Cute little smootchie girls

Dear Maya and Emi,

Mommy totally dropped the ball this week on blogging. It's not that we've had a whole lot more going on than usual, it's just that mommy has been researching and developing her own photography business. I hope I can chase this dream of mine while giving you both the attention and love that you need. After all, you're my biggest inspirations! In the meantime, this week's post is just going to be a mishmash of photos and a few words.

• Aunt Kelsie, Grace and Will came over to visit and Gracie loved feeding you, Emi!

• You went in the big bath with your sister for the first time, Emi, but needed a little support in the form of this green basket. You also graduated to the big crib this week, and Maya was a little jealous you'd taken her old bed.

• Other than that this past week we've been dogsitting, running errands, and generally hanging out being silly at home.

Well, mommy's going to bed. Love you both!

P.S. Emi, you have a new talent--you can give kisses! Soooooo sweet!

A week of milestones

Dear Maya and Emi,

Oh my goodness, so much has happened this past week it's hard to know where to begin!

Mommy will start with you, Emi.
Most mornings you get up early and come to mommy's bed for a little half-asleep nursing session. One day last week you had been nursing for about 5 or 10 minutes, long enough that mommy and daddy had drifted back off a bit, when you suddenly unlatched yourself and said, as clear as day, "I love baba!" "Baba" is, of course, the nickname that Maya made up for daddy and what we all call him these days. We couldn't believe it!

Also, in the span of a little ol' week, you went from just crawling to now getting yourself into a sitting position. And pulling yourself into a standing position! And mostly sleeping through the night! Holy moly! Today you turned 8 months old and it seems like everything just moved into warp speed. We're happy that you're taking it a little slower than your crazy sister who was already walking at this point, though. We love your little bald head, gummy smile, and mostly laid-back personality. Don't change!

And now on to you, Maya.
You went to school! Mommy gave the pre-K people a call to see if we could take a peek at the classroom so you'd have a better image in your head of where we're talking about you going in the fall. We joined a class for an hour of studying, playing, and snacktime. You were quite shy until the very end when you joined everyone in dancing to an alphabet song. Mommy was pleased that you liked it, but you don't yet seem to understand that mommy won't always accompany you...

Speaking of accompanying, today you decided, out of the blue, that no one needs to accompany you to the bathroom anymore! Hooray! You've been doing most everything in there by yourself for a while now, but you would call us in to tear off the toilet paper for you. Not anymore! We're so proud!

And, finally, we celebrated Aunt Rhi's birthday this week. Her actual birthday is today but we had her party over the weekend. It was an international hodgepodge of corned beef, tiramisu, cream puffs, Italian food gifts, and a mahjong cake. Weird, but delicious!

 

Well, it's bedtime for mommy. Love you both!

P.S. Another milestone? We bought a car yesterday!

LOL beret and basket

Dear Maya and Emi,

Mommy is feeling a bit silly tonight. The weather has finally been nice (above freezing anyway) but I've been sick so I haven't gotten out to enjoy it. Daddy's work season started back up today after a few weeks off, and being under the weather on my first full day alone with you two has left mommy exhausted. I don't have as many photos as usual to share this week, but the ones I do have are pretty funny. In my tired, slap-happy state, I keep laughing out loud at my screen. See if you do, too...

• Maya--Your first time really vacuuming. In your pajamas. And your first real French braid.

• Emi, here you're sporting your big sister's "super monster" hooded bath towel. Lucky for mommy that first tooth of yours that's starting to come in isn't as big as these!

• Maya, you asked daddy to draw a monster. He drew Sadako, the long-haired girl from The Ring. You added dots for eyes and made her look like a different kind of monster altogether. 

•  Emi, you took your first selfie on mommy's lap. Sort of.

• After four years, Maya, you're finally taking more of an interest in Japanese! You have daddy read you stories from this book daily and you're loving all the Miyazaki movies. You shout "Ponyo" at random times during the day but you can't remember the word "Totoro" so you just shout "Two cats" instead. Only they're not cats. 

• Mommy pulled out this outfit to try on Emi and Maya, this is what you had to say: "Mommy, I could never believe it. That's so cool. She looks like she's PAINTING!"

• Maya, lately you've been getting behind the camera sometimes. Not sure if Emi's expressing joy or disapproval of you taking her picture here...

• You two have taken to singing, laughing, and howling with each other to signify the end of your slumbers in the morning or at nap time. It's cute, depending on the time on the clock...

• Emi, now that you're on the move we often put you inside a baby corral, but unless you're already in a good mood you don't really like it. Today mommy tried something even smaller, a laundry basket, and you LOVED it! 

•  "Oh my goodness, it's a laundry basket! This is the greatest thing EVER"

•  Doing the classic Japanese "Aww, shucks, did I do that?" pose...

• "Dude, this ball is AMAZING!"

• Legs

Okay, it's clear that mommy needs some sleep. Luckily I'm feeling much better so tomorrow should go much more smoothly. Right? Did I just jinx myself? Are you two plotting something? Oh, dear....

Love you both!