Maya's Words with Friends

Dear Maya,

Since we got back from Niagara Falls we've been pretty busy as a family--working, grocery shopping, working, helping family and friends, working a little more...you get the picture. One extra special highlight of our week was yesterday when mommy's dear friend Clare visited from England. We spent a very rainy day with her mostly indoors, but we had a wonderful time. Mommy is so happy you were so friendly and loving to her. It was so good to see her and hopefully it won't be long until the next time!

In the midst of our active week, you've been pretty busy yourself. All of the sudden you seem to be saying a new word or phrase every few days. It started when you melted mommy's heart last weekend by very convincingly repeating my intonation of "I love you" several times. Since then you've said it back to us many times each day, sometimes sounding more like "I know yo" or "I yogo" but we're so proud nonetheless. One night at bedtime you even said it and then gave mommy an unprompted long kiss on the cheek. Swoon!

When we ask you where our noses are, you still say "Nnnnooo" and grab them. Starting this week, when we ask you where our eyes are, you very clearly say "eye" while sometimes touching our eyes, but more often grabbing our cheeks just below the eyes. We're okay with that since you're not poking us in the eyes.

And, finally, it appears you have something to call your loving parents instead of just yelling or pointing in our direction! It seems you've been using the word "baba" for your daddy, a far cry from what he wishes to be called ("toh-chan") and originating who knows where. For mommy, you've been saying "mama" and "mom" here and there, but I didn't think you were associating it with me. Then tonight, while looking at a photo I asked you "where is mama" and you pointed to my picture and said "mom" very clearly. Hooray!!!

Well, time for mommy and daddy to veg out with a DVD. It's been a long, full, tiring week with you as always, but we wouldn't trade it for a minute! Love you!!!

We survived Niagara Falls!

Dear Maya,

This week we went to Niagara Falls to see our friends from Japan who were there on a whirlwind tour!

We left Tuesday evening and arrived at about 1am. You slept in the car but when we tried to put you in the baby bed at the hotel you screamed your head off. So, for the first time in over a year, we had to work to get you to sleep. Mommy drove around with you for over an hour and then you and I slept in the car.

Hmm...what are these spinny silver things???

Maybe nobody will notice if I just slip through them to investigate...

Rats! They caught me!

The next morning we got up and ready to go see Rumiko and Kanon. They were staying on the Canada side but since you don't have a passport, they walked over the Rainbow Bridge to meet us on the New York side. When they arrived we went to see the beautiful waterfalls, then sat in the grass and had some snacks and exchanged gifts. You got some great Japanese children's books, baby chopsticks, an adorable Japanese outfit and more! Rumiko and Kanon were so happy to meet you and you took quite a liking to them, too!

We walked around some more, then went back to the hotel to chat for a while in the air conditioning. Later we hit some shopping outlets and went out for a nice late lunch. In the early evening we headed back to the falls again and then said goodbye to Rumiko and Kanon. When we finally got back to our room that night, you were thrilled to sit and watch the Olympics on TV while devouring your leftovers. Naked, of course! Thankfully you slept very, very well that night--from 9pm to 8am!

The next morning we went to see some more of the waterfalls. This time the mist soaked us pretty well, but it was a hot day so it felt good. You stayed in the stroller for much of our sightseeing both days because the railings meant to keep people from falling into the water didn't exactly look toddler-proof. Mommy says 'We survived Niagara Falls' for that reason as well as for how little sleep we all got that first night. But, we survived, and have lots of fun memories of our trip. Maybe we'll go back someday (when you're a bit older)! 

Love you!

Hope to see you again soon, Rumiko and Kanon! Enjoy the rest of your tour!!!

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!