Sophie Photo - "Easy Rider"

It began many months ago with asking Mommy and Daddy to push, then it became scooting around with her feet on the floor, which then evolved into slooowly, painstakingly pedaling . . . backward. And then just before Christmas, Sophie finally mastered riding her bike. (OK, tricycle.) She looks like such a big girl pedaling around the neighborhood. It's been a couple of weeks now, but it still tickles us to see her pedaling away, helmet firmly in place. She's a real study in concentration, until she becomes completely distracted and drives off the sidewalk. Which happens about every 20 feet.

Sophie's other accomplishments of the past year include beginning preschool and starting to learn Spanish, using the potty, and saying goodbye to her beloved "fa" (pacifier), which made Mommy cry, too. Our baby girl isn't such a baby anymore.