Reporting Live from Chez Thompson

Sophia discusses how she feels about being dressed as a Mummy for Halloween.

Solo Mio

5:00 p.m.: It's my first day flying solo with Lady Sophia, and I can't really remember what I did besides one load of laundry (haven't stuck it in the drier yet, though), open a bottle of Merlot (yep, drinking alone), and pick a booger out of the bambina's nose (with my bare hands).

Living Up to His Title

I feel as though I have the best doggie AND best daughter in the whole wide world. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that Brutie would love the new addition to our family - he's always been great with kids. And that promise we made while I was pregnant to love him just the same when the "new human pup" moves in has stuck. We still make time for cuddles and belly rubs, and allow him to feel as close to Sophia as he wants. So sometimes all I can say to her after a snort from her Big Brother Brutus is, "Sophia, you've been SLIMED!"

 This just might be love at first sight:

2 Weeks, 7.75 Pounds

Sophia, do you know what today is? Today is your Dad’s and my third wedding anniversary. As I write this, three years ago today we said our “I do’s” and were on our way to the reception in a white stretch limousine, drinking champagne with your wee cousins. Does that say something about our future parenting skills that we gave champagne to our junior bridesmaids who were barely 10 years old? It was only a sip, and that moment sure was something to celebrate! I’m pretty sure we’ll be the same way with you.

Three years later, you are here and two weeks old. All 7.75 pounds of you. Imagine our surprise on your birthday when the doctor’s announced, “It’s a girl!” You see, we decided not to find out your gender during your 20-week ultrasound. Really, there’s no better gift in this world than to find out if your baby is a boy or a girl at birth. So, during my whole pregnancy we thought you were a boy. I was so confident in that feeling that I barely looked at girly things, which was so hard! We might have dreamt about you doing “manly” things in the garage, like fixing motorbikes and tinkering on a soap box car with your Dad, but you’ll probably still do those things anyways. (Did you know that your Dad loves you so much that he would actually consider a PINK banana seat and HOT PINK paint on one of his rebuilt motorbikes if you asked?) What I didn’t think about was lace, and organza, and silk, and doilies; ruffles and frills and braiding your hair. Castles and white horses and future prince charmings. Teaching you how to bake or knit or sew or play music. You are a girl!

By the way, that future “prince charming” thing has your Dad totally freaked out! You should probably know that every prince, in your opinion, will always start out as a toad to us. That’s the way it works, Lady Sophia. Also, the white horse will be played by your personal bodyguard and big brother, Brutus. Sophia, when he hears you cry he wants to comfort you and kiss you and snort all over you. When a friend holds you, they must get the Brutie sniff of approval. When I change your diaper and you finally smell fresh and clean again, he gives me the “Brutie thumbs up.” If he hears you cry from across the house he runs to be with you. His new mission is to look after you.

So, these things I know for sure about you in the two weeks we’ve known each other:

• You have beautiful hands, with delicate long fingers. With that we imagine you could be a doctor or a pianist.
• You don’t like having your arms bundled in blankets, and sometimes sleep with them stretched out around your head.
• You have an entire repertoire of chirps, squeaks, hiccups, sighs, snores, peeps, cries and smiles – and I know what each little noise means.
• Your nicknames are endless: piglet, stinker, and treasure; peanut princess, Lady Sophia, schmoopie, missy, and happy.
• You are stubborn, determined and strong.
• You are very observant and quiet.
• You are wrapped in an amazing circle of people (and one awesome doggie) who adore you.

Two weeks sure does change a life, huh?

Click here for photos of our little doll.