Fairy

Sofia

Sometimes you race off to your bedroom and change into something more becoming of a princess. This morning you decided it was the day to dress as a fairy. My friend gave you this fairy dress. It has been much loved and worn by her twin girls. We took it to Italy in June and it hasn't made an appearance since then so I thought you might have grown out of it, but today you have been a source of rainbow inspiration.

 

We visited Nana and Grandad, meeting up with you aunt and cousins for morning tea and after some initial shyness your fairy magic worked its charm on the girls.

 

I took these photos this morning as you were "accessorizing" for our visit.

 

 

Are we there yet?

Sofia

 

We've done a lot of driving over the last couple of years searching for a new house. Today was the first time you've really articulated the question "Are we there yet?" and I both smiled and cringed.

 

We were only 5 minutes into the trip to inspect a rural property when you delivered it.

 

Daddy and I both wish we were already there, but for some reason the right place, with the right circumstances, in the right location hasn't yet present itself. So we keep looking.

 

I know it will be worth the wait. And then you'll start asking "Are we there yet?" as we drive back into the city to visit Nana and Grandad.

Spikey

Sofia

You watched me make a Japanese style salad dressing with mayonnaise and Dijon mustard tonight while Daddy made a Japanese curry. As usual you were keen to test out the flavour of something coming out of a condiment bottle.

 

"Can me try please?" holding out your finger before I correct your pronoun from me to I.

 

It doesn't matter how hot it is - mustard, chilli sauce, curry - you always respond with "mmmm, it's good".

 

Half way through dinner as you pick up another edemame you announce, "You can get the spikey mum". 

 

I look at you, interrupting my salad munching. I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

"What spikey?", I ask you.

 

"The spikey, you can get it."

 

"I don't understand what the spikey is Sofia. Where is it?"

 

"In the fridge". You start to get off your chair, only to look at Daddy, remembering that you've already been told several times to sit down properly on your chair while eating dinner.

 

I still have no idea what the spikey is, so we agree you can leave the table to shed light on the spikey. You confidently open the fridge door and point up at the top shelf where I have placed the Dijon mustard.

 

"There, that spikey, you can get it for your salad mum".

 

Light bulbs flash. "Spicy Sofia, not spikey."

 

"Oh, spicy", you repeat. Daddy explains to you that it's called mustard, and I listen as you roll the word mustard around in your mouth a few times, helping cement it in the part of your brain that collects new words and sounds every day now.

 

I love hearing you learn new words. Even more than that, I love it when we work out what it is you are trying to say when you sometimes get it mixed up. It's like working on a cryptic crossword.

 

And even more than that I love it that at 4 years of age you go "mmm, it's good" whenever we give you something spikey to try.

NB: This photo was taken on Australia Day. We went to Bunnings for hardware supplies and got caught up in the Australia Day activities including a sausage sizzle to support the rural fire service. I diligently prepared your sausage in bread with tomato sauce. You quickly noticed mine was a bit different and asked to 'try' my 'yellow sauce', closely followed by a request for a 'line of yellow spicy sauce' on your sausage as well. A super happy Aussie girl was the result.

Together

Sofia

 

I love taking photos of you doing everyday things. It's often the photos of normal, routine activities that are the most treasured when we look back at them.

 

We don't take enough photos as a family though and this year I need to remember to get us all in front of the lens doing everyday things.

 

Just like this one, hanging out on our bed, talking, laughing and playing together.

 

Tula Joy

Sofia

 

In June last year we spent a month in Italy visiting Daddy's family. The trip wasn't part of the plan for 2013 but due to family illness we found ourselves taking you to Italy for the third time in three years.

 

This time though we didn't take a pram. Instead we bought a Tula toddler carrier and strapped you on to our backs. We didn't use it all the time, but whenever the day involved a lot of walking and sightseeing, or maybe the crowds were overwhelming and you were sick of looking at knees and bottoms, or maybe as a safety precaution we would swing you up and around and tuck you and Bluey into the carrier. Many cosy conversations, shoulder height views of the world and summer naps were enjoyed in your Tula.

 

You have turned 4 years old in the meantime and we continue to use the Tula occasionally. It is especially good for long days out and we made use of it during our trip to Melbourne at Christmas time. You are longer and heavier but the Tula distributes your weight beautifully and carrying you is a joy.

This photo captures that joy.

Tadpole

Sofia

Daddy takes you to swimming lessons on Monday mornings. I'm usually at work so I've only managed to come to your swimming lessons on two occasions. Your 4th birthday coincided with the last lesson for the year and I took the day off work to come and watch you in the pool with your teacher Anne.

 

"Big arms Sofia", Anne bellows at you while your head is still underwater.

 

"Kicking Sofia, come on kiiicckk". I'm still not sure if you can hear her with your cap on and head concentrating on bobbing back up to the surface to catch that next breath.

 

You are making progress, slowly but steadily. Without regular access to a backyard pool we feel these lessons are important. In addition to the more traditional process of learning how to swim, stroke, kick and float Anne has been teaching you how to get yourself out of the pool, how to monkey along the edge, working with your confidence and water safety awareness.

 

Just as I did at your age, you love the water. I still love it and enjoy the repetition of swimming laps up and down the length of a pool when time and opportunity presents itself. I hope you too get to spend countless hours swimming up and down the black stripe as a child and later as a teenager. There is something calming and meditative about the practice.

 

You started swimming lessons again this morning, following the extended Christmas school holiday break. On the phone from my office I asked you about the lesson.

 

"I did big arms and kicking mummy".

 

I sure wish I'd been there to see it for myself.

 

Bigger

Sofia

 

You wake from your afternoon nap and stumble out of our bedroom, warm and dishevelled to announce, “I got bigger mum, yeah, I did, I’m bigger now”.

 

It’s probably true. It seems that every time you slumber, wake and emerge you have morphed just a little bit more away from the toddler version of yourself towards the girl that you already are.

 

Note: Written 21 January, photo taken on your 4th birthday in December.