An apple a day...

  Dear Maya,

After your fever last Saturday, mommy and daddy weren't sure we'd be able to take you anywhere or do anything for a few days. When you awoke Sunday morning, however, you seemed as healthy as could be, energetic and funny and ready to start a new day.

Since it was such a warm and sunny day compared to what the forecast had said, we decided to chance a trip
to do some apple picking. Auntie Rhi joined us and we went to the same orchard where daddy took pictures of mommy with a belly bump last year. Time really flies...

The sun was very bright, and since you wouldn't keep your hat on, you look serious in many of the pictures. You seemed to enjoy your first time apple picking, though. You tried sticking branches, leaves, pumpkin stems and, of course, apples in your mouth every chance you got.

Luckily, mommy remembered to bring daddy's Swiss army knife so she could cut up some apple for you on the spot. It was your first uncooked apple, but you seemed to really enjoy it. You kept storing pieces up against the roof of your mouth and taking more until you had quite a mouthful.

Thanks to the apples or maybe just thanks to your strong immune system, your fever has not returned. You have had a runny nose on and off this week. I think you and mommy have just been exchanging germs back and forth, but mommy has been keeping the worst ones to myself. Better me than you.

As of today, you are 9 months old, little girl! Every day you are becoming more vocal, more confident in your walking, more clever in the way you play games, more funny in your reactions, and more fun to be around. Just tonight you were throwing your mini basketball into a cup Uncle Matt was holding. A few days ago you repeatedly held a washcloth in front of your face and then pulled it down each time Auntie Rhi said, "Where's Maya?" You have taken a liking to chewing on carrot sticks and have added brown rice to your diet.

It's been an amazing 9 months with you, sweetie. And perhaps to remind mommy and daddy not to take your wonderful behavior for granted, you cried for an hour in the middle of the night last night. We know we're spoiled, but you hadn't really woken us up in several months. Maybe you had a bad dream. Maybe you couldn't find your binky to soothe yourself or your nose was too stuffy to use it. Either way, mommy gave you some snuggles and songs to help calm you down. We hope you don't expect a repeat performance tonight.

Well, mommy needs some sleep now. We love you! Sleep tight!