Well Miss Maya is officially five years old! I am overwhelmed with joy at how healthy she is at age five. When Maya turned 1, she had just learned how to sit up. At age two she took her first steps, at age 3 she started pre-school, at age 4 she had her first friend birthday party. On Friday, we had a big day and she did great! We did some of her very favorite things. We took her to the Pt. Defiance Zoo where she got to look at the fish in the aquarium...which she loves, and then let her ride the merry go round...another favorite. There is very little that really sparks interest in Maya, so I made sure she had some favorite experiences for her birthday. After a short nap, we had her b-day party with close friends and family at the sprinkler park...a VERY happy place for Maya. It is amazing that she loves it so much...there were a TON of people (which she normally would withdrawl from, and there is a lot of startling water that sprays at you without much notice). Maya just giggles and tries to pull us along with her through the sprinklers. I noticed as a few kids tried to interact with her, which I thought was so sweet...kids who do not know Maya...one tried to give her a toy, and she seemed to never really even see the gesture made by this child. Another girl came up to her, watched her for a second as if thinking "what is this little girl up to?" and then very sweetly said to Maya "Hi, little girl", and of course Maya cannot hear so I explained that to the little girl who just shrugged and walked away.
Maya got to actually experience some of her birthday this year (as opposed to us trying to make it look and feel like a party whether or not she participated much in it)...tastes of ketchup from my hotdog, she LOVED tasting the popcicles Grandma brought for dessert...since cake is not really a good food for her to taste right now. But she sat on my lap and explored her "lemonade" flavored popcicle and proceeded to drip it all over me...I felt really sticky by the end of her popcicle exploration. She even got a few presents that were in bags which made it easy for her to reach in and pull out! Then she got up and started walking around and exploring the grassy field where we picniced. I do hope some day for Maya to actually have interactions with other people at her parties. And, I am certain her favorite part of the day is when her friends gathered around her and signed the "happy Birthday" song...she just smiled and smiled...I know she felt important at that moment.
Happy Birthday to Maya...you are one amazing little 5 year old, and a big year is ahead of you! We are so proud of you and grateful for your health, and your ongoing desire to explore the world around you and teach us all patience, gentleness, and determination.
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