Our two little turkeys :)

Turkey, 2014
Maya Wakamatsu, born 2010
Materials: Magnadoodle, hand

Dear Maya and Emi,

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, mommy would like to make a list of 5 things she's feeling especially thankful for at the moment.

1. Thankful for Emi's health and happiness: You've been giggling and smiling even more in the last few weeks. Last night you slept for 10 hours (well, there was one 5-10 minute period of fussing at 11, but close enough) which is one of the things mommy is most thankful for! Oh, and yesterday you rolled over for the first time, but mommy was too busy making coffee and didn't see it. Oh, well.

2. Thankful for Maya's growth and personality: It's been so much fun to interact with you and watch your creativity blossom lately. A few days ago you and Uncle Matt made a robot out of a box. Later that day you turned it into a turkey costume with Daddy's help. Then yesterday it became your movie-viewing seat(?) Your story-telling abilities are improving recently, too, including recounting your dreams to us. It's awesome watching you grow!

Robot Maya (photo by Aunt Rhi)

Turkey Maya

Maya watching The Jungle Book

3. Thankful for water: This morning when we woke up we had no running water in the house. When we showed you that nothing came out of the faucet, Maya, you immediately chirped, "We have to call the plumber!" and surprised us with your grasp and vocabulary. Luckily the plumber arrived quickly and had a new switch for the water pump in his truck so hot showers were available before long!

4. Thankful for electricity: We are in the midst of a snowstorm here and though our house doesn't tend to lose power due to wind, the super-heavy snow is downing trees all over the place. So far, we have just had a few flickers. Knocking on wood!

Elsa, our "snowperson"

5. Thankful for food: We have a huge turkey in the fridge that Aunt Rhi is going to cook for us tomorrow. For once we're not going anywhere on Thanksgiving and it's a good thing with all that snow out there! We're just going to stay home, cook, eat, and relax all day. 

Well, mommy's going to start relaxing right now. Love you two!

Collages and Four Months!

Dear Maya and Emi,

It's been a cold, cold week out there and if this is any indication, it's going to be a looooong winter! Just like your baby days, Maya, your little sister has a tendency to panic and hold her breath when it's windy or chilly out, so we've mostly stayed inside and tried to keep ourselves busy.

Maya, you've been crafting your little heart out. Armed with a glue stick, kid scissors and markers, you transform anything into a collage. You stick beads and googly eyes to toilet paper roll dolls, mini plastic ponies to cardboard boxes, and magazine clippings to construction paper. Your creations rock!

Emi, you turned four months old the other day.We had your checkup and you were 15 pounds, 7 ounces, and 24 inches of healthy bouncing baby! The doctor even said you were "perfect" and of course we agree. We might be a bit biased, though.

These happy pictures are not all to say that we've had a completely stress-free week, though. Maya, you had a 40-minute tantrum the other day when mommy made you eat your leftover breakfast before you could have a new snack. Emi, you've had your share of cranky moments, too. And until recently your nighttime sleep was pretty solid with sporadic daytime naps, whereas the last week your naps have been consistent and your nights have had some crazy variations. Help!

Emi gazing adoringly at big sis

But all in all it's so rewarding to be able to stay home with you two and watch you grow and interact. Mommy is so proud of you, Maya, for how sweet you continue to be to Emi. You have never even once directed any negativity toward her and you show her so much love it's just amazing.

Love you two!

New life, new season

Dear Maya and Emi,

What an awesome week it's been! The biggest news is the birth of your cousin William. Neither of you have gotten a chance to meet him yet, but mommy was there for his birth at about 2 o'clock on Wednesday morning. Aunt Kelsie did a great job and both she and baby are doing well.

Grandma and Papa Stan came up and stayed with us a couple nights. Maya, you had so much fun playing with them, and Emi, you were so calm and alert whenever they were home with us. Mommy loves watching you two with your grandparents. You're so loving and so loved!

Speaking of being loved, you have both been given some gorgeous clothes lately. You get hand-me-downs from some wonderful people and beautiful store-bought items as gifts, too. But the handmade pieces that we get are just so special and sweet, mommy loves them all!

Octopus dress made with love by grandma

AMAZING koala sweaters sent to us from Australia by Auntie Sam!

It's a good thing we have cozy sweaters because last night we had our first snowfall of the season! It was a couple of inches and looked absolutely beautiful this morning, though most had melted by this afternoon. Still it was enough for us to get out your new coat and snowpants, Maya, and you had such a blast playing outside with Grandma. We'll be sad to see her and Papa Stan go home tomorrow but we're excited that they'll be back for Christmas this year!

Emi, you don't get to go outside in the snow for your exercise so floor play is your chance. You roll from your back to your side and wiggle your way around on your play mat so you can chew on the toys. Unfortunately we can't give you nearly as much tummy time as Maya had at your age because you tend to spit up a lot. You're still pretty strong, though, when we do put you on your belly. These pictures make you look balder than you really are, but they're adorable nonetheless!

This picture cracks me up! You're REALLY trying to get your hand in your mouth I guess.

Well, mommy really needs some shuteye since I'm still making up for the other night in the maternity ward. Love you two!