Thank you Jenny and Olivia

Jenny and Olivia sent us some yum, yum, yummy cookies!! As cute as they were delicious, thank you, girls !! Olivia is almost exactly a year younger than Maya, which works out well for us to share clothes.

Terri shares Samantha's outgrown outfits with Maya (thank you, thank you, thank you - I love your taste, Terri!) and then we share Maya's outgrown outfits with Olivia. Works well!! Girls rock!!

Butterfly Meadow and Caterpillar Crossing

Valparaiso has the coolest playground - Butterfly Meadow and Caterpillar Crossing. We went here several times with Grandma and Grandpa. I rode with Maya down the biggest slide each time - ONCE - it was scary for me, let alone for little peanut. She did love the animal sounds, the smaller slides, and the big bouncers. The bus/car/taxi thing too.

BIG FUN !!

Good Friends and More Mashmo's

Our Hobart high school friends came over for an awesome dinner. Janet and Lee made the most delicious beef for sandwiches. Sherry handled all the side dishes and we only supplied dessert. Although it was an amazing dessert, if I do say so myself, LOL. Janet had sent me a recipe for a trifle. I think that's what it's called - the layery thing that Rachel made in friends and oops, but in beef, YUCK. Anyway, I didn't have time to put it together, hahaha, so I just put all the ingredients out on the table and let everyone make their own! It actually looked like I did it on purpose. Oops, except for the pudding, because I didn't take the time to make that either, so I substituted vanilla yogurt. Hmmmm, somehow when I talk about something that I cooked, the word "oops" comes in alot. Regardless, it was delicious and lots o'fun :)

Teeny tiny bowling shoes

Who knew that they had such tiny bowling shoes?

When there is lots of thunder and lightning, I tell Maya that the angels are bowling. Then I realized that she had never seen any bowling, duh. So Grandma and Grandpa took Maya and I bowling. We weren't sure that Maya could play, but sure enough, they had shoes and balls for two years old. The lane bumpers came in handy for all of us (smile). It was such fun to watch her giggle after she pushed the ball down the lane. It took quite awhile for it to get to the pins - once it didn't make it and we had to call the bowling man - and she usually lost interest by the time it actually got to the pins, LOL. BIG fun, thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

Go Irish

One of our favorite things to do is to visit Notre Dame. After a yummy lunch at the Morris Inn, we went for a walk on campus. Grandpa picked up a wheelchair at the Eck Center and he ready to go any and everywhere. Of course, we lit candles at the grotto. We had cold drinks at the Starbucks in LaFortune and pittered in the war memorial fountain next to Breen Phillips (mommy's dorm). It was a bee-yoo-tee-ful day, as Maya says.

Blueberries

Pack up the picnic basket and off we go.......

Picnic food, a playground, a barn, a kitty cat, yummy ripe blueberries, sunshine - FUN !

Maya's Favorite Things

Some of Maya's favorite things:

Tigers
Candy Cames
Milk Shakes
Balloons
Canteloupes
Elephants

Happy Birthday, America!

We went to the parade in Porter (Chesterton didn't have one this year?) and had a picnic lunch - perfect 4th! Maya was scared of the fireworks though. Maybe next year -

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Shoe Shopping !!

Maya's awesome Grandma and Grandpa take her shoe shopping about every three months and we just have a blast. There is a Stride Rite outlet in Michigan City, that we have come to love. The fact that there is a South Bend Chocolate Cafe right around the corner is just like adding frosting to the cake.

The shoe shopping experience can be smooth sailing or a bumpy ride depending on Maya's "mood". It just isn't easy to put shoe after shoe after shoe on a wiggly little one. It helps that there are usually several other little kids there at the same time. This particular trip there was an adorable little girl that just made Maya giggle and vice versa. They just kept setting each other off into waves and waves of laughter - it was so fun to watch.

Warning - baby poop story - Warning - baby poop story - Warning - baby poop story

For some unknown cosmic reason, something about this store acts as a bit of a laxative for Maya! It seems like every time we go, whoops, there it is. I feel so badly for the kind, sweet, SO understanding workers in the store. The one in the picture above has helped Maya so many times and she is an absolute angel. The first few times, Maya was fascinated with her thick shiny hair and actually pulled her hair - ow! And she has been nothing but kind and cheerful. Stride Rite we love you!

Grandma and Grandpa we love you!!

She's WALKING!!!!

TOO CUTE! TOO CUTE! Wayne is sitting on the couch and Maya is in the jumperoo and they're throwing kisses! Maya just learned to make a real kissing noise (previously just a drool kind of thing). TOO CUTE! TOO CUTE!

Speaking of learning, SHE STARTED TO WALK YESTERDAY!!!! Only a few steps, but is was clearly deliberate walking!!! Our baby's growing up.......

And more new things!!!! We have tooth number 4 poking out!!! Wow, new things everywhere!

AND, I almost forgot, Maya is walking and her nose is running! Oh, I crack myself up...sorry. Poor little one has her first cold. And it's a BIG one...such a little nose and so much ummmm, "stuff". Bordering on too much information.....

She said MOMMY

"stand still, stand still" .......Wayne trying to put on Maya's socks. LOL.

Maya does NOT stand still very long. In addition to a new tooth, Maya said "mommy" today!!! Wooooooo-hooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When we left the hotel, the staff gave Maya a doll (orange-baby). Maya is a "charma" - that's for sure!

Planning a Birthday Party

I'm starting to plan Maya's birthday party. It's not very far away and the way time flies. Wow. If anyone has any ideas, let me know!

Tooth number 3!

Tooth number 3! Maya's third tooth has broken through. Awwwwww!

We're in Indianapolis, I have some CPE classes. Maya is having BIG fun - as usual. She's started stretching out her arms and then "flopping" on top of us or on any soft surface. Last night she did it on our bed, just over and over, giggling away. Happily, she's learned to stay away from the edges of the bed. It's much less harrowing for us!

We stopped by Connor's Prairie, yesterday. I think that will be more meaningful for her when she's older and in the summer. It's quite cold right now. Yesterday morning there was frost on the car! Brrrrrr!

We think Maya is saying words now, but it's one of those things where we say to each other, "did she say (blank) or are we imagining it?" Yesterday, I was sure she said "bambi". There's some "mmmmmm and noises" that I think is closing on on "mommy" too.

Maya is pretty used to the carseat now. If we don't play music though, or if there are extended commercials, she's not a happy camper. Long stoplights aren't very popular either!

I know I've said it before, but we are SO BLESSED. What an amazing gift God has given us.

Camping

We went camping from Oct 1st until yesterday. Maya had BIG fun! She's a happy camper, for sure.

The weather was nice - even a little warm. When we left Thursday morning (yesterday), ti was chilly, but the rest of the time it was beautiful.

We were at Spring Mill, except for the weekend (we made our reservations at the last minute and the campground was full for the weekend) when we went to Hardy Lake.

Maya LOVED the RV, she could hold onto things and walk around almost everything. Negotiated the steps pretty well, too. She could see us almost all the time which was our favorite part!

Baby girl enjoyed the campfires and even ate outside a few times. I was worried about the bees, so many in the fall, so mostly in the evenings.

We didn't see any skunks (we did smell a few though), but a racoon did make a visit. We hung a birdseed bell outside the rv window, hoping to provide Maya with some "birdie tv" but it didn't entice them.

There were times when it was more like survivor than a vacation - we didn't have water in the beginning - but it all worked out. Camping is an adventure!

One of the most fun days, we met Jeanne and Rupert!!! Up until then, we'd only written ont he internet. After irritating a waiter at Cracker Barrel by staying sooooooo long, we had to break away. Hope to see you again soon!

Heaven on Earth

This afternoon, I dropped off Wayne and Maya at his mom's nursing home and went shopping. I came back to pick them up and Maya was SO happy to see me. She was laughing and kissing me. Ahhhhhhhhh (big sigh) I took a deep breath to smell that special maya baby smell and I thought, I don't know what I've ever done to deserve this angel. I jsut don't want to let go of her. She is SO beautiful that I am just in awe. And everytime someone says "what a happy baby!" (and it's said alot), I am so thankful to have her.

We got a card that says, "I heard that an angel showed up at your house, dressed up in a baby disguise - with soft, dimpled cheeks, irresistable coos, and starlight and hope in her eyes....though she traded her wings for her ten baby toes and her halo is now just a curl, May all her days bring you heaven on earth - your beautiful sweet baby girl." So true! It's heaven on earth.

Nifty Fifty

How nifty? I'm fifty! Because of Maya.....as they say in the song...." I FEEL GOOD, dunnna na"

It was a spectacular birthday. Maya learned to wave! Grandma taught her and they both looked adorable.

Maya gave me the sweetest card, a Winnie the Pooh (of course) balloon and some dark chocolate. What a thoughtful, smart baby we have!

We went to Lucrezia for diner and at the restaurant I did a special signal softly in Maya's ear and she gave me a kiss! Awwwwwww, I'm in love with that baby.

At fifty, I have to say......IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!

It's day eight for dear, patient, girlfriend Jeanne. Saying prayers for Maddy to be home soon, soon, soon.

Friends

Sunday, the Hobart High School crowd came over for brunch. Wayne outdid himself making the world famous waffles (okay, Carpenter friends and family famous waffles).

We had a wonderful time sharing food and friendship, girl talk in the nursery!

Monday, Wayne had some daddy-daughter time while I went shopping with MY mom. I missed Maya, of course, but it was nice to spend time with mom.

Tuesday, Elaine and Joan stopped by! How good it was to see them! Joan is so good with Maya. It sounds like they are settling into semi-retirement just right.

Maya is busy, busy, exploring her world. She is so bright. Wayne and I are amazed at how blessed we are and thank the Lord everyday for this wonderful gift.

Debbie and Ev called me yesterday! It was so good to talk to them too. They are both doing good. Debbie's daughter Susie is 21 and Ev's niece Kimmy is 40! I can't believe how fast time flies.

(from Baby Maya blog)

Wow, yesterday was an amazing day. I think we fit a whole month of love and joy into one day. It's hard for me to describe the things Maya has brought to our lives. I'm working on an analogy, it involves black and white to color.....dusk to bright sunshine....I'll keep working on it.

Anyway, yesterday morning, I took Maya to see Wayne's mom, Leona, at Fountainview Place. Even though she'd seen Maya before, she held Maya for the first time yesterday. Whoa....it was a Hallmark Channel movie. Maya loved her grandma so much, and the look on Leona's face was so full of delight and love. Maya took her tiny little hands and touched all over Leona's face (mommy didn't even have to say "gently, gently"). Maya played with her ears and stroked her hair. It was so sweet! And all the time, Maya was curious and happy, beaming those high wattage smiles. Just amazing......

Then Leona, Maya and I went to a church service there at Fountainview. Oh, Maya loved it! a woman played the hymns on a piano and Maya danced. She crawled into Leona's lap again and played peek-a-boo with the man behind us. He couldn't talk but he made a sign as if to say, "she's laughing".

Then in the afternoon, our dear friend Pat came over to visit. Pat made the beautiful quilt that is in Maya's room. I just love seeing my friends with Maya. Who knew Pat was good at making funny-babies-laugh-and-laugh noises? And Pat brought Maya her first Starbucks. No silly, we didn't give her coffee! Pat brought her "The Velveteen Rabbit" book and cd (narrated by Meryl Streep, how cool is that?!) Then, I know, I can hardly believe myself that there's more....

Wayne and I went to his high school reunion. And dance the night away. Well, not really, but we did dance one slow dance. His classmates are so nice! We had a great evening. If we had to be away from Maya (ouch!) this was a good reason. We heard lots of fifties music and laughed. I didn't say "oopsie" once! My Mom stayed with Maya while we were out partying. They did very well! Maya didn't stay awake to see Notre Dame win (what-a-day!). Grandma, grandpa and Maya had a great evening. What an angel daughter we have, and such amazing family and friends. Thank you, God, we are truly blessed.

Exhaustion

(from Baby Maya blog)

I haven't been doing a very good job of documenting Maya's first weeks at home. I've been thrilled to have her clean, fed, dressed, and smiling - then falling into bed totally exhausted. How does such a "little bit" manage to wear out two grown adults? LOL!

So here's warning, there's going to be lots of baby details.....reader beware!