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Lucy doesn’t even realize what Sophie is doing at first. She has her on her play mat, and it has a little mirror hanging down. Sophie is batting it with her hands and it’s shaking a little, Lucy is in the kitchen looking at Sophie and then looks away and finishes making Emma’s lunch.
Her older daughter is with Tim in the backyard running around. It had been a bit of a dreary day, and they kept the girls inside. It finally cleared up and Emma begged to go outside so they let her. And Tim was picking up the yard which was nice.
Lucy glances up again and Sophie is just staring at the mirror that is in front of her. And then she giggles.
Lucy tilts her head a little and watches her daughter. Sophie giggles again and then bats at the mirror and it moves. Sophie keeps giggling, it’s like she can’t get enough of herself.
And oh.
She likes looking at herself in the mirror, she was at the age where she was starting to recognize people and things. And now she recognizes herself which was adorable.
Lucy loves this stage of having a baby. She was still little (9 months) but she was getting more and more curious. Lucy remembers this with Emma and it made her happy to see it again with Sophie.
And this time—
This time—
She got to experience it with Emma and Tim. Last time it was her alone with Emma even though Tim was there through most of it.
It’s just different this time.
She has a husband, and Emma is watching her sister learn and grow. It’s an amazing feeling and it’s just amazing that she does have this.
She has all of it and it really can’t get better than this—watching her baby girl giggle at herself in the little mirror.
It really can’t get better than this.
***
It does get better, and Lucy observes it all. She watches as Tim sets Sophie in front of the big mirror in their bathroom. She doesn’t say anything, she just likes to watch and sees the baby look at herself. She points but Tim doesn’t seem to notice, he’s focused on getting Sophie’s two hairs in a ponytail.
Sophie points again and wiggles and goes towards the mirror, Tim blinks as Sophie moves up and presses her nose against and giggles.
Lucy can’t help but laugh and Tim turns to look at her. “What?” He asks and he reaches out for Sophie so she doesn’t fall over. But the baby doesn’t seem to even notice.
“She loves to look at herself in the mirror.” Lucy says. “I discovered that the other day with a little mirror on her play mat.”
“Oh.” Tim says looking curious. “She just discovered it?”
“She’s just a baby Tim.” Lucy says. “But I find it cute. She is discovering new things.”
“True.” Tim says and he lifts Sophie to her feet. He still has to hold her but she makes a grabby motion at her reflection.
“Whose that pretty girl?” Tim asks. Sophie giggles loudly as Tim bounces her up and down. “Is that Sophie.” Sophie makes another grabby motion.
Lucy just smiles and silently leaves the bathroom. She can’t believe how big and independent Sophie is getting. It’s like time is going too fast and her babies are growing up way too fast.
Way too fast.
She pauses and looks in at Emma in her room. Her oldest daughter is playing with her dolls, she has them set up around a little table. Emma is saying something and giggling.
Emma is more shy than Sophie, (the baby loves everyone) but the five year old has a great imagination and is fine playing on her own. They encourage her to play at school, and she has her little friend Lacey. But when she’s at home and Sophie isn’t around she likes being on her own.
Lucy smiles and walks down the stairs, she loves her little family and her little life she had no idea she was capable of creating. But she is so, so glad she has it.
So, so glad.
***
Sophie giggles in the backseat and Lucy looks in the rearview mirror. Sophie is staring at herself in the little toy mirror they bought her. Emma is holding it up and the baby is giggling.
“Sophie.” Emma says. “It’s just your reflection.”
“She likes staring at herself Bug.” Lucy says. She looks back and sees Emma smiling at her sister. “You did the same thing.”
“Really?” Emma asks. “Was I like Sophie?”
“No.” Lucy says. “You were more shy like you are now but that’s okay.”
“Oh.”
“You learned everything just like Sophie did but you took it in differently.” Lucy explains. It does amaze her how different her daughters are.
“She’s not my mirror.”
“Not exactly Bug.” Lucy says. “But that’s what makes you and Sophie amazing is that you are different. You don’t have to be exactly the same.”
Emma nods and then goes back to paying attention to her sister, and Lucy looks forward at the road but sneaks one last glance at her girls.
Her girls.
Her beautiful, amazing, little girls.
***
Lucy catches Emma looking at herself in the mirror next. The five year old is up on the counter in their bathroom.
“Emma!” Lucy says but then stops. Emma is staring at herself, and Lucy pauses again when she sees the tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong Bug?”
“Sophie looks like daddy and I don’t.” Emma says and she is still staring at herself in the mirror. “I want to look like daddy.” Lucy walks over and turns her around.
“Bug, you know—” She stops before she goes on. For all intents and purposes (and legally since he adopted her) Tim is and always would be Emma’s dad. Lucy has to remind Tim of that sometimes when he’s feeling down or something happens to remind him he wasn’t there at the start.
“Daddy adopted me.” Emma says. “But why couldn’t he be my real daddy?”
“Well you wouldn’t be you if daddy was your actual daddy.” Lucy says. Emma tilts her head at her.
“What?”
“Look, things happen for a reason and I got you. And then I met daddy and that’s a good thing Emma.” She says. “I know you want to look like daddy like Sophie does but that doesn’t make him any less your daddy.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Lucy says. “I love you Bug and I love that it was just you and me for a little bit.” Emma cracks a smile and Lucy counts it as a win.
“I love you too mommy.” She says.
“Good.” Lucy says and lifts her off the counter. “Go on baby. Go get ready for dinner.” Emma runs off and Lucy looks at herself in the mirror.
Her own reflection.
She’s not sure where she would be if she hadn’t met Tim. She wouldn’t have this life, Emma wouldn’t have a dad. She wouldn’t have Sophie either.
Maybe it was a rocky start but they did get to exactly where they needed to be.
Exactly where she needs to be.
With Tim, Emma and Sophie.
And she’s so thankful for this wonderful life.