LATELY

This week has been hard on you, baby girl. You are teething so you've had more than your fair share of fevers, long nights, and sore gums. It's hard watching you struggle, but I tried to do some special things with you throughout the week to take your mind off your teething. And it ended up being a really full week with some of the people you love most!

We spent Monday morning at the park then the afternoon running around Walmart. Yep, you read that right...Walmart. Kidzu was closed and it was so hot out and I was short on ideas, so I let you run around Walmart with a pool noodle you found there! I know. Not my proudest mommy moment. But you had fun. And that's all that matters. And you totally wore yourself out/slept well that night! Ha.

Tuesday was spent at your grandparents' house in Raleigh, then, auntie Carole and cousin Xavier met us there for dinner. And we had the best time catching up!

On Wednesday we went to the pool with uncle Taylor and Isla and Louis. You had a blast with your cousins, of course.

Thursday night, my old neighbor Lulu was in town for a Mother Goose performance at the library. You and I participated, listened to Mother Goose read some books, and you even got to play some instruments, dance, and got some "fairy kisses."

Friday was special because you got to see Isla perform in a play. Grams and grandpa were there, too, along with auntie Gina, uncle Taylor and Louis! You really really loved the Paperhand puppets in the lobby at The ArtsCenter, which makes me excited for their performance next month! Of course, Isla nailed her part in the play!

Your papa worked most of the weekend, so on Saturday morning, despite the sweltering heat, you and I made our way to the new Dorthea Dix Park in downtown Raleigh, where the City was hosting a huge celebration/festival/party and where naenae had a special art installation. It was really something to see in person! Amazing, really! Another highlight from the day was seeing you eat strawberry shortcake ice cream from a local Raleigh vendor. You loved it and I was relieved to see you eat anything (teething seems to have stolen your appetite lately).

Today was spent mostly at home, although we did manage to visit papa at work and made a quick stop by Weaver Street where we ran into grams and grandpa! Naenae and grandpa also dropped by to play with you on their way back home from a quick trip to Greensboro. And grams came by later with a little care package. You are so loved, little one!

My hope for the coming week is that your teeth come in and you get some relief. And that your healthy appetite returns! Teething is so rough!

Oh, and here are a few cute things you did this week that I don't want to forget...

• Another baby came up to you at Kidzu on Friday and you said, "Hi!!!"

• You jumped! Sounds so simple but you started jumping one evening when the three of us were hanging out in the living room. So adorable!

• You dance a lot now. Also adorable!!!

• Your favorite word, as of late, is "Isla." You draw it out so that it's nearly four syllables ("Eye-yah-la-aa"), and you started saying it after we let you watch a video of her band perform. You watch it at least once a day and love it. And you just love Isla so much. No matter what she's got going on, she always takes time to talk to you and give you special attention. You light up when she talks to you!

FAMILY FUN TIME AT WEAVER STREET

Yesterday we grabbed a few biscuits from Rise and headed over to Weaver Street to meet up with grams and grandpa to watch some music. You had the best time! The street was closed for biking, bubbles, chalking and hula hooping. And things got extra fun when auntie Gina, uncle Taylor and cousins Isla and Louis came out, too! Afterwards you were exhausted, happy, filthy, and full! You had a blast!

Here are a few photos I managed to snap from the morning...

CUTE NEW THINGS

You now say "mmmmm" to indicate you're hungry or if you're on my hip when I'm cooking something on the stove that strikes your fancy. It's so cute. And you also started blowing kisses. Specifically at your daddy when he leaves for work in the morning. And finally, you have begun doing laundry. Ha. Your hamper was in the hallway yesterday (I put it there so that I could do your laundry after you went to bed without having to go into your room and get it and risk waking you). When I left the laundry room door open you began taking clothes from your hamper and putting them into the dryer. It was so funny and so cute! You're the best Maeve. Never a dull moment with you, little one! xo

A HAPPY WEEKEND

We had a full and happy weekend, which included multiple pool trips, time with your cousins, and special time with naenae and grandpa! Thanks naenae and grandpa for taking care of baby girl and for uncle Taylor for the pool invite! xo

Also of note, on Friday night you and I met baby Iris for the first time! She is a doll! We took some food + books over to uncle Gideon on aunt Sherry's house. And at first you were totally taken by...their cats. Ha! Sherry was holding baby Iris and she was so tiny that it took you a while to notice her. And when I held her you were so incredibly gentle. I was so proud. And then when she starting crying a bit, a little later, you were so upset. As if you couldn't stand knowing that Iris was upset. It was sweet, really.

ps: We (I) overcame our (my) fear of the playground. We're back at playground hopping and you are loving it!

LATELY

Dearest Maevey, lately you are changing constantly. I sometimes feel like you're turning from a baby to a little girl right before my eyes. You are! But of course, you'll always be my baby! Every day you do something new or say something new. It's truly amazing. Here's what's up in your world lately...

• While at the beach I finally discovered the apparent culprit behind your fevers/fussiness! Your first high fever(s) and bout(s) with extreme (for you) fussiness over the last few weeks were a bit of a mystery, especially since we took you to the doctor and they told us your ears and throat looked perfect. Last week I discovered you are teething - with not one, but two huge molars coming in (one on each side) at once. Plus it looks like you have several new ridges on your lower gum. Poor baby. No wonder you haven't felt well! So many teeth at once!

• You have started using sign language! So far you have used the sign for "shoes" and then lead us over to your shoe shelf, and you use the sign for "more" multiple times per day now. You also seem to have made up your own sign, that we are still trying to figure out. :)

• It seems like you are saying a new word each day at this point! Today you said "cheese" which was funny because I don't really use that word often, but you pointed to it today and said it very clearly! 

• You greet your daddy every morning by rubbing his head enthusiastically. It's almost as if you created a secret handshake (or headshake?) of sorts. Ha.

• You took your first bike ride in the past few weeks, and have taken several since! You love it, of course.

• When you see your reflection now you like to clap and dance. And you say, "Mmmmmmmmmmaaaeee" as if you are trying to sound out your name.

• You love watching videos of yourself on my phone. The other night, you sat completely still for 45 minutes watching them and laughing.

• Your dad introduced you to ESPN while we were at the beach. And you loved it. Considering your favorite toys are balls, and how generally athletic you are, this should surprise no one who knows you.

• You are going through a bit of a clingy spell with me (which I don't mind at all, by the way). I'm thinking it may be because you haven't felt well or because we spent so much time, just the two of us, together while at the beach. Either way, I'll take the extra snuggles.

• You've begun leaving what I refer to as "Maeve was here" treats around the house for us. I found one of your shoes in the kitchen sink yesterday. And a book in your clothes hamper. Random stuff like that that reminds us that we have a toddler in the house. And that if we turn away for a moment, our toothbrush may end up in the toilet. :)

• I started a food journal for you. I know. Sounds boring. But it started to feel like you were eating a lot of the same things, and not enough vegetables, so I began writing down what you eat. It's actually been really fun. And really fun making new recipes for you! 

• We haven't been to the park in weeks! I blame it mostly on you being sick the week before last then our beach trip last week, but deep down I know I'm really scared to take you there after your fall a few weeks ago. Even though tripping and getting hurt is "normal," it wasn't for me and the first time you got hurt was traumatic! I'm going to try really hard, though, to get over my (irrational) fears and take you again by this weekend. Maybe early one morning before it gets hot.

Whew, that was a lot. But truly, it doesn't even scratch the surface. You are doing. learning or saying something new literally every single day. And it's the best. You are the best! Every night your dad and I have the same conversation, it seems, about how we can't believe that you are our girl. We are so lucky and so very very in love with you, Maevey! xo