Just another fun day in my neighborhood

Dear Maya,

this is just a quickie to capture the beauty of what we have here on Dryden Rd.

BFFs forever: Maya and Logan

Maya's 2nd Birthday Party

Dear Maya,

Today is your second birthday!
Happy birthday to you, my sweet child! Well.. sometimes :) You know we love you anyway.

This past Saturday we celebrated your birthday with your many friends, and from the looks of it, everybody really enjoyed it.. especially you!

Special thanks to Mr. Samuel Dinkins of Dinky Drums company for bringing a wonderful community-building ensemble to our home.  Not every two year old has a sooo many friends and of such a wide age-range, and so we are grateful that we could bring them all to celebrate with you.

Here you are with Dada really getting down!

And Maya everybody got into it.. not just you:

And here is the community we've wanted for you, right here in our own back yard.. and jammin together to boot!

Well our session ended with a Happy Birthday tribute to you and you got your very own Sound Shape! That was the only time you were a little shy...

Both your current and past nannies love you so much.  Maria baked you this lovely Elmo cake, and Yenely came early and left late and really allowed all of us to enjoy the party with you.  Thanks to Jeffrey for showcasing:

I know I have to stop somewhere but here you are opening your first gift.. how does Uncle Binoy know the desires of a 2 yo girl's heart??

Now I've saved my best commentary till the end.  I believe that only your mother truly knows the desires of your heart  (the good, the bad and the ugly).  I know that my mother would not want anybody to know this, but we thank her dearly for being the sponsor of our celebration.  You wore her alligator bargain shirt as a tribute, and we know that she was there in spirit.  We thank BOTH of your grandmothers for raising you from a distance.

23 months, including Orlando trip

Ok and now this is a little update on what you're up to leading up to your 2nd birthday.. 2nd!? I can't believe we're talking about this.  I think you are trying to decide between terrible and terrific, but so far you're by far.. TERRIFIC!

You started school.. "school" now Tuesday/Thursday at Becker.  I don't think saying goodbye in the morning is your favourite thing to do, so I've done what every good mother would.. I've asked Nanny Yenely to do it! Yeaaa, problem solved! You now go like a champ!  And most days, mummy gets to pick up up which is a lovely reunion.

So here are your many skills: (this one includes saying "cheeese" whenever you see the phone/camera:

We took a trip to Orlando for mummy's conference and you became proficient at applying sunscreen:

swimming at least twice daily:

Making coffee with Dada:

We went to SeaWorld and enjoyed the Shamu show:

And after all of that fun, you were so glad to get back home, you climbed into the bookshelf with your stuffed animals!

As always you're a star at the Gym:

And here you are with Ms. Ruby at Spanish Class:

Notice anything missing in this picture?

We love you sooo much Maya.. you are a joy!

22 months old including Alaska trip

Welll, how time has flown, little Maya.

You are no longer Baby Maya, you want to be known as "Nina Maya".

You are VERY fun, and VERY verbal.

We have made not one, not two but three trips with you in the last 6 months.

Yes, you guessed it.. starting October 20th, we'll have to pay for your plane seat!

Unfortunately, Mama (as I'm now known) dropped her phone in the toilet and lost all her unsaved photos from a great Boston 40th birthday/Intro to Maya celebration.  I'm working on recovery..

But, we have plenty of photos from.. ta-da-da-da.. our Summer Alaska Extravaganza!

This summer your Gran from Barbados, your Auntie Nicole and our little family went to visit your Alaska Grammy and family.

It was just a really special time.  

Just look at this smile! (This pic taken after a great poop at Matanuska glacier)

We also went to the zoo (above) and saw polar bears, and moose and all sorts of animals that the Houston Zoo would never be able to house.

Of course one highlight for Auntie and Gran was picking wild mountain blueberries:

You had a chance to swing and play with everyone:

This is us at the Matanuska glacier:

and best of all, you got to meet your Alaska family!

Here are Uncle Larry/Auntie Emy. Aunt Michelle/Uncle Cark, and of course Grammy who was soooo happy to spend time with you and was a PERFECT host to all of us!

I just had to end with this pic! :)