Summer's newest book worm

Dear Maya,

Summer started in earnest this past week, both according to both the calendar and the thermometer. We had a few days of 95 plus degree weather and it was humid as well. To cool off, you took lots of baths, ate popsicles, and mommy and Kelsie even took you to wade in the stream at the park one day.

Looking back on the photos of this past week, it looks like what really helped you get through these super-hot days was reading! You've gotten tall enough that when you stand on your tiptoes you can just reach the books on the shelf and you've been taking them down and spreading them out everywhere!

Although you still don't have many words yet, your intonation when 'reading' your books is becoming really convincing. We can hear 'sentences' and even sometimes what sounds like a rhyming rhythm as you babble your way through the pages. You do the same when you talk on the 'phone' (i.e. mommy's old camera).

  

One other way we celebrated reading this week was going to the children's book fair at Auntie Rhi's library. We got to hear a couple of authors read their stories, had them sign books, played games and, your favorite part (aside from the free ice cream), came home with a big green balloon! You're still bouncing it around!

And now suddenly it's cooled down quite a bit after a crazy cold thunder/hail storm while you and mommy were out yesterday. We got totally drenched in the 10 feet from the supermarket to the car and the 5 feet from the car to the house. As soon as we came inside we changed into long sleeves for the rest of the day!

Well, goodnight my sweet. Hope you sleep well tonight. You've slept until 6:15 the past two mornings so we want to keep this trend going! Love you!

Daddy's little sushi roll

Dear Maya,

This past weekend was Father's Day and we did it up right for your toh-chan, as he wants you to call him.

On Saturday we gave him gifts. You gave him a toy that both of you will enjoy--a wooden sushi block set and a note, complete with your scribbles, asking him to teach you how to make yummy sushi someday. Not only is this set adorable, it is gratifying for daddy to teach you more about his culture and help you practice using chopsticks. Our other gift was a wok with an attached draining rack for making tempura and other fried treats your daddy loves. This is something he's wanted for a while so he was quite pleased.

On Sunday we went out to lunch at an actual restaurant for the first time in ages! You were well-behaved and didn't climb all over everything like we kind of expected you to. Thank you! After that we continued on the theme set by our gifts with a trip to the Asian supermarket so daddy could stock up on all his favorite Japanese foods and ingredients. You got a little cranky in the store so mommy took you out to the car for a while and let daddy shop in peace. That may have been the best part of his special weekend. ;)

On Monday you and mommy went to the park for a bit. The temperatures around here are finally getting to be consistently summery, so hopefully we'll be spending lots more time there. The nice thing about our park, aside from it being basically next door to us, is that it's like a park and a beach in one. Today you weren't dressed to play in the stream, but it didn't matter because you were so engrossed in the sand at the beach volleyball court anyway. Someone even left a bowl and shovel that you were really enjoying playing with.

A few other little tidbits about you over the last week or two:
*Uncle Matt taught you how to catch a soccer ball!
*The climbing is still driving us all crazy!
*You've been giving lots of kisses and hugs!

Well, you'll be up from your nap soon so mommy's got to go get a couple things done. Love you!

Monkey baby, weary mama

Dear Maya,

Well, this week's post is even later than last week's was. And mommy doesn't plan on writing much. And there aren't a lot of photos to choose from. Why all this slacking? Well, mommy's allergies have been bad and we've been kind of busy, but mostly it's because you are so active and I'm so tired as a result!!!

It starts every morning first thing. You have to feed yourself your oatmeal every day. You yell if we try to take the spoon or even the mug out of your hands to help you. You want to do it all. by. yourself. This is a good thing, we remind ourselves constantly as we watch you make a royal mess before we're even awake.

It continues with the climbing. I've mentioned the climbing in a couple posts but now it's getting out of hand. We tried to block this upstairs window with a table, so you climbed on it. Then we put an ottoman on top of the table and you climbed on top of it! You were eye level with mommy when I got you down, you monkey!

There are a few quiet moments during your trouble-making days that we truly savor. One is when you look out this downstairs window. You love to get up on this step stool and watch the birds and the rabbits and whatever else may be moving around out there. It's really sweet when you point things out to show us.

Another sweet moment was when we were at your great-grandparents' house the other day when Poppy put you up at the piano to play. Surprisingly, you calmly and gently played with both your hands in good pianist form, and even tried to copy Auntie Bobbie's notes! We were all so impressed by your little musical self!

 sorry for the poor picture quality!

Well, it's been another exhausting (but rewarding) day with you, my sweet. It's time for mommy and daddy to get some much-needed rest! Love you!