Dear Sophie today you are 3

Dear Sophie

You have grown so much over the last year.

You love dancing at daycare, and jumping like a frog.

You sing loudly and proudly, 

and had the biggest smile on your face this morning when you told me you were 3 now

You love eggs and corn and watermelon and bananas and yoghurt 

(and sometimes refuse to eat anything else)

You love Daisy and Douglas, and always have hugs for dad when he gets home from work.

Last week you loved Peppa Pig, but then you discovered Dora, now you're torn between the two.

You stubbornly refuse to wear pants if you can avoid it, 

and hate having your hair brushed (but accept that it's a requirement of going to daycare)

You love it when Riley reads you a book, "The Very Cranky Bear" is your current favourite.

You're not much of a fan of the TV still, although The Octonauts and Dora have caught your eye.

The swing is your favourite place, you and Daisy often head out on your own.

You love to snuggle down in Natalie's bed with her, and watch Barbie movies 

(although you're really just pretending, and having hugs instead)

You are so very loved.

Happy Birthday Sophie

Dear Sophie | today you are two

Dear Sophie

two years ago, our world changed.

Definitely for the better.

You are noisy, bright, funny, loving and joyous.

You love playing with water, your newest word is "tap"

You run screaming to the stairs when dad gets home

and wait patiently for Riley to finish school.

You wake Douglas every morning for school, and help him pack his bag for the day

You love baking cakes and pouring ingredients into bowls

and drink tea with dad when he's home

You run screaming when you see Amy or Molly

and always wave bye to Caitlin.

You drink 'beer' with dad on Saturday afternoons

and supervise gardening jobs

You love jumping in the water at the beach

and slipping down the slide.

Today you are two, Sophie

and you are so very loved.

dear sophie today you are one

and what a year it's been!

 you have started walking, you're up to about 4 steps at a time

{but it's quicker to crawl at times}

you've been unwell this week, a runny nose and small cough

{so we've had lots of snuggles on the couch}

 you love music, bopping along when you hear it from toys or tv

{and loved the noisy toys we gave you today}

last week I had to accept that size 00 clothes don't fit any more

{but size 0 swims on you}

you don't have any new teeth this month

and weigh a tiny 9kgs

{but that's still heavy enough that mum finally needed to buy an ergo}

you smile at the kids when they get home from school

and wake up and smile when you hear dad's voice

you are such a happy girl

and you are so very loved

dear sophie | eleven months

Dear Sophie

today, you are eleven months old

You have cut two more teeth

and keep trying to stand without holding on

you bite dad's head whenever he holds you

and pull mum's hair

and chase Amy whenever she sits still

You follow mum from one end of the house to the other

and love opening and closing cupboard doors

You still put everything in your mouth first

and want to see what's going on around you

You haven't slept during the day for weeks

but sleep really well at night

This month's favourite food is corn on the cob

and mum's lemon slice [in fact, anything mum is eating]

You don't like socks, or anything over your feet

and you play with the hairbrush, brushing your own hair

You are growing so fast

and you are so very loved

dear sophie | ten months old

Dear Sophie

Today, you are ten months old

{it's raining and dark, so I haven't done your photoshoot yet}

you cut another tooth this month, bringing the total to four

We've had dad home most of the month, throwing our routines out the window

but you've slept well at night, even if day sleeps have been hit and miss

you crawl quickly, and we often remark "she wasn't there a second ago"

you devour porridge every morning, and yell if dad doesn't share his tea

you bravely dipped your feet in the ocean (while dad held you)

but you didn't like the wet sand

you explore when we visit new places

and love our baby friends at playgroup (but you're a hair-puller)

you are growing so quickly

and you are so very loved

dear sophie | nine months

Dear Sophie

you cut another tooth just three days ago

(just like everyone else, you get snotty and sleepy in the days leading up to the cut)

you're still wearing a mix of 00s and 0s

(and I even squeezed a pair of 000 on you yesterday when I couldn't find anything warm and clean)

you love food, watermelon and grapes and hot chips being the favourites, but bananas and porridge and toast come a close second

now that you're crawling, you follow us everywhere

(straight for the cat's dry food, if we forget about picking it up)

you have smiles for dad when he's home

(and look for him when he's not)

you recognise mum's phone (camera), and dad's voice when he calls

and you love snuggling and sleeping on mum when the kids are at school

you are growing so fast

and you are so very loved

dear sophie

Today, you are 8 months old

You've cut two teeth, the bottom front two

and this month we've had nits, and oral thrush, too

You're crawling

and pulling yourself up on everything

You've loved every food you've tried this month

porridge for breakfast, and sandwiches for lunch, and meatballs for dinner

you wear it all (and occasionally eat some, too!)

You're getting very vocal, especially around other bubbas

you haven't quite figured out who that is in the mirror

but you recognise mum's phone, and yourself in the camera

you follow the kids up the hallway

and search for mum in the craft room

and have the biggest smiles for dad when he gets home

You are growing so quickly,

and you are so very loved.

dear sophie | today you are seven months old

what a busy month it has been for you!

figuring out crawling

(but not quite mastering it yet)

trying almost every food put in front of you

(although not eating much yet)

smiles for dad when he walks through the door

(but still happiest with mum)

playing with toys a bit more

and sitting in the high chair a bit more

already pulling yourself up to standing

(slow down, I'm not ready for walking yet!)

much loved and adored by every one here

dear sophie | today you are six months

It feels like you've always been here

(if only you'd enjoy sleeping during the day)

you love blowing raspberries, and chatting to dad

(but you're very quiet if he's not home)

you're desperately trying to get up on your knees

(but manage to get around quite well by rolling from front to back)

we just started baby-led weaning on Christmas Day

you love watermelon and banana so far

you still prefer mum holds more than anyone else

but you don't cry the second the kids start talking to you now.

December has been busy, with dinners and lots of people, and not much sleep during the day

and you managed beautifully.

Your next big adventure will be our first camping trip for 2014 in a couple of weeks.

You are growing fast, Sophie, our days are filled with #lastfirsts, and you are so very loved.

dear sophie | today you are five months old

you rolled from front to back while Natalie was watching you

but don't like being on your tummy if you can't see anyone

you like sitting in your bumbo watching mum do stuff

and slide easily out of your rocker with a couple of big kicks

you have way more hair than the others did

(and we're still trying to get rid of that cradle cap)

you always have smiles for dad when he's home

(and we lose our routine, because you just want to play)

but you make it known when Riley is loving on you too much

Natalie or Douglas play with you when I'm trying to cook

and we're thinking about the next step in the food journey for you

you are beautiful

and you are so loved

dear sophie | today, you are four months old

today you are four months old

you love it when dad comes home, giggling and chatting to him

you have teeth buds annoying you constantly

you smile and chat with Douglas every evening

and try to escape from Riley's loving kisses

Natalie loves to pick you up and jiggle you on her lap

but most of all you want mum.

You're still a terrible day sleeper, but an awesome night sleeper

you've found your voice, chattering away to the world when it's quiet

you're fond of early mornings, and love snuggles on the couch

you're still trying to figure out your playmat, but love your taggie toy

you're growing every day

and you are so very loved

dear sophie

today, you are three months old

I have to remind myself of that almost daily; that you're only little, and I should stop trying to wish it away.

You rolled over a couple of weeks ago, but haven't repeated that feat

Your first genuine smile-when-you-saw-mum was amazing, and now you're full of giggles and smiles for everyone

You follow everyone as they move around you, and have started turning your head towards the tv

You're starting to grasp things, although you still have no interest in toys

Still not the best day sleeper (unless you're in the sling), but awesome at night, snuggled up in bed with mum

You got sick after having your immunisations, and we had a mad rush to the hospital last weekend when you broke out in a measles-looking rash, but you got better quickly (and the rash was just viral)

You're growing and learning every day (as am I)

And you are so very loved

dear sophie

Dear Sophie

today, you are two months old

another last first

I'm sure by the time you're grown up, I'll have my head wrapped around that fact!

I'd forgotten how hard it was to take photos of a baby's face - you were so busy watching the rest of the world around you, I snapped whenever I could!

Dad calls you "Little Bo Peep" - every time he puts you down when he thinks you're asleep, you wake up, and peep at the world over the edge of your blanket.

You're starting to spend bigger chunks of time awake. That isn't necessarily a good thing, but we're still grateful you sleep through the night in bigger chunks.

You've reserved most of your smiles for dad, although I've almost seen one from you.

Riley annoys you with his constant kissing, but you happily tolerate and slobber on him

Nat's not quite as annoying - she has started reading books to you, and chatting with you when mum isn't in the room.

And with dad away, Douglas chats to you in the evenings while mum cooks dinner - he spent a good twenty minutes with you today, talking to you quietly, cleaning you up when you spit up, covering you with the blanket when he thought you were cold.

You're a good little traveler, happy to sleep or watch the world go by, something Nat and Riley were never good at.

You've brightened our world, when we thought we didn't need it. I'm so looking forward to seeing what the next months and years with you hold.

dear Sophie

... today you are one month old.

It wasn't until I re-read my last letter to you that I realised that this will be a bittersweet journey, full of last firsts.

The biggest change we've noticed in the last few days is the strong neck, your head pops up from dad's shoulder, checking out what is happening around you. Dad calls you "nosy parker"

You've been known to gorge yourself when feeding, then throw up. I changed my top four times on Friday, and dad coped it twice on Saturday.

You're totally out of 0000 suits. And the triple 0s look huge on you. And, yes, sweetie bought them, so they are boy-coloured. I'll buy you a pink one this week.

We've been keeping to ourselves the last few weeks, but when we do venture out, you're peaceful, sleepy and happy to cuddle into the sling, which makes it easier to deal with all the other kids. Although I have been known to walk from one end of the supermarket to the other (several times) because I keep forgetting items on the list-I-didn't-write-down.

The last month has been a journey, one I didn't think we would ever take again, but one I am so grateful to be able to share with you.

dear Sophie

today, you are two weeks old

it's been a strange two weeks, adjusting to our new normal

{and spending lots of time thinking about Chloe}

but you've fit right in.

Thursday was our worst day, too many errands in one day, but we made it to the end, and slept well.

You sleep well every night - 3-5 hours from around 10pm, then 2-hourly until about 7am (much better nights than Natalie and Riley)

You feed very well, you were born knowing what to do, and we've figured our way through the small hiccups.

You're starting to spend little blocks of time awake, watching the world. The newborn stage is almost over, never to occur again in this house.

I've realised this is a time of firsts and lasts for our family. Firsts as you learn your way around, and lasts for dad and I, watching you learn.

{but that doesn't stop dad calling you every name except Sophie when he's trying to get the kids to listen to him - it's funniest when he calls you Amy or Molly [the cat and dog]}

two weeks, with many more to come

[this has taken all day to write, maybe next week I can find more time to write]