It's Storytime! Storytime! Have a Seat!

Meredith and I have started visiting storytimes at the library. We actually started before Thanksgiving. However, we have been going every week since the new year. She seems to love it!

The first time we went she just sat on my lap and stared, not really knowing what what to think.

In the last few weeks, she has come alive during storytime. Right before storytime we sit around on the floor with the other kids going to Mothergoose storytime. She watches them, smiles at them, squeals at them, reaches for them and bounces up and down at them.

Yesterday we went to storytime with Ms Jean at the Mandarin Library. Mandarin has a little table with baby chairs where all the kids and parents sit before storytime. We sat in one of the chairs and started looking around. The fun started right away.

First, Meredith saw a little 3 and a half month girl, McKAy. McKay was hanging out in her Baby Bjorn - much like Merediths. When Meredith saw McKay they smiled at each other, then Meredith stood up and lunged for McKay. Once I prevented a head first dive to the floor, because Meredith seems to forget that she does not walk yet, Meredith stood up wobbly on her little feet and smiled at me.

Then, Meredith and Logan - a 16 month old little girl made eye contact. Logan is a walking baby so she came over to meet Meredith. They stared. Logan said "HI". Meredith went "AAAAAAA" and jumped up and down. Then Logan tried to pull the flower off Meredith's outfit and that was that - it was time for storytime.

Meredith started storytime on her feet and jumping up and down. She smiled and stared at everyone. During the first story she watched the book and Ms. Jean intently. We sang and swayed and had a great time for 10 minutes or so.

During storytime Meredith made another friend named Mati, a little boy with wickedly orange/red, curly hair. They stared and babbled at each other - it was hilarious. Meredith does seem to like red.

Then we had ball time. Ball time is when Ms. Jean passes out these knitted soft balls with a rattle in the middle. We play with them and then give them back. It was around this time that Meredith lost all patience for storytime. I don't know if it was losing the ball or if she was hungry, but it was time to leave.