There was maybe a two or three week period shortly after Maya was born that she didn’t like her bath. We’d get her naked, and she’d just wail from the moment we’d put her in the water till we were finished drying her off and dressing her. She has since gotten over it.

Maya fresh out of the bath

These days, Maya is all about her bath. She has spent many happy evenings giggling and splashing in her little plastic baby tub that sits on our kitchen sink. We recently decided she had overgrown her baby tub, so we moved her to the big bathtub. The transition hasn’t been quite as smooth as I expected it to be. In the big bathtub, Maya has a little too much room to roam. Her toys get away from her, and she tries to drown herself chasing after them. Instead we put a little inflatable tub inside the big bathtub. That one seems to frustrate her with its constraints (and she still tries to drown herself). I’m sure she’ll eventually adapt. Meanwhile, bath time has been … interesting.

Sean’s maternal grandma bought all her grandkids their first bathing suits. Sean’s mom Helen decided to carry on the tradition. Since before Maya was born, we’ve had two cute little swim suits just itching to be worn. Given that she was born in November, we’ve had to wait a bit to be able to break them in.

Maya at the splash pad

A couple weeks ago, we met friends at a local splash pad. We dressed Maya up in one of her swim suits, lathered her with sunscreen, and topped her with a hat. To say that she loved it is an understatement. With the splashing water and all the little kids running around her, she spent most of her time there squawking and kicking her legs with infant glee.

Maya in the pool with Daddy

This weekend, we took her to the pool for the first time, allowing her to model her other swim suit. We had gotten a little floaty thing for her to ride around in, and she liked it, but I think she may have preferred having one of us hold and float her around in the water. Again she splashed and played, and by the end, it was clear that her enjoyment of the pool was at war with her need for a nap. As hot as our summers are though, I’m guessing we’ll make visits to the pool a regular outing.

I know it’s weird, but Sean and I generally do not buy gifts for each other. Not for Christmas, birthdays, or anniversaries. Our celebrations often entail us wishing each other well and going out to eat somewhere special. We have made it through well more than a decade of marriage like this.

Mother’s Day 2013

As Mother’s Day approached, I started to feel that this holiday might be different. I couldn’t put my finger on it (still can’t really), but I knew I’d be disappointed if the day passed with a simple “Happy Mother’s Day” wish and a trip to a restaurant. After mulling it over for a few days, I decided it was important enough to mention.

There’s a chance that Sean would have figured it out on his own, but right or wrong, I didn’t leave it to chance. After 13 years of marriage, I decided it really works best if I just ask for what I want. What I wanted was some actual celebration of Mother’s Day.

Tired Maya

Sean did really well. We spent the morning hiking around Zilker Park and then took a bunch of Mommy and Maya photos at the Zilker Botanical Garden. Maya was so excited about the whole thing that she flatly refused to take a nap that morning. At the very end, she was so tired, she laid her head against me and went to sleep.

Stepping Stone!

I actually helped a bit to construct my present. Sean’s plan is to make a paving stone each year with Maya’s footprints. He gathered all the materials (and like any trip to Home Depot, there were several subsequent trips for extras) and mixed and poured the cement. I dangled Maya over the wet cement so he could direct her feet a little more easily. Sean followed up by decorating with beads and a 2013 penny and applying a sealant after it had dried a bit. I think the finished product turned out very nicely.