Musician in the making

Dear Maya,

Uncle Matt's a musician, too--you'll have to
 wait 'til you're older to listen to his albums, though!

Mommy and daddy have made an effort to expose you to a variety of music even in these first eight weeks of your life.  Every day we play music around the house, whether it be:

• on the internet (YouTube, Pandora, NPR music, Musicovery and StumbleAudio --thanks Uncle Matt for telling us about those last two),
• on the radio (NPR or WKZE for a diverse mix and occasionally WPDH for some rock 'n' roll), or
• from our CDs (which we haven't really done much of yet but plan to!)

In this past week alone we've listened to the soulful stylings of Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder and Ben E. King, classical movements by Holst, Mozart and Beethoven, and show tunes from Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and a selection by Mandy Patinkin.  We also exposed you to Japanese music--popular tunes as well as the more traditional enka and even the rhythm of taiko drums to see how you would react to that.  Mommy read an article that said many parents swear by the syncopated beats in zydeco and reggae music to please a baby so we tried that, too.  Basically, there's nothing that pops into our heads or onto a playlist that we haven't given a listen to.  We're getting quite an education, too.

Mommy has also been compiling a playlist on her computer called "Maya's Mix" for our almost-daily singing-and-dancing session.  Every week we add a new song, sometimes one chosen for the lyrics or message, sometimes for the beat, and sometimes just because it's fun to sing along.  Here are our additions so far:

• Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" (the lyrics made mommy tear up when you were in her tummy)
• Macy Gray's "Beauty in the World"
• The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" (you love it when mommy sings the 'whoa-whoa-whoa' part)
• Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" (mommy lifts you "high and low" along with the lyrics)
• Natalie Merchant's "These Are Days"
• Thurston Harris' "Little Bitty Pretty One" (mommy used to dance with Aunt Kelsie and Bobbie to this)
• Monkey Majik's "Around the World" (a fun half-English, half-Japanese pop song)
• Guns 'N' Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine"
• O-Zone's "Dragostea Din Tei" (for the fact that it sounds like they're singing Maya-hi, Maya-hoo...)

All of this music time is really paying off as you proved your rhythm skills to us big time this week.  A few times each day you would coo, mommy would imitate you, and you would repeat the sound over and over again in near perfect rhythm.  You even started to catch mommy's eye as if to let her know it was time for another back and forth cooing session.  Then, last night, mommy had the idea of starting the cooing game, then breaking into song to see if you would continue cooing, kind of like vocal percussion.  And...you did!  It was hard to get on video as you seemed to get stage fright every time the camera pinged on, but this afternoon mommy tried again and caught you singing along!  How awesome are you?!?!?!

Well, we've had a long day (someone woke up on the wrong side of the crib at an ungodly hour) so it's time to settle down for the night.  Love you!

My funny Valentine indeed

Dear Maya,

You're seven weeks old now--must be lucky seven for us since you've really been progressing this week.

We celebrated Valentine's Day a little early with daddy.  On Saturday, two days ahead, we made a couple little treats for him while he was out of the house.  Mommy made him some apple cake with crushed candied pecans on top.  You made him a sweet Valentine's Day card--mommy traced your feet and cut the shapes out of pink card stock, then glued them to the front of the card in the shape of a heart.  Who knew that babies automatically come with a symbol of love like that?

On Sunday night, you gave mommy and daddy the greatest Valentine's gift we could have hoped for--six straight hours of sleep!  You went to bed around eleven as usual, and when you fussed, mommy couldn't believe her eyes at the sight of "5:08" on the clock.  You were so rested that we just stared at each other for a little while after you nursed, then mommy called your great-grandma to report.  After daddy got up, we made sure to compare notes to see if we could recreate this schedule miracle.

Monday was Valentine's Day, so we went to take some cookies over to grandma and Papa Stan.  They had the cutest card for you and a couple of sweet outfits for you to grow into.  Aunt Bobbie and Kelsie weren't there, but we left them these Valentine cards that we had sent out to everyone else.  After grandma's house we went to show you off at mommy's old office.  All that visiting must've worn you out because you gave us another good night--not quite six hours but mommy'll take 4:45 over the alternative.

Another gift you've given us this week is your newfound sense of humor.  You have been smiling here and there since the beginning, so much so that we don't even know when your "first smile" really happened.  This week, though, you are actually laughing.  Sometimes when we say something in a silly voice or give a laugh (real or fake), you join us with a rattling inhaling laugh.  It's so funny and so cute.  One of your favorite times to laugh is during a diaper change, making an unpleasant job all that more bearable for mommy and daddy.

Speaking of daddy, you've definitely got him wrapped around your long little finger these days.  He loves watching you work hard to the point of grunting during your daily tummy time.  He loves admiring your growing eyelashes while you sleep.  He even loves that when you cry he knows about how long it will take you to settle down if he holds you.  And have I mentioned that he loves the shape of your head?  Daddy's a sculptor so he's pretty particular about bone structure--I guess you pass the test.  :)

Well, mommy's going to go get some housework done while daddy's keeping you busy.  Love you!

A growing football fan?

Dear Maya,
It's been another lovely week getting to know you.  You're now 6 weeks old and changing every minute!

We took you to your pediatrician appointment last Friday and were pleased to find out you're doing great.  We got a prescription cream for your baby acne and it's starting to work already, none too soon since it was spreading to your scalp, neck and chest.  Your face is pretty clear at the moment so we're hoping these other areas will look better soon, too.  And the red marks you have on the back of your neck and on your left hand?  Well, the former is just a common phenomenon called a "stork's bite" which may take some time to fade away, and the latter appears to be a birthmark that will probably go away before long.

The biggest news at your appointment was your weight gain.  You were born at 8 pounds 9 ounces, but dropped down to just about 8 pounds by the time we left the hospital.  At your first pediatrician's appointment on January 4th, you hadn't gained any weight back so they had us come in a week later to find you had gained 12 ounces.  This time, exactly one month from the day of that first appointment, you weighed 10 pounds 15 ounces!  Almost 3 pounds in one month?  No wonder mommy's so tired!  Oh, and by the way, you've grown an inch longer, too.

We had more snow and then some freezing rain on top of that Saturday, so even when we had nice weather on Sunday, daddy could barely walk outside without slipping and falling.  So, needless to say, we skipped hanging out at grandma's house for the Superbowl, and since we don't have a TV we didn't watch the game at all.  I don't know about you, but mommy and daddy aren't big football fans so we didn't mind too much.  Your grandpa is a huge Giants fan, though, so you wore this outfit he picked out for you in hopes that they'll be in the game next year.  Check out the little football-shaped treads on the feet!

Well, mommy's going to go sneak in a shower while you're taking your after-bath nap.  Hopefully you'll sleep well tonight.  Mommy and daddy love love love it when you only get up once a night, unlike your every-two-hour routine from earlier this week, so maybe you'll take that into consideration...

Love you!

Our cute little ogre

    

 Dear Maya,

Today was Setsubun, a Japanese festival denoting the beginning of spring.  Since daddy was out all day, you and I decided to surprise him with a traditional celebration when he got home.  Mommy printed some ogre mask templates from the internet and made one for each of us.  In Japan, it's common for one person in a family to wear such a mask and have soy beans or peanuts thrown at them by the rest of the family, symbolizing the driving of demons from the home.  We only had almonds and didn't really throw them, but mommy did eat as many as the number of her age for good luck.

*this series looks like you're throwing, though*

Another thing mommy and daddy did for good luck was eating sushi while facing south-southeast.  Mommy had never made makizushi from scratch by herself and was worried it wouldn't turn out well, but daddy said it was yummy.  It is tradition in Japan to eat a whole, uncut sushi roll while facing in the direction that is auspicious on that given year.  We made silent wishes while we ate.  After we finished we played with the masks--Clio was so scared when we put them on, her fur standing on end and her ears flattened down, but when you saw us wearing them, you just smiled and giggled.

Your moods, actions and reactions have been much more obvious lately and so adorable.  When we went to grandma's birthday party on Saturday, and when we went to visit mommy's grandparents on Monday, you flashed everyone great big smiles.  And on Sunday when we took pictures for your one month birthday, you had such a cute look for this one with mommy.  Daddy just got a new video camera so his family in Japan can see you in action.  I've put links to his videos on the bottom of this blog.  Forgive him for making embarrassing videos of you--he can't help himself!  He thinks you're cute and mommy does, too!

Well, you're tiring daddy out at the moment and we all have to get some sleep for your check up with the pediatrician tomorrow. 

Love you!

From your 'big sister'

Dear Maya,
My name is Clio.  I'm two and a half years old and I'm mom and dad's first daughter.  That means I was here before you.  Ahem.

About three weeks before you showed up, we moved into our new house.  I had moved once before and I didn't much like making the transition the first time, but this time was different--the stone floors in the bathroom and hallway are heated!  I love to roll around on them, even if it means showing my belly and getting a belly rub...wait, why didn't I think of that before the heated floors? 

Anyhow, every night I get shut in the bathroom because mom and dad don't like it when I wake them up in the middle of the night.  Sound familiar?  Somehow they forgive you and don't lock you in the bathroom.  Hmph.  At least I've got the heated floors now and am nice and toasty all night long.  And I barely even wake up when mom and dad come in to wash off whatever you soiled this time.

 
Just over four weeks ago, mom and dad disappeared for a few days.  They left me a big bowl of food and lots of water, but I didn't know what was going on.  The next day, some relatives came to check on me, but I wanted my mom and dad.  On the third day, dad came home for a few hours and gave me some fresh food and water.  I had missed him a lot so I made sure to get some snuggling in.

When he came home, he brought this little purple knit hat with him and showed it to me.  I sniffed it and sniffed it, trying to figure out whose smell was on it.  It smelled kind of familiar, a bit like mom, but a bit different, too.  A few days later I found out what that smell was--it was you.  Mom and dad wanted me to get used to your smell before they brought you home so I wouldn't freak out.

Well, I didn't freak out.  Not at first, anyways.  I was so happy to see mom when she finally came home that at first I didn't really notice the bundled up blanket she was carrying.  After a little while she put that bundle on a mattress on the floor and called me over.  I was really curious to see what all the fuss was about.  When I got a few feet from you I recognized the smell from the hat.  

Mom was encouraging me to "come over and meet your little sister" and I admit I did want to get a better look at you, so I approached the mattress.  You were kinda squirmy but you weren't very big, about the same size as me, so I thought I could hold my own if there was some kind of showdown.  I snuck up at an angle from behind you to sniff your head and that's when it happened.

A left hook right to the nose!  Out of nowhere, you punched me!  I have to admit it didn't hurt my nose that much but my pride, now that's a different story.  I ran back into the bathroom and decided to put off getting to know this new little sister for awhile.  I needed time to study you and figure out what you were really capable of before I got too friendly with you.  I'm no dummy!

Well, three and a half weeks have passed since then and I'm starting to let my guard down a little.  Sometimes when I'm up on a window sill or on top of a dresser mom or dad will bring you over and have me sniff your head and I guess it's not so bad.  And if you're sleeping on the bed I sometimes curl up a few feet away.  It was my bed before it was yours, so I figure I've got to save face somehow. 

And now you've got this new contraption that swings you back and forth.  When you're in it you're nice and low to the ground so we can be face to face.  I don't know how it moves without somebody pushing it so I don't want to get too close, but sometimes it stops moving so I think I may eventually try to approach you when it does.  I've got to get my timing just right, though.  It may take a while.

Oh, and the best part about this new swingy thing?  Why, that would be the long, flat box that it came in, of course!  I'd take a box over a rocking machine any day.  Silly baby Maya, you've got so much to learn and since I am your big sister, I guess it's up to me to teach you the ropes.  Just make sure you keep your hands where I can see them.

Clio

Baby, it's cold outside

Dear Maya,

Boy, did you pick a season to be born!  Well, I guess you didn't exactly choose your birthday, but anyway...

Since the week before you were born, we've had freezing rain, ice, slush, snow and even a 'snow hurricane' complete with drifts several feet high.  From your second to third week, it seems like your daddy spent half his time outside shoveling paths to our cars and up the hill to the landlady's chicken coop.  We've also become quite friendly with the man who plows the long driveway that leads up to three homes including ours.  He even sent you a teddy bear and a book to celebrate your birth!

With all of this inclement weather, we've been going a bit stir crazy.  Mommy took you down to see our previous landlords, then grandma, Stan and Aunt Bobbie on Saturday, but aside from that and a quick trip to the supermarket yesterday, we haven't set foot outside the house at all.  I know that most moms and newborns stay home a lot in the beginning, but it's starting to get ridiculous!  Now the weather report says that we have a 90% chance of snow from 8:00 tonight until 11:00 tomorrow night.  Ugh!

Though we've been experiencing a bit of cabin fever, you've been keeping us on our toes.  Monday you didn't nap at all, then barely slept Monday night, and no napping again Tuesday.  You were so cranky and mommy and daddy were worried about you so we reluctantly sterilized a couple of pacifiers to be ready for Tuesday night.  We didn't need them, though, as you not only got right back on your usual schedule, you even went above and beyond, sleeping for six hours straight!  Thank you so much for that!

Our next concern is a rash that appeared on your face a couple days ago.  When you get fussy and cry, the little pimples get even redder than they already are.  Between researching it on the internet and mommy talking with her doctor, it seems that it's a really common thing for babies your age.  It doesn't seem to be bothering you a bit, so we're just going to watch it and see what happens.  We still think the photos mommy took of you today are adorable, even with the little bumps on your cute, sweet face. 

You have changed in some positive ways this week, too.  A couple times you have tried to mimic your mommy when she was making kissy faces, sticking her tongue out or humming.  Also you have gotten much, much stronger and you are able to lift your head up for longer spans of time.  Sometimes you kick against the side of your bassinet or against our arms when we're holding you and you seem ready to break out and run around.  Today when mommy put you in a basket for photos, you almost crawled out several times.  Yikes!

You've also shown that you like music of all kinds, stopping your fussing to listen to everyone from Louis Armstrong to Vanilla Ice!  It's so funny and endearing to watch your face concentrate and light up as you listen and try to figure out where the music is coming from.  Sometimes you lounge on your Boppy pillow on mommy's lap as she bounces you to the beat, or sometimes we dance around the room together, but mommy loves loves loves that you are into music and that you seem to enjoy it when she sings to you.

Well, that's all for this week sweetie.  Love you!

Welcome to the world!

Dear Maya,

You were born at 2:42pm on December 30, 2010, two weeks ago today.  You were 13 days past your due date and it took 28 hours of inducing for mommy to dilate even halfway.  When the contractions really started in earnest, there were times when your heart rate dropped, eventually leading us to the operating room.  Thank goodness for the C-section option, because you had the umbilical cord wrapped around your neck three times!  (Not to mention that mommy wasn't handling the pain well at all...)

Your daddy was in the operating room with us and got to hold you first.  He was immediately curious about whether or not you had a Mongolian spot (a bluish mark just above the tush that many Asians are born with) and found yours with the nurse.  Then he brought you over to mommy so I could look at and kiss you.  When the nurse took you out to be weighed and checked, daddy stayed with mommy as I was still being operated on and was I shaking uncontrollably from the anesthesia. 

Grandma, Stan, Uncle Matt, Aunt Kelsie and Aunt Bobbie were at the hospital when you were born.  Grandma was amazing, staying calm and collected while watching mommy go through so much pain and a plethora of emotions.  Because you didn't cry much when they first brought you out of the operating room, your Uncle Matt was worried that your vocal chords were affected by the umbilical cord around your neck.  That was just your way, though, and you're still not all that much of a crier now.

Over the next few days we all got used to each other in the hospital while mommy recovered and learned to breastfeed.  Mommy's grandparents, aunts and uncle came to visit and everyone oohed and aahed over how alert, cute and beautiful you are.  You woke mommy and daddy up on New Year's Eve in time to watch the ball drop on TV.  On New Year's Day mommy's dad drove up from North Carolina to see you and spent the next several days staying with Uncle Matt and Aunt Rhi and visiting to get in lots of Maya snuggles.

During your first five days home, you slept quite a bit.  Your first day you braved a trip to the obstetrician's office, where mommy's incision was checked for infection.  At your first pediatrician's appointment the next day you got a clean bill of health.  The only concern was that you had not gained any weight back, having been born at 8 pounds, 9 ounces and discharged from the hospital at 8 pounds, .3 ounces.  On the other hand, you were in the 97th percentile for length/height at 22.5 inches!

One week later we made another trip to the pediatrician to find that you had gained 12 ounces!  The norm is one ounce per day, so you more than made up for last week--not that mommy was all that surprised considering how often you wanted to be breastfed.  After the appointment we went to mommy's grandparents' house to visit, then took a trip to a frenzied pre-snowstorm supermarket where you slept the entire time.  Though the doctor said it wouldn't happen soon, that very night your cord stump fell off.   
 

 Aside from doctor's appointments coupled with quick grocery shopping trips, we haven't left the house at all since coming home from the hospital.  That's not to say that you didn't have visitors, from family to our landlady Hazue (you actually waved goodbye to her when she was leaving) to mommy's friends Charlotte, Steve, Felicia and baby Wyatt to daddy's bosses Roberta and Tom.  You have almost always been in a good mood for everyone and have gotten so many compliments on how adorable and sweet you are.

You really are a good baby so far.  You only wake up once at night for the most part and it's usually pretty easy to tell what you want when you are fussing.  Some cute habits you have are waving your arms and your long, long fingers around like you are conducting an orchestra, and making your mouth really really small like a fish.  You like it when daddy holds you and taps out a rhythm on your back and when mommy massages lotion on your feet and in between your toes after a bath.  Our kitty Clio has even started to like you I think.

Mommy's going to try to write this blog for you and all of the people who love you.  Sometimes it might have more pictures than words and sometimes it may be a while between posts, but we want to share you with everyone who knows you or knows of you.  But now mommy's got to sign off because you're hungry again. 

Love you!