All sorts of good stuff...

I'll go backwards... most exciting and recent, first. Ray got the first social smile from Maia this morning while getting her diaper changed and getting her dressed. Melts your heart! I managed to get one in the afternoon, and had a camera handy. Yay! This morning topped off a night of quiet, long rest. Hooray! Maia truly slept through the night. I put her in bed a bit after 11, and I woke up at 7 am having still not heard a peep from Maia. No midnight grunting, she was still swaddled, and sleeping. I ended up waking her up to feed and change her. Then, back to sleep where Ray and I both had some good cuddle time with her while we watched some DVDs. I also got a chance to catch some pics of my favorite stretching faces from her. I love it when she's waking up calmly in the morning...

A few short videos

Cooing and playing with daddy Our favorite pre-cry face: The POUT. So cute, how can you be upset? This morning she was in a great mood...

So cool!

So in checking in on another blog (one of the creative ladies from the PW board), I found this very cool link. How to make your blog into a book! Just what Grandma Effie was looking for!

New (old) video

This is a video from last week... the 18th (5 weeks) to be specific: Another fun tummy time pic from this week: And, last but not least... How much has our girl grown !?!?

More milestones?

No pics today - sorry. Maia didn't nap much today beyond maybe 10-15 minute naps, So I really struggled to do much. She wasn't even particularly happy for long in her bouncy seat. She FINALLY went down for about an hour around 3:30 or 4. So I used that time to actually get something done today. Kitchen was needing attention, and trash needs to go out tonight. Then Ray came home and took her for a walk in the stroller, during which she slept for another 35 minutes. Then... more tummy time. First attended by me while Ray ate dinner, and then by Ray, while I ate dinner. Tummy time is generating a lot more cooing and kicking and pushing with the legs. The mirror kept her attention for a little longer than the other day when I snapped the pics. While Ray was with her, she managed to turn herself over from tummy to back, but wouldn't repeat it while I was watching. Alas.

She did it!

She went through a night without feeding! She ate at 10 pm last night, and finally settled down to sleep at around 11 pm. I woke up around 3:30-ish to fussy noises. I felt her diaper (didn't feel wet at ALL), popped her paci back in, re-swaddled her and put her back down. I crawled back into bed to listen for her next Fussy Noises. Instead I woke up at a little after 6 am to some mild fussing. I was so excited, I woke Ray up with the news! So we all got up. She fed well and went right back to sleep with a full tummy and a clean diaper. And both Ray and I got some great cuddle time with her this morning before the day got rolling. Then, while Ray did some yard work, Maia got some tummy time. I'll have another video soon. I just haven't uploaded it yet.

5 Weeks

Clothes that were way too big last week are now fitting, and I think she's really out of most of her newborn clothes (with the exception of a couple generously sized dresses). So we've got a whole new wardrobe for the next month or two (hopefully! While round, pudgy babies are generally happy babies... I'm already struggling with how fast she is growing!) So... LOTS of pics. After bath time I just had to buy these sunglasses, although they probably won't fit her until winter. And, well... winter in Michigan... She'll probably only get to wear them twice, until Spring. And at tonight's play time with daddy... Tell me this girl isn't starting to show some serious personality! We love this... if you kiss her chin, she'll try to suck on your nose...

1 Month Old!

Looking at pictures of her just a week ago - it just amazes us how much bigger she is already. She holds her head up for so much longer, and she is starting to coo at us, follow us with her eyes and focus on things that are farther away. She imitating our faces more. Ray tried to give her a bottle for the first time yesterday. She was slightly confused by the process, and I'm sure it will be a process getting her used to it... but we still have about 7 weeks to get it down before I go back to work. Here's a video of daddy and Maia playing a favorite game. She'll always open her mouth when we pull her arms up, and she'll use her legs to help her stand.

Feeding lots!

On Friday, Aunt Kathleen and cousin Lydia came over for a visit, and we went out for lunch together. Was also my first time trying to discreetly feed Maia in a restaurant. Maia is such a good baby, we're really very fortunate. However, she has been going through a little change in her general schedule. Last night was the first night since the 2nd night she was home that we weren't able to get her back to sleep in the middle of the night, and Ray ended up staying up with her from 3:30/4 to 5 am, when he finally had to get ready for an early day at work. She had a generally rough day yesterday, too, crying most of the time we were out and about getting diapers at Sam's Club. She was needing to be fed every 1 1/2 hours or less, and eating for much longer than she usually does. I'm thinking she's probably just shy of 10 pounds now. Today, more of the lengthy feeding, but in general, happier baby. Ray came home from work earlier (since he went in early) and had some nice play time with her again while I got some housework taken care of.

Little hands, little feet

Soooo sweet! At day 1 At 2 weeks At 3 weeks

Three Weeks!

Time is going so quickly. I can't believe it's been 3 weeks already. Today, I visited one of the possible daycare facilities we're considering. What a big decision! What a big expense! Maia had a quieter, less fussy evening. Daddy enjoyed playing with her.

Cousins

Maia has cousins who were very eager for her arrival... Aaron Vassar is 14 (turning 15 this fall!) Rachael Vassar just turned 13 Emily Pool just turned 11 Adrian Pool is now 8 Lydia Pool is 5 (turning 6 this fall)

Our Big Girl!

Second visit to the pediatrician today, and Maia is now 9 pounds, 6 ounces. That's just shy of 2 pounds in two weeks! I told you she was a champion eater! We kept saying she looked like she was growing before our eyes. She's so much more alert. Tara, Aaron and Rachael had visited for a long weekend from August 28th to September 1st. We were so glad to have them here.