Tuesday, September 19, 2006.  Sometime after 11:03 p.m.
The first time ever I saw your face

The first time ever I saw your face

I realize that this picture is not exactly a great shot of you so I’ve added another one below.  But this pic is much better of me than the one of me with your sister, Cammie, in her 18th Birthday Post.  (That’s called an ulterior motive.)
Sent from Heaven, handle with care

Sent from Heaven, handle with care

You are indeed a blessing from on high!  Daddy and I prayed for you to arrive for many years.  And at the right time, you arrived.  See how your mouth is open?  You were hungry, but I still think it was a sign of things to come because you are a very chatty little girl.  Even after watching your sisters grow up, I am still amazed at how you changed each month.
We loved watching you sleep.  We loved when you started cooing.  You would sing yourself to sleep.  It sounded something like this:  “ohhhh, oh, oh, ohhhhhh, ohhhh”.  I’m sure Mommys everywhere can appreciate the magnitude of that beautiful song you sang.  We were all smitten by you.  Still are, too!  I remember when you were still brand new and your Daddy couldn’t find you OR the bassinet.  “Where’s Sophie?”  He was startled.
We found you in Cammie’s room.  We asked her if we were going to wake up in the middle of night and find you and your bassinet missing.  She said, “I’ll bring her back!”
Courtney liked to rock you and sing to you.  Time sure did fly.  Before I knew it, you turned 1 year old.  Cammie and Courtney chose Hello Kitty for your birthday theme.  I didn’t mind.  I loved Hello Kitty when I was little.
1 Year Old

1 Year Old

Just as your first year was amazing, your second year has been astounding.  You have a vocabulary that makes you seem much older than you really are.  You talk in sentences and ask me questions that shock me.  You are bossy much like I was when I was little.  I’m sure you will find that hard to believe one day.  You can be as sweet as you are bossy.  When you want my attention, you often say, “Mommy.  Listen.  MOMMY?  Listen…”

When we pass up a McDonald’s, you say, “McDONALD’S!  I’m SOOO excited!”  When we ask what you want you ramble… “uhhhh, want fry-fries, want ham-bug-er, want chi-cken nuggets, want toy, want apple juice.”  Sometimes you say, “large Diet Coke”.  Sad, but true.

When you wake up before me, you toddle into my room with your blanket and try to pull up my eye mask.  “Gooood morning, Mommy.  I awake.”

Sometimes when I ask you if you need to potty you say, “I already potty.”  Ooops.

Sometimes you say I’m sorry immediately when you are doing something you know you shouldn’t.  You tell your sisters to “be caaaareful” when they are driving.  You grab my attention often with, “guess what, Mommy?”  You don’t like veggies much so I’m thinking I’m going to have to force your Daddy to eat more veggies to encourage you.  You LOVE chocolate!  You can’t help it.  Your parents are addicts.  You love animals, love to dig in mine and your sisters’ make-up and take our cell phones.  We love hearing your conversations.  “Uh, huh.  I’m leav-in.  In traff-ic.  Ok, bye-bye.”  You are absorbing everything you hear so I hope that we are reflecting Jesus.  You love to go to church, love to sing about Jesus and especially love to listen to Hillsong sing Mighty to Save on the con-ti-pu-ter.  But you do mistakenly think the robed statue that precedes many of today’s movies is Jesus.  Perhaps it’s the glow around her.  Hmmm…. You really love your family, your grand-parents, cousins and even friends.  But you ‘are’ bossy.  You only prove my point when you tell us, “I not a bossy, you (sometimes lu) a bossy!”  You also refer to us often as “baby” as Courtney and I both use that word when ending sentences to you.  Sometimes you sound like you’re in an Austin Powers movie.  “NOOO, ba-by!  Dat’s mine.”  “Hey, ba-by.”  “Ba-by, no-no!”

You’ve been rehearsing your birthday.  Sep-tem-ber nineteen.  AND your name.  Sophie Jeanne Gun-ter.  Here you are ready to go cheer for Courtney’s volleyball team.  (Mom needs to work on the lighting with her pics.)  “Go Jack-ets!  Hit the ball.  Go Courtney,” you cheer.
2 Years Old

2 Years Old

Today you are 2 years old.  Since your big sisters are 18 and 15 ALREADY, this day is especially bittersweet for me.  You all grow up so fast.  Your birthday party will wait until next Saturday.  So, today, I will spend some special time with you.
I’d sure like to know how you feel about turning two years old.  I think I’ll interview you after you wake up.
Mommy loves you, Sophie Jeanne.
Interview with Sophie:
Mom:  Do  you know what today is?
Sophie:  Sophie’s birthday.  Mighty to Save…. (wants me to play this song on the computer)
Mom:  How do you feel about being two years old?
Sophie:  I want No-No!  (Song by Oscar the Grouch on Elmo CD)
Mom:  You’re a big girl now.  No more baby bed.  No more high chair.  No more baby swing.  How do you feel about being a big girl?
Sophie:  I gonna’ hit the buttons now!
Mom:  What buttons?
Sophie:  Con-ti-pu-ter (computer).
Mom:  One more question.  What do you want to do today on your birthday?
Sophie:  Con-ti-pu-ter.
There you have it, folks.  The deep thoughts of a two-year-old.