Friday, May 30, 2008

So Big!



Here is a videopost showing you how big I am and then ending with a brief look into my future career as a gymnast! Watch closely as I stick the landing at then end!!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

It's my birthday and I can scream if I want to...



How Big is Maya? So Big! Yes, that's right, I am now all grown up. I have officially left babyhood and am now a big girl. And in case you don't believe me just ask me how big I am and I instantly raise my arms high in the air! It's my newest trick.

Mom and Dad have been reminiscing about the day I came into this world. We sat up last night and they told me my birth story. They talked about the movie they watched when the contractions began and how Mom was so mad that she may not be able to see the end of the movie. They told me about the midnight stroll around the neighborhood to calm Mom's restless legs. They also told me about the car ride to the Birth Center and how they were reading every interstate sign to help them pick a name if I was a boy. They said that they were speeding to the Birth Center and passing all of the cops on Memorial Day patrol and hoping they would get pulled over so they could ask for a personal escort. We laughed and cried about all of the stories until we finally fell asleep!

Grandma Mary has been in town since Saturday and we have really enjoyed having her here. We played, went to the park, read books, took naps...you name it and we did it! We are taking her to the airport so she can fly back to New York and then Mom, Dad and I are heading over to Lilly's Pizza for my birthday dinner. Mom made some Carrot Cake muffins for my birthday so we will share those with Mom and Dad's friends tonight.

We are also headed over to AbraKadabra Toys to look for my birthday present. This is one of my favorite stores in town since they offer mostly wooden toys, fair trade toys and nothing that takes batteries. We are in search of a wooden walker to help me learn the art of walking.

I hope everyone has a beautiful day! Enjoy some of the pictures we took yesterday in the flower patch.





Grandma Mary!


So Big!












Probably one of the best pictures of the year! I am reading my birthday card from Great Aunt Kathleen and wearing the swim robe she sent me.


Enjoying my birthday gifts!



We have had Google Analytics keeping track of our blog since the beginning so that we can keep track of how many people are visiting the blog daily, where they are coming from and how they find us. I thought I'd share a screen shot of one of the pages that shows how many visits we've had and from how many countries. Can you believe that we've had over 3,000 visits from 36 different countries and 44 different US states and territories. Wow! Thanks to everyone for reading my blog and sharing the first of many years to come! I hope you will continue to come back as we will try to keep it interesting and entertaining!

Love,

Maya, Mom & Dad

Monday, May 26, 2008

A Memory for Memorial Day


Memorial Day will forever bring back memories of the big day: D-Day! It's not quite my birthday yet but it was on this day (Memorial Day) last year that I popped out and came into this world. It was such a wonderful day for everyone so I thought I would bring back a few of the old pictures of the 2 or 3 days following my birth. It has been a great year full of joy and happiness. I look forward to leaving behind the baby blues and becoming and terrific toddler. At least that is what I think they call toddlers!

I also hit another milestone today. I stood up all on my own without holding on to anything. You should have seen the look on my face when I did it! I froze in place not knowing what to do before I finally gave in and fell on my bum. I am almost there, a walking terror. Just wait!

A Day in the Park



On Saturday morning Mom and I went over to Pullen Aquatic Center for our last swimming class for this session. Dad met up with us after class and we headed over to Pullen Park to meet some of our friends for a picnic. We brought lots of food and toys and had a great time playing on the blankets with each other. My favorite toys always seem to be the toys that the other kids are playing with so I tried my best to sneak them away while they weren't looking or while they were too busy eating. I am still trying to learn the concept of sharing but it's a bit hard at this age. I tend to get a little fussy when I have to give something up.

Once we finished our snacks we headed over to the train station for a ride around the park. I have never been on this train before but I did ride the train at Dad's Museum for Santa Train. Afterwards we headed over for a swing on the swing set. I had so much fun swinging with my friends that I could hardly contain myself. I think Dad has some plans for my very own swing in the backyard!!



Don't take my Maraca!


You eat it...


Yum!


Now give me a bite.


You're funny!


Ridin' that train...


Swinging with Stella Dot


Lazy Days



Last week Dad and I took the entire Saturday and did nothing but sleep, eat and be as lazy as we could. The week prior was awfully hectic for both of us so we just decided to take a day off. Since we had such beautiful weather we decided to spend most of the afternoon in the hammock on the front porch. We were both sound asleep in the hammock that we didn't even hear our friend Mike drive up in his new car. He just got a 1966 Corvair and he came over to show us and take us for a short ride around the 'hood. We are trying to talk him in to taking us to the R.E.M. concert in his new ride!


1966 Convertible Chevrolet Corvair




Lurking in the weeds


Spirea plant in our backyard


Waiting for Mom to come home!



Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Munch Cam




I thought I'd share with you all some of the videos I am working on for work. I have made several of these videos and will continue to shoot more footage of all of our animals and insects eating their daily scraps. These three are finished as of now but you can find more Munch Cam videos on our website (http://www.ncmls.org/learn-about/munchcam) in the coming days and weeks. The animals that I am working on now are our lemurs, steer, sheep, goat, bearded dragon, chinchilla, woodchuck, tobacco hornworm, mealworms, chicken, rabbit, hawk, turtles, alligators and a variety of different bugs. I hope you all enjoy and will come back to see more!

Brad

Donkey Munch



Pig Munch

Munch Cam



I thought I'd share with you all some of the videos I am working on for work. I have made several of these videos and will continue to shoot more footage of all of our animals and insects eating their daily scraps. These three are finished as of now but you can find more Munch Cam videos on our website (http://www.ncmls.org/learn-about/munchcam) in the coming days and weeks. The animals that I am working on now are lemurs, our steer, sheep, goat, bearded dragon, chinchilla, woodchuck, tobacco hornworm, mealworms, chicken, rabbit, hawk, turtles, alligators and a variety of different bugs. I hope you all enjoy and will come back to see more!

Brad

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

I've got an Itchy throat!



Here is another one of my silly movies of Dad torturing and teasing me. For some reason, every time Dad clears his throat or coughs I hit the deck. Before coming back up for air I usually survey my surroundings and then resume play mode untouched and unharmed. Dad seems to get a kick out of this torturous behavior and I don't think Mom is in favor.

Sorry for the awful lighting, we'll remember to never film in the kitchen again.

Enjoy!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

How much is a Mom worth?


Mothers Day has been great! We slept a little late, went to the farmers market for breakfast, came home and took a nap in the hammock on the front porch, and finished it off with a great dinner. My mothers day meal was full of sweet potatoes and beets, Yum Yum! . The beets got a little messy and made for some great face painting! I couldn't master the art of saying Happy Mothers Day but I did manage to mumble/babble mum and mamma all day long. I first said the word momma back in February and really haven't said it since. I guess I was saving up for another special day.

I recently read an article on the Internet talking about how much a Mom is worth. The figure is somewhere around $138,000 a year (this figure is based on the fact that working moms work on average 52 hours of overtime a week). I would suggest an even higher price tag for moms like priceless! If you think about it, Moms have several different jobs that they do and do very well! Here is a brief list of some of the many jobs that we are so thankful for: housekeeper, day care center teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, CEO and psychologist. We are just proud of Mom and wish her the very best Mothers Day ever. And too all the other Mom's out there...Happy Mothers Day too!



Face painting with beets


Singing to each other


Hammock Time!


I want to be just like Mom and wear a Mei Tai.



One of my signs: L for Love!

MerleFest Drawing



I have been meaning to post this picture for some time now. While we were sitting at the Hillside stage at MerleFest listening to The Waybacks a man approached us and handed us a napkin. On it was a sketch of the three of us sitting and enjoying the music. He said he couldn't resist drawing a picture for us since we looked like such a happy family. Pretty Cool!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Tony and Lindsey's Wedding



We just got back from a trip to TN for my Uncle Tony's Wedding. We had a great time seeing all of the family and enjoying great parties in honor of Uncle Tony and now Aunt Lindsey. I have to say that I have traveled quite a lot in my first year of life and I've seen my 3 sets of grandparents several times but that didn't seem to calm me down at all while in TN. I cried for the first 2 days every time PawPaw, G3 and Gramma picked me up. In fact, Gramma came all the way up from Chattanooga to visit with us and watch me during the wedding since Mom and Dad were in it. I cried pretty much through the entire ceremony. Mom says she could hear me from 2 buildings away but I don't think Tony and Lindsey were paying attention. Once I finally warmed up to everyone it was Saturday night and we were ready to head back home. It’s hard not being able to understand and communicate with grownups!

When we got home on Sunday morning we set up the hammocks and relaxed from 12:30pm until around 7pm. The pizza delivery guy even delivered our dinner to us while in the hammocks. We didn’t move all day until we realized that the mosquitoes are back and we all woke up to itchy legs.

Enjoy the pictures, there are plenty!!



By the pond at PawPaw and G3's


The Rehearsal Dinner at PawPaw and G3's house.


Mom & Dad's Wedding Tree from uncle Jon (planted in 2003)

The Bride with her Mom and G3



Check out Mom's hairdo! Looks great!


Cousin Jessica





Just my size!



Playing with Gramma...


...and with PawPaw too.