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Stories 2 April 2012
Sophie called Opa today and said, "Opa! I can count to ninety-nine!" Elijah attended church yesterday. He pretty much slept through the entire service. Eighteen days old. And Sophie is a wonderful big sister.
10 March 2012 - The other evening I was at Livy's house doing some odds and ends and Sophie had been zipping around us for thirty minutes or more wanting Livy to hook up her karoke. Finally, we got done, Livy set it all up, and I watched Sophie holding the microphone, smiling, face all aglow, earnestly trying to 'speed read' the TV screen, sing on cue and in tune, and dance. I could see all the joy, innocence, and trust in her face. As I walked off the porch and down the steps, her sweet voice carried out through the open window. How easy she is to love and how very much do I want the very best in life for her. She certainly makes me want to be a good grandmother. I know she inspires that in all of us. Oma
2 March 2012 - Monday evening Mrs. Kelley, Sophie's K4 teacher, called Mom and asked her if Sophie had mentioned the occurence(s) of the day . . ? (Livy never knows whats coming next!) Nooo . . . . Weeellll, it appears that on Friday Sophie took a poem from her Highlights magazine in to school for Show and Tell. Livy said the poem was amusing to Sophie no matter how many times she read it. It was all about having the flu but it never said 'flu'. The last sentence in the poem read something like, "and I think I'm coming down with theeee . . . ACHOOO!" Of course, Little Miss Drama Queen acts the whole thing out when she's reading it :) Back to the story. Mrs. Kelley said Sophie read the poem to the class, and then turned it over and began reading whatever was on the back. ( LMDQ thrives in the limelight, right!?) The teacher becomes aware that what she is reading has not been rehearsed and that Sophie is probably seeing it for the first time (and doesn't want to give up the limelight just yet!) soooo. . . she sends her down to Ms. Wasser, the K4 Director, to read! jWell, we've been saying it, folks, so its' best to start believin'!! Sophie reads! (For those of us that have known this, its almost anti-climatic, but is is nice for someone else to acknowledge it, too. And even though Sophie has been reading since July (?) of last year, her reading vocabulary has grown by leaps and bounds.) So now you have it! That's the good news. The not-so-good news is that on any given day, Mom can get one of those phone calls from the teacher that says Sophie is talking . . playing . . not listening . . disruptive . . B-U-S-Y . . humming . . and so on. We all know our Sophie. Fortunately her teacher is great. She's understanding, supportive, and encourages Livy to 'uplift' Sophie in her 'instruction'/discipline. It's all very exciting. And this is just K4! There's so much MORE ahead! Love, Oma
22 July 2011 - Sophie has called me "Mom" on occasion and she always says, "I'm only calling you Mom, Oma, because you are my Mommy's mom." She's also done it to Opa. Last night she took it one step further. "Oma, I love your husband!" Tell me, what do you say to that!? All I can say is she's a HOOT! Signed, Oma
25 May 2011 Time to catch up on some stories . . .She wants 'to ride a rocket into Outer Space so she can explore the Galaxy'!! I say, "Why not!?" ( I believe Daddy is doing his best to accommodate her. He got her a telescope)
She left two feathers, yes feathers, under her pillow "for the Feather Fairy". Unfortunately we didn't know. So the next night when she pulled the pillow back and the feathers were still there, we had to make something up. Quick. We said the Feather Fairy only came through once a week. She was ok with that.
I told her that every time I see her, my heart is so full of love that I think it will pop! She said, (very sad face) "Mommy has a small heart. I can't feel it. She needs to get some love." Sophie asked Mommy, "Are you going to eat me up?!" Mommy said, "I don't think you would taste very good." Sophie smiled, "If you put ketchup on me, I would taste 'berry' good! She likes to 'sky-scrape' Uncle Will. (That's Skype.) April 16, 2011 - She read the entire book Bears on Wheels Saturday night!!!! Three and 1/2 years old!!!!! She read three more "Bob" books at bedtime April 19, 2011. Amazing. She's a human sponge. When she went to Disney on Ice, April 20, she came home with 'custofize' ears! Minnie Mouse ears, really. The night she stayed with Grammy and Pappy, they made index cards with simple 'sight' words on them. They also had pancakes and syrup. There's nothing like trying to separate a stack of index cards stuck together with syrup to know a small child has been there. Apparently they discussed relationships, too. She came back to our house and admonished Opa, saying 'Oma is your bride!' She might as well have said, "Now behave! and Be Good!" (You can see why I consider her my best friend, right?!) At bedtime, she leans over the stairwell and calls to Opa, "Ohhh-Pahhhh! I would like some hot chocolate! OK?! Not too hot and not too cold, OK?!" There's a little finger that waves when she says this. It's amazing to me how well he 'hops' :) May 5, 2011 - In the car. "Can you say the days of the week, Sophie?" Immediately she replies, "Days of the week, Sophie!" When we were at the Live Oak Seashore, she told us this story. "One time I got into Mommy's jewelry and I cried and cried and I said pleeeze don't spank me! Pleeeze! And you know what?! She didn't!" (There's a look of complete surprise and a flourish of the hand. She pauses and is contemplative for a moment.) She ends the story, "I am such a good little beggar!" That's all I've managed to write down. There's more but if it doesn't make it on paper, I don't remember it. Grammy and Pappy, I know you have a 'chopstix' story' so you're up next:) All because I love a little child who fills up our world in a beautiful way. Love, Oma.
3 April 2011 Today, on a beautiful Sunday morning en route to church, Sophie informed us, "Opa, you got a crack in your bottom!" When she saw we were smiling, even though we were unsure what to say if anything, she began to giggle. Really giggle. And we couldn't help but giggle with her.
 As we drove I thought of all the things God created. So many things, all beyond amazing. I have been grateful on more than one occasion for the way our bodies heal themselves, the way we feel joy . . and sorrow, for a soul that is invisible, intangible, and yet, unique to each of us and so very real. But on this one Sunday morning, I smiled at Opa. And Sophie. And I thanked God, very respectfully, for the crack in our bottoms. It's truly only one aspect of a magnificent creation that we call our body. I think it's safe to say, it was an 'original' prayer, and that no one else in the whole wide world was thanking God at that moment for that very same thing. And I thank God for Sophie, who gives us the moments. Peace and Love, OmaMarch 9, 2011
Last night when Mommy was putting me to bed, I told her I was scared to sleep by myself. She told me that she sleeps by herself and that I would be okay, but I told her that she wouldn't have to sleep by herself and I wouldn't either if we both slept together. Mommy then told me she loved with her whole heart and let me feel her heartbeat, but I couldn't feel it. I could feel mine, but not Mommy's. I told her "Everybody loves me and my heart is full of their love; that's why you can feel my heart, Mommy. You need to get more love so that you're heart can be full of love and then I can feel it, too!"
January 31, 2011 Time for some more "Sophie-isms". This one goes back awhile. I came upstairs and found her standing very quietly by the closet door. Sensing she was absorbed in something, I didn't say anything immediately. As I went around the room, I watched her as she opened her mouth big and wide and huffed. Then she made a little round opening with her lips like she was going to whistle and blew out long bursts of air. Everytime she did this, she would hold her hand up by her mouth. When asked, she stated very matter of fact, "Oma, it's my wind." Several months later I saw her trying to see her vapor in the cold air and said, "Sophie, that's your wind!" She told me "No Oma, it's just my air." On our way to church on a cloudy day, she asked, "Where's the sun today?" I said maybe he's still sleeping. She asked if the clouds were his bed. . . of course they are. When Opa began his winter beard, we noticed Sophie calling it his 'mus-beard'! That's obviously a mustache and beard all-in-one! I stopped myself just before I corrected her and now we all call them 'mus-beards'. Too soon she'll know that's not the term in Webster's, but for now we enjoy speaking 'Sophie'. The other day she told us she was going to have a little brother. Uh huh. What's his name going to be? "Good Luck Charlie". Several weeks ago when we picked her up for church, she sounded all nasal-ly. Opa asked, "Sophie, do you have a cold?" "Uh huh", she said. Oma said, "You do not, Sophie." Very adamantly she said, "I DO!" How do you know? "I have the coughs and the chewies!" . . . What's a 'chewie'? Ohhhhhh, I get it . . ah-choo! Ah-choo-ee! Once again we wanted to savor the phrase for as long as we can, so now if we have a cold, it's really 'the coughs and the chewies'. Sophie defined 'the chewies' as when someone tells you 'Bless You!' This one may last for awhile . . as long as we don't say cough and sneeze together. Then she really did come down with a cold. On one of those many occasions when we find ourselves repeatedly trying to talk her into doing something (and not fully engaged in what we're saying!), I said, "It's very important to brush your teeth when you're sick, Sophie! Please brush your teeth!" In less than a milli-second I hear her say idly, "and when I'm not sick, it's NOT important to brush my teeth?.?.?" Is she listening that intently? Or is she just that smart? Maybe I should say exactly what I mean. Yes, she's intent and smart. Just ask all us grandparents, right?! As we drove by the Civic Center, Sophie informed us that Helen, one of Mommy's friends, grad-ulated there. They went to her Grad-ulation. . . . How does a three and one-half year old know how to conjugate a verb or convert it to a noun or whatever she's got going on ! but happily mess up the word? It's wonderful! She's wonderful! She's fantastic! Wonderastic! Fanderful! Now for music. The Wash Your Hands Song. I love to hear her sing "Top and bottom, And dance, oh my goodness!! The girl's got rhythm AND moves! Maybe we should video her next time she dances. It's ALL original! Often she gets so excited when speaking that she stutters. Mommy says don't even think of saying 'spit it out' . . . because she will. Literally! And finally. It's come to our attention (and yours too I'm sure!) that Sophie tells on us. All of us :) Sometimes it's true. Sometimes it's not! And sometimes she tells on Herself! It's heartwarming, embarrassing!, sometimes sad, often funny, enlightening, and always puts me in the moment. I enjoy knowing and hearing of all the influences in her life. Daddy crops up a lot in her comments. It's always, "Daddy taught me this. Daddy showed me how." How to escape long sleeved shirts at bath time. How to put her socks on. "Don't help me! I can do it by myself because Daddy showed me." It's a reminder of how influential we are or can be. Thanks to Daddy for his time and detailed instructions. It seems to mesh perfectly with the little independent creature that she is. Peace and love to you always Sophie. You are loved by us all. Oma
18 Oct 2010
Tonite when "Honey" picked up Sophie early, I stood in the living room looking around. One minute the house is 'full' of a bigger than life three year old and the next minute all that's left is the aftermath. Toys and books, shoes and rainboots, grape 'stems' and ice cream bar wrappers. Only minutes pass and I miss her already. Last night when Daddy got off early, we were convincing her that today we'd 'do it all over again', but in between little pouts and sniffles, she said, "Awwww, but that's after a loooong sleep!" This is how she differenciates between bedtime sleeping and maybe napping. Several weeks back she was telling a story about Daddy but it was about the "Baby Daddy". For the life of me, I can't remember the story but it was set in the time of Daddy's youth. I'm suffering from dementia and can't remember yesterday, frequently forget my train of thought, and even the simplest of words escape me. She's three, has a greater vocabulary, better communication skills, and a fresh, unique way of seeing things. Remember this and next time you want to say "when Daddy was a child" just say instead "the Baby Daddy"!
Last week she sang a song over and over again for at least three days straight. It had one phrase. "Opportunity . . knocking at my DOOR!" I wish I had recorded it. Have her say 'opportunity' when you see her next. It sounds like 'opp-er-tune-ee'. Where did she hear this I wonder? That's a lot of syllables for a three year old even though she left out one or two, and what a mature expression for such a little mite :)'
Chewing gum. I was thinking it was her first time chewing gum, but later Sophie would tell me she liked Mommy's gum better. When I first gave it to her, I emphasized not to swallow it and that it would 'freshen' her breath. She asked me about thirty minutes later if her voice was fresher! Never did she swallow it. When we went camping with Grammy and Pappy, Grammy laughed (and snorted) and next thing we knew, Sophie was babbling about the "Snort Family", laughing and snorting herself! If you had no hearing and no way of knowing what was being said, you would have laughed and laughed anyway. Completely infectious. Funny, funny stuff those two. One evening Sophie and I were at the chalkboard when the cat apparently pooped in the litter box. And although I smelled it, I knew what it was and didn't think anything about it. Sophie on the other hand, wrinkled her nose, raised one eyebrow up about two inches, squinched her eyes up till they were wrinkly and said, "Oma, I smell BOY!" Now can you blame me for sharing this story!? The statement is hysterical but I wish I could have frozen her expression. A real sight to see. I write these stories because already some of her most popular phrases have 'passed' on. I remember 'Tanks" and "No Tank You", "Sumpin else, Oma!" (that one when she wanted to play another game or activity), "Jus purfek!", and "Kitchen Now!" (that was so we wouldn't watch her at the bathroom door) These are a part of her history now and only prove how quickly she is growing. As much as I look forward to whatever tomorrow will bring, I am saddened by the loss of innocence that maturity brings, knowing this is an ongoing cycle. I am thankful from the bottom of my heart for this little child and how she has swept through our life like a storm and I am learning the real meaning of living in the moment when I am with her. I'm pretty sure I speak for all of us grandparents, Old Wise Folks that we are! :) And richer for having her. I love you, Pork Chop.
October 18, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA!
10 October 2010 This weekend I went camping with Pappy, Grammy, Oma, and Opa at Florala State Park on Lake Jackson. We saw ducks, and fish, and turtles, and hawks, and granddaddy longlegs, and a big dog named Marshall that was half Great Dane and half German Shepherd. We met some nice families with children, I took a canoe ride and swam a lot, and we did some biking. Actually I ride and everyone else bikes. I played with three little dogs on a raft, assisted by their human parents, and plastered the nice womans legs with mud. Oma came running and apologized profusely for me. She told Grammy shortly afterward that she was amazed at the graciousness and tolerance of others. Then I stood up in about ankle high water, bent my knees, and peed. Oma said, "Grammy, this one's yours!" What followed from Grammy was a lesson in ,well, how do you say it? . . public aquatic **Peeing!**
I'm a pretty good eater most of the time but being outside just makes me even hungrier. Saturday morning Opa cooked waffles, eggs, bacon, and sliced up some fresh pineapple. Oma said, "Thank you Opa for a really good breakfast. I believe you're the King of Breakfasts!" I was chewin' and chompin' but managed to get out with only a little bit of pineapple juice running down my chin, "And I'm the Queen of Eatin'!" Amen.
Pappy and Grammy came in the Big Bus and I got to sleep in a real bed Saturday nite under Grammys special quilt until it was time to eat again and play computer games. Pappy and Grammy's campsite had a view of the lake that was picture perfect. On Sunday, we got up and did it all over again. I had a good time and am always ready for the next 'adventure', wherever it may be. And by the way Pappy, great set of 'bottom bongos!" Until we meet again, Peace and Love!
20 August 2010 Oma here with a story or two. One day while working in the office, I attempted to use my heavy-duty stapler. It didn't work and I immediately thought of Sophie who plays in here alot. I removed the spring and dropped out the stick of staples, pressed down on it a couple of times, looked at the underside of it, and couldn't see any obstruction or jammed staple. I turned it upside down again and (lo and behold!) a yellow M&M came out! I sat down at my desk all by myself in the house, surprised, and Laughed! And Laughed! Then it hit me. Sophie had to have removed the spring, the staples, inserted the M&M, reinserted the staples and the spring and do it all correctly. She was still two years old. Just a small slice of amazement that gets served to us daily by a very interesting little child.
Another story. When Opa and I moved upstairs into "Honey's" old room, we put a loveseat under one window. The very first night Sophie was over, we went upstairs to do storytime before bed, and Sophie climbed up on the loveseat and looked out into the night and sat there very quietly for several minutes. Finally, with a whisper, she said, "Oma, I see the city. And it's Sophie's city. It's Sophie Land  !" I sat next to her and realized it was really only the lights on Pensacola Bay Bridge and the lights in Gulf Breeze. When we are in the car and crossing the bridge into Gulf Breeze, she knows that Gulf Breeze is Not "Sophie Land" but apparently at night she has yet to make that distinction. I'm not telling her any different for now. Sophie Land . . . where did that come from? Just for the record, the first time Oma and Opa heard her refer to a geographical region as Sophie Land was when we crossed over into Florida coming back from California. As we had traveled and passed into each new state, Opa would ask her to tell us which state we were in. As best as I can remember, she never got any of them right and Opa would tell her. Eight states out there and eight states back. (Opa's a man, bless his heart. I don't know if he thought she'd learned to read the road signs after two or three days on the road or what. If that worked, wouldn't every parent and teacher just put the kids in the car and drive them around and call it reading?) Anyway, the last state we entered on the return trip was of course Florida, and Opa, for the sixteenth time said, "Sophie, where are we?!" Sophie raised both hands in the air and cheered out "SOPHIE LAND!" It's not spelled like Florida, Doesn't sound like Florida. But she finally got one state right.
7 June 2010 Monday - Today we all helped Aunt Rosie move everything from the storage unit to their new apt. Whew! It was on the second floor. Mommy took me to the playground for awhile so I wouldn't be in the way. I did manage to get a little cold because I inhaled all the stale air (think fungi, mold, moisture) out of the a/c when it first came on. Uncle Will and Aunt Rosie's apt is only about 10 minutes from Camp Pendleton and it has a pool and hot tub! I got in both:) By now, we had received an email that said Uncle Will and the troops had been delayed and would now be Wednesday pm arriving. Nothing to do but wait. 8 June 2010 Tuesday - San Diego Zoo! I love the zoo and Mommy knows how to have fun. Check out our pictures. 9 June 2010 Wednesday - We went to Oceanside Pier and Beach and the Belmont Carnival and Park/Beach. Yes I got wet. The Pacific Ocean and I have met. Today we got another email. Our boys in 'brocoli' (my word for camo uniforms) will not be here until Thursday pm . . . Mommy has to leave 6 am Friday . . . but she's still thankful for that little time. Some families flew in and out without ever seeing their loved ones . . . 10 June 2010 Thursday - We are tired. I'm feverish and runny-nosed. So we stick close to home. Tonite can't get here fast enough. Three days of 2000 plus road miles. Moving and setting up Aunt Rosie's and Uncle Will's new home. Lots of fast food and none of Daddy's good cooking. Uncle Will had better show!! P.S. When he finally arrives at 10:30pm, I'm way past sleepy. But I've been a trouper; just couldn't hold out any longer. 11 June 2010 Friday - Mommy flew out this morning. Today we hang out helping with a few loose ends since Uncle Will has to report for work Monday. The time off he would have had was spent in delays getting home. He and Aunt Rosie will be coming to Pensacola the end of June so we will have another opportunity to visit. 12 June 2010 Saturday - Coming home! I'm on the road at 5:37am. We leave behind a land of sand dunes and rock slides, high winds, dust storms, and runaway trucks, temperatures from 49-78 degrees, marine layers and sun, rock-strewn brown sand beaches, cacti, and hay bales by the thousands. Cell towers disguised as palm trees, mountains and valleys, and an astounding 1.3 million population just in San Diego alone. Make that 1.3 million plus two. Peace and love Aunt Rosie and Uncle Will. See you again soon. I may only 'remember' this through pictures but it is now my story. We stop at Colossal Cave in Tucson AZ about 1:30 to stretch our legs and take a 45 minute tour of the cave and eat. At 10pm, we stop at a Hampton Inn in Van Horn TX for the night. Oma and I stay up until 2:30am; me because I've had so much sleep, and Oma because it's the first time she's had internet and she insists on loading the first of thousands of pics she's taken to my website. What can I say? She loves me . . . I wouldn't expect anything less of my BFF.
4 June 2010 I, Sophie Odette Harrell, am going on a Welcome Home Uncle Will-Thank you to our Troops-Auto Transport Service-and just a little Sight Seeing Odessy via car all the way to San Diego CA. With Opa as chaffeur, my BFF Oma, Aunt Rosie and her mom, we set out. You've heard of the Travelocity gnome . . . well, I'm going to be Princess Travelosophie (pronounced Tra-ve-lo-so-phie :) and record some of my journey so you can all share in my trip if you like. At 2pm Friday, Opa was so itchy to get on the road that he wouldn't, just couldn't, in fact refused ! to document our entry to Alabama since we'd only been in the car for only 30 minutes. So my pictoral journey begins in Mississippi. On Day One (and on into Day Two) Opa drove 30 hours non-stop from Pensacola, Florida to Tucson, Arizona. I don't recall anyone asking, but since it comes naturally, I chose to provide ALL the entertainment. Oma says I was exceptionally cheerful and good-natured. We drove through Texas all night long and well into Saturday. By 2pm Saturday, we had finally escaped into New Mexico and Arizona, where everyone agreed that a bath and a bed (I wanted to brush my teeth) would be great. We found all three in Tucson plus a swimming pool. I met some nice, well-behaved boys in the pool and their mother said I was absolutely adorable. Apparently I really impressed her because if Oma had backed into one of those cacti she kept posing me by, she would have popped. I feed myself, bathe myself, and dress myself so I'm just one of the gang, a Princess of course, but not insisting on much special treatment. I did ask for my own room last night and sent Oma out of the pool because I wanted to swim by myself.
By early Sunday, we were on the road again. The lack of humidity and the addition of static electricity has given me a new 'do'. The temperature yesterday got up to 109 degrees. I've been in lots of public bathrooms (the good, bad, and the ugly) and never knew there were so many different ways to get water out of a faucet. I eat good. For breakfast I ate scrambled eggs, bacon, french toast, fresh cantaloup and strawberries, real hash-brown potatoes, and strawberry/banana yogurt with cranberry orange juice. I've seen long double-decker trains, a commercial airplane graveyard, seen (and smelled) a cow ranch with thousands of cows, lots of 'brown' towns, and rv resorts with palms. Say rock and I say 'rock-n-roll'. Say boulder and I've seen them piled up mountain high. About 3pm we crossed over into California. Finally. It was 109 degrees.
17 May 2010
I'm getting so big!! I pedaled my bike in the house AND steered (a little questionably!) for at least twenty feet. Oma and Opa squealed with delight but I still don't want to put that much effort into anything called 'play'. Not if someone else will be the 'muscle'. And then I cut with scissors longways down a piece of construction paper, open and close, open and close, in a relatively straight line. The scissors had blades that cut fancy borders and it was fun for at least two minutes and then I was on to something else. My potty training is going quite well too. I've become a real pro. When I have to go, I'm able to tear myself away from all things fun, run to the bathroom, turn on the light (Yes! I can reach the light!), pull my clothes down (more like OFF), and climb up on the pottly ALL BY MYSELF! Climbing up on the pottly is something to watch . . Oma says I circle the toilet ring with both feet and turn completely around before I plant my bottom. Looks something like a monkey but without the tail! And then there's my language skills. Webster could have used me back when he was creating the dictionary. Last night, the movie BOLT was on TV and I kept pointing to the television, saying "I don't want the be in!". After saying it about fifteen times, Oma and Opa realized that I was really saying that I wanted to see the movie from the be-ginning, not the be-end! It makes sense, don't you think, that if you have a be-ginning, you should have a be-end?" That's some serious thinking, I don't care who you are. That's it for now, I've got people to see, places to go, and new words to make up! Peace and Love always, Sophie
May 9, 2010
Happy Mother's Day to all mommys, aunts, grandmas, grammys, omas, great nanas, great grannys, and great grandmothers! We went to church today where they honored all of the moms in the congregation. We got to eat lunch with Grammy and Pappy at Daddy's work on the beach. While there we ran into one of mommy's friends and her little girl, who played and played and played with me on the playground while the adults all ate lunch. After lunch on Pensacola Beach, we went to Grammy and Pappy's beach on the Navy base where I played even more. Needless to say, on the way home I passed out the minute the car started moving. Mommy had to make a stop at walmart and carried me around the store while she picked up a few items...still passed out. We got back to the car where I finally woke up as Mommy we putting me up...I woke up just long enough to say, "Bats sleep upside down, Mommy, not kids!" Mommy was lost for words and just laughed at me while I fell back asleep. Good night to all...peace and love! Sophie!
6 May 2010
BALLOONS!! I LOVE THEM!! For a mere $1.99 you can buy a pack of 25, blow them up (but DON"T tie them!), and give them to me to release. I'm good for hours. The only downside is that days later, who knows maybe even weeks or months, you'll find them deflated, laying wherever they last landed and didn't get found! (Behind the sofa, up on the bookshelf, way up high on the ceiling fan blades) And you'll think about me
 and what a great time I had! Peace and Love, Sophie5 May 2010
Yesterday Oma and I went to several parks, never staying long at each because there were no children out playing, until we got to last one. Even before the bike stopped, I saw a child! and squealed, "Oma, a boy! A boy for ME?!!" (Sophie has said this many times when she has gotten a new puzzle or book but now she intends to 'possess' people too.) Anyway, this little boy, who was three and there with his grandmother too, was autistic and didn't have much to say, which was just fine by me. I was more than happy to hold up my end AND his end of the conversation. When it came time for all of us to go home, his grandma wanted him to give me a goodbye hug, which wasn't going anywhere, so when Oma said, "Sophie, hug Nate goodbye", I did what I thought they all wanted. I wrapped my arms tight around his neck . . and then both legs around his waist!! He didn't see it coming! That got a reaction (!) from the big folks so I might do it again. . . you just never know.
Oma had a cooking 'mishap' the other night and she and Opa got to laughing. Apparently when Mommy and Uncle Will got regular drivers' licenses, they began to eat elsewhere. And although that made Oma sad, she still doesn't stay out of the kitchen. Now she and Opa seem to think that I won't even make it to the drivers' license stage, especially after I handed back my dinner, uneaten except for one bite, and said, "It's Yucky! I don't want it! " Oma said the truth still hurts.
And tonight, when we left the park, I told Oma that I missed Grammy and Pappy and Grandma. I need to give them all hugs and love. I know how to do it. Grammy needs a joyful hug (and a good run!) and Grandma needs a tender, quiet hug. So I'm here and I'll save your hug until I see you again, Peace and Love,
Sophie
30 April 2010 One morning this past week, Oma and Opa woke up to a rubber snake buried in between their pillows and a popcorn kernel stuck to the back of one arm. There is a stack of books next to the bed that grows by the tens (at least!) for every nite that I go to bed there because the longer we read, the farther away is bedtime. MY bed sleeps MANY creatures too; GI Joe, the Mouse That Went To The Movies, a frog, a sock monkey, a candy-corn giraffe, a mama and baby donkey, Raggedy Ann and Andy, and a baby doll. I have special blankets and sleep under different ones on different nights. Sometimes they have to be color-coordinated to my pajamas. I'm still learning the proper way to hold a pencil, and so far I ONLY color with Aunt Rosie. Oma has lots and lots of 'fun and creative' books that we 'play' in every night but I'm not fooled. I know they're learning tools and I'm smarter than that. I really like stickers though so just to pacify her, I'll do a few 'learning' sheets if she throws in some sheets with stickers. Bubbles at bathtime are fun, too, but now I can (and do) climb out of the tub and run 'nekid' and wet through the house. Something about that bath gets me going and bed-jumping ensues for at least five minutes or more until I absolutely have to put on pajamas. This time of year it's sooo pretty outside that I love to be out there and I'm learning how to make friends. But because I'm so much more mature than them
(remember that all of my peeps are, well, older shall we say, and because they don't always want me to tell them what to do, I've got a ways to go. I sat in my very first 'time-out' in Sunday School because I was running in the classroom with another little boy. I have no idea what 'time-out' is all about but Oma says she's pretty sure I'll get to know it well. Especially after I pushed her. The 'big' people are coming down hard on me too about brushing my teeth. They said, "You don't want yellow teeth, now do you?" And I said, "That's not yellow, that's cheese!" And yes, I still LOVE cheese. I'm eating a little less, growing taller, running alot, and talking nonstop. Be careful what you say, because not only will I repeat it exactly but I can tell you a whole, big story about it, which can be more or less the truth! When we all laugh and laugh together, it's great fun. For those of you who are far away, please know that I know you and know something about you and can remember and tell a story about you. I'm sharp like that. Pretty soon Grandma will come to visit, and Mia, too, with Cody and Rowdy, and not too far from now, I'll be going across the states to California to welcome home Uncle Will! I'm living large for one so small, enjoying every minute of it, and almost can't contain my excitement knowing that each of you share in my life. Here's to future fun with you all, Peace and Love, Sophie6 April 2010 Oma here. Just a little story so I won't forget what a typical evening is like when Sophie is around. These little 'stories' go on all the time around us and it's important to LISTEN to her or we miss out on the little personality that abounds in her little head and heart.
Monday evening Sophie was going to 'sweep' the kitchen floor. She got done, propped the broom up in the corner, said, "The kitchen is all clean, Oma!", and then told me to watch out for the broom. "It might hit you", she said. I said, "Oh no, the broom is my friend." (No comments from you, Opa.) Sophie said, "Oma, it doesn't have a nose." I didn't know what to say. "It doesn't have eyes. It doesn't have a mouth." Needless to say, the broom is a broom. And friends are friends. Don't confuse the two.
By the time Opa got home, we informed Sophie that we would be going to the gym. She puffed all up and cried, "I don't wanna go the gym!!" Very matter of fact, Opa said, "We ARE going, Sophie. You can play with the 'other' kids." Again, the 'aawwwwww, I DON'T want to go to the gym!" Opa and I both expected tears at this point. Instead, she climbed up on the piano bench and began playing. Immediately, we heard her rendition, sung beautifully and at the top of her lungs, of I Don't Want To Go To The Gym! With piano accompaniment. I don't know where this comes from.
In the car just minutes later, Sophie told us, "Mommy's gonna bring a 'binkie'". After telling her that she's too old for a 'binkie', something she already knows and has heard many times, she then informed us with an impish little smile, "I'm gonna grow up and be like a baby. And baby needs 'binkie'". Ohhh kayyyyy . . . .
And the last little story for the night. This one is for Mommy. Sophie said, "We have a saxophone. We have a saxophone at our house. Mommy has a saxophone at MY house." (This is how Sophie talks. A simple sentence that gets repeated twenty times with a little something extra every time. It can be informative. Read on . . ) "Mommy has a saxophone at my house and it goes like this, 'Waaaahhhhhhhh! Waaahhhhhhhhh! Waaahhhhhhhh!" By this time, Sophie knows she's told a 'funny' and she's really laughing. It becomes infectious and we are all laughing with her. Tell us, Mommy . . is that really how it goes???
Peace and love to you little girl. And Mommy. And Daddy.
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