MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE MAIORCA'S

The Christmas season is here and we can hardly believe another year has come and gone. 2o1o seems to have come and gone in a flash. I remember as a child, my parents saying where did this year go, and now I have the realization of what they were feeling. The days, weeks and months seem to have just flown by this year but they were filled with many wonderful times shared with family and friends.


After six wonderful years of marriage, as most of you know, Kasey and I welcomed our new little Miss Ainsley into our family. Like most new parents, most of our time has involved watching Ainsley grow up and become her own little girl with a big personality. It is truly amazing to see how much she has learned in this last year. Her favorite things include playing with Ajax (our 7 year old lab), pushing her little car around the house, helping me load and unload the dishwasher, and making goofy noises with Dada. A few weeks ago, we celebrated Ainsley's 1st Birthday. 1 year of age seems to be the time to start new things. Since her birthday, she started walking, her first two teeth started coming in and she is babbling much more than before.
She is a very easy baby from what most experienced parents tell us. We don't know as we have nothing to compare her to. I do know she is the light of our lives and can hardly remember what life was like before we had her.

Kasey continues to work at Northwest Aviation College and was recently promoted to a more senior level position in the company. He is working as the accountant in addition he continues to teach the high school students Introduction to Aviation course, ground school classes and stage checks (where he monitors the progress of students throughout their training). He is very excited to be doing something a little different after teaching students to fly for 4 years now. No need to worry, I am sure he will find opportunities to continue to fly and maintain his currency. He is also hoping to finish his associate degree by the end of the 2011 year. Busy indeed!

I continue to work at Valley Medical Center in Radiation Oncology. I feel I have really found a home in this area of nursing and I am so pleased to have found a place where my co-workers and I alike feel very passionate about providing exceptional care for cancer patients. As well, the hours continue to be a great bonus for my personal life.

When I look back upon this year, it seems like 2010 has been quite a year of transition for us. I feel older, wiser, and maybe a little more aware of the changing world around us. I suspect that is what having a baby does for one's outlook on life! We are looking forward to this next year watching our little girl grow, spending time with family and friends and making more wonderful memories.

We hope this letter finds you all healthy and happy. If you are ever in the Seattle area, please let us know, we would love to catch up.

Love,
Kasey Jenn and Ainsley

One Small Step for a Baby, One Giant Leap for Ainsley

So it finally happened, she took those magic first steps!!! We got some of them on film, not the very first but the second ones. She was on the floor playing with her mommy and she just stood up, mommy said come here and she did! Just like that; one, two, three and into mommy's arms. It was the greatest thing I've ever seen.



It's amazing to see her grow in these leaps and bounds. She is so happy I swear she's on Zoloft, but she is just my happy baby girl. I love to just sit and watch her play with the puppy. I also love that she is so interested in everything around her. She gets very serious when she studies something or someone. Everyone thinks that she is serious but i tell them they should see her at home, she giggles non-stop.

Her vocabulary has grown from "Mama" to include now "Baby". I have heard a few "Nana" and one "Dada" but that's all. She can say more with sign language and can clap at things she likes, but those are the only spoken words. It has been an amazing year and I can't believe how much these little ones learn in one year. I also feel like we just brought her home yesterday, and now she's shaking her head no and doing somersaults (with the help of mommy of course). What will the next year bring? I'm afraid to ask!

Kasey

After many weeks of attempting to crawl, our little one has done it! While Oovooing (aka webcam) with her Nana and Grandpa, Ainsley started to crawl down the hall with daddy pushing the laptop in front of her. She had been only taking a few short crawls then getting right back up into a sitting position which she had perfected. But this was the day!! You can watch the video for yourself below. Don't mind all the laughter and excited voices. What a joy to see her master this skill. Since this monumentous crawling event, Ainsley is definately on the move from one end of the room to the other in just minutes. She really likes to get around and chase after us and of course the puppy.

We've had some video issuse so if the video doesn't work, try back later and we'll have it hopfully fixed.

Ainsley started waving to herself this last month. She seems to mostly wave at herself but we think it is pretty darn cute. Hope this little video makes your day.

NO BUTTS ABOUT IT-The In's and Out's

I have been planning on writing a short blog about our cloth diapering for some time now. My hope is to share our experience as well as inspire others to consider cloth diapering as a possibility for their babes. I will preface this blog by saying, we did not choose this diapering system at first for any other reason than to save a few Benjamins but as with all other experiences we found cloth diapering to be more beneficial in so many other ways. Secondly, I should say thank you to my good friend Alicia for sharing her experiences and encouraging us to give the "old fashioned" diapers with a new spin on them a try.

The diapers are as cute as there names....FuzziBunz, BumGenius, Happy Heiny's, Woollybums and Kissaluvs just to name a few. The modern cloth diaper contains adjustable snaps, straps, velcro, little doodads called snappies, are all-in-one, pocketed, fitted and come in a number of designs. One diaper will take your babe from 5-30lbs simply by adjusting snaps. Unbelievable! It really has been fun to see the reactions of people whom we tell we use cloth diapers. The most frequently asked question is what diaper service do you use? I laugh and say "me". That response then leads to the next most frequently asked question "how do you rinse them out and you wash them in your washing machine?" Like I said I am the diaper service so....... that would be rinsing them in the toilet and yes they get washed in the washing machine.

I must pause for a commercial intereption here. If you do plan on washing your own cloth diapers, do not open the lid of the washing machine in the middle of the cycle. That is something I could have lived without seeing!

The benefits as I stated above are much more than we expected. We figure on Ainsley alone, we have saved at least $2500 and for the next baby (no, I am not pregnant) we can reuse the diapers. Less "blowouts"-if you are parent you know what I am talking about. No diaper rash. Less trips to the trash can=less diapers in our landfill. Kasey say's you can't beat that "junk in the trunk" look. Less trips to the store to buy more diapers. Increased sensitivity to wetness giving us hope that Ainsley will be easy to potty train (stay tuned). And lastly it is way too much fun to see the reaction of everyone when we tell them we use cloth diapers!!!

So here we are, Ainsley is 8 months old and still in cloth diapers. Kasey and I are fairly proud of ourselves for sticking with it. We wash diapers every 2-3 days, hang them to dry in the sun if possible, fluff them in the dryer for a few minutes, fold them and viola a ready ready to use diaper meant to keep Ainsley's heiny happy, woolly, fuzzi, smart and very kissable!!

Here is the detergent recipe I got from my friend Alicia for washing cloth diapers. It's so easy!

1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing soda
1 cup Oxiclean free
We mix up a large batch to last a few months. Store in a bucket or box and only use 2-4 tablespoons/load. No smellie diapers.



Jenn

He He He, That Tickles!!

No it's not Elmo, it's Ainsley. She thinks the puppy's tongue tickles. It was pretty funny watching the two of them. We are so happy that she finally thinks something is worth laughing about. I think you will agree with her.

WARNING: the following video may cause you to think there is nothing cuter in the world than this Baby! We are not responsible for the rest of the world being dull after watching this video. Viewer Discretion Advised.

The Laugh

There Kasey and I were running around the house doing our normal activities when little Miss Ainsley decided to let a big squeal and giggle. She has been working on a laugh for awhile now. For the last few weeks, she has been opening her mouth really wide with a big smile but no laugh. We have been doing everything silly we could possibly think of to make her giggle. From dancing around like monkeys, singing the olympic theme song (she loved the winter olympics) of course with her in the ski jumping position, saying zuzu, tickling her ribs and toes and squealing at the top of our lungs. I'm sure Ainsley is looking at us and thinking how much can I get these two grown adults to do before I give them a little laugh. Well as most parents would agree, we would do just about anything!! But she finally did it!!! We are still not sure what tickled her funny bone in just the right way but something sure did. What a fun moment and both Kasey and I were there for it-what a blessing! Can't wait to hear that little heart warming giggle again.
Jenn

Ainsley now knows more than the dog!

So I know it's been a while, but, we have a baby, what did you expect? Since birth she has grown 6 inches, put on 6 or 7 pounds, and is way more fun than the sleepy little blob of skin she was when she was born. But the coolest thing is she can do what the dog can't.



When you ask Ajax to roll over her first response is a head tilt. This is shortly followed by a sudden burst of energy and a load woof. She then drops her butt to the floor and turns anywhere from 5-10 times before lying down and trying to rollover. I did say try...she usually goes the wrong way and gets stuck 3/4 of the way through. This goes on and sometimes repeats until we get a rollover and then it's treat time. I'm exhausted just explaining it!



Last night we put Ainsley on the floor and we were all playing. Jenn got up to do something and I asked Ainsley to roll over. She lifted her legs up and flipped right on over towards me! Then she rolled back! WOW! I yelled for Jenn to come back and Ainsley did it for Jenn! Jenn grabbed the camcorder and.....





As you can see, it the most amazing thing ever....unless you have kids or a pet, then they of course do better than Ainsley. She has been just an amazing piece of my heart I never knew was missing until she came along and filled it. I can't wait to post all the first's when they happen.

Kasey

Conversations with Mommy and Daddy...and Ajax

It seems that since week six, our little girl has discovered these blurs around her that fed and changed her, actually are fun to talk to and watch! And they are not so blurry anymore! But, to clarify, the "talking" consists of "baaaaa" and "maaaaaa" and "ohhhh" with the occasional "cooooo". To us, she seems to finally be responding with a noise or a smile. It could just be gas. :) The smiles seem to be uncontainable when we say "mommy loves you" or "daddy loves you" or "Ajax loves you".....but the favorite is when Jenn sings the phrase "coo coo ca choo". The best part is when I get up to leave the room, she turns her head to watch me leave, then turns it back to watch me when I sit back down.


The scary thing is, she is just like her daddy.....talks with her hands.....A LOT!! You could almost understand everything she's feeling by watching those little arms fly around like she was directing a symphony. The funny thing is, Ajax may be the only one who understands her. She has been living the same life Ainsley has but for much longer. She needs us for food, to clean up after the food, for love, a bath. All the while, not being able to express her feelings or thoughts except through a language that we cannot speak. Maybe this is the beginning of their bonding as best friends.



As we packed up her newborn clothes the thought ran into my brain the other day about how fast she is growing. I began to wonder what her voice will be like. Will she have a loud Maiorca voice like her daddy, or a sweet soft one like her mommy? Will she be outgoing, or quiet? Will she be tall, or short? And still the question...Blue or Brown!!! All these questions will be answered and while I'm in no hurry to find out, at the same time, I can't wait.

Being a Mom

I have been contemplating this topic for many years now, wondering when would be a good time to become a mom, will I be good at it, and when will I be mature enough to bring another person into the world and provide a nurturing environment for them. I always knew I wanted to be a mom. As long as I can remember, I have loved being around babies and felt so comfortable taking care of them. I dreamed of one day having my own daughter or son and wondered what would it really be like. I believe being a mom was part of Gods plan for my life. For years I have watched other women in my life be mothers. But not until becoming a mother myself did I realize how important the untangable things they provided me would shape me as a mom.

Over the last 5 weeks since Ainsley has been born, I have enjoyed watching my mother, my step-mom and mother-in-law become Grandmas and Nanas to our little girl. I expected they would all be wonderful grandparents just as they have been wonderful parents to Kasey and I but did not expect to feel this new emotional bond with all of them. I hope the untangable things or gifts they have taught me and showed me such as love, patience, caring, unselfishness, security and hardwork will make me a great mother to Ainsley. I suspect none of these amazing mothers in my life realize what they have shown me over the years and in their recent visits with our family because it is part of who they are. I find myself doing many of these same things with Ainsley in hopes of passing on these gifts to her. I realize she is still a baby and cannot mentally understand all of these things but I hope in my caring for her she will feel them in my spirit.

Since Ainsley was born, many people have asked me if I felt prepared to be a mom. Yes, in my head I definately felt prepared for motherhood but never could God have prepared me for how Ainsley would change my heart forever. I don't think any woman can prepare herself for that. I dedicate this blog to all the mothers in my life and especially to my own mother who has given me the greatest gift of all-her LOVE.

Jenn

I Like My Mobile!

Just wanted to show you all I like my Mobile. I bet you thought mommy and daddy bought me a cell phone looking at the title!!

-Ainsley

The Miracle of a Ceiling Fan

After the dust settled from the Christmas visits, we have accomplished.....not much! We had high hopes of finishing many projects and in our spare time curing cancer. But alas, our eyes were bigger than our energy was. We have been quite content with playing house. This includes keeping the place clean enough so people don't think we live in a dump, and spending the rest of the time keeping up with Ainsley. We have discovered a few quirks about our young daughter. We learned that wide eyes and silence equals explosive poop in the swing. This is then immediately followed by bath time and laundry time. We found a ceiling fan will keep her entertained for up to 25 minutes.
Jenn has found that nursing Ainsley is very labor intensive. By the time she is changed, fed, and ready for a nap, she only gets an hour or two before it all starts over. We have found the days of starting a project and finishing it the same day are G O N E! However, its totally worth it! It seems like every day she's changing. She is doing more and growing bigger, its fun and scary at the same time. We hope it doesn't go to fast.

Kasey & Jenn

A Baby Changes Everything

Never in my wildest dreams could we have realized how much our little Ainsley would change everything in our world. She is the most precious blessing from God. Now 6 days old, she has changed so much already. We can already start to see her personality develop. Ainsley is an active little girl with her long arms and legs and a gentle temperment unless it is time to nurse then she takes after daddy with some impatience.
After coming home from the hospital on Tuesday we have gradually gotten somewhat of a routine down. We got out to see the Pediatrician today for a weight check. After dropping her weight down to 6lbs3oz on Tuesday, today she is up to 6lbs7oz!!!! The pediatrician said now we may have to put her on a diet:) We are so proud of our little peanut. Ainsley got her first bath at home today. I can't say she enjoys bath time as much as her mama does! Now we are all sitting around loving on her. She smells sooooo good.
Tomorrow Ajax (our puppy) will be coming home to meet Ainsley. We are praying it will go well and are happy to have our whole family together as we have missed our Ajax.
As the holidays are approaching, we are getting excited to have all of our family here in the Seattle area. I expect there will be a lot of sitting around staring at Ainsley. But then again thats what grandparents do best.

Kasey & Jenn

We thought we'd also include a video of Ainsley right after she was born getting all cleaned up in the OR. Hope you enjoy.

Sometimes you don't get what you expected

As I sit here watching my girls sleep, I can't help but think of how blessed I am. They are both so peaceful after a long night of ups and downs. I look at Ainsley and wonder what her life will be. I look at Jenn and see such a natural mother who now has her own to nurture. To tell the truth, when I hold Ainsley in my hands and she looks up at me with those big eyes, I can't help but cry and become totally vulnerable. I wonder will I be a good father. I think of my father and wonder, how on earth did he restrain him self from killing me and my brother? The answer, Mom! It was a team effort. If I've learned anything from my parents, its teamwork and working in your strengths makes you both better parents. I only hope I can do it as well as they did. I think the biggest thing that sticks out is the picture in my head I have had ever since that fateful day when the pink stick said yes. I always had a picture in my head of what the baby would look like but not the sex of the baby. I pictured both a boy and a girl and I was very happy. I had a preconceived notion of what the delivery would be like. But when the day came, I was totally wrong on both. The only good thing about that is, even thought the birth was rough, she was healthy, perfect, but most of all, more beautiful and more than I ever could have imagined.

Kasey

Happy Birthday Ainsley

Today after a long bumpy night, Our little girl Ainsley Lyn Maiorca was born at 10:56am weighing 6lbs 11ozs and 19 1/4 inches long. She is the most beautiful thing we have ever seen. Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Kasey & Jenn

A Blog is Born....but Not the Baby Yet!!

Sitting by the fire tonight reading about Alicia's new baby on her blog, we decided we should start a blog to spread our news and pictures to our friends and family. And so the Fireside Blog was born. (hence the picture to the left) We hope you enjoy reading the news to come. In the meantime, we have to go stand outside for a bit, the fire is getting too hot!

Jenn & Kasey