The Whitfields: Sophie Marie Turns 4!

Happy Birthday, Sophie!!

This has been a major year for Sophie in so many ways. As I've stated before, our family's geographical move coincided with or precipitated huge development in Sophie. I watched my independent, sweet, thoughtful, intelligent, and silly girl at her birthday party; her growth between age 3 to age 4 has been massive, and I'm in awe of her. She's the kind of girl whom I would want to be... the kind of girl I would want to be friends with... the kind of girl I would want my child to be friends with. She's the kind of girl I always dreamed would be my daughter. Doug and I feel very lucky to have her as our oldest child. She is emotional and sassy and stubborn, but her creative, inquisitive, and hysterical moments far outweigh any diva-like moments she may exhibit! She had a day of celebrations at school and then later, she enjoyed a big party at our neighborhood barn with all her friends. On her actual birthday, we spent time as a family of 4 giving her room a "big-girl" makeover. In the evening, we joined Auntie A, Uncle Chris, and Grady at Red Robin for a surprise dinner for Sophie. And her birthday weekend ended with tears and some of these tearful pleas: "I wish I was 10. No, I just wish I was 55. It's taking so long for me to be 55" and "I just miss my crib or my toddler bed. I can't scissor kick in my new bed" and "I can't go to sleep because you took me to Red Robin and I can never sleep after that dinner. You know that." She was irrational, emotional, and exhausted after a weekend of sweet, sweet celebration! That's my 4-year old girl!!