Little Mother

Isn't it amazing the gender specific traits that are ingrained in little people before they even really establish who they are? Like, without any real encouragement, boys often prefer to play with trucks and balls and shovels, where girls choose to carry around a baby doll and wear dresses and twirl. That's not across the board of course and I love to see Will pretend to cook and Sophie throw a ball, but it's funny how biologically similar the different sexes are.

{On a side note, and as a preface to this post, Will has pretended to breastfeed Sophie's baby doll, though Sophie herself has not. LOL ;) }

Sophie got her first real baby doll for Christmas and she instantly took to being a little mother, toting it around and hugging it.

She practiced "kangaroo care" in a Slinglings baby carrier for toddlers - a perfect gift from my mom - just as I used to carry my babies!
Perfect positioning and posture too... I love this little carrier - it looks so cute on her!

She sat her baby upright to spoon feed her.

And held her close while she fed her a bottle.

She wasn't really burping the baby, but doesn't it look like it? :)

Giving love and kisses.

And more milk! ;)

We have since done a lot of pretend play with baby. Putting her down for a nap was Sophie's favorite... she couldn't stop running back in to check on her multiple times and then running out to tell us all "Shh! Baby seeping!"

I love this age.