At the end of October, Sonia got to travel half way across the country to Cincinnati with Daddy to visit with family and friends, and attend Alison and Kevin’s wedding. She had traveled a number of times with Mommy and Daddy, and twice with just Mommy, but this was the first time for flying solo with Daddy. After 25 total flights in her first 18 months of life, these were probably her last as a “lap baby”.
On the way out to Cincinnati, Sonia was still recovering from her immunization shots and didn’t get much sleep, but was very calm and relaxed the whole way. On the way home she was a lot more active, but was able to get in an hour long nap and was occupied by stickers, books, coloring and eating. Daddy (and all of her fellow passengers) were very happy with demeanor on both flights.
While in Cincinnati, Sonia got to meet a number of Daddy’s friends from high school and college, as well as some of their kids, and visit Nona’s office. Still relatively shy when first meeting new people, but she did warm up and start playing with Owen and Gloria at Eli’s BBQ and with John and Kathy at the Fall Festival.
Two of her favorite activities while at Nona and Papa’s house was playing with the toy zoo train, especially if Papa would make Elmo ride the train, and picking green beans and tomatoes from the garden. This play did result in one of her first real sentences, “Elmo, ride choo-choo train”. This was a small verbal step beyond less complex phrases and she definitely practiced saying it over, and over, and over!
The big event of the week was getting to visit the animals at the Cincinnati Zoo, ride on the zoo train, and attend Alison and Kevin’s wedding. Of course, the zoo and the train were big hits. However, putting on her dress and tights were not. She almost managed to make it through the ceremony, but starting saying loudly “more music” just as the vows started. Although the long day was a little overwhelming, she did enjoy getting to see the penguin, armadillo and owl up close.
While spending a day at Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa’s house, Sonia also demonstrated another level of development. She very quickly learned Kathy and Laura’s names, and used them appropriately to “talk” to either of them. She also would ask for GGpa to come play whenever he disappeared into the house, and always wanted to know where he was.
All in all, Sonia was spectacular for the whole trip. She was her usual fun and excited self, she managed to sleep very well in an unfamiliar bed, and put up with being dragged from place to place to meet new people and see new things. As a small reward, she did get to try ice cream, pizza and Skyline for the first time. Luckily, she didn’t seem to be TOO interested in any of them 🙂
