Maria Update

Maria is definitely going to be an outside kid this summer. She already has little tan lines on her skinny little legs! When we're not outside, she knocking on the windows or front door at the kids waiting for the school bus, or dog-walkers on the street. She notice so much now! When she sees her stroller, she just squeals with excitement! It's going to be a fun summer for us!

She's also trying to say so many words. She tries to say 'light' (and points at the ceiling), 'kick' when she and daddy play with the soccer ball, 'purple' when we read the purple pages in her books (sounds like 'pu-pu'), and her favorite word is still daddy. Or rather, da-da-DAAAA! We get an occasional 'mama', 'na-na' (for Nonna), 'dzzz' for Daisy, and 'grrrr' for the bears in her books.

She still really loves books (her teacher-mommy is so proud!). She likes to bring you a book then scoot backwards to plop her butt on your lap. That's my favorite part of the day! She points to animal pictures and makes their sounds, too. All cats in books are 'Dzzz', (in reference to our cat, Daisy). And she can't go to sleep without a few books, too. Her favorites are 'Time for Bed', 'Hush little Baby', ' Tickle, Tickle, Teddy' (from Uncle John), and possibly her favorite is 'From Head to Toe' by Eric Carle (mommy's favorite children's author). She makes a sound or motion for nearly every animal on every page. It's not really a relaxing, wind-down book but she loves it at bedtime anyway. And daddy loves that she goes to find the Baby OU Book when we sing the OU fight song, Boomer Sooner. It's adorable!

We've been slacking on taking pictures lately, so I promise to try and post a few this week. Her hair is growing, and... she's got CURLS!!! Mommy is so excited! As much as I wanted a little girl with thick, beautiful, dark Italian hair like Daddy's, I'm secretly excited that she will have that little piece of me. And we've been putting the hair on the top of her head up in a little 'Pebbles Ponytail' - so cute! (Picture to come, I promise!)

Maria just brings us so much joy right now. Everyday her smile just melts away all the craziness of the world and the daily grind. I can't believe she's nearly 15 months old. One part of me wants to keep her at this age for ever, and another part of me can't wait to see the person she will become.

Ok, enough drama from the mama. Better go be productive while she's down for a nap!

Jody