Dear Mai,
Sheesh, I'm behind on my posts here. We got back from Ohio after Christmas and I feel like its been go go go since then.
Before I get too far ahead of myself, I should talk about Christmas in Seattle! We left Granville, Ohio at like 6 AM or something ridiculous on Christmas morning. 3+ hours later we arrived at Detroit and dropped the rental car off. We had time to eat breakfast at the airport and play our little role play game where you are either the Mommy or Daddy and we're the baby. Since you were the Mommy (or maybe it was Daddy) you ordered a glass of wine with your breakfast. Don't judge us parents. Then it was time to board the plane and about 4.5 hours later we arrived in Seattle! It was only like 2 PM or something like that. Uncle Shawn picked us up and you said: "Let's get on another plane!" - I admire your energy and will to travel kid, but Mommy and Daddy were tired. When we got home Santa had arrived at our house! You got your first balance bike and princess tent! Kid you got all kinds of stuff for Christmas. We barely had time to catch our breath and we were off to Becky and Shawn's for an awesome Christmas dinner. It was an awesome Christmas break. It seems like forever ago now. I remember thinking it was going to be hard getting you back into your routine but Christmas day was such a long day you were ready to sleep in your own bed by the time we were done with everything.
New Year's Eve was pretty mellow. I'm sure by the time you are reading this you'll have heard the "how I met your mother" story about a million times but 15 years ago from this past New Year's Eve, I was hosting one of my legendary New Year's Eve parties. I was expecting to just have fun with friends that night. Little did I know I would me my love and future baby Mama. That was the start of it all Mai. For the record, I did try to get Mommy to start my NYE party tradition again here in Seattle but as the saying goes, "Mama knows best." She opted for a casual NYE and we did. The Shraders came over for a bit and it was perfect. You almost made it up to midnight but it must have been doing all that yoga that wore you out. Yep that's right party people. We did family yoga on NYE. Be jealous.
Now New Year's day was awesome. Seattle had plenty of sunshine and near 60 degree weather. We had to get outside if it was only for a little bit. I think this was the second time in your life that we introduced you to "all day jammy day." You love all day jammy day. Super casual, relaxation right there. We took that sentiment to heart and let you go out on our little adventure with your jammies. Again, parents don't judge us.
Speaking of Sunny Seattle, we've had a pretty nice winter so far with more than a few full sun days. I was fortunate enough to be on the 75 floor of the tallest building in Seattle one of those days. I feel bad even posting these pics given the weather our Ohio and east coast friends are experiencing but... it was just so pretty from up there! Whenever someone asks me "Why Seattle?" I just want to refer them to these pics.
And last week we had another great day! We got out to Madison Park to play with some of your friends and grab some Lake Washington views. I don't have a pic of it but you rode your first zip line at the park! Granted, it is only a small kid, swing zip line but you haven't been the most daring kid in the past so I take this as one big step for Maya Rose! You also enjoyed putting wet sand on Daddy's head. Not cool man. Not cool.
Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been all sunshine here. We've had our fair share of Seattle winter rain. That's okay because you started going to your first swimming class and we're back at the School of Rock for music class again! Mommy takes you swimming and I hear good reports! You are fearless and jumping in the water, dunking your head and even kicking and paddling without water wings! I fear that you have a problem with people telling you what to do though. In music class when the teacher asks you to do something, she is sometimes met with your "you're dead to me" look in your eyes. Here is an actual conversation that Mommy told me about in swim class too.
Ayiyi. What are we going to do with you?Swim Teacher: "Maya can you paddle?"
Maya: (death stare)
Mommy: "Maya, listen to the teacher and paddle."
Maya: (starts paddling, turns her back and whispers to Mommy) "I can do it. Not for teacher though."
I fear we are inching toward that point where parents and kids are crazy busy. It's good though. You need interaction with more kids these days... and more adults. You have two neighborhood friends now, Noelle and Emma. I think you see them at least once a week. You've also went to the aquarium with your friend Genevieve and had a blast. You met some girls from one of my work friends and had a blast with them too. You were so cute with the youngest girl, Nadia. At the park you and her held hands for most of the walk. I wish I had my camera at the time it was so stinkin cute.
I think we broke new ground in Ohio over Christmas. I see you coming out of your shy phase and being yourself around kids more and more. You definitely where out of it in Ohio and could careless were Mommy and Daddy were half the time. I heard someone describe you as shy around strangers and bossy around people you know. That has been a very true assessment but now, if the shyness is going away, will the bossy part too? I'm not taking any bets on that. I'm a little afraid there are some hard-coded cells going on there.
With that said, you're still our little girl. Out of the blue Mommy and I both get a "Mommy/Daddy? I love you so much!" It frickin melts my heart every time you say that. You and Mommy have been having some quality time because I've been getting home late recently but music class allows for some good Daddy and Maya time. On music class we usually try to hit this ma and pa breakfast spot before class and visit the toy store after. If we're out for lunch or dinner your favorite food is Chinese food. I can barely get you to eat anything else on Daddy and Maya's fun day outings.
It's been a good 2015 so far Mai. I can't believe you are going to be 3 years old in 1.5 months. My new year's resolution is to keep this more up-to-date. I've failed miserably so far but hey, I almost got my first post in January!
Love,
Daddy