Wow - it's been awhile - 6month update on Sophia

Somehow, 6 months has passed since I last posted. Vacation, summer, beach and fun - it was such a relaxing time.
Life just goes - there isn't a pause button, or even a slow-mo. And definitely, no mute button!
Most of the time, though, it's exhilarating to experience it all in full speed.

So much has happened - Sophia has just grown leaps and bounds. For her, this summer was all about friends - finding new ones, nurturing the friendships and settling into an easy way with her little buddies. Newport became (as it is ours) her happy place. Every weekend spent with Avery or Ainsley or Addison or Katherine, or any combination of them. Endless hours on the beach, working on swimming and paddling on the boogie board.

But soon, as it always does, summer drew to an end and it was back to school time. Sophia would be back at Agassiz, in the oldest group again. With friends from last year and new friends for this year. What never ceases to amaze me is her empathy and caring. Welcoming of the new kids and finding an immediate kinship. She also made sure to be the protector and buddy to her long time neighborhood friend who joined the class this year. It made my heart soar when she told me stories of defending her and making sure that everyone included her friend in the games.

Weekends brought us to soccer games, where I coached her team again this year - but it was different. We had a practice on Wednesdays and games on Saturdays. Coaching 4 & 5 year olds is like herding cats. But harder. Looking back, we got progressively better each week, all the kids managed to make it onto the field under their own interest for at least a part of one game. And they all had fun at some point or the other. Even me. Theo was the consummate little brother and ball boy - anything he could do to play with the big kids. I think their favorite were the pig piles after the games and practices.

More and more, Sophia has become a little person - her teacher told me a few weeks ago that she was truly becoming a little girl. Her mannerisms, opinions and her established position as "management" when it comes to the sibling pecking order leave no doubt about how much she has grown.

The stats for her 5 year check up (December '14) - 44", 43lbs, 1 6 year molar and, as of 1/19, her first wiggly tooth!!

More to come.