The Long Cry

In the last couple of weeks, Mary has begun calling to me in a long cry of "Maaahhhh-meeeee" that lasts about four seconds. I don't know when she began calling me "Mommy" instead of "Mama" most of the time, but I sure don't think John was doing so at eighteen months old. Every time Mary wakes up, she instantly calls "Maaahhhh-meeeee." And throughout the day I'll hear the two children calling me that way to help with things, which can grate on my nerves at times. "Maaahhhh-meeeee, Maaahhhh-meeeee, Maaahhhh-meeeee, Maaahhhh-meeeee, Maaahhhh-meeeee . . . ."

I've been thinking how strange it is, how Mary sounds like such an older child! Where could she have gotten that? Finally this morning it occurred to me, she did get it from an older child: her big brother! It's very cute to me to see her imitating her big brother--although I know it won't be when she's imitating naughty older child behavior!