Not Kidding Around

In just a few days time since Mother's Day Mayson has turned into a walking pro!  She is serious and knows where she is going.  Today, for the first time I got the "push away" when I tried to grab her hand.  She went running away from me in Barnes and Noble and was not happy when I grabbed her.  "Mayson, know when you are older that you kicked me in a tantrum for the first time today!"  Otherwise, she is doing great, I am so proud of her walking/running ability.  We went to Carrie's house yesterday and put her out on the big lawn and she took off! 

Best Mother's Day Weekend Ever!

Such a fun weekend! First, Keri and Mayson's gift to me was giving me the chance to meet Jenny in Kirkland on Friday for a fun girl's night out and stay at the Heathman Hotel. It was a gorgeous weekend with the temperature in the 80's. We went for a great waterfront run, had coffee in the sun, and then indulged in wine tasting in Woodinville out on the sunny patio. So fun! On Mother's Day, Keri, Mayson and I went for a great walk and then got ready for Mayson's first picnic outing. We picked up Grandma and Grandpa and went to St. Edward's State park for some lunch, playing, walking, and kite flying. Mayson started her day with a manicure by Dad, took her first steps, had her first picnic, and checked out the beautiful grotto at St. Ed's.  Big day! 

Mayson's First Steps on her own

The big highlight of the weekend was Mayson's first steps on her own.  She had been taking little ones by herself, and of course she has been running all over the place while holding our hand.  But these were serious steps this time!  On Sunday morning we were in front of the house and we were trying to practice her walking skills.  She was just standing there on her own, and all of a sudden she started walking toward us (or so we thought).  She walked right past us and right up to Mo Mo the cat.  We had been doing it wrong all this time.  We thought she would want to come to us and that would get her walking, but all she needed was the cat.  So, we don't actually have that on film.  But, as soon as she did that I ran in to get the camera.  By then she was done and not quite as happy.  But later, at the picnic, she just decided she was done eating and got up and started walking across the grass.  By the end of the park visit, she was a pro!  Congratulations, Mayson! 

Firsts and Favorites

Mayson has been talking a lot!  The problem is that sometimes we don't understand what she is saying.  Also, she'll say a word a bunch one week, and then we can't get her to say it the next week.  Anyway, this week we heard her say her name for the first time!  It was so fun!  When I asked her what her name was she said it!  Other words we do hear a lot are: up, Da da, Ma Ma, ya.  Also, she is very good at shaking her head "no."  One other issue we ran into last week is that she started saying "Umm" a lot.  We'd ask her a question and she'd say, "Ummm.....ya."  We had no idea where she got that from...until we started listening to each other talk.  I blame Keri, of course. :) 

She's still doing a great job walking.  She's a pro runner and climber, but she still needs to hold on to at least a pinkie finger and will not let go.  Other favorite things:
*Rudy, the bulldog puppy up the street
*Swimming lessons.  We went to our first swimming session at the Mountlake Terrace Pool.  She loved trying to blow bubbles, jumping in, and singing all the songs.  She was the most smiley one there for sure! 
*Dancing.  She still loves her Casper Babypants but is dancing to Adele the most. 
*Reading!
*She loves opening and closing doors right now.  Especially so she can lock herself in the bathroom.

As you can see from the videos, she does most of her talking while eating:

17 Months Old

April has come and gone, and Mayson hit her 17 month mark.  She enjoyed her first lollipop ever, and boy was Jenny right, it sure keeps them occupied and happy!  The blue raspberry Dum Dum was a hit.   We've also been busy exploring spring outside.  Our neighborhood is full of beautiful tulips so we've been walking up and down the street every day to look at the new blooms.