Girl’s Life

Happy 14 month birthday, Sophia! You just keep growing up, don’t you?

We’ve had a great month full of lots of adventures. For one, Halloween! I think we can safely say that you are a big fan of this holiday. I can’t even imagine what you’re going to do with Christmas. Another adventure this month: no less than three trips to pumpkin patches. Three! You think maybe your parents like fall?

You’re getting pretty good at the walking thing, too. I still don’t think you’ve taken more than 10 steps without holding onto something, but you’re getting there. You tend to walk the steadiest and the longest when you are carrying something, so you’ve figured out to pick up random things every time you make the trek from the living room to the kitchen. Sometimes (most times) you can’t decide between the several remote controls, catalogs and magazines, your pacifier or any number of your toys. You end up gathering up as many as your little starfish hands can carry, hugging them close to you, while usually leaving a trail of scattered items in your wake. It’s so cute. That is, until I can’t find my keys in the morning.

You’ve been spending much more time playing with friends this month, too. Each pumpkin patch trip was filled with different friends, and you’re having a blast learning about them all. This makes me happy because it proves you are definitely moving into a new era — the one where you like being around people! Not that you didn’t like people before, but you were much happier when you were on your own, doing things yourself. Now you have become much more sociable and sweet. You’ve figured out how to win people over by simply crawling up onto their laps and nuzzling into their necks. And you always seem to know exactly when to do it, too. Talk about a great trump card, smarty pants.

You call out “hi-eee” when you see me and yell “Mamamamama!” when you’re upset about something, but mostly you use your signs these days instead of words. I honestly still can’t believe it when I see you sign. There were months and months when we wondered if you were even comprehending what we were trying to teach you, while you just stared at us and blinked. But all that staring at us (and at your favorite TV show, Signing Times) has paid off. It’s not surprising to me that you would learn the signs for things like cheese and dog first. Gorilla though? Yeah, that one surprised me.

You’re becoming more of a little girl every day, with your high-pitched squeals and your dollies and bows. But every bit of pink is met with an equal part rough-and-tumble. You are the girl who will wear shorts under your skirts to school so you can play on the monkey bars. You are the girl who is one part sweet, one part sass. You are the sweet daughter who at once snuggles me close while pushing away my helping hand for the chance to try it yourself, even if you fail the first time. I love that fierce independent spirit, even if it seems as if I’m always trying to lift you up and squeeze you tight. You better get used to it, baby girl. Because no matter how independent and capable you are and will become someday, you will always be my little girl and mama will always be right there to hold you close.