10 new things I LOVE about Maya (and 3 reasons she is like a dog)

I will start with the dog part.

1. She eats books. Chews the corners and everything.

2. She fetches and retrieves. She also carries things around in her mouth.

3. Yesterday she was frustrated that I put the earphones on her for the portable DVD player. So she ripped the foam padding off one ear in protest. Chewed it right off.

4. When the dog barks at a potential knock on the door, Maya yells, "Hum in!"

5. When we are out shopping, she says to me, "Momma, scheck it out!" about any and all items.

6. Every high five she gives out must be followed by the fist closed, knuckle to knuckle "pound." If you forget she says, "poun, poun."

7. She loves to aggravate and play tricks. Often she will look with her coy blue eyes and deny people kisses. "No pisses for yo!" and she will turn her head away.

8. She is obsessed with Jingle Bells- the 45 minute animated movie (which has at least 2 showings a day at our house) and the song (which plays on a loop). If either one of these is not playing she walks around the house bellowing, "JINGLE BELLS!"

9. Unlike her big sister, Maya goes out of her way to smile and wave and engage strangers in public- such that I have gone from saying, "Don't take it personally" when Ella would give people dirty looks to saying, "It's okay, you don't HAVE to talk to her" about Maya when she targets the same people multiple times.

10. But what I love most about Maya right now is her undying devotion and hero worship of her big sister. If Ella is jumping on bands, Maya must be right beside her. She wants to sit next to her, have the same mittens, bring Ella her favorite blanket or proudly deliver her a snack or drink. The sun rises and sets by Ella. When we drive to school to pick Ella up, Maya murmurs, "Ella" the entire time in the backseat. She loves her so much, she has to pull her hair and bite her every now.