Holiday Wishes

This is simply going to be thee BEST Christmas EVER! The amount of joy Zaela has brought to my life and those closest to me is nothing short of amazing! Christmas 2008.... will be a Christmas to remember!

To all of my friends, family, co-workers, fellow AP's, and BLOG followers,,, may you have a happy and healthy holiday season!

Zoo Day

As the holidays approach things are getting more and more hectic and the days seem to fly by even faster! It has been a busy.... but fun week for us! One of the many highlights was on Wednesday when we joined a local group of adoptive moms for a day at the Zoo! It really was a pretty much perfect day for us :-)))))))))) Check out all the fun things we got to do!

I'm so Thankful for...

MY LITTLE BUTTERBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


After Turkey picture:-))
Before Turkey picture! Our first Thanksgiving Dinner!!!


PLAYTIME at the Park today!

I'm Walking!!!

Zaela has been taking steps on her own for about a month, but today she really seemed to put it together and she took off walking a quite a few times on her own! I finally caught her taking a few steps on video. She also tried using the spoon on her own today... I still don't know if she is going to be right or left handed?

3 Months Ago

I greated mommy with a sweet smile and then fell asleep so peacefully!


But today I love unrolling the toilet paper and peeing on it!!! And if I am not doing that, I love to play in all of the drawers and throw stuff around!!! YaY!!!!

The Name Zaela

I am often asked where I came up with the name "Zaela." I really wanted a unique and beautiful name that was simple so I put a spin on a few names I liked, added the "Z" and came up with the name Zaela. I was also considering a few other names, until one day I was playing with the spelling and googled "Zaela".... I found a website that contained historical women leaders of Ethiopia. With the most infamous Queen being Makeda (known biblically as the Queen of Sheba),,,, appearing some years following Queen Makeda there was Queen Zaela Ahyawa ....

Ca. 325-ca.34 Queen Zaela Ahyawa (Ahyawa Sefya/Eguala Anbasa)She succeeded her husband and converted to Christianity 327.

The coincidence was uncanny and at that moment I knew...Zaela was the name I wanted!!!! So enough historical talk,,, here are some random pictures and my new favorite video of my little Queen Zaela :-)

"GIGGLE GIRL"

Congratulations Christy / Sunset

First of all I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS to my dear friend Christy who has had to endure a long and difficult adoption process. She finally passed through court today and is officially Elias' mommy! You can see her darling little boy here... http://ethiopianking.blogspot.com/2008/11/elias-tariku-king.html I can't wait for her to bring him home! Zaela has been waiting for her playmate!!!

As for us,,, we have had a few beautiful days here in Southern Cal so I decided a trip to the beach was a must! Zaela and I enjoyed our first sunset! She loved watching the water and birds as the sun set on the horizon:-)

The dolphins even stopped by to say hi to Z!

A day I will never forget

November 6th, 2007... I learned the fate of my sweet Nevaeh (Hannah). I think of her and Edom often and try to make sense of why they were given such a short time on this earth. I am a better person for having them in my life and I have come to realize that in life we can only accept what we cannot change and cherish the time we are given with those we love. So tonight as I rocked Zaela to sleep I held her even tighter as I remembered giving Nevaeh her last hug good-bye.

I still have a hard time looking at Nevaeh's pictures and can hardly believe a year has already past us by. Although time will continue to march on and life will get hectic, I will always want to remember and honor Nevaeh and Edom. So, tomorrow and in the years to come November 6th will be set aside as a special day for Zaela and I to reflect on the past and appreciate the present.... Good-night for now my sweet angels.

My little Butterfly!

Zaela the Butterfly:-)

Fall Festivities

Today I went to my first pumpkin patch! It was so much fun...there were bubbles, ponies, goats, ducks, and lots of PUMPKINS!!!

Dear Grandma and Grandpa...

I sure do miss you both and can't wait to see you in December! I am doing really good and getting into everything I can! When I am not getting into things I am usually whining because I like to be held ALOT!! Here are a few recent pictures and a video of me when I went grocery shopping! XOXXO Zaela

Her first word is....

DOGGIE!!! She has been saying it for a while now and will point and say "doggie" when she sees one walk by the house. I am hoping momma isn't going to be too far down on her list of first words:-)
Here is a video of her enjoying her Baby Einstein, Neighborhood Animals DVD!

First week as ONE!

The small gathering for Zaela's birthday was fun! A last minute get together with a few close friends and she still got WAY spoiled:-) Gifts started arriving a week in advance for little Z-Rose. My house officially looks like an aisle at Toys-R-Us and her dresser is stuffed with clothes!!! Thanks everyone for celebrating her "1st" and making it so special!

Well Grandpa and Grandma are needing some pictures so here are a few of Zaela hard at play with some of her new toys!
Another birthday photo

OK so I got a lot of fun, new toys,,,, but today my favorite is the HOSE!

Cruising through my new tunnel!

See ya mom,,, I am outta here!!!

The world from a different angle!

Ready to SHOP!

I'm ONE!

Here are a few pictures from the Birthday Celebration.... YaY,,,, I am "1"!!!!!!

Your last day of before "1"

My darling little daughter,

Today we spent the day making the last minute runs to Target and Vons. I baked yummy cupcakes and your first BIRTHDAY CAKE as you took everything out of the kitchen cabinets and whined for me to pick you up! No afternoon nap today so it'is 11:30pm and I am just finishing as you sleep!!! Tomorrow little girl, you will be "1"!!!!!!!!!!!

Walking with a little help!

The Adventures of Zaela

Today I drank from my first sippy cup!!!


And then re-arranged mommy's cabinets!

Who thought of these messy bisquits???

Sleeping with my favorite teddy bear!

Summertime in October, yes another day in the pool!