What a difference a year makes. Just about a year ago, we first started playing hide & seek with Maile in the courtyard.

She wasn’t very good at it.

One year later – she’s MUCH better. In fact, so good, that sometimes it’s hard to get her out of her hiding spots…

(Click here for the video.)

Maile is getting pretty good with the Magna Tiles…

(Dad note: This was all Maile – 100%. If you couldn’t hear the audio (sorry that it cut out a bit) – she was building a home for her legos. She built up the castle and then she would open different parts of it to put in her legos. And once in there, apparently her legos “eat”, “sleep” “go to the potty”, etc. Clearly.)

(Click here for the video.)

Last Friday night, we decided to head down to Fort Mason for Off the Grid. I have to admit that when Christine told me that Maile was going to be riding her bike there, I had visions of me carrying the bike and Maile about 3 blocks in.

I am happy to report that I was wrong. With Mommy as the guide, Maile made it all the way to Fort Mason AND rode all the way back home after dinner. I was quite impressed (especially considering we don’t have a great bike riding history thus far.)

(Click here for the video.)

On Sunday night we headed over to the mall and they had this cool hang out area on the top floor that had a Maile-sized chess game. Unfortunately, Daddy doesn’t really know how to play chess, so Maile took it upon herself to watch a father and son playing each other and learn the game on her own. Watch out Bobby Fischer!

Hmm... I think I'm starting to follow how this works...

Daddy, from what I've gathered so far, this is the one I want to protect!

Uh oh, I think my rook is in trouble.

Maile and Mommy (2 days old)

Maile and Mommy (2 years, 10 months)

A lot has changed over the past (almost) 3 years – but not everything.

I love watching the relationship that has developed between Christine and Maile. Sure, Maile and I have our own bond, but the relationship between mother and daughter is truly something special and being able to watch it develop up close is incredible.

The second picture above captures a lot of it for me. It’s from a few weeks ago, but it shows how Christine is Maile’s #1 teacher. Christine is completely in tune with Maile’s budding interests and is always finding ways to help her discover and explore. Sometimes this is as simple as showing her how to blow bubbles … sometimes, it involves a creative art project (in fact, as I speak, Christine is sitting on the floor, creating little baggies of paper flowers, pasta and ribbon so Maile and her classmates can make leis in school tomorrow!)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this day to remind everyone that reads this blog that the pictures you see are almost always from Christine. Almost three years in, this blog is becoming quite the document of Maile’s life and it would be decidedly less interesting without all of Christine’s photos and videos.

So a very happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there, but in particular, the one I am lucky enough to call my wife and who is doing an amazing job with our little girl!

Maile’s getting pretty good with the camera. Once she learns how to type a bit better, I’m turning the blog over to her completely!

Say "cheese" daddy!

Say "cheese" Maile!

Have a great weekend!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

…

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Daddy, I want a lollipop!

Nice.

(Dad note: The back story here is that we hung out with Harold on Sunday and he mentioned to Maile that there was a store where you could get “lollipops”. Of course, the store was closed, but that didn’t prevent Maile from asking for a lollipop about 1,000 times over the next hour. Finally found one for her. She took about 10 licks and was done.)

Maile has started an after school gymnastics program – last night she decided she was going to show off some of her “jumping” skills after dinner.

(Dad note: the swimsuit bottoms over the pajamas is a Maile original – I think it has staying power…)

(Click here for the video.)

On Sunday, we headed out bright and early to check out the new Dolores Park Playground. We heard it could be a bit of a madhouse – luckily, our daughter wakes up at 6 AM, so we were there, ready to rock, at 8:15 AM!

Harold and Madeleine came to join us as well and Maile had a great time running all over the park. It really is a great playground (and as a heads up, the crowds started arriving around 9:15 AM).

Madeleine, Harold and Maile eating some snacks to build up some energy for the playground...

Mommy, this is a little wobbly...

The park is really cool as it has all these creative pieces built into the landscape for the kids to play around on and explore...

Maile Girl hasn't been the bravest when it comes to slides lately - so Daddy is showing her it's no big deal. She started off screaming at the top, but I'm pretty sure that's a smile on her face...

Maile Girl taking a breather from the playground to enjoy a beautiful day in Dolores Park

On Friday, Mommy and I went to get ice cream at Swenson’s. While we were there, a cable car went by. I told Mommy that I wanted to go on it and she promised that on Saturday we could go.

Sure enough, Saturday morning we headed out for the cable car and my friend, Sophie, decided to come along for the adventure! It wasn’t my first time on a cable car, but I was still pretty excited.

All smiles on the cable car!

The cable car gives you an awesome view of San Francisco - Sophie and I pressed our heads against the windows so we didn't miss a thing!

I thought the cable car was the end of our adventure, but boy was I wrong! After we got off, we headed over to the Yerba Buena Gardens and went to the carousel. I got to ride a giraffe(!) and a horsie – Sophie and I rode right next to each other – and we made sure that Mommy and Daddy let us ride all by ourselves – no hands!

All I need to do is hold here, right? I won't fall off?

So. Much. Fun.

This is me on the horsie - Daddy said I'm ready for the Kentucky Derby!

Definitely a fun San Francisco adventure and I was so glad that Sophie came along for all the fun!