GRANDMOTHERS + YOUR FIRST SLEEPOVER!


Almost all of the ice and snow thawed this week and daddy went back to work. While I do love the novelty of a snow storm and all of the hype leading up to it, it feels good to be able to easily get out of the house, go on walks and drive places safely if we need to. This week we spent a lot of time outdoors and with both of your grandmothers! We went on multiple walks on campus with grams, which was such a treat.

One afternoon, as we were waiting to meet grams at a stoplight on Franklin Street, I looked down at you in your stroller and said, "Maevey, can you say 'grams?'"

You've never said grams or grandma.

You smiled broadly so that I could see all six of your teeth, and said, "Yes!"

You had never said yes before then. It was really cute. I laughed, which made you laugh, and it was all so adorable.

Grams gave you a sweet little book on one of our walks. It is now your most favorite and prized book.

I took you over to grandma's house yesterday so I could do some work. Your dad surprised me with Aretha Franklin concert tickets for Christmas, and the concert was scheduled for last night at DPAC. We made arrangements for grandma to babysit you in Raleigh Thursday during the day, and then, get this, you were maybe going to spend the night over at your grandparents' house last night. And by maybe, I mean your grandparents asked if you could, your daddy thought it would be a good idea (I haven't been away from you overnight since you came home from the hospital), and I pretty much made up my mind that I would "try" and see if I could handle you staying away for the night but I would pick you up late and bring you home. Ha.

Well, the concert got rescheduled, but grandma and grandpa said you could still stay over. Your dad convinced me that it would be good for us, so guess what little Maevey? You had your very first sleepover at grandma and grandpa's in Raleigh last night! Can you believe it!? I can't!

Of course, I obsessed about you being away the whole time you were away. I cried around midnight because I missed you so much. And I was terrified that you would feel abandoned or that you would wake up in the night desperate for me. And, of course, none of that happened. You were perfect, according to grandma and grandpa. They sent me photos of every stage of your bedtime (you had a bottle and basically just went to sleep on your own in a crib next to grandma and grandpa's bed). And in the morning, grandma sent me this photo of you...


That's how she found you this morning. My sweet happy babe. I am so proud of you. And so thankful for parents who love my daughter, their granddaughter, as much as anyone could possibly love another. And for grandmothers who make you feel happy and safe.

When grandma was feeding you breakfast this morning, you said another first, that you must have saved just for her.

You said, "love you."

How happy and loved and safe you must have felt to tell her those precious words.

When I picked you up today grandma said, as we put you in your carseat, that she was going to miss you so much. And I know what she means, because you are the best sidekick/partner/friend/confidant/buddy. I am so so so lucky to spend my days with you. I would not trade that for anything. I love you!

xoxo

SNOWED IN!



We've been snowed in since Friday! And it's been awesome! We walked downtown yesterday for a late lunch/early dinner. Your dad joked that you would overheat from all the layers I wrapped you in. You loved strolling around on the ice and snow! 

A BEAUTIFUL FILM BY YOUR DAD



Remember how mama hosted a charity event right before the holidays inspired by you and your time in the NICU? Well dada made this beautiful film of the event. You have seen it dozens of times and love it. Everyone loves it, but you might love it the most. You get excited every time you hear the music and look for the screen! Thanks, Will (aka dada), for this!

ELEVEN MONTHS OLD!


Our baby girl turned eleven months old this week! How is it possible? You are more expressive than ever, more mobile than ever, and just a pure joy to be around. Your favorite people (other than mama and dada) seem to be your grandparents. You love crawling and eating puffs. You have a great sense of humor and seem to like to make us laugh as much as you like to laugh. You love looking in mirrors and waving. You light up our lives and we are so lucky to have you. Happy eleven months baby girl!

SWIM LESSONS!


This weekend was special because you went to your first swim lesson! You are signed up for six months (!!!) of classes, and Saturday morning you attended your first! Here are some photos from that very fun morning...





That last photo just kills me. You and your dad are so sweet together! I love you both more than anything!

We are so excited to have a new Saturday tradition, for you to learn to do something both your dad and I love, for you to make new friends and have lots of adventures, and for you to learn a skill we hope will serve you well for the rest of your life!

LATELY


Lately, you have been clapping and waving a lot. You laugh all the time, and we get to see your huge four top teeth and two bottom ones as you babble and giggle throughout the day. Your favorite thing to do lately is stand up. You continue to talk to me all day long. You are the best girl and I can't imagine my days without you by my side!

This week has been different. Grandpa was sick and so was I, and daddy had a shoot out of town in the middle of the week, so our schedule was unusual. The silver lining? You got to spend a lot of quality time with both sets of your grandparents. You spent one day with grams and grandpa. I knew that you had a great time by your disposition when I picked you up. And it's just so sweet seeing you on your grams' hip. You and I spent the night last night with grandma and grandpa, too, which was fun and novel. You got to watch Reading Rainbow on the giant projector screen, and I know grandma and grandpa enjoyed spending so much time with you! I overheard grandma telling you, right before we left, that she already missed you.

Lately you've become very vocal about your wants and needs and it's so fun to watch. You say "eee-get" a lot, your dad and I noticed. We think it's your way of saying "I got it." And when you are excited or frustrated, there's no denying it as you let us know. Sometimes very loudly. Ha. You are so expressive. It's just fascinating to watch you develop and come into your own! You're the best, little girl, and we love you so!

THE BEST OF FRIENDS


As thick as thieves already.

HOLIDAY BREAK!









What a fun holiday break that was! It was full of museum-hopping, looooong walks, and most importantly, lots of quality time with friends and family. Especially daddy! We were so sad to see him go back to work Monday.

YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS!







Here are some photos from your very first Christmas day/night! Of course you loved opening presents and listening to Christmas music but more importantly, you loved spending time with both sets of grandparents. We spent the day at grandma and grandpa's house. It was so fun and festive! Then we had the most peaceful and relaxing dinner with grams and grandpa and it was perfect! Before we left, you fell asleep on the porch swing. What a big day for our best girl! I'm so thankful for everyone who made your first Christmas so special! 

MAEVEY THESE DAYS


I still have tons of photos to post from Christmas and New Year's but you are changing and growing so much lately that I felt compelled to quickly jot down some of your milestones and isms, in no particular order...

  • you wave and you clap, and we can't get enough of it 
  • you have five big beautiful teeth and we think another one is coming soon
  • yep, you got your two front teeth!
  • you talk constantly
  • you have started trying to kiss us...sometimes you don't get it quite "right" and lick us instead
  • your new favorite thing is looking at photos of friends and family
  • you have no interest in crawling but can pretty much stand on your own
  • your hair is getting so long
  • you are still so observant
  • topping the things-that-always-make-Maeve-smile list as of late: your daddy's arrival home from work, Lilly running inside after a bathroom break, Louis doing anything, spotting another baby or children, looking at photos of yourself, grandma making piggy noises (and so many other things - you're the happiest baby)!
  • you just started pointing, ever so delicately, at things like the flowers on the back cover of A Chair for My Mother
And you are the sweetest girl and my very best friend! 


Oh, and you have the cutest cowlick when you wake up in the morning these days. Be still my heart!