To the Moon and Back

I first said I loved Sophia a few minutes after giving birth. 
I turned to my own Mother and said, "I love her Mom". 
She smiled at me and said, "I know".

Most days I alternate between telling Sophia, "I love you so much" and "I'm grateful you're my daughter". 

Brittany, one of Sophia's caregivers and a dear friend of ours, started using the phrase, "I love you to the Moon and back".

First she taught Sophia the motions, as she has helped her learn many of the sign language words she still uses.

I began asking Sophia how much I loved her, to make sure she was getting the message and she would respond: "MoonBack". "MoonBack" then appeared in Sympathy and Valentine's Day cards from grown ups who knew about this shortened version of a phrase which essentially means 'I love you beyond the limits that I can perceive'.

Then one day while I was at work, Brittany sent me this wonderful gift:

Until Sophia learns the words, "I love you", this will serve as more than enough.

We love you MoonBack Sophia Gayle.

Sophia's Third Chore

Sophia has self selected three chores with varying degrees of helpfulness/damage risk to household objects. 

Emptying the dishwasher (which can be seen here)is probably the most helpful, but comes with the liability of possible damage to dishes (she usually only does the spoons and forks but sometimes goes for a ceramic plate or bowl) or to the dishwasher in her zeal to close the drawer or continuously discouraged desire to stand on the door.

Vacuuming the rug with a hand vacuum (shown here) is probably the least helpful (although when the vacuum actually meets the rug there is a chance something gets swept up), but also carries a relatively low risk of damage to both the vacuum and our home.

The lowest damage risk and the least helpful chore is her latest one. It is her "rock 'n roll" method of laundry folding.

Step 1: "Roll" the laundry.

Step 2: "Rock" the laundry in a rocking chair.

Step 3: Throw yourself on top of the pile of clean clothes.

Step 4: Walk away.

Below Sophia will demonstrate how to master her technique. 
You will likely find it a lot more fun than your previous approach, if not more effective.

Top Ten Board Books

Approximately one year ago, age 9 months, (2/10/2014)

Sophia has always loved books and started choosing them off the shelf at her eye level as soon as she could pull herself up. 


On several occasions I have come home from work to learn that she has asked caregivers to read every book in the living room. Other times she has handed them a book and then walked over to the other side of the room with one to look through on her own. 

Recently, she has also begun "reading" to herself in a "doo, doo, doo" language.

If you asked Sophia, she would suggest the following ten books based on her year and a half of experience with literature. 

1. 
An abridged version of  a Dr. Seuss classic with lots of fun sounds.

2. 
More animal sounds and it's funny.
For a dramatic reading by Sophia click here.

3.
More animal sounds and you can dance to it!

4.
The first book we read together with black and white pictures that babies love for contrast.

5.
Before being able to understand words or even identify pictures, books with textures to touch were great.

6.

This one has a great rhythm to the words and an even better message.

7.
Barely any text, but a lot going on in the pictures.

8.
Several different ways of saying, "I love you no matter what."

9.
My favorite board book as a child. I still find it pretty funny.

10.
There is also an ear book, a foot book, and a nose book! 
Clearly if only Boynton and Seuss books existed we would be well supplied.

Any recommendations of other "must-reads" for the two and under crowd? 
"Is Your Mama a Llama?" by Deborah Gaurino was a close runner up.

Toddler Olympics: Synchronized Cereal

Marcus and Sophia are the closest children in age at our church. He is a little less than a month older than her. His name is one of the few that she can currently say, even before her own. During a recent morning play date, they shared their love for cereal.

South Shore Children's Museum

Due to a Portland, Maine trip and a visit from Uncle James, we ended up at two New England Children's museums on consecutive Saturdays.

Before Sophia joined our family, I assumed we wouldn't go to children's museums until she was a few years older. I have been really pleased by how these places have captured her interest as well as my own. It seems like a great mix of physical activity, education, and play. So, we are now happy members of the "South Shore Children's Museum". In addition to a creative focus on New England (a ball pit designed to look like a cranberry bog), there are arts classes, story times, and even yoga.

Below are some highlights of Sophia enjoying a first visit to the museum with her Dada and Uncle James:

Sophia serving her Uncle tea while his feet stick out the other end of the table.

At the museum, Sophia's Uncle James also helped her create her first pasta necklace and an impromptu sculpture:

The museum is about halfway between our home and Sophia's Godparents, so we went there afterwards for lunch: