My Hero!

Niya looks at all things in life with such enthusiasm! She is my hero, I hope to gain just an ounce of that enthusiasm from her...

At the beach: Asleep in the car (as I take her out, sorry to wake her up) her head pops up, wide awake, she looks around... "Oh Wow!!!" she says with complete excitement!

At dinner: "Num Num?" she asks as she waits for the food to be ready. "Yeah, we're going to eat soon." I tell her... "Ooooh!" she says. Once at the table she looks things over and states with happiness "Num! Num! Num!"

At bath time: As the water is running she is bouncing up and down with excitement... "Bath Bath!!" she is shouting with glee!

At breakfast: She surveys her cinnamon raisin bread, blackberries, and yogurt... "Mmmm" she says with a satisfied smile.

She is just happy about everything... it makes me happy just to be with her! :)

Meet...Mouse

Just before Niya's first birthday she found this toy mouse in a toy store and wouldn't let it go... We did leave the store without it... but Mommy guilt set in and Mouse arrived for Niya's birthday. From the minute he came out of the box... these two are always together (when they are at home). Here are some pictures of "Mou"(se), as Niya calls him (she doesn't say the S sound at the end).

Meet Mouse (notice his little twizzled whiskers...

she wraps them around her fingers as she falls asleep.

Mouse waiting patiently

As if to say... I'm here if you need me!

Mouse gets a kiss... Mouse also gets to have his teeth brushed, sit with us to read stories, and gets a drink of water (just like Niya) right before bed.

When Niya is up, Mouse is up too.

Who would have known that this silly little guy would become such a good friend. Why a mouse... nobody knows! Maybe we should ask cousin Caleb... he might know! :)

Finally... More Teeth!!

I am compelled to write this post... After much concern and waiting, and worrying (all on my part, all needless) Niya is finally getting more of her teeth. For those of you that I confided in, you know I was concerned, I know it seems silly but she had two teeth early at 6 months, and then nothing for another six. I wasn't sure the rest were even in there! Anyway, Niya now has 7 teeth (all in the last month or so) and I finally caught them in a picture*!

*I had to throw an elephant up in the air, and as I yelled Weee and she watched it fall, I managed to capture this super excited smile! :) This is how she smiles all the time, but it is hard to catch it in a picture before she is off to do something else! :)

Gotta love that Sullivan chin right?!!

Time To Smell The Daisies... Literally

On a recent visit to Newport Rhode Island (affectionately referred to as the 'other' Newport in our house) We made a stop at a city park for Niya to get out of the stroller and walk around. She just loved the daisies that were all taller than she is! I couldn't help but take pictures!!

Finding a perfect one to smell

No Dada, I don't want the one that you are holding conveniently close for me to smell, I want this one!

Dada helping Niya to see the rest of a really huge old tree. She loved it... she just wanted to stare up at the branches... every so often she would say Wow, Wow, WOW!

We had a fantastic time, 'the other Newport' is beautiful, can't wait to take some of you there! :)

"Tiny" Dancer

Going to lunch today Niya fell fast asleep on the car ride over. When we arrived at the Mexican restaurant, I climbed in to get her out of the car. There was fiesta music playing in the background from the restaurants outdoor patio seating. As I unbuckled Niya, she opened her eyes and began to bob her head to the music... then the head slowly sank back down and she was fast asleep again! I laughed and tried to get her out of the seat, only to have her wake up, bob her head to the music (really getting into the beat) and then promptly fall asleep again (head hanging down, chin on her chest, and eyes closed). I motioned to Kevin to watch (he was waiting next to the car) and I gave her a little gentle pat, "wake up baby, time to go have some num nums." Once again the head is up, eyes open, and she is bobbing to the music and then she is back to sleep... I think our laughing finally woke her up (and then she just looked confused and sleepy)! :)

Poor kid, I tried to tell her that she needed that morning nap... she just didn't believe me! :)

Niya "Reading" A Book With Mommy

I think this is so funny... just wanted to share! :)

Eating With A Spoon!

Here is a movie of Niya eating with a spoon... this was about a week ago, and already things are well beyond this point! :)

She now likes eating with silverware so much that she looks totally insulted if I don't give her silverware at times when the meal is mostly finger food.

The World of NO

Niya has discovered the word 'No' and is still figuring out what it really means and how to use it...

Me: Niya would you like to have some blueberries (she always wants blueberries!)?

Niya (1): No! as she stuffs them into her mouth

Me: Niya, let's clean your room. Can you help me?

Niya (1): as she begins to pick things up and put them away No... No.

So... in summary... around here, I guess No means yes?! How confusing!

Between this and Wow Wow WoOW we are kept laughing a lot! :)

Wow Wow WoOW!

Niya says this all the time "Wow Wow WoOW!" always in threes and more drawn out and louder if she is really excited...

The best ways to explain it... Think of how you would sound if you were saying this and spinning around on a carnival ride... that is how she sounds! It is so sweet and so HER! :)

Niya (1): finding a paper towel roll Wow Wow WoOw!

Me: Look at the pretty flower.

Niya (1): Wow Wow WoOW!

Daddy: Look Niya all the toys fit in this box.

Niya (1): Wow Wow WoOW!

I think you get the idea! :)