Dear Maya,
Mayita, My sweet girl, MayaMayaMaya!
Every month I say the same thing to daddy; this has been my very favorite month. You are so much fun! Thanks to your checkup yesterday, I can report that you are 28 inches long and weigh 22 lbs, 5 oz. And for anyone that cares, your head circumference is 17.5 inches. You, my sweet, are what they call thriving.
As always I begin with your big news, and have lots! You have a tooth! Your bottom front tooth started to come in a few weeks ago. For the first few days, you were such a great sport and you hardly even noticed. Frankly, neither did we! We only learned about your little pearly white poking through because your teacher commented about it! (Awesome parenting, I know.) But a few days in, you were not nearly as excited about this tooth situation as we were. Your poor gums hurt and nothing seemed to make you happy. But now you are back to your normal smiley self. Overall you’ve handed teething very well, you rarely fuss. However, as a result, everything goes into your mouth. Everything. From the rinse cup in the bath to your blankets and even the edge of your high chair tray- all of them have become teething rings (which, oddly enough you could not care less about).
chowing down on the rinse cup in the bath
You are more agile. You reach for all kinds of things now. You've also figured out how to roll onto your tummy and push up into a sitting position. The other day, I came into your room after a nap and you were sitting in your crib. Just sitting there, chillin all by yourself. You were so proud… like, “Ta Da!” Now you often greet daddy in the morning by sitting in your crib and grinning as if to say, “Where have you been? There is fun to be had!”
good morning!
You are on the move! You still army crawl a bit, but you can really crawl now! You seem to enjoy getting around. You see a toy on the other side of the room and you are off crawling towards it. We’ve put up a baby gate across the steps to the basement and covered all of our outlets. Im sure you will soon let us know the next thing we need to baby proof around the house.
9 months and crawling!!
You are really interacting with your toys. You like to spin and open and close things. You like to make things light up and make noise. Its like a switch has been flipped in your brain and suddenly you are able to make all these new connections. You hit a toy to make a sound. You press a button to make something spin. You close a door to make something disappear. Instead of passively playing peek-a-boo you put the blanket up on my face and play it with me. How fun!
You are also beginning to use exaggerated hand and arm gestures to communicate. When I unbuckle your car seat, you stretch out your arms as if you say “pick me up!” When you’ve had enough to eat, you put your hands in front of your mouth. In school, when they sing ‘Ba Ba Black Sheep’, you go baaaaaaa.
The other evening, I sat and watched you play in the bath. You were squeezing your pink rubber duckie just at the water line and cracking up at the bubbles it was making. You couldn’t get enough! This went on for a good five minutes….babbling to the duck, making it squeak and blow bubbles. You didn’t even notice that I was there with you. I so enjoy watching you discover and learn about the world around you. I also really enjoy styling your (little bit of) hair in the tub. We make mohawks and comb-overs. I cant get a bow in your hair yet, so I'm making the most of bathtime beauty salon.
bath fun hair
We’ve started going to music class on Sundays at the JCC and you absolutely love it! You get to see your friends Josh and Emily, and you seem to be making new friends too! You enjoy the singing and clapping and swaying and dancing- but you love to watch the teacher play guitar. You are captivated. You got to strum it yourself after class the other day. You also like shaking your ‘egg’ during the Choo Choo song and when I play the finger cymbals during our jam session.
Boy do you have an opinion! You can get upset when it’s time to put away a toy or if you cannot have something anymore. You get especially annoyed when a song is over in music class and we have to give back the instrument you were just enjoying so much. Also, for the first time this month, you
You are becoming more independent. You are a very social girl, but sometimes you like to play quietly on your own. We put you in the pack and play with some toys, and you are happy to entertain yourself for a while. This is nice because mommy and daddy can get some work done around the house- like blogging or cooking dinner. You also like giving yourself your bottle (when its not very full). So grown up looking!
hangin in the pack and play
big girl bottle
You love TV remotes and cell phones, but you are no fool! A phone that is not on, or a remote without a battery will not light up and simply will not do. Only the real deal is acceptable to you, my sweet.
This was your first Rosh Hashana. You went to Saba and Abuelita’s house for dinner and we celebrated together with Natalia, Tia Paty and Tio Ilan. The last time we were all gathered for this holiday, Tia Paty and I were pregnant! We looked at the photo we took together a year ago and at our beautiful babies. We laughed at how Tio Ilan was even wearing the same shirt! It was a really nice family evening.
Saba and Abuelita love
You were fighting a sniffle but you played so nicely with Natalia. You two looked so cute in your matching outfits! We tried to do a photo shoot, but with two curious and mobile babies it’s not so easy! You had all these toys to play with, yet both of you really enjoyed empty seltzer bottle more than anything else. I guess it’s the simple things, huh?
Natalia & Maya Matchy Matchy
You went to Temple on Long Island and got to meet the Rabbi. You looked so pretty in your dress! You behaved very well the whole time. Later that day, we we went to the park and saw ducks and turtles and dogs. You got so excited when you saw other kids running by- I bet you cant wait to run as well!
Bubbie had a party for you, and you met lots of her friends and some family too. It was a great day; you smiled and went from person to person so sweetly. You had so much fun playing with the balloons. By the end you were pooped! After a long nap, you had a blast opening presents.
where's Maya?
You absolutely love being outdoors. Whether it’s going for walks in your stroller or splashing in the pool you love looking around at everything surrounding you. You like the chirping of the birds, breeze on your face and the crunch of the fall leaves under my feet. I bet daddy cant wait to take you hiking next year. One thing is for sure, you simply cannot get enough of the swings!
Maya loves swings with Bubbie
Maya loves swings with Abuelita
yay for the swings!
You are eating so many new foods! You eat pasta and yogurt and chicken and egg (yolk) and cheese now. You also like beets and melon and green beans and fennel and cauliflower too.
what should she eat first, the chicken or the egg?
sharing kiwi and mango with grandpa
You give the sweetest kisses! One day we will have to teach you that you should really close your mouth, but for now I cannot get enough of your silly, wet, sweet big ol kisses.
kisses for mommy. heaven.
You helped daddy celebrate his birthday this month. I think this was his favorite birthday ever, can you guess why? Because you were here to celebrate with him!
opening daddy's birthday cards
playing with toys and daddy
Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 4th wedding anniversary this month. We had dinner and talked about what an amazing year it has been; we reminisced about becoming a family and all the amazing little moments between our last anniversary and this one. A few days later you helped daddy open his birthday cards and we again thought about how lucky we have been this year. My love, thank you for making it so special. I love you!
Love,
Mommy
9 months!
