Apple Picking

On Sunday we took an adventure up to Wisconsin for some Fall Fun...Apple Picking and a visit to the Pumpkin Patch! I originally had planned spending all weekend finalizing everything for our condo, since it is going on the market this week -- but with the 80 degree weather this weekend and as a form of procrastination, I thought a family outing was a better idea! Having heard some good reviews about "Apple Holler" - we chose this as our destination..and we had a good time of course...but let's just say it was nothing as I had imagined!!

It was definitely a whole day affair instead of just a few hour activity as I had expected. The place was incredibly crowded and we waited almost 30 minutes to get inside...I'm not sure if it's always like this or if it was that everyone within driving distance had the same idea for a beautiful fall day. When I first saw the line, my thought was to head home and think of a less crowded adventure, but this is hard to explain to a toddler who has patiently sat in his carseat for 45 minutes - he was dying to get out and see "apples" (which is one of his newest words). And I didn't exactly want to get back into the car either since Maya had cried the entire way!! Unfortunately, getting out of the car didn't stop Maya from crying either - she proceeded to scream for about another hour even though she was being held and carried in the front pack -- oh the joys of a colicky baby!!

Nonetheless, our quick morning adventure turned into an all day affair that was fun for all...

4 months old

Dear Maya,

You’re already 4 months old!! I can hardly believe it!! The time is going way too fast!! You are the sweetest, most precious little girl --- and we’re so glad that we got so blessed to have you in our family!

Since this is the first letter I’m writing you, I should probably make sure you know that we were very surprised when we found out we were going to have another baby!! Your big brother EJ was only 9 months old when we learned the news!! We definitely wanted another baby – but you just happened to make your way a little sooner than expected! When you arrived on June 3rd, EJ was just 18 months old! You’re so lucky to have him as your brother – I hope you both grow up to be very close friends!

Anyways, a little about you now that you’re 4 months old…

You have the prettiest blue eyes and the prettiest smile!! You laugh so often now – but my favorite is when you laugh after I give you a big kiss and a “raspberry” on your cheek. It’s like you realize that we’re playing a little. You smile at me, Dad and EJ when we come near you, and kick your legs to show your excitement. You are cooing and making all sorts of sounds. You also blow tons of bubbles! EJ loves to see the bubbles you make with your mouth – and he says “bubble” and “ma” (which means “more”) because he wants you to keep making them.

You can roll from your stomach to your back (but you don’t do it often), and you lift your head and prop yourself up when it’s “tummy time.” You’re working hard every day on trying to sit up – even when you’re laying on your back, you attempt to do a “crunch-like” movement trying to sit-up, so I’m certain you’ll master this skill in no time at all.

Thank goodness you’re so cute and fun during the day – because recently you’ve become a terror at night! You started out so well as a newborn – only waking up 1-2 times each night!! It was so lovely! But over the past month or so, I think the “colic” has hit and you’re waking up every 30 min to 2 hours, which makes for one tired Mama. The worst part is that often you just scream and scream, and despite efforts to rock you, feed you, sing to you, and bounce you – it appears that you are in pain. As Nana says, it’s probably something related to an immature digestive tract and colic, but it’s so hard to see you this way. I hope you’re back to better sleeping and less pain soon!

I’m so happy you’re my daughter and can’t wait to watch you grow!! I love you more than you’ll ever know!!

Love,

Mama