Brain Dump Alert

OMG. My mind is spinning tonight. Random thoughts.

-I need to give some Christmas ideas to my mother-in-law.

-Our open house is tomorrow. Please, oh please, let that right person come along tomorrow!

-Why am I sitting here typing while I still have to dust and mop?

-I was so productive this morning.

-I am so glad I actually bought some clothes I felt good in today!

-Is it true that Maya's first tooth is poking through?!? Where in the world does the time go?!

-Can't wait to see her in her ADORABLE dress tomorrow.

-So excited I cooked a meal tonight that made my husband go on and on and on about it.

-Yum Yum roasted carrots. You have to make these. HAVE to!!! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/11/roasted-carrots-by-pastor-ryan/

-Love my new crockpot. Thanks to my sisters :)

-I must stop going into Baby Gap and Gymboree just because I am near them.

-Sad my Christmas tree won't be going up this year. :(

-Surprised I'm not more stressed than I am. This is where my excellent denial skills kick in I guess.

-Where is Ariel going to stay if we have to move in with my parents for a couple weeks?

-How am I going to get everything cooked at the right time for my first time hosting Thanksgiving?

-I want to go work on my mom's birthday present that I am making her.

-I despise passive aggressiveness.

-Kind of want to read Twilight. I am curious enough now as to what the buzz is all about.

-Cannot WAIT to see Sarah on Friday. It's been THREE years!! That's not right.

Ok, writing this post is causing my brain to exceed its overdrive status. I thought it would help. I was wrong.

Can't post without adding a pic of my monkey! :)

Leaving on a Jet Plane....Well, Not Really. We'll Be Going By Car!

Well....it's official! We are moving to Tulsa! Khalid got a new job going back into civil service. Actually he is going into federal service this time. He will still stick with the Reserves as well. When he took the job he has now this past January, his plan was to get some really good experience, eventually get promoted and then be able to get back into civil service at a higher rank. This was his five year plan. However, he was promoted the month after Maya was born which was the biggest blessing! He started just keeping his eyes peeled for opportunities in Tulsa and OKC and lo and behold....well, you know the rest of the story! We are so thrilled because we both love Tulsa. But I am really experiencing every emotion in the book. I cried my eyes out when I first found out because my sister has become one of my very best friends. We get together a couple times a week and the little ones just adore each other. I know, I know....it's only an hour and a half away. Sometimes change is just hard. At the same time, I am SO SO SO excited to live close to my mom and dad! And other friends and family! Basically I am feeling every emotion in the book except for anger. We put our house on the market Thursday so I am crossing my fingers and praying!!
Here are a few pics from the past week.

Maya's first time in a shopping cart without the car seat! Big girl :) She loved it!
She was SUCH a trooper while Mommy and Daddy did Christmas shopping!

Maya and her cousin Zoey, who is one month younger. Such sweeties!!!

Maya and Daddy time!

I made my first wreath! I am quickly becoming a craft-addict!

Giggles Galore!

Maya Jayne turned 7 months old yesterday! My big girl is just growing so fast! We lowered her crib mattress a level and I seriously got tears in my eyes. I am a faucet since having her. No lie!

We do breakfast and dinner now aside from her 4 bottles a day. So far, she likes everything I have given her: carrots, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, applesauce, pears, bananas, avocado, apricots. I think that it it. I've made some and then we've eaten some jarred food too. So far, peas and bananas are her faves!

This pic was taken at Pops on Route 66. We went with Aunt Sharla and Khorey and Eli. I whipped out the camera and she just grinned right away. Think she's getting used to smiling? Ha! She's always been my little smiley punkin!

She giggled last night for the first time while NOT being tickled!! I usually have to tickle her to get a good one. (No worries....not too much because I HATED when people would tickle mercilessly when I was little!) I was just laying on a blanket with her and I would sing a really high note and she would copy me and then we kept going back and forth. All of the sudden she started cracking up! It was music to my ears....no sweeter sound in the whole world. :)

Maya is not really scooting yet but yesterday she was pushing up really high on her arms and then she would raise her body up on one leg. I was floored! She turns in circles and of course rolls all over the place but no crawling or scooting yet. Which is ok with mommy!

Can you tell I am obsessed with the baby leg warmers? :) Aunt Michelle made her this onesie. Too cute!

My big girl! Actually there were lots of tears right after this pic. She chomped down on that toy and hurt her gums. So sad. :( No teeth yet but she is chewing on EVERYTHING and attacks my fingers every single time she sees them. She pulls on her ears a lot but no ear infection. I think she is doing that because teeth are on their way. But what the heck do I know?! :)

I am having so much fun staying home with her. It just reaffirms my decision every day. Even on the hard days, which so far are few and far between, I am so happy and I absolutely love my life and feel very blessed! I have been crafting my little heart out lately. My sister has been coming over a couple times a week. After we finished the girls' letters, we decided that we didn't want craft time to end! So we started on some Christmas letters. And last night I just felt inspired to finally make my fall wreath. I just figured if I didn't get it started and finished soon, then fall would be over! This is going to be a full month so this is a fun way to relieve stress!! It is the in-law's turn for Thanksgiving and we are having them here for the holiday. I will be making my first turkey. (Yikes!) But I told Khalid that he or his mom will have to stick their hand inside to take all the yucky stuff out. Just can't do it. :)
THEN....one of my best friends from college is coming with her husband the day after turkey day!!! They are staying 3 nights and I cannot tell you how excited I am! I haven't seen Sarah in 3 years and that is just nuts considering we spent every single day together during our 4 years in college. Can't wait!!

First Halloween! (and a few other pics)

Maya was the most precious little cow I have ever seen! :) We just dressed up and took this pic in the front yard, then headed over to Aunt Sharla's house.

Maya and her cousins Khorey and Eli :)

Power Ranger, Lady Bug and Cow :)

Finally finished her letter for her room! Now I just need to hang them!

I am officially obsessed with the leg warmers!

My sweet punkin!

Why can't feet stay this cute!?

Sitting pretty :)

In her halloween jammies from Aunt Sharla!

How Will I Choose?!?!

Is it acceptable to have all 40 of her six month pics framed in my home? Teehee :) We went to Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch for Maya's six month pics. It was so cold and we lost her little pink bow in the process, but we went home with two pumpkins and our little napping pumpkin so all went well! I am so pleased with them and still in shock that my little monkey is six months old.

October.....Almost Over???

My little sweetpea in her onesie that Aunt Michelle made her :)

Love this pic!!! Maya and her Papa having a special moment.

My little punkin! She looks great in orange! :)

I ADORE this pic!!! So sweet!

Maya and Mimi. Maya's shirt says "So cute it's scary!" lol :)

Mimi and Maya hanging out. Don't you love Maya's leg warmers? :)

Where has my favorite month gone? Just a few more days and it's over! However, the holiday hustle and bustle begins and I do enjoy that too. :)

My beautiful cousins Jennifer and Vanessa (and Baby Harper!)

My beautiful sister and niece! Stylin' as usual!

Mimi with Khorey and Maya (SACKED OUT!)

On our way to the shower :)

It's been a fun month. We got to celebrate Eli and Dad's brithdays. We got to go to Baby Harper's shower in Norman. And we also went to Tulsa for my birthday/our anniversary weekend. Khalid and I have been married five whole years!! SO hard to believe. We went to Ti Amo's to celebrate and it was delicious just like we had heard. I turned the big 3-1 last Sunday. It's official.....I am actually "in" my 30's now!!! I'm not one to freak out about birthdays and turning older. I actually love the fact that I have lived another year!! Even though I don't freak out about them though, that doesn't mean it doesn't shock me that the years go by so fast. I have to say that my first birthday as a mommy has been the very best!! :)

Dear Maya

To My Sweet Little Maya,

It's hard to believe you have been with us for 6 months. Being pregnant is still so fresh on my mind. The excitement and the tiredness of those last few weeks. The excitement that came the night we went to the hospital. All the wonderful nurses and staff at Lakeside that helped you arrive safely. Waking up in the middle of the night knowing that the pain I felt meant you were coming within hours!! Having our family there while you made your arrival. Hearing your first cry. Hearing "It's a GIRL!!" from Dr. Hall. Having Mimi stay with us the first week we brought you home. I didn't know what tired meant until that week came along. :) My heart has never been so full and I cannot imagine life any other way.

I love watching you learn all your new tricks like blowing bubbles, "singing" sometimes at the top of your lungs and sometimes with your mouth closed, etc. I love when you shake your head back and forth, stop and then smile at me to start a game. I love how you snuggle against me when I sing Godspeed to you in the evening. I love how you smile the biggest smile of all when I read the first two lines of Goodnight Moon. I love watching your face light up in a special way when Daddy gets home from work. I love watching you concentrate when you are learning something new. I love how you are amazed by your hands and your little piggies. I love being the person that now knows (99% of the time) exactly what you need to be soothed. I love the special look and smile you have for me. This list goes on.....

Here are some things you are working on right now at 6 months:

~You are sitting up for about 30 seconds at a time before tipping :)

~I started feeding you solids two weeks ago. So far you have tried carrots, butternut squash, peas and avocado. You showed quite a temper with the peas.....I could not get the spoon to your mouth fast enough!

~No teeth yet but you gum on EVERYTHING!

~You are sleeping 12 hours at night and taking 3 naps a day (the last one being 30 minutes).

~You LOVE to read and actually stare at the pages while we read to you.

~Your favorite songs are "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck," "I'm a Little Teapot," "Rubber Duckie," and "Godspeed" by the Dixie Chicks (where we change the wording from "little man" to "little Maya." :)

~You do really well at parties when you are up past your bedtime! You love being social and don't want to miss a thing just like your mommy!

~You love your cousins so much and smile big whenever you see them.

~Your favorite toy is a cloth orange star with a smiley face and knots on the end to chew on.....I am thinking it might be your security item. :)

~You travel pretty well. We've not gone any distances longer than an hour and a half, but you usually fall asleep within 20 minutes or so.

It's been so fun getting to know each other. I think of those very very early days when I was so sleep deprived and if you cried and I had tried everything I knew to do, I would sit and cry with you for a few minutes. (Sleep deprivation must never be underestimated! HA!) We are rockin' and rollin' these days and I feel so blessed for each and every day I have with you. I love you so much my sweet little princess.

Love,

Mommy :)

September Fun

Thought I'd throw in some of our fun times this month. Miss Maya is getting more personality every single day! :)

I have a feeling this is going to be her little security item!

So happy to see you Mommy! (I wish I woke up like this every single time I went to sleep!

My happy little cheetah!

Hangin' in my jumperoo at Mimi and Papa's :)

Catching Mimi and Papa up!

Love to read!

Holding my dolly :)

My favorite book!