Oregon Zoo

We went over to Oregon for Shelly's Washington bridal shower, but had extra days in our trip planned for family and shopping.  On Saturday, Grandma Julie, Shelly, Brother Kevin, Maylee & I went to the zoo.  Aunt Jan and Great Grandma Doris joined us later at the zoo.

We had a AWESOME time at the zoo and we are so going back when Maylee is older!!!  I wasn't sure if Maylee would enjoy it a lot due to her age but she proved me wrong.  She had a 40 minute nap on the way to the zoo and then was awake and happy the whole time we were there!  Of course she crashed as we were walking out and back to our car.  There were many exhibits that we could wheel the stroller up to the glass to see.  She loved watching the fish, ducks, and otters this way.  Sometimes we would carry her and she would kick her legs and want down to play with the animals we were watching.  (Sorry Maylee, but not all animals are like your dog and will let you crawl over them and pat them.)

 

They hauled in snow for the bears to cool down with.

She is in awe watching the fish swim! (Her mouth is open)

She loved the petting the goats!

Checking out monkeys

She liked watching this elephant move!

 Aunt Jan showed Maylee the zebra and then as we walked towards the giraffe she was kicking to be put down to play with the zebra.  I put her down and she just danced and babbled to the zebra for quite awhile.  People walking by would laugh and tell me how cute she is.

Shelly's bling-bling and Uncle Kevin's cup exhibits were also very interesting.

The lion exhibit is the newest but the lions must have been resting from the heat.

Pictures of her on our way back to the car and on the way back to Uncle Kevin's place.  She usually wakes up when you transfer her from stroller to car seat but not this time!  What a great time!

Maylee is 10 months old!

Things Maylee knows...

• Up and Down - when I say "up," she pulls herself up and when I say "down," she sits down (She has been doing this one since May)
• Dance - she will bend her knees to bob up and down (She's been dong this one since June)
• The meaning of "No" - sometimes cries when I say no to something she wants...makes me laugh even though I hurt her feelings and ruined her plan
• Blow - she will either do the raspberry or blow on your body to make a noise
• Kiss - she will give you an open mouth, slobbery kiss
• High Five - uses one hand to pat your hand that is held in front of her
• Belly - uses both hands to tap her belly
• "Uh" - when you say "uh-oh" she repeats it back but only says the "uh." She also will say "uh" after she drops something and has said it after making rumble noises in her diaper...(laughed out loud that day)
• Pat Pat - She will pat her dog or you with an open hand
• Milk - when I say "milk" she is looking for the milk stand to open and is ready to eat
• More - can do sign language for "more"
• "Indian" Noise - Great Grandma Doris taught her to pat her hand over her mouth when she is saying "ahhh" to make a fun sounds
• She knows Mama & Da-da and can say the sounds but doesn't call us by our names yet
• She says the first two phonemes in the word dog (/d/-/o/) when she sees Cinder or other dogs
• She is also really good with her grasping and before she was nine months old she could pick up small little fuzzies on blankets to put in her mouth.
• She can crawl forward, sit independently and turn 360 degrees using her feet, pull herself up, and walk along furniture or by holding someone else's hands.
• She can mimic well
• She makes too many noises to count...some that I can't even make with my mouth.  She has a great 4-wheeler/motorcycle noise and a Trail 90 noise. She is ready for hunting camp!

She still sucks her thumb to fall asleep, but once she is asleep she stops and she doesn't suck it other times. She usually sucks her right thumb and now her left hand will simulationsly rub her left ear and hair.

Note: I have updated this list four times and keep thinking of more things that she can do.  I'm still probably forgetting things.

I LOVE Chocolate!

Maylee got a lick of a chocolate spoon & then said "Ummmm" while clenching her fists!  We laughed!

Mayleehaven & Lutherhaven

I spent many summer going to Lutherhaven for summer camp and now cousin Emma goes.  It was neat to see Lutherhaven again when we dropped Emma off and picked her up at the end of the week.  Her sister Sarah did not want to go this year and chose to spend the week at "Mayleehaven" instead.  Sarah was a huge help and entertained Maylee while I got a lot of my summer projects done.  Sarah could get her out of her crib after naps, take her in & out of her high chair, and loved feeding her.

Bath Time

 Reading to Maylee (Maylee can turn pages now)

Cereal Feeding

Breakfast Bottle Feeding

 After swimming in the neighbor's pool.

Americana Girls

Sarah learned how to sew while Maylee was napping.  She made this pillowcase with rick rack and did a great job.  We also made brownies!

Bike ride on a day Kev could join us.  I sewed a sun shade for Maylee so the sun doesn't beat on her. Sarah helped pick out the fabric to match the trailer.

Lutherhaven

(tree house with a slide)

Bell tower that Grandma Julie helped build when she was a kid!

Nap Time with Dad

26 Miles of Bike Riding

Some of Kev's relatives and friends of theirs came up to our area to do some bike riding.  All together there were 19 people in our party...9 adults and 10 kids.  Three of us had trailers, but Uncle Bryan was hauling a cooler in his.  Maylee loves riding in her trailer and did exceptionally well given that she didn't sleep much and we were off of our schedule.  She loves being outside and watching other kids.

Helping Mommy Sew!

Maylee likes it dark to sleep the best...so we really needed to get blackout curtains hung in her room because this summer she was getting up with the sun and being cranky because she wanted to sleep more.  I couldn't find the right size so I had to alter some.  Maylee was in love with the tape measure!  Curtains are now hung and she is back to sleeping until 8 or later!

Standing & Letting Go

Maylee stood up and let go to stand independently for the first time using her dog to get up and standing on the mattress in the camper (not solid surface).  She let go of her dog and had the BIGGEST grin on her face showing off her new skill.  She was so proud of herself and had to have been on an adrenaline high because she repeated her new skill about 20 more times and was too wired to fall asleep until midnight!

Maylee's First 4th of July!

We celebrated the 4th of July at the cabin with family.  We also attended the first annual Three Rivers Parade.  Kev had to work on the 4th, but part of his job was to be in the parade.

After these rocks, the shore by the cabin turns to a huge sandy beach and there is a big eddy for the kids to swim in.  Many hours are spent on the beach every summer!

Maylee Loves Ice Cream!

Grandpa Bruce first introduced Maylee to ice cream, but now she can crawl over to you if you have a bowl of it and try to take it from you.

Check out her mouth when I take a bite!