A long time ago we picked up a baby sign language book. In the early months of dealing with a new baby in the house, we dreamed of the day when she would actually be able to tell us what she wanted or what was wrong. (And there were times when those days seemed VERY far away.)
Over the past couple of months we slowly started introducing some of the baby sign language to Maile. (And when I say “we”, I mostly mean Mommy and Megan – Daddy typically would forget.) The two main words we tried to teach her was “milk” and “please” – after all a girl has to have some manners!
“Please” is basically a clapping of the hands in front of you (I actually <think> this version isn’t proper sign language, its more the Japanese version). “Milk” is squeezing one hand like you are milking a cow.
I’ll be honest and say I didn’t have high hopes – but incredibly, over the past couple of weeks Maile has started to communicate to us with her signs. When she wants milk she will start grasping one hand and as the video below shows she is even starting to “say” please when she wants something…
I'm no bandwagon girl - I had the Blue Devils going all the way from the beginning!
When I woke up this morning Mommy told me some great news – while I was sleeping Duke beat Butler to win the Men’s Basketball National Championship! I told Mommy to pull out my Blue Devils onesie and pop my milk bottle because it was time to celebrate!
I also asked Mommy to pat my back (my arms are too short and I can’t reach): you might recall, that I had the Blue Devils winning in the bracket I filled out. In fact, Daddy told me that I came in 3rd place out of 80 people in the March Madness pool that he entered my bracket in. He assured me that’s quite good. In fact, he whispered in my ear and told me that he has never done that well in a March Madness pool(!)
(Dad note: for those counting at home, Maile has now won the Super Bowl prop bet pool she entered and placed 3rd in a March Madness bracket pool in her short life. Do they let 9 month olds into casinos?)
Pretty much as soon as we stepped foot in NYC, we’ve been meeting up with mommy’s and daddy’s friends. Its been so much fun meeting everyone (especially the pint sized people that have come around since mommy and daddy left New York).
Daddy wanted me to mention that when the weather is bad (and its been really rainy), there really isn’t a good spot for multiple families to get together. We ended up meeting a bunch of people at the Time Warner Center – basically the middle of a mall and then ended up going into the Borders. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked I guess. Daddy says when its nice, its easy enough to go to a park, but when its not there should be another option. (Sounds like daddy is making a pitch for his “bar for families” idea – he even has a name for it: Momma’s.)
In any event, back to more important things – regardless of where we were it was still great to meet everyone. Thanks for coming to see me!
Meeting Talia and Brook
Meeting Jen and Maddie
Ordering wine with Andrea (we both chose a nice white...)
Last time I saw Jenny I was only a couple months old - she was quite impressed with how I have aged!
Pretty much every picture of Gwen and I one of us wasn't looking at the camera. So I chose the one of me displaying a cute smile - sorry Gwen!
(Not pictured, but still enjoyed meeting: Christine and Jasper, Rohini, and all of mommy’s friends at Teach for America.)
So when I was at Maggie’s house all she kept talking about were these “choo choo trains” – she had never actually been on one, but she had seen them coming through her town. They sounded pretty cool to me, so imagine my excitement when Mommy and Daddy told me that we’d be traveling from New Jersey to New York City on a … choo choo train!
Mommy and I getting settled on the choo choo train - much different from the air plane, a lot more room to stretch your legs (not that its really a problem for me...)
What's really neat about the choo choo is that the windows are really big and there is so much to see (even in New Jersey!)
And as a bonus, after the choo choo train, we got on another type of train called the “subway”…
Dad note: I think Maile is saying "hey, enough with the planes, trains and automobiles, let's get to NYC already!"
Maile wanted to wish everyone a Happy St. Patty’s Day so mommy dressed her up in her best green outfit…
Oh, you didn't tell me it was a holiday. HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
Hey, you stay away from my pot of gold!
When Maile got home from Hannah’s she even brought us a St. Patty’s Day gift that she worked on with Megan. We decided to head outside for some pictures (the weather was amazing today!)
Mommy and daddy I made this clover with pictures of me on it just for you!
Thank you Maile - presents with pictures of you on it will never get old!
Daddy has been in Boston all week for work. I miss him a lot, but luckily I still get to see him every day using the computer. I’m not sure exactly how everything works, but mommy presses a few buttons and then all of sudden there daddy is talking to me on the computer screen.
Today when we were saying goodbye I decided to give daddy a big surprise and I waved to him! (I had waved before, but never on command). Just goes to show you how much I miss him!
