What is it?

Lately, there is just something so different about Maya. Some people have said it is the new hair style (piggy tails), other people say it is her height, others tell me it is her wonderful vocabulary, others say it is the way I dress her. Whatever it might be, let me tell you that our little girl is growing up and growing up FAST. The truth is, our little Maya isn't a baby anymore, but an amazing toddler!

The other day, we went to a really fun school playground and she and I had the best time together.We always have a great time together, but for some reason, this time was different...

It was so fun to see her get on and off this bus. When she went in and sat down, she said, "bye bye mommy." OMG, i was thinking to myself, it really won't be long until she gets on a "real" school bus for school!

Of course, you can't forget that she loves bark chips! A good day at a playground wouldn't be complete without putting bark chips in or on something.

When she was all done hanging out in the bus, she said, "all done bus." Even though she looks so serious, it is a great picture of her piggy tails.

This is her newest trick....she loves hanging from bars. Daddy helps her hang from really tall bars, and I always find "ones that will work, you know, ones that are not too tall!" I think this is a really cute picture of her; the diaper showing, her belly button, and having her head back.

Her strength is amazing! After she got down, she said, "more bars" and pulled herself up again.

She is definitely NOT afraid of heights! She had never seen or been on this and when she saw it, she said, "up here?" As she took two steps up, she said, "momma up?" Of course, I was right behind her.

She was so proud of herself!

After she climbed up, she went down the "big girl slide." She climbed up and went down the slide at least eight times. I was exhausted just watching her!

Maya thought it was funny that these go around in circles. She saw some big kids stand on these, but when I told her that she was too small, she looked at me, and said, "Maya's turn." I watched what she was going to do. Sure enough, she sat on one of the seats and fell off. She got up and then started doing this.

She was very interested that the other one was moving too.

Then Maya started to push faster. After a few minutes, she walked away and said, "Maya done." I bet her arms were tired!

This was one of my favorite pictures..we went down a slide together and I took this picture as I followed her down.

We love this face...

Now Maya can get on these little rocking animals all by herself. When she wants to get up, she says, "Maya up" and when she wants to get off, she will say, "Maya down."

If you look closely, you can see Maya's legs behind the rock wall. I was watching her to see where she was running to and she ended up here. I said, "where is Maya?" and she replied back, "here momma." I said, "where, I don't see you?"

Maya peeked around the corner and said, "here momma!"

It was now time for the "big kids toys!" I was so nervous in letting her climb all the way up to the top of the structure by herself (at the top it is open, which I am always afraid that she might not watch where she is going and accidently fall off). But for some reason today, I just felt like she could do it without me being right behind her.

As she was climbing, I heard her saying, "Maya up, be careful."

Getting ready to come down. As soon as she sat down, I heard her say, "ok, ready, set, go."

On her way down. I was so relieved at this point!

Check out her adorable face!

When she got off the slide, she said, "ta da, Maya good job."

As she came running over to the bench she said, "more snacks." She was one tired, and hungry girl.

When it was time to leave, I said, "let's go." She turned around and said, "Maya walk on balance beam." The whole way back to the car, Maya walked along the curb (aka-balance beam). It took a little longer, but Maya was happy. I have learned that if Maya is happy, then I am too!

After watching Maya today, I have come to some conclusions of my own....What I have learned is that Maya IS growing up and is a very happy, curious and adventuresome individual who loves to play hard, explore and experiment. She loves to watch and then imitate other children and is certainly NOT afraid of trying something new!

Hi Ho...Hi Ho...It's off to the......

Well, the other day, we were supposed to meet Auntie Jen at the zoo, but since it was raining, we ended up at the Children's Museum instead.

Here was Maya's busy morning....

Auntie Jen and Maya were looking at the fish tank in the kiddie area. At one point, Maya pointed to a fish and said, " Nemo fish there." Jen and I just looked at each other, smiled and said, "where?"

The two of them painted the rocks with water. Maya kept saying, "more paint."

Picking out the right clothes to dress the baby was a tough decision.

While Auntie Jen was still talking to Maya about which shirt to put on the baby, Maya decided to climb into the doll crib.

It is always interesting to see who is standing under the holes in the construction area. When Auntie Jen asked Maya who she saw, Maya said, "boys down there." She was right.

While Auntie Jen was making a bowl with clay, Maya was busy making "dots." We soon found out that it really wasn't the clay, she was interested, but the water instead.

Maya thought it was very funny to pour water from one bowl to another. When she was out of water, she would go to another table, get the full bowl of water and bring it back to Auntie Jen. After "stealing" two bowls, Auntie Jen said enough is enough.

Before a tantrum started, it was off to another activity...

Anytime Maya gets to use crayons, she is a happy camper. She calls anything you write with a "color pen." After a few minutes of coloring, Maya found it amusing to dump the crayons out of the container. So much for coloring!!

Auntie Jen and Maya were playing very nicely, when all of a sudden out of the blue, a boy popped up from the middle of table. We had no clue that some child would crawl around the floor and pop through the table. It scared the two of them and then Maya looked at Auntie Jen and said, "Maya in hole."

The rest of the time Maya wanted to play with the trains from the hole.

Maya saw the water fountain and said, "Maya drink water." Not really sure how much she drank and how much drooled down her chin and onto her shirt!

The amazing gravel pit...scooping gravel, filling trucks and dumping them out is the routine.

"More scooping!"

When we got in the car to go home, Maya said, "more Auntie Jen." I told her next time we will go to the zoo.

Thanks Auntie Jen for an awesome morning!! She had a great time playing with you.

A special play date

The other day, we had a great play date with our new friends Rachel (mommy) and Kyla. (Maya and Kyla are the same age.) We met this year in music class and our girls seemed to play so well in class together that we decided to get them together in another atmosphere. We met at a park and had a wonderful time. Here is the proof........

This bike didn't belong to either one of the girls, but they had a wonderful time pushing it.

In fact, the owner of the bike lowered the handle, so Maya could push it more easily.

Maya on the teeter totter with Rachel.

Maya on the teeter totter with mommy. Maya loved the fact that the teeter totter made a funny squeaking sound. She kept saying, "more funny squeak."

Kyla was as far away from the teeter totter as possible; she wasn't too keen about it. Maybe it was the funny squeaking sound! (By the way, I absolutely love Kyla's hair! I can't wait til Maya's is long enough to do piggy tails!!)

Maya and Kyla held Rachel's hands while they walked over to the swings.

Maya's newest trick...laying back while swinging. She calls it, "fall down on swing." I tried to capture a good picture of it, but it was really difficult. This was the best one.

Maya swinging like a "normal" kid. When she wanted to go higher, she said, "more push please mommy." It was really cute.

The two girls swinging together.

Another one of Maya's tricks...putting bark chips on the seats of the baby swings.

And also on the "big girl" swings.

Kyla chased Maya to the round and round.

"Gonna get you, Maya."

Kyla and Maya liked pushing the round and round together.

Kyla pushed Maya on the round and round. Maya loved to jump while on it. After she was done jumping she would say, "more jumping." and continue to jump.

On the play structure. She told me she was steering the structure.

"Peek a boo mommy."

Maya on the little slide.

Kyla on the big FAST slide.

Suspension bridges are one of Maya's favorites things to do at parks. She loves to bounce on them while holding onto the rails. When I asked her what she was doing, she said, "bounce on bridge."

Snack time...raisins, apples, mufins, and crackers.

This is what happened when Maya didn't want anymore of her apple...

One bite led to many more. The girls thought this was very funny. It was fun to hear them laugh together. It was so adorable.

Maya said, "more run" and took off after snack. I think she was off to the enclosed dog run area.

Our morning was a blast and we can't wait to get together with Rachel and Kyla again. Thanks for a great play date!