Sharp teeth, sharp wit

Dear Maya,

Just a quick post as mommy wants to go to bed early! We had a rough night last night. You have a habit of climbing up on the little counter on the living room side of the pass-through window from the kitchen while mommy is cooking, doing dishes, or otherwise can't get to you quickly enough. It's kind of cute because once you get up there you say "hi" in this high, sugary voice and wave to us, proud to have climbed up to our level. We always rush over to pull you down but within minutes you get right back up there and do it again.

watching the electric company repair wire damage from a recent storm...
you were transfixed as they raised the man in the basket over and over again!

you love having your teeth brushed!

We knew you'd fall eventually and yesterday it happened. Mommy heard the sickening thud and scooped you up before even had a chance to really scream. Your front teeth had cut into the back of your upper lip pretty deep, but the bleeding stopped quickly. Mommy was so worried about muscles, nerves, all kinds of imaginary permanent injuries, but you reached over for my seltzer and drank it out of a straw. Yeah, nothing wrong with your lips. We arranged the furniture after you went to bed and now you can't get up there.

  

looks like you're planning some trouble!

yup, this is my dad...he's pretty cool

The other news to report this week is your increase in vocabulary. I think mommy forgot to mention you've been saying "here you go" when handing us objects. This week it's become much more recognizable and regular. You've also been using the word "nnnnooo" (as opposed to "nyo" for "no") while pinching or pointing to our noses. The most amazing by far, though, was the other night at dinner when you sang the alphabet up to G! Your pitch was perfect and you didn't miss a letter! All conversation stopped and jaws dropped! Yes!

giving mommy that look!

what's up?

One other word mommy thinks she heard you say was "bubbles" while pointing at a bottle of them. So, of course, that's what we did! You can now dip the bubble wand as long as mommy is holding the bottle, and you can hold the wand to your mouth to blow. You don't need to put it in your mouth, though...

Well, it's time for bed. Love you, monkey! Stay safe!

Birthdays, brides and botanicals...

Dear Maya,

It has been an eventful week and a half since the last post and mommy is ready to get some sleep so here's the short version:

*Mommy's birthday was last Saturday. Daddy, you and I went out to dinner at a yummy Mexican place. You were so well-behaved, mostly because you were busy eating an entire children's chicken quesadilla, quite a bit of mommy's Mexican rice and drinking tons of water from the special cup they gave you.

The next day Grandma and Papa Stan arrived from North Carolina. They brought you a fun new chair and handmade pillow, bath toys, a book that you already love, and a toy tea set. That night we had a birthday party with the whole family and mommy got some gifts, too. It was wonderful to have everyone all together!

Chocolate peanut butter pie with pretzel crust--Yum!

*Monday we went wedding dress shopping for Aunt Kelsie! It's hard for mommy to imagine her little sister so grown up. It's also hard chasing a toddler around an enormous store while trying to look at dresses. Although everything looked gorgeous on her, in the end she chose one that really suited her beautifully!

no, this isn't the one she chose!

*On Tuesday, you and grandma and mommy went to the Berkshire Botanical Gardens. It was a very hot and humid day but that didn't slow you down at all. You enjoyed the children's garden, the bunnies and goats, the sights and sounds, and smelling the flowers, but most of all you loved the space to just run!

Well, it's time for mommy to get ready for bed. You've been sleeping later in the mornings, thankfully, but you still tire us out every day. It's so worth it, though. We love you!

Quintessential Japanese/American summer

Dear Maya,

We've had a full, fun week celebrating a holiday in each of your cultures.

First was Independence Day. The night before, we went to a party at the flower nursery where daddy works as a landscaper. You had such a great time with the rubber duckies and bubbles they had prepared for you. You were even able to blow bubbles yourself if we held the wand in front of you. We were impressed!

On the 4th, we had some errands to run earlier in the day. You were dressed in a cute blue and white outfit with red star sandals and when we went to the (crowded!) supermarket, so many people commented how adorable you are. That night we had a barbecue out in the back yard and you played with the hose.

A few days later was the Japanese festival Tanabata. Like last year, we wrote our wishes on slips of paper that we hung from willow branches in a jar. Unlike last year, Auntie Rhi and Uncle Matt also joined us in writing wishes. Even more unlike last year, you took pen to paper, too! (Click here for more on Tanabata.)

On Sunday, daddy had an unexpected free day so we enjoyed some real family quality time. In the morning we played with daddy's conveyor belt sushi toy and the wooden sushi we got him for Father's Day. It was a good opportunity for you to practice your hand-eye coordination and to learn to use chopsticks!

Later we took you to the stream at the park next door. We had the place all to ourselves and the combination of the clear mountain water and the late afternoon sun were beautiful and relaxing. We even had a monarch butterfly flit around us again and again, adding to the magical quality of our time at the stream.

When you were done splashing around and throwing pebbles (and larger stones) into the water, we dried and changed you and daddy gave you a ride back through the park on his shoulders. We had to stop and let you smell some flowers as you love to do, including these huge Queen Anne's lace--daddy's favorite.

Monday was your 18-month check-up with the pediatrician. You were slightly shy and slightly curious as always, but when you got your shots, everything changed. Up until now, you would always cry for about 5 or 10 seconds, then forget what you were upset about and usually smile at the nurse before she left.

This time you screamed your little head off! And when mommy tried to lay you back on the examination table to change your diaper you screamed some more! You didn't calm down, in fact, until the receptionist gave you a lollipop. You'd never had candy before, but mommy wasn't about to take it away from you!

On a happier note, the doctor gave you a very good bill of health. The only big change is that you have gone from being in the 60th percentiles for height and weight to the 80th percentiles. Wow! The only concern mommy had was how few words you speak for your age, but the doctor reassured me that you're doing fine.

One more big change this week is that you are weaned! Mommy was going to gradually stop the last morning feedings, but one day you slept in quite late and then just went straight for your breakfast without nursing first. Mommy is a little sad but also so proud of you. I'm also happy you've been sleeping later...

I'm not sure if this is related or not, but all of the sudden you've started to 'mommy' your toys--offering your milk to your stuffed panda and 'trimming' your Cabbage Patch's toenails after I cut yours. And you've been so loving towards everyone, even sitting quietly on Aunt Bobbie's lap today for about 10 whole minutes! 

Well, this has been a long and full post. So much happens over the course of a week with you, my dear. And it looks like the rest of the summer will hold a lot more fun, too. We can't wait to enjoy it with you.  Love you!