STRIKE!

On Sunday, we decided to take the girls to Chuck E Cheese for a family outing. When we got there and saw that the line was out the door to get in, we made the executive decision to go bowling instead. Stewart and I had talked that someday we would love to take Maya, but we just didn't think it was going to be so soon. (I have to admit, I really wasn't sure how it would go). After driving around for awhile, we finally found an alley that had an open lane. We went inside and Maya was instantly overstimulated; a place full of people, loud noises and a new setting. We walked to the counter, paid for our game, received our lane and got shoes. The guy working the counter was even nice enough to find a ball for Maya.

"Mommy, these shoes are funny. They look like clown shoes."

Game time:

Wait a minute...before we started, mommy had to explain a few rules:

1. We only roll our ball down our lane.

2. Only the person who is bowling can be on the lane.

3. Mommy or daddy has to help you get your ball down from the ball holder. Never put your hands where the ball is coming up!

4. Carry your ball very carefully and don't drop it on your feet!

5. You must have fun!

When Maya first picked up the ball, she said, "Momma, help Maya! Maya's ball is heavy."

Maya's 1st frame..
"Can I go now?"

"Ready, set, go!"

Just FYI: After the first frame, Stewart was trailing Maya. We both joked that maybe he should sit down with the bumpers up and roll the ball.

Maya's 3rd frame..
"Maya stand up and roll the ball like mommy and dadda?"

You can tell that she was pretty impressed with herself! Check out that face.

Maya's 5th frame..
"I stand up and push the ball again!"

"What are these dots for?"

It seemed like it took FOREVER for her ball to travel down the lane. Oh well, we were in no hurry.

Nice roll Miss Maya!

Daddy was very proud of Maya.

Our 10th frame..

Getting ready...

"Maya did it!"

Our favorite picture!

The end result!!

Maya, you did a great job and mommy and daddy are SO proud of you. Can't wait to go again! If you are wondering where Brooklyn was the whole time, she was in her car seat watching us. We promise you Maya, we will take you to Chuck E Cheeses sometime this week. Deal?

Big B, Little B, B, B, B

Isn't that a line from some Dr. Seuss book? Anyways, these are just some of our nicknames we call Brooklyn. If you haven't guessed yet, this post is going to be all about Baby B. She is growing up so fast! In just 3 days, she is going to be 5 months old. (It doesn't seem that long ago that we saw her for the first time). Things have been going well. She is a very happy baby who smiles a ton and babbles non stop. I love when B starts to babble and Maya will look at us and say, "is B making funny noises?" When we tell her that she used to do that, she says, "that's funny!" It seems like Little B is very ticklish and when she laughs her giggle is so darn cute. Her tummy time has definitely paid off; as she can now roll over. It doesn't take her long to go from her tummy to her back and back to her tummy! We learned this the hard way when last weekend, she rolled off our bed. She can no longer be on a couch or a bed without pillows! Sitting up is her next "milestone." Not only does she like sitting in her bumbo chair, but Maya likes it too. She also does well sitting in our laps or on the floor with just holding our hands. She spends a little time each day both in her doorway jumper and exersaucer. One of her all time favorite places to still hang out is in her swing.

Brooklyn's all time favorite place.

At her 4 month well baby check-up. Why is it that they love playing with that paper? It must be the sound it makes.

Her weight: 12.5 lbs

Her length: 24.5 in

Asleep in the front carrier.

Tummy time in the kitchen.

"Scrub a dub dub, Big B in the tub."

She will almost always giggle when you tickle her. She is very ticklish under her chin, on the inside of her thighs and under her arm pits.

More tummy time in the front room. These tummy pictures are hard to get, because normally by the time we get our camera, she has already rolled over!

Oops...Big B is waking from her afternoon nap. I guess our post about B needs to end. Until next time---keep making great strides Brooklyn.

We love you SO much!

A Special Valentine's Day

Last Friday, Maya and I had a special invite to go to her preschool (that she will be attending in the fall) and spend the morning in the classroom. She was so excited to go and see other kids. Ever since we made our decision on where to send Maya; there has not been one week that has gone by that Miss Maya doesn't ask when she can go to preschool. It is so adorable! Here are some pictures of Maya playing and participating at her first Valentine's Day party at preschool.

The first thing Maya spotted in the classroom was the drinking fountain.

A little boy came over to her as she was standing in front of the drinking fountain and told her that there was a step stool against the wall that she could use to reach it. Maya looked at the boy and said, "I'm a big girl, I can reach it." The little boy looked at Maya and said, "me too." It was so darn cute.

During dress up time, Maya loved wearing this purple hat. She kept asking me, "mommy, how do I look?" Each time, I would say the same thing, "you look awesome."

Since Maya was a special guest, she got to wash her hands first for snack time. She loved the fact she could see herself in the mirror while washing her hands.

While waiting for her snack, she told teacher Heather that she was REALLY hungry. She then told teacher Heather that she needed her snack NOW.

Maya loved her snack... apple juice and a blueberry muffin.

During quiet time, Maya found a book to read. When I asked her if she wanted me to read it to her, she quietly said, "no mom, I can do it."

During open play, two girls asked Maya if she wanted to play with some farm animals and the barn. Maya looked at them and said, "ok, but Maya wants the mommy pig and the babies." Both girls said ok and the three of them played together.

For the Valentine's Party, each of the kids got to exchange valentine's cards with each other. The staff made some cards for Maya so that she would have cards to open too. She even got a piece of candy from teacher Heather. After the cards were opened, each child got a sugar cookie to decorate. Teacher Heather gave each child some frosting, some pieces of licorice, chocolate chips and a handful of jelly beans. Here was Maya decorating her cookie...

Maya placing a jelly bean on the frosting.

Carefully putting a chocolate chip on.

Now the licorice was a bit tricky! After a few tries, she finally figured out that she needed to push harder in order for the licorice to stand up.

Teacher Heather encouraged the kids to taste the frosting. When Maya tried it, she said, "this is yummy!"

Maya then saw some of her new buddies licking the frosting off of their knives and she thought she would try it too.

In the end, she cleaned off her knife.

As teacher Heather came over to wrap up her cookie and package up the extra candy, Maya looked at me and said, " Maya eat cookie and candy for dinner." I gave her a smile and said, "maybe after dinner?"

As the morning wrapped up and it was time to go, Maya went around the room and gave hugs to her new friends and teacher Heather. It was a great day. On the way home, Maya asked me if she could come back to preschool another day. I said, "of course you can."

It was really fun to see Maya interact with the other kids. She had a fabulous time and has already asked if tomorrow she can go to preschool!

2...4...6...8...

Look who wasn't afraid to get up on roller skates. A few days ago, I decided to take Maya on my own to Oaks Parks during the "preschool skate time." I really wasn't sure how it would go, but I figured I would give it a try. I told Maya on our way over, that we were just going to try it. She didn't really say anything. When we arrived, and we were walking towards the front entrance, she told me to stop walking because she had something to tell me. I stopped and got down on my knees. Here is how our conversation went:

Maya: "Mommy, I am going to skate today!"

Me: "I know Maya, we are going to go in and check it out."

Maya: "No mommy, Maya is going to skate today!"

Me: "I know Maya, we are going to go in and check it out."

Maya: "What are we going to do after we check it out?"

Me: "We will get our skates and put them on our feet."

Maya: "What will we do after we have our skates on?"

Me: "I am going to hold your hand and walk with you around the rink."

Maya: "I want to skate."

Me: "Ok Maya, then let's go in and get started."

Maya: "Hurry mommy!"

Me: "I'm coming."

After we registered, paid and received our skates, I sat Maya down on a bench and put her skates on. While I was lacing mine up, I saw her out of the corner of my eye crawling towards the rink. I hurried even faster and by the time I was at the edge of the rink, she was standing up on her own. I couldn't believe it.

Maya standing on her own.

Once we made it to the other end of the rink, she liked to look over the railing and watch all the other kids skate by.

"Mommy, help Maya stand up!"

Maya listened to the teacher (there was a free lesson with admission).

Maya doing the Hokey Pokey.

Getting ready to skate towards me.

Skating like a champ. It was so crazy.

It seemed like there was NO fear in her! She didn't want to hold my hand and I think she never had any intentions of it either.

Instead of watching where she was going, she was busy watching all the other kids.

It is so hard to get her to smile these days! When I asked her for just one smile, she said, "Maya can't, Maya is skating."

Trying to make a turn.

One of my favorite pictures of her having fun.

When I asked her why her hands are behind her back, she said, "Those kids are doing it." "Yes, but those kids are much older."

"Maya going to take skates off and get snack."

I guess this was my clue that she was ready to go. We were there for an hour and a half and had the best time. I was so proud of her, and she impressed me so much. Thanks for a fabulous time Miss Maya! I can't wait to skate with you again.