la niña chismosa

Elena's personality is beginning to emerge. A few of the ladies on campus and I (Steph) have a Spanish title for each other, "chismosa." This word usually refers to a gossip--we use it in the sense that we like to know what's going on around us. For example, we may be in a conversation with one person and hear something interesting next to us and tune into that conversation as well. We watch each other do this sort of thing all the time. I think Elena is getting an early start on this, too. She can't stand to miss out on activity around her. We visit our friend's home for boys once a week where she used to easily take a nap. Not anymore. There are way too many boys to play with and too many noises to listen to. Part of this is where she's at developmentally--aware of her surroundings. But I think she's inherited something. My mom said I was the same way as a baby. She likes to remind me that right after I was born my eyes were wide open, soaking everything in. Funny, so were Elena's.

I took this video a few weeks ago after a full day of activities she just couldn't stand to miss out on. We get home and she still had energy to play....