>>534854053
>I pull apart the book to the next page, proposing the question on it to the girl as both of the cartoon characters look forward at the reader, shrugging.
>"How many do they have in all?"
>I look down to the little thing in my lap, who notices I've stopped to look up at me. Her head tilted as she waits for me to lead.
>I reach down to hold her tiny little hand in mine, pressing down her fingers to instruct on how to count. She balls her fist on instinct once I do, then I get her to point with her index.
>"One."
>She mirrors me, "One."
>I point at one of the four displayed red circles and repeat. "One."
>She looks between her hand and the book a few times as I keep going.
>"Two." The second apple is pointed at and a second finger is held up. She repeats without instruction this time.
>"Two."
>I point and wait.
>The cogs turn as I wait.
>"Free?" She asks in her lisp.
>"Three. That's right!" I put a flood of glee into my voice, almost unintentionally as the praise makes her giggle and bounce, leaning back to poke me in the stomach with her head spines.
>"And?" I point back at the book, waiting again.
>She's on the draw this time. Almost hitting me in the face as she whips around to put her hand right in front of me.
>"Four!" she yells, beyond pleased with herself. I share in the celebration by hugging onto her before turning the page to reveal her correct answer. Reading as the page congratulates as well.
>"Four! They have four!"
>In a flash Maria has gone right back to leaning over in my lap to keep eyes on what exciting new thing the book has to show her. I grin and turn the page, leading onto the surprise now waiting. The two have a third friend.
>Maria puts on a comical gasp of surprise when a new farm animal, Mr. Pig shows, with an entire five apples.
cont one more now actually, hit char limit.