Apple Pickin'

We decided to head back to our go-to orchard, Lynd's, to pick apples this year.  They had the Honeycrisp variety available for one day only, and it was a Friday, so Brian took off of work early and we headed on over to pick us some apples!

It was exceptionally warm, like, hot even, which kind of didn't make it feel so fall-ish, but we got us a good bag of delicious honeycrisp apples and even left some at Mary & Tom's house.  (We did a quick stop by so Brian could take a call and we could wait out a passing storm.  Kate, Maya and I played downstairs too!)

Kate was not into smiling this trip, she just wanted to eat apples.  Granted, we went smack dab in the middle of when she'd normally be napping, so perhaps that was it.  Or maybe it was just our nearly three year old practicing her independence.  I vote the latter.

If we could pick honeycrisp every time we go apple picking, I'd be a happy camper.  They are the BEST.APPLES.EVER!

Happy Girl Everyday.  Her shirt says it all!

I love this little clip.  Apple PICKIN'!

Our little apple eater!

She loved being able to eat apples!

Would you like one?!

There's something about this photo that I really like.

And this one makes me smile!

Daddy looking for an apple...

Be still my heart.

Me and my girls - part 1.

Me and my girls - part 2.

Our best family photo.  We're working on that.

Play Date

There is a group of girls at Kate's school that have been in her same rooms since the infant room.  They are Sammy, Libby, Amelia, and Kate.  Amelia has an August birthday, Sammy and Libby are both September, and Kate is October.  The classrooms typically move up based on birthday so Sammy, Libby, and Kate have always been quite the threesome!  I always think of how cool it will be if these girls decide to keep in touch.  I mean, they will have "known" each other since infancy!

The three musketeers in summer of 2014 - Kate, Sammy, and Libby!
My, how much they have changed!

In each class, the teachers have always informed us of how much fun they all have together.  Right before I had Maya I ran into Libby's Mom, Jenni.  She was the only Mommy of the group that I hadn't met and since I had officially had everyone's contact information, it was time to set up a play date!

We decided to have everyone over for a little Saturday morning snack and craft.  Kate and I made muffins the night before and I cut up some fruit.  We also bought a Melissa and Doug bead making kit and decided that it would be a fun morning of making bracelets and hanging with the girls.

Unfortunately, Libby woke up with a little cold, so she was unable to attend, but Amelia and Sammy were available and Kate LOVED having them over at her house!

When everyone arrived, plans were thrown out the window though.  I should've known better planning for a group of three year olds.  No one wanted to do crafts, they just wanted to play.  And that was fine with me.  We all just let the girls play.  Ironically, Amelia, Sammy, and Kate are all big sisters to little sisters (Marley, Sylvia, and Maya), so that's a fun little fact from this group!

After a little while of playing, Kate said that she wanted to paint and once we ok'ed it with the other Mommies, we busted out the paint and the girls painted the plates that I had pulled out for snacks...

...No, they barely ate any snacks either.  

#lessonlearned

Next time we do a play date I will literally say, "just come over and bring your own food if you think your kid will eat".  Just kidding.  Kind of.

Anyway, we had a wonderful time hosting these wonderful girls, their Mamas and some of their little sisters.  We missed Libby immensely but have promised to rain check!  We have also vowed to get together again!

Putting our liners in!

Such a good helper!

Adding water to our muffin mix!

And mixing!  We made blueberry and
cranberry orange.  YUM!

Getting ready to put our muffs in the oven!

Don't worry.  Mommy put the camera down and handled this part!
Though a part of me thought she was going to put them in herself.
#thatswhythephotoisblurry

Kate, Sammy, and Amelia - aka, Claude, Vincent & Pablo.

She's serious when it comes to painting.

After Sammy and Amelia left, we decided to finish painting the second plate that Kate started in order to make a little hot air balloon craft.  I figured we might as well since we had already painted 1.5 plates...

Or maybe she's not serious...

Painting our arm was also in order...

And so was a prompt bath including a homemade waterfall with
the infant tub.

I made a little basket out of card stock and cut
some yarn to hold the balloon together.

It now hangs proudly from our chandelier.

#evenimimpressed

Kate, Maya and I capped the evening off with a little rendezvous at the park.  We just can't get enough of this amazing summer weather!

Pulling our dress in weird positions and sitting
on the concrete frog.

While Maya enjoys some down time in the stroller.

We completed our park trip by crawling on the painted benches...

It was a good Saturday, people, if I do say so myself!

Back to COSI & The Park

We headed back to COSI this weekend (here is our first visit) for a little fun and play, and topped the afternoon off at the park.  I love, LOVE the summer!  There are so many things to do and just being able to live outside makes me happy!  Speaking of happy and being outside, I am super impressed with Kate's swinging abilities.  She's two months shy of being three years old and nearly has her "pumps" and "kicks" down.  Girlfriend's got skillz!

I heart this little braid/bow/pony.

Smiling at Daddy-O!

She still looks like my little baby here.

Kate's been loving jumping over a few steps at a time.  I'm not sure where she learned this or what sparked the thrill but it's been a new favorite thing to do.  I typically watch with bated breath.

Running across the bridge with two yellow
plastic balls!

Waiting patiently to "race" them down the slide.

She put them down one at a time!

Learning about moving water!

Once again, without a blue apron.  #oneday

She loved building this water wall.

It was so cute watching her.

And climbing the rock wall.

That little love just melts my heart!

Gettin' some popcorn!

Taste test.

PASSED!  Also, I LOVE this photo!

After naps, we headed to the park to enjoy the hot summer day!

Getting hydrated.  Love the summer flush!

Multi-tasking...

Kate's swingin' skills:

I just love these summer days.

One Month Old

When Maya was born she weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz and was 20" long.  I believe we left the hospital with her weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz., and one month in she is already up to 10 lbs. 13 oz and is now 21 3/4" long!  My baby is growing so fast.  Sigh.  Story of my life.

One month in to being a Mommy of two has been wonderful.  Maya is SUCH AN EASY baby.  I would be willing to wager that she is the world's easiest baby.  Seriously.  She rarely cries.  She is SO alert.  She eats well.  She sleeps incredibly well.  And she is an incredible joy and blessing in our household.

I joke that I'm so glad that she is so easy because this will make politicking for baby #3 that much more convincing to Brian come that time, but it's true.  Having a positive experience this go round will totally make persuading Brian that we should do this again sometime that much easier!  He is so a person that falls back on past experiences to make decisions on future ones.  Thank you, Maya!

I am amazed daily at how wonderful this little love of mine is.  We fell in love instantly when we met her and this past month has been all about adjusting to our new normal.  I've taken the approach this whole month of our normal B.M. (Before Maya) routine with Kate, but I've added our new sidekick, Maya, in.  The sooner we get used to having all of us together, the sooner our transition will not feel like a transition anymore.  And this attitude is working like a charm!

It is totally a combination of Maya being amazingly simple and me also having way more confidence than I did the first go round, but we've pretty much found our normal I'd say.  The first couple weeks were a bit rough, but I am feeling great and Kate has been AWESOME with her little sis and it just makes me so grateful to be living this life.  I get to be the Mommy to these two incredible little girlies.  Somebody pinch me.

At one month we've already seen Maya smile and she is starting to "track" things with her eyes.  She adores her big sister - I mean, Kate tops everything, bar none.  She also LOVES looking at people's faces and contrasting images (like black and white), and going outside.  If ever Maya is a bit fussy, I walk outside and she stops immediately.  She is SO a summer baby!  Last, but not least, she is such a snuggler!  She loves all things soft (blankets, robes, her swing, etc.) and nuzzles her little face into them and it is the cutest thing ever.  I'm not biased.

Her current nicknames include Tiger Cub, Little Love, Maya Papaya, and Maya Miss Papaya (compliments of Kate)!

Maya - 5 days old.  I heart these snuggles!

Maya - 8 days old.  Just a little outdoor snooze!

Maya - 9 days old.  Look at Jackie Bones!

Maya - 9 days old.  More outdoor snuggles!

Maya - 13 days old.  Nuzzling in the swing!

Maya - 14 days old.  Tummy sleeper!

Maya - 14 days old.  So peaceful!

Maya - 14 days old.  Bath time!

Maya - 21 days old.  Nuzzling against softness again!

Maya - 26 days old.  Probably my most favorite photo of the lot!

Maya - One month old.  Snug as a bug!

In not so absolutely wonderful facts about Maya's first month, it appears that we've been dealing with some projectile vomiting episodes.  These started when she was one week old and happen randomly 30-90 minutes after she's eaten.  I think it's because my let down is pretty fast and perhaps she just gets too much for her little tummy?  Nonetheless, the pediatrician has assured us this is normal and not to worry since she is clearly gaining weight and is acting fine otherwise.  That's hard for me though.  I just feel so bad for my sweet little girlie.

We also had about an hour of inconsolable crying after her shots today from the doctor but she calmed down and got in a good nap and after another ice cube tray dinner we celebrated Maya's one month by heading for a walk around the block for some fresh air!  We just can't get enough of the great outdoors this summer!  The weather has been fantastic!

One month check-up.  How adorable is Kate
with her little hand on Maya's head?!

Mommy gets adorned with stickers.

Kate enjoys a snack while I feed Maya in the
car after her appointment.

Sweetest little love after her one month check-up
and a sticker on her arm from Big Sis!

Ice cube tray dinner again.  I think Kate thinks
dinner is supposed to be served in these trays.
I'll have to inform her of what they are really used for.

Our walk around the block.  Two arms, two girls,
full heart.

I've so been enjoying having Maya here with us.  The snuggles are my absolute favorite!  It feels incredible to have her in my arms.  I can hardly believe it's already been a month.