We marked Maya's half-year milestone last weekend with some frolicking out on the dunes in glorious end-of-summer sunshine. Maya and I hiked in the woods and on the shore while Nick waited on the wind. Though the gusts were a little strong, it was the perfect day to take some photos. And finally, after we'd watched the sun sink below the waves, he made a short twilight flight.
So, six months into parenthood, Nick is still paragliding and I am packing along a pint-sized hiking companion. But what about the rest of the details? It's daunting to try to relate them all in a single post. I could sum it up by saying it's going well, we feel mostly competent, and Maya is a delight. That would be true, although there's plenty more, of course. When they say everything will change, that's true, too.
Basically, this is a pretty good visual. I made the "Kate + Nick" sign last summer for our wedding. In March, I tacked on the "and Maya" addition. Sure enough, life is more complicated, perhaps a little less balanced, but definitely contains more exclamation marks than before.
Also, it's true that babies change in the blink of an eye. In some ways she's very much the same Maya that we brought home from the hospital six months ago. But she can do so many more things now. Her eyes are wide open, she studies everything, she plays and sings, she grins readily. Here's a quick flip through the weeks and months:
Newborn Maya usually had her eyes closed, was always bundled in a hat and blanket, smiled in her sleep, and spent most of her time in our arms or snuggled into a pouch. She had lots of visitors, and everyone loved to spend long moments gazing at her beautiful, tiny face - us most of all.
In her first month, she met lots of family and friends, went out here and there, but mostly stayed snuggled at home during a long stretch of cold, slushy late-winter days. She started to grow into a few more outfits, but she was still a teeny peanut.
Her favorite excursion was a party in the greenhouse at Birch Point Farm. Bare toes! She basked in the heat, warmer than she'd been since she exited the womb.
At six weeks, she made her first trip to Petoskey (for Easter), with a stop on the way in Bellaire for a rollicking evening at Short's brewery (for an annual benefit concert, along with just about everyone we know in Traverse City). Mama made her a hat with bunny ears for the occasion, but only because Papa specifically requested it.
At two months, the eyes were open and the enthusiasm revved up. She traded her tiny white hat for a slightly bigger purple one. After many lost-and-founds, Mama and Papa finally got wise and attached her pacifier permanently with a clip.
Nursing was still her number-one activity and took up most of her days. Generally also the hours from 11pm-12am, 3-4 am and 6-8 am. She put the better part of her energy into growing the longest eyelashes we could imagine. For a time, they were noticeably longer each and every morning.
Right around ten weeks, the smiles really kicked in. What a relief! She liked us! And found us amusing, to boot!
Yes, she was still teeny. But that grip is strong!
And her peaceful, sleeping face melted our hearts every time.
Along came three months. We went on lots of walks, and she loved to study the trees.
She figured out that she had hands, and she could do things with them.
We made our first visit to Burt Lake, and we took her to the beach here in town, too. She encountered sand on her toes for the first time ever.
And here she is dipping those toes in Balsam Lake - her first lake experience, in Nick's home waters. This was a highlight of our longest excursion with her yet, a road trip to Minnesota (for my college reunion) and Wisconsin (to visit Nick's family). She used the road time to catch up on her sleep, practice grabbing the toys we attached to her car seat, and experiment with her expanding vocal range (to our amusement as well as her own).
She also became fascinated with her feet, and took up an intense course of study.
The foot games were still going strong at five months. It was especially fun when she figured out how to get those toes into her mouth, which she does at any opportunity. Shortly after that she learned to roll over, but she saves that trick only for special occasions.
Feet are certainly not the only thing that goes in her mouth. She began tasting other things just before the five-month mark, too. Here's an early encounter with sweet potatoes.
She continues to be a very enthusiastic eater, eagerly tucking into everything we've offered her. Though she's always been strong, she's starting to feel more solid, at last.
And jolly. She certainly has her fussy moments, but she's quite a good-natured little person.
Now, we find ourselves at six months already. Half a year of Maya. What a journey already! And so much more ahead!
Lots more photos, and more details about Maya's days, in my online albums:
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