The L.A. Dime

These shots are from a single diaper change as daddy distracted her from mommy using the cold wipes on her bottom. This weekend, maybe for the first time in my life, I’ve grown sick of football. We live across the street from a high school, and on Friday night, you can forget about Sophie going to sleep until the drums have stopped, the lights are off, and every crazy high school kid with a car that has a functional horn has gone home. Even now, at 10:15 on a Saturday Night (great Cure song, by the way), there is some game going on over there with screaming fans. Thankfully, there are no drums.

Special thanks to George Nolte for letting use his awesome lens these past three weeks to capture some wonderful images.

Yesterday, I met Tobey Maguire. He is so unassuming, I didn’t even realize it was him until we were already shaking hands, and he said, “Hi, I’m Tobey.” At that point, I almost said, “Holy Shit, you are!,” but barely managed to keep my cool.

Demand is high for pictures, and because we can’t get enough of looking at her, we’re certain everyone else in the world must feel exactly the same. Sophia had her first bath at home this week, and ended up in a laundry basket in a robe that’s way too big for her. She also took her first trip to Beverly Hills while daddy got a haircut and mommy got Sprinkles Cupcakes for desert. She took her first walk around the park, and she received her first official mail from the best photographer in the world, Melanie Mauer, and a cool Gap Red Collection Inspi(red) t-shirt from Mo-Mo and Dave in D.C. Lots of cute gifts are arriving everyday, including a book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales written in German, tracked down by Shelley. Sophia even received a fancy gift from the head of a division at a major Hollywood Studio.

As a friend of mine who’s wife also recently had a baby noted, the poop is way over-rated, but the lack of sleep is not. We’re doing fine, but I’m glad I don’t have breasts. I constantly crack up as Sophie goes into Great White Shark mode when she sees a nipple. Her mouth goes wide, her eyes roll back, and she thrashes her head back and forth as if killing prey. That’s my girl! I see someone in that face of hers that I know — maybe several people — but I can’t quite tell whom, yet.

After getting home around 1pm yesterday and showing Sophie her new home, she decided to take a very, very, very long nap. That very, very, very long nap was then followed by a not-so-sleep-filled first night at home. She and I spent most of the night eating, talking and rocking…through it all though, I kept thinking about how blessed Brad and I are to have this healthy girl and while I certainly don’t think sleep is over rated, I do know that those kinds of nights will happen and we will survive. Of course, I might eat my words after having had 3 of those nights in a row (when I’m back at work:) ).

I also wanted to Thank all of our family and friends for all the wonderful calls, blog comments, cards, phone calls and visits you’ve shared with us. I felt all of that support and love when I was helping Sophie into the world and am very thankful for it all.

One last note for today, my favorite part (besides just staring at her face) so far has been watching Brad with his daughter. There have already been two very distinct times that I remember where Sophie was screaming and all he had to do was put his hand on her chest and start to talk to her….to instantly get her to look at him and calm down. Simply wonderful.

Tummy time, coming-home outfit from our beloved Me-Me, car seat, boppy, and playing in the sun near the window.

Last night we dressed Sophia up in her U2 onesie to meet some more new friends, including her manny, Jan, then Kelley, Chong, Lupita, Ben, Nancy, and Mark S. In addition to Oma Marion and Opa Manfred the day before, Sophia has met Mark D and Faleena, Aaron and Ama, and Phoebe.

Sophia Elizabeth Kersten Riddell was born at 12:25 PM, Tuesday, September 4. She was 7 pounds 8 ounces and 20 inches long. Mom was amazing. The baby was delivered in less than 30 pushes. She doesn’t look tired at all. Both she and the little one are perfectly healthy. Sophie latched on without a problem. More photos to follow.