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. :)

 Lindsey, Juan, and I usually meet weekly to study the Bible and pray. They are very special women who God has put in my life.

Easter Celebration Dinner!

Sophia and Nonna make cookies!

 

 

 Sophia and Ruth decorate Valentine's Day cookies with gusto -- and an affinity for chocolate.

 

Sophia and Daddy watching the elephant at Zoo Atlanta.

 Gammy and Sophia love on Bella at breakfast.

 Feeding Bella treats was one of Sophia's greatest joys at Gammy and Gramp's house.

 I LOVE this picture!

 Apparently, here Sophia is explaining how to be or make a fairy (not sure which) to the sweet, accommodating teens.

 Gammy and Gramps hanging out at Nonna's.

Autumn Treats

Gobble, Gobble! These turkeys were so funny at the farm where we went apple picking. I think the white one was a bit offended that I was taking pictures of him. He gobbled at me with great dignity. Sophia had a blast on our day trip with Auntie Kelly. She enjoyed an apple stick, a cider doughnut, the apple cannon (at least she tried to.. it was a bit loud), the petting farm, the pumpkins, our picnic, a hayride, and a hike up to the Amicalola Falls. Whew! What a day!

Sophia is doing splendidly; she has her own schedule of activities with playdates, trips to the zoo, gymnastics, and more. While on our day trip we passed by the visitor's center at Amicalola Falls, at which Sophia said, "I want to see the naked mole rats." It was such an out of place and hilarious request. I realized that the visitor's center building reminded her of the naked mole rat exhibit at the zoo. Today we did go and visit the naked mole rats. :)

Sophia is thoughtful and generous; she is very good at sharing. She has her moments of course, but she is a special and caring little girl. She now enjoys having her hair in pigtails (which means double French braids). She is getting very strong and coordinated in her Little Gym classes -- we're working on jumping with feet together and landing on two feet and forward rolls (somersaults). She calls everyone she meets at the "playground park" her "little friends". They are pretty much her reason for even going to the park; she wants to be social.

Sophia is looking forward to all the fun events coming up in her life! She likes to talk about how many weeks or months to go until we visit Nonna or Nene and Papa. She is super excited about Halloween and loves to declare that she's going to be a "Kitty!" She is so much fun. Enjoy the pictures!

The Last Few Months...

The last few months have included some fun changes in our lives. Sophia has continued to grow and both amuse and amaze us, and we've moved into a house. We are so thankful for the change to a house and have been loving the space and feel of a home. Sophia so enjoys the "new house" and still calls it so, remembering the move fondly. She had no difficulty accepting her new wonderful room and has become so imaginative in her play that she can spend a complete hour or more (for her quiet time) taking her stuffed animals on the bus or to eat ice cream or to the movie theater (all on her bed). She also creates very elaborate tea settings (one can be viewed in a video below) where her many animals dine with gusto.

Sophia has been to see her first movie in a theater and absolutely loved the experience. Since seeing Kung Fu Panda 2, she has been to see Cars 2 twice and patiently awaits the day when we'll take her to see the new Winnie the Pooh flick. She also greatly enjoys her sandbox (which we can now have since we've got a yard!) and would play in it many times a day if Mommy would let her (it's just too hot out at present). Come Autumn, we will fully embrace the yard space available! I'm so looking forward to it!

Pretending seems to be Sophia's new favorite past-time. She is constantly telling us, "I'm not Sophia; I'm Big Bird," "I'm not Sophia; I'm Rizzo the Rat," etc. Yesterday we went shopping for some curtain rods to hang up the curtains in her room (it's so cozy now with the special princess canopy from Christmas -- which she LOVES), and she said in the middle of Bed, Bath, and Beyond, "I'm not Sophia; I'm Charles Dickens." We've been watching a lot of Muppet Christmas Carol lately.


Our little girl is also a complete sucker for "scratches" as we call them in our household. If you scratch her head or her back, she just melts and will rarely budge from her situation. She loves her Auntie Kelly's scratches, especially. Some other things she loves: her Noah's Ark Little People toy; anything Hello Kitty; apples and blueberries (she'll even press on after an especially tart one); climbing on Mommy's or Daddy's lap to look at the computer, too; dancing; and Madeline and George and Martha books from our library visits.

A special tea party with the beloved Miss Sarah.

Father's Day with Pop-Pop and Marilyn.

Tower building.

Sophia and Tigger "take a bath."

The Holidays -- Belated

Sophia is getting sooo tall. She loves her big girl bed and has adapted to it extremely quickly. We also just started using a booster seat -- it makes her seem like such a grown-up, and she feels it, too. She copies all of our daily activities in her pretend play. Tonight she "made smoothies" while playing in the bathtub since the sound of the running water reminded her of the VERY LOUD blender we use to make her beloved smoothies for lunchtime (to give you an idea of how frightening she finds this contraption, from now on I will only use the blender if Sophia is sitting on her potty).

Sophia is also my big helper. She loves playing with Asher, the little 5-month-old that we watch during the day, and is constantly getting him toys, trying to put his socks back on, and hugging him. She loves excursions to the park and running around. She is a tough little cookie, having some pretty big scrapes and falls on occasion with no tears, just a hug and a kiss and off she goes again. Tickle games and hiding games are among her favorite past-times. Life is just full of laughter with little ones, especially if your little one is particular about things (not unlike her mother).

These are some of Sophia's table settings...

Cobalt loves Matt.

Sophia has already grown so much over the past couple months, so while these videos and pictures might be outdated, they are fun moments that I had to share.


Pink Pig


Cobalt's Stocking


Stocking


Snuggling

Fingerpainting 1


Painting


Lollipop


Big Girl Bed