Bath Swims

Sofia

Last year you would sometimes come home from a swimming lesson on Monday and get in the bath to practice your technique.

 

This year you're getting longer, or maybe the bath is getting smaller.

 

Regardless, I still occasionally catch you stretching out, talking to yourself, repeating the phrases you've heard countless times at the pool....big arms, kiiiick, face in the water.

 

I took this photo in July 2013, when you were still earnestly doing your big arms and going nowhere.

You are becoming a better swimmer all the time, but this year has since you take some big leaps...I mean laps.

 

Never Say Never

Sofia

Watching you grow, develop, learn, change and challenge fascinates me more than I could have imagined.

 

Motherhood - one of the best, late, forget-that-I-used-to-say-never, decisions I ever made.

 

August 2013 photo.

Up Close

Sofia

Sorting through photos I took last year I discover these and can't help share them. We'd been playing soccer and your face reflects the heat and the game. I see this face everyday and marvel at your openness. You are quick to smile, laugh, share a joke and all of that shines in your eyes.  

 

 

Tenterfield Field

Sofia

Nana and Grandad were in Tenterfield house sitting for some friends so we joined them for a weekend in the country. A neighbouring property was explored and you took some photos.

And I took a photo of you taking a photo. Cheese.

October 2013.

Laidley lunch

Sofia

 

A flashback to October last year. Our search for a rural property has taken us to most corners of South East Queensland, including the lovely Laidley, where you tackled your first Aussie pie. Even though it was chicken and not beef, you smothered it in tomato sauce then lifted the lid and mined your way through the filling....just like your mother does it. With a utensil. I was so proud.

 

The Aussie male thing of lifting a whole piping hot pie to your lips and then shoving it in, flaky pastry falling on the ground while you juggle the slightly soft base pastry to make sure it stays in tact and the gravy meat filling doesn't also hit the floor...well, it's over rated.

 

May you continue eating pies with some delicacy and decorum, enjoying the deconstruction process, all the flaky pastry and the filling after it cools enough to no longer strip the skin off your palette.

 

My girl.

 

Bend It

Sofia

Soccer with dad at the park. 'No hands, just feet' he reminds you constantly.

I watch you for signs of a future soccer champion. You pick the ball up again.

Plenty of time before you need to worry about playing women's soccer at the Olympics.

Dragons

Sofia

 

I bought you a dragon costume and in October you dressed up. You raced up and down the footpath, roaring and growling. Your green tail swinging wildly as you jumped and raised your claws.

 

I took a series of photos. The problem was deciding which photos to use. I narrowed it to three. 

Super Girl

Sofia

Hidden World is a park within walking distance of our house. We've watched you explore, play and grapple with the challenges as you've grown.

In November 2013 I took some photos of you trying out some of the equipment for the first time. You conquered the dinosaur and spun on the weird swing under the fort.

It must have been the super hero shirt you were wearing that day. Or maybe, just maybe, you're getting bigger. At least that's what you're always reminding me.

Your favourite catch cries are:
Look mum, I'm bigger.
Look mum, I can do it.

It's true.

Fairy Pen

Sofia

Another photo from December last year. A hot day, a barbecue with friends and early Christmas presents were exchanged.

I love this shot.

Birthday Joy

Sofia

All 4th birthdays needs three important things - presents, cake and family.  Yours did not disappoint.

You delight in the simplicity - Little Miss books and a new Hello Kitty dress. A pink cake with candles and a tea set from Nana and Grandad.

The joy of being four.

 

Zoo for the Fourth

Sofia

The photos from your fourth birthday have been sitting on my computer since December, quietly waiting for some attention. We spent the day at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. You fearlessly approached the kangaroos, big and small, offering up your little outstretched hand for them to nibble at the pellets. We wandered by the towering emu, marvelled at the koala nursery and watched the sheep dogs round up their flock.

 

You were only six months old on our last visit. It was a special day with special friends from Japan. I think back to that day. You were strapped on to dad's chest, watching the world with a toothy grin, kicking your little legs and dozing off as the midday sun rose.

The four year old you are now is an inspiring creature. I didn't think you could be any more beautiful, or engaging or interesting than you were as a baby. How little I knew.

Car Sick

Sofia

 

Yesterday we decided to take a drive and explore the local area, heading in the opposite direction that we normally take from Villa Trotta. The road wound around the Cilento National Park, through quiet mountain villages where even the local cafes where closed. The views were amazing and we stopped to capture the vista, local churches and passing scenery regularly.

 

Unfortunately, you didn't enjoy the trip as much. By the time we had descended the mountain and reached the sea side you'd been car sick on five occasions. So often in fact that you'd ruined all of your clothes and we had nothing for you to wear but your swimming bottoms and a hoodie. After an unsuccessful stop at a village shop to see if they had anything for your to wear I decided that you could travel in just your swimming bottoms to avoid vomiting down the front of your hoodie.

 

As the seaside we found a shop that sold swimming gear and accessories. Daddy bought an overpriced shirt in a size 8 that fit you like a dress and a pair of princess thongs after your repeated requests to buy some clothes.

 

We had a swim and some time in the sun, skipping lunch and ignoring your request for a drink before winding along the coast road to go home. With your tummy empty you vomited just two more times, holding earnestly onto the princess bucket that Nonna gave you as part of a beach play kit.

 

I know you'll grow out of the car sickness, but in the meantime it's awful watching your pallor change and you whisper from your seat that you need the bucket.

 

Piedini

Sofia

 

Our week at Villa Trotta, Perdifumo in the Cilento National Park is coming to a close. You have been using my camera almost every day to take photos. Last night I was downloading some photos from the cameras and discovered the photos below.

 

As well as being unbelievably sweet they remind me that your perspective of the world is often quite different from mine. Sofia's view of the world involves details that most adults no longer notice. It fascinates me and while many of your photos are of the people around you, beautifully centred and focused, it is the other details that you capture that are often more interesting.

 

I hope your eye continues to see the world through the unique lens that is yours.

Fiori

Sofia

It's one thing for a girl of three to pick wild flowers from the fields as we walked around Aunt Marina's home, a red poppy, something yellow, another white and a smattering of something blue.

It's another thing for a little girl to present her Aunt, her grey hair still growing back after the chemotherapy, with those flowers exclaiming 'Marina, these flowers are for you!'

Sometimes I think you are a gift brought to heal some of the illness and pain within our family. It's not just your lovely face that melts hearts but more your innocence, generosity, childish charm and kindness.

I will work hard to ensure that you retain these qualities. For now, you should know that your Aunt has pressed those same wild flowers between the pages of her favourite book.

Cousin Marianna

Sofia

 

The first time I met Marianna she was still in nappies and about 18 months old. I remember a photo I took on that first trip to visit Daddy's family at Lavariano, near Udine, of Marianna sitting in a shopping trolley in just her nappy and a singlet, cute ringlets framing her face.

 

Marianna is now 20. Daddy and I were very happy that she could take some time out from her studies and exam preparation to spend some time with us. Her open hearted, genuine personality immediately connected with you and I watched as you started to engage with her, not quite understanding that she was in face Marina's baby girl, just as you are my baby girl.

 

She is in fact, at least in the English language, your second cousin. Regardless, she is a special girl and we one day soon hope to welcome her to our home in Australia.

C'e Sole

Sofia

 

We spent a lovely few intimate days with your great aunt Marina at her home in Pozzuolo di Friuli. Marina has been sick with breast cancer. The surgery and chemotherapy are now behind her but she is still very much in a phase of recovery. With periods of energy and warmth contrasting with phases of fatigue and fragility all I want to do is wrap her up in your hugs and sweetness.

 

One morning we prepared to leave the house to go into town. Coming down the stairs into the entrance foyer the light from upstairs disappears and without the lights on it is a dark, cool space. With our sunglasses at the ready we exited and stepped out into the sunshine. Your face in this photo perfectly sums up the delight we all felt as we embraced with warmth and light of the day.

 

Tula

Sofia

Aunty Kim gave us a Baby Bjorn carrier when you were born. We both used it a lot. It was great for shopping, doing housework and settling you. You grew out of that carrier some time ago and we've relied on your stroller. 

I was inspired by another blog to investigate the Tula toddler carrier and we bought the skeleton design. I wasn't sure how much we'd use it on this trip but having left the stroller at home (on purpose) daddy and I are both enjoying having you strapped on and close when your legs get weary or its safer to have you up on our backs. 

After less than a week of travelling it's already paid for itself. I especially love seeing you sleep strapped to daddy's back. I guess it also allows you a different perspective. Something other than knees and the world view when you are but 1 metre in height. 

We will no doubt take many photos of the Tula in action during the trip. This photo taken in Udine  sums up how happy you seem to again be "worn". 

 

Hyatt

Sofia

 

We enjoyed a layover stay at the Hyatt Regency Incheon courtesy of Korean Air on our way from Brisbane to Milan. It's a perfect way to break the trip up.

 

We arrived at our room and you explored the space.

 

Your critique of the room was summed up on one sentence. "There's no kitchen!"

 

"That's right, we eat downstairs at the restaurant."

 

We swam the next morning, and then you discovered the joys of a detachable shower head.

 

"I clean the shower mummy", you told me.

 

It may not have had a kitchen Sofia, but it certainly had a clean shower by the time we checked out.

Rainbow

Sofia

During the flight to Seoul you checked in a few times about the status of the trip with a simple "Are we up in the rainbow?"

 

"Yes, we're up in the rainbow" I assured you, before you turned back to the entertainment at hand.

 

I think we flew through lots of rainbows.

 

Several days later, we got soaked transferring your sleeping smudginess from the car to the Marina's house with an afternoon thunderstorm sending bucket loads of rain down from the sky. After a warming shower you insisted on putting on your rainbow fairy dress and I just know that behind the grey skies above there are more children flying through the rainbows.

 

Traveller

Sofia

After months of planning and saving we caught a taxi to the Brisbane International Airport for the two day journey to Italy. This is your third trip to Italy but last time you were only 20 months.

 

You are now a very different girl, old enough to pull your own hand luggage around and voice your opinions. Old enough to understand most of what we tell you and certainly ready for the plane trip after days of asking 'Can we go on the plane to see Nonna and Marina today?'

 

With your pink Trunki called Toby full of snacks and entertainment we set off, ready to embrace the process of taking you on two ten-hour flights with a layover in Seoul courtesy of Korean Air.  

 

In Seoul we caught up with friends Harry and Shawn, English teachers that mum and dad had befriended in Naples about 6 years ago. You particularly enjoyed the swimming pool at the Hyatt Regency and Daddy enjoyed the traditional Korean style baths.