I'm Listening!!!

Dear Maizy,

I promise this to you right now and forever!

I promise to always listen to you.

I am constantly thinking about the kind of mother I want to be and the things that I want to do the same and differently from my parents.  One thing that I want to do different is listen to you.  My parents never really listened to me and they still don't.  I was so desperate for an adult to listen to me that I paid a therapist a lot of money for 3+ years to listen to me.  I do not and will not do you that injustice.  I always here for you babe!

I read magazines all the time about how listening makes you a good partner, friend and parent and I want to be not only good, but great at all of those roles especially being your mama, so go ahead continue to yack my ear off! I'm listening!!

Love you tonz and tonz!!

Love,
mom

Oh Sassy Girl!!

Dear Maizy,

You have grown and changed so much this last week.  You are awake more and more during the day and I LOVE it!!  That means more play time with you and more time to watch your big beautiful eyes light up!!

We had a great weekend! Friday we went out to dinner at Cafe Trang and you caught the waitress and other patron's attention right from the get-go!  You were in a really good mood, so you were looking around and blabbin' up a storm!  The gentleman next to us turned around with a smile and said, "she sure has a lot to say."  And oh my heck did you!?!?  The waitress couldn't get over how small and alert you were.  You didn't want to sit in your car seat, of course, so we turned the high chair around (dad's idea) and put you in there with my purse behind you (my idea) to support your back.  You were having a great time playing with a spoon and your rattle while we ate.

Then we went to Golden Spoon after dinner and got me a frozen yogurt.  The wind was blowing SO bad when we got out of there it blew my yogurt over and it landed in my hand!! Ha ha ha!! It was ok luckily, so I still ate it!  You were pretty tired at this time and you were getting kind of loopy and it was making your dad and I laugh SO hard. 

Saturday we slept in a bit then got ready for our supposed Girls Day with Grandma Shelly!!  You and I took a bath. I  dressed all cute.  Grandma Shelly came over to pick us up.  She had a box that was delivered to her house from cousins Karen and Tom and Oh My Heck Maizy!! The box was full of darling clothes, p.j.'s and socks for you!!!!  They spoiled you AGAIN - like always!!

Then you, me and Grandma Shelly headed up to Grandma and Grandpa Donker's for lunch.  We picked up sandwiches on the way.  We just ate, talked and watched you play and talk, it was the highlight of my day being with you!!  You crack me up!  It's interesting being around two Grandma's at the same time -  they both take you and pass you between the two of them.  Then they hand you back to me when you start crying!!!  Ha ha ha!  I don't mind.  I know I have to share you with others!!!  We were there ALL day!!!  So that was the extent of our Girl's Day when I was planning on doing some shopping too!!

We finally got out of Grandma's and went to Chin Wah for dinner where Patrick was working that evening.  You were in a great mood just talking away and playing while we ate.  After dinner we headed to Village Inn for pie and coffee to see Aunt Brittany.  When we walked in the door to the restaurant we got bombarded by a woman, a little girl, two teenage girls and staff of the restaurant just saying how cute you are!! They were talking to you, grabbing your little fingers and admiring your darlingness.  You had this adorable hat on and was just smiling up a storm!!
I felt bad though because it was 10 p.m. and you were starting to get tired, you hardly slept all day!!

We finally made it home! Dad missed us like crazy!!! We all cuddled and went to bed.

Sunday we woke up and you and your dad went to Grandma Annette's while I went to my friend Tresa's to get my hair dyed. I  heard you had a blast at G-ma's and played in the swing and loved it!  You are such a fun, sweet, funny, happy baby!!  I am so proud of you and SOOOOOO thankful for you!!

You are AMAZING to me!!!


 Thank you for the wonderful weekend!!!

Well here it is Monday and I am away from you.  Mondays make me sad!  Your dad and I talked today and he said you tried Sweet Potatoes today for the first time and was going to town on them!!!  I am glad.  He recorded it for me to watch when I get home. Then he called me a few hours later and told me about how you were cracking him up!!! You were eating again and the sweet potatoes were going everywhere!!! You were eating and decided to blow bubbles at the same time - getting it all over dad and you!!! He said it was really cute and funny. You are a messy little eater!! 

Thanks for being so beautiful and sweet. I love you!! I am having the best time of my life!

Thank you!

Love you!!

Love,
mom

p.s. The pics are from an After Work photo shoot on Wednesday!

Photo Shoot

Dear Maizy,

One of my many favorite activities to do with you, is dress you all cute and take lots of pics! We do this at least once a week! I have SO much fun doing it and you seem to enjoy it as well. These pics are from Sunday January 16th. We went to Grandpa Frank's for dinner and they just loved how cute your outfit was. You received this brown dress from Grandma Shelly's good friend Sally Jacobson. The quality of the picture is not so great, since the pics were taken on my cell. And yes, that is spit up on your dress. You like to spit up as soon as we get your outfit on for the day!

Last night you thought it was a good idea to fight going to sleep and stayed up until 2 AM!!!!! Needless to say, I am really, really tired today. Luckily, you are SO darn cute!!

We went to Village Inn last night for Free Pie Wednsday. Aunt Britt was working and she loves it when we come in and she gets to see you. Both your faces light up when you see each other. All of her co-workers were all about you and your cuteness. You were smiling a lot as usual!! You are a lot of fun to take places when you're in a good mood! ; )

It's almost  the weekend and I am really looking forward to it. Grandma Shelly and us girls are going to hang out all day!! We are going to go shopping, out to lunch and go visit your Great Grandma!! I look forward to the weekends when I get to spend all weekend with you!!

Have a wonderful day!!

Love you!!

Love,
Mommy

LOVE

Dear Maizy,

I LOVE YOU!

Love,

Mom

Weekend Update

Dear Maizy,

I had a fantastic weekend - thank you!! Friday night I got off work and we all got ready for a sushi making party!!! You went with us of course and everyone loved and adored you! You were such a good girl as usual. You just watched everyone and took it all in. I got compliments on how darling you are. I love showing you off!

Saturday you turned 22 weeks old!!! We had a great day. We just kind of bummed around. We got you a "jenny jump up" last week. You are SO cute and fun to watch in it.  Your toes barely touch the ground and you kind of sway back and forth or go in circles. Mostly you like to suck on the front of it and look around the room with your big beautiful eyes. You crack us up when we watch you play in it.  We got ready for the day, went to breakfast at Midvale Mining Company (my first time there too). You were SO funny. You didn't want to sit in your car seat for long, so we took you out. You sat on your dad's lap as he ate his breakfast and you grabbed for his eggs and pork cop. Your hands got all greasy! It got all over your face and you started rubbing your tired eyes. You had greasy breakfast everywhere. You were eating yours hands - I think you' like the taste. You were making us laugh! You even got the crumbs and some pepper in your hair!! After breakfast we gave you pears for the first time and you seemed to enjoy them somewhat. It's fun watching you try new things. We all took a nap together and took it easy, it was really nice!! I don't mind what I am doing as long as it's with you!

Then we ran to the store about 7:30pm to go get your dad some new jeans for a party that evening. You are a good little shopper! You just looked around the store and watched as we shopped. We went in for jeans and I ended up getting 2 shirts, a skirt and a scarf!! Ha ha ha!! Your dad did get his jeans too! If they would have had baby clothes you would have gotten something too for sure. We got home, got ready for the party and off we went.

You fell asleep on our way to the party, but woke up shortly after we arrived. My friends enjoyed seeing you again and some even meeting you for the first time. You were in a really good mood. One of the kids at the party was watching Dora the Explorer, you watched it for a minute and was totally cracking up!! You really liked it. You took little power naps during the party and ended up staying up until 3:30 IN THE MORNING!!!! You are quite the little party girl.

Sunday we were bums again.  We finally got ready and went to Costco. Then we went to go see Grandpa Frank, Aunt Brittany and Patrick, it was a lot of fun! We ended up BBQing steaks and having a really good dinner. We gave you a slice of apple to suck on and you really seemed to enjoy that.

This last week you and your dad worked on your holding your bottle all by yourself. You are almost ready to crawl - you got the concept and positioning down for sure. You are starting to eat a lot more lately - I think you're in another growth spurt. You are playing with your toys more and more. You are even starting to enjoy watching the t.v. a bit. And you reach and grab for everything!!! You are quite fast too!!

Thanks again for a great weekend!! Love you SO much!!
Love,

Mom

Changes (my fave David Bowie song by the way)

Dearest Maizy,

You are growing and changing SO much I could write everyday about your developments. I already feel behind! We fed you rice cereal for the first time last Saturday, January 8th. As you can see in your pic you were not a fan! I guess the event was more exciting for your dad and I - to witness watching you take your first bite of "food" from a spoon. We didn't make you endure too much of the yucky stuff. Next time we will add fruit for some flavor. You did try some banana on Wednesday and you seemed to like that a little more, oh what am I talking about!?!? Your facial expression was the exact same as the one above. I guess it will all come with time and we will all discover what you like. I wonder what foods will be your favorite and if you'll be a picky eater or not and who's cooking you'll like more - Mine Vs. Your Dad!!

You crack me and your dad up everyday. You have this absolute contagious smile!! You and I talk a lot when I change your diaper and you are clearly enjoying that feeling of freedom with your diaper off. We talk about your day, you blow bubbles with your mouth, pull my hair and touch your toes! It's really an enjoyable part of my evening to interact with you like that.

You and your dad play all day. He tells me via email during the day all the cute things you do and then in more detail when I get home from work. He even video tapes you or takes pictures so I can feel a part of your day. He said that you had him cracking up the other day! You two were playing and you were growling and giggling a ton!!!

I feel and know that you are going to have a great relationship with your father and I. We both love you tonz and tonz!!! We talk about how we can't imagine our lives without you and how much you bring to them!!

I will try not to be such a slacker and stay on top of my blogging!!

Love you my dear, sweet, funny, beautiful, happy baby!!

Love,
mommy

Maizy the Baby Genius!!

Dear Maizy,

Your father has worked the last couple of nights, so it's just been you and me babe! I have been really enjoying my nights alone with you - you know just girls!! The first night we took a bath and you were being so calm and cute in the big tub a little different from your little pink bath tub where you feel more at ease and splash and wiggle around a lot. I just enjoy watching your big beautiful eyes light up as you check out your surroundings and discover new things.

The other night I put you in your baby Einstein (pic above) and watched you play. You are learning more and more things everyday! It is SO amazing to watch. Everyday you play with the pieces more interactively and figure out their function more and more. I know it's not fun for you, but I do get a kick out of it when you get frustrated when you want something to work your way. For example, you try to put these purple things on the baby Einstein in your mouth, but they have to bend just right and with mom's help it can be done, but when you try it you get upset. Though I don't like to see you upset I like to see your mind working and your personality coming out. Plus it makes you learn and figure it out on your own.

You still love to put everything in your mouth. Last night I had a ring on my finger and you wanted it in your mouth so bad! It was quite charming.

I just adore you so much! Last night we were alone again so we just played, you were in your swing for a bit and you were totally cracking up at the little stuffed animals going round and round, then we lied down together watched a movie and fell asleep.

You are starting to rub your eyes when you get tired, it's adorable and that's a sign that play time is over and us girls take it easy.

Thanks for being such a good, fun baby!! I love your contagious smile and enjoy your company so much!

Love You!!

Love,
Mom

HaPpY nEw YeAr!!!!

Dear Maizy,

We survived the holidays - barely! You are not aware of it yet, but our family is crazy!! But they adore and want nothing but the best for you, so we will overlook their craziness!! I had the best holidays ever because of you.  
I had a great time dressing you up and showing you off. I guess that's not really different from any other day. And I loved seeing your face light up when you saw new faces or a new toy that caught your interest.
New Years was the best one yet! Your father and I hung out with you at home. We had an amazing dinner of homemade turkey noodle soup! Your dad even made the noodles too!! Yum, yum!! Too bad you couldn't have any. At midnight your dad and I kissed each one of your cheeks and then each other. Then we had a glass of champagne and went to bed! I couldn't have been happier. Thank you for coming into my life. This is going to be a great year watching you grow, learn, seeing your smiling face everyday and hearing you discover your darling little voice (i hope you always growl for me like you do right now). I get excited thinking about it all. You have exceeded all my expectations of what I thought a child would bring into my life. I hope and wish I do the same for you. I never knew I had this much love to give. 

To 2011!! May it be a great and wonderful year that brings us much joy, peace and happiness!!

Love you!

Love,
mommy