Happy Holidays!

Hi Love,
You are content (for now) in your jumperoo so I thought I would try to get a quick update in. We had a wonderful Christmas in Little Falls with the Maurer clan. You were of course a big hit with everyone!! We were there for four nights and you overall did great. You didn't sleep as good at night and you got up once each night to eat. Oh well!  That I was okay with, but sleeping in the same room as you wasn't so great. You continue to earn your nickname Thumper. Your thumping hit an all time high this past week. You  are one loud thumper. You must have abs of steel. You literally slam your legs down on the ground, over and over again. You end up thumping so hard you move and eventually your head is flush up against the pack n play and you can't move any further-then you get upset!!!

We spent a lot of time relaxing at Grandma and Grandpa Bernie's. You got a lot of cuddle time with the Moe girls. They are so good with you. You especially took to Heidi. She was the baby whisperer and everytime she held you, you would fall asleep on her chest-it was precious.

Rob, Mistyn, Jacob and Isaac were also there.  It was fun to see you and Isaac interact. Jacob was really sweet with you and would give you gentle kisses.

We then picked up Aunty Katy and Uncle Majid last night. They were so excited to see you and spent a lot of time holding and snuggling you!

Oh, over Christmas I gave you a little bit of mashed potatoes on my finger tip and I think you liked it. You also got a little taste of ice cream-and I think you really liked that. I think you are going to have a sweet tooth like me!

You continue to get grow everyday and get stronger and stronger. You haven't rolled over again, but can sit up on your own pretty independently. But you will of a sudden decide to throw yourself backwards, so you have to be watched.

Well I will post pictures soon! Love you Mayabird!

In your Christmas dress! You look mischievous here!

Hanging out on your activity mat at Grandma and Grandpa's Maurers!

Grandma had to get her Maya time in too!

Heidi, the "baby whisperer"

Time to open presents! 

 I know it is a cliche but you LOVED the wrapping paper!!!

Grandpa Bernie even made it into the living room!

Spending time with Grandpa Bernie!

In your bumbo!

You and daddy napping! So sweet!

Lucy had to be part of it too!

With Uncle Paul and cousin Isaac!

Uncle Jeebo and Auntie Katy were soo excited to see you!!!

5 months old!

Hi Maya love,
You are in bed, but making some noises so I don' t know if I will make it thought this post. You turned 5 months old today. Each month seems to go by faster and faster....which I don't know if I like. This is a really fun age and I am trying really hard to enjoy every moment.

You had your picture taken with Santa this weekend. Grandma and Grandpa Karimi came along to the mall for the "event'.  I of course had you in your Christmas Dress. You were adorable. I even bought you a cute little headband to go with it.  You did great! No crying at all. I think next year will probably be a different story. After we were done, you decided that your dress was really tasty and slobbered all over it.

Your favorite thing right now is tags! The tag on your excersaucer, the tag on your boppy, the tag on your toys....the list goes on!!! Just shows it doesn't take much to entertain a baby.

You are continuing to get closer to sitting up by yourself. You can actually sit on your own for a little bit but you are a little unpredictable as you will suddenly decide to through yourself backwards.

Your dad and I continue to adore you....and are sometimes overwhelmed by how much we love you and how much joy you bring to our lives (even when you wake me up at 4 am to eat!!). You are just so darn cute. You love to give us big smiles and giggle and you are always looking around, taking in the world. You like to grab my face and I love it!!!

We leave after work on Thursday for Little Falls for you first Christmas celebration.. I am excited for you to get to spend some quality time with your Grandma Helen and the rest of the Maurer clan.


Loves you honey!

First picture with Santa!

 Your first Christmas ornament!

Had to put this picture in as you look so cute! Grandpa would approve of your outfit as he likes you in "light colors".

Another one, in your sweater dress!

Helping mama with her Christmas baking!

And finally your five month picture! The same jammies that you wore in your 3 and 4 month shots. And once again you have your elbow up on the armrest!

I had to include this one because you were grabbing your feet (which you have been doing a lot of!!!)

Fiesty Girl!

Hi Love,
Oh so much to talk about, where to start....Your dad had a work trip this past weekend and just got home today. So I decided to head to the cabin with you to see Great Grandma Culbert. Grandma and Grandpa Karimi came with. We all piled into the van on Friday (including Lucy and Rosie) and drove up. You of course slept the whole way. We stopped in Virginia to visit my Grandma at the nursing home. I put your Christmas dress on you and we took some 4 generation pictures. Great Grandma Culbert loved seeing you.  Auntie Robin and Auntie Betty Thayer were there also and just as we were leaving Uncle David stopped by. It was a great visit! We then headed to your Great Uncle Billy's for dinner. Cousin Nicole came over to see you too. Of course everyone wanted to see you.

We finally got the cabin around 9 pm and it was freezing!!! The floor heater wasn't working...i was all worried that you would be too cold so I put a hat on you and bundled you up in lots of layers. You didn't complain. Luckily we had some space heaters that we used. Eventually it heated up. Saturday we just hung out at the cabin. Grandma and I worked on a puzzle. Unfortunately, you were not a happy camper on Saturday. You wanted to be held to whole time and would not nap. I finally took you into bed with me and finally got you to fall asleep. I even slept a little. You continued to be fussy the rest of the day. And you found your voice!!! You decided you like to hear yourself scream. I should actually refer to it more as a screech. It is deafening!!! Grandma finally bundled you up and took your for a walk outside in the snow, it was even dark out at that point! You did fall asleep in your stroller and Grandma and I were able to get some work done on the puzzle.

You were much better on Sunday. We stopped and saw Great Grandma Culbert again on our way home. It was beautiful so we took Grandma outside. You both were so cute all bundled up! We also stopped and saw Adam, Kaylee and Ethan in Cloquet. You and Ethan were so cute together. Lastly we stopped in St. Paul and had dinner with Auntie Soni. Cousin Andrea was also there so she got to hold you.

In more current news..you rolled over TWICE today, for the first time! I had you on your tummy (which you don't love) and you lifted your head up and suddenly rolled onto your back. I was so excited as were Grandma and Grandpa. You did again right after that just like a pro. Your dad wasn't here to see it...so I tried to get you to do it again so I could take a video of it...but of course you didn't want to.

Dad got home today and was so excited to see you after being gone for over 4 days. You are in such a fun and inquisitive stage. You want to grab everything you see and of course put everything into your much. You also require more entertainment and are no longer content just being on your back. You like to be sitting up! We put you in your little high chair now and you "eat dinner" with us. It is pretty cute.

You definitely have a lot of personality and I have a feeling you are going to be feisty!! (just like me!)

Well I think that is a pretty good update. I will post pictures soon.

Love you little one. (i am going to go peek on you in your nursery before I go to bed).

Uncle David stopped by while we were visiting your Great Grandma Culbert

Then Uncle Billy had to get his Maya time in!

You and Great Grandma Culbert all bundled up!

Your second cousin Ethan-you both are a lot bigger than the last picture we took of the two of you together!

I think you two are going to be good buds in the future-and get in lots of trouble!

Christmas tree fun!

Hi Maya,

You are on your activity mat right now, "watching TV", which I hate to admit, but you do like to stare at the screen. You are already in your PJ's even though it is only 6:30 as you had your daily blow out and this one was bad, half way up your back and even on the sides! You routine lately is to eat once we get home from daycare and then the minute I put you in your  jumperoo you let it go!!!

Well enough about that. A lot has happenend in the last week. You had your four month check up with Dr. Allen and you weighed 16.5 pounds and were 2 feet tall. You were in the 93rd percentile for weight and 60th for height. I was excited to see that you were above average in height! You did really good with your shots. You cried a little but that was it. Auntie Soni then took you home and dad and I went to work. She said you were a little fussy during the day and didn't want to eat much but by the time dad and I got home you were back to your normal self.

Auntie Soni left on Wednesday. We were sad......and still are! We were so lucky to have her for the month.

We had a fun and busy weekend. Grandma and I took you to the peace plaza on Saturday and then we went to a Tri-Rochester get together. You wore your world championship jersey and everyone thought you were adorable. After the party we went and cut down our own Christmas tree. It had started to snow and was very festive. We had to carry you through the fields and just had a blanket around you but you didn't seem to fuss. We found a little tree that was just perfect!

You continue to earn your nickname "thumper"!  You must be getting some strong abs! The last two nights you have decided to wake up at 4:30 and 5:30 to eat!!! You little stinker. When I put you back to sleep you thump away and I can here it in my room. We even turned off the baby monitor because we can hear you cry with out it and we don't want to hear the rest!!!

Daddy and I just love to sit on the floor and watch you take in the world! You are now starting to grab things with 2 hands and you can put your pacifier in and out of your mouth. You like to chew on it also!!! You are starting to drool a lot and I wouldn't be surprised if you starting teething soon.

Well I think that is a pretty good update. Now time to upload some pictures!!!

Auntie Soni holding you at your appointment!

In your world championship jersey that the Moyer's got you!

Milk coma!!!

Family picture with the Christmas tree we cut down ourselves!!

Hanging out in your jumperoo (your favorite spot to fill your pants!!)

Another pic at the Christmas tree farm!!

No pants on!!!

Trying on your Christmas dress. It is a little snug, so I will probably have to exchange it for a bigger size!

Loves you lots Mayabird!

Last day with Auntie Soni...

Hi Maya,
Tomorrow is your last day with Auntie Soni....we are all sad, including Auntie Soni! Grandma and Grandpa Karimi came over tonight for dinner in honor of Soni's last night.  We gave you a bath so Grandpa could see how cute you are in your little bath tub. You were kicking up a storm. A couple of times you almost ended up submerging yourself.

You continue to get stronger and stronger everyday. You can now sit up with your boppy supporting you. You recently found your feet and try to reach them when you are sitting, which results in your leaning over to the point that you almost topple over. When you do topple over you end up on your stomach and have to figure out how to get your arms out. Sometimes you get frustrated!!!

You haven't rolled over yet, but you can lift your head up really high when you are both on your stomach and back.

Tomorrow you have your 4 month check up with Dr. Allen. You will get more shots. You did really well with them last time, but I am not so sure we will be as lucky this time around.

Love you Maya. You bring so much joy and fun to my life!

Thumper!

Hi Little One,
Your newest nickname is Thumper as you like to lift you legs up in the air and then slam them back onto the ground with a big thump! It is cute during the day but not so cute at night when daddy and I are trying to sleep and you happen to be sleeping between us, as you were at Grandpa and Grandma's over Thanksgiving!

We had a really good Thanksgiving. Almost the whole Maurer clan was there. Grandpa Bernie was actually doing pretty well and really enjoyed interacting with you. Everyone else of course loved getting their Maya time.  You were really good overall. You actually took a nap in your carseat while we all ate Thanksgiving dinner. It was perfect timing.

Grandpa Assad had surgery on his shoulder on Friday. We brought you to see him later in the afternoon after we got home from Little Falls. You were perfect medicine for him.You sat with him in bed and he loved it. He had missed you.  We brought you over to their house last night and dad even got down on the ground to play with you even with his shoulder in a brace!! He then went on to lift you up by your onsie with his teeth! I don't know if it was the meds or what!

Well you are squeaking so I better tend to you.

Loves you thumper!

This site of your first thumping episode!!! You little stinker. 

In your Thanksgiving outfit!!!

Getting some quality time with Grandma!

You were better than Oxycodone for Grandpa. He was so happy to see you!

We went to Target after visiting Grandpa! You sat in the cart for the first time. You loved it as you could look around at everything!

We went to visit Grandpa again once he got home. 

First night away from you!

Hi Love,

Last Saturday was cousins weekend at Debbie's in Farmington. I decided to leave you with daddy and go up with out you. I was sad to leave you but actually really enjoyed myself. I did get a little sad near bedtime as I was looking at all the pictures of you on Auntie Soni's phone. It was weird to wake up Sunday morning on my own and not to your noises! I of course called home a lot to check on you and daddy. He did a fabulous job with you and I think it was really special for him to spend one on one time with you. I even decided to take advantage of being on my own and did some shopping at Mall of America on Sunday. I didn't get home until 4 o'clock. I was very excited to see you. Daddy had gotten a lot of laundry done, made soup, fixed the dishwasher and of course taken great care of you. I was so appreciative!!! He even realized the reason you fuss sometimes shortly after starting your bottle is because you get the equivalent of an ice cream headache. He warmed up your bottle a little and it went a lot better. He was very proud of himself for realizing this.

Auntie Soni is continuing to love taking care of you! She is very sad that it will soon be over. She has also done a great job with you and you will always have a special relationship due to the month you spent together. She does consider you HM at times (high maintenance). I would have to agree! he he. You are at such a active stage where you want to look at everything and touch things and of course put EVERYTHING in your mouth. It is very fun but also a lot more work as you attention  span is somewhat short. We have to alternate between your swing, jumperoo, bouncer, bumpo and activity mat. And sometimes just the floor!!! Right now you are on your activity mat in the living room at Grandma and Grandpa's in Little Falls. They were both very excited to see you as it had been at least a month. You even sat by Grandpa in his hospital bed. You of course gave him lots of smiles.

You continue to eat a lot. Still about every two hours!! And now you are up to eating 5 ounces every time. You are still sleeping good through the night but this week you were wanting to get up around 5:30 which was little early for me!!!

You haven't rolled over yet but area getting close. When I put you on your stomach you lift your head and chest up really high as well as your legs and sometime will roll about 90 degrees to one side, but still get stuck on the inside arm.  You aren't in love with being on your stomach and will squawk and screech if I leave you there to long. You now also love to do leg lifts where you lift your legs straight up in the air and then slam them back onto the ground. Last night I realized that you do this in your sleep too as you were sleeping right next to me in your pack n play.


Well tomorrow is Thanksgiving and most of the Maurer clan will be here. I am sure you will be a hit! I will try to take some pictures to put up here.


Loves you!

You and Grandma in your PJ's!

Four month picture-you keep growing!!!

Sitting with Grandpa Bernie in his hospital bed. He got a lot of enjoyment out of you!

Time is flying

Hi Maya

It has been a whole week since I wrote in here. This is becoming too much of a pattern.  Life is moving too fast. You are almost 4 months old. You continue to change, grow and develop everyday. Your Auntie Soni has been taking care of you and you are having a lot of fun together. Today you were really fussy for her. You wouldn't eat, you wouldn't sleep and you just wanted to be held. When your dad and I got home from work Grandma was rocking you in her arms as she walked around with you. You were holding your pacifier in your mouth and were totally awake looking around. Grandma had a dress that had been mine when I was little on you. I was finally able to get you to take a nap in your swing. I put a blanket around the swing so you couldn't see out. I think part of the problem is that you don't want to miss out and nap. (just like your daddy).  I think we might start needing to have you nap in your crib during the day so you will actually sleep!

Your core strength is continuing to increase. I like to make you sit and see how long before you topple over.  You actually do pretty well. I have been helping you roll over too, but you can't do it by yourself yet!

 You are close to reaching "suma wrestler" status just like your mama and Auntie. You are such a chunk. You still continue to run the show. Your Auntie Soni likes to call you the "tyrant" and I sometimes call you "the dictator".  Meaning what you say goes!! You like to squawk a lot and if we don't meet your needs quickly it can turn into a scream or cry.  That being said you are a really good baby and overall very happy. You are so cute when I get you out of your crib in the morning.  You are always smiling and when I turn the light on you move your head back and forth a lot with your eyes closed.

Well hopefully it won't be another week before I post. Love you Maya!

Flowers and giggling!

Hi Maya,
I haven't wrote to you in over a week and there is a lot to talk about. You had your first Halloween and you were a flower! I must admit you were pretty cute. You were not totally in love with the costume as I think you got a little too warm and didn't like how it fit around your head. The neighborhood kids thought you were really cute. We brought you over to Grandma and Grandpa's and they of course thought you were the cutest thing ever.  Grandma got you a cool book that has lot of buttons that you can push and make sounds.

Your dad has been away since last Thursday for hunting so it has been just the girls. Luckily Grandma has been around as well as your Auntie Soni!

Just this week I got you to truly giggle. It was so fun. You started giggling and then I would laugh for real and that would just make you giggle more. You are stubborn though and won't do it all the time!! Only when you want to. No matter how much fake giggling we do!

Your Auntie Soni is now living with us for the month and going to watch you Tuesday through Thursday during the day.  It has been a eye opening experience for her already. Yesterday she brought you into work for my going away party. So you were a little off your schedule and more fussy than normal. She of course thought it was her fault, but I told her that you are a baby and that is what happens with babies. But she adores you and has done a fabulous job taking care of you. She gives you lots and lots of love.  She sent me a text when you had your first blow out for her that said "i almost threw up in my mouth." I had to laugh!

Right now you are in your jumperoo in front of the fireplace and you are definiately enjoying yourself!

This past weekend it was just the two of us. You got up early on Sunday to eat and I wanted to sleep a little more so I took your changing pad/mat from your nursery and put you in my bed next to me and we slept a couple of hours together. I loved it!!

You are starting to not enjoy your antibiotics so much.....and making more of a mess every night when I give them to you.

My good friend Amber came to visit last week and we had a great time!!! She is 20 weeks pregnant, so we got to talk a lot about babies. She loved you and you adored her. She held you a lot and said that whenever she held you she felt her baby moving. I am so excited for her to have a baby too. When we get together you will have a playmate! Elizabeth and Cara also came down from the cities and we went to brunch. They had fun playing with you too.


Well I think that is all for now. There is just so much to write about as you are in such a fun stage. So interactive and becoming more and more aware of your environment!

Love you lots Mayabird!

All dressed up for Halloween!

Amber getting her snuggle time in!

Now it is Elizabeth's turn!

Amber again!

Sportin your smart wool socks and your chubby legs!

First rubber ducky bath!

Hi Maya,

A lot of these posts are titled "first___", but obviously there are a lot of firsts with babies. Today I decided to "advance" you from bathing in the sink to our bathtub! I used these cool blow up rubber ducky that you sat in so you weren't swallowed by our large tub. You loved it, as I thought you would. You kicked your legs and smiled and moved all around. You are so much stronger now and can hold yourself better in certain positions. We also put you in your jumperoo this weekend which you love. We have to put a pillow on the ground underneath you so you have something to push off of, but you have a grand old time, moving and swinging and even playing with the toys. It is fun to have different places to put you, so that you are not on your back so much. You do have a bald spot on the back of your head, and it has gotten a little flatter....hopefully not too flat or you will have to where one of those helmets you see other kiddos wearing.  You still aren't feeling great. Your dad and I went to a get together last night and Grandma and Grandpa watched you. We got home around 10:00 and there you were in the living room wide awake laying on Grandma's lap! She tried her hardest to get you to sleep but you wouldn't have it! Then daddy tried and then finally I just held you and we fell asleep in your rocker until about midnight. But then of course one I put you back in your crib you woke up and cried, so it took a few rounds by daddy of putting your pacifier in your mouth until you were finally asleep for the night!!! I am hoping this can all be blamed on your cold and the fact that you can't breath well out of your little nose.  Well you are hanging out in your activity gym making lots of fun noises so I am going to go play with you!

Love you lots my little Mayabird!

You look a little hesitant here, but you actually really liked it!

 After your bath!!

In your jumperoo!