My how time flies! Mary Angelina Saporito, The Citizen’s 2006 First Baby of the Year, will turn five on January 27. The Citizen caught up with her Mom and Dad to find out how she is doing.

She is still as cute as a button and her dad, Jeff Saporito of Wantagh, said that Mary is “flourishing and happy.”

Mary is enrolled in the kindergarten program at Maplewood School in Wantagh and became a big sister almost two years ago. 

When she is not at school or playing with her friends, Mary makes it her business to teach baby brother Paul Thomas how to talk. Mary’s mother Anne was busy feeding Paul his grilled cheese sandwich when The Citizen called, but Jeff Saporito said he and his wife think Mary is the “quintessential big sister.” 

Mary seems to have an artistic flair, too. “We set up a little table with drawers for Mary where she keeps her crayons, markers, glue, construction paper. She can spend hours there creating art. That’s her absolute favorite thing to do,” said Jeff.

Mary even helped with her own birthday party invitations, placing stickers on the envelopes. A fifth birthday party is planned for Mary later this month at the Little Gym in Merrick. 

“We invited 26 kids. Mary has a lot of friends – from the neighborhood; her library playgroup, her friends from Precious Kids [a Pre-K program Mary attended in Merrick last year],” said Jeff. 

Both Mom and Dad are looking forward to the party and watching their little brood grow. “Everyday is a new wonder,” said Jeff. “We feel so blessed. Life couldn’t be better, thanks to the children.”

Could your baby be The Citizen’s first baby of the year? 

By Laura Schofer

Laura Schofer, staff writer for L&M Publications, has been recognized with several awards for many of her feature pieces published in Bellmore and Merrick Life, The Citizen and The Leader.