Our Journey to Maya (long overdue)

Maya Pictures!

Maya wasnt in the best mood for these pics but it was snowing and we had fun. Notice Ollie doubled in size LITERALLY! :)

Amy Bottomly does this not look exactly like your pics u sent out for Silas!!!

I wish this pic was me looking soooo tiny but its my mom wearing the Omni Peace Africa shirt.

They want to end poverty in Africa in 2025! Cool pic right...

Able's Gotcha Day

Yesterday last year (does that make sence) Able Ancelet was placed into the arms of Tracie and Ted. Knowing that Trace was in Ethiopia a year ago picking up Able and holding Maya for the first time makes me soooo miss the experience, yet i am FULL OF JOY that my little girl is home forever.

Here are some of the first pics we saw of Able...

what a sweet face! This was one of his referral pics.

Look at him now!

The craziest thing about this picture is this is EXACTLY what Maya is doing! The other day I look at her and she is walking down the hall pacing talking on the phone! (in Maya talk)

we are so thankful for you Abel Tesfaye!!!

This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The day Ted and Trace came home with Abel.

one day our kids are going to appreciate that they were in the same bedroom in Ethiopia for a couple of months before their parents came to pick them up and bring them to the USA where they live 15 minutes away from each other! amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we love you Ancelets.

PS

this day last year we got our travel call!!!!

Our FUNNY Valentine!

okay so I didnt think i could possibly be anymore in love with Maya then I have been but somehow it keeps getting better and deeper. THE GIRL is amazing. Today we spent 50% of the day kissing eachother on the lips, then kissing daddy, then mommy, then eskimo kisses mommy then daddy then tight squeeze cuddling. All of a sudden i feel a little arm around me and its Maya's! Just putting her arm around me! HELLO. Who would have thought one can love their little girl this much! Okay enough gushing about Maya. I am just so above and beyond thankful to have her with us this Valentine's Day!

Sleeping is MUCH better. She is sleeping in her crib no problem. Naps still tough but we are on our way.

Eating, HUGE change! She eats almost everything now. Compared to the little girl who wouldn't eat a thing...its amazing. Bolagna, spagetti, strawberries, oranges, chips, chicken nuggets! I can't believe it.

She still only has 4 teeth though but they are coming.

CONGRATS to Troy and Amber on their referral of their GORGEOUS and AMAZING SON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO many referrals its soooo exciting. I remember this time last year tooooo well. Tracie was about to leave in a week!!!!!!! I was home DYING. She was amazingly emailing me everyday, calling telling me all about Maya on her trip to get her son! Oh i will NEVER forget it Trace.

We left on March 8th less then a month to the year to get our girl. MEMORIES that will never leave.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Abby

Please read the Riggs blog by clicking HERE.
They can really use prayer. Its just unbelievable what this little girl is going through.


This is a pic from the airport after we came home with Maya. I am so wanting to start the adoption process again! We still have to pay off our loan but hoping and praying soon we can start the process for our next child from ETHIOPIA in a few years.
We are having some bedtime problems with Maya or shall I say with her parents. We let her fall asleep in our bed. I KNOW BAD! I KNOW. So now we are paying the price bc when i put her in her crib when she is awake she freaks. Freaks means hyperventilates, screams "MAMAMAMA". It is absolutely awful. Screaming on top of her lungs. I want her to go to bed earlier and in her crib like a big girl so tonite...Josh was out so i rocked her at 7:30 til 8:15 at least. Put her in her crib and the freaking out began. Then for an hour i sat by her crib, rubbed her back, her hair, put music on, held her hand tight and she finally fell asleep in her crib. The tight hand holding thru the bars was to die for adorable and made me keep going and not give up. It would be so much easier to put her in our bed and she would fall asleep and then i would put her in the crib but this is a good lesson and has to happen at her age...I felt accomplished that I got her to fall asleep. Everytime i took my hand back (bc the circulation was being cut off) she would jump up and i would say mommy is here, its ok, lay down and she would. SO...i hope tomorrow night will be easier. I can't stand the sight of Maya crying which brings me to Abby Riggs. I just am heart broken. I imagine her crying from the pain and the vision seems unbearable BUT The RIggs have the most amazing faith. Read their blog when you can.
Love
Jul

Maya Pics!

Here are some pics of Maya from Chanukah

watching Barney for the 25th time with the same enthusiasm as if it was the first time!

.... and today

(notice the 2 top teeth! FINALLY)

Liz Lyons motivated me to attempt to do Maya's hair (i will do a clip,bow or at the most pigtails)...BUT unlike Nina, Maya does NOT sit and play with toys while I do her hair. SO after hysterics i was able to get some pony tails in. No even parts were made!!!! Let's just say at one point Maya was in the sink turning the cold water on her pants and socks so I could get the last pony in. I will have to come up with something else next time but here is the first try!

Maya's hair is changing. It is still very curly but much more frizzy at the ends. I use any normal shampoo and then Curlz conditioner and sometimes a product after she is out of the bath but that product doesnt work to keep the friz away. Any suggestions?

Also, I have been checking the Riggs blog all day. I keep thinking 58 more days until Abby is done! Oh it feels long for me i can only imagine for them.