4 months...

As always, I am tardy in posting the monthly update on Miss Maya. But, I like to think that 3 weeks after the actual 4-month day is acceptable in the long term scheme of life.

Back to Maya. Wow, what fun we had in the month of July. At Maya's 4 month appointment, she was a champ with her vaccines, with just a few tears shed. She weighed in at a healthy 15.75 lbs (87%) and measured 26" (94%). The doctor literally described her as "perfect" and I couldn't agree more!

Maya experienced many firsts in July, including her first trip to the Smoky Mountains National Park, thus entering the state of Tennessee for the first time. While in TN, she had her first trip to an aquarium, where she was enthralled by the fish in between cat-naps. Maya stayed up way past bedtime to enjoy in her first fireworks display for the fourth of July. I feared the noise and late night would make for a grumpy baby, but the only time Maya showed her unhappiness was when someone stood in her viewing area or when the fireworks were taking too long to light up the night sky. I have a feeling I have another adventurer on my hands.

Maya also learned how to roll from her back to her belly this month! She had been trying so hard for over a month and now she is a rolling machine, literally rolling from back to belly within a few seconds of being laid down.

Maya continues to stare down our food at each meal and normally cries to be held, and a part of our family at the table, during mealtimes. I think meal times won't be an issue for this little munchkin, and that her first solid food could be just around the corner.

Maya is such a happy baby, loving to giggle out loud with this deep belly laugh that makes me laugh too. When belly laughs aren't audible, Maya opens her big gummy grin in a silent open mouth smile. Her communication skills are increasing and she loves to shriek in conversation. I get teary eyed just thinking of how quickly my baby girl is growing, and so incredibly proud of her growing accomplishments.

Roly Poly Maya

This week, Maya learned how to roll over! She has been trying so hard for more than a month now, and Tuesday...she did it! Maya has hardly stopped rolling since Tuesday, and given she hasn't yet mastered the belly to back roll, she cries in frustration when left on her belly too long...only to have me roll her to her back where she immediately flips over again. :)

In the video below, watch as Maya gracefully shows off her roly poly skills.

I am so proud of my littlest munchkin!

Airport Viewing

 This past weekend, we went out to dinner, and happily announced to our kiddos that we were headed to Disney in just under two months. After dinner, we grabbed some milkshakes and ventured to the airport to watch the planes land and take-off.

We brought our very own Disney Express plane that we had made last month and began enjoying the sights and sounds of the airport.  Elliana twirled and spun in circles with her airplane, making engine noises and having her "passengers" arrive at Disney World. Her plane would jump with excitement upon landing and I will never forget the smiles on her face as she spun and jumped over and over.

The plane taking off

Landing safely

Daddy & Maya enjoyed the views too!

Snack time

I'm cuddling with my girls this afternoon on my lap, look down to see
my almost 4- month old trying to eat her big sister's snack. I
couldn't help but laugh out loud and quickly snap a photo before
removing my infant from the death grip she has on the pretzel.

A hiking we do go

I've known it for a long time, somewhere deep in my soul, joy radiates from within when I am with my family, especially when we are hiking. When we are hiking, we have the opportunity to be surrounded by God's beauty, both in nature and in our family. There are no cell phone or computer interruptions, no requests for snacks. We are just fully engaged family members marveling in our ability to climb mountains, study plant life, appreciate waterfalls and most importantly, each other.

Elliana pointing to the sign warning us of bears...AFTER we saw the bear ;) 

 We just returned from 5 glorious days in the Smoky Mountain National Park.  Years ago, before we were blessed with these amazing children, T.J. and I would hike for hours and hours with nothing but a bottle of water in one hand and each others hand in the other. Fast forward 8 years and we now carry far more, travel half the distance and take twice as long than we used to...but boy, do we have fun. 

Maya standing in her first waterfall

 We sing, run, twirl and dance up the mountain top, sometimes on paved paths, sometimes on rugged terrain. Elliana ventures off the path wherever possible, preferring the rocky rivers and rugged terrain over the confinement of the marked trail. 

atop of the highest point, Clingman's Dome

Daddy and Maya, so cute a stranger stopped and snapped a photo of them :)

We ate lunch out of the SUV, filthy and stinky after climbing in 95 degree weather, truly making it our Sport Utility Vehicle as much as possible with our young family. I snapped photos as quickly as I could of the many adventures, the constant smiles, the abundant happiness. Regardless of how many photos I took, and trust me, I took a lot, I just couldn't capture it all. I couldn't capture the crisp summer breeze that dried the water from the waterfall off of our skin. I couldn't capture the squeals in Elliana's voice, the coos that Maya contributed or the worry of our three year old as the bear came out of the woods and into view. Digital photos might not have captured it all, but my memory and heart sure did. 

Sisters splashing amongst the Laurel Falls waterfall

Picnic lunch in Daddy's new car

Maya enjoying the hike at almost 4 months

Kisses for Mommy

My little adventurers

The black bear who joined us on our hike