M is for Maya

Dear Maya,

Mommy likes alliterations. That probably comes as no surprise given the name of this blog, but today's post is going to take it one step further. In fact, Miss Maya's mommy's about to alliterate a lot. It seems that this week's news all happens to have to do with "M" words, so here goes:

M is for Monkey:
You use your feet like a monkey. Family members have been commenting for a while on the strength of your toes as you use them to grip when standing on people's laps. Over this past week you have begun treating your feet even more like hands as you put them on top of the high chair tray at mealtime.

You also eat bananas like a monkey. We have never seen a baby eat so many bananas. Even after you've breastfed and eaten a meal of cereal plus a fruit or veggie, you can eat half a banana then still slap your high chair tray for more. Last week you even bit the end off a whole banana that daddy was about to eat!

M is for Messy:
While your messiness at mealtime isn't new this week, your technique is. For a while you always put your fingers in your mouth between every bite of solid food, resulting in a painted high chair by the end of your meal. Now you've switched to turning your head so we can't clean your face during or after meals. Fun.

M is for Milestone:
You stood up on your own for the first time yesterday!!! When great-grandma babysat you Monday, she couldn't believe how easily you were pulling up and keeping your balance holding on with only one hand. She said you'd be standing on your own soon, but we weren't sure because you'd been pulling up for a while now.

We should have known that your great-grandparents are always right, though. This is the second time they've made a prediction that has come true within a short time. What none of us predicted was what you would be reaching for when you first stood--daddy's dessert! We replaced it with a banana and you stood repeatedly.

M is for Mama:

After a week or two of "nahnah" and "nehneh," you have started saying "mama" this week. While this makes mommy's heart flutter a little each time, I know that you don't know what you're saying. And while you have said "dada" a couple of times, daddy wants to be called "to-chan" so he's not jumping up and down just yet.

M is for Moving:
We saw grandma and Poppa Stan off last weekend as they left to retire to North Carolina. We're going to miss having them right around the corner to visit just any old time. They've promised to come back for Thanksgiving and we're going to have to sacrifice and make some trips to see them by the beach.  :)

We are moving ourselves this coming weekend and life'll be a little crazy until we get settled. There are a couple of things you are going to love about this move, though. One is that you will have your own room. The other is that we are going to live in the same house with Uncle Matt and Auntie Rhi! How cool is that?!?

Well, it's time to tie up the typing and say ta-ta for tonight.  :)

Love you!

P.S.  Just for the sake of record-keeping, your new food additions this week were acorn squash and apples.  Hey, they both start with an "a"...