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This year we spent Christmas in New Jersey with the Sharps. We got to see a lot of family – and Sophie got a second round of presents (lucky baby!). 

 Here we are Christmas morning

 Sophie with her cousin Zoe (we really need to work on that smiling on demand thing…)

The day after Christmas Mayslanding, NJ got 18 inches of snow. We didn’t venture out in it, but rather gazed on from the warmth of the house. 
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Nana, Pap Pap and Becky came up this weekend to celebrate an early Christmas. Sophie got everything that she asked Santa for (he can understand her language) as well as quite a few other things. She also took her first two steps! Aunt Becky is happy to say that they were toward her. Videos to follow.
She tasted each and every box. This one looks like it was especially good.
 Reading among the goods.
Sophie and Aunt Becky at Brad and Joan’s annual tree decorating party.  Very color coordinated.
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On Friday Soph had her 9 month doctor’s visit. We found out she weighs 20.14 lbs, which still puts her in the 90% area for weight. We were also given the go ahead to try and introduce some soy back into her diet to see if she can tolerate it now. Fingers crossed she’s outgrown her colitis issues.

Later that night she spend some quality time reading with dad…

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We spent Thanksgiving down in Virginia. Mom and Dad had a house full and Dave cooked the ENTIRE dinner for 16 people all by himself (well, I checked on some things in the oven, but we won’t count that). 
Here he is with the 22lb. turkey. Thanks to Catherine and Hannah for bringing the meat thermometer or we might have been waiting until midnight for that sucker to cook. 
 Becky and me with Quinn & Carley
 Sophie had some close encounters with Vahid the tortoise. Soon he’ll be as big as she is. 
 On Thanksgiving morning we ran a 5K (Sophie cheered with mom from the sidelines). She probably worked off at least one piece of pie… maybe. 
 Sophie had her first taste of turkey.  From the looks of it she seems to like it. But we haven’t actually found a food that she doesn’t like. 
 We went for a hike on Friday. 
The Coughlin clan 
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This weekend we decided to escape the city and head to the mountains. Unfortunately we missed peak season for fall leaves, but it was still beautiful. On Saturday we did a 5 mile hike that was pretty flat, and on Sunday we did a shorter 3 mile hike that was very hilly. Dave did the brunt of the heavy work – with Sophie on his back the whole time.

It was chilly out so Sophie was suited up properly

One of the more challenging hills

Benson enjoying the view

Sophie can now pull herself up and does so every chance she gets. She’s quite proud of herself here. 
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For the last week or so Sophie has been on the move. Mostly she’s after Benson, but in this short clip she’s after one of his toys (yuck). Although we have what seems like hundreds of toys around the house for her, his seem to be much more interesting.
Click here to see her go!

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Last weekend Sophie’s 2nd cousin (I think) turned 2! They had a little party for her at a park in New Jersey. She got to hang out with a lot of family. 
Here’s Sophie & Zoe (she was happy, despite the deer in the headlight look here)
Shannon had a blast. Here’s the birthday girl with her mom Danielle. 
This was the first time Shannon & Sophie met. Shannon was really cute and kept touching her face and arms and feet. It’ll be great when Sophie is a little older and they can play! 
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