Smart Baby...

Today Maia used a toy as a step stool to get up onto the couch but then laid on her belly and scooted off feet first the correct way! No one showed her. She just figured it out on her own! Smart little baby!

Mommy/Daughter Date...

Marc and I have decided that each weekend we will take 1 child out with us to do something away from the others.  Marc's new work schedule leaves him very little time during the week to see the kids.  So this gives him time with the majority and then other times extra time with them individually.  This weekend was my turn to take one of the kids out.  Rosalia was up in the rotation and all she talked about doing was seeing a movie.  Before heading out she insisted on wearing a pretty dress, having her nails painted, and taking a picture. 
Once we did all that we headed to a local theater that was playing Monsters Inc in 3D.  Rosalia has seen the movie a few times but that never stops her from wanting to see it again.  She enjoyed a big bag of popcorn, an icee, and a box of raisinets.  She smiled the entire afternoon while out.  It's always fun to be with the kids by themselves.  They behave and act totally different than when around their siblings. 

Technology Wins Over Dog...

Poor Mocha... when there is an iPad nearby, she gets zero attention!

Couch Climber...

Ever since learning to climb onto our couch, Maia has tested her limits when on it.  She now runs from cushion to cushion, jumps, throws the pillows, and even climbs onto the couch back!  As much as we said we didn't believe a child was more troublesome than Rosalia... then came Maia! 

Angry Bird Game...

Garrison was very lucky to get a few different angry bird games for his birthday. The two negatives about these games are all the pieces and the constant need to reset whatever you knock over. Even though it's a pain to set up over and over again, Garrison LOVES playing the games! So this afternoon here I sat setting up his star wars angry bird game over and over and over again!

10 Months...

Only 2 more months and Maia will turn 1 year old.  I can not believe how fast the last 10 months have passed.  Maia's personality is continuing to shine more and more each day.  She is very smiley.  She has mastered saying and waving hi.  When desiring my attention she happily repeats "mama mama mama" until I give her my full undivided attention.  She can clap as well as make silly sounds when tapping her mouth.  She knows how to give kisses and is always willing to give at least one out to anyone willing to let her.  She is still on the tiny/petite side weighing in at 14.8lbs.  She wears mostly 6-9 month clothes but can fit into a few 3-6 month outfits.  She is cruising the house these days.  She very rarely crawls, which is fine with me since crawling causes her to notice any little item that her hands pass over.  I vacuum, sweep, and mop several times a day to keep the floors super clean, but with 2 toddlers and a dog I am never not cleaning something.  Maia is quick to put anything and everything in her mouth so needless to say, my eyes are never not watching what she is doing! 

Happy Valentine's Day...

Maia loved her balloon from daddy!  As did all the kids.  I didn't enjoy the balloons nearly as much since the younger kids kept letting them loose in the front room which has 20 ft ceilings!

Our Little Climber...

Maia is 100% part monkey.  She is so tiny but yet finds ways to climb up and onto things.  Today, she used Garrison and her ride on toy as a step to climb up onto couch.  Sadly, she hasn't figured out the proper way to get down from the couch.  She has mastered running across the cushions before bouncing off the back cushion and launching her down to the floor.  Lucky for her, we follow her trouble making self all around the house on a constant basis! 

Vacuum Ride...

Most babies around Maia's age would be scared of the vacuum... but not Maia!  She climbs onto the front and sits while we try to vacuum without making her fall off.  If she falls off, she cries until we allow her back on the front of it. 

Ava The Baker...

Last year, Ava's kindergarten class had kid sized aprons embroidered with the child's name.  Ava LOVES her apron.  She is always itching to wear it and help me in the kitchen.  Today, I had an entire day of baking planned.  Ava was quick to offer help!  She had so much fun.  She equally enjoyed telling the kids that she made all the goodies they got to have for dessert and breakfast.  She made a pumpkin pie, a pumpkin roll, 2 loaves of pumpkin gingerbread, pumpkin bars, and pumpkin oatmeal cookies. 

Chairs Can Entertain...

 

Entertainment some days is pushing the bar stools around the kitchen, at least for Maia.  I'm hoping she gets over this form of entertainment as it's not the safest item in the house to be playing with.  The chairs are somewhat top heavy and I worry she's going to tip them over and hurt herself.  She's at a difficult age, where the word NO doesn't mean a single thing! 

Tiny Trouble...

Look who has mastered opening cabinet drawers and climbing into them!! Tiny troublemaker she is!

Park Day With Great Grandma Simpson...

This morning, I packed the 3 younger kids in the van and drove up to Scottsdale. We picked up Great Grandma Simpson and enjoyed a few hours at the local park. Before dropping her back off at home, we enjoyed a picnic lunch. Garrison insisted he sit next to "his grape grandma" and spent some of his time scolding her for calling him Dillon. Great Grandma doesn't have the best of hearing so he got very frustrated when she continued to mix his name up with Dillon. She explained to him that she mixes everyone's names up but Garrison wasn't willing to accept that as an excuse! He still gave her lots of hugs and kisses before the afternoon as over.
I'm sad the drive is so far and takes up an entire day but I need to make more effort to do this more frequently. The kids love spending time with her (as do I of course)!

Garrison Cracks Me Up...

"Mommy, wook at me, I'm a cool guy"!