Maya went to DISNEY WORLD!

We're in Disney World!!! Celebrating my mom being Cancer Free!

Here are some pics from our trip to disney world! Maya became one year old on TUESDAY!!!!!!! The crazy thing is we were put on the waiting list for AGCI on the 9th of Oct. I never thought our baby was born when we were put on the waiting list and she was! I remember at Thanksgiving thinking is she born yet? Well, she was and she was one month + old then! So hang on all of you who are on the waiting list! Your baby could be born!

Maya with her aunt Sammi

We had such a great time at disney world. We took Maya to the magic kingdom for her birthday. She LOVED A Small World. Just LOVED. When we got to the Africa part of the ride we could have taken Maya and made her part of the little children on the ride. She was the same size, same hair as the little dolls on the ride. She waved her hand and danced as we went thru. (this was the second time) the first time she was a little more affraid.

Maya with my mom. She would point and say "oh oh" when she saw things she liked.

We took her on the haunted house...very very bad mistake. She was okay but it was torterous for me b/c she was clenched onto me, head in my chest just so scared. She didnt cry but it wasnt fun and i felt soooo bad for my baby. We made it up to her and only took her on fun cute NOT scary rides. That being said. When we went on Peter Pan and Whinnie the Poo there were a few dark parts to the ride and she was scared. She assumed the position and when we passed the dark part she was happy again! :)

Maya on peter pan :)

THEN...we took her to Ariel's water area. She was in HEAVEN! more to come...we LOVE disney world. I want to live there and never come back!

Cinderella's Carousel. She loved. Everytime we walked by she pointed and said Oh Oh!!!


us in front of the Magic Kingdom waiting for the parade. Maya had a pin on that said "Happy Birthday Maya" and everyone said Happy Birthday to her all day. CUTE!

Daddy and Maya doing high five...

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE RIGGS

please go over to the Riggs blog and read their post about their daughter Abby! My heart is broken for them and their little girl. She is in so much pain, I just cannot imagine! Please please pray for them.

Click HERE to see their blog.

Our US Citizen!

Maya became a US Citizen on Sept. 4th! Here are pics from the day.

My mom is doing good. Starting her third week of radiation so far so good! We are praying she stays healthy and doesn't start to get sick. She is being so strong! Looking at the pictures below you would never think she was going thru radiation. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Ollie is now blind (my dog) the weight gain and vision problem is all leading to a acute retinal disorder. My poor dog. I cant believe he is blind. My heart is broken for him. We are going to the opthomologist tomorrow to confirm this is the case! :( I can live with the blindness, I just want him to be happy again! My ollie...who would have ever thought.

Maya's Auntie Kelly came to celebrate the big day!

Happy 11 Month Birthday Maya!

WOW! Do we really have an 11 month old! Maya has officially been with us longer then she was without us! On Sept 10th it will be 6 months with our little girl.

The is the first picture we ever saw of our little Maya. Hana then! :) How beautiful is that picture. I wish we were able to know her then. She was around 2 months old. We first laid our eyes on that picture on December 17th. We got the call at 12:45pm. A day that we will NEVER forget. I can't imagine how teeny she was. She was 7 pounds at the time.

11 things about Maya the we LOVE:

1. Her eyes

2. Her tongue smile...always sticking out the tongue

3. Her thumb nail...so dainty and pretty

4. Her baby talk and hand expressions (just like mommy)...all of a sudden she will bust out with a full conversation in baby talk and move her hands as if she is in deep conversation. LOVE this!

5. Her LOVE of balloons!

6. The way she loves my parents

7. The way she plays on her own and talks (this is few and far b/t but we are working on it)

8. The way she KNOWS I am her mommy!

9. When she cries when I walk out of a room. (this is difficult if i have things to do but overall she wants to be with me!)

10. Her belly button. It can be an outie or innie! Its soooo cute. And her little naked body! The bow legs and upper thighs! I LOVE IT. My friend says she's like a chocolate bunny. You know how a choc bunny is so smooth and perfect. That's what she says Maya's skin is like :)

11. The personality on this girl is crazy. She is so funny. Like she gets it...whatever it happens to be at the time.

Maya we love you so much. I cannot even imagine life before you. You are growing up so fast. You are the biggest gift from God and we thank Him everyday for making you our daughter.

Love you

Mommy and Daddy

P.S Maya is a citizen of the United States!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pics to come...

Maya's first trip to the ZOO!

okay so today Josh and I decided to take Maya to the zoo. We had the BEST time! Maya was so cute. She responded and pointed at everything! She loved the meer cats, chimps, the snakes and BIRDS. I of course have never seen anything cuter, maybe that is because she is my daughter but Josh and I must have been the most obnoxious parents ever DYING over how cute our daughter was. (yikes...) we never thought we would be those parents!

Here are some pics of the day!

Isn't this a cool pic. Its of me and Maya at the blk bear cave window...

Josh and Maya at the mist station...she LOVED this.

Maya was scared of a big steal turtle. Josh wanted her to go on the turtle's back but she was too scared and cried! Oh a child after my own heart. That was me as a little kid...I don't want her to be fearful of things like I was at all, Its just TOO crazy that my daughter who was born in Ethiopia is JUST LIKE HER MOMMY emotionally! WOW. God brought us the perfect daughter.

Last BUT not Least, I FINALLY figured out how to get a video of Maya online...so click HERE and HERE to see her in real life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maya and her Balloon & UPDATES

Maya Updates:
Okay now more then ever I am really starting to think Maya might have come out of my belly. She is literally so much like me. Its scary! Really though! For example, Maya started daycare last week. Monday went great. Wednesday was another story. She woke up fussy and I think her teeth were hurting. Anyway, I dropped her off and heard her cry a little. Then a few hours later (I held myself back from calling to check on her so I don't seem like that crazy mom all the teachers hate)...I called and spoke to the teacher, she said "Maya had a tough morning" before I could hang up the phone I was in the car and at the daycare. I took her home and she was rejoicing all day that we were together. As I walked out of daycare, the only mommy who had to take their baby home I thought that was my mom so much of the time. I was the only kid at 15 (haha kidding) who had seperation anxieties...well now my daughter does too! And I don't mind at all! Well now at least! :)

The girl has two teethies! One is half way out and the other is almost all showing. I keep trying to get a pic but I can't get it where u can see the teeth. BUT believe me they are soooooooo cute. Like little pearls. They are causing her pain though for sure! :(

Yesterday we were in the food store. Whenever we walk by the balloons Maya goes CRAZY! So yesterday I decided today was the day to buy her a balloon. I leave her in the cart and walk over to the balloons, seriously the girl was screaming on the top of her lungs with joy over the balloon. I finally get the balloon loose from all the other balloons and hand it to her, JOY! The whole store was looking and she was soooooooooo happy. Very funny and cute. Now whenever I say Maya wheres your balloon, she points!






Here is a pic of my mom with Maya taken today. Tuesday starts Radiation and ends on October 6th. We are nervous but doing good. Trusting this is the path to complete healing for my mom.

Notice Ollie is still gaining weight. I am not kidding!

Maya is a major mommy's girl (might have something to do with the teething, might not but I am not complaining). Its hard for me to put her down. She doesn't like it. Today I was getting dressed and put her in her jumpa jumpa, she was NOT happy. Look at this face! She calmed down and had some cherrios. Usually she likes to watch me do my make up but not today...

Trying to give me a guilt trip with this look...


Here is Maya being her crazy self! Happy Girl!!

Maya Pics...

Here are some recent pics of Maya...