A year ago today

A year ago today we saw Maida's sweet face for the first time. It was Easter morning and we were all getting ready for church. My mom was not expecting an email anytime soon about a referral (we actually thought we had quite some time yet) and there was no other reason for her to get on the computer and check her mail, but that's exactly what she did.

The first email in her inbox was from our agency and was titled "Happy Easter"!" My mom was sure it was just a generic email they sent out but opened it anyway. She was rewarded with "IT"S A  GIRL!" Written in bold text with an attachment of her referral photo (plus a few).

 

 

We were all so excited that we not only got to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also the addition of a new daughter and sister!

I can't believe it has already been a year, a year since this girl entered our lives from an ocean away and now we will get to spend many many more years together, growing together as family and sisters. I heart you Maida!
Yaya Gabby

First Birthday in America!

Maida had lots of fun last Saturday! She got all dressed up and her nails painted, and then she headed to the park before dinner with our older sister Dominique so that the rest of us could get the house all decorated for her as a surprise.

I couldn't pick which photo's to choose from so I just posted all the ones I like instead of piking a few (sorry!). If your not in the mood for a plethora of photo's, I would stop here.

She picked a blue polish with gold flowers for me to paint her nails with. Pretty good tastes for a three year old if you ask me.



 





Some of us girls made a sign for her.

                                  

Getting everything all set up.

 

My mom, step dad, and three of my sisters (my brother and other sister couldn't make it) is what made up our small party. Just immediate family for this birthday, but next birthday, now that's a different story.... :)

 

 

Cake eating time! Because we actually have so many birthdays in February and March all of us at this point were pretty tired of cake (eating it, making it, eating more...etc) so we did something a little different and actually bought an ice cream cake. 

Our cutie about to open her first present.

She loves these pajama's (especially cuz they are a matching set with Bella's)

She loved her princess hat and fairy wings.



 

Sorry for the dark pictures, our dining room has terrible lighting.

 

Her very first swimsuit!

 

 

She also LOVES her new Lalaloopsy dress :)

 

 

 They are trying to figure out how to get Maida's balloon from the ceiling back into her hand :)She had a ball playing with the balloons with Bella.

 

Mama helping her put her new shoes on. This girl is crazy about flip flops!

Her birthday present from Yaya Tia

 

You see the card that's kinda in the picture in front of Maida? Well, despite all the clothes and new toys and cake, this was her favorite thing of the night!

 

Frogs are one of the only animals that Maida remembers right now on a daily basis in English. She likes frogs quite a bit, although she has never been in close proximity to one.

So...We got her a frog card that sings happy birthday while croaking .... none of us knew what her first reaction to it would be..... this is what we got :)

I don't know if you can see her face but she was both startled and speechless. She could not figure out what in the world it was. After about five second though, her facial features changed to this:



:) She now opens her "frog book" all day long.

 

It was a good day and one I am glad the Lord blessed us with in being able to share such precious moments with this cutie girl.

 

 

Until next time,

Gabby

 



It's Someone's Birthday Around Here!

Yes, that's right. It's Maida's first birthday in America! She turns three today! This will be the first time anyone has ever recognized the day of her birth. All this hullabaloo is pretty foreign and strange for her but she is digging the attention regardless! Would you all join me and wish this cutie sister of mine a happy birthday?

Photo Update

I don't have much to say today. There is nothing particularly special going on, nothing really noteworthy, but I do have a lot of photos that have been filling up my phone that need to be shared :)

 

Warning! Some ridiculously cute pictures are to follow, proceed at your own discretion ;)

 Tia helping Maida put on her shoes and getting all ready for church. 

 

 

One of Maida's favorite pastimes (along with my six year old sister, Bella) is to try everything that belongs to our mom on.

 

Silly girl :)

 

She also likes to imitate all her older sisters in playing instruments :) Her favorite ones to play are the violin and harmonica.

 

I think we have a bit of a fashionista on our hands!

 

Last Saturday we helped a friend with their adoption yard sale to help bring home their little girl (She is from the same orphanage Maida came from and is a very close friend of Sevi's!).

 

A couple days ago my mom the three younger girls and I went out to get some things for our garden.

 

 

 

 

And this is what happens when the little sister is tired of Yaya (big sister) Gabby taking pictures and Yaya Bella nagging at her to stand still and smile.

 

It's neat to see this two grow closer as sisters, they are not always the best to each other (just being honest) but each day improvements are being made and they are growing closer and closer together.

 

Sevi, your family is waiting for you and can't wait to take pictures with you and to watch you learn and grow with us as a family.

We are coming to get you as fast as we can.

 

 

 

Gabby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Hair Time

  Maida's hair is finally long enough to actually do!

          

She has not had her hair done since quite sometime ago while she was still in Congo because they shaved her head (with a straight edge!) more often then not.

                                

       My mom was ready for a new do :)

                               

                                                        The finished product!