Sofia at 3 1/2!

So our girl is officially 31/2! It's still hard for us to believe that she was just a tiny baby not so long ago when she no can pretty much dress and undress herself, is fully potty trained (we don't even have a diaper in the house) and sometimes acts more like she's 14 than 31/2. She still loves grilled cheese, which is easily her favorite food, and is slowly starting to try meat, with chicken dipped in BBQ sauce and will take a bite or two of steak. She still loves salmon and shrimp and we both love the garlic broccoli I make often. She actually eats the sauted garlic slices by themselves and will also eat a raw onion slice while I'm cooking (I used to think she did it to shock me, but she keeps doing it).

She still has a very active imagination and tells just about everyone that she's 4 (sometimes she says she's 11) and often that her name is "Sarah" or "Caroline"...we're not really sure where she got the names from, but she usually returns to "Sofia" after a day or two. Thomas Train and trains in general are still a huge part of her enjoyment and she literally plays for hours every day with her trains and train track set up on the floor. She crawls all over the track pushing her trains around and creating a narrative. We were a little afraid that peer pressure at school would steer her away from trains and toward dolls, but she hasn't budged. She sometimes says things like "blue is a boy color" or "dolls are for girls" but has never then played with her dolls (other than for a day or so before returning to trains).

About a month ago, we all were driving on a Saturday afternoon into Dallas to meet some friends for dinner when Sofia said from the back "When do I get to see Mimi? I miss her!" It was so out of the blue that both CK and I were stunned and we tried to explain that Mimi is watching from Heaven and that we'll see her when we die (minor stuff for a 3 year old, right?!) After our explanation, Sofia said "Well, when will I die because I really want to see Mimi." It was so sweet and heartbreaking. I've enjoyed talking about Mimi to Sofia - not just stories of them together but stories of her childhood that I only know through being told. I really want her to remember her Mimi and have some memories of their time together.


Our big girl


A big smile. She's FINALLY smiling when I ask her to, although it isn't always genuine, but I'll take it.


Pensive..


I love this picture. I took it just before the baby shower I threw for a friend and I feel like it's a glimpse into how Sofia will look in a few years....she just looks older beyond her years to me.


Her favorite - Grilled Cheese!


And her other favorite - trains!


Although rare, she still loves a good nap and always cuddles with Green Beup Beup for bedtime. Yes, she still sucks her thumb and plays with her belly button too....


Walking on the "balance beam" at Central Market


At the library picking out books - another favorite thing that we usually do every 2-3 weeks. Lately she's enjoyed the Clifford books, but also loves her regulars too.


Such a big girl!!