A Little Sophie Update

You already know she's still the cutest. But here are some new details.

-Sophie "woke up" the night of her birthday. It was as if someone told her, "You're two now, so act like it" (I think it was Elia's daddy). She started speaking in actual sentences that night, for the very first time. They included:

"Mommy, up! Now!"
"Mommy sit down!"
"More milk, [and with a little coaxing], pleeez!"
"I get up!"
"I need my dogs!"
"I night-night!"
(She really does end all of her sentences with exclamation points.)

-Sophie will eat just about anything you put in front of her, just as long as Georgia hasn't already said "YUCK." This is kind of a beat the clock game, actually. Can you get Soph to taste it before Georgia asks you, with utter disdain in her voice, "Why would you make me eat that?"

-She absolutely adores driving her little car around the house. She usually does this with a collection of friends in the back window, and a picnic basket on the front seat. You never know when you are going to want a spontaneous picnic.

-I know you've heard this before, but it really bears repeating: Sophie loves to dance. If there is any music, she swivels her hips, spins around, and then looks at you with raised eyebrows. Think about that for a minute. Right?! After a song is over (any song - a hymn, the song the teapot sings when G hits the button, the opening notes of All Things Considered, etc.) she claps and says "YAY!" She's the very best audience for anything - she gets this from her daddy.

-She has started pulling hair. I really have a hard time disciplining her for this, since Georgia is usually the target and Georgia usually deserves it. What I mean is, this is Sophie's only defense (so far) against Georgia's constant battling for a) Sophie's love and affection and b) Sophie's humiliation and grief. They are sisters, after all. G's latest thing is to snatch whatever toy Sophie has, then make sure Sophie sees her doing it by holding it up and saying, "See this Soph?!" Then she runs away with it and hides it, returning to (almost literally) fold her hands behind her back and whistle while looking innocent. Then she gets a time out. Then we repeat the whole scenario. Sophie has started adding some hair-pulling at the toy snatching stage. Nice touch, honestly.

-Sophie was so happy to go back to school this morning that she ran down the entire, long, long hallway to get there. We're all relieved to be back in the regular routine. Christmas/birthday/Thanksgiving photos to follow. Some day. I promise.