommy, & Gracie

Tommy Smiling

Who Gets the Ducky?

MMM...Green beans!

The rice and oatmeal have now both been "accepted" by Tommy so it was time to expand his repertoire. And considering Tom's "fondness" for beans it seems fitting to start the little one off with them.

Brian & Tommy

First Taste of the Green Stuff

Exhausting Work This Eating Thing

Tommy and his First Veggies

Sleepy Days

After all the car shopping and fun, we all needed to rest up. Here's Tommy "watching" Daddy play volleyball. We had a great afternoon at the courts catching some rays and enjoying the nice spring like weather.

Tommy at the "Beach"

Tommy Catching Some ZZZs in the Car Seat

First Hockey Game

Well this was another fun-filled weekend. On Friday night we went to the auto show to check out some vehicles. Between the puppies and Tommy we just don't have quite enough room in the jeep...so we're looking at BIGGER vehicles. Either a large SUV or a truck with a cool bed cap. We'll have to see how it plays out. So Saturday we went to the car dealers to see what they had in person. Tommy got to ride in his first Expedition. He seemed to enjoy it.

Saturday night we used our free tickets to the Riverman game and enjoyed the evening with Trent and Amy. Below you'll see all the fun Tommy had at the game as well as at OC before-hand.

Tom, Tommy, and the Riverman Guy

Tommy and the Rivermen Players

Tom and Tommy "Flying"at O.C.

Puppy McLovin'

Well March was in like a lion and out like a lion. But spring is just around the corner so we should be outside enjoying the warm weather anytime now. In the meantime, we;ve just been doing our normal thing. We've been out three times this week where Tommy sat in a highchair. And he's been sitting at the big boy table at school too!

Tommy and Dunkin are becoming better and better friends. Well Tommy might think so, but Dunkin has other ideas sometimes. Turns out that Tommy is really into pulling hair...including the dogs'. We'll have to see how long that lasts. But in the meantime we've got kisses galore.

Tommy & Gracie

Dunkin & Tommy Loving Each Other