Girl’s Life

Happy 15 month birthday, Sophia!

This week you turned 15 months. You keep growing and changing and — I’m just gonna say it because what kind of mommy am I if I don’t brag a little — improving all the time. Yes, you are getting better and better by the day, and we’re having a blast watching you learn about life in toddlerville.

Every day is new in our house. Will you sleep through the night? Will you fight your afternoon nap? Will you feed the dog your whole dinner?

The answers to these questions are different every day. One night you will awake in heartbreaking tears at 3am just wanting to snuggle into bed with us (which is an indulgence I admit that I often allow because the sweet factor outweighs the inconvenience — at least for me. Daddy’s actually not a fan of the foot-to-head/elbow-to-eye-socket method of sleeping, for some reason.) Then the next night you’ll sleep beautifully and wake up at 7am full of smiles and hugs. Keeping us on our toes, I guess.

Playtime has become an adventure, as well. You’re known in some circles as “The Grabber.” I understand and appreciate your willingness to go after the things you want most in life with zeal and fervor. I just wish it wasn’t always your friends’ toys, or for that matter, my cell phone. We’ll have to keep working on that.

Yesterday, we went to the Museum of Contemporary Art downtown with some friends. Since mommy works at an art college, you’ve had lots of practice browsing galleries and artwork whenever you come to visit, so we figured you would do okay at the museum and we took a chance. You did great! You perused the exhibit like the little art critic you are. “Oog doo, mama!” you pointed out with a furrowed brow. “I know, baby girl. I don’t get a lot of this contemporary stuff either.”

You’re still not saying a lot of words (Although I have to give a shout out for your newfound love of the word owl — you try to find ways to use it as often as you can. Also, you’ve renamed Dog to dogdoh, and the first thing you do each morning is excitedly yell that over and over until she finally comes to say hi.) I think the lack of new words from last month can be attributed to your excitement for learning more signs, adding a few new ones every day (see video below). I’m having a hard time keeping up myself. You’ve actually taught me some signs (thanks to Daddy)! Yesterday, I showed you the cute butterfly ornament on the Christmas tree and you busted out the complicated 2-handed sign for butterfly that I had only shown you a couple times before and didn’t even realize you knew. Way to go, smarty pants!

Last night, you woke up suddenly and were very scared to find that you were alone in the dark. Even though your crib is filled with all manner of things that bring you comfort — from a snuggly quilt to various stuffed friends to a handful of pacifiers — you only wanted me. I offered you these items one by one and you continued to cry sadly. I picked you up instead and held you close, and you instantly calmed down and snuggled in. I love those quiet moments we share. You are mama’s little girl, for sure: brave, but still cautious and tentative; outgoing, yet sometimes shy; free-spirited and self-reliant, yet sweetly and innocently dependent on us.

We have lots to look forward to this month with Christmas and the start of a whole new year. I’m so glad you’re with us for the adventure!