She's One.

365 days ago (plus one minute, as I didn't catch it on the dot!), she entered this big and crazy world.

It has been an adventure.  A crazy, never-knew-what-being-a-parent-is-truly-like, fun, joy-filled adventure.

We feel lucky to have a one-year-old.  We're getting some sleep, we're hearing her little voice and we're seeing a little person emerge.  She says, "Hi!" constantly.  Doesn't deviate by saying Bye or Cry or Chai.  Only a simple "Hi!" 

For those that don't return her greeting....well, lets just say she knows how to elevate her voice a good 12 octaves and say, "HI!!" from deep within her heart.  Rarely do we encounter a 16 year old Target cashier, a random guy at the mall or a nurse at the clinic that ignores her the second time around!

These tights were made for walking.
She walks like she's been doing it for years.  It happened overnight.  One day-it was 2 steps followed by excessive clapping from her overly proud parents.  The next day-it was walking around the house.  People tell you, "Don't blink or you'll miss your kids growing up!"

I don't want to blink.  I want to savor.  A little ironic given I'm blinking here, but I love our pure joy together.  I want to remember..... 
remember her tight hugs around my necks she gives me.

her open mouth kisses that she puts on our lips.
her little voice inflection when she talks.
her love of looking at books.

her obsession with saying "Hi Dada!"
her motherly instincts with her babies...and how she throws them down as fast as she hugs them.
how she takes my hand to lead me to what she wants.
how she loves to be pushed in empty diaper boxes or pulled round and round on her sled in the living room.

her love of veggies and meats, but her lack of interest in milk.

her little cough when she's hungry...and her big cough when she sees her bottle.
her dance moves of swaying back and forth the second she hears music.  (I really hope she moves beyond the 'sway move' - her mom still only has that move in her dance card.)

We're grateful.  And Thankful.  And Loving the Loving moments of today.

Yes, the year has flown by, but we've enjoyed this adventure and know that the best is not only yet to be, but the best is here today.

4 more days to savor...

Three-hundred-and-forty-eight days ago, she entered this crazy, good world.

We'll be back to celebrate soon.
For now, we are savoring every moment of her being our 11 3/4 month old baby!

Enjoying every apple orchard, every pumpkin patch and every fall celebration that marks this day in our lives!

 

We're almost ready to enter the next stage of her being a "One Year Old"!

Getaway

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name.

And they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

I love that song.  As I wrote this, I sang it out loud, in my head and typed it out.  Dan said, "I have never known you to know the words to a song.  I'm impressed".  He didn't know I had to go to lyrics.com so I wouldn't type something like, "You wanna go where people loooooove you, oh yeah!"

Well, we did.  Maya and I jet-setted it to Minot, ND to see some very special people in my life. 
People she hadn't met yet. 
People that hadn't seen her static electric hair, her 7 teeth, her sweet smile and her signature cough sound that she affectionately makes to alert us her belly is hungry.
And she hadn't met some of my favorite people in the world.  It was time.

Maya and I were lucky enough to grab a Caribou coffee, grab a couple seats on a plane and in 62 minutes, we were greeted by a smiling, ecstatically waving, energetic entourage. 
We were rock stars. 
We prepared for the paparazzi.
We felt the love, people.
We really were in the land of, "....and they're always glad you came".

It was like old times.
Laughter filled the Bloms house. 
Delicious food....including the infamous Scotcharoo bars (that I had for breakfast....both mornings)....covered the countertops.
Memories of babysitting Brekka and Blair....and almost burning down their house...came flooding out. 
A visit to the farm....peaceful, calm, and beautiful.  I could refill my spirit there.
Jeff's wise teaching of sticking out his tongue intrigued Maya....she became a pro.
We learned Maya doesn't love dogs......and that she loves mashed potatoes.
We miss Minot...the Bloms have a whole lot of love in that house.  We walked away grateful for you guys....you have hearts, spirits and souls of platinum.  Its better than Cheers. 
We love you.

Until next time....

Aloha and a future Olympian!

The Pina Coladas were cold, the tattoos were glittery, the conversation was spirited and the pool was a hit!  Maya experienced her first Luau this summer, one of the many "Firsts" over the past month.

We feel like Maya has two big sisters whenever we're with her cousins.  Brooke transforms from a recent Kindergarten graduate to a mature 12 year old when she's around Maya.  We're pretty sure Brooke could babysit her by herself...while her diapers wouldn't be changed and she might get lots of treats, she sure would laugh a lot!!

Aloha, my friends!

Maya is crawling like crazy, going up stairs in high speed, eating every fruit and veggie she can get into her little fingers and going crazy each night when she hears the bath tub fire up! 

Meanwhile, Dan and I have been crazy over the Olympics... Dan might be a little more obsessed than myself, but nonetheless, we both were excited to get Maya into the Olympic spirit.  After all, just 438 short days ago, we were sitting in Trafalgar Square in London watching the seconds count down on the Olympic Countdown clock. 

And fast forward those hundreds of days and our Olympic hopeful is here, a part of our many future trips and adventures.

We have hopes and dreams for her....maybe the Olympics...maybe just the local community ed class.  Regardless, seeing the spirit, joy, fun and intensity of the Olympics reinforces that regardless of whether she's a really good athlete, a really good reader, a really good baker, a really good speaker or a really good friend, I hope that she puts her whole heart into it--without reservation, without holding back, with full-force giving of all that she has! 

GO Team USA!



Making memories.

I once read that laughing actually makes you healthier. It works your muscles, eases tension and a whole lot of other stuff I don't remember.  I just know..its good for the soul...good for the spirit.

We laugh a lot. 
Her tongue is out of control.  She wants to feel her teeth at every opportunity.  She ends up looking like a baby lizard.  I laugh every time I see that tongue slithering out.



We feel like we live with Shamu's cousin.
We're constantly in the splash zone.  I've actually considered wearing a poncho, but the heat has swayed me away from wearing such a large piece of plastic.

We love taking her places....and love that she loves to go where we love to go! 

We had been in Rochester for the day, visiting our friends, Robin and Steve and their boys.  On the drive back, we decided to celebrate that '10 years ago today, we got engaged'. 
We stopped at a winery that we enjoyed Maya....and we enjoyed it again...live music, a wine flight, tasty pretzels and an energetic aura in the winery. 

We felt proud...proud that we were able to 'have a fun experience as a family', sip a glass of wine and enjoy the babbles and smiles of our sidekick.  As we enjoyed this fun family moment together, I looked down at Maya with her legs propped up her stroller and had an 'OH NO' moment. 

Prior to leaving Rochester, I had my first 'I didn't plan very well moment' and had run out of diapers.....luckily, I had brought a recently purchased swim diaper along!
As I looked down at her legs propped up, all I saw was a soaking wet skirt. 

While Maya babbled, I gasped. 
I put her legs down.  She grunted and raised them back up.
I normally don't slam wine....I slammed the wine.  It was time for the 'family that brought their baby to the winery' to leave. 
Lots of laughs, lots of joy, lots of memories of how our lives have changed since that beautiful July engagement in Colorado!

Making memories this summer....and loving the simple moment.

What made you smile today?

This level of joy.  Every Single Time this girl smiles, my insides smile. 

Joy could literally ooze out of my pores. 

Rolls.

Thick, soft, squishy thighs.

Big, chubby calves that won't fit into the "narrow fit" baby jeans.

Arms that have creases.

Blue eyes and little raised eyebrows.

Letting go.

Watching new experiences unfold and actually being inspired by avocado-filled-finger-nails.

I know she's exploring this big, crazy world.

Two little teeth.

Two little teeth that will take off your finger.  Beware.

Crazy, messy baby fine little blondie hairs.

She gets it.

She continues to teach us lessons about life.

Summer is here....and a family trip to the lake to make some memories was in order.

Warm days, sandy beaches, love from family, s'mores, bonfires, pontoon rides, morning walks and evening game time.....exactly what a June weekend should be all about.

It makes me giddy when I see these cousins together.  Brooke turns from a 5 year old into a 13 year old within seconds of being near Maya.  It is adorable and warms my heart every time I see her trying to make Maya laugh.  On Saturday morning, Maya was chewing on one of Brooke's little dolls.  When Brooke saw her, she nearly started crying and said, "I NEVER wanted drool on that doll!!!!"  Yes, she is still just 5!  Jada on the other hand, just takes Maya's toys....they'll be good friends....in a few years!



The weekend was perfect.  During our time there, we gave our Mom and Dad an Anniversary present of a "photo shoot" with a photographer that met us at Grandview.  We spent an hour together with Laura, a talented photographer that was gifted in capturing the simple moment....not too formal, not cheesy, not too 'senior-picture-like". 

We had a blast, as you can see on her blog...if you are ever in the Brainerd area, check her out!  http://www.lauraradnieckiblog.com/