More Sophie Says

There are conversations that I have had with Sophie that either amuse or astound me. Here are two conversations that I've shared with her over the past few days:

Conversation One: On Girly-Girlishness
Scenario: I am dressing up for an event. 

Sophie: (Eyeing me critically) Mom, change your clothes.
Me: (Puzzled) Why, what's wrong with it?
Sophie: Just change your clothes, Mom!
Me: (Defensive) But I like what I'm wearing!
Sophie: It's not complicated enough, Mom. I want you to be fancy. (She chooses a dress for me to wear.) Wear this.
Me: (Resigned) Fine. (I change into her suggested outfit.)
Sophie: (Clapping her hands, her eyes lighting up) That's so much better, Mom! I want you to always look fancy.

Always a Great Idea

Art work by Sophie

"Look at my drawing!" Sophie said as she proudly presented the above to me a few days ago. When I asked her to talk about her work, she said "I had a great idea, then I took your hand and Papa's hand. I put them together. Then you got married!" She smiled up at me, mighty pleased with herself, as if saying to me, I was the genius behind you and Papa getting married!

I admit that there is much truth to her thinking. While Pipo and I did not want to get married immediately “just because” we had her, she had so much –and everything - to do with our eventual choice. I remember looking at her and thinking to myself, What a wondrous, amazing, beautiful creature she is.  If I had somehow managed to make such a wondrous, amazing, beautiful creature with Pipo, who knows what else would be possible for us to build together through our love? In my mind's eye, I saw a family with more incredible (and hopelessly energetic and kulit) babies, our very own "castles in the sky," and a life full of dreams that do come true, to bring joy to us and to all those we love.

I loved him, and because of him, I had Sophie. And with him and Sophie and our love, we could have so much more. The possibilities were – and are limitless.

The Great Idea. Photo by Sandra Dans

I will keep her drawing close by and look at it often. It will serve as a reminder that no matter what I’m feeling, no matter how difficult the challenge we are facing, no matter how annoying he can get, and no matter how annoying I know I can certainly get, our marriage always has been and always will be a good idea.

The lovely little genius thinks so, and I will never for a second doubt her wisdom.

Thank you, Sophie.

Overheard

Whether it's the supersonic hearing that is automatically activated when one's offspring is on the loose or the power of clear, youthful lungs, I frequently hear Sophie's conversations with her neighborhood friends as she plays outside. Here are two conversations heard this weekend:

Conversation Number One: On Crushes

Neighborhood Friend One: Sophie, put your hands out.

Sophie: Like this?

Neighborhood Friend One: No, like this.

Sophie: Okay. (Is silent. I suppose she's figuring it out.) Like this?

Neighborhood Friend One: Yes. (Speaking quickly) Who's your crush? Who's your crush?

Sophie: (Laughing) Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! That hurts!

Neighborhood Friend One: Who's your crush? Who's your crush? Who's your crush?

Sophie: (Still laughing) Owwwwwwwwwwwwww! Stop squeezing my fingers!

Neighborhood Friend One: Tell me! WHO'S YOUR CRUSH?

Sophie: This is so funny!

Neighborhood Friend One: But who's your crush? Who's your crush? WHO'S YOUR CRUSH?

Sophie: Owwwww! (Shrieking) But what's a crush? Is it something funny?

Neighborhood Friend One: (Sounding deflated) Oh never mind.

Pipo would be terribly happy about how that conversation turned out. I was quite amused.  Mental note to self to explain to her what a crush is. She has crushes, quite a number of them actually, but doesn't know what they're called. 

Funny Car Conversations

Sophie and her Papa!

The three of us were in the car the other day. We had just passed a billboard of Zac Efron, and Sophie said that she liked him. When I asked if she found him handsome, her answer was yes. This prompted me to ask another question, which then sparked a series of hilarious conversations:

Part 1

Me: Sophie, is Papa handsome?

Sophie: Just a little bit.

Pipo: A little bit? Why just a little bit?

Sophie: (smugly) Because I'm prettier!

Pipo: Fine.