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 :)