SOFIA'S FIRST WEEK

...was very eventful. Everything is an adventure! Our little princess is taking them all in without complaining. She is slowly (very slowly) getting a good rhythm and more awake during the day rather than at night. In all, it was a wonderful week of favorites and firsts.

First trip to our garden

First stroller ride

First car ride - not sure about that yet

 First shopping trip 

First family outing: Weekend brunch with long missed friends. 

Samu's favorite recent PhD graduate and professor Matthew

 Favorite blanket 

 Favorite source of food

 Favorite brother

 Favorite entertainer and snuggler

 Favorite reading company

Favorite napping position

SOFIA ANNIINA

We are beyond happy to introduce you to our daughter Sofia Anniina, born on July 18 at 4:06 pm.

 Samu was so excited to meet his sister (and also about the rocking chair in Hanna's room.) He counted her fingers and toes and thought 7 + 4 was good enough. :)

 Where Sofia was born: the birth tub. It was exactly how we had hoped: quick and gentle.

 Best to-do list ever - from the lovely nurses at St. Joseph's hospital.

SAMU'S SECOND BIRTHDAY

Even though it's not for another two weeks, we celebrated Samu's second birthday this weekend - just in case baby sister decides to show up early... We had such a great great time! A big thumbs up for children's parties that are also fun for grown-ups!

THE SETTING

Our backyard really has all we needed: A playground, big trees to sit under, a lot of space to run around, toys ... 

 Special thanks to Ben for the amazing chicken ... and more.

 Table and pool are set up - let's get this party started!

 THE GUESTS

Samu's wonderful friend Johanna was probably the most important part of Samu's day. Those two are truly an amazing team. Samu adores her - plus, she also comes with great parents and a great sister ;-)

 Samu's daycare friend Arjun stopped by to give the birthday boy a buggy ride.

 And Samu had the privilege to jump into the pool with Johanna and Clara. Fun!

 The party crowd - our favorite people. We missed you, George!

 Having a blast ...

THE CAKE

Is anyone looking for a cake that is OK to eat, fun to play with and takes about 10 minutes to make? Construction cake is the way to go! Once that idea was born, the party theme was obvious.

 Yum!

THE GIFTS

Samu got his own kitchen and has since loved to make play doh pancakes and soup for us. 

But there was something missing in his new kitchen: Our kind of food! That's why the gifts from Ingrid, Ben, Johanna and Clara were so perfect:

 Karjalan piirakka!

 German/Austrian food!

 Fresh piirakka anyone?

 A must in every Finnish household: Salmiakki. We can't stop laughing about those.

 Another gift that is perfect in so many ways: A book about how construction trucks go to sleep, which is basically the story we tell Samu every night. (Note that Jenna & George did not know about the party theme! Great minds think alike ...)

GOODNIGHT!

Not only did Samu have the time of his life, he even got escorted home by Johanna who also read a good night story for him. Lucky, lucky boy! 

Happy birthday, Samu! You are the best son in the world. Thank you, everyone, for making this day so special for all of us.