Nana and Tia

Angelina has taken to calling her daycare provider (a wonderful 'older' - as in she has a grown daughter - woman) "Nana." I have no idea where that came from, nor does she. Angelina just started saying it, but we all like it. I've heard other kids call their babysitters 'mommy' which kind of freaked me out. And though "Nana" is close to "Nanny" (my mom's grandma-moniker), it's distinct enough that there's no confusion. And "Nana" likes being called that too. The other day as we arrived and I rang the doorbell, Angelina knocked on the door shouting "Nana! Nana!" When it opened, Angelina had to show her the tissue in her hand. "Look Nana!" This has become a daily ritual. Angelina must have something in her hands to show Nana when we arrive...

Then there's "Tia." For a short time, the babysitter had a helper there, a younger woman named Mary. For some reason - and no one seems to know why - Angelina started calling her "Tia." All well and good. But I've noticed now that whenever we are around other youngish women (and by young I mean not grandmothers), she calls them "Tia." It's actually pretty sweet. I like the fact that she thinks of everyone as her 'auntie,' especially as she doesn't get to see her biological aunties very often.

Then there are the boys... that same morning she was so focused on showing "Nana" the tissue, she caught a glimpse of Noah sitting down and she could care less about Maman or Nana. She yelled NOAH! and went racing over. Noah is the almost 5 yr old who is sweet and quiet and shy and probably has no clue why this 2 yr old girl thinks he's the bees knees. His only competition is Wiley. As it is when we approach the house, she shouts "Noah!" Poor kid doesn't know what hit him. She loves all the kids there, and talks about them a lot, but Noah is the one we hear about most. Poor Wiley, he thought he was the favourite! He still is, when he's present...(and showing her bad habits like using the rock pile as a slide!)

This girl and her older men....