First time walking in the snow

Welcome to the latest installment in my series "First time walking . . . ".  We had first time walking (back in Feb. '10)---followed by first time walking outside, first time walking at the playground, first time walking at the apple picking place, and now first time walking in the snow.  Others that I haven't mentioned on the blog include: first time walking in the sprinklers, first time walking in New Jersey, first time walking in the lobby of the building, first time walking around the tree on Christmas morning . . .

And I'm unapologetic about drawing out this "First time walking" milestone over the past 11 months, because it's amazing.  I never stop being appreciative about her walk-ability, and I delight in every new experience she gets to have as a walker.

So, today, she got to walk in the snow.  She stood pretty still for a full minute or two, delighted by the snow but unsure of it's walking surface:

(we were just going to the diner, hence no gloves)

But then she became bold, and walked and ran (well, the way that she runs), and yelled at a guy with a shovel (yep.  she's not shy.).  (A little sledding clip is thrown in here, too)

The not snowing

(The title is my clever way of breaking the tension after my heavy last post "The not knowing"---see, a play on words? And also it points out that today is a dreadfully miserable rainy--not snowy--day. Oh, and I'm putting up our snowstorm pictures, finally.)

(Don't be insulted that I had to explain my clever title---I'm not underestimating you, it's for my other blog readers. Really.)

Snowstorm pics--Dave & Maya got to play together in the snow for the first time this year (if you remember, the last snowstorm was filled with vomit and the worst waffle ever . . . this one was much better).

I was hopping up and down, whistling, making animals noises, and trying desperately to get a picture of both of them looking in the same frick-fracking direction and smiling:


Alright, off to a slow start. Dave, why don't you get in there with her?

Ok, cute snowman :) But how about we try to smile?


Dave-well done. Maya, step it up! Weee! Come on Maya! (slight hopping)

Maya, yes!!!! Argh, DAVE! HONESTLY?!

Sigh. Yes, Dave, that's much better. MAYAmayamayamaya . . .

Then I gave up and we took her sledding:

Or just plopped her on the hood of the car.

And we tried again for a pic:

So close!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The new walker: Our OT brought a walker for Maya this week, and I was excited to get her moving. She wasn't super into it on Monday night at home, and I thought that maybe we'd have more luck with it outside.

On Tuesday I was a total rookie---I honestly felt impressive loading up the walker to go to the park. Good for you! Be bold, take it out! Maybe she'll be more interested in trying it outside. The clunking and clanging as I tried to figure out how to move around with it was ridiculous. I giggled to myself for about a third of the walk to the park, shifting and reshifting until I came up with this:

On Weds I was a pro:

Dave & I looked at this picture and realized that if I painted eyeballs on the bottom of the tennis balls than I might scare the bejeezus out of people as we walk towards them.

And, anyway, the playground idea worked. She can't get far on her own yet, but if I push she'll toddle along to keep up just fine.

And now I'm tired of writing this, and I have no interesting way to tie it together, so we'll end with my favorite pic from this past month:

Perfection :)

The least fun snow day in all the land

As I'm typing, I'm watching the swirly snow coming down outside the window---I can see a handful of kids with some grown up making a big snow creature on the rooftop playground across the street. I had big plans for today! If you know me, you know that I love Love LOVE snow :)

So yesterday Maya and I checked the cabinets, went to the store and made sure that we had all of the fun stuff necessary for a snow day--hot chocolate, waffle mix, strawberries, and heavy cream (for whipped cream). Yum, yum, yum. We would have a big waffle brunch, play in the snow, maybe take a nice nap, and then play in the snow some more.

I woke up, ready to go. Maya woke up, cranky, clingy and sad. And Dave woke up, and threw up (over and over). Sigh.

Poor Dave is really sick. Maya and I went out for a walk, which was the only time today that she wasn't crying (she might be getting sick too).

(that's Maya in the stroller, watching a pigeon party)

When we got home, I made her lunch and my breakfast. I was so excited to enjoy my waffle. I feel the need to state, for the record, that I've made waffles many times before . . . but it seemed exactly right that today my waffle came out like this:

(PS-I still ate it)