Dearest Mae

My Dearest Mae,

You are 17 months old today. I have not written you a letter on your month birthday in some time but I figured with so much going on right now it is high time that I got down to business and tell you what you have been doing (because there hasn't been any lack of doing over here).

To sum up the last month, I am going to use a quote from your dad last night. Right before bed, he said to me, "she is a quick learner." And you are. Your Dad took about 10 minutes on Monday and taught you how to shake hands when saying hello to people. I tried it today with you and you didn't forget how to do it. Also, today, you turned on the vacuum cleaner when I wasn't paying attention. I NEVER have shown you how to turn it on but as I was getting something done in the kitchen, I was startled by the start of the vacuum. There you were with a sly smile on your face.

Did I also mention you became bilingual? Due to my illness this month, a friend's au pair watched you for a day. After spending a day with her and another little tot your age, you started using the word, agua for water. Funny thing is you never used the word 'water' before. I guess I need to sign you up for Spanish classes ASAP. You might be the only person in this family who is bilingual, we can only hope that you are smarter than us.

Your dad is hell bent and determined to teach you manners, especially saying "please," when you want something. It comes out as "peas." The best part is when you just say "pees" because you know what you want but you don't say anything in front of it. For instance, right before bed you still get some milk (which you call "milk-a"). When you know you are supposed to get it, you just say "pees, pees." Then your dad asks what you want and you will say, "milka pees." It is simply the most adorable thing.

The number of words that you know is growing day by day. I will admit that I might be the only one that completely understands what you are saying. Funny thing is your Aunt Heather use to criticize me for not understanding your cousin, Luke. She would translate what he was saying and say, "don't you hear him." The other night I had to do the same for your dad and said the exact same thing. Looks like what goes around, comes around. Your new word for today was, 'frog.' Even though I do normally know what you are saying, there is still times when you will string together many, many words where I have no clue what is being said. The upside is you sound like you are carrying on a conversation with me. The downside I wish I knew what you were telling me.

You love to tickle your dad and I. When you tickle us, you say, "tickle, tickle, tickle." This comes in handy during "Mae and Mommy Cuddle Time." An event I have started implementing into our day this winter. Right after dinner we go upstairs and hang out on our bed and tickle, cuddle, sing, and read. It is getting us through the darkest months this winter while having many laughs. Along, with tickling you are able to walk farther then you ever have. You love holding our hands when we walk and you have started saying "hand" when you want us to take your hand.

Along with all these things you love to sing. Ba, Ba Black Sheep and Wheels on the Bus are probably your favorites right now. It doesn't matter who is singing to you, you become memorized and will go sit on their lap so they can sing to you. You still love to read and right now The Little Engine that Could is in the rotation as your favorite. I think it is because you are really liking trains at this point.

Wow, I could go on and on and on about all the things that are happening, there are countless. The last thing I will mention is that you have taken to bringing things with us wherever we go. You insist on it. Turtie [turtle bath toy], doggie [pull toy dog], baby, and cat have gone on countless errands and car trips with us. Some times you don't have enough hands for all of them so you have to pick which two you want to bring with you. I find it pretty funny when the plastic dog comes to the store with us and you tell fellow shoppers about the doggie.

Everyone told me that the years between one to two is so much fun because so many great things are happening developmentally. I didn't 100 percent believe them. I figured nothing could be as exciting as the first year. I think I am going to have to agree with them and say that this year has been pretty remarkable. You perpetually surprise and amaze me how smart, funny, kind, loving, curious, and unique you are. My love for you grows more and more each day and I can't wait for the next day to begin so I can see what happens. Thanks for keeping life so entertaining.

Love you always, Mom

Scenes from a typical "new" weekend

Pre-Mae, Pearson and I would generally spend one if not both weekend days going for a run together. This isn't to brag that we had/have hot bods or were/are in amazing shape, quite the opposite, it was just our reason to pig out during the weekend and drink late night.


Post-Mae, Pearson and I would still run but Mae came along for our jogs. I started running about a month and half after having Mae. She came along for almost runs in her jogging stroller. (I have been meaning to share information about my BOB. It is a stroller that is simply put, the best). Most weekends, Pearson and I would go out together with Mae and Ditka for a family run. Mae has always seemed to love it and we have enjoyed the time when all three of us can be together without a lot of commotion.

Post-Mae, Pre-Baby #2, I go for a walk while Pearson goes for a run. I have really hated having to slow down and take a stroll but I have found a silver lining in it all. Mae and I play in the park following our walk while we wait for Ditka and Pearson to be done with their run. We swing and look for birdies (one of Mae's favorite activities).

Mae backed up a little too early to get down the step.

Heading for the swings.

Looking for birdies.

Pearson working on his "guns" after his run.

A few squats post-run.

Is Silence Golden?

Yesterday, I was watching Oprah (I am a stay at home, what else do you expect?!?). Her show was all about happiness. I wasn't able to watch it all but at one point there was a quiz, "Are You Happy?" Again, I wasn't able to catch the whole quiz but one of the questions I was able to catch was, Do you make time in your life for complete silence? The majority of folks in the audience were like me, they don't make time for complete silence everyday in their lives. Or at all. Oprah, however, swore that by observing at least 10 minutes of silence a day while doing nothing else (don't need to call it meditation) that things will all come together and all will be right in your life. I might be oversimplifying what she said but you get the idea that she is a big proponent of this concept.

I don't think that I am unhappy, quite the opposite actually, or my life is that screwed up that it needs to be totally course corrected but I have decided that maybe I need to observe a little bit more quiet time in my life. A little less time watching TV, being on the computer, talking/being on my IPhone, driving in the car, cleaning the house, puttering around, etc.. I need a little more clarity, more calm, more peace, more serenity, more direction, more priority and more patience. I figure if Oprah says it works, it is worth a try. Here it goes! I will let you know how it is turning out for me.

Guess Who Came To Visit Us?

We were so happy to have Aunt Julie and Unlce Beef in Seattle this weekend. A big thank you to both of them for making the journey cross country for such a short visit. We loved being able to welcome them to the city in which we live but more importantly we were happy to be able to spend time with them. I would love to say that their visit was filled with amazing cultural and artistic highlights, however, it pretty much consisted of eating and drinking the whole time. I didn't even cook for them once and we ate out every single meal.

Mae also loved having them here and when she woke up this morning she asked for them. No lie. As Pearson said, "Julie is the Pied Piper of kids." I will also tell you Beef isn't bad either. They both have such an ease, gentleness, and playfulness with children it is pretty remarkable to watch them entertain/watch/take care of Mae.

The only downside of the weekend was that I was sick and vomiting for part of it but let's not talk about how sick I am. It is like beating a dead horse.

Here are photos from their visit.

The First Stop on their trip Pike Place Market.

First food stop: Donuts.

Mae eating her first donut EVER.

Beef eating a donut in Seattle.

Julie and her donut.

Julie and Matt in the Market

At the Sculpture Garden.

Julie feeding Mae. She is like a pigeon, if there is food, she wants a bite.

Julie and Beef - Space Needle Shot.

Julie and Mae playing at the pavilion at the Sculpture Garden.

Mae and I at Sculpture Garden.

Ready for our night out. (Well not Mae of course).

Group Shot: Taken By Babysitter (Reason why it is a little blury).

Getting My Butt Kicked

I have started a couple of posts in the last week (our awesome weekend away in Port Townsend and new Mae developments), however, I can't seem to get the energy to finish them. I mentioned last week that we are sick. Mae and Pearson are both healthy (thank goodness). I am STILL getting my butt kicked by this illness that has taken over me. My common cold has now turned into a sinus infection and has me humbled.

I am going to stop complaining because it isn't making me feel any better. I promise I will get the other posts up. Also we are having very important house guests this weekend - Aunt Julie and Uncle Beef are coming to Seattle tomorrow night. Can't wait to see them in the Emerald City and will let you know what we do with our guests.

A Weekend Away

We arrived home from one really great weekend away with our wonderful friends, the Moirs (Dave, Alyssa, Will and Worden). I couldn't have written a better storyline to the weekend. Two married couples in their 30's who bonded over running years ago have babies close in age and decide to go away with their families to the cutest cottages two hours outside of the city. Couples, dogs, and kids all get along and everyone is happy by the end of the weekend.

One of the great little things about Seattle is that you can hop on a ferry and feel like you are in a different state in a matter of 30 minutes. The Moirs recommended a trip to Port Townsend, a charming town on the Olympic Peninsula. They chose very, very wisely. Highlights of our trip included:

• Mae's first ferry ride.
• The Chevy Chase Beach Cottages. We can't say enough great things about the property and cottages.
• Walking on a deserted beach with our good friends and dogs.
• Boys vs Girls at Hand & Foot [a MN canasta card game]. Of course, the girls won.
• Yummy food
• Quality time with Will, who we haven't had the privilege to spend as much time as we would like with.
• Catching up with good friends about parenthood, marriage, movies, books, friends, sports, life, etc...
  

Looking at the bird. Have I mentioned that Mae is obsessed with "birdies"

Gem of a Place - the cottages at Chevy Chase outside of Port Townsend.

Will and Mae - ready for a walk on the beach.

Happy Dogs on the Beach

Looking for "birdies."

Daddies and Kiddos and Resident Dog, Scout on the beach.

Alyssa and I.

Ready for our second day in the backpack.

Will ready for second day of hiking.

Cummings Family Shot

Moir Family Shot

Sunday morning fun.

Kiddos in PJ's

Packing the car to head back to Seattle.

Final walk before hitting the road to get back to the city.

Smarty Shoes

In my limited experience in parenting (only 16 months), there have been times where I have been able to hit "pause" in the moment and simply admire the brilliance/cuteness/ innocence/beauty of my child. These moments have smacked me in the face, so to speak, more than any other moments in my life. They are smackable twofold. First, they are so sweet and pure that my heart soars from happiness and love when they happen. Second, I couldn't have imagined parenthood being this great.

Today, I experienced one of those moments of genius.

The Moment: At around 10:30 this morning, Mae started to getting antsy and it coincided with about the time that I was getting things ready to drop Mae off at Johanna's. I said to Mae, "Mae, if you want to go to Grandma's you need to get your shoes on." She looked at me with understanding. I then followed up with, "Your shoes are on the stairs." Off Mae waddled. In my mind, I didn't really expect her to fully register what I said and thought that she was off to play some more with her toys. Two seconds later Mae is standing in front of me with her shoes in her hand and says, "shoes." I then said to her, "You need to sit down to get your shoes on." At that point I sat down on the kitchen floor to put them on. Mae - far smarter than me - didn't want to sit on the floor and instead waddled over to her little chair and sat down and put her feet out.

I, of course, put the shoes on not knowing what to say but thinking to myself that my girl is one smarty pants, or smarty shoes, as in this case.