April 18- Our third day with Maya

Today we spent most of our day playing and helping Maya learn to say her name. We colored, blew bubbles, danced, played ball, jumped around, learned patty-cake, laughed, and pretended to be different animals. We learned that Maya likes BIG stuffed animals. Her favorites are bears and lions. The big dog in the picture is one of her favorites. She can lift this dog up with one hand and drag him around the room.

In the morning we played in the physical therapy room. Maya had a great time climbing up some stairs and jumping into the ball pit - or sliding head first into the ball pit. Matt helped her bounce on one of the balls, then she helped the lion bounce around the room. She also likes puzzles and challenges. They have one puzzle in the room and it is a bit hard for her to do. However, she just kept working at it trying to get all of the pieces in. Finally, when she finished it, she dumped it out and started working on it again. We played "ring around the rosie" and tried teaching her the word "down." I don't think she learned "down" but she had a great time falling down and laughing. Later, Matt was being silly so he rolled on the floor and sang, "rollie, pollie". She laughed at Matt, rightly thinking he was being silly. A few minutes later she was rolling her lion around singing "rollie, pollie". So cute.



After lunch Maya discovered the camera and mirrors. We think she finally figured out that it was her in the mirror and on the camera and she started wanting us to take her picture and then see it. She also started saying her name, "Ya". By the end of the day we were all having a great time and could tell she was excited to see us. By the end of day three she was either saying more, or we could understand her Polish more.


We didn't get to take Maya out to eat or make anything for her. But they did bring her morning snacks and let us give her an apple in the afternoon. We learned that Maya loves to eat yogurt and strawberry mars bars (they are marketed to kids in Poland). She also likes apples.