Two years ago today, our lives were irrevocably changed. Things went from quiet and scheduled and organized to crazy, colorful and spontaneous. You were always whirling around leaving tracks behind you. It wasn’t long after you achieved mobility that your sweet daddy dubbed you Taz. You will proudly declare it if asked what he calls you. The response is usually closely followed with “Gran calls me Monkey, Ella calls me Wild Woman, Heidi calls me Booger”. And you are. You’ve proudly achieved each of those nicknames for good reason.
Sophie, you are tiny, but you pack a big punch. You are a firecracker – spunky and spirited, with an incredible sense of humor and a twinkle in your eye. You are adventurous and mischievous. You challenge me in new ways every day and compliment your sister so well. You never sit still and more often than not, are a blur on the landscape. I have stretched and adapted and grown so much in the last twenty-four months and you have been an excellent teacher. You are stubborn and determined and want to do everything yourself. You have mastered carrying a step-stool around to make you tall enough for big girl chores like brushing your own teeth and opening the door for Beemer to come and go.
You are such a blessing in my life and an incredible joy to be around. I love you because you belong to me, my daughter. But I like you because you are an amazing little person. I love watching your face light up when you figure something out and seeing the pieces click into place behind your eyes. My favorite moment of the day is when I pick you up in the afternoons. You give the best hugs. We even call the squeezes because the word hug just doesn’t do it justice. I love how you pat my back when I hold you and how you request rock-a-bye baby when we snuggle. I love that when I ask you who made Sophie and the animals and the rainbow, you say “God did.” I love how no matter how strong willed and difficult you may be sometimes, you can grin your devilish grin and all is right in the world once again.
Happy Birthday, Soph. Your momma loves you bigger than the moon.
This picture captures one of my favorite Sophie faces. This is just the moment you begin to sing “Por la Bible tells me so.” I love that you still refuse to sing the line before this one.
