Saturday Morning at the Park

Thank you Gramma!

This morning, upon our return from the park, we found Gramma's package waiting for us!  Personally, I see no reason for her to wear anything else in the foreseeable future.  

Our debut at the supermarket deemed her new ensemble a success if we are to judge by the crowds of admirers that gathered around her.  

I scattered objects around the house for no other reason than to enjoy the following:

A Bewildering Encounter

Julia was left perplexed and eventually indignant by the following exchange with her new playmate:

He continually offered her dandelions, only to swipe them away at the last moment.

She began to lose patience with his games.

Then, out of nowhere, a smooch on the cheek.

She is taken aback by his gutsy move.

Baffled.  

And she never did get that dandelion.

Her Favorite Perch

And why shouldn't it be?  

I just wish she didn't have to look so territorial about it.

Reminds me of this picture taken when she was only 4 months old.  She sure knows how to say "hey lady, three's a crowd".

Picking Flowers

She still has to struggle to stand without pulling up on a nearby object.  I refuse to help her because I enjoy the grunts of exertion and  subsequent sigh of satisfaction too much. 

Zoo

So, here we are at the end of our day, it started to rain and Julia was so spent from her screeching and pointing that she couldn't even lift a finger to greet the panther in front of her. And I know she wanted to.  I just know it.

Collecting Seashells by the Seashore

Yet Another...

Julia's contagious excitement keeps her Nonna glued to her needles.  She made another knit top and Julia, tired of waiting for us to jump into action, tries to put in on herself...

A Tiny Girl in the Immensity

She couldn't keep up with her frantic finger pointing and she accented each new discovery with a breathy "ahhhhhhh".  Poor thing kept plopping on her bum because she would crane her neck too far back to see the ceiling.   This is San Giovanni, the basilica that is a couple blocks from our house and it is enormous, much more than you can see from the pictures.  She was very busy while there and very tired upon leaving.

I haven't seen this girl crawl in months, but I suppose she felt it was necessary to give the mosaic floor the attention it deserved.

Spring Day

Picking flowers and fluttering around in our new flippy floppy frock from Nonna.  Yes, this is number four.  The video below will illustrate why Nonna keeps making them for her.  Her reaction was actually quite subdued as compared to the other three times.  

Serious Morning at the Park

We picked leaves...

We chased pigeons...

We snacked...

And then we came across a curiosity...

My little half-Italian baby girl loves the soccer.

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl!

Fourteen months old today!

At the Park with Papà

You Tell Me...

It is either the sweetest thing in the world, or the saddest.  During her rummaging, she found a picture and when told that it was "papà" she clung to it and hasn't let go since.  She likes to hold it in her stroller and chirps pah-pah as we walk around town.  

And sadder still...I told Julia we were going to send a message to papà and she yanked the phone from me and  gave 5 cheery "hi!"s in a row. 

Her Conflicted Feelings About Swings

She wants to love them.  She seeks them out, pointing and grunting until I put her on one.  Once there, she stiffens up and makes her gesture for "down".  Then mere moments later she wants to try again. 

Flower Pots

"Come on mom, no one is watching."