From the monthly archives:

July 2012

Maile's very own camera, courtesy of Grandma Gail and Papa Cal

Maile's very own camera, courtesy of Grandma Gail and Papa Cal

Grandma Gail and Papa Cal sent Maile a great birthday gift – her very own camera. It’s a Fisher Price digital camera takes real pictures and videos, has a screen to view the results, etc.

I’m not sure if it was the previously mentioned 10,000+ photos we’ve taken of Maile, but we didn’t even have to show her how to use it – she just started snapping away and then she’d review her shots as she went (just like Mommy and Daddy). We’re so proud.

For some extra fun, I decided to hook Maile’s camera up with an Eye-Fi memory card. It’s just like a normal camera memory card, except it has wireless built right in – so you never have to plug the camera in to get the pictures off of it. It just syncs automatically.

As an added bonus, I set it up so Maile’s pictures post right to Flickr! You can follow along with Maile’s view of the world right here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mailegirl/

Fun, right?

Right back at you, Mommy!

Right back at you, Mommy!

We're getting lots of pictures like this...

We're getting lots of pictures like this...

Maile Girl is pretty good with framing her pictures...

Maile Girl is pretty good with framing her pictures...

Thank you, Grandma Gail and Papa Cal!

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Guess what? Grandma Jill and Papa Mike got me a really cool gift for my birthday – my very own easel! What is an easel? Why, it’s a stand that you can use to paint. It holds the paper just right. I find that the vertical orientation is much better to get my creative juices flowing vs. leaning over a table. Plus, I got all types of paints and brushes and a smock to cover up my clothes.

Mommy and Daddy took down all my old art from the walls and I’ve been working on new art. After all, I’m a 3 year old now!

I love my new easel!

I love my new easel!

First you have to mix up your paints until they are just right...

First you have to mix up your paints until they are just right...

... and then you paint. You'll notice that my preferred position for painting is one hand on my hip. I find this gives me good balance and makes my art better!

... and then you paint. You'll notice that my preferred position for painting is one hand on my hip. I find this gives me good balance and makes my art better!

Thank you Grandma Jill and Papa Mike!

(Dad note: We haven’t captured the one-handed, hand on the hip painting on video yet, but it’s hilarious. No idea where she learned this … as always, we’ll assume school!)

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The Color Run 2012

by Papa K on July 15, 2012

A couple of months ago, Christine heard about a 5K coming to San Francisco called The Color Run. The premise is simple, every 1K throughout the route you run through an area where volunteers dose you with colored powder. They also hand out packets and you can through it all over yourself and other people. We thought it sounded like fun … and boy were we right!

We headed out to the run with a couple of Maile’s classmates. We looked like a commercial for Bob jogging strollers as we each had one. I was a little concerned that Maile wouldn’t be a huge fan of the colored powder, but that was quickly put to rest when she and her friends started throwing it all over. The first time we went through the color cloud, Maile turned to me and said “That was awesome!”

Maile and Mommy getting happy and pumped pre-race!

Maile and Mommy getting happy and pumped pre-race!

Daddy and Maile the green elf :)

Daddy and Maile the green elf 🙂

Unfortunately, Maile did take a tumble out of the stroller around the 3K mark. She wasn’t strapped in well and after we went through one of the colored clouds, she turned around to show me and fell out of the stroller when I jammed it on another runner’s foot. She was okay, some small cuts on her nose and forehead and a few minutes of tears. The excitement did wear her out though and she ended up falling asleep for the last 2K – yes, Maile finished the race, fast asleep in her stroller!

Family Picture at the finish line of the Color Run 2012 - with Maile Girl finishing the race in style...

Family Picture at the finish line of the Color Run 2012 - with Maile Girl finishing the race in style...

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Maile’s really been into rocket ships lately (she wants to take one to China). I found this great Stomp Rocket online that looked like it would be perfect for her … boy, was I right!

It took Maile a little bit to figure out how to get things going …

… but once she did, man did we have fun!

Mommy got a perfect shot of Maile launching the rocket...

Mommy got a perfect shot of Maile launching the rocket...

Go! Rocket! Go!

Go! Rocket! Go!

Love my new rocket - thank you Daddy!

Love my new rocket - thank you Daddy!

(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)

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Today was Maile’s 3rd birthday. Last night, Mommy put together the tent we got her and filled it with all her presents from the family. I have to admit we were so excited for her to open her presents, that we kind of didn’t mind if she woke up on the early side. Maile Girl didn’t disappoint, getting up at 6 AM on the dot.

Yay, presents!

Yay, presents!

3 years old is finally an age where Maile enjoys opening her presents and gets excited about each gift. Lots of “oh wow!” and “Mommy, look at this!” The theme this year was definitely encouraging Maile’s artistic side – painting, photography, chalk, play-doh and all types of fun ways to display her masterpieces. Thank you to everyone who sent gifts – Maile absolutely loved everything! And you’ll definitely be seeing appearances in the coming days and weeks…

Here’s a video of Maile Girl discovering her new tent filled with the goods – sorry so shaky!

(Click here for the video.)

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Family picture just a few weeks shy of Maile's 3rd birthday

Family picture just a few weeks shy of Maile's 3rd birthday

878 posts.
17,793 photos.
1,613 movies.
Memories saved – priceless!

A special shout out is in order to the Mommy behind the scenes – 90% of photos and videos you see on the blog are done by Christine. Sitting down each evening and seeing what she’s captured is one of the best parts of my day.

For those who are interested, here is what year 2 looked like by the numbers:

10,852 visitors to the blog – 29.7 visits per day. 70% of visitors visit every single day!

20 people discovered the blog by searching “shorts over sweatpants” – and finding this post. Welcome!

We’ve posted 378 videos to Vimeo.

5,099 plays this year on the Vimeo web site and 92,500 loads from the blog.

The top videos of the year were:

5. How Maile Handles Being Ignored

4. Duke vs UNC: Crisis Averted

3. Bossy Pants

2. Maile Gaga On the Edge of Glory

and DRUMROLL please…

1. Hangover

(Hangover actually passed our previous #1 video of all-time – Maile Yoda!)

On a personal note, this blog is a part of my routine now and as I mentioned above, I love doing it. The moments of reflection it gives me today are worth the time alone, but when I think about the story that is being pieced together for the future, continuing is a no brainer. For those of you who read regularly, I hope you enjoy the adventures of our little girl and that more often than not, she brings a smile to your day!

All our best on the eve of 3,
Matt, Christine and Maile

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(In case you missed it:

Part 1: July – September 2011
Part 2: October – December 2011
Part 3: January – March 2012)

* = Daddy’s favorites

April

Mommy, why do they call it face painting if the man is painting my arm???

Mommy, why do they call it face painting if the man is painting my arm???

Twins

* Didn’t learn this from Daddy…

Passover & Easter Weekend, Part 2: Egg Hunt!

More Like Mother, Like Daughter

Announcing Pocket

Maile’s Relaxing Hand Grasp

May

Maile and Mommy (2 years, 10 months)

Maile and Mommy (2 years, 10 months)

My Cable Car & Carousel Adventure

Maile Gets Air

* Happy Mother’s Day (2012)

Biking to Off the Grid

Getting better at hide & seek…

* Maile Learns the Roadhouse Blues

Good times at Golden Gate Park

June

First, I had to look all around the backyard for rocks to put in the bottom of the pots. First, I had to look all around the backyard for rocks to put in the bottom of the pots.

Trucks!

Planting Tomatoes with Grandma Jill

More Wheeeeee!

Maile’s First Year of School

A Visit to Fairyland

Enjoying Some Fun in the Sun!

* Maile’s First Bon Festival

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(In case you missed it:

Part 1: July – September 2011
Part 2: October – December 2011)

* = Daddy’s favorites

January

Maile's First School Picture (2.5 years)

Maile's First School Picture (2.5 years)

Maile’s First School Picture

“Slip N’ Slide”

Matching Jammies for the Family

Maile Will Rock You

Bike Riding Update – Mommy’s Turn

Working on our Maile Smile

* Counting

February

Momme said t' make me meanest pirate face - what do you think? Would you give me all your gold?

Momme said t' make me meanest pirate face - what do you think? Would you give me all your gold?

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Hitting SF with Grandma and Papa!

Duke vs UNC: Crisis Averted

* Maile Aerobics

Pirate Maile

Never gets old

March

Doesn't Maile Girl look beautiful?

Doesn't Maile Girl look beautiful?

Mommy Returns from New York!

* Girls’ Day 2012

Taking care of my little plant

Off to the zoo…

Long Week for Daddy

Maile’s 2012 March Madness Bracket

Making Easter Cards with Grandma Gail

Cool Girl Walking

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(In case you missed it:

Part 1: July – September 2011)

* = Daddy’s favorites

October

Good times, Mommy, good times!

Thank You, Steve

Exploring with Sophie

* Mailebug in the Rain

Maile at 27 Months

Party Time in Palo Alto

Maile’s First School Picture Day

* Maile Elmo

November

Grandma Jill helped me put on the earrings...

Grandma Jill helped me put on the earrings...

Maile and the Pumpkin Patch

* My First Slow Dance

Happy 92nd to Great Grandpa Irv

One! Two! Three!

Maile, the Architect

Great Grandma Judy’s Jewelry

The Uncle Stephen Roller Coaster

December

Oh man, he really went in! Hahahahaha!

Oh man, he really went in! Hahahahaha!

‘Tis the Season

I’m On the Nice List!

2009 … 2010 … 2011

Doctor Maile

* Reason #1,324 Why I Know My Daddy Loves Me

Getting My Shave Ice Fix

Christmas 2011

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Can’t believe Maile Girl is going to be 3 next week! Thought we finish her 2nd year with a recap of some of our favorite moments. We’ll break this into 4 posts building up to Maile’s 3rd birthday next Wednesday.

* = Daddy’s favorites

July

Maile at 2 years

Maile at 2 years

Joy.

Beating the Heat

* The Happy Birthday Bribe

Artist At Work

The Bubble Lady

August

I have a feeling we'll be chasing her from here on out...

I have a feeling we'll be chasing her from here on out...

My Daddy’s Office Has A Tunnel!

Exploring the Exploratorium

Thank you, Megan!

* Maile’s First Day of School

Proud Maile

SoccerTots Update

Painting with Mommy

Maile’s “Not A Box” House

Potty Girl (Dad note: Ha! What a false alarm this one was!)

September

Kites. Are. Awesome.

Kites. Are. Awesome.

Bittersweet Labor Day

Moves Like Daddy

Ballet Class with Auntie

Curls

Kite Flying

For Papa Mike

* Expressions While Finger Painting

Halloween Costume Auditions

More to come…

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