So big!

I can't believe how quickly our little Maisy girl is growing. In just under 3 months she will be 2 years old. It's so amazing how quickly they go from being a baby to a little person. She has her toddler moments, when she doesn't get what she wants and decides to scream, or pout. And she wants to do things herself, without help, which I think goes beyond just age-appropriateness and is one of her personality traits. Not that I'm surprised, since I know she gets that from me. But 99% of the time it is pure joy watching her discover the world and herself. Just as she is quick to anger she is quick to love-full of hugs and kisses. The best part of my day is coming home and having her stand at the top of the stairs and yell "Hi Mommy" and then coming up and having her run over and give me a hug. Another favorite gesture is her brushing my hair out of my face, the way I do with hers. When I leave in the morning, if she's up, she says "Bye Mommy, luh you" and gives a kiss.

Her favorite toys are still dogs and dolls. She also loves balls- she loves to play "catch". A girlie-girl, she loves jewelry and purses and loves to wear my clothes and shoes. When I put on makeup she must have some too, and always puts lotion on her face and "nummy" (tummy). She loves to go "outyide" (outside) to play and ride her "cycle" (tricycle) like Elmo. If there's music anywhere she will dance and especially likes to turn in circles. Anytime music is on she'll start singing along-she loves commercials with music, kids songs (especially wheels on the bus and bah bah black sheep), songs on the radio, and when Josh plays the guitar. She likes to strum the guitar and sing about monkeys and giraffes. She loves to run and jump, and a big battle right now is getting her to hold our hands to cross the street-of course she wants to do it by herself. She also loves to read and calls them "good books". Her favorite game is hide and go seek. She loves to hide "both" Elmo and Grover, then look for them and say, "Elmo, are you?" (Elmo, where are you?) She also loves to go to the park. Every day I come home and ask her what she did and she always tells me "park, swing", even if they didn't go to the park.

Kaia loves her family and talks about them often. I started out being called Mama, then Mom, and now it's Mommy. Josh switches back and forth from being Daddy to Josh. I'd say it's about 50/50. She usually laughs when she calls him Josh and likes to go around saying "Mommy, Daddy, Josh". If you ask Kaia his name, she'll say "Josh". She calls herself "Mais" most of the time, but sometimes says "Daia". Maisy is her nickname and we probably call her that half the time, especially at home. If she's in trouble, it's Kaia Mae Swaim. She says Nana, Papa, Mahmoo (Grandma), Popple (Grandpa), Addy, Yuke (Luke), Ella, Jude, baby (Clare), and Non (Jon). Sometimes she calls Justin "Non".

She loves the dogs and can say Berkeley's full name now (she calls him Berky or Berkuhley), and Sampson is "Yam". When we go to friends' houses with dogs, she names their dogs "Berky" too. Whatever she is doing, she wants Berky to do too..."Berkuhley sing", "Dance Berkuhley", "Run Berkuhley". When we tell him to go into the kitchen she goes to the kitchen and points and says "Berky, room!". I'm not sure where she picked up on telling him to go to his room because we don't ever say that to him or to her, but she says it and makes us laugh. She loves to give them hugs and kisses, and has always been good about being gentle with them. Although lately she wants to pat harder than she should or grabs Berky's "yoot" (foot) to give him a "high five" and we have to remind her to be gentle because he's so little. When did she get so big?

There are so many things I want to remember, and yet I can never seem to think of them all when I sit down to write. Most importantly I hope we never forget the joy we experience in loving a child and receiving her love in return.

A Busy Week!

We've had a busy week, even by our standards! Last weekend Maisy and I went to visit Nana and Papa and got to see my cousin Gavin, who was home for his mom's wedding! He's in the Air Force, and is stationed in Alaska with his wife and son, and it's been years since I've been able to see him! Beth wasn't able to come, but Gavin and Gavin Jr. made the trip! It was so fun for Kaia to see them and she LOVED little Gavin...she kept talking about him on the way home! It was great to see my cousin Colleen and her kids too! The girls did a great job keeping Kaia entertained at the reception!

Mommy and Maisy

Cousins! Me, Colleen, and Gavin at Aunt Kris' reception

All the 2nd cousins!


Watching the Kentucky Derby with her horse

with Nana!


On Wednesday we had dinner with our friends, the Blanchards. Grady and Kaia had a blast playing together! They played hard the entire time and Grady loved pushing Kaia around on his tractor, and she loved riding on it! Way to share, kiddos!

Grady pushing Kaia on the tractor

They loved jumping in Grady's bed!!



We went to Mahmoo and Popple's for Mother's Day weekend and had a lot of fun spending time with them, as well as Mandy and Drew and the kids! We didn't have much luck getting pictures, so here's the only one that turned out on my camera!

Mommy, Kaia, and Mahmoo!

Girls Day!

A couple weeks ago I took a day off and Kaia and I had a girls day! We went to the zoo and McDonald's and had a ton of fun!

My sweet girl!

Mommy and Maisy!

"Goats, are you?" (Where are you?)

Feeding the goat

Loving her princess crown from her happy meal!