Our little rock star

Dear Maya,

Mommy's inspiration for this week's theme is the photo above. Although it just shows you putting something behind your neck, one of your strange but endearing habits, both daddy and I agree it looks like you're striking a pose for a magazine. You have been quite a little rock star lately, and here is further proof:

Reason #1
You rock. Daddy's bosses got you this cute skirt and we put it on you the other day to take Valentine photos. We couldn't get you to sit still for any serious shots, though, because you decided to rock out instead. Lately when someone shouts "Yeah!" or "Awesome!" you've taken to raising one or both hands. Awesome, indeed. You've also become quite a good dancer. When a catchy song comes from one of your musical toys or on the TV, you quickly raise and lower your feet in place, occasionally adding a little turn or flourish. Adorable!

Reason #2
You're a social butterfly. You love to play with the phone, sometimes even cradling it next to your ear. Most likely you're actually hugging it like you do your dolls, but it's still cute. And when you hear a beep because you pushed the 'on' button, you know to run to mommy to let her turn it off. Smart. As for talking, "Uh-oh" and "Hi, there" are still your only properly-used phrases, but occasionally you say "Wow!" at an opportune time and your intonation of "Thank you" is right on the money. You are also babbling more lately and every day we think we hear some other funny phrase come out of your mouth. Mommy's favorite? "Bodhisattva."

Reason #3
You hide from the paparazzi. Well, actually most of the time you're hiding from one of the tickle monsters who are the adults in this house. Once we have tickled you sufficiently and/or playfully taken whatever item you were running away with, you turn the tables and chase us while we hide. In these photos you're hiding behind the base of the lamp in the corner of your room. We've had to tie the top of it to a hook in the wall so you won't knock it over again. In all fairness, though, we've knocked into things while running from you, too.

Reason #4
You know you're adorable. You've always loved looking at yourself in mirrors. Lately when mommy or daddy take photographs of you, you sometimes come over and preview them in the viewfinder of the camera. And when you're super cranky, watching videos of yourself is one of the only things that will pull you out of it.

Reason #5
You love to be loved. When you were six or seven months old you used to give mommy and daddy kisses quite often, but then you stopped. The more mobile you became the less we could expect cuddling of any kind from you. A month or so ago you began burying your head in mommy's neck when she first picked you up in the morning or after a nap, and that has gradually turned into longer, sweeter hugs which are peppered throughout the day. Then, yesterday, you got your kissing groove back, offering your forehead or the general vicinity of your mouth (sometimes open) for pecks from mommy, daddy, Uncle Matt and Aunt Rhi. Aww...

Well, little rock star, thanks for making us a part of your upward and outward trajectory into this world. We love you!

Start spreadin' the news

Dear Maya,

What an exciting week you've had!

On Friday, you went to New York City! Mommy and Daddy took you down on the train for a quick visit with Auntie Clare who was here on business from London. Your first train ride was pretty fun and quiet in the beginning, but when a very handsome gentleman dressed like a suit model sat near us, you perked up. You began flirting like a pro--staring at him until he made eye contact, then giggling and shyly hiding your face in mommy's shoulder, only to start over moments later. After a couple of times, daddy was not so amused... :)

Once we arrived and found Auntie Clare, we headed out into the cold to hit some hot spots around 5th Avenue. We started with a Japanese book store, then moved on to Rockefeller Center. By that time you were sound asleep in your stroller. Thus, daddy accidentally cut you out of this picture.

You slept through the Lego store and Anthropologie, but woke up to bang a Law and Order gavel at the NBC store. Then, in true NYC tourist style, we took you to the Magnolia Bakery, but since it was crowded you had to wait awhile before sharing Mommy's carrot cake cupcake. It was the only time you cried all day.

After a few more shops, we went to the place Mommy most wanted to take you--the big toy store, FAO Schwarz! At first I'm sure we were more entertained than you, but soon you got to have your fun, too. You and Mommy went up to play on the big piano, though you didn't have much time to figure out how it worked because of a little girl who became quite enamored with you. Mommy tried to ask her name but she didn't speak English. She just began hugging you and trying to hold your hand. How adorable!

After that we took you to a craft table to try some drawing. They had slips of paper and crayons that were meant to fit on little fingers like yours. Despite repeated modeling of how to use them to draw circles and lines, though, all you wanted to do was organize them in their containers. That's Mommy's girl!

After a couple more hours with Auntie Clare we said goodbye and took the train home. Compared to the morning trip the train was very crowded and the atmosphere was heavy and quiet, full of tired commuters ending their work week. So what did you decide to do? You chattered and giggled for most of the two-hour ride, of course! One by one you singled out strangers to give your attention to--smiling, waving, and playing peek-a-boo until you won them over. From sweet grandmotherly women to stoic, distracted businessmen, no one could resist your charms. Oh, and your diaper also leaked all over Mommy. What a fun and crazy day.

After our time in New York, Mommy and Daddy were ready for a relaxing weekend. We spent lots of time cuddling with you. In fact, the only reason we ventured outside was for daddy to pull you around in your new sled. You had fun in the snow as always, and didn't even cry when you fell face first into it. Aww...

Well, Mommy needs to get to sleep now. We love you so much!

All of the sudden...

Dear Maya,

It seems like every time we turn around lately, all of the sudden you are doing something new, different, funny, adorable, grown-up.

All of the sudden you love picking up after yourself. You often pull out unused diapers and throw them everywhere, but when mommy starts to tidy up you hand them over one by one. The same goes for your toys--you love to put them back in your toy box when playtime is over. What a good girl you are!

All of the sudden you are getting too big for the sink. I guess that happens when you're 1 year old, 21 pounds and 29.5 inches long! We washed you in the big bath for the first time and you loved it. You splashed around for quite a while and didn't even mind having water poured over your head to rinse you off.

All of the sudden you can drink from your sippy cup without dribbling all over yourself. Sure, you sometimes whine for help when you pick it up the wrong way and need us to turn it around in order to be able to drink from it, but then you go to town. Partly as a result of this new skill, we introduced you to milk this week!

Speaking of new foods, even though mommy said she might not continue to keep track of further additions, here's a list of some things you've tried the last few weeks: cucumber sticks (which you love), Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, various crackers, chunks of chicken, and even some prepared sukiyaki with rice.

One other Japanese food you tried this past week was udon. We fed you these fat noodles for lunch one day, then gave you a bath afterwards. At the end of the bath when daddy handed you to mommy to towel off, you sneezed...and one came back out your nose! We were bent over laughing and then you tried to eat it!

Another thing you chewed on that day that you weren't supposed to was your crib. Mommy got so frustrated seeing the bite marks on your pretty new bed that we put off your nap until we could come up with a way to stop you from doing any more damage. Rail guards would take a couple days to be delivered and would cost a surprising amount to cover the front plus the sides, but luckily mommy got an idea. Since you are old enough not to hit your head against the sides of the bed, we used the bumper pads folded in half! Easy and free!

And finally, the last 'all of the sudden' this week isn't even yours--it's Clio's. The other morning Mommy walked past your room and noticed the door ajar even though we had closed it when we put you down to nap. It seems that all of the sudden Clio has decided you're not so bad after all. How cute is that?

Don't grow up too fast, little one.
Love you!

A year of Maya

Dear Maya,

Mommy's still having a hard time wrapping her head around the idea that you're a year old. Where did the time go? When I stop and think about it, I can remember how your warm little newborn body felt in my arms like it was yesterday. It makes me so sad and happy and proud and nostalgic and content all at the same time.

For today's post I'm going to take a walk down memory lane with you (and all your loyal followers), featuring a never-before-blogged photo from each month of 2011. Some are cute, some are sweet, some are funny, but I love all of these pictures and the precious slices of time they represent. With tissues ready, here goes:

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

*sniff, sniff*
What a beautiful year it's been.
Love you!