Day 17

Dear Daddy,

Last night I went to sleep at 11:30. This morning, after getting up for TWO feedings-one at 5 and one at almost 8-mommy wasn't too pleased with me.

Ironically I fell right back asleep, but she had to stay up and get things done. I fell asleep in my new chair so mommy just picked the whole thing up and took it in my room so I could sleep in the quiet. I gave her a funny look, but quickly was out again and didn't get up till noon-and even then I was all smiles.

After I got up, ate, and got dressed it was time for Emily's party. This is what we got her:

I was pretty good most of the time, but as the afternoon progressed my mood turned sour. Emily's daddy couldn't even make me happy, so we were both sad! (This is the only picture with today's outfit in it, so look close)

After I got home, though, I had another bottle and then it was time for my cereal. I am doing really well with it, and am eating more and more of it every day.

I was pretty ok for the rest of the night... there was a little stretch of time where my mouth hurt SO bad but there wasn't anything else mommy could do to help it. I fell asleep at 10, with her holding me.

Mommy doesn't feel good. I am going to try and do my best to take care of her.

I love you, daddy, and I can't wait to see you.
Love, Maya

Day 16

Dear Daddy,

Today I was a really good girl-for most of the day.

I got mommy up at close to 8 for a bottle. I was up for about an hour or so, and mommy didn't think I would go back to sleep, but I did-till almost 1!

After I got up, had lunch, and got dressed, we went to help put Emily's party favors together. Here I snoozed for a little bit... and then we "accessorized"! My hair on one side is getting long enough to do something with pretty soon!

(see how pretty my eyes are getting?)

Then mommy and I ran some errands... I was great again. We got home, changed my stinky diaper, and ate... I did good with the rice cereal I had, but I made silly faces at it!
Then it was bathtime! I stayed in till it was getting cold...

...halfway through washing me I started SCREAMING. So mommy hurried, I settled down, and fell asleep in my seat watching House.

Mommy was so excited... she thought I was back on a normal schedule and I was doing good, because I fell asleep at 8. Little did she know...

I woke up about 45 minutes later. I didn't want to swing, didn't want to be on my mat, didn't want to be in my chair... so the next couple of hours were a blur to mommy, but they involved a bottle and lots of teething tablets and a few trips to my crib when finally, I wouldn't be consoled, and I fell asleep on mommy-at almost 11:30.

I exhaust mommy. She wonders how she'll ever be able to handle two kids at once, or three, or four, or however many you let her have.

I hope you get moved into your new place quick so you can get a better sleep, and so you can talk to mommy and I. I can't wait to see you.

I miss you... I am praying that you are warm and happy and thinking of us lots.

I love you, daddy, and I can't wait to see you.
Love, Maya

Day 15

Dear Daddy,

I am so excited that you got to see me on the computer today! Even though I couldn't see or hear you, it was still fun... I am glad you got to see what a big girl (and a fuss butt) I am.

Although you pretty much got a commentary of how the day went, here are a lot of pictures from it. Mommy didn't think there would be a lot... but there were more than she thought!

I got home from shopping, had a bottle, and Mommy tried to put me down for a nap... but I was NOT having it. (You can't really tell here, but my face is SO red, and the tears made my hair all wet!)

After mommy got me out I was in a GREAT mood! (Knee socks and no pants... wouldn't you be happy too?)

So after awhile I ended up taking a (LONG) nap in my swing.
After I drank my bottle and ate my cereal (I ate so much more today!) I talked to Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Brenna on the computer... and Grandma even got to see me take a bath! After my bath, when mommy and I were just sitting in the bathroom talking to Grandma, I fell asleep with mommy holding me. So when she was done, she took some pictures with the webcam... they didn't turn out bad, did they?!



Here is the new chair mommy broke down and got me today-isn't it cute?
(I've been doing this a lot lately with my eyes!)
see? haha
I love Evie!
This is another awesome face I've been making... the pout. I did it when you were here, yes, but I have perfected it now!
But if you try and pout and stick out your lip back at me... I think its so funny!

Well daddy, I hope you had a good day today, and had so much fun talking to us. I know it will be even better when we see you. I hope that you get to get a lot of rest, and then after you rest you go to your new, permanent living quarters... then you can start to make it feel a little more like home and I can send you things for in there.

I miss you so much daddy. I don't think you realize just how much.


I love you, daddy, and I can't wait to see you.
Love, Maya

Day 14

Dear Daddy,

Today is 2 weeks down! Honestly, to mommy and I, it seems like it has been forever.

There are a lot of pictures from today-so bear with me.

This morning I got up at about 7:30... drank a bottle, did the usual-mommy put me in my swing in hopes that I would take a nice long morning nap before she needed to start getting me ready to be out the door by 11:30. I sat there quietly, and mommy took a shower... I was quiet as a mouse, so when mommy got out she figured I was sleeping-but I was just sitting there staring. I fell asleep for a little bit, and mommy got a little done on her project... but in usual fashion that didn't last long and it was a fuss fest.

I did, however, sit in my bumbo while mommy dried her hair. I was really fascinated for some reason with the piece in the middle... and played with it the whole time.

Since it was 70 degrees today, mommy thought it would be best to dress me in short sleeves... sadly, this shirt is already too small :( so I couldn't wear it.

Mommy and Vanessa had to finish some things on base this afternoon... so Antonio watched Emily and I. I wasn't a good girl at all... I screamed a lot, just what mommy was afraid I'd do. So she got the bright idea of trying me out on rice cereal, maybe that will make me a little happier... she's sorry she didn't talk to you before she did it... but here are the pictures. I liked it, I think! I didn't have a whole lot of it, but we'll get there.

After all that, I was out.

Vanessa and Antonio cooked dinner for mommy. She said it was so yummy... I can't wait to eat it someday! They had turkey tacos, black beans and rice, salad, and fried plantains!After dinner, Emily had her birthday cake-her first real experience with sugar (other than the cookie she accidentally ate last week!)
And then this one is just for you, mommy randomly got the best shot. This is Emily saying... "ballin'!"
...and then here are just a few other shots for you.

I was such a good girl from about 4 till we left a little after 9... but then we got home and I cried until just before 11. Mommy is tired... she had to wash all of my bottles, and then started not feeling so good (she got a new medicine today and thinks that is the culprit) so she is not going to do anything else but drink another whole glass of water (which will make the 5th for the day! Yay mommy) and go to bed, and hopefully I sleep for a long time and hopefully she feels better by the morning or she'll be going to the doctor.

I hope I get to talk to you on the computer soon, daddy... I miss you. I hope you have fun during your duty tomorrow.

I love you, daddy, and I can't wait to see you.
Love, Maya

Day 13

Dear Daddy,

This morning I woke mommy up WAY too early. She doesn't like when I wake her up an hour before her alarm goes off, especially when she went to bed late the night before. Whoops.

I was a really good girl at her doctor's appointment today-especially since it ended up being three hours long. Everyone in the office was going gaga over me, as usual... I slept the whole time though, which mommy was thankful for, because it had the potential to be a really long morning and visit had I not.

After we got home, we played for awhile... mommy got lots of funny pictures of me.

Mommy has been noticing my hair more and more... she really does think its getting lighter (sadly). Maybe when I get bigger it will darken again.

This is how long it is on the left side...

...and here it is on the right!

aren't I so pretty?

Mommy wasn't too enthused that after yesterday's wonderful day we somehow reverted back to awfulness. I did NOT do good at my nap, which made the day very very long.

Here I was blowing bubbles...

Then it was bathtime... about the best part of the day!

(Do you think I might be getting dimples? Mommy doesn't know when cheek dimples show up but... she thinks the little mark on my left cheek that you can see here sometimes looks like it might be one!)
Here I am just... staring. At something.

Interestingly, I didn't go to sleep with those jammies on. At 9 when mommy put me to bed I just screamed and screamed and screamed. We went through 3 frozen pacifiers, mommy had already given me Tylenol and teething tablets, and I spit out the Anbesol she rubbed on my gums. My belly was full, I was changed. So she stripped me and of course I was happy. But it was my bedtime... so she tried new jammies, and I screamed more, but then finally fell asleep out on my boppy. Mommy is tired, and really really wishes this whatever is going on would stop.

I hope you are warm and happy tonight and that you dream of us. We'll be dreaming of you because we miss you so much.

I love you, daddy, and I can't wait to see you.
Love, Maya