So, today, we took her to Ardenwood Farm and their toddler time! Unfortunately for Maiya, there are no cows at Ardenwood… There were, however, sheeps, goats, chickens, turkeys and pigs that she got to pet, which was the COOLEST THING EVER for this toddler! She also got to see a peacock and horse, but didn’t get to pet them.

Click read more below to see pics of Ardenwood and my little birthday celebration!!

To the farm!

Looking for the chickens

Even before we got to toddler time, she had her boyfriend for the day.

Listening to Ranger Ira reading about a story about a chicken

Listening to Ranger Ira show us how to shell and crack corn

This time she actually sat with all the kids and listened. Look! She’s even looking at the teacher!

“Maiya cracked corn and I don’t care!”

Goat: “There sure are some strange animals at this farm!”

Petting chickens (and turkeys) is WAY cooler than listening to a story!

Waiting for the chickens to come closer

Petting the pig

Wishing she could play in the water with the pigs!

Petting the baby baa

Firefighter princess

Gamma JJ kissing the owie on her foot!

Bringing me my presents!

Modeling my new outfit for me

My birthday gift from Brian, yay!

The girls looking at the pics and videos I just posted.

It was great. Not only was the weather perfect, but my Mai was loving playing in the sand AND in the water!

Also a few videos from there, and a few other random pics and videos.

Click read more below to see the rest!

Fast food stop before the beach- If they don’t give us a play area, we make our own!!

She likes the crown better this way- as a sun visor!

To the beach!

This still is so steep and slippery that she actually needed help

Then she decided she needed up!

Hmmm… This is not like the water in my back yard…

Run running from the waves!

Running from the waves- in moving pictures!

Bringing dry sand for our sand castle

Running in the waves with Momma

A video I accidentally took (you can even hear me say “oops” at the end when I notice!), but it cracks me up, so I had to share!

Burying her knee

Burying my knee

So glad I dressed her in white today…

She’s not a sun bather- this lasted almost a whole second!

Watching the waves

I desperately need some make up and to fix that wild hair, but it’s a cute pic anyway!

Poor Dadoo Bidoo had to carry her up the huge hill!

****

Random pics!

Nap time!

On the trail again!
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Running with Quincy- her favorite thing!

Happy hiker

Going to help Dadoo Bidoo catch up! A rare video of her running from the front.

Trying to catch up to Quincy and Dadoo Vidoo (Dadoo himself just decided it’s “Vidoo”, not “Bidoo”, so that’s it from now on!)

This one speaks for itself!

Look at her swimming at Sunol!

Trying to fill a cup with a hose…

In her cute birthday jammies from Grandma Carolyn!

Admiring the snake

Silly dog dog hat!

Picture rocks!

Sweet Momma put her babies to bed

What a hair do!

Trying to dress herself. And failing!

“Momma ‘elp me!”

Library has awesome toddler computer games!

Making friends

Afternoon nap in the shade with all her babies

Snack on the grass

Chillin’ with Gamma JJ

Tight rope walkin’

Smiles for Gamma JJ

Sleepy girl

Early morning outdoor breakfast

Sisters!

Cute, until you realize WHY she has such a big smile…

Off to find to find some water!

In deep with Momma!

She didn’t like wearing a wet shirt…

This will be short, but gotta share!

Click “read more” below for a couple pics and videos of my little singing girl!

Our friend Kaori gave Maiya this rocking moose, which Maiya loves to rock on, but has also discovered a great new way to play: And you thought “moose tracks” was just an ice cream…

Playing chase / hide and seek at the village!

Singing “row row row your boat”. She actually is much better at it, she just didn’t want to cooperate for the camera, of course!

Singing to herself instead of napping! This is not the same as my FB post the other day when she was singing to her babies. Today, she just sang to herself. You can also (almost) see her put her feet up on the side of the crib, and then declare that she is “high up!” Sorry for the poor video, my camera had a hard time recording the monitor! But the audio is good (as long as you ignore the white noise)…

First, we went to Walnut Creek so my mom could turn in her paperwork and RETIRE!! She works through June, and then- FREEDOM!! While we were out there, we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory and then the park across the street from it. Came home, hung out with the Grandparents for a bit, then went home for playgroup. Playgroup is so much fun now a days, the kids not only play, but they play WITH EACH OTHER. I mean, at this age, it’s only really parallel play, but I’m starting to see more and more real interaction, and it’s so fun to watch them grow up. They’re using each others’ names now, even!! These kids started meeting for playgroup when Maiya was six WEEKS old, I love it.

Click read more below to see more pics of our beautiful day!

Smart Gamma JJ figured out a way to keep her hair out of her eyes without making her look like Super Martian Robot Girl!

Fascinated by the fountain

Stopping to smell the flowers

Learning how to keep herself entertained while waiting for food!

Playing with the big girls

“Helping” to draw the hopscotch board

Best friends

“Hopping”

I made a sensory box for playgroup today, and lo and behold, for the first time ever was able to get a pic of all the kids at playgroup doing the same thing at the same time!!

Nice to see this slide being so well loved!

I said “say cheese!” and got THREE TODDLERS looking at the camera at the same time!! Is that a pig I see flying in the sky there??

This is how Maiya plays with a sensory box

Jonathon is a good Daddy

Holding hands and jumping!

All 4 of the kids still at play group held hands and jumped together! It was super cute. Amelia didn’t like the big group, so it didn’t last, but I got a pic!

Click read more below to see more pics of our adventurous day.

Picnic with Dadoo and Nina

Barefoot hippie is still a tenderfoot!

Picnic tables are for climbing

My pretty summery girl

Far away (the camera is zoomed as much as possible, she is pretty far from us) looking for bees!

Maiya’s profile!

Dadoo and Maiya went on without me…

Tears because I wouldn’t let her play with the blanket!

Run running to try to keep up with Quincy and his temporary friend, Mocha. Mocha is a grey hound- Quincy never stood a chance, and Maiya wasn’t even in the running!

Cute video of Maiya laughing at the “silly silly dog dog” in the water, and then her running off

BIG HUGS for Dadoo!

Picture rocks fail!

That’s better!

Look how deep she is!!

Water ballet

Hiking back up the hill

My little hiker

I know for some people, her getting in the lake may not be a big deal. So, to show you how much of a change it is for her, take a look at how far she’s come!

April 1, 2011:

October 6, 2011, with a LOT of coaxing, this is as much as I could get:

April 18, 2012:

How quickly she changes!!

Now be forewarned… We have a two year old. What we find exciting may not be exciting to some, haha. Anyway… Yesterday, 4/16, Maiya peed in the potty all by herself!! She told me “pee pee”, and I told her to sit on the potty. She did, and peed in it!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!!

In other exciting news, today, 4/17, for the first time EVER in her whole life, Maiya laid down in the bath all by herself!! Even as a newborn, when we laid her down in the water, she flipped out. As an older baby and toddler, she’d sit in the water, and be totally happy, but wouldn’t move around in it, wouldn’t splash, and would DEFINITELY not get any where close to horizontal. Today, she did! Laid flat down, even dipped her head (but not her face) in water. So proud of my girl!!

Not many pics today, just a few of our little water baby. <3 One here, since Brian only likes one on front. The other two you can see if you click "read more" below!

Dunking her head

Look at her laying down!

Today was one of the nicest days we’ve had in a while! Gorgeous and sunny, but a bit cool with a cool breeze. Still, it was a nice day, and we enjoyed it! She wore her first summery outfit (not quite summer outfit, because it was still cool enough I had a long sleeve shirt under her dress for extra warmth), and we got to play outside with the sidewalk chalk from Easter. I also came to realize I’m sunburned from her party yesterday, and dehydrated. I hope she is not feeling like I am, but she has been extra tired, too, so maybe she is. Despite being more tired, she has been very good, as usual, and I am so proud!

Click read more below for more pictures of our fun, sunny day!

Testing out one of her new birthday toys

Drawing with her new Easter chalk!

Dancing in her new pretty sandals from her birthday

Fashion queen, wearing a dress with shoes and socks, with Henry the harness dog. Also carrying her sparkly pink puppy purse in her Easter basket!

Dancing in the sunshine!

Hanging out with the grown ups

My girly girl loves her big blue “race car”- noticed it halfway across the parking lot and had to ride in it!

Testing out the swing

“Washing her hands”

Throwing tan bark in the fountain

Playing in the fountain

The grown ups hanging out

So much for keeping the sleeves dry…

Fascinated with what the big girl can do

And fascinated with the boy’s bubbles!

What a way to wear a hat!!

SO TIRED!

Look at that hair!

Wearing two warm hats, even though it’s not cold!

Dancing with me, Gamma JJ, and her girls

Procrastinating bed time…

I was really worried about the party, since she is such and outdoor girl, that I knew we had to have it outside. What good would it be if we had it indoors, and she spent the entire time asking to go “bye bye” during her own party?? But, the weather has been SO crazy. When I made the plans about 5 weeks ago, it was gorgeous. Then it got nasty; then it got nice. Then it got NASTY, with heavy heavy rain and even THUNDER AND LIGHTENING!! Luckily, it stopped raining on Friday, dried up a bit on Saturday, and was actually really nice today. Since we were planning on cold, it was almost TOO nice (but there is really no such thing as TOO NICE!!). I think I may have gotten a bit sunburned and a bit dehydrated… I’m hoping she didn’t, but she didn’t drink as much as we tried to make her drink!

We had quite a large turn out- thanks to everyone who was able to make it! It means so much to all of us that you can come celebrate her life with us. And to those that couldn’t come- it’s the thought that counts, so thank you for the thoughts! We did miss you.

I was worried about the food, because as usual, I didn’t know exactly how many people would show up, but I think it worked out. We had just a LITTLE bit left over, so I don’t THINK anyone went hungry, and we didn’t have too much. I got a half sheet of cake, and there was so little left, we just threw it away! Because let me tell you, one bad thing about her birthday being so close to Easter is that we’re all junk fooded out!

As everything we do, it was super casual. Not even really a “party” so much as a get together. We hung out and chatted, eventually got the food out and grazed as we desired. Eventually did the cake, and then eventually opened gifts. Only the gift opening was really “organized”, in that I think most people stood or sat around to watch. The rest of the time, since we were at a park, the kids were playing and the adults were doing whatever they wanted! Which is what I wanted.

All right, on to the pics! Click “read more” below to see the rest of our big girl’s big day, and a few more random pics (maybe even the ones I didn’t get to in the last post…).

Birthday girl!

Hanging out with our first guest, Amelia!

Two Grandma, a great Grandma, and her butterfly balloon!

Everyone hanging out

Maiya and her cake!

Blowing out her candle

Helping me cut the cake!

Opening presents

My cheese and cracker platter! Veggie Ritz, sharp cheddar, creamy havarti, fresh mozerella, and fromage d’affinois. Not a bit was left over, I’m proud!

Her birthday dinner- spaghetti at Olive Garden!

The toy that saved dinner- her new laptop for her birthday!

…and that was her wonderful birthday party day!

Now, for all the random pics. It’s getting late, and as usual, I’m tired, so I’m just going to post with no (or few, anyway) captions!

How I have to wash her hair now!

Crazy post-wash hair!!

Brush, and much better now

My aspiring photographer took this pics of her own toes!

Anyway, this will be quick and mostly pics, like normal, because it’s late and I’m tired, like normal! The big events are her birthday (though not her birthday party, that’s tomorrow!), Easter, and then there are a bunch of random pics, and some cute videos. Click “read more” below to see!

My Easter girl

Cute little cocoon baby

Rock slide!

Going to play in the water- cold means nothing!

Giving me a leaf

This is how she wears her sunglasses now…

She wants to keep going downhill! …only because she knows I will push her up in the stroller. She doesn’t care that I have no one to push me!

Trying to wear the sunglass the normal way- and failing!

Hiking with Quincy

Walking stick!

Big girl

Where brother goes, sister follows (or tries…)

What the lunch box sees!

Choo choo!

Keeping the sun out of Jasmine’s eyes

Taking her baby on a walk

Run run! Look at that HAIR blowing.

Tired after a long walk

Pretending not to be tired: “I’m just looking at the rocks, mom!”

Run run!

Pushing the stroller for me. So helpful!

70 degrees, but if it can be zipped, it must be!

Eating lunch ON the table- good times for a girl

A special treat for my special girl

Envious of the airplane

Trying to eat string cheese the right way!

Pictures rocks

Run running with dog dog!

They’re both impatiently waiting for me to catch up!

Chillin’ with mou mou outside, waiting for me so we can go bye bye

Silly daddy!

Waiting for Daddy to get home so he might take her out in the back pack!

Tall girl… Not even 2, and about to outgrow her carseat rear facing. I don’t wanna turn her forward facing, it’s not safe!!!

Oh, the things Gamma JJ teaches her!!

Excercising with Gamma JJ

Her favorite step

Hiking with the Grandmas!

Ladybug on the lap = happy girl

Special picture rocks!

Two Grandmas!

Bossing the dog around (or at least trying…) She says “spin spin spin” when we say “around”. And she also spins like she wants him to, hahah.

Throwing the toy for Quincy

Bubbles with Gamma

Identical triplets!

Such a big girl

Look at that hair!!

Flower in her hair

Playing with the fire house she loves

We bored Quincy, and he fell asleep with his head on my lap…

Up up up!

I LOVE this video of her playing. After mou mou falls down, you can hear her say “mou mou down! Wowwy, mou mou.” and then see her give it kisses and gentle pets in apology. And she plays with that mou mou eating, and going up and down stairs, and in and out of the window. And then she suddenly realizes she has the flower in her hair, and asks me to take it out!

Mou mou waiting to get in the window

Our special secret block building tent fort

The secret Maiya only tunnel access to the fort

My beaded girl

Hands in the pockets, just like Grandad!

Getting help down the steep part

But doesn’t need help down this steep part!

Big hiker

And we’re off!

Riding the bike with Gamma JJ

Cake on her birthday!!

Some kids want ice cream for their birthday- she just wanted ice!

Sulphur Creek for her birthday!

Birthday girl!

Sister kisses

Using my cell is serious business!

Worried about Grandad (Dahdoo, Bidoo) being so “high up”! He was hiking uphill, and she was worried about him! The cute part is only in the beginning, it gets boring, but I can’t edit it out. She says “Oh no, momma. Dahdoo high up. Oh no!” Sweet girl.

Watch her hike down this steep hill!

THUD! She was cracking up at this game. Silliness!

Hairband! That didn’t last long…

Peeping under the door at Gamma JJ

…ok, well, even though I still have two pages of Photobucket pics to get through, I am too tired, so will finish more later!

Until then… I shall post pics from our mid-winter winter and our mid-winter summer- both of which occured in the few days since my last post. Ah, gotta love CA!!

Also… I know I barely actually SAY anything in here. It’s mostly just pics with a few useless (but hopefully slightly entertaining, sometimes…) captions. What can I say- I firmly believe a picture is worth 1,000 words! But this time, I must brag about Maiya’s latest language explosion. Gosh, I love this girl, and with her current language explosion, I can get inside her amazing head even more, and that makes me love her even MORE!!

In the morning, when she first sees me, she runs up to me, gives me a big hug, and says “Momma happy! Me happy too!”. Now if that won’t melt a Momma heart, not sure what will! She can’t say “I love you” yet, so when I tell her “I love you”, she tells me “BIIIG HUG!”, and gives me one. She is now starting to say “sorry” instead of just signing it, and it comes out like “wowee”. She gave me a hug today with banana in her hand, and got some on my face. When she noticed, she said “wowee Momma”. And of course, had to give me another hug! She is learning “in”, “out” and “on”. On our hike today, we came across many gopher holes. She had to stand in them. “Me in! Momma in too? Momma in! Me out. Momma out too!” She picks her balls up in the back yard “Ball up! Two ball up!”, then throws them down her slide one at a time. “Wee ball! Wee two ball!” She is starting to immitate more words. She says “JJ” for Grandma Joni; “Ah-nie” for Angie; “E-b” for Evie (our cat); “Peet” for Peach (who, though she died a few months ago, Maiya still recognises in pictures, and has to say “Peet”! and pet each one). She goes “riin riin!” and then “ha-do” when she picks up her cell phone. She says “ii-ii” for oishii (Japanese for delicious / yummy) and “a-ii” for hashi (Japanese for chopsticks), and “i-di” for ishi (Japanese for rock). After Tahoe, when Angie asked her “Did you see snow?” Maiya happily responded “Eat snow!” She also loves to declare she will “Eat yain yain (rain rain)!” and “Eat ice!” She’s saying “hee” for see. I’ve always said she is an outdoor girl, and now she can pretty much say it, too! As she opens the backdoor and runs out, happily “Me a-sside” (outside). When Evie joins her “Mou mou a-sside too! Momma a-sside, too? Momma a-sside! Me a-sside too!” She loves to narrat every day events as best she can. “Mou mou down baby!” when she noticed Evie laying on her baby dolls. “Uh-oh, baby down. Owie!” “Duy (guy) bye-bye”. “Bye bye mou mou” (as we leave our house, she says good bye to Evie every time. and hello when we come back). “Hi dog dog!” (as we approach my parents’ house. She also says good bye to Quincy every time we leave!). She LOVES to boss Quincy around. “Day (stay) dog dog!” “Down, dog dog!” “Dit (sit) dog dog” “Yin yin (spin spin) dog dog” (for around). Brian would hiss at Evie to try to scold her, and Maiya very very quickly picked up on that. I’ve been working HARD with her, and now all I have to do is give her “the look”, and Maiya stops hissing and says “No wease, mou mou”.

Have I told you I’m having a ton of fun with her now and LOVING this stage???

Ok, let’s end the long winded non-sense, and on with the pics!

My happy little group on a gorgeous hike on a gorgeous day in March.

Practicing “swimming”, as close as I can get in the bathtub!

Look how long that thin hair is getting!

Bath time baby

Trying to pull the plug AND keep her chin out of the water, haha.

After bath cuddles in front of the fire to warm up and get dry.

Same pic withOUT the photobomb!

After bath cocoon baby

Nothin’ but smiles!

All four kids at playgroup ALMOST doing the same thing!

Chillin’ with Jonothan

“Testing” the windmill. Yes, it’s gentle. And yes, she’s stuck her hand in it a million times!

“Testing” the windmill on her tongue!!

Modern day “cheese”! Ah, I miss my little model…

She misses her Grandad!! That little sigh she does gets me every time…

This day was a Henry the Harness Dog day!!

My little fashion queen

Being sweet

…and not so sweet!

So talkative…

This ice chest is perfect- it has places to put the balls!!

Eating ice, as she so loves…

As Maiya would say “Two mou mou!” Also, the only pic I got on her 23 month birthday…

Evie enjoys winter because we actually get sun inside!!

Another day, another hike

Big girl hiking up the hill all by herself

Her latest fascination is bugs! She loves for me to put them in her hand.

“Diit Momma!” (dirt)

Putting the diit in her pocket

That ITTY BITTY little speck out there (conveniently under the sun beam) is my girl NOT hiking because she’s too busy looking for bugs!!