Maya and her bah-bahs

We typically are pretty strict about pacifier usage ("bah-bah" as it

is loving referred to), limiting it to car time, stroller time and bed

time only...until the age of three when we really start discouraging

it all together.

Maya, at just over 2.5 years knows her time with her favorite

"bah-bahs" is quickly dwindling, and she intends to take full

advantage of usage whenever permitted. So, imagine my shock when last

night, Maya requested to go to sleep with NO bah-bahs! Before I

thought about it too much, I quickly ran walked to her crib to remove

the bah-bahs before she changed her mind. I removed 7 from her bed!

Maya politely asked for lipstick (princess chapstick- a treat only for

non-pacifier users).

She puckered her lips, put her hand on her hips, and then twirled to

show off her floor length nightgown and immediately I saw images of my

baby girl preparing for Prom Night. She insisted on going to bed with

no pacifiers and slept 11 straight hours without her most favorite

item for sleep. When she awoke at 6:30 this morning asking for

bah-bah, I happily obliged. Afterall, I'm not THAT eager for my baby

to grow up!! Maya went back to sleep until 7:45, what a pleasant way

to start the day!!

Throughout the day, Maya asked for bah-bah more often than usual. So,

again I was surprised when she went to bed AGAIN tonight with NO

pacifiers and just a beautiful shiny coat of princess chap stick.

We are officially out of diapers, almost done with pacifiers, requests

for a big kid bed have been made. My baby is growing up, and what a

marvelous little girl she is becoming.

Raising Little Ladies

Our family is growing up. Our baby days are long gone. Our youngest is officially out of diapers, even during the night. It hardly seems possible that my baby is wearing the clothes big sister wore when our baby came home from the hospital. Seriously, how is time going so fast?

As a stay at home mom, there are days when the hours drag on!  Up before sunrise, filling the days with activities and learning, exploring and disciplining. Some days we play, dance and truly get silly and the house fills with deep belly laughs, the kind you can still feel in the air hours after the girls have gone to sleep for the night. Other days I feel like I merely clean up messes, repeat requests and separate the girls from one another. But the fact of the matter remains, the days are going by fast and these sweet little girls are growing up.

I blinked and these beautiful little girls are walking, talking and independent. They ask questions that actually make me think, rather than repeating the same basic answers over and over. This morning, Elliana (5.5 years old) was asking questions about the directional rotation of the sun and Earth and how it related to the sun in other parts of the country. Then hand gestures started as she was trying to explain the slight angle of the Earth and how the sun shines on just a part of it at a time. I hated to stop her, but I was driving on the highway and continually turning around to see her presentation didn't seem wise.

We are two months into our first glimpse of public school, which has been a big change for all of us. The freedom of Mommy picking activities is no longer shortened by returning home for nap-time, but instead we are rushing home for afternoon Kindergarten. Elliana recently took a test at school depicting she has a 2.4 grade equivalent (equal to a child in second grade, four months in). We always knew she was smart but wasn't really ready for that news. She truly has a love for learning and I've been supplementing additional homework from what is assigned. I genuinely pray for this excitement and passion for learning all the days of her life. What a gift from God to be so eager to know more!

Maya has a passion for playing and moving. Even our traditional pizza movie night is typically interrupted by cartwheels or somersaults. She is fearless and confident. This past weekend, it was time for the annual flu vaccination. Maya marched right into the office, rolled up her sleeve and said, "Me ready. I so brave." The nurse looked at us, questioning if this little two year old was really ready for this....we nodded our head in agreement. The needle went in, and Maya said, "your turn, Elli. It no hurt." Not a tear was shed, no ounce of fear. The rest of the day, Maya walked around confidently saying, "me so brave. I not even cry!" Just a small glimpse of this confident, amazing little girl!

Sometimes I sit back and just stare at these precious little faces. There is such beauty. Hope. Laughter. Love. I am honored to be a Mom, but beyond blessed to have these two little girls to call my daughters.

Happy Halloween!

Since the first of October, these little girls have been counting down until Halloween. Elliana is just now really understanding months of the year, and the concept of a holiday being at the END of the month...well, that just meant we got to countdown all month :) 

We enjoyed searching for the perfect pumpkin outside of Chicago with Aunt Jenna, Jackson and Nolan.

 

A few weeks later, we cut open that perfect pumpkin and roasted up the yummy pumpkin seeds. Maya was less than impressed by the pumpkin innards, but she sure did LOVE to eat those roasted salty seeds. 

 At last, Halloween day arrived. Up at 6:00 am, I was able to hold them off from putting on their costumes until 8:00 am...when Elliana and Maya disappeared and transformed into the popular sister duo of Elsa and Anna from the Frozen movie. The girls even got into character and have been calling each other Elsa and Anna all weekend long.

We spent the day running errands and basically stalling until school time, as they were so very excited! We even duplicated the hairdos of the famous sisters. :)

Nana came down so I could join Elliana at her school party. And what a party it was! Just look at all those snacks! 

I never did snag a good photo of the girls trick-or-treating. It was cold, and they were on a mission to get as much candy as quickly as possible. That's okay though, I have the smiles permanently etched in my memory, as it was priceless!

The day after Halloween, a light covering of frost/snow covered the rooftops when we awoke. The girls immediately switched out of Halloween mode and into Christmas mode. Let the countdown to Christmas begin! 

Maya - 2.5 Years/30 months

Oh Maya, you bring us such joy! Your spirit of adventure, lack of fear and overall love for life is truly contagious! At Kings Island last week, you begged to go on rides for kids three times your size but settled for the kiddie land with a humble and grateful attitude.

You live and breathe playing! From the moment you wake, until you go to sleep each night, you are busy with play. Your "friends" travel with you in a purse or backpack and even join us for meals most days. Every friend has a name, and you make sure each and every friend is involved.

Dinner at LaRosa's with a few of Maya's friends

 You are happy to just be involved. Shopping, running errands, you make me laugh of loud. I love quality time with you, watching your personality develop, hear you ask questions from such a fresh perspective.

Last week, we dropped Elliana off at school, and I said something like this, "Maya, I think we need to go to the grocery, but what sounds fun to you?" Without hesitation,  you answered, "Um, vacation. I think we should go on vacation now!" Half way through the grocery store, you yelled, "Can we go on vacation now?!"

You find joy in all you do, and can quickly turn helping Mommy in the kitchen into a game of hide and seek. I love hearing little giggles echo through the closet where you are hiding. If I pretend to look for you, and ask, "Where's Maya?" your genuine concern that I might be worried makes you answer every time. While reading your favorite book, I Love My New Toy by Mo Willems, there is a part of the book where the main characters cry. As I read the crying aloud, every time you hug me tight and ensure me it will be okay. You are so sensitive and sweet.  I pray for this sweetness and love for others to last!

It is currently nap time, and I can hear through the baby monitor the adorable singing, talking and playing of you from your crib. Napping is pretty rare now, but you remain pleasant even without the extra sleep.

I love you sweet girl! I love your strong will, your personality and your love for life. And I LOVE being your momma!

End of Summer

Again, summer has come and gone. The second half of summer flew by even faster than the first. And so, as promised, here are a few photo highlights.

Sparkler fun on Fourth of July

Monsters, Inc. artwork fun

Family Movie Night - Frozen under the Stars

Community Outreach - packing meals for South Africa

A little sewing project for a friend

Zoo Day with friends

gymnastics fun!

Coney Island

lunch date with cousins

Swimming fun 

Family hiking at Clifty Falls State Park

Potty Training Reward - Build a Bear!