Month: May 2008

We enjoyed most of our Memorial Day weekend outside – a walk at the Nature Center, a visit to a new park and dinner with Aunt Katie, and a BBQ with the Steeves while Gwen and Maeve chalked on the patio. The weather was warm and sunny for a change, but now we’re back to chilly temps.

My first day as a SAHM was action-packed with a trip downtown on the train (Maeve’s favorite part of the day!), a doctor’s appointment for me that she didn’t appreciate being a part of, a relatively easy stop at the secretary of state, lunch with Dada, more trains (CHOO CHOO), and then finally we arrived home for a big nap.

Yesterday morning we went to the Green City Market and the Farm in the Zoo with our friends Sarah and Olivia. Maeve made lots of animal noises and enjoyed listening to the music in the park while drinking her smoothie. She fond of saying “where?” and covering her eyes – then she’ll say “peepaboo” after we ask in wonder where Maeve could’ve gone…endless hours of entertainment! We went to visit Zlatka this morning before she leaves tomorrow and watched the “yowd” airplanes fly low overhead. It was hard to say goodbye again, but Maeve blew kisses to her out the window as we drove off so that was very sweet!

Dada is here dealing with the end of the month at work, and Mama and Maeve are off to MI. We will be at Nanna and Grandad’s with a side trip to Kalamazoo for my cousin Ellyn’s high school graduation celebration… then it’s off to Grandma’s for the annual cookoff!

Today we had to let Zlatka leave to take care of her family, and I had to leave McCormick to take care of ours. We know this will be a slow and difficult transition, but we are so lucky to have the love and support of our family and friends. Maeve has grown into a smart and talented girl in the quality time she spent with her nanny – because Zlatka loved her. We miss her already but Zlatka always will be a part of our family.

Maeve is so enthusiastic (often exclaiming “oh boy!”) and she is very loving, dolling out frequent hugs to all. Her new phrase is “I got it!” and she prefers to push two empty water bottles around in her dolly stroller instead of a baby doll – not sure we’ll ever figure that one out… We are so impressed with her letters, numbers, signs, and identifying her body parts, shapes and colors – what will she learn next?

We are looking forward to a quiet Memorial Day weekend, with playgroup on Friday and some fun outside in the sunshine! There are updated pictures and even a bonus video of Maeve performing in the photo gallery. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend…

It’s a new month and our family is heading in a new direction… Zlatka (Maeve’s nanny for more than a year who we adore) recently told us that she needs to leave to be with her mom in Bulgaria. This brought us to a crossroads of considering what is best for Maeve and our family. It was a difficult decision to make, but I have resigned my position at the McCormick Tribune Foundation to stay home with Maeve full time.

This opportunity is unexpected, but we are lucky enough to be in position to consider its benefits. I have been a part of the Foundation for more than 10 years and am so fortunate to have gained immeasurable personal and professional experiences during my career there. I will miss my second family, but hope to not be a stranger as Maeve and I intend to visit our friends downtown often!

When Maeve greets us with many “I love you’s” it reminds us how quickly she is growing up and that these are the moments that make everything worth while… her language skills are advancing daily, and just this past weekend she went down the big slide at the park and began walking up the stairs holding the railing! What a big girl.

There will be many more adventures to report on as I embark on my next career as a full-time mom, so stay tuned…

In other happy news, Maeve’s friend Mia (she can be seen in the Nature Walk pictures, among others) is a proud big sister – her brother Alex was born on Tuesday morning!