Auntie Amy is here! How awesome is THAT?!?!

Ice cream two nights in a row!!!



She is the BEST

Last weekend we celebrated Marissa’s “happy day!” Check out the two “drivers:”

Hey there Beautiful –

Friday night you and I chalked up the sidewalk outside our house with lots of pretty colors… it was then you and I decided we should spell Mommi with an “i” instead of a “y.” We traced your hand and mine, your foot and mine, and when Daddy joined us, we added his foot as well (and decided we would spell “Dady” with only one D… just to be silly.)

Saturday morning, we headed down to Highland Park for the Lilac Festival. Just before we left, Mommi got a wonderful mother’s day present from Auntie Amy – check out these beautiful flowers! (Daddy was helping you sniff them.)

These are the gorgeous flowers in bloom at our local park. We checked them out while we were waiting for the parade to begin.





We had a fanatastic time at the parade. With each new parade entry, you would excitedly say, “Mommi, look!!” You waved to all the people in the parade, and so many of the waved back, melting a little when they saw your enthusiastic greeting!

After the parade and a nap, we headed down to Judi’s sister Karen’s house for a Mother’s Day celebration with all of Judi’s family. You had the BEST time with Mark, Judi’s nephew. You read books and chased one another, wrestling and giggligng! My face hurt from smiling so much just watching you two!

Today, after chuch, we headed down to Charlie’s Frog Pond for brunch…. ate some eggs, made a mess, and giggled a lot!

I know I’ve told you this a million times, but I thoroughly LOVE being your Mom. You often point to me and proudly say, “Maya’s Mommy.” I’m honored and humbled and thrilled to be that person! Let’s see, here are a few of the things you have been up to lately:
* You sing your a,b,c’s song many times a day. “a. b. c. d. uh. uh. gee.” “h.i.j.k. el.el.el.el.p.” “q.r.s.” “t.uh.v.” “w.x” “y.z.” Today, during the church announcements when most of the congregation was quiet, you broke out in this song by yourself. We were standing up with the Gospel Choir in front of the church – most of the choir members looked at you with a wonderful full smile. (You kept singing 🙂 I love you Peanut!)
* You say “chocolate” now instead of “KoLaKock.”
* You are very good with using “please” and “thank you”… even when people give you compliments. When someone like the man sitting next to us at the restarant today says something like “You are so beautiful,” without missing a beat you say, “Thank you.” When someone sneezes, you say “Bless y ou.” They say “Thank you,” and again, without missing a beat, you say “Welcome.” As we walk home, you greet most people who are sitting out on their porch with a sweet “hi!” And if they don’t respond, you say it louder. : )
* Sweet words in your vocabulary these days: “oop i city” (oopsidaisy) and “oth” (off)

I love you my Baby Girl –
*Mommi

After a quick little day-long interlude with you and Daddy I headed back out for meeting number 2 – a trip to the “Big Easy,” New Orleans LA:

All of these pictures were taken for you! So you could see where your Mommy was and know that she was thinking about you!!

I love you Baby Girl!

The best part of my week away was coming home to you and Daddy:

Hey there Baby Girl –

I got to talk with you twice today.

I am in Chicago for the first of two almost-week-long meetings. I am presenting a few times this week at a conference called AERA and two times next week at a meeting called NARST. Though I think it is very important for both you and me that I do this, I miss you terribly while I’m gone.

Today was Easter. I went running this morning and happened along an Easter service being held on the beach by Lake Michigan. The beautifully orchestrated sounds from the brass instruments were filling the air – it was wonderful. After I came back and showered, I took a cab back to the host church – “4th Church” on Michigan Ave. The head pastor, John Buchanan delivered an artful and inspiring sermon – so witting, intelligent, progressive… and most importantly, so grace-based and Gospel-focused. What a treat for me! You were at church with Daddy and Jimmiqua in Rochester at the same time that I was at church in Chicago. Another cool thing was that I was sitting near an older woman named Elloise. 🙂 Another reminder of the beauty of Easter. It is your Great Grandma Elloise’s first Easter in Heaven – that’s pretty cool.

I’ll try to post more pictures tomorrow for you… but here are a couple random ones of my room.

I love you Peanut!! XOXOXOXO
*Mommy

One of the versus of lullabies we sing together at night goes like this:

“He’s got Mommy and Daddy in His Hands.
“He’s got Little Miss Maya in His Hands.
“He’s got Everybody in His Hands.
*That’s a lot!”
“He’s got the Whole World in His Hands”

Everytime we get to the spoken line, “That’s a lot!” you look up and me with the biggest smile and say “That’s a lot!!” That is a lot Baby.

Later, the song says “We’re all safe here!”

Again you look up to me with an enthusiastic smile and repeat the words – I totally agree Peanut Butter – we’re all safe here! It’s such a wonderful reassurance – especially coming from your bright smiling, confident face… I have to go away on a trip tomorrow, and it’s very hard to leave you… but I do feel peaceful as I know “We are all safe here.”

Last weekend we went on a little Easter egg hunt with your friend Marlie… Here are some fo the pictures…