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!