Meeting Thatcher Hartman

A few weekends ago, we celebrated Russell Staine's 60th birthday! It was a great time that sadly wasn't captured on camera... but, we did manage to get a few shots the next morning when we had breakfast with cousin Will, Juliet and their new baby boy... Thatcher Hartman, born ten days after Maya. Maaan, is he cute or what???

Maya, Lila & Thatcher

Juliet, Thatcher & Will

BFF's

What's with the stink eye, Thatch?

Lila the Lounger

Maya Turns Two Months Old - May 25

Maya's Two Month Stats:
Weight - 11 lbs 7 oz,
Height - 23 in

Seriously? It's been two months? I remember when Lila was two months old. It seemed like a lifetime had passed. In a way it did if you consider how quickly our lifestyles were turned upside down. We had no clue what we were doing back then though. The days were long and our nights were exhausting. There are so many ways Lila and Maya are different. But, I think Eric and I are better, more patient parents these days which makes everything seem much easier.

Maya is the Happiest Baby on the Block. Yes, I watched the DVD and so should every new parent. If I could make that doctor dinner, I would. Maya is mellow and calm. She seldom cries and is easily soothed. At two months old, she has a big, gummy smile and is starting to chat it up with us quite a bit. She been sleeping most of the night since she was born. She's really strong. Sometimes she lays on her tummy in front of the mirror. She props herself up on her elbows and holds her neck upright so she can smile at herself. There really is no better cure for bitchiness than watching this little girl laugh at herself. Come to my house if you are in a bad mood. We have the cure.

Happy Birthday, Maya Rae. The joy and excitement of having you with us is the same as it was the day you were born. Lila Bean can't stop kissing and hugging you. Mommy and Daddy are madly in love with you. Thank you, cherub. xxooxx

Memorial Day

I love me the month of May. Cinco de Mayo, Eric's birthday, Bay 2 Breakers, and Memorial Day. When I used to work (at the job that paid, not the job I have now) it was the first holiday since Christmas. A long stretch to go without a day off. It also means that summer is right around the corner. So, this Memorial Day we had lots of visitors including the Hicks' Family. Maya had not met her Uncle Tom yet, and Grandma and Pappy hadn't seen her since she was three days old. It's hard for our families to go so long without seeing the little girls. They are both growing so fast and each day brings some sort of change. I love Girl Stuff because we can quickly update the family and they feel more connected. Unfortunately, it's been hard to keep up with a two month old AND a two and a half year old. I'm working on it!

Marie was up from Manhattan Beach and spent all day Friday with us. We missed you, Patrick!

Russell & Leanna came to see Maya. Thanks guys!

Wish Tom could swing by every night at around 8:30.

Grandma & Maya Rae

Everyone went to the zoo! Tom, Lila and giraffes.

Lila finally discovered the huge kid house in our backyard.

Lila & Maya

I can't help it. These pictures are the best. Eric took them so I don't have any background dialogue to add. Enjoy the love people.

Fourth Street

Berkeley's Fourth Street is one of my favorite places to push a stroller around on a Saturday morning. I love this neighborhood - good shopping, great food, live music... what's not to love? I also love these pictures of Eric and Lila. Maya was sleeping as usual. Cruising in her stroller does this to her. She's starting to stay awake more and more everyday, so keep checking in for some shots of my lovely little Mimi.

Lila getting ready to stroll. Love the Italian purse, Grandma.

She grows tired of accessories very fast. We did a hat change mid-stroll.

Look! There's Maya... under the blanket to the right!

Those giraffes are like family now.

She's Cute!

Daddy Dressed Me Day

because Mommy would never put me in this outfit!

Holding Maya

Maya's First Jacuzzi

That's what I call it anyway. She wasn't buying it though. Maya's first bath was short and effective. She did really great. Proving, once again, to be the mellow baby I was hoping for.

"The kids in the pool go splash, splash, splash!"

Easter Eggs, Jelly Beans & Elmo Bunny

Finally, a real Easter to remember! Lila was super excited about the Easter Bunny this year. She knew he would be leaving her a basket full of prizes. She even hunted eggs in the front yard. Her new obsession is jelly beans, but not so much gummy bears. We had big plans for pictures of Lila and Maya in their matching Easter dresses, but Maya couldn't find the energy to stay awake. She slept through everything. But, I'm not complaining, people! Baby Maya is a dream.

Jupiter is Good

Maya's first real outing was to Jupiter in Berkeley. They have a great patio and good beer, so on a nice day you will often find the Hicks' here. Lila loves running around and stopping by each table to say hello. The hippy dippy's don't seem to mind and neither do the servers. That's all we need to come back again and again!

This cute pink hat is one of the first we bought for Lila when she was just a few weeks old. Maya is now using it. Of course, Lila is having a difficult time sharing with Baby Sissy right now. She wanted to make it clear whose hat this really belongs to... whether it fit or not is no matter.

Welcome to the Family, Baby Sissy!

Maya Rae Hicks
March 25, 2009 at Noon
7 lbs 10 oz & 20.5" tall

She's here! Maya Rae Hicks finally decided to take that leap over to the other side. It seemed to take forever, but her arrival felt quick!

On Tuesday, March 24, I started feeling what I thought were contractions. It crossed my mind that I was just tired as I had spent the entire day doing the "nesting" thing - that mad, frantic impulse to clean, purge, shop, cook, store, etc... Anyway, I carried on, business as usual. Finally went to bed around midnight but ultimately realized there was no way I was sleeping through these ones. At around 1:30 a.m. I woke Eric, called the hospital, got our neighbors up to watch Lila and headed to Kaiser.

We arrived at the hospital around 3 a.m. The doctors checked me out, decided I was definitely in active labor and admitted me. It's true what the say about having a second child. Everything seemed to happen much faster and more intense than I remember with Lila. I have to give a huge yelp to the medical team at Oakland Kaiser. They were so awesome and supportive. I don't know why anyone would hire a midwife or doula when these type of people are already there! Long story short - it was piece of cake. Our baby girl was born nearly nine hours later after only 15 minutes of pushing. At 12:00 p.m (exactly, very cool) on Wednesday, March 25.



She's perfect, healthy, gorgeous. Baby girl has big, dark eyes with a head full of black hair. She actually looks a lot like Lila, only not as fair or bald.


About the name: Eric and I spent my entire pregnancy naming and renaming this baby. We couldn't agree on anything. I changed my mind constantly. It was painful. We finally decided on two names we liked but thought to wait until we met her. Once she was born, of course, we didn't think either name suited her. We had exactly 24 hours to figure this out as they won't let you leave the hospital without a name. That night, Eric mentioned how he thought she looked like a little Mayan Indian princess with her dark hair and eyes. I don't think he's ever seen a Mayan Indian but that's what we went with - Maya it is. Her middle name is Rae, after Eric's larger-than-life, fantastic Grandmother who passed away nearly five years ago. I'll admit, I got home from the hospital and started to really question our name choice. I didn't even know I liked the name Maya! And it was never on my list! I stressed for several days about this before it finally sunk in. She's a Maya.



Lila is being a great big sister. She's adjusting the best she can. She lets us know when she's having Baby Sissy overload. I hear "put baby down now, mommy!" at least once or twice a day. But, she loves holding and kissing Maya. Everyday she seems a little more happy to be sharing us with Baby Sissy... just a little bit though.

Waiting For Baby Sissy

She's almost here! Baby Sissy will be coming home in the next week or so. It's the most exciting thing... waiting for a baby to arrive. Unlike with my first pregnancy, this one has flown by so quickly. Well, except for the last few weeks which have been very uncomfortable. We've been trying to savor our alone time with Lila as we know her life will be very different once her little sister shows up. People always ask me if she is excited about this. I wish I knew. It's hard to tell with a two year old. She loves babies, but we're unclear on how she feels about having a roommate.

March 21, 2009:
Sitting on Mommy's Perch

Saturday Morning Veg-Out

Saturday mornings are meant to be lazy. Enough said.

Union Square

Every Kid Does This...