Family and Fur: Waiting for Four

We've had a lot of fun over the past several months. Sophia has enjoyed several trips to visit family in Lexington and Pensacola. She is growing up very quickly, everyday lengthening and learning. She has started working on reading and can read a few sentences: "Pat the fat cat" and "Nan can fan the tan cat." She has grown a lot in confidence and strength with her Little Gym class - she can walk on the balance beam without grabbing at somebody and can even do an arabesque on it! She so delights in jumping around the Little Gym and frequently creates her own "gym" in the living room, which is of course quite frightening at times. She loves playing at the beach and jumping in the waves. She'd live in a pool if it were in our own backyard. :) We're going to try to get her some swimming lessons this summer so she can plunge into the water and keep herself afloat. What makes her happiest is any interaction with little friends, which range from long time friends with whom we have regular playdates to new friends whose names she can't remember after romping with them at the playground for an hour. (Names are unnecessary for much of play at the playground.) She is both a very social and shy little girl -- much less shy with other kiddos. We're looking forward to her interacting and learning in a homeschooling group in the fall. Currently her favorite show is Kipper; when she watches it she walks around speaking in a British accent. I have got to try to capture some of that on video.

Sophia is also greatly anticipating the arrival of her baby brother. This week she wants to make him a birthday present and birthday card for when he is born. She will be such a good helper when he arrives! About a week ago she came into our bedroom in the morning to wake me up carrying her baby boy (though it is her bitty baby doll with all girl accessories) -- dubbed Asher (one of the only other boy names she has experienced extensively). She explained to me that "they" pushed him out of her tummy because he was ready to be born. Yup. She wrapped him up and fed him and took very good care of him. Just adorable. I haven't seen "Asher" in a while though, she is very busy with her other four children -- Benjamin Bunny (who is a girl), Peter Rabbit, Ruth (a mouse), and Rapunzel/Taylor (a raccoon). She has many daughters, she will tell you. She also currently loves to dress up; she plans to be a ballerina for Halloween this year.

Sophia has made some wonderful memories over the past couple months, visiting Nonna and shopping with her, staying with Gammy and Gramps and swimming and playing with Bella, and seeing Ne-Ne and playing "feed the polar bear ice cream". She is a blessed little girl. We are so thankful for all our family.

Here Sophia plays hula hoop with my wonderful friend Juan. Sophie has even learned a little Chinese from Juan! Juan has a special kinship with children. :)