Maya has been learning and growing so much, here are a few of her new talents and activities:
- Loves to play games:
- Says “Ready… Go…” and runs all around, trying to get everyone else to run/race with her.
- Blocks, we got her some Mega Blocks, and that is all she wants to do, and she says “play” so we can build with her.
- Puzzles – She loves Puzzles
- We have been working on counting to 10, she is almost there… 1,2,3,7,8,9,10,11. We don’t know where 4,5,6 went but are working on it.
- Can repeat the alphabet, and many times knows the letter that comes next before I say it. Our favorite is when she says her W… They are so cute.
- We are also working on colors and shapes. Working on them is the key here…
- She is very shy, until she is accustomed to the surroundings, then there’s no holding back.
- She is a chatter box. She says many phrases, the ones she says most often are “You OK?” “What happened?”, “My Turn”, “Gimmie” and “Love you”.
- When we ask Maya to “come here” or “go to bed” she always replies with “OK…” but normally doesn’t listen…
- She loves to be the center of attention.
- She has a few friends that she asks to play with. Specifically Kai, Parker and Zane.
- She loves to be outside. We try to let her as much as we can. She loves parks especially the slides, bubbles, running, and soccer (can dribble the ball, with ok control)
- She loves balls, calls most of them basket balls. She is really good at throwing overhand, but doesn’t catch very well.
- She is a big help around the house. She insists on taking her diaper to the garbage after we have changed her, but will also take rappers or other objects as well. She also helps Mommy cook and do the dishes.
- She loves to play in the water. We just got her a stool so she can wash her hands (or just play in the water, which is most of the time), brush her teeth (mom likes to help too), and see in the mirror. She also loves to play in the tub.
- We took Maya to the dentist in February. The dentist said her teeth look really good, and mentioned that “real-estate” (spacing between teeth) is really good for toddlers, and she has plenty of it.
- She has her favorite movies, and has special names to ask for them. Some we don’t know where they came from. “Mo-Mo” (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Birds (Rio), McQueen (Cars), Mouse (Mickey Mouse), Monkey’s (Tarzan), Boots (Dora the Explorer)…
- She jumps with both feet off anything she can climb onto, normally no higher than 3 feet off the ground.
- She can open almost all of our doors (accept the ones to outside, gratefully).
- She can feed herself using her own fork and spoon. She insists on having a fork for almost everything (including finger food).
- She spins in circles, falls down, and laughs.
- She is still easy to make laugh. She finds the simplest things so funny. It is so fun to see her laugh at anything.
- She has the greatest laugh. It comes deep within her belly, and is contagious.
- For Christmas we went to see “Santa” she started out (for the first few moments) happy and excited to get a candy cane and ok to sit on his lap, then became scared, and cried. Poor Santa…
- She has many fears, some are “convenient” (like the dark, only when she is going to bed), or others are more common.
- She loves dogs, unless they come within 2 feet of her.
- She can identify most family (including you guys), objects, and animals in books.
- She has just started “feeding” her dolls. “Baby Hungry” or “baby eat it” she says. She loves carrying around her doll she will give it hugs (“loves”) and kisses.
- She can usually walk up the stairs with just her feet, not using her hands.
- She LOVES to color, anytime she sees a pencil, or a paper she wants to “color”.
- She knows her body parts; eyes, head, nose, ears, hands, bum, knees, feet, toes, cheeks, hair…
- She plays by herself; especially at nap/relax time, or any night time. She will read books, talk or sing.
- She will look at books for a long time, but doesn’t like them read to her; she turns the pages too quickly.
- She likes to sing. She will sing with us at church, and will take the hymnal to be like mommy and daddy. She can say all the ending words to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” (star, are, high, sky…), and “I am a Child of God” she does the actions and will say “Sunbeam” to “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam”, She also loves to sing and play “ring around the roseys”. She loves to listen to baby CD’s that we have. Her favorites are “toes” (Head shoulders knees and toes), “row row” (Row Row Row your boat) and “Donald’s” (Old McDonald). She will yell very loudly the moment we get into the car “TOES!!” So excited to listen, then laughs when they are on and finishing… then insists: “Again…”
- She can use our IPad almost better than I can. She can turn it on, find the games she wants, and play them.
- She really likes many foods. We are so proud of her that she loves her veggies. She will eat an entire plate of salad, green beans, or broccoli, she also loves beans, noodles, bread, cheese and cheerios.
- As we are driving she will always spot the horses (“Nay”) or cows.
Fun story: For her birthday we had a Mickey Mouse theme. We had Dan’s mom make her a piñata of him. As we were breaking it she was excited when it was her turn, but when the older kids started hitting and breaking it she started looking around with a sad face saying “Mickey, ut-oh Mickey”. Then when it was destroyed, almost in tears, she said “Mickey gone”… Even days later she still brings it up. So sad and so cute all at the same time. Lesson learned… Don’t make a piñata of Maya’s favorite characters, and then smash it to smithereens.
As you can see, we have had lots of fun with our little Maya and all that she is doing, and learning. 
