A Teenager?!!!

The birthday girl in her lovely head scarf!

Oh no, she's graduated to the Irene system of candles...a tens column and ones column

Aunt Bess and Shelby

Birthday cake can make you tired...

but then it gives you a sugar high!

Shelby turned 13 years old last week!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I can't believe she's now a teenager. I remember that day 13 years ago living in my freshman dorm and being so sad that I wasn't able to see her. Stacy sent me a video of her and she was just so precious! She is really turning into a lovely young woman and is an absolutely great babysitter so far. We need to get her over here for some real trial-by-fire training so I can get an afternoon to myself! ;)

She now wears make-up, goes to school dances, and has her ears double pierced. Next thing you know, she'll be driving! It's hard to believe that 13 years passed so quickly, it makes me wonder about our years with Sophia, will they too pass this quickly?!

Frustration!

WARNING, WARNING: Very long parental venting in progress, read at your own risk!

So I've gotten to the point in my parenting experience when I look at my daughter and think, "whose child is this??!" I think that both Sophia and I are frustrated with each other at times. She is growing so fast and wanting to grow up so badly but lacks the words and skills to communicate effectively. I also have lacking skills in the area of mind reading and charades, as it seems.

Now I will say there was a glimmer of hope yesterday when she very assuredly marched up to the kitchen counter, pointed and said, "Nana!" Hallelujah, hallelujah...she spoke about what she wanted and I gave it to her...a breakthrough! This morning, I however tried the same technique..."Do you want a banana?" Hmmm, she seemed happy with that idea so I peeled it, she bit it and I put her in her chair. It was then I made my grave mistake. I broke off the banana so she could hold it without the peel interfering. The meltdown ensued. The tears, the no, no, no and there was no hope for that banana or any other.

A lot of our days are looking like this now, and I find myself holding up objects...is this what you want, no..this? no...this? Ahhhhhhhh...I just wish she'd move beyond words and speak in sentences and paragraphs...am I asking too much, here?! Okay, maybe I am ;) but it makes for a looooong day! I'm sure it's just a phase, but she's not eating, she's fussy, she's demanding, opinionated and she's really into testing limits. Well, let me tell you what, my limits are being tested!

I also feel conflicted because part of me thinks, okay she's just teething, or she's just this or that, and then I think, no she's being a toddler and she's looking for boundaries, so ultimately I feel like I'm stuck in limbo on whether to be empathetic due to teething (or whatever) or lay down the law. Because I can't really be sure, I'm constantly in a state of worry about being a pushover parent or a drill Sargent! Aaaaaaah!

And finally, although I really do love spending all day with her, it is becoming an interesting dynamic. Because the two of us are together almost 24 hours a day every day, she sorta thinks that I'm supposed to be at her beck-and-call and that no one else will do. Don't get me wrong, she loves her daddy, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. but if I'm there, she will always gravitate back towards me, which is sorta nice, and well, sorta not. Is that wrong?! If I'm not there, however, she really does have fun with whomever she's with and is perfectly happy, so I am relieved about that because I don't have to worry when I do leave her!

Now, I hate to end this really long post on a sour note, so I'm going to add some cute pictures and habits of Sophia that are adorable. Now this will become a ridiculously long post...:)

Funny Sophia Things:

• she tickles herself while saying tickle-tickle
• she thinks playing in the toilet water is super fun!
• she now dances every time she hears music
• she is starting to give hugs and kisses on demand and to people instead of only animals!
• she loves to color
• she blows raspberries
• she gets on the couch and reads books to herself

It's Already Begun...

A happy little shoe princess

two little mice peeking up at you!

I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMouse!

Dance, mice, dance!!

Spin, mice, spin!!!

So I did a little bit of shopping at the Gymboree after-Christmas sale (and before you gasp too loudly, honey I really controlled myself!) today. I wasn't planning on going in there, which is never good, but these shoes were absolutely too fabulous to pass up, how could I be asked to do it, especially at the bargain price of $8...it can't be done! Of course I left with the matching outfit too, but it was also on sale, so really. Anyway, I was putting the things away and Sophia insisted I put these shoes on her and she's been happily wearing them about house since. Has the shoe fetish begun already! Eeeeeeeeek!

Hammer Time

So it was really hard to capture the essence of this outfit on film, but it was pretty darn cute. It was a hand-me-down from Zoe (who is now 14) so I think Hammer pants were actually in style then! Since she's a baby and I think it's funny, I went ahead and stuck with the outfit! Even Sophia, however, when I dressed her looked down at the pants and pulled at the extra material with her hands while giving me a quizzical look. It's okay, Sophia, we may never understand fashion, but we love it while it lasts!

Separation Anxiety

Walter and his new 'do!

Hugs and Kisses for my long lost friend!

Yesterday Walter went to Day Care for some grooming and fun. He needed his bi-annual hair cut and also really needed to let off some steam! Anyhow, Sophia seemed okay that he was gone although she sort of looked for him and asked about him, but nothing major. When he returned home, however, it was a whole different ballgame. We have never seen her like this! She was absolutely ecstatic. She ran after him yelling "Puppy, puppy, puppy!!!" (which is extra funny in her husky little voice) and hugged him and kissed him every time she could get him to sit still. Maybe it's because he looked different, or maybe she just missed him that much, who knows, but it was absolutely priceless to witness! She even refused to eat dinner unless Walter was sitting right next to her chair and she could reach him (which is usually a dinner time no-no) to pet him. His ears are extra fluffy, which I love, and she kept touching them and saying ear, ear! The video is truly hysterical and my favorite part is when she realizes he left and runs after him to do the same thing he's doing (just like a little sister should do!), but really, it doesn't even show the best parts of our night, just a little snippet!

Wonderscope

So if I put the golf ball here...?

Well, this is fun! Round and round it goes...

Stella!!!!

Things went in her cart, other carts, she didn't care! At one point she was shopping with two carts!

She tried to take the cart for a hallway joyride but that idea got the kibosh!

All three kids really enjoyed the train set

This poem was too perfect for Sophia and I tried to get them together

In the art room she created a clean floor masterpiece

The water table was the by-far favorite of both Sophia and Luca!

Splash, splash, splash!

If this doesn't say good time, what does?!

Yesterday Sophia and I ventured out with our adventure buddies, as it seems, Luca, Massimo and Julie. They seem to be becoming regulars in our life and our blog and I couldn't be happier about it! Wonderscope is a children's museum here in town and I had yet to check it out. Perhaps I'm just biased, having worked in an incredible children's museum (the Kohl in Chicago) or maybe it's because of my background in education, but I must be honest, Wonderscope left a little something to be desired. The set-up is good; it's located in an old school and each classroom is a room with a different theme. BUT...the rooms were ill equipped and not all that great. Maybe it's because they don't have the right people running the show or maybe it's because they don't have proper funding, which is the one I'm going with, giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Overall, though, Sophia had a wonderful time, and that's what matters! She loved the golf ball room that was set up with all kinds of ramps and tons of golf balls. She had a great time collecting balls and trying out the exhibit. The art room wasn't a total bust because she did get to sweep the floor and wash her hands, although no actual art was created! There was a fun play room for visitors 2 and under that she and Luca had a good time in, but the best and most fun room was the water table area. She and Luca splashed to their hearts' content. Their aprons were a joke, but you can't really be mad about a wet baby as long as they're happy! If only we would have considered that and saved it for last! Oh well! After consideration, I would probably take Sophia back and have even contemplated a membership, and maybe, just maybe I've found my calling and need to see what openings are available on their staff! ;)

Just in Case...

Just in case we weren't sure just how deep my sickness was, I found Sophia this morning staring into the camera lens (that she had somehow retrieved from the middle of the dining room table!) with her giant, happy grin yelling..."CHEEEEESE!, CHEEEEESE!"

If only I could have gotten a picture of it...