Full time vs Full life

He is risen indeed.... Happy Easter everyone.

Living a holiday through a child's eye brings it all home. What a wonderful time of year. We're filled with newness and rebirth. Last year, we watched Maia in her newness, seeing life anew. This year, it's about discovery. Everything has a smell, a feel, a sound.

Maia's greatest love right now, besides books, is crackers. She's always asking for crackers and when she becomes a little too insistant, I stop and tell her that I need her to ask nicely. She looks at me and says, "Peas?" with a small smile.

Everyday I'm surprised by a new word, a new gesture, a new comprehension that she has grasped. It seems that my little girl has become a sponge, soaking up every bit of the world around her.

My job, is to make sure that world remains safe and fun to explore.

Speaking of jobs, I think I have found the perfect mix of work and play. Over the past 9 months, I've developed a good network of clients that pay and friends to confide in. I work a few days a week, when it fits into my schedule. When I was approached about a full time position, I didn't even hesitate to accept. No thank you. You could not pay me enough to return to the corporate world. I'm quite happy spending my days doling out crackers to a little girl who says, "Peas!".

My name is Mimi

Most children call their parents Mom, Mama, Mommy, Ma - but not mine. This week, it's become very clear that my name is Mimi. I keep thinking of Mimi from the Drew Carey show. Nice, huh'?

This is the face she makes when I say, "Who are you talking to? I'm not Mimi. I'm your Mommy." Her response: huge grin and a side splitting laugh.

I have a feeling that this is just the start.

In other news, we're celebrating Maia's first birthday on Saturday. I don't know what is crazier, the fact that Maia is almost a year old, or that we've been parents for a full year.

11 months?

Here is Maia's 11 month portrait. She's such a big girl.

The first Christmas - McD style

Gone are the days of relaxing holidays... It seemed like it was just last year that we sat around the dinner table and ate our meal with the family, the proceeded to open gifts and finish off the evening with a Krumkaka and a glass of egg nog.

Oh wait - that was last year.

This year, we spent Chrismas eve with my family. Lunch, present for the kids, nap time (which didn't happen) then church, dinner, more presents and off to bed. Maia made it halfway through dinner before making it obvious that she was in dire need of sleep. So, I left dinner to bathe her and put her down for the night. By the time I came back to the table, the meal had been cleared. Oh well. Not like I haven't been trying to take off the excess baby-weight. We spent the night at my parents house. Which meant that Maia, Bri and I slept in one room. Sleeping 3 feet from baby is not conducive to a good nights rest. Especially when she snores like a trucker.

The next morning we got up - did the stocking thing and took off for the other side of the family. We stopped home briefly to drop off gifts that had been recieved and pick up presents that we were giving. We didn't even turn off the car (Maia was sleeping - thank goodness). We arrived at Bri's sister's house sometime after 10am and started a whole new set of family/cousin/present excitement. All the kids were wonderful. They played nicely, enjoyed themselves, etc... but it was obvious that the parents were exhausted. We sat on the couch like zombies.

After presents, the babies went down for naps and the adults had some time to relax/eat. By the time Maia woke up from her nap, we were feeling slightly better. (Brian said that he was so tired, he was actually feeling sick at one point) We drove home early that afternoon and went to bed early.

It was wonderful to have Maia and the other cousins around this year. It truly reminds you how much fun Christmas was as a child and all the excitement/wonder that this season brings. However, I must reccomend coffee, sleep aids and a possible vacation planned for post holiday. You will thank me.

the first thanksgiving - McD style

Ah..... much like the first Thanksgiving so many year ago, our's was filled with good food and family/friends. However, Maia's first Thanksgiving had a poo-tastic, barf-o-rama bonus.

Lesson #1: In the event of a poo-out, it is just as important to bring a change of clothes for the adults as it is to bring a change for the baby.

Lesson #2: Naps in the car never happen when you really need them to.

Lesson #3: By the second family gathering of the day, baby may be more interested in throwing food than actually eating. In this case, just give her toys. Toys are easier to clean up.

Lesson #4: If you *think* your child has been exposed to the stomach flu, do not bring them to THanksgiving dinner. Even if it means you have to stay home and miss the "fun".

Lesson #5: If said baby starts to vomit at the dinner table, it's best to pick up your perfectly healthy baby and leave IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait for vomit #2, or #3 before deciding to leave.

Please people, learn from our mistakes.

show us a sign

We started ASL with Maia when she was pretty little. It's been months of us tapping our finger tips together and saying, "More? Maia would you like some more?" No response. Then we would raise our hands and twist them and ask, "Are you all done?" No response.

Again we would ask, "Would you like more?" fingertips tap, tap, tap, "or are you all done?" hands shake, shake, shake.

After what seems like months of endless talking to a human smiling blob of a child, we have a sign that there is conscious thought in that huge noggin.

This afternoon as we were nearing naptime Maia started to squeeze her fist open and then closed. (MILK!!) Then she put her fingers together tap, tap, tap. (MORE!!) Ah Ha!!! My daughter can form thoughts. She wants more milk. She wants a bottle!

Today mark a huge leap forward for mother and daughter. The beginnings of communication. Real communication of needs, not just Mama or Dada.

And, clearly this is my daughter. Her first request of me - MORE MILK!

All I want to Thanksgiving is my two front teeth

Big news from Maia - She finally got her first tooth. Her upper right tooth FINALLY broke through. I have to say it's the most beautiful tooth I've ever seen. It looks like the left upper will be making an appearance any day.

The past few weeks have been a blur. She's no longer content to sit and play toys with mom. We're on the move constantly.

We went to the doctor on Monday and she weighed in at 23 pounds and 30 inches long. That means that she's in the 98/99 percentile. (aka big girl) Both Doctor Maxwell and his nurse commented on Maia's lovely disposition. (who doesn't love to hear that their kids are charming?) It was the best doctors appointment we've had yet. Maia didn't even cry when she got her shot or had blood drawn. What a superstar.

As Dr. Maxwell said, "She's the kind of kid that makes you want to have 10 or 12."

Picture perfect?

A few pictures from our last couple outings with Maia. Let's see if you can spot a trend...

Maia and I love to go meet daddy for lunch.

Here is a perfect family day at the apple orchard.

Two examples.... I could post more. Anyone see what's missing? I'll give you a hint. The missing "thing" gave birth to Maia. That would be... ME!

Hello, I'm Maia's mother. Let me introduce myself. You may remember me from picture taken BY MYSELF a year ago. They were featuring a camera phone, a bathroom mirror and a pregnant belly. Remember?

We have ONE family picture of us in the past 8 months and that was taken at Maia's party when she was a few weeks old. I was still wearing maternity clothes and Brian's hair was just growing back after radiation. We made quite a pair.

Rock Star !

Today marks a VERY important milestone in the McDougall household. Pull up into a standing position, clapping hands, calling for mama and dada are all small cookies to this...

Today I successfully transferred a sleeping Maia from carseat to bed without her waking.

Three cheers for mom!!!

Oh, but cheer quietly please. :)

No teeth...

Last night, for the first time, Maia woke up for an extended period of time after we put her down for the night. Around 11:00 she began crying and ended up alternating between mom and dad, crying, whining and arching her back, and eating, getting changed etc. for the next two hours. I know we have been extremely lucky, and some people deal with this and worse every night. We are hoping it is teeth related, because Maia turns eight months today and still is flashing an all-gums smile :)

Other things we have learned:

• We have an outdoors baby. She loves being outside as much as possible taking walks, playing in the back yard, watching the kitty, eating grass when she can sneak it.
• She has four words for sure: mama, daddy, kitty and "hi". We think at times we hear many other words, but it is just a random sound.
• She loves her tub. She even gets excited when she hears the bathtub being filled.
• She loves riding like a "big girl" in the cart at Target, Home Depot or wherever. She is up higher than usual, and everyone talks to her.

She is obviously the most intelligent, cutest baby ever....