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.