it's never too young for music lessons, right?

The local symphony offered children the chance to familiarize themselves with different instruments. Sophie's favorite: the violin.

Just in time for father's day

The miracle of birth. The first day of kindergarten. Losing her first tooth. Learning how to ride a bike. Crying at her wedding.

There are things that I easily imagined when I contemplated fatherhood before her birth. There are some things I did not.

She called me over while she was in the tub tonight.

"Mer Daddy!"

So I came over.

She reached out her hand to me, so I reached out my hand to her.

And watched as she promptly deposited therein the turd she'd been holding.

Little Miss Bossy

On the occasion of her mother leaving the house:

Sophie: Mommy! Doan ta'e my car!

Mommy: What? How should I get to work?

Sophie: Wak!

Mommy: Walk?

Sophie: Wak, mommy!

Mommy: Why should I walk?

Sophie: [incoherent] my car!

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Earlier she had thrown a fit when she gave her smoothie to her mother with strict instructions not to drink it––mommy drank it.

Back to school: my happy!

This morning I was one of the first parents to have Sophie Tegel back at school after her nearly 2 month absence. As we drove up and Sophie realized where she was going, she said, "My happy." As a parent, that's a reassuring sign on many levels.

more literalness from Sophie Tegel

Me: Can you say hi to JJ?

Sophie Tegel: Yes (as in, yes, I am able to do that)

Me: ok, then, say it.

Sophie Tegel: Hi JJ.

More Turtles

Today at the Hands On Museum: in the waterplay area with the buckets and funnels and plastic fish.

Sophie was playing with the plastic marine life and had gathered up quite a collection in her corner. She jabbered happily at a turtle. She made an improbably large monster hermit crab go "snap snap!" I asked her if the turtle was a snapping turtle: "does he go snap snap?" I asked.

"No! Baby turtur!"

More jabbering and splashing ensued.

Then a little girl grabbed one of the large turtles Sophie had collected.

"Nooooo! Mine!!!!" she shouted.

I explained that it was important to share, and that she had another large turtle she could play with.

"No, dis MommyDaddy turtur!" she explained, pointing at the baby and the large turtle, who was now apparently a single parent.

Well my heart just melted into a puddle right then and there.

Luckily the other girl soon lost interest, and the turtle family was reunited.

A day at the zoo

A couple of weeks ago we hit the local zoo on a playdate. The last time we went, Sophie barely noticed anything besides the turtles. This time turtles still seemed to be her favorite, but she enjoyed the other animals a lot too. She and her friend had such a fun time together.