HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I HOPE THIS YEAR BRINGS A LOT OF JOY TO EVERYONE.

I KNOW EVERYONE IS DYING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT MY NEWS. SO, HERE IS A BIT MORE. I WILL BE ADOPTING MAYA'S BIO SISTER. SHE IS DUE 2/18/2009. WE HAVE PULLED A LOT OF STRINGS. I AM JUST PRAYING THAT THINGS GO SMOOTH THIS TIME. I WILL GET TO NAME HER AT BIRTH. SHE WILL BE GABRIELLA HOPE. WE WILL CALL HER GABBY. EVERYTHING IS DONE, WE ARE JUST WAITING ON HER TO BE BORN AND GUATEMALA TO REOPEN. I AM TRYING NOT TO GET EXCITED!!!

CHRISTMAS IN A NUTSHELL!!!

These are some pictures that I had made when we went to visit Ellie in California. Yep, I am just getting them back. I know some people are slow. Anyway the pictures turned out really good. However, I couldn't get them to turn the right way.

Christmas was GREAT this year. Maya was so excited. She was a bit upset Christmas morning when Santa wasn't there. She go over that really quick. She got a tricycle, princess table and chair, princess backpack, doll house, and a crayon doll that teaches colors in english and spanish. From other family members she got a desk, Elmo live (I love him), more dolls with all the accessories. I really don't even remember what she got. It was way too much. We have been very busy all weekend. I am trying to get over the flu. Not easy when you can't rest. I will have to go back to work to get some rest. However, I wouldn't change a minute of it. Maya was so much fun this year. I have tons of pictures from the weekend. I have to sort them and download.

Maya also has some big news. Our family of 2 will very soon be a family of 3. That is all I can say at this point. I am trying not to get excited but that is hard. I have known about this for about a month. I have been dying to tell but I just told my family. I will give more details as I can.

EDITED TO ADD: CONCERNING THE BIG NEWS, I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED, THERE IS ANOTHER BABY IN THE MAKING AND NO I AM NOT PREGNANT.



I hope everyone had a very Happy and Blessed Christmas!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS.

We hope each of you have a great day with your family and friends.

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

MAYA MEETS THE SNOWMAN!!!

MAYA WASN'T REAL SURE ABOUT THESE THINGS.

THE BEST PRESENT EVER!!!!

THIS SHIRT IS SO TRUE!!! MAYA IS THE BEST PRESENT I EVER GOT. I STILL LOOK AT HER IN AWE. SHE AMAZING ME MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY. I LOVE TO SEE WHAT SHE IS GOING TO DO DIFFERENT EVERYDAY. SHE IS TALKING NONSTOP NOW. INTERESTING IN EVERYTHING. SHE IS GROWING UP WAY TOO FAST. SHE IS HER OWN LITTLE PERSON WITH A VERY STRONG LITTLE HEAD. SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE WANTS AND SHE GOES AFTER IT. I LOVE HER MORE EVERYDAY. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER MY LIFE BEFORE HER. WHAT DID DO WITH MY TIME?

SOME OF MAYA FAVORITES:

FOOD: TOMATOES, NOODLES, RICE

SHOES: FLIP FLOPS AND BOOTS

CARTOON: DORA AND SPONGE BOB (NOT MINE)

TOY: BABY DOLLS AND PURSES

PHRASE: NOWAY AND ITS EVERYWHERE (YOU HAVE TO SEE THE HANDS)

PERSON: HER MAMA, OF COURSE

EATING PLACE: TACO BELL

BELLINGRATH GARDENS

WE SPENT THE DAY IN MOBILE SHOPPING. THEN WE WENT TO BELLINGRATH GARDENS TO LOOK AT THE LIGHTS. THIS WAS MAYA'S FIRST TIME. SHE LOVED IT.

PICTURE POST

CUTEST LITTLE WREATH HOLDER THAT I COULD FIND.
POSING BY THE TREE. YES, MAYA IS THE BEST PRESENT I EVER GOT.

SHAKING HER BOX IN THE CHRISTMAS PLAY AT CHURCH. SHE HAD JUST WOKE UP SO SHE WASN'T REALLY INTO IT. SHE THOUGHT WHEN I PUT HER PJ'S ON SHE HAD TO GO TO SLEEP.

MAYA WITH CASEY AT THE CHRISTMAS PARADE. IT WAS SO COLD!!

TAKING A LEAF BREAK. I USED THIS PICTURE ON ONE OF OUR CHRISTMAS CARDS. SINCE SHE REFUSED TO SMILE ON THE ONES WE HAD DONE AT OLIN MILLS. THAT IS A WHOLE ANOTHER POST.

STRIKING A POSE. SHE IS GOOD AT THAT.

WE HAD ADOPTION DAY AT OUR CHURCH. THIS IS WHAT SHE WORE. I WROTE A LITTLE TESTIMONY ABOUT US BECOMING A FAMILY. IT WAS A VERY SWEET SERVICE. WE HAVE ABOUT 15 KIDS IN OUR CHURCH THAT ARE ADOPTED. MAYA IS THE ONLY INTERNATIONALLY ADOPTED.

SHE GOT ALL INTO DECORATING THIS YEAR.

MAKING COOKIES FOR UNCLE JAMES IN IRAQ.

MY GRANDMA WITH ALL HER GREAT GRANDKIDS.

CHEESE MODE!!!

MAYA AND HER NANA

MAYA AND AVA PLAYING AT THE MALL.

NELSON AND MAYA WAITING FOR THE HAY RIDE THAT TRICK OR TREATING.

FIRST STOP FOR MINNIE MOUSE.

PLEASE BE PRAYING FOR MAYA'S BABYSITTER AND HER FAMILY. THEY FOUND OUT THIS WEEK THAT THEIR 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHER HAS CANCER. THIS IS HER SECOND BOUT. SHE HAD IT 4 YEARS AGO. SHE IS A PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL. THEY HAVE 5 ADOPTED KIDS AND SHE IS ONE OF THEM. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WILL TREAT IT YET. THE DOCTORS ARE STILL DOING TEST.