Miriam, in 5 words

I just asked Mario to give me 5 words that describe Miriam, and he said "sweet, insistent, cute, lovable, and happy."  Mine would be "funny, outgoing, energetic, happy and adorable." 

Her latest activities include climbing stairs (all by herself) as well as "stalking" our neighbor's new (outdoor) cat, who puts up with her petting for a short while before running away.  She also insists on feeding herself, and will stand in front of her high chair waiting for us to put her in, because she knows that is the only place she is allowed to feed herself.  She loves to be a "helper" around the house and throw things in the garbage, help put clothes in the washer/dryer, or help organize drinks and put food away.  Miriam definitely loves attention and playing with us, but she's great about playing independently and she can often be seen/heard babbling and laughing to herself while she's building blocks or playing on the slide.  She loves it when we build block towers and she gets to destroy them, usually by kicking them down. 

We go to the doctor on September 10 for her 18 month well baby visit, so we'll report on her height and weight after that visit.  In the meantime, we'll leave you with some pictures that provide a snapshot of her dynamic personality. 

"I'm ready to go shopping!"

"Feeding myself is messy business, but someone's got to do it!"

"Watch how high I can go!"

"Daddy, don't worry.  I watched where you hid those foosballs."

"Slam dunk at 18 months.  Take that, Aunt Katie!"

"Here, kitty kitty!"

"I know you are under that bush..."

"Well Mama, they wouldn't have built the drawers so low if I wasn't supposed to get into them..."

"Peanut butter and jelly....its all I want in my belly."

"Corn on the cob is goooood."

Multitasking, already....

"Kitty, I see you hiding under my slide!"

"Food tastes better after it has been all over my face, don't you know?"

"Mama, I'm testing you..."

"See me standing.  Are you going to come get me?"

"OK, I see you coming.  I'm sitting down!"

"What?!?  I'm still sitting! :) "

"This is just a fun way to get out of the chair, Mama..."

And she does a 180 into a headstand...

...With a side somersault onto the floor!

Close up of her gorgeous dark brown eyes (just like her Daddy's)

"What?  I only got a score of 7 for my acrobatics? My feet were together!"

Finger painting for the first time.

Tentative at first...

Finger painting leads to whole hand painting...

And whole hand painting leads to clothes painting...

Which leads to an outdoor shower.