What is Clay studying so intently? Can you read this dog’s mind?

Drop the toast, Maya.

Drop it.

Drop it.

C’mon…drop it, already!

Well…stream, anyway.

My dad, industrious one that he is, installed a pond plus a filter system on their land. To make it “purty,” the filtered water runs down a rock-lined stream back into the pond.

Here, he introduces Maya to the stream. Over time, she rested her feet on the rocks and let the water run over them.

What *is* this stuff?

C’mon. You know you want this child to be your spokesmodel.

Okay, I admit it…it’s really just that the box is the perfect height for *trying* to cruise. But you know, I might just send them a photo just the same.

…

Yippie! We tried the pool again today, and I took it much, much slower. Once Maya seemed a little less freaked at the idea of the water, I eased her into the baby float. She did really well, and even started babbling and playing with the water - yay!

Of course, after we’d already been in the water for a good 15 minutes or so, THEN I noticed that the float is meant for 25+ pounds. Whoops. Um, dude…with *my* baby, that would mean likely next summer.

Added: Yes, I’m a dork. The float is for UP TO 25 pounds.

Trail Description: Forest Service #640, 7-mile balloon loop, including about 2 miles to beginning of 3-mile loop, then 2 miles return. Elevation gain 1,280 feet, rated steep at first, then easier. Features scenic route through wooded canyon.

For today’s hike, my upstairs neighbor joined us. It was so *odd* to have company…someone to steady the pack as I put it on, someone to chatter at (and listen to) along the way. Sam’s granddaughter is just a few months older than Maya, so he loves talking to her.

He was amazed that yes…chubby thighs and all (my words, not his), I hiked the whole thing, with a baby/water/gear on my back. Hey, I may still have 10 pounds of babyweight left on me, but that doesn’t mean I’m not a hiker. There’s muscle in those legs of mine! He’d anticipated that I’d give up after the first steep climb, and was stunned that I did the whole thing. It never dawned on me to do anything else…

Maya was such a trooper! She watched quietly for the first major hill climb, then napped for the next couple miles. After she woke up, she was TALKATIVE and sang as we made our way. Eventually, she’d had enough, though, and as it got to be naptime, she fought it. Hard. I’ll tell you what, hiking with a baby crying in your pack, even if it’s only for maybe 1/2 a mile, is torture. Poor thing. She eventually nodded back off for the remainder of the walk.

We’ve had a good bit of rain lately, so the flowers were everywhere! This, of course, means I took a ton of photos, so instead of posting them, click the photo below for a slide show.

So, did I mention that Maya *really* likes oatmeal?

Keep forgetting to post this one, but a few days ago, Little Miss discovered the dogs’ water bowl. I’ve had to change a soaked baby at least two or three times already, but I’m getting better about picking it up when I notice her heading kitchen-ward.

Maya sings for her supper.

That’s not as in singing to receive her supper, that’s as in SERANADING her supper. Tonight, her performance was to rice noodles, lemongrass beef, and cucumber (Mama had Vietnamese).

She cracks me up!

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Note the bandaid showing (she has three total). The nurse tells me we need to enlarge those thighs so there’s more space for poor Boo to get her shots.

…

Has it really been that long? How is it possible that it seems like yesterday AND like a lifetime ago that you came into my life?

I’ve now known you for nearly a month longer ouside the womb than inside — 8 months and 2 days passed between learning about your existence and giving birth to you. You’re more fun every day, and with each month that passes you change more and more rapidly. I thought that babies changed the most early on, then things slowed down…boy was I wrong about that! One of the songs I sing to you (sheesh, I should probably learn ALL of the words) is “Getting to Know You.” Finding out who you are is thrilling!

At this moment, you’re sleeping peacefully in your crib (knock on wood) while I wrap up my day, and put off washing the dishes. Only two weeks ago, your sleeping the the crib was impossible because you were teething and utterly ~desperate~ to have me hold you.

Yes, you have teeth now! Two of them popped through on your lower gums last week. So far, you’ve been pretty good about not biting me, which honestly, is in your benefit. Biting isn’t funny, and it ends your dinner. Please don’t continue with the “I’ll bite you so you put me down” routine…just stop sucking and smile, and I’ll get the point.

You’re all over the place now, and moving faster with every day that passes. Less than two weeks ago, I could set you down and be reasonably certain that when I came back, you’d be within a few feet of where I placed you. Now? Fuhgeddaboutit! You’re exploring the house, terrorizing the dogs (who make you giggle), and eating any and every piece of stray lint/paper/dog hair you find on the floor. What an inspiration you’re becoming! My house has never been cleaner. (grin)

You still charm every person you meet. Seriously, if you’re not the prettiest little baby girl ever, you’re darned close. We wander up and down the aisle in the grocery store (where you now sit in the cart, so you can have a better view) and you babble to me, telling me all about your day. Ba-ba-lala-blah-blah-da-da. It’s serious stuff. Keep trying, and someday, I might even actually understand you. I don’t tell you now, but you know when I answer you? I’m totally faking it. I don’t have a clue what you’re going on about, other than that it’s cute.

Sometimes I worry that you’ll develop a hangup that Mama only likes to take you out for all the positive attention she gets. Of course, the very fact that I worry about things like that likely means that I’m doing fine.

We’ve started doing “real” hikes finally! While we walk along the trails, I try to point out the sights, sounds, and smells…and remind you that before long, you’ll get to carry yourself on the trail! For now, I’m more than happy to be your own personal pack-animal. This morning, as you, the dogs, and I passed a man on the trail, he commented, “that’s quite a load you have there!” My reply, “Yup…I’ve got a sack of sugar on my back!” I get sappy like that about you.

Last time we went to see the doctor, you were barely eating cereal. These days, you eat anything that’s not nailed down, both food and non-food. On the food front, you love oatmeal. Oh, how you love oatmeal. You also love chocolate — anything sweet for that matter. Other food: you’ll eat pretty much anything I share with you, other than jarred baby vegetables. I agree with you that those are gross; why eat that when you can have fresh broccoli off mama’s plate? Today, you tried pad thai, and did great, even with the bit of spiciness. A tiny piece of an Andes mint *did* help for after, though.

There are so many things to remember, I couldn’t possibly touch on them all. I just hope that journaling our lives here will give you something to look back on someday. What you should know, more than anything, is that you’re the best thing I’ve ever done, and you’re the best part of my life, PERIOD. You inspire me to become the best me I can be, not only for my own good, but also so I can set a healthy example for you.

~~~~~~~~~Doctor Visit Stats~~~~~~~~~

Weight: 14 pounds, 3.2 ounces (not even on the chart)
Length: 26.5 inches (20th percentile)
Head: 16.5 inches (5th percentile)

For all the hoo-hah about growth spurts, you’re still TINY. I was off by a full pound in what I’d expected. Your doctor’s comment: “Well, if you’d tie her to a chair, maybe she’d gain more weight, but I think we’d rather she crawl.”

You got three shots today, but the piece of Andes mint I saved from lunch seemed to help you get past being upset about it…although you turned nearly purple during.

One glitch: left hip pop. We’ve been referred to an orthopedist, and I have a call in to get an appointment. This might explain your push with the right, drag with the left mode of crawling. Then again, it might not. I’ll look it up on the Internet to see what I can learn, of course.

Update: Maya will see the orthopedic doctor next Friday, July 1.

So many parents push their kids to be the smartest, the best, the brightest. While I believe you may well be all of those things, I’ll try to never push you into them. My highest hope for you is that you grow up as a happy and well-adjusted girl who knows that she’s loved.