I would like to be able to say that Paul and I set firm limits with Sophia, that she respects our authority and that we tell her no when she crosses the line. These things are all true, to some extent. But from time-to-time I get the feeling that we are just trained monkeys, dancing to her tune and doing whatever she wants. This photo reinforces that feeling.
We've had a good few weeks. Uncle Pat and Aunt Meghan sent Sophia a new CD for her birthday. We've enjoyed dancing to it. When Sophia can't get us up to dance with her, she'll get her giant bear to dance with. It seems like only yesterday that the bear was taller than she was and she couldn't pick it up.
We try to read to Sophia as often as possible. There are times she isn't interested. Far more frequent are the times when she wants to read by herself. I fully expected that some day we would be kicked out of her reading life so she could go faster and be more independent. I did this to my parents and was much happier for it. I did not, however, expect that she would read on her own before she learned how to read! Perhaps she's going to learn to read really early or already has learned, and is hiding it by reading silently to herself and pretending she's looking at the pictures. One of Sophia's favorite things in the world is being, as we call it, "little miss no-pants." I'm not 
sure where this title came from, but I suspect that I started it. In the evenings after going potty she will often ask for "no-pants." What is it with little kids that they prefer being naked? Would we all prefer it if we weren't so cold, conditioned to hide our bodies, or out of shape? It reminds me of a story I remember seeing Dana Carvey doing a long time ago about how after 7 pm was 'naked time' at his house and his kids would fling off their clothes and run about with great joy.
sure where this title came from, but I suspect that I started it. In the evenings after going potty she will often ask for "no-pants." What is it with little kids that they prefer being naked? Would we all prefer it if we weren't so cold, conditioned to hide our bodies, or out of shape? It reminds me of a story I remember seeing Dana Carvey doing a long time ago about how after 7 pm was 'naked time' at his house and his kids would fling off their clothes and run about with great joy. 
Earl and Darla say that Sophia has an "impish" sense of humor and I think that's the perfect word. She certainly finds funny mild disobedience and doing things - tickling, jumping on, putting her hat on - to us. Lately she's been playing with her hat a lot. She's wearing it around the house quite a bit, and keeps trying to get it on our heads. It doesn't fit well which she finds hysterical. One of my favorite things in the world is the sound of her laughing. I am quite willing to be made a fool - or trained monkey - of if she'll laugh. 
