Our little rock star

Dear Maya,

Mommy's inspiration for this week's theme is the photo above. Although it just shows you putting something behind your neck, one of your strange but endearing habits, both daddy and I agree it looks like you're striking a pose for a magazine. You have been quite a little rock star lately, and here is further proof:

Reason #1
You rock. Daddy's bosses got you this cute skirt and we put it on you the other day to take Valentine photos. We couldn't get you to sit still for any serious shots, though, because you decided to rock out instead. Lately when someone shouts "Yeah!" or "Awesome!" you've taken to raising one or both hands. Awesome, indeed. You've also become quite a good dancer. When a catchy song comes from one of your musical toys or on the TV, you quickly raise and lower your feet in place, occasionally adding a little turn or flourish. Adorable!

Reason #2
You're a social butterfly. You love to play with the phone, sometimes even cradling it next to your ear. Most likely you're actually hugging it like you do your dolls, but it's still cute. And when you hear a beep because you pushed the 'on' button, you know to run to mommy to let her turn it off. Smart. As for talking, "Uh-oh" and "Hi, there" are still your only properly-used phrases, but occasionally you say "Wow!" at an opportune time and your intonation of "Thank you" is right on the money. You are also babbling more lately and every day we think we hear some other funny phrase come out of your mouth. Mommy's favorite? "Bodhisattva."

Reason #3
You hide from the paparazzi. Well, actually most of the time you're hiding from one of the tickle monsters who are the adults in this house. Once we have tickled you sufficiently and/or playfully taken whatever item you were running away with, you turn the tables and chase us while we hide. In these photos you're hiding behind the base of the lamp in the corner of your room. We've had to tie the top of it to a hook in the wall so you won't knock it over again. In all fairness, though, we've knocked into things while running from you, too.

Reason #4
You know you're adorable. You've always loved looking at yourself in mirrors. Lately when mommy or daddy take photographs of you, you sometimes come over and preview them in the viewfinder of the camera. And when you're super cranky, watching videos of yourself is one of the only things that will pull you out of it.

Reason #5
You love to be loved. When you were six or seven months old you used to give mommy and daddy kisses quite often, but then you stopped. The more mobile you became the less we could expect cuddling of any kind from you. A month or so ago you began burying your head in mommy's neck when she first picked you up in the morning or after a nap, and that has gradually turned into longer, sweeter hugs which are peppered throughout the day. Then, yesterday, you got your kissing groove back, offering your forehead or the general vicinity of your mouth (sometimes open) for pecks from mommy, daddy, Uncle Matt and Aunt Rhi. Aww...

Well, little rock star, thanks for making us a part of your upward and outward trajectory into this world. We love you!