Peep! Peep!

Zia Daniela and her little girl, Martina, have come to visit.

Martina, still too shy to speak much, is sitting happily on a chair which she has commandeered all for herself, and being spoon-fed bits of cream gelato.

Papa' is the brother of Zia Daniela and also the godfather of Martina. Though she doesn't talk to me or AmoreMio, she seems rather smitten with Papa'. So as her mother deftly aims a spoon of gelato at her mouth, Martina calls out every few seconds "Godfather! Godfather!" (Note: I believe her intention is to call attention, thus I have added the exclamation points, though due to her quiet nature her words are actually coming out just above a whisper).

In Sicilian, the endearing word for Godfather is Pipino (peepeeno). But Martina can't quite seem to grasp the pronunciation yet, so instead she says "Pio Pio!" Which is evidently the Italian equivalent to "Peep Peep!"... as in the sound of a little chick.

So the scene is this: Zia Daniela trying to keep the melting gelato off of Martina's clothes, Papa' walking around the kitchen cleaning up from the gelato dispensing, and Martina squirming in her seat every time Papa' passes, squeaking "Peep! Peep!"

So far she has said it five times, and every time the adults have corrected her. It doesn't seem to have any affect on her pronunciation though.