First Day of Preschool

Sophia and I have both been looking forward to this day for most of 2010, and I didn't break down in tears as I sent my three-year-old off, without a hitch, to way-more-fun-than-she'd-be-having-with-me. But it did get me thinking about a paradox of parenthood. Some days are interminable; it seems that bedtime will never come. While, at the same time, you blink and more than three years have gone.

The part that scares me about this new phase in Sophia's life is that I'm not there to protect her. I'm leaving her with people I don't really know, and I don't know what's happening to her during those three hours. Her report of the morning's activities was very upbeat, so I'm sure everything was fine, but as I made my way to Bible study at my church with only one child, I was keenly aware that I must leave Sophia's welfare in God's hands--as it always is anyway.

Failed Photo Shoot

Both girls were dressed up for church this Sunday in clothes from my aunt, so I wanted to capture the moment. However, they weren't very willing to sit on the couch together for a photo. Hence, the following unsatisfactory result. Naturally the one photo in which they're both looking at the camera, I blinked!

Getting Soft

I suppose it's a well-documented fact that the more children one has, the laxer some rules get. Last Saturday Alathea tasted her first pancake (no syrup, yet, though), and yesterday an elderly friend gave her a few french fries. I don't think I would've let Sophia have these foods at 8 months, but I guess other aspects of daily life are harder for the second child than the first--like having to wait longer for what you're wanting and not being the center of attention all the time...

Facebookers, see http://wbsenglish.blogspot.com to view this video of Alathea.

Along with documenting Alathea's self-feeding progress, this video also captures Sophia's habit of answering on behalf of her sister.

An Americanism?

Apparently "dog-gone-it" is a hilariously American expression, or so a British friend informed me (as she mocked me to my face after I used it in conversation). I guess it does sound a bit funny if I stop to think about it, but there are a lot of times it comes in pretty handy, dog-gone-it!