Rolling with the changes

Dear Maya,

You've been adapting very well to a few little changes we've had around here lately.

The first is the rearrangement of our space. We live in a big house with us in an upstairs apartment and Uncle Matt and Aunt Rhi downstairs. Although you play in the downstairs living room a lot, too, we needed more space for you to use upstairs. Since mommy and daddy sleep better on Japanese-style futons anyway, your grandparents shipped some over for us (!) and we switched out our bed for a sofa. Now during the day the futons are folded up and you have lots of space for playing. Oh, and climbing--your favorite pastime.

The second is our current house guest. Auntie Bobbie is on summer break from college and has been staying with us for some of it. You're enjoying having her around to play with and love on. On Monday morning you even did a tap dance show for her on a plank of wood. You even pulled out your little piano for music!

Then, on Monday evening, we had the whole gang here for Auntie Bobbie and Auntie Kelsie's birthday party. As always, you were grateful for the chance to eat ice cream and a cupcake (caramel apple), play with wrapping paper, and get the attention of extra people.

The third change just happened earlier tonight. Your beloved Uncle Matt shaved off his long, long hair! Every couple of years after growing it out very long he cuts it to donate and then starts again from scratch. Mommy was wondering what your reaction to his new look would be, but you didn't seem to mind. When Auntie Kelsie was cutting it you seemed very interested in the sound of the clippers and you did say "Uh-oh" about the hair on the floor, but when Uncle Matt picked you up later you acted like nothing was different.

You are a sweet, clever, flexible little girl and you can really roll with the changes. We're proud of you little monkey. Love you!

Busy little monkey moo

Dear Maya,

Mommy is posting a lot later than usual this week because we've been busy. This is what we've been up to:

• Memorial Day weekend--We went to a few local yard sales with Auntie Rhi on Sunday, and then went to visit your great-grandparents on Monday.

• Surviving--It's been hard keeping cool in the hot and humid weather we've been having, and then thunderstorms, hail and a tornado watch yesterday? Crazy!

• Dogsitting--We've been taking care of Bridgette and Pugsley this week until their owner came home tonight. You really loved playing with and petting them.

• Climbing--You continue to climb on EVERYTHING! You've figured out how much more you can reach in the world if you climb on this chair or that table. We're in trouble now!!!

• Playing with blocks--Everyone in the house loves playing with you when you've got the blocks out. Today you even kissed mommy through the columns of our construction!

• Eating--You've eaten your first raspberries, shrimp, ice pops (see note about weather above) and lime this week. The latter you made this great face when trying, but still ate it!

• Loving family--You've had lots of good play time with Uncle Matt and Aunt Rhi lately, plus Aunt Kelsie came over yesterday and we played outside with the hose.

Whew, we were busy. Hopefully this coming week we'll have a bit more time to smell the roses, er, peonies!

Love you!

Independent, silly, loving Maya

Dear Maya,

You have certainly been showing us your silly, loving and independent sides lately, and sometimes in quick succession.

Last week was Shawn's birthday. Between the cupcakes, ice cream and balloons you were already excited, but then Auntie Bobbie came home from her first year of college just in time for the party so you had even more people to pay attention to you and love you up. You really had a fun night!

You've been testing your abilities a lot lately, namely doing a lot of climbing in and on things you shouldn't be. It is kind of sweet, though, when you are so proud of yourself for getting up on a big chair and sitting, but it's also pretty funny when you find yourself unable to get back down.

You have also been developing a very important skill lately--feeding yourself. You've long been able to put a spoon that we pre-loaded into your mouth, but lately you've been getting pretty adamant about filling your spoon, too. Sometimes the results are pretty funny, but you're getting better at it every day.

This past weekend we spent a lot of quality family time together. In the mornings after breakfast we leisurely played and read books to you. You especially seemed to like the down time with daddy, snuggling with him and having him pull you around in your snow/water float wearing your hat like a little queen. You're too silly!

On Sunday afternoon we went for a walk up and down Warren St. in Hudson, stopping at the beautiful flower nursery there among other places. It was a hot but beautiful day for a stroll. Towards the end you were fed up with your stroller and decided to explore an alley on your own. Such a little independent spirit!

 

Well, it's bedtime for mommy. I need my rest to even attempt to keep up with you everyday!
Love you!

Mommy's little big girl

Dear Maya,

Thank you for another beautiful week and a beautiful year since our first Mother's Day together!

Mommy is feeling like treating herself to more downtime (hello! blogging a day late!) so this post will be light on words and heavy on photos! Since it's rainy and not especially warm today it's the perfect day to just play and cuddle with you as much as possible.

Last week mommy tried to make some homemade finger paint so you could create a Mother's Day masterpiece for grandma. You tried your darnedest to make it work, but it was more gunk than paint. After a quick bath to clean it all off, we tried again with crayons. Much better!

 
Your hair has gotten longer lately and a bit curlier, especially when it's warm and humid outside. It is really beautiful but sometimes has a mind of its own, getting in your eyes and flying all over the place in the wind. So, mommy did something this week she's long been wanting to do--no, not cut it! Pigtails! Sooooo cute!

We celebrated Mother's Day a day early with a trip to the park. It was a nice warm day so you and mommy even waded in the stream. You had a fit when we had to get out of the water and, as you often do when mad, you put your head down. Too bad it was right into the water! That calmed you right down! :)

 

 

On Mother's Day, family gathered to bury some of your Great Aunt Patty's ashes at the cemetery where your great-grandparents are buried. It was a beautiful day and you enjoyed running around finding sticks, stones and flowers as we honored her there.

Well, you're just about finished with your snack so it's time for me to put down the laptop and pull out some toys! Thanks so much for the flowers and the yummy cheese assortment I got for Mother's Day from you and daddy. I love you both so much!

P.S. Food update: You absolutely loved the peaches and cream trifle with ricotta that Auntie Rhi made for Mother's Day, but you decidedly did not like the imitation crab meat in our sushi last night. Oh, well.
P.P.S. Talking update: Yesterday when Auntie Rhi opened the door to come out of her bedroom you looked up and said "Hi, Rhi!" or something very close to it. Other than that you have learned that "No" is used to answer questions, but you still don't seem to understand the meaning. When asked things like "Do you want some lunch?" you sometimes quickly answer "No"--even though you would never turn down food!