I asked Xander to help me

3/23/2001...

Xander is such a great helper!  Maya has issues with acid reflux and spits up a lot.  Sometimes it's hard for me to jump up and get something with which to clean myself and her up... 

I asked Xander to bring me a tissue...   he brought me the end of this long line of "tissue."  With my best impression of a straight face, I asked for a tissue from the box of tissues instead.  Afterwards I captured this funny photo.  I think I need to have more boxes of tissues around the house!

Just to proove Maya doesn't get to be held *ALL* the time!

Maya's very first bath!

3/13/2011 Maya's first bath- just like her brother she really likes the water!

More great Photos of Grandma Kathy and the kids

3/13... still catching up! 

During her visit, Grandma Kathy introduced Xander to songs by Squetch on Youtube and Xander really likes the video about the Green Anaconda, and the Rhino song.  We didn't see an Anaconda at the Zoo, but we did see Rhinos, and Elephants, and all sorts of other great animals.  Afterwards, Grandma Kathy made us all Rhino "sugar and spice" cookies  with cookie cutters.  The shapes didn't hold up in the oven,but they tasted so delicious no one cared.

 

Grandma Kathy spent a lot of time taking care of me while I healed up from the c-section, which sometimes meant cleaning my house for me when I couldn't, helping finish up those last details in the basement, playing with and feeding Xander while I held and fed Maya, and of course, holding Maya while I played with Xander!

Xander and Jake on Bikes

Dad has one, but where's the kid's helmet?  Xander is really excited about his bike, but not at all excited about wearing his helmet.  He's getting a lot bolder... we're going to have to start enforcing the rules more.

Grandma Kathy and Maya

There is nothing finer than seeing a grandmother and her new baby grandchild together for the first time.

Meeting Grandpa Jack and Grandma Barb

3/22/2011...

Having Grandma Kathy at home with Xander afforded us extra time and flexibility with our travel, so with another "quick" hop we were in Southport for 24 hours to visit Jake's father and Barb Farley.  (Thank goodness Maya is a very good little traveler and doesn't seem to mind airplanes!) It had been far too long since we'd seen them last and it was a really good visit, even if it was very short. We even took the opportunity to get Maya to the ocean!

Anything you can do, I can do better!

Maya is already proving that she has no intention of letting her older brother hog the limelight or the superlatives in the family.  It is said that it is dangerous to compare kids, and parents should try hard to avoid it.  Since that is nearly impossible, I'm going to give in and share a few examples:

Nesting with Xander resulted in new hardwood floors and a new custom staircase.  My nesting phase for Maya resulted in a finished basement and bathroom.  Both big projects, but Maya edges out Xander slightly on both scale and cost.

Xander put on a whole pound in his first two weeks- that's12% of his body weight, moving from 8.5 lbs to 9.5 lbs.  Maya has accomplished the exact same feat- but since she started at only 6 lbs, 6 oz, and therefore grew a whopping  16% in the same time period!  (And, by the way, she is already up to almost 9 lbs at 4 weeks!)

Xander didn't let me sleep for 3 hours in a row until he fully a month old (37 days old)... Maya, 31 days old today, has been sleeping 4-5 hours at a stretch for a week now.... as long as she's sleeping with us.  We haven't been able to convince her that the bassinet is really where she belongs. 

Xander took his impressive first flight at only 2 months old for his Baby Book Shower in Virginia.  Before she turned 4 weeks old, Maya completed her first flight (5 of them) to accompany me  for my latest U. Michigan MBA residency, followed by very brief visits with Grandpa Charles, Aunt Meg, Cousins Nathan and Morgan and Grandparents Jack Lewis and Barb Farley. 

On our trip we added another first for Maya- a dip in the ocean!  Maya beat her brother for this one too.  Maya's almost 4 weeks vs. Xander's 3 months. 

Now, Xander still retains his bragging rights over first kid and youngest trip to Moab.  Only time will tell if Maya continues to try to best her big brother, but regardless of the milestone or the timing of it, I'm looking forward to seeing the kids grow, learn, and share our joy.

Meeting Grandpa Charles, Aunt Meg, and Cousins Nathan and Morgan!

It was a very brief stop in Charlotte airport, just long enough for a little breakfast and some photos, but we couldn't pass up the chance to see how Nate and Morgan have grown, and to introduce Maya!

  

Saint Patty's Day at University of Michigan

Erin has class this weekend so Maya and I have come to Michigan with Erin, leaving Grandma Kathy at home with Xander.  Maya was perfect on the flight out, she slept the whole way!  We got ourselves settled in at the residence and later that evening headed out to the Blue Leprechaun to meet Erin's classmates.  Think back to your college days, do you remember ever seeing a 3 week old baby at the bar?  We were quite a novelty!  Maya managed to sleep through the whole experience, despite the noise.  After a little bit of fun, we headed back to the residence to try to get some sleep.  Luckily our little leprechaun obliged us and slept really well last night.  Based on the bleary eyes at breakfast this morning on some of Erin's classmates who remained at the bar long after we left, I am quite sure we got more sleep than they did!