It has been six months since my dad died and I thought that to remember him I would write six things that I love/miss about him.

1. I love that no matter what I did my dad was always proud of me. I don't think that I could have done anything that would have made him lose respect for me. That was the great thing about my dad. He never judged. He realized people were human and that they made mistakes and never liked them less for it.
2. I love that when I was young and my chore was to do the dishes that he would always rinse them off for me because he knew how much I hated it.
3. I miss listening to music with him. My dad had a great love for music and was always singing. He introduced me to lots of great music, and that is where my love for Elton John comes from.
   
4. I love that when I was in high school and my friends and I weren't able to drive yet he would take us to wal-mart in the middle of the night to get junk food.
   
5. I miss his sense of humor. My dad was constantly cracking jokes and even if they weren't funny you just had to laugh because even if the joke wasn't funny he was.
   
6. I miss HIM. I won't say that I had the best dad in the world. My dad was human and he made mistakes, but he was the best dad in the world for me. I'm so grateful for everything I've learned from him, and am grateful that despite the crazy relationship we had, above all he loved me and I loved him, and in the end that's all that really matters.
   

My Little Lady

Much to her Daddy's dismay yesterday I went and pierced Maya's ears. I have been wanting to do this for awhile, but felt a little guilty inflicting unnecessary pain on my daughter simply because I think it's cute, but I got over that, and I am so glad I did because it looks so cute! I have to admit I was a big chicken though and had my friend Alyson hold her while I left and went to another store. I heard her screaming and went back and by the time I got there they were already done. She's a brave little thing, and now she's just the cutest little lady.

P.S. Nathan thinks it looks very cute, and he's not mad I did it.

What We've Been Up To...

I've been really bad about blogging lately. A lot has been going on too, but unfortunately the batteries in my camera died and I have been too lazy to go and replace them until now. So, basically I have pictures of nothing. I managed to find a few that will tell a little of what has been going on in our lives.

Here is me and Maya on Valentine's Day. Notice my new red hair. I am loving it and plan on keeping it this way for at least a little while.

Here is Nathan and Maya on Valentine's Day. It was also Nathan's birthday on the 27th. I meant to post something for his birthday, but didn't so here are some belated birthday wishes for you Nathan. You are the best husband a girl could ask for, and I couldn't have dreamed of a better dad for Maya. You are the best and we both love you lots!

Maya has been smiling up a storm lately, but every time we get the camera out she gets shy and quits. So these aren't the best two pictures, but they're what we have managed to get so far. She sure is a doll! We just love her to pieces. She just had her two month check-up and she is at the top of the charts for her height and weight again, of course. We're glad she's a growing healthy girl!

The Happiest Place on Earth!

Nothing interesting is really going on right now, and I feel like I need to update the blog, so I just thought I'd let everyone know that my family is going to Disney World in April. Yay! I'm really sad because once again Nathan doesn't get to go-darn school! But, I'm really excited that Maya will get to go on her first vacation. She'll have no idea what's going on and won't remember a second of it, but a kid's first vacation is pretty monumental, right? I think so anyway. A baby, Elton John, and Disney World all in one year! It doesn't get much better than that!

Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

Many of you know that I have an unhealthy obsession with Elton John. Well, he and my second love, Billy Joel are going on tour this year. I found out last night that they are coming to St. Louis Mayb 14th-the day after my birthday. Happy Birthday to me! Tickets go on sale this Saturday, and they are selling out very quickly, so everyone pray that we get tickets! I'll let you know if we get them. I'm sure everyone will be waiting anxiously to find out!

Maya at One Month

Mommy at midnight wishing Maya would just go to sleep.

All tuckered out after a rough day of picture taking.

Maya looking cute as a bug getting ready to go to the doctor.

It's hard to believe that Maya is already one month old. I took her to the doctor today for her one month check up and here are her stats:

11 lbs. 7 oz.! 95th percentile

22 in. 90th percentile

I cannot even believe how big this girl is, but I was a rather chunky baby myself. I started out small, so it will be interesting to see how big she gets over the next few months. She had her other hepatitis shot today, and it was the saddest thing ever. She screamed bloody murder and it was all I could do to keep from crying myself. The doctor said that Maya is just perfect. She's a healthy girl, and we are so grateful for that. This past month has been so wonderful and we look forward to all the adventures we will have with this cute little girl. Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks. And of course I can't get the pictures in the right place.

Maya's Blessing

Today we blessed our little Maya bug. Nathan was surprisingly nervous, but he did a great job, and I was very proud of myself for keeping it together. Here are some pictures from the day.

Not the best family picture, but Maya was starting to freak out so this is the only one we wre able to take. You can't even see her little face.

Maya is proving to be just like mommy and isn't the most photogenic little thing. In this picture she's just not sure if she wants to be awake or asleep.