12.30.2011 (when she was officially 4.5 years old)
Tears well as I think through what to write. I am glad I am doing this today (Jan 12), because it has been a rough day for Sophia and me. Daddy has been gone two days and this evening, a very tired Sophia rebelled a lot. And by the grace, grace, grace, grace of God, I remained calm. It truly was a miracle. No details are necessary but her strong will shined through in some amazing ways.
I know I say Bella is strong willed, but Sophia is stronger still. And I also know this can be a virtue and a vice.
I know this. So I just pour out prayer for it to be honed for his glory.
She is passionate.
She is a doer.
Brave.
Flexible.
A talker.
A risk-taker.
She loves thrills.
She loves a scary story.
A leader.
A daddy's girl.
A people person.
Determined (aka: strong willed)
She really is a gem, a natural jewel with some rough edges that when refined, shines brighter and brighter.
Her Dance class:
This was real hard work. From 5-6 for two days a week she danced. And they danced the whole time. This was not play time. They really learned dances, and the teacher really tried to help them get it right. She loved it. But she was tired on those days.
She eats: Food is a big love of Sophia's. Mainly sweets, and especially chocolate. But she will try almost anything, and in this culture that is a great attitude to have. She has even started to like spicier foods (and when she tried that chicken foot that her friend gave her on the playground I about gagged, but she ate it, cartilage/bone and all).
She plays: She loves to play with people, any one, any size. She does still love her kitchen and having tea parties and playing dress up. She loves princessy things but also loves the whole good v. evil genre. So a scary story is her cup of tea too. She is daring, and will love roller coasters one day we are sure. She cannot quite swim on her own yet (this summer), but loves the water. Most recently she loves the 'boom' of a loud firecracker, and can't wait for daddy to return so he can buy 'the big ones' (which has been my mantra lately).
She says: She is a talker for sure. And a thinker. Put those together and you get some pretty good questions and thoughts.
- "When it was all dark and void, I wonder what it looked like?" (after reading the Bible one day"
- "I wish I had two mouths, one to eat with, and one to keep talking with" (LOL)
- "I can't do it mommy!" (Can't do what? Mommy asks) "I can't stop sinning" (said matter-of-factly with a little angst after I separated the girls for fighting over a piggy bank)
- "Even mommy needs help doing this (self control with anger, etc) I fail a lot." (mommy speaking) "yes, and when you fail it teaches me and I do it" then we discussed blaming others for our own sin, and how she sounded like Adam, but the truth in her words cut deep)
On Sophia's last day of dance class I took Bella with me to play and then sneak in early to watch and try to get video and pics. When we went in and sat down (about 15 minutes before it was over), there was a crowd around Sophia with the teacher in the mix too. One girl came up to me (she always reports to me every day what Sophia is up to), and said "Sophia cried" others started chiming in, but I just let the teacher move on. Sophia did look a little sad, but it wasn't a fit or anything. She looked like she was holding it together pretty well. Little did I know I had just missed her first fight, in dance class no less (go ahead and laugh out loud, did I tell you this girl was strong willed, she won't back down). Apparently, and this is what the teacher and Sophia both said (the teachers won't always tell the truth about your kid, especially if it is 'bad' the whole 'face-saving' culture thing), Sophia accidentally bumped into/hit a girl, who then turned around and hit Sophia in the upper lip, she proceeded to cry and hit the girl back. I do believe this because when I asked Sophia if she meant to hit the girl, she said: 'which time?' and also, Sophia usually is not a real hitter, she can be rough with Bella, but Bella will hit hard and Sophia never hits back, but then, that is her sis! What a little treasure of an anecdote for our little 4.5 year old.
I will post a 'last day of school' post. But here she is on her last day!
