Free Concerts and Fountain Swimming

Last night you swam in a fountain.

It was not a clean fountain, and I don't really think you were supposed to be swimming in it, but it was very hot at the Kirkwood outdoor concert and you insisted. I've never really thought of myself as a pushover, but I have definitely learned to choose my battles with you. Unfortunately, Brynn and Ella had to join in the fountain, and their daddy was slightly irritated. Then other kids followed your lead, as did a giant poodle. You were immediately airlifted at that point.

On Wednesday night we went to the Botanical Garden concert with Auntie LarLar and Ms. Katie. You had a snowcone and stayed up until 10 pm. We love summer.

Four days until Mexico! I can tell you're excited because yesterday at 5 am you brought the picture of me and your daddy into bed with me. I'm suffering fairly regular anxiety attacks at the prospect of a 6 am flight and three weeks without English, but it'll all be worth it when you see your dad at the airport.

Tonight we're meeting Obama for happy hour and tomorrow we are going swimming with Jack and Allison. You still think Jack is Allie's boyfriend, not her twin, and I think we can blame that on your obsession with the Notebook.

Love you!

Beaches, Babies and Bedtime

Hi Sof! I was just thinking to myself that this must be the cutest age of all, and realized I should probably attempt to capture how much personality you have now.

Let's see... Yesterday I buckled you into your carseat and we drove about three feet before you said "Mommy, you put on your seatbelt too." You called me out, kid!

Tonight, as I was boiling your corn on the cob (your new fav), you were putting two babies (Snow White and Poppy George) to bed. I think you think all babies come in pairs, given all of our friends with twins or two-under-two. You had both of them on identical throw pillows, and had covered one with a baby blanket and the other with your orange shorts. Just like Mom -- whatever works in a pinch! I was inwardly patting myself on the back until I heard you tell Poppy George he had to go to time out. Poppy George, by the way, is really named Georgette (after Poppy George), and she was mine when I was a baby. You somehow figured out the connection to your Great-Grandpa, and adjusted accordingly.

Every time you see an airplane, you yell "Papa Skip!" It's adorable.

You have this imaginary place called Happy Land. You say it like a Chinese immigrant -- "Api Lan." I've googled it -- it doesn't appear to be from any cartoon or TV show. This morning you woke up and said "I wanna go to Happy Land." I groggily asked you where Api Lan is, and you said "New York."

I told you a couple of weeks ago that in three Tuesdays we are going to Mexico to see Daddy. About four times a day you ask me where we're going on Tursday.

The other night I tucked you in and said, quite sentimentally, "I love you, Sof." You chirped "Thanks!"

You are seriously the brightest, funniest, most adorable kid on the planet. Even when you're being a brat. :-)

We've been busy lately. We went to visit Aunt Donna and Uncle Jason last week, to go to the beach at Mark Twain Lake. It was FREEZING, and we spent most of the day watching Dora at their condo while the twins slept. Finally we got out to the beach, your first time, and you loved it! It was like your own giant, private sandbox, and before long you were flopping around in a mud puddle -- in your hoodie!

Yesterday we went to Baby Annabel's baptism party and you played with Anderson and John, and poked the adorable Annabel a couple of time. You are currently obsessed with babies, and you told me the other morning that you want a baby brother like Christina has a baby sister. I thnk you're too young for the birds and the bees conversation, but you should probably not hold your breath for a sibling any time soon. Ethiopian brother in six years!!! That's our plan.

Speaking of Christina, you two are still bff. We went swimming with her and her parents yesterday. You slipped and fell in the locker room, and then did a weird twisty thing down the slide, so I was afraid I'd ruined you for life when it comes to the pool. You bounced back though, and were kicking around on your noodle by the time we left. I, once again, was feeling quite proud until you said "Ms. Rose taught me that at her house."

You've been going to her a few hours a day the last week or so, and you love it. I might pull you out of Baptistville and just let her watch you next year. You are quite happy, and she really loves you.

As do I, baby girl.

Summer Summer Summertime

Phew! We made it through one heck of a year! You survived the uber-religious yet reasonably-priced Baptist preschool, and Mommy is already saving up for the therapy we'll have to get you when you believe dancing at prom is a sin against our Savior. Seriously - they don't dance at their prom. I told your babysitter she needs to watch Footloose, pronto.

Mommy somehow made it through the craziest year of teaching in her entire career. Hundreds of fights, multiple arrests, a shooting and a bomb threat later, we are done for the summer. We are going to Mexico in a few weeks, but until then it's just us two! Don't worry -- once we've exhausted all playdate options, we can just stand at the Tower Grove wading pool and try to fit in with the various hipsters, yuppies and general weirdos it seems to attract.

You love to sing and your current hit list includes "The Wheels on the Bus," "The Farmer in the Dell," and Dr. Dre and Eminem's "I Need a Doctor." Mommy was slightly alarmed when you started singing along in the car the other day. It might be time to start listening PG so you don't go to school talking about S & M.

Your best friend is Christina. Unfortunately for your teachers, you two are quite mischievous together. Fortunately for you, you're also adorable. We have lots of playdates with Christina and her family. Sometimes we go to the park and the geese try to bite you. Sometimes we go to restaurants and you two climb on the furniture. Sometimes we go to the Boathouse and you two come very close to an accidental dip in the lake. I assume her dad is kidding when he blames all bad behaviors on Sofia's influence...

You are a very kind little girl. When you aren't telling Mommy she's stinky or demanding milk at 3 AM, you say some pretty nice things. The other day we were coloring together and I said "Nice job, Sof!" You said "Thanks! Yours looks pretty good, too."

You are also very nice to animals (except the geese in the park), and you have great conversations with Timmy and Lucy. You also talk to your Polly Pockets and, sometimes, seemingly to yourself. Maybe we should hit the wading pool and recruit friends today, now that I think about it....

Now that it's summer, I'll update more. Promise. xoxo