The Preschool Portrait

 

Nothing tells you your baby is growing older quite like the school portrait.  I mean... look at that girl!  That is no baby.  That is a 4 year old preschool girl.  I think it might be the hands folded so perfectly that is the most striking.  I realize she didn't do that by  herself.  She never ever does that.  But it just shows that the photographer said "do this" and she did it.  It's also the appearance of the nice smile... rather than the "cheese smile".

Every day I see that she's getting older.  Maturing.  She likes to pick out her own clothes (sometimes) and put them on by herself (sometimes).  She likes to decide which shoes she'll wear (sometimes).  She likes to go into her room by herself and "read" books (sometimes).  She likes to take baths... but loves to take showers because she gets to do it alone.  She loves school.  She can write her name (although Z is a tough letter to get in the right direction).  She can recognize all of her letters (when she feels like it) and can tell you what letters start words.  She has seriously started to learn a good deal of Spanish (no thanks to me... more thanks to Dora, Diego... and Ms. Gloria... the school Spanish teacher).  She's completely potty trained (those night time pull ups hung out for a while!)  She questions things ALL THE TIME.  Interesting things...like "does the giant at the top of the beanstalk live with Jesus?"  Scary things... like "Mommy, if you die who will take care of me and Ana?"  And her mind is clever... like when she told us she really didn't want Grammy and PopPop to visit... and when we asked her why her answer was "because I'd rather go see them in Florida."  (smart girl!)  She is also very brave and has never shed a tear over getting shots.  She actually enjoys going to the doctor and the dentist.  And she's friendly.  Everyone she meets is her friend.  If you meet her on a playground her opening line tends to be "Hi I'm Zoe!  Wanna play?"  She's also a loving big sister (when she wants to be).  She wants to help Ana with things (whether Ana wants help or not). 

As much as she likes to do things by herself, and be on her own, and be the big helper... she knows when she wants to be my baby.  To cuddle in bed in the early morning.  To snuggle and have countless books read to her.  I hope we can hold on to some of that as she continues to grow.

I could just go on and on.  She is just growing in so many ways.  Every single day.

Every day I know she's getting older... but looking at this photo just seems to bring that fact into focus for me.