Reaching another milestone

This is Sophia's last week at her toddler daycare.  Next Tuesday, she will be joining the "big kids'" (3-5 year olds) daycare.  It will be in the same building as her toddler daycare, but a floor below.  Our commute and routine will be the same.  The main change will be the ratio of staff to kids.  At the infant and toddler daycare, there were four kids to one teacher.  At the 3-5 daycare, there will be eight kids to one teacher.  There will also be a bigger spread in the children's ages in the 3-5 daycare.

Milestones like this highlights how quickly time goes by.  It seems just like yesterday when 13-month-old Sophia started going to the infant daycare.  She handled the transition then very well, and so I am hoping the transition to the big daycare will go smoothly, too.  Three of Sophia's friends from the toddler daycare are moving with her, and having friends around during a time of change is always comforting.

Here are some photos from when she first started going to daycare and from her last picnic with the toddler group a month ago.  Kids grow up so fast!

No more bangs

Prior to 2007, I was still a little girl when I last had bangs.  But I was looking to change things up a bit in the spring of 2007 so I decided to go for it.  I really was not sure if I was going to like it or not.  I liked it enough that I kept the bangs until 2013.  Earlier this year, mainly due to laziness about going to get my hair cut, I started growing out my bangs.  I just put it up with a clip, not caring much if I looked funny with a clip on my head or not.  I just didn't want the hair on my face.

Now, it is official.  My "bangs" are chin length and really wouldn't qualify as bangs anymore.  No more bangs.  We'll see how long I last...

Birthday #3

We recently celebrated Sophia's third birthday.  The celebration lasted throughout her birthday week, first with a family BBQ at the park, then a cookie treat at her daycare, and finally a birthday party at our local community centre.  She was quite delighted by all the attention and, of course, the presents from everybody.

The Low's and the Lorico's do not get together very often.  In fact, the last time Ed's dad and my mom saw each other was at our wedding ten years ago.  So it was such a treat to have both families present for Sophia's birthday picnic at the park.  We held it at a park in Richmond that had a water spray park, a playground and a picnic area.  The day started out cloudy but by noon, the sun was out in full force.  Our close friends the VanDops also joined us for the picnic.  Sophia loved having her friends Aves and Joshie with her at the park.

With Nanay and Gong Gong

Candles out

A week later, we had a party at our local community centre and the invitees were mainly Sophia's friends from daycare.  The gym was transformed into a play area with a bouncy castle, ride-on toys, hockey nets, and an assortment of toys. The kids had so much fun playing and running around the gym.  After the play time, we headed to a party room for some lunch and cake.  Sophia asked for a chocolate Mickey Mouse cake and was quite excited about it.  Not sure if she didn't like how it tasted because she hardly ate it.  Oh well.  And thanks to our friend, Josh, for being the photographer during the party.

This was the first time for us organizing a kids' party and it was a lot of work!  I found the loot bag the most stressful, just because I didn't know what to put in it.  I didn't want to fill it with junk but I didn't want to overspend, either.  Then all the work on the day of the picnic and party, transporting the food, drinks, and other stuff we needed.  It was pretty exhausting.  But, of course, seeing how happy Sophia was made it all worth it.

Happy third birthday, our darling baby girl.  Mommy and Daddy love you very much!

Pics from Drumheller

Drumheller, July 2013, a set on Flickr.

Pics from Calgary

Calgary, July 2013, a set on Flickr.