In the dark times of August 2010, Mia Hana Rose is saving her mama's life. She is the reason I get up in the morning. She is the reason I put one foot in front of the other. I think writing about her will pull me out of the darkness and give me a much needed glimpse into the light. She is a delight and full of joy. She continues to charm everyone she meets and, as her personality continues to shine, her sparkly smile remains as contagious as ever. Mia is almost 16 months and her communication is extraordinary. The Mt. Carmel teachers are in awe of her ability to use sign language and she is a huge fans of words that start with the letter "B" (bone, bird, ball, baa baa, bowl, book, bow-wow, bock-bock). She loves to "click" with the clock, vroom with the planes (every time she sees one she asks for "more, more") and pucker with the fish. She can sign the words for apple, cracker, food, milk, light, book, dog, flower, plane, water, more, baby, all done, and bird (among others). It is so much fun to communicate with her and meet her needs in a whole new way.
Mia has fallen in love with a blankie. It's a little yellow softie with pink satin trim and she will not let it out of her site. One of her favorite pastimes is sucking her thumb and rubbing her face with her blankie.
Mia loves babies. She is still in the baby room at Mt. Carmel (because of space issues), but she'll be moving up to the toddler room when she starts at Next Generation Kids in October.
Mia loves to go down the slide at the park. She squeals with glee as she plummets down the slide and immediately asks for "more-more" when she hits the floor.
Mia loves escalators. Gramma took her for her first escalator rides at Nordstrom yesterday and she was elated. She also got her first helium balloon, which was quite a hit.
Mia and Edgy-Reggie are best buds. Unfortunately, Mia thinks it's super fun to open mouth kiss Reggie dozens of times a day. She's really out of control.
Mia got to go out to Auntie Lark and Uncle Mark's farm to have lunch and play with the chickens. She loved hanging out with Wiley Boy and and even got to find an egg in the chicken coop.
Berry picking has been a highlight for Mia this Summer. She got to go out to Sauvie's Island with Mama and Gramma to pick raspberries and marion berries. She even had her own picking cup (which was empty as soon as it was filled). Some of us are concerned that Mia might actually turn into a berry herself, if she isn't careful.
Through all the turmoil of the end of Summer, Mia remains a bright light; growing more beautiful everyday, developing her vocabulary and communication skills, playing new games and building strong relationships with those who love her. Regardless of Mia's current family drama, she will know family, much the way I know family--with loving and supportive grandparents and too many doting aunties to count. What a lucky girl she is. And what a lucky Mama I am to have her to squeeze.
