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.

Behind the Lens

Sofia

As usual you confidently took my camera and captured some images over the weekend as we celebrated our 20 year anniversary at Mooloolaba. This is my favourite shot. Thank you for sometimes getting behind the lens.

 

 

Beach

Sofia

Watching you at the beach on the weekend was a joy. Your confidence in the surf, exploring the rock pools, making 'coffee' from sand and water, racing back and forth to fill your little purple watering can. The only downside - your refusal to leave the beach.

 

If nothing else the fun, engagement and relaxation we all enjoyed has reminded me that we need to take the time to get away more often. A week long holiday at the beach is coming up.

 

Together

Sofia

We spent a long weekend at Mooloolaba celebrating a milestone. Daddy and I met 20 years ago in London on 5 April, 1994. It's a funny story about a hostel run by two crazy Yugoslavians and a chance midnight conversation that led to a breakfast date the next morning. Neither of us can really grasp the length of time, but we had a lovely weekend at the beach, in the pool, strolling the esplanade and hanging out together. Celebrating together.

 

Back home I'm looking through the photos and my favourite is one that daddy took on the morning that we packed up to come home. We stopped for a quick coffee, lounging on the leather sofas of an Italian restaurant as the rain poured and he captured this photo of you and I - together.

 

I know these moments won't last as you get older and bigger but for now I'm happy to have you climb up onto my lap, settle in to your comfy spot, my arms wrap around you. Together.

 

 

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.

December 2010

Sofia

 

I'm working on editing and filing some photos. I came across these photos taken in December 2010 when you were just one year old. They were taken at Boreen Point. You were already growing out of the roly poly baby stage. Your eyes were still changing colour.

 

I love stumbling across these photos. I remember the pink seersucker hat you were wearing and the feel of your swimming nappies. I remember the smell of you at that age. Most of all, as I look back at the younger you I can see some of what you are about to morph into - the bubbly, sometimes giggly and cheeky, often sweet and always sincere 3 year old girl who now wears a different hat, no longer needs the nappies and has eyes of luscious brown (despite what it says on your recently renewed Italian passport - but that's another story).