Sophie. She is our Harry-Potter-reading 1st grader. The girl with the sharpest memory and attention to detail. The founder of the future "Dolph-School"-- combining her obsession with dolphins with her obsession with education. She is one of the smartest people I have ever met in my life. Ever. Hands-down sharp, perceptive, observant, and analytical. She is naive and sheltered. Sensitive. Thoughtful. Introspective. Daddy's girl. She loves her "chubba-wubba" brother, and she is oblivious to the depth of his loyalty to and adoration of her. She is emotional, often dramatic. She is witty and creative. Rule follower. She could happily play school in her room all weekend. She loves Sundays because she is one day closer to school. She has more confidence trying new things than I give her credit for. The birthday girl who has lots of friends and yet craves and needs lots of time alone. Avid reader. Storyteller. Creator.
There is a Sandra Cisneros short story called "Eleven" (which I've referenced on this blog in the past because it fits Sophie perfectly) where the narrator celebrates her 11th birthday but feels all of the ages simultaneously: The narrator needs the comfort and security of her parents like a 1- or 2-year old. She is emotional like a 4-year old, curious yet cautious like a 6-year old. Sophie may have turned 7. But she is still 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. Those layers to her personality are all woven together. She has gained incredible independence and confidence, and yet she is still tentative and scared at times just like she was as a chubby, bald baby gripping my fingers. She is smart, articulate and thriving, and yet she still has doubts, challenges, and breakdowns. I love that no matter how old she grows, she knows that Mommy and Daddy are still here to meet her needs, to comfort and nurture her, and to guide her just like we were on October 26, 2009.
And I actually love that Sophie is getting older. (side note: I want Cameron to stay 4 forever, but I want Sophie to grow up.) I'm too excited-- as in butterflies-in-my-stomach-excited-- to see what she continues to accomplish in her life. I cannot wait!
This year, for her birthday party, Sophie invited a small group of school friends to dinner at Red Robin and a field trip to the Zoo Boise's Spooktacular at night. The girls were silly and wild and hysterical. As I drove them in my car, I couldn't believe that we have made the parenting leap-- to little girls who giggle about boys in their class, to little girls who don't like my choice in music and ask for Justin Bieber pop songs, to little girls who sing songs, play games, and whisper secrets that I know nothing about. The photos show the joy.
And photos from her birthday morning: prezzies that are so 'Sophie'.... Barbies, gel pens, diaries and journals, books, books books, real teacher supplies to play school, Harry Potter spell books....
Happy Birthday, Sophie! We all are OBSESSED with you!
