Labeling

In the car today...

Georgia: Mommy is lovely. Daddy is hairy. Sophie is cute. Georgia is beau-tee-ful.

Mommy: That's very nice, G. But I do think Sophie is also beautiful and you are also cute.

Georgia: NO. That is NOT HOW IT WORKS. We are one thing ONLY.

Joy Ride

This came in from the new Ladybugs listserv last week. Sophie was out for a ride during school

 She just looks so tiny. It's an optical illusion, since she's growing into such a big, smart, adorable, capable-of-driving-herself kind of girl.

Soccer Practice - Family Style

Georgia's school has started offering FREE INTRAMURAL soccer for the littles and we signed on immediately. Results have been mixed. Daddy had to resort to some serious treat-promising to get her to stay through the first two practices. But today, the whole family joined in and G was thrilled to have Sophie there.

 Here we are walking up to the front door. Georgia is saying, "Look at the big kids' school, Soph! Just look up and see it!"

 They all get to wear t-shirts. This was the subject of serious drama, but luckily Evelyn and Lulu's mom ensured the three girls were wearing the same color.

 They are twins. We are obsessed.

Georgia insisted on wearing her "favorite dress" today. When I saw her wearing it and talking to herself in her room earlier, I asked her what she was doing. She said, "Sophie and me are playing maidens." Duh.

 The yellow speck in the middle of the photo is G.

 

 I have to hand it to the coaches, they are able to get the kids to do calisthenics and then let them run loose with the balls - and no one was hurt!

Here's some of the action.

At the library

Sophie knows just what to do.

So it begins

They are potty training Sophie at school. This was not my idea. They say she is "showing interest." This fills me with fear and trepidation, as it is common knowledge that potty training was the beginning if a very rough period with G. I'm not ready. I'm not "showing interest." But apparently I'm not in charge of this one!

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.

Scenes from the New Year

A-sledding at Nana and Papa's winter wonderland.