Maia Evelyn » Daily Maia

On Tooth Fairy Etiquette

valerie — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:17:37 +0000

Maia has been through a flurry of 5-year checkups the past week. At her dental appointment, she received some welcome news. One of her bottom teeth is just a teensy bit loose. Of course, that makes the prospect of a visit from the tooth fairy that much closer to being a reality. Oh joy!

Almost every night after stories and songs, as I am leaving the darkened sleeping room, Maia tells me her plan for when she loses her first tooth. She plans to stay awake to meet her very own tooth fairy. Tonight, I got some specifics:

Maia: When I loose a tooth and the tooth fairy comes, I’m going to stay awake all night.

Me: I know you will, you’ll catch that fairy.

Maia: MOM! She has to go visit other kids too!

Me: Oh! Sorry! You’re going to stay awake to see the tooth fairy.

Maia: Yes. It would be rude for me to catch people.

On Being Green

valerie — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 02:58:52 +0000

At the farmer’s market this morning one of the farmers was wearing a shirt with a forest being chased by a bulldozer. Maia was fascinated by the picture and asked me to tell her all about it. I duly gave her the child-sized version and what she glommed onto was a new and elaborate game of chase: Bulldozer vs. Tree.

She is currently orchestrating this game amongst her and the sisters. She came running up to John and I explaining that her sister Elise was a tree. John, being the rabble rouser that he is asked her what she would be if she hugged her sister, who was a tree. (You know, she’d be a tree-hugger.)

Maia carefully considered the question, and then, her face lighting up as she hit on the answer stated: “I’d be HAPPY”.

Oh sweet big sister, we’re so glad you’d be happy to hug your sister-tree.

Princess Doctor Maia

john — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 06:04:50 +0000

The imagination of a 4 year-old goes far beyond just playing; it offers a window into the thought processes of how they go about internalizing their world.

Last September, Maia was traumatized by a debilitating stomach flu and the accompanying spit-up bowl that didn’t leave her side for over 24 hours. Ever since, the subject has come up in random passing from an occasional casual reference to more pointed reenactments.

A few days ago, “Princess Doctor Maia” diagnosed her dolly as having a bad tummy ache and she needed to make the dolly get better.

First we have to prep the patient.

Nikon D200, ISO 1000, ƒ/2.8, 1/60sec, 24mm focal L.

Then, cut open her belly.

Nikon D200, ISO 1000, ƒ/2.8, 1/60sec, 24mm focal L.

Paraphrasing, Maia says, “In order to get the tummy ache out, we have to cut into your belly first.”

It takes a sawing motion — maybe we need to sharpen her scalpel…

Nikon D200, ISO 1000, ƒ/2.8, 1/60sec, 29mm focal L.

A quick check under the dressing.

Nikon D200, ISO 1000, ƒ/2.8, 1/80sec, 32mm focal L.

“And, once the belly is open, we reach in and pull out the tummy ache.”

The idea of cutting into the belly comes from the story of Madeline getting her appendix removed.

Now we pull out the tummy ache.

Nikon D200, ISO 1000, ƒ/2.8, 1/40sec, 34mm focal L.

“And then we scoop out the tummy ache and take it into the bathroom and flush it down the toilet”.

[Yup, just like we did with her spit-up bowl]

All better now!

Nikon D200, ISO 1000, ƒ/2.8, 1/30sec, 34mm focal L.

And, Princess Doctor Maia cures all ailments!

Can’t argue with that

john — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:28:00 +0000

After reading stories, Maia was lying on the couch between Valerie and I. The tiniest bit of tickling turned into a bout of continuous giggles.

J: Why are you so giggly? I’m not even touching you.

M: [stopping and briefly pondering]

M: Because. I’m Maia.

M: [continuing to giggle]

You don’t Say…

valerie — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:29:39 +0000

As I was getting ready to teach my preschool lesson on food and nutrition, Maia wanders over and I start asking her to name some favorite foods:

Me: “Maia, what food do you like to eat?”

maia: “Nothing. I don’t like ANY food to eat.” (an all to common answer to any query lately)

M: “Well, do you like strawberries?”

m: “Yes.”

M: “Do you like chicken?”

m: “Yes.”

M: “And what about bagels? And watermelon? And pop beans?”

m: “Yes, I like those foods.”

M: “OK, thanks. We’ll talk about them tomorrow.”

m: “Um, mom, you forgot to ask if I like cereal.”

M: “Do you like cereal, Maia?”

m: “YES! Of COURSE I like cereal.”

Valentines Preparation

john — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:17:45 +0000

Valerie got supplies so that Maia could make Valentine cards for all her friends. She’s been engrossed for the last hour+ putting on foamy stickers and glitter pen decorations as she works through the list of her friends (from memory). Each one has special consideration and I’ve completely ruined it by not taking note at the time of creation. Hopefully she either 1) remembers which is which or 2) it doesn’t *really* make a difference.

This one is for David, which I recon she must have a special fondness for since his is the only one with multi-colored glitter pen work (not completed yet when pictured). Also, his only has 2 hearts — maybe that’s her pay backs for getting pushed over all those times

Makeing Valentines cards for all her friends

The Nag

john — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:20:01 +0000

Overhead this morning:

M: Daddy, I was walking and walking and walking and walking and walking and walking and walking to find you this morning.

J: And, where did you find me?

M: Your bedroom.

—————————————————————

M, handing the phone to Valerie, who’s still in bed: Mommy, your phone is on the floor all the tiiiiiiime.

—————————————————————

M: Mommy, it’s tiiiiime to get dressed!

V: OK, how about you just get me my clothes.

M, rifling through the dresser drawers: Mommy, your PJ top is in the wrooooong drawer.

Thanks Grandma Becky

john — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:11:58 +0000

Maia wanted to wear her new “play” dress that Grandma Becky recently made for her.

Once she had it on, she wanted to go trick-r-treating and I explained that it would be a long time until next Halloween came so we could do that.

She said, “Thanks OK. I just like wearing my dress. It’s special to me and Grandma Becky”.

Uninhibited imagination of a 3 year old

john — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:30:46 +0000

Maia has a way of observing the world that gives me pause to remember that we just can’t take life too seriously. Driving back from the pumpkin patch last Friday, Maia was looking out the window and observing what the setting sun was leaving behind on the horizon. It was not unlike below, but not quite so dark at that time.

She casual says, “Look. Sun juice.”

When probed what it that meant, she said, “it looks like juice from the sun”.

What does it taste like?

“It doesn’t taste like anything; it’s just pretend.”

Can’t Get Past This One

valerie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:14:05 +0000

I had to dash into our local Target this morning and had the girls in tow. Maia was riding in the main basket checking out the wares on display. As we passed the first of the Christmas decorations I heard from the front of the cart, in true Maia style, “Christmas time?? It’s not Christmas time. It’s not even Halloween!”

And now she knows how the rest of us holiday procrastinators feel.