16 months old

These days, I'm all about tractors, dump trucks, Bob the Builder, construction equipment, balls, water, dancing, and walking.



On my walks, I stroll right past the swings and slides and things to climb on at the park, and keep on walking and walking, going past the park, then up and down the side streets, toward the shopping center with its busier streets and more trucks and cars, saying vroom vroom! the whole time, and checking out the tires and letters and numbers on the license plates.



My Nonna Iris is so proud of me, because she is a super-walker herself! We even hiked 1-1/2 hours together recently, hand in hand, through a local park on a very hot day - which included a hill. I have a feeling Nonno G is proud of me too, as he's also a super-walker, in the Alps!

  

As for the dancing, I have a new CD I'm listening to all the time, called Italian Cafe. My favorite song is "Mambo Italiano" and the moment it's over, I call out, "More mambo!" And then I keep on dancing. When I listen to slower songs, I'm usually very intent on the melody and sometimes get a far-away, dreamy look in my eyes, and my mom says she can see my brain at work, making connections.



Recently I've tried singing along, especially the last few high notes. Who knows, maybe I'll have my own band someday with my friend, Elliot - he's already taking music classes and his dad is a saxophone player!

I'm also getting a lot more cuddly. I love hugging my little doggy that I sleep with at night, and my big bear I named "Elena" after my great-grandmothers, and give lots of kisses to things and people around the house (saying, "MWAH!"). I enjoy holding hands, and am so excited when friends and family come over. I also say "hi" to neighbors and people on the street (though they're usually too far away to hear my little voice).

And finally, as for the sleeping…it's still a work in progress, but getting a little better. My parents went to a class called "Bedtime Blues" and got all sorts of tips to help me fall asleep. The teacher had a lot of compassion for my parents…apparently, I'm on the extreme side. Anyhow, now that I'm sleeping a little more, it's like a whole new world for my parents - life is beautiful again! But lately I've been regressing…uh oh…wish us luck.

Last but not least...new words:

blanket
wind
blue
cracker
fuoco (fire)
Elena (my bear)
mango
egg
mina (short for cammina, 'walk')
stroller
rectangle
heart
star
spoon
piatto (plate)
tractor
mambo
limone (lemon)
dancing
jacket
treno (train)
Bob (from Bob the Builder, said with an Italian accent, 'Bob-a')
and 1-10 in Italian

And words strung together! ----- Ready, Set, Go! (Before throwing a ball.) Wow, ecco palla! (Wow, here's the ball!) Oh no, book! (When it falls off the bed.) Hi Pheobe, hi Mamma! (Morning greeting.) And when I hear a doorbell or phone ring, even if it's on TV, I turn and say "Chi e'?" (Who is it?)

More to come soon.

Yours truly - Baby G.