New Words this week + Happy Birthday Mama!

I really need to keep up with this blog...as these toddler moments are so fleeting! I have to be very conscious about making entries the day that these events happen otherwise days, weeks and months will go by without them being documented. I've already missed out on documenting so many moments: rolling over, sitting up, crawling, first foods, first steps, first words...As I'm writing this it makes me sad!

So here now, I am officially reporting that on...
Wednesday, July 18: Niko looked at my picture, pointed, and said "mama" for the first time. He had learned to say "mama" months before, but never designated ME for that word. I was at work at that time. He has yet to look into my eyes with endearment and call me "mama". I am waiting for that day...
Sunday, July 22: Niko is in the bathtub and as the water from his tub is draining, Gabe is saying "A-wah Bye Bye!" and Niko replies "ba ba!" Very cute and different from the way he sings "pa paaaaa!"
Wednesday, July 25: Mommy's Birthday :) Gabe bought me a big and beautiful bouquet of flowers on this very rare occasion. I let Niko smell them, and so he puts his nose to the rose and reacts "mmmmmmm!" the same way he senses that his food tastes delicious.

Every day is something new and I will do my best to keep on top of reporting the Niko news of La Vida Niko...

Niko's 1st July 4th @ Navy Pier Chicago

we took niko to see his first fireworks and for his first merry-go-round ride. he loved both. he held tightly on to the pole as the horse moved up and down and round and round. about to fall asleep when the fireworks came on his eyes lit up with the first burst. "uh oh" was his delayed reaction to the blasts with fingers pointing up in all directions wowed at all the simultaneous flowers exploding in the night sky.