Magic For The Middle Child

Sophie is my niece, my sister's middle child. Sophie is sweet and funny and smart and fun to be around. She is also very much the middle child. Her sister is the older one, the one who is already in school and bringing home homework and grades and getting fussed over because she does so well. Her brother is the "baby" at just two and commands a lot of attention because he is never still, and very, uhhh, let's just say he's very persistent and creative. He really commands attention. That leaves Sophie in the middle. She isn't old enough for school (yet, she starts in a few weeks) but she is too old to be the baby. She can do things for herself, but she doesn't have the opportunities to do the things her sister does. It's tough for Sophie.

Sophie is very much girlie. She wants to wear nothing but pink and LOVES Disney princesses, especially Belle. So today, when I saw this photo from Enchanted Tales With Belle, my heart leapt. Sophie was chosen to play the part of Beast during the story, which apparently meant she got to dance with Belle at the end when Beast turns back into the prince. They chose Sophie out of all those kids. Not her sister, not her brother, just her. She got to do something special, she got to take part in her favorite Princess' story, all on her own. I don't know if you can see all that means to her written all over her face like I can, but I can't imagine anyone not loving this picture, a picture of real Magic.