::Z::

Well . . . It's been a few weeks since our last blog and Maren has had several fun and exciting new developments since St. Patrick's Day!

• As you can see from at least one of these pictures, her hair is coming in very nicely. A brush was a recent and necessary investment.

• Maren is outgrowing her current diapers and ready to move to the next size (4). In the meantime, she's considering a career in plumbing.
• Speaking of moving into new stages, Maren is almost done with jarred baby food. She eats most dinners with us (tonight was an exception--sushi!) She seems to especially enjoy pizza (who doesn't) but has no problems with her veggies either. Quite an eater!
  

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• Maren's vocabulary is continuing to grow. She points to Dad and says "Da-dee" and points to Mom and says "Da-dee." She says "Sky" and has also spent a lot of time in recent weeks in a voice we call "Monster Maren." She sort of growls in a tone we are sure is permanently lowering her vocal range. She also has taken to a sort-of fake laughing and then inhaling hoarsely as if she just laughed so hard she can't breathe. After a few scares, we learned it was all for show. We can't quite it figure out, but she seems to enjoy it immensely.
• Currently, her favorite game is peek-a-boo and often pulls her bath towel over her face and then pulls it down with a big grin. She also enjoys taking things from your hand and then giving it back, always giggling when we say "Thank you!"
  
• She loves books!! Especially turning the pages! The stories are often read in edited form now as Mom and Dad race to finish reading before Maren decides to turn the page, but right now, I think a consistent plot-line is irrelevant.
• She has become quite the speed demon on her hands and knees and is exploring the idea of walking. She has stood on her own a couple of times and taken a few steps behind her toy walker. I'm sure she'll be running before we know it.
  
• Maren is currently off the carts for her height. Clothes are a bit challenging. Like her dad, it's hard to find sleeves and pant legs long enough for her.

That's it for now. By next week, I expect we'll have more deployments to report: new words, her first steps, a stable method for nuclear fission . . .