A 7 Month Update

This past week, Maia eclipsed the 7 month old mark; and it continues to amaze me how quickly each month seems to go.  The last couple months seemed like they were marked by big events (5 months being our adoption finalization hearing and 6 months being Maia's baptism).  This past month it was trips - as Maia took her first trip to the zoo, attended her first baseball game, and made her first journey to Pentwater as part of the annual Shuler family trip there.

The trip to the zoo (the Fort Wayne's Children Zoo - highly recommended) was an incredible experience.  We took the trip with a cousin of Jackie's and her two kids, and Maia almost got as much of a kick out of watching those two girls as she did seeing some of the big animals.  Without question though, the most fun was had by seeing a giraffe up close and personal.  Maia was intrigued immediately upon seeing Zuri the Giraffe, and afterwards, her happy shrieks could hardly be contained.  Her faces and her mood immediately after will be something I think we will always remember.  The giraffe was the highlight, but she also liked seeing the small aquarium in the Australian section of the zoo (the FW Zoo has three main sections - Africa, Indonesia, and Australia; Maia slept through the Indonesia section, thereby missing the Orangutans, which we will of course have to try and catch next year ;)).  Overall, the Zoo trip was a big hit.

Intrepid zoo explorer.

"Come to me"

"I SAW A GIRAFFE!!!!"

All worn out.

A few days after that, Maia came along with me and my Dad (along with Jackie and my Mom), to attend her first baseball game.  Every summer for the last 6-7 years or so, my Dad and I have gone to a baseball game with each other.  It used to be a Tigers game the first several years, but the last couple we have taken in different minor league ballparks (West Michigan Whitecaps, Toledo Mudhens, Fort Wayne TinCaps).  This year we travelled down to Indianapolis to visit Victory Field and watch the Indianapolis Indians play.  Despite being hot, it was a very good time (even if Maia did fall asleep during the game).  I was very happy that Maia's first baseball game was a game with my Dad, as that has always been something we have shared together in our relationship.  It was special to share it with her.

Following that, Maia got to partake in her first trip to Pentwater, a place my extended family has a long history of going to throughout the years, and the place where our little immediate family (parents, sister and family, and us) have gone for 8 years now.  As I've written in the past, I love going to Pentwater, even when we've had to camp (and the associated disasters).  Its the type of town that helps you relax, makes you feel miles away from those pesky real life comings and goings for a few days.  This year we had a small upgrade in our accommodations, as we stayed in a nearby small hotel.  We still spent pretty much all of our time either at the campground (enjoying company, sharing meals, swimming, etc.) or in town, but enjoyed sleeping indoors.  That, as well as spending some good quality time with our nephew Gavin, were nice bonuses to this year's trip.

Maia with awesome cousin Gavin!

Enjoying the great outdoors.

There were several things that will stay with me from this trip.  Maia went with Jackie earlier this summer to New Buffalo and its beach on Lake Michigan, as well as swimming at a friend's pool.  But this was the first time I got to share those experiences with her.  Having her at the swimming pool, seeing the joy of that experience in her eyes, seeing and feeling her legs kicking constantly under the water, I won't forget.  Similarly, it was special to take her to our favorite little beach on Lake Michigan up there for a short afternoon; to hold her in the Lake, knowing we were sharing one of those moments.

I could get used to this swimming thing.

Enjoying Lake Michigan with Mommy.

"I like the beach!"

It was a unique moment to take her our favorite restaurant in Pentwater (generally, just being able to share some of our favorites with our daughter); and I had a moment hit me while enjoying lunch, realizing that a picture we took of ourselves there a few years ago was prominent in our adoption profile.  I love that connection.  Pentwater has always been a special trip for me, because I love creating those traditions.  This year was extra special, as we were able to start sharing those traditions with Maia.

Outside all the travelling (which Maia continues to handle better than I could imagine), she continues to be the happy baby she usually is.  She cut her first tooth this month, followed immediately by a second.  They sit side by side right in the front along her lower gums.  They are amazingly small, and another reminder of how she is seemingly always growing.  She is closer and closer to getting the crawling thing down; but for the moment, it is still mostly just rolling over, scooting, and rotating to get where she wants.  And her food repertoire over the last month has grown leaps and bounds, as we have inserted fruits and vegetables into her diet (with Jackie making all of our own at home).  The list is growing long - apples, green beans, bananas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, pears, peas, carrots, peaches, and avocados.  She likes sweet potatoes and avocado, but bananas are by far her favorite.  While she has come around to peas, and actually seems to like broccoli, she still has awful faces whenever there is green beans involved.  Her facial expressions are always interesting when she eats, particularly when its a new food.

Such a great baby that she even
helps with laundry.

Lots of comings and goings, and a multitude of new experiences in the last month for Maia.  Sometimes I feel like I sound like a broken record, but she has been such a good baby and a joy for us.  We are truly enjoying being her Mom and Dad.