Fun With Abi

I had so much fun with Andrea and Abi today that I had to post our pictures. Thanks to Andrea for taking them and sending them to me! Besides taking pictures we also made a Christmas card for Mom and Dad using cut-outs of my hands and feet. Both hands were the reindeer's antlers and my foot was his head. We attached to googly eyes and a red dot for the nose to finish off the card. I am so wiped out I can hardly stay awake to visit with Mom.

Grandma Mary's Visit

Grandma Mary came down last week to take care of me while Dad was out of town for work. We had a great time together reading several books, hiking around the neighborhood and local parks, opening Christmas gifts and bonding. Thanks Grandma for a wonderful time!

Yates Mill County Park

Early practice for Christmas Day

Making sure it tastes good

That was easy!

What Christmas gift? I like the wrapping paper!

Santa Train: All Aboard!

It is hard to get into the Christmas spirit with it being so warm outside but on Thursday that all changed. Mom and Dad took me to the Museum of Life and Science to ride the Santa Train to the North Pole to see Santa Claus! The Museum grounds and the 60 passenger train were decorated with Christmas lights and holiday flare and once on board everyone started singing Christmas songs! After everyone boarded the train we took off and headed to the North Pole. When we arrived we saw some of Santa's Elves working on Christmas gifts for everyone while Mrs. Claus passed out candy canes and got everyone in the spirit of Christmas by singing more songs. Santa stopped at every car on the train and wished us all a Merry Christmas. He was so nice to me and made sure that I would get everything I wanted. I babbled a few things to him but I don't think he understood me. I guess I'll just have to wait until Christmas Day!

Happy Holidays to everyone!!

My kind of Elf suit!


I almost got a hold of his beard but he pulled away just in time!


Yard art at the Museum

Happy Holidays!!

Green Babies and Eco Kids from ThisNext.com

Shopcast powered by
www.ThisNext.com

Get this for your blog or website

Healthy Toys For Healthy Babies

Just recently a Michigan based ecology center tested over 1,200 toys on the market and found that 35% of them contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and/or arsenic and only 23% of the toxic toys had been recalled. Parents should not have to worry about the toys that their kids are playing with but unfortunately that is not the case. Society needs to fix this problem by ensuring that the toys they buy are safe on all levels!

Visit Healthy Toys to view all of their test results.

And remember, for only 4 dollars you can buy a lead testing kit at Lowe's or Ace Hardware. We just tested all of our toys and they all passed!

Happy Holidays!

The Growing Child: 6 Months

Mom and I went to see Dr. Ramsdell today for my 6 month well check visit. Here are my measurements from today:

Weight: 17.9 lbs Percentile 77%
Height: 25 in. Percentile 21%
Head Cir: 17 in. Percentile 68%

In looking back at my last visit not much has changed in regards to my ranking among other babies my age. While all babies grow at different rates, the average baby will have doubled their birth weight by 6 months. I have more than doubled mine from 7.9 lbs to 17.9 lbs. I guess the bottom line is that I'll be short and stubby...at least until I start walking.

I also had my vision tested today. Dr. Ramsdell held paddles with different patterns on them in front of my face and observed my eye movements. At times I seemed more interested in watching Dr. Ramsdell than I did the paddles but I must have done enough because she passed me. My next visit is scheduled for some time in February.

Guess Who Is 6 Months Old?

Turn on your speakers and click on the play button above and enjoy the music as you read on!

Guess who just turned 6 months old? No way, how did you guess! Yep, I am 6 months old today. Time is flying by and I just keep getting bigger and more coordinated as the days go on. I am sitting up on my own although Dad and Mom have been kind enough to place some pillows around me so that when my concentration lapses and I fall over I don't bang my head on the hardwood floor. I am also grasping objects, passing them from hand to hand, putting everything I can into my mouth and even looking for them when I drop them. And not only am I rolling over from my back to stomach but just the other day I rolled over from my stomach back to my back.

Next week I have my 6 month old well check visit with my doctor. I will be weighed, measured and checked from head to toe. It's hard to believe that 6 months ago I weighed a mere 7.9 pounds. From looking at my rolls I should have gained a bit of weight since my last doctor visit. Any guesses on how much I weigh? I'll be sure to fill you in next week after I see Dr. Ramsdell.

Until then,

~Maya

How To Make A Pumpkin Butt

I hope you all enjoy my newest video post and will be making pumpkin butts on your own soon. I'm through making mine so you'll have to find another baby to make yours. Have fun!

~Maya

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope everyone had a great day full of good food, loving family and warm spiked blueberry cider! It was this time last year when Mom and Dad announced to the entire family that there was something brewing in her tummy. Can you believe that I am almost 6 months old! Wow, how time flies. Before you know it I'll be walking, talking and most definitely backpacking.

It was a great day here in North Carolina full of cooking, lounging, walking, playing and even napping. Yep, I took 3 naps today and I didn't even have any turkey. All in all I must say I truly enjoyed my first Thanksgiving!! I even experienced my first solid food when Mom gave me a little bite of her sweet potatoes. One thing is for sure...it didn't taste like breast milk. The look on my face must have said it all since the whole table about fell out of their seats.

I look forward to many more days in which we can all give thanks to the most simple pleasures in life. I hope everyone has a wonderful and warm holiday season!

~Maya

Mom and Me

OK, let's eat!

My first attempt at sitting in my high chair.

Mmmm, sweet potatoes...Yuk!

Too much tryptophan for Dad!

Who Said Fall Was Canceled?

Last week Dad brought home the Onion and one of the lead stories really caught my eye - Fall Canceled After 3 Billion Seasons. It's hard to believe that on November 18th it would be 70 degrees outside and we'd be wearing shorts for a hike around Lake Johnson. But we were on a mission to prove that in fact fall has arrived and the colors it made are as brilliant as ever. The pictures below may not show the vibrant colors we witnessed but this has to be the best fall I've seen. I know, it's the only fall I've seen but Dad and Mom both agree that it is a very colorful year. We were beginning to think that we wouldn't have a fall at all due to our severe drought this year. But somehow the leaves pulled through and are not ready to give up on the best season of the year. Who knows, next week we may eat Turkey on the picnic table outside in shorts and t-shirts?

I hope everyone enjoys the fall season and has a wonderful Day of Thanksgiving! I'll be making pumpkin butts this week so check back soon for a unique look into the making of a pumpkin butt!

Pig Pickin Photo Story

I had such a good time 2 weeks ago at our Pig Pickin that I had to post this picture story. Thanks to Lauren Halley for taking the time to capture the moments!

~Enjoy


My Cabin in Caroline, Kruger Brothers

My First Halloween

Daddy's Lil' Ghoul!

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope everyone had a great evening and had lots of trick-or-treaters! Dad and Mom decided that I was a little too young for trick-or-treating so instead they dressed me up in a penguin suit and we went to Durham to the Eno River State Park for their Hallow-Eno celebration. I don't remember much since I was asleep for most it. We hiked up a trail through the woods to a bonfire where 2 men (one said his name was Gumby...and he didn't have a costume?) were telling stories by the fire. The first story was a Navajo tale about a dog with 4 eyes who fought monsters. The second story, which put me to sleep, was about a miller who had stored stolen gold in his grist mill only to find it wiped out by a flood. The legend has it that his gold is somewhere in the Eno River. I don't buy it!

The state park had turned the Mill that was alongside the river into a haunted house. Mom jumped a few times but I just looked at them and said to myself - "they made you dress up too"? The haunted mill wasn't too scary. Next year I think we are going to the haunted corn field and I am dressing up as a Whoopie Cushion!

Enjoy some of my scary photos!

Peek-a Pooh

Zipping me up

I'm a penguin!

Come on Dad, Mom brought the wig for you!

Mom's Lil' Penguin!

Finally, get me out of this suit!

Back To Tennessee

Smile!

Last weekend we took a trip back to TN to see my grandparents and because Dad wanted to see a concert at the Ryman Auditorium. It was great seeing everyone and meeting some of Dad's friends for the first time. I got to meet both Alex and Justin and they were so kind that they even brought me gifts. I also got to see Grandma Susan! She came up from Chattanooga for the day just to see me! On Saturday Pawpaw and G3 (Grandma Jane) had an Oktoberfest party at their house so I got to meet even more people. I must say I met a lot of people over the weekend and please excuse me if I don't remember you the next time we meet.

We are back home resting and getting ready for Hallow-Eno tomorrow night. We are going to the Eno River for a Halloween tradition!

Enjoy the pictures from TN and I'll be sure to post my 1st Halloween update asap.

Mom, seriously...don't leave me with them again!

Bella, Julie, Mom and Me (Joseph is going to be jealous!)

Wanna go for a ride, Cutie?

You better let me handle this one Jo-Jo.

Jo-Jo is holding me!

Whoa, he almost dropped me!

Hey Maya, get used to it. Now that they have invented the
digital camera they just take picture after picture!

Playing with some of my new toys!

Pig Pickin'

Linsay and Izy

On Saturday Mom, Dad and I threw a HUGE party. It was our 2nd Annual Fall Harvest Almost Full Moon Pig Pickin'. Our latest count had 108 people at the pickin'. If you've been to our house you know that's a lot of people for such a small place. Good thing it decided to rain for two days prior to the party!

A lot of people thought we were crazy for inviting so many people but Dad looks at it this way...he invited 108 babysitters! That's right, I was passed and passed and passed around and then passed around some more! I enjoyed every minute of it! I got to meet so many new faces and even some got to see my good friend Izy!

Mom's friend's husband's bluegrass band, The award winning Kudzu Ramblers, decided to join us for the party and played some great music for everyone. I think everyone had a good time as I know I did! Mom and Dad let me stay up until almost 1am! I did sleep on and off in the sling and then we all slept in on Sunday until 10:30!

Mom and Dad were so busy entertaining that they only took 2 pictures of the entire evening. One if their friends did take quite a few and we will post those once she sends them.

We look forward to having everyone out again next year for the 3rd annual shindig. Please feel free to join us!

~Maya


http://www.happygreenbee.com/photo_shoots/index.html

Go visit the Happy Green Bee website and look for my first modeling picture under the Chapel Hill photo shoot. In case you are wondering why I look so happy, it's because I just got home from my second day of Day Care and soon after that photo I came down with my first illness and fever.

What The Croup – Dad’s Gone Again?

I Make Good Babies!

I have to apologize for leaving my readers in suspense of what has been going on in my world over the last 2 weeks. It has been my goal to update this site at least once a week if not more. Keeping this blog has been the easiest form of communication for me since my little fingers work better than my lips and tongue. I have been trying to talk more and more as I discover these new and sometimes weird sounds but for now blogging is my best option. Web 2.0 is the newest wave of the immediate future and I’m trying my best to ride it out.

While Dad has been out of town working, or gallivanting as Mom says, in Los Angeles I have been dealing with yet another illness. I must ask…when will this madness stop? Will I continue to catch every bug that passes by or will I someday begin to fight off these pesky little creatures that ooze from my eyes and drip from my nose. Both Dad and Mom have been encouraging me to keep my spirits up as all of these illnesses have a purpose. They are helping me to build up my immune system to one day have a healthy and strong body.

This time around I am struggling with the ooze from my eyes and the beginnings of a light cough. These secretions are called the croup, not to be confused with the crap! To accelerate the recovery process Mom has been squirting breast milk in my eyes. I prefer it in my mouth but understand the benefits that it brings.

In case no one has caught on yet I have fallen ill every time Dad goes out of town. Mom thinks it is just a test of her abilities as a Mom while Dad thinks it’s because he is not here to protect me from them. Since Dad is traveling in November and December I may need to ask Mom if we can go. What do you think Mom?? I’ll be good! Just think, if I go with you, you won’t have to buy me any gifts!

Speaking of gifts, Dad brought some great gifts home from his trip to LA. He went to the LA County Art Museum to see the Dali exhibit and brought back a finger puppet book from the gift shop. He also went to Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Malibu and brought back some hip clothing and a few hats. I am sure that I will start the latest fad with my new hip west coast look!

I am glad Dad is back and am really looking forward to the Fall Harvest Pig Pickin this weekend.

Until then,

~Maya

The MythBusters Keynote