Four Month Check up

Maya had her 4 month check up on July 22nd. She weighed in at 15lbs 11 oz and was 25 inches long. She is now 90th percentile in weight and length and 95th percentile in head circumference. As soon as we walked into the exam room she started showing off to the nurse by smiling, blowing bubbles, and squealing. Then when the doctor walked in she kicked it up a notch and became VERY vocal-to the point we could barely hear each other. The doctor's response was "is she always like this?"..... That would be a yes, yes she is! Four month accomplishments include: finding her feet (and now she plays with them all the time!), rolling from back to stomach and "Blowing bubbles" AKA spitting loudly if you are Maya!

Four Month/ Beach week

On Maya's 4 month birthday Taylor (my cousin), Maya, and I headed to the beach for the O'Shields 26th consecutive family beach week. Unfortunately Joey had to travel to Toronto to work for the week so he was unable to make it. But, about 20 people on my mom's side of the family converged on Garden City on July 11th for the week. My mom and dad didn't get there until Sunday, so I sure was glad to see them and have some helping hands with Maya. Although I didn't have to look hard to find helping hands, there was about 40 of them anytime I turned around or Maya made the slightest complaint- which lent itself to a very spoiled baby when I got home! This was little Macy's first trip to the beach, so it was a blast to have Maya and Macy together, we would just stick them under the tent at the beach and they would hang out together. One of the highlights of the week was celebrating my Granddad O'Shields 80thbirthday. We had a cookout in the back yard overlooking the inlet. Janey, my mom's cousin, her daughter, grandson, and son made the trip from Columbia to join us and surprise Granddad. Another highlight was going to the water park. We had a blast; Becky, Adam, Blakeley, Adam, Kristin, and I went- the grandparents did a little babysitting (Thanks!)! It had been years since the last time I made it to the waterpark, and I could definitely tell- there are A LOT of stairs! I remember running up and down those stairs like it was nothing when I was little- not so much the case this time! Highlight number three would be getting to see my friends Erica and Tommy and their precious baby girl Addie (21 months). I went to school with with Erica from Elementary school through Clemson. We were in 5th grade together, which was the year I moved to Lexington, and she was one of my first friends in Lexington. It was wonderful to get to see her family including her parents and brother and catching up with her. What a blessing good friends are! Maya had a couple of first this week, she rolled over for the first time from back to front on July 15th to a crowd of applause from the entire family, and she perfected "blowing bubbles." Although, for Maya it isn't so much "blowing bubbles" it is more spitting very loudly with a couple of bubbles thrown in here or there. Family beach week has been such a blessing in my life and has taught me many great lessons about the importance of family. Thanks Granddad and Grandmom O'Shields!! We love you!!

Story Time

I have only occasionally read to Maya so far, but I think she has now convinced me to make it a regular thing. On Monday, after a busy weekend in the mountains, I decided to try to put her down for a nap in her crib. Which typically doesn't work very well (she prefers her swing at nap times) and it didn't work that day either, but we did make some wonderful memories trying. I was reading a book called "Noodle," this is a great story about a dachshund that Aunt Diane sent Maya. As I read to her she just quietly laid in my lap and looked back and forth from me to the book the entire time! It was the sweetest thing! I loved it!

4th of July

Maya had a great first 4th of July. Ok, I know she probably didn't know it was the 4th, so I really should say Joey and I had a great 4th of July. My weekend started on Wednesday afternoon when Maya, Tillman, and I headed up to the mountains to meet my parents at the cabin. For diner we all went to Black Mountain and had some great pizza at "My Fathers Pizza," then of course we had to stop by Bi-Lo to buy some ice cream for later that night. On Thursday Mom, Dad, Maya, Tillman (the dog who can't be left out of a mountain trip, she loves the mountains!), and I took a walk to the near-by lake (although when you are walking it doesn't seem so "near-by," but it is only about 0.5 miles from the cabin). Then, that afternoon Mom, Maya and I headed back to Black Mountain to do a little shopping and pick up some groceries. Thursday night the Steed family arrived right as Maya was having a meltdown because she was exhausted from the days activities added with only a couple of short naps. So, Maya went to bed and the rest of us had a wonderful dinner of pork chops and burnt Veggies (had to throw that one it dad!) Then, Dad, Sarah and I played a mean game of hide and seek! On Friday we all went to the waterfall and had a picnic. That night we had a gourmet meal prepared by the family chef, Chris. Maya had another melt down that night at bed time due to activity and lack of naps. But, I guess melt downs at bedtimes lead to a good night sleep because both nights she slept 12 hours. Maya, Tillman, and I headed home on Saturday morning. Maya was so cute when she saw her Daddy, she was so excited she started shaking! Joey had spent the past couple of days working on the patio and had finished laying all of the stone by time we got home!! That night we had a small cook out with Melissa, Brandon, Liam, and Berny; and ended the night watching some folks on our street put on a fireworks show.