We bought her a Pony

Photo Credit: Brittany Kelly

In less than two weeks, Sophia will turn one.

While my family is coming into town for the big day, and I have researched a cake that doesn't involve sugar but still has frosting that will make a sufficient mess of her face (cream cheese), there is no party planned.

We considered having a party so that she (and we) could have an excuse to spend time with the people who love her, but we decided to forego it this year.  Even though she hasn't had a birthday yet, the small wicker basket that once contained the sum of her toys has now overflowed and our living room rug is slowly disappearing beneath the ever spreading flood of toys.  Perhaps there will be a party next year, or we might just wait until she expresses interest in one (which also might be next year). 

Each year we plan to give her one gift that was somehow representative of the year. This year we decided to give her a water bottle. It is her first non-bottle beverage receptacle, and it comes with a straw. Her primary fascination during this first year of life has been straws. She received it a few weeks early when we were visiting her cousins in Colorado, and while it might not seem like a very exciting gift to some, Sophia has more attachment to it than any blanket or stuffed animal in her collection. 

So I thought we had successfully accomplished the first birthday gift with a meaningful, practical, and desired item. This was until on a whim I went to a church yard sale, which is a surprisingly tempting place.

We were about to leave when I spotted the rocking horse. It's old-fashioned charm, sturdy construction, and five dollar price tag, resulted in my lugging Sophia on one hip and the pony on the other back to the car. 

With eager excitement I put her on the pony as soon as we got home, and she was terrified. This is understandable since it is larger than her, and pitching forward when you can't walk yet must be rather unsettling. At this point, the water bottle is preferred.