Maya at 6 months old

Maya at 6 months is a joyful and easy-going baby.  She sits up pretty well, although not perfectly, is interested in everything around her, and has a ton of energy.  She has so much energy that she often skips her morning nap, and even her afternoon naps can be shorter than her brother's!

She is still struggling with acid reflux and is on Baby Xantac three times a day.  Thank goodness she likes the strong mint flavor.  I'm really thankful for the medicine, as it allows her to drink her milk with so much less discomfort, and has allowed us to nurse through the first 6 months.  Alas, all good things do come to an end, and after my being away for two full weeks for school, even though I pumped to try to keep my supply, it was not enough, and it was clear that both Maya and I would prefer to transition to bottle feeding and formula.  The bottles allow her to drink more quickly, and that is less painful for her.

You'd never know that the girl was "colicky" with all the bright smiles she share with us.  Her smile is something to behold- it takes over her whole face and you just cannot help but to smile back.  I think that smile has magic powers or something.  Maya is the most social baby I've ever met and loves everyone- she loves touching faces and mouths and you can tell she is studying us when we talk to her, trying to figure it out.  She is also very curious about eating, and we have started her first solid foods.  Unlike her brother at the same age, she is still a little uncertain, and still loves her milk best.

Maya's Stats as of 9/13/11:
Length: 26.25",  50-75th %ile
Weight: 15.5 lbs, 25-50th %ile
Head: 16.25", 10-25th %ile

 

Feeding Maya

Maya is just as excited about trying out solid foods as her brother but I don't remember him being quite this messy.  I don't think much gets inside of her yet, but we're having fun.

It's good timing too- Maya has always preferred the bottle (note: holding on with both hands *and* feet) and is almost done with breastmilk.  After my last Michigan trip and being gone for 2 weeks, Maya and I finally came to terms with weaning.  Easy and happy for her, not as much so for me. 

Wish we'd made the decision official *before* I spent two weeks pumping, but at least now we have enough milk for just a little while longer.... and I do mean a *little* while longer... only a few bags left.

Tina's Birthday Hut

It feels like cheating to be able to DRIVE to a hut... usually hut trips involve heavy packs, and at least 5-8 hours of treking through snow. I gotta say, while I felt a little guilty, it was guilty pleasure to spend the weekend away at Skinner hut with a pregnant Birthday Girl, Tina, her husband Mike and son, Henry, as well as several of their other friends.





We enjoyed a short hike where Xander and Henry could throw rocks and sticks into a pretty lake and lots and lots of mountain biking. 

The kids were all really good and it was so nice to (almost) get away.  I did have some homework to do, of course, but even that was fun given the beautiful scenery.

And it'll come as no surprise I think that we got some great photos of the kids!

Zoom!

We keep saying it, but Xander is getting better and better on his strider bike.  Xander's grown an inch and a half in the last 4 months. Seems every time we look at him riding we realize we need to adjust his bike seat height again.

He plays a lot in the cul de sac with the other kids, who are all many years older than he is, but they don't seem to mind.  He keeps up pretty well, and they come by almost daily in the afternoons to ask if Xander can play? 




We thought it was pretty great that he could balance and coast all the way down the driveway hill, kit the curb and keep on going in to the cul de sac.  He'll do this over and over.  He loves to race the older kids in the neighborhood and sometimes he even wins! Here is is teaching Henry Ogburn (who is 5 months younger) how to "go fast!"



We'll take him around the neighborhood, and show him fun little obstacles he can ride up and down- he loves the offroad obstacles the best and is a real thrill seeker.

Then, the real challenge- mountain biking! Yes, at not yet 2.5 years old, we decided Xander was definately old enough for mountain biking. Tina's birthday hut trip was the perfect opportunity. (See next post!)

Here's Xander tearing it up on the rocky, rooty hills outside the hut.  He just couldn't get enough of mountain biking and we actually had to drag him in several times to make him take food and rest.  One thing we learned though- while Xander is definately ready for mountain biking, we may need to upgrade him to a bike with brakes really soon.  He took several tumbles, which was fine, but also got to the point where he was taking downhills faster than Jake could run after him!