Santa Baby

Last Saturday, December 6, we went to Roger’s Gardens up in Newport Beach. We wanted to go because we have never been there and we also wanted Maia (and ourselves) to experience something Christmasy in California. I love the holidays. I love the Christmas season. I love going places and seeing them all lit up and decorated and hearing the Christmas music play. Roger’s Gardens was all that! It was so much fun.



At Roger's Gardens they have a lot of decorated trees. There were trees that were decorated in all gold ornaments, one in silver, another in red and another in white. They all had names to them. We found a baby boy tree and another “Pretty in Pink” baby tree. We thought it was so appropriate that they had a tree with all baby girl pink ornaments since it was Maia’s first Christmas. You can buy the ornaments right off the tree. We bought a pink block that has the letters B-A-B-Y on the sides. We thought it was special to remember our super fun time at Roger's Gardens and to remember Maia's first Christmas.

As we walked through the gardens we saw the most expensive trees. This 14 -foot Christmas tree was $600. It was amazing. We decided not to get it.

We got to see Santa Claus and Maia got to sit on his lap. She was all smiles. She loved his beard and was very intrigued. I think she asked him for a pony. It was a only a matter of opportunity.

6 Months

Maia had her 6 month check-up. We are grateful that she is healthy and that she is developing well.

Here's the update on her stats:

Weight: 16 lbs. 10 oz. (52%)

Height: 27" (88%)

Head Circumference: 17" (48%)

She is a great crawler and has said her first sound that includes a consonant. She now says "bda." She has also started to put her hands up on higher objects and kneel. She hasn't quite pulled herself up yet. She also has her upper two teeth in.

This video is of Maia enjoying her Cheerios. She usually sings through her meals and it's no different when it's snack time with her Cheerios.

MAIA'S FAVORITES

Foods: Cheerios and applesauce

Stories: Playtime Peekaboo, Baby Loves Peekaboo, The Sneetches, The Zax, The Cat in the Hat, Too Many Daves

Toys: Yellow bus with different wooden shapes/people (thanks to cousin Autumn), her purple snail chime that hangs from her car seat, Snack Trap with Cheerios in it, the baby wipes package (because it crinkles), the TV remote, and the computer modem with all its glorious lights (we have to hide that one)

Songs: The Wheels on the Bus, The Royal Duke of York (sung by Aunt Amy), Indiana Jones Theme Song (whistled or sung by daddy), Good Morning to You!, I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home (in Spanish)

Daytime Activities: Bath time, being outside, pulling the crib bummer off after a nap

Things that Maia wishes she could have: computer cords, paper, cell phones, a way to the other side of the mirror

A Thanksgiving Noggin

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Laguna Niguel with my mom. It was Maia's first Thanksgiving. She enjoyed her sweet potatoes while Joe and I enjoyed the apple pie we made. We are most grateful for Maia this year. She has brought us so much joy. In the video you will see Maia giving Joe a "noggin" which is equivalent to a baby hug or kiss. She loves her daddy.

Maia Crawls for Real

Maia started crawling for real on Monday. This was taken yesterday.

Put Your Feet Up

Maia loves to have her feet up. At first I didn't really think anything of it but then I kept noticing that she does it a lot...almost anywhere. I was talking to Joe about how she always has her feet up and then I look over at Joe who is laying on the floor with his feet up on the couch and says, "I wonder where she gets that?"

I'm Ready For My Close Up

Aunt Amy took some very cute pics of Maia yesterday. Joe hates the first picture because it makes him sad but this is the only picture where she looks like me. Yes, I cried a lot as a baby and had that same square mouth. My dad even said she looks like me here.

I love this picture because she has her new smile on. She scrunches her nose when she smiles extra big now.

Maia will be 6 months old next week.

Inch Worm

Maia is starting to learn how to crawl. She hasn't put all the pieces of the puzzle together but she's making progress. This is her latest (today). She got a little tired after I moved the remote away from her 3 times previous to this video. Her pajamas didn't help either.

Peekaboo!

This is Maia playing Peekaboo last week (with a fake cough at the end).

Game Time

Last week this was Maia's new game. This will probably be one of the only times that I will encourage her to spit or stick out her tongue.

Sleeping Habits

Since Maia has mastered rolling she has learned that she can sleep anyway she wants.

Maia Sings for Her Supper

Maia is really starting to get the whole "solid food" thing down. She loves to sing when she is eating in her high chair. (In this video she gets a little impatient.)

Halloween Party was a Thriller!

On Friday, Oct. 24 we went to our ward Halloween party. We were supposed to bring a carved pumpkin for a contest. I was running out of time and was looking online for ideas and I saw the hamburger idea. I thought it would just be easy and something I could just put on the table for the contest. I wasn't expecting anything to come of it but it actually won! I couldn't believe it. I think I made 3 cuts in the pumpkin, stuffed it with lettuce, a slice of wheat bread, and made cheese and tomatoes out of Play-doh. We got an awesome loaf of pumpkin bread...so good.

We didn't win the costume contest but that was expected. Maia did look so cute though. We will take pictures on Halloween night so you can see what she was.

And last but not least, Joe and I talked about how many times we would hear "Monster Mash" at the party. Suprisingly, we didn't hear it once! But we did hear "Thriller" and Joe couldn't help but dance. I love that about Joe. He is just a party. When he finished, people started clapping and wanting more. It was great. I didn't think anyone was watching but I guess it's really hard NOT to see a 6'7" white guy with an afro dancing to a Michael Jackson song in the middle of the party.

Apples to Apples

On Oct. 11 we went to Julian with my family. It took forever to get there and forever to get back. But, it was fun. "Apple Days" was going on so we got a great apple pie and had some stellar apple cider. From the pics you can tell that it was cold! We were not expecting it to be so cold since it is still in the mid to high 80s in Mission Viejo. We did enjoy getting away from the city and going very rural.

My 2 Front Teeth

Click on the pics for a better view of Maia and her 2 front teeth. (Maia 4 1/2 months)

Fuzzy Wuzzy

Maia has this really soft, fuzzy blanket from our great friends Ben and Maria. Maia loves how soft it is...especially without a shirt on. The more skin the better.

I'm So Glad When Daddy Is Home

Morning walk in PJ's and a hat.

Hanging out before bedtime.

Joe reading one of Maia's favorite books (Playtime Peekaboo!) to her.

Maia and Joe love being with each other. Joe loves giving Maia all the attention and Maia loves receiving it. It's always fun when daddy is home.

Not So Stoked About Cereal

I love this picture of Maia's reaction to cereal and Joe's comment about the picture..."She looks like you just fed her a spoonful of tar."

More Morin

It doesn't get more MORIN than this.

Not so much here...

Or here...

But right here! (same eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips...)

I love this Morin family!

Mai Tae-Bo

Maia had her 4-month check-up on Tuesday. The doctor was impressed by Maia's upper body strength and motor skills. We had to hold her down to keep her from rolling, she was pulling her pacifier out of her mouth and sticking it back in, she was arching her back to scoot out of our kung fu grip, and she was doing her normal sit-up crunches to let us know she wanted to be standing up or sitting up and not lying on a paper-topped table. The doctor said that she is a little advanced for her age and would probably be an early crawler due to her strength. (It makes me a little nervous that she is going to be more mobile soon.)

She now weighs in at 14 lbs. 2 oz. (53%) and is 25 1/2 inches long (88%).

In this video you can see her sitting up a little bit. She's actually pretty good at sitting up alone but she's still figuring it out.

The Very Hungry Caterpiller...er...Maia

...And she was still hungry. Today we fed Maia some fabulous rice cereal mixed with a splash of pear juice and water. Mmmm... Maia was definitely a fan. After her cereal, we fed her a bottle (not quite as full as she normally gets), and then she went to bed. A few hours later she woke up and downed another 6 oz. bottle. She's growing fast.

Maia Papaya

Maia turned 4 months yesterday. This is the only pic we got. She loves having something on or next to her face when she goes to bed. Yesterday she chose the dress over the blanket.

Turn Abouts Fair Play

As the world turns, Maia does too. We have been putting Maia to bed in her normal position and we laugh when we find her in a completely different position when she wakes up. Last week I put her in her crib and within a couple minutes (literally) she had done a complete 180. I was lucky to catch it with the camera.

Little Drummer Girl

Joe loves to play the drums with "Beat Master Maia" in the mornings. Maia loves every minute of it. Here's a sample of her skills. This is how Joe got Maia to laugh for him for the first time at the beginning of this month (Sept. 6th). Maia is about 3 1/2 months or so in this video.

Baby Teeth

Joe kept telling me that he thought Maia was teething because she's been chewing on things, has been a little cranky lately (which, to me, I can't tell the difference because she's always cranky...her nickname is MJ Cranky Pants according to cousin Autumn), and she's been so drooly (which, again, she's always drooly to me). Well, today, I was feeding Maia and I thought I saw white on her gums, but I thought it was just milk in her mouth. Lo and behold I run my finger over her bottom gums and there's a tiny sharp spot right in front that has broken through. I couldn't believe it. It shocked me because to me she's not supposed to get teeth until she's 6 months or so. I now wonder how long it will take to grow in and when the second tooth will poke through.

As a side note, Maia's hair is also thinning out and I am afraid it's going to come in blonde. I love her dark hair. I think it is so cute with her bright blue eyes.

McGrabber

This is a tiny clip (kinda boring) of Maia grabbing her teething ring. It's a small motor skill that she's developing but we think it's cool. She's getting quite good at it now. She'll grab your face, her clothes, her pacifier, whatever she can get her hands on.

Popcorn Popping

Maia loves singing with her dad. She always has a great time, especially if she is playing the drums or doing some kind of hand motions.

Say Cheese

Maia is a girl of so many expressions. Here are just a few of her faces. Her expressions differ depending on what her eyebrows are doing.

The last pictures isn't a picture that shows her expressions but I couldn't delete it. (Really, I didn't know how.) She just loves her giraffe/horse/cow (we don't know what it is) stuffed animal.