I'm walking!

That's right! I have been taking a couple of steps on my own here and there, but today, I took 3 steps, then 6, then 8 steps all on my own! (I'm on the tail end of 10 months. I'll be 11 months old in 4 days!) This is me trying to break free past the baby gate. Don't fence me in! It's a great day! It's also Summer Solstice Day too!

Yay! Taking steps on my own is really exciting. I've just about killed Mom & Dad's backs having them hold my hands while I walk everywhere. I won't be needing their help too much soon!

Soooo tired

Tonight, I tried to let Mom know how tired I was by whining and even screaming at one point, but no one took my cues seriously. I was cooking with Mom and Dad tried to keep me up by trying to take me outside, but he didn't even get past the living room when I fell asleep sitting up straight in his arms. Here, my head finally fell over onto Dad. Apparently Mom and Dad thought it was sooo funny that they even took pictures of me. Thanks. A lot.

Dad put me to bed for the first time, ever!!! I require Mama's milk at bedtime, but I didn't care tonight. I'll take Hairy Dad.

Let's play!

Murphy tends to give me lots of space. Whenever I crawl to him, he gently gets up and goes elsewhere. Well, I have finally figured out a way to engage him. I just offer him a ball and...

he gently takes it from my hand! This is great! (Actually, I pick up sticks and twigs outside and reach out towards Murphy and he takes them from me too.)

Can I have it back, please? We did this several times today. Earlier, I even tried to feed him some Cheerios, but he wasn't paying attention. I'll try again tomorrow!

Happy Father's Day!

Today is Father's Day and I got Dad a bicycle trailer! It was fun to ride around with Dad.

What? I have to get out already? I was just getting started! Like my new pink helmet? I picked it out myself. Pink is my favorite color.

Oh, alright. I'll get out. That was a great ride, Dad. Thanks! Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads out there!

The Bellevue Garden Walk

We were a part of our neighborhood's annual Garden Walk and we showed off my garden today! It was very hot, but it didn't keep people away. We set up a table in our front yard and welcomed visitors with candy and cookies!

We had a lot of people come see the garden. We now have tomatoes growing and we've already enjoyed pesto too!

Here is a visitor coming to say Hello to me. It was fun to have so many people stop by and chat with them. Happy gardening, everyone!

Triple Graduation Party!

Hello! We went up to Maryland this weekend to see our family for a graduation party held for Cousins Adrian (high school), Nina (college), and Batch (law school). We always love seeing everyone and the kids!

I'm riding on a rocking horse made by my Great Grandpa John Fontana. Isn't it a pretty horse? My feet even touch the foot rest. This horsey brought out all sorts of giggles from me!

Here we have Cousins Nina and Erin!

Aunt Larissa and Uncle Don were both great hosts. They were so busy putting all the wonderful food, drinks, and desserts together. Aunt Larissa is stopping for a smile!

It was HOT! Here is Aunty Mia and Cousin Erin with Cousin Krissy doing 'door duty' to keep the heat out!

Cousins Stephanie, Jimmy, and Carrie look like they are having a good time! We saw them at my baptism in late March and Carrie and Bennett grew inches since then! Look at the ladies' pretty dresses!

This is Cousin Katie with her pretty dress! I really enjoyed walking around the party (with everyone's help) and following my kid cousins around!

Here is Cousin Erin with a great smile! She had a soccer match that morning and she scored THREE goals!!! What a talented one! Way to go, Cousin Erin!

Here's Mom and I with Cousins Poosh and his wife Erin and daughter Josephine! It's great that Josephine and I are so close in age. Josephine is 8 months old! We first met last year at Thanksgiving!

Here are Cousins Josephine and Erin. Josephine has on a pretty ladybug dress!

Here I am with Cousin Josephine. I pretty much spent the entire day walking around with someone and sweating profusely. (I inherited my Dad's skin/sweat glands.) I had such a great time that I barely stopped long enough to eat or drink. I was too busy checking everything out!

Aren't we cute? See Josephine's pretty ladybug?

All the Fontana/Sample children got together for a group picture. Starting from the top, we have Bennett, Katie, Carrie, and Fulton. Then it's me, Josephine, Andrew, Mackenzie (family friend), and Erin. Those ice cream cones look so good! Can't wait till I can have one!

Here we are again! I am so lucky to have wonderful cousins and family! I love them!

Can't stay away from the pool!

We are nearing record-breaking temperatures here in Richmond this weekend and so we found ourselves at our neighbor's pool again today! Mom and I are catching some evening sun with Stinky the dog next to us.

Ah ha ha ha ha!!! Miss Ashley was tickling me and I couldn't resist the laughter! She broke my serious face, the "Stare Down" as Mom's friend Miss Kathy calls it. I am just doing some serious math calculations in my head. I'm concentrating. (That's the Korean side.) Yes, I am a serious baby!

Hmm. Speaking of calculations, isn't that car parked a little to close to the curb? Oh, Mom and Dad said my bikini top was too tight so I told them that I'd be French today and go topless.

This is my friend Cooper. We met here at Miss Ashley's house/pool and we also go to the same story time at the library with Mr. Rob. Cooper is quite the swimmer and he's not even 2 yet! He's trying to share his Capri Sun drink with me. He's really nice and cute!

Oooh! Can I try some of that juice? Mom never lets me have stuff like that! Hurry! Quick before she notices!!! (Check out his belly! So rotund like mine! Big baby bellies are the best!)

A Floatin' Fontana

Mom and Dad put me in the floatie and watched me swirl around the pool today. Mom held me in the water and said I had lots of buoyancy! I wonder why? Hmm.

Sofia vs. A Case of Beer

Mom went to the grocery store tonight and came back to find us hanging out on the front porch. We were trying to figure out which weighed more, me or the case of beer. The vote was split 50-50. Dad is weighing me on the scale to see how much I weigh. (24 pounds, by the way.) Our neighbors Dave (sitting) and Jay look on.

I really hope the beer weighs more! I'm fretting, can you tell?

And the results are in! The beer weighs 26 pounds! Yes! The beer weighs more than me!!! (p.s. That is a scary shot of Dave, eh?)

My One-Piece

We went swimming again today at our neighbor's pool. It was a bit cool, but we had fun nonetheless! I'm wearing a different swimsuit today. I think I prefer this one over the bikini. This one holds things in a bit better, you know?

Mom is letting me play with a really safe toy...a balloon!

Bikini Season!

Check out my bikini! We spent Sunday at the neighborhood pool with our friends and had a great time. This was my first time in the water and it was great!

Here's Mom helping me walk around the kiddie pool. We even went into the big pool! What a great way to cool off on a hot day!

Lunchtime!

I just wanted to share with you what I have been eating lately. (I'm no longer a fan of jarred baby food.) Pears are my favorite food, then bananas, and green peas. I also like cheese, black beans, corn, carrots, yogurt, Cheerios, rice (the sticky kind), and green beans. I also love gulping down water!