Fairy Sophie

Swimming with Sophie

2009-10-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

These are just some pictures from last weekend. It was a veritable mommy and daughter mermaid weekend, as Sophie and I swam on both Saturday and Sunday. On both days, she asked me repeatedly, "Can I go to the deep part, far away?" to which I adamantly replied, "No way."

In time, little girl, in time. For now, stay safely at shore with me.

Good Night Pictorial

2009-10-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

When Sophie saw me tinkering with my camera, she pulled my hand and said "Let's take pictures, Mama." She then proceeded to direct the two of us in a short series of pictures. For one, she insisted that we use the flash (when I didn't she'd say "Where's the light, Mama? Turn on the light!")

For picture one, she said "Close your eyes and sleep." She then proceeded to close her own eyes. When she saw in the playback that I didn't, she sternly said, "Mama! I said close your eyes!"

For picture two, she said "Make goggly eyes."

And for the last one, my absolute favorite, she pulled me closer and said, "We're happy." She then gave the sweet, crinkly-eyed smile that always makes the troubles and weariness of the day vanish and fade, the sweet, crinkly-eyed smile that sends me off happy and peaceful sleep, the sweet, crinkly-eyed smile that I live and breathe for.

First Lesson

2009-10-04T00:22:00.000-07:00

Lie back daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man's float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

- Philip Booth

Sunday Morning Swimming

2009-10-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

As soon as we saw the sun was shining, Sophie and I made our way (or rather, Sophie shrieked and ran and I followed her) to the pool for our long-postponed, often missed Sunday swim. She takes to swimming like a duck to water - with just closely observing me, she has already learning how to kick, paddle, and do a pretty good freestyle. Here are some pics of our fun morning.

Funny Pics of the Funny Fairy

2009-10-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

Just some pics I took of the little charmer before we left for her speech therapy yesterday morning. She surprised me by sitting still and putting on consecutive, effortless million megawatt smiles for the camera. This little girl is going to be a star someday :)

A Sweet Rose in Bloom

2009-09-30T00:55:00.001-07:00

Sophie at 4. Getting prettier and prettier each day :)

Cleaning?

2009-09-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening, Sophie stood up and said, "Mama, I want to clean." I was impressed. So my silly little girl was starting to learn the value of packing away. She then started tossing pillows and stuffed toys on to the bed while saying, "Look Mama, I'm cleaning. I'm cleaning!"

My elation quickly turned into horror. "No honey, you aren't cleaning! You're messing things up!" Our neat arrangement of pillows and stuffed toys (which Yaya and I worked so hard to maintain) was completely ruined.

I did not realize that there was an deliberate design to all this. Once she had dumped everything on the bed, she pushed me away and said "Go to the floor Mama!" I grudgingly got off the bed and sat on the floor to watch her. She proceeded to build an elaborate fortress made up of throw pillows, toy rabbits, dogs, and bears, and the big hotdog pillow from Papa. When she was finished, she declared, "I'm done, Mama! It's clean!" Tickled pink by her achievement, she lay down in the middle of her fortress, and closed her eyes as if to sleep.

In the dictionary of Funny Fairy Sophie, cleaning = fortress building. That's noted.

An Alternative to the Tutu

2009-09-29T02:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, the silly little girl is now four years old.

She is quite a character and already has her own little quirks. One is that she insists on wearing a tutu day in and day out. This morning she woke up crying when she saw that I, her sneaky and devious mom, had changed her out of her purple leotard and pretty white skirt while she was sleeping. I had tossed this outfit into the laundry along with her 2 other tutus and didn't have any alternative to offer for her to wear. She collapsed on the floor, wailing brokenheartedly. I firmly told her that her tutus were in the wash and that she would have to wait for them to dry. Louder wailing. She then caught sight of her green fairy wings, abruptly stood up, and with a bright blooming smile on her tear-stained face, happily asked, "Can I wear my fairy wings?"

We obliged her. With shining eyes and a quick leap, off she happily flew. Out the door and to the park, to scatter her laughter and cheer.

(And charming quirkiness, no doubt.)