Cuddle time and story time at Grammy and Brownie's

Maya, Collin and I returned for more fun at the grandparents' when Cas was out of town this week.  Maya is inundated with hugs and kisses, especially from Collin . . . and especially as a delay tactic before naptime or in the middle of dinner!

We wouldn't let him touch her when he was sticky from pancakes (breakfast for dinner night), but as soon as he got out of the bath, he rushed to love on his sister.

Grammy was talked into reading books inside Thomas the Train, this 2 ft by 2 ft pop-up! 

When Grammy had finished 30 minutes of pre-nap stories, she switched to Maya time and was rewarded with coos and smiles

Then Maya and I took a blissful nap together - I swear this only works out at the grandparents', as she'll nap at most 15 minutes when Collin is napping at our house!

Burning the last of his energy before dinner with a daily water gun fight.  Tonight he chased me all over the yard, the most intense cardio workout I've had for the last 6 months!

In matching pink, Brownie and Maya

Maya joined in for some family reading time on my parents' bed -

The final book before bedtime - 

Big bows and sink baths

Maya is starting to smile more and more - real smiles where she's making eye contact and cooing.  That plus her incredible night sleeping makes her a keeper!

Our happy girl with her big headband courtesy of Jill - 

Just like her brother, Maya was full of smiles and expressions on her changing table -

 What is that big black thing that keeps flashing in my face?  Get used to it, kiddo!

 And one more with the biggest bow ever . . . it might take a few months to grow into this one!

Collin grabbed his step stool to help with Maya's bath in the sink.  He's not quite awake here yet, but he quickly got into his big brother role with a lot of "kick, kick, kick" encouragement for his sister!  I love the way she's looking at him -  

Normally the kids take a bath together in Collin's tub, with Maya in her infant tub.  The other day I thought Maya's tub was a little cool, so I added some of Collin's warmer water.  Always the "helper," Collin added a cup full of water too - right on Maya's face!

Giving his sister one of a hundred kisses for the day!

What joy to see this brother-sister relationship developing and all the love Collin has for her!

Sprinklers and Squirt Guns

When Cas headed out of town, I headed to my parents' for two extra sets of hands and some play date fun with friends.  We invited two of my best friends and their children to my parents' backyard for some simple summer fun with squirt guns and a sprinkler.  There were 7 kids ranging from Maya at 6 weeks to Mackeon at 6 years.

Loading up the squirt guns -

Mackeon and Collin engaging in water gun combat -

Collin posing with the super soaker gun

Later that afternoon, my dad came home from work and joined the water gun fight.  While all the moms had been consistent with the rules of not squirting in faces and only squirting people with water guns, my dad immediately broke both rules, though he was outnumbered four to one!

 

 

We had to stop for a short popsicle break.  Collin often bites off more ice cream/sno-cone/popsicle than he can handle, and then runs to me for comfort from the extreme cold or ice cream headache.  Here he is getting a popsicle hug -

We set up an obstacle course around the backyard.  Running through the sprinkler -

Shooting the owl (the statue is protecting the tomatoes) with the squirt gun -

Around a tree with cheerleader Jill encouraging her son Chase -

Over the see-saw, sometimes with a little help -

And back through the sprinkler to the porch -

Esmae decided to climb into the squirt gun refill bucket, and then of course every kid wanted their
turn in the bucket -

 Brothers Mackeon and Holden -

 

And siblings Chase (the only one who opted out of the bucket shot) and cutie pie Kiley -

 

My best attempt at a group shot.  Next time we'll have to make the group shot pose a prerequisite for the popsicles!

I'm always surprised by the innate gender preferences - like how in the under 3-years area of the Children's Museum, the boys beeline for the trucks and the girls beeline for the tea house.  When teaching three and four year olds in Sunday School, the boys didn't ask a single question about my big belly, but the girls wanted to feel the baby kick, know the gender, know the name, etc. 

And so the guys in the play date could have cared less about Maya, but both girls were fighting their mamas for the chance to hold our sweet baby!

Kiley and Maya -

Esmae and Maya -

Amber and Maya -

And my best friend and me with our daughters -