Angel Baby

A Nutcracker Christmas

2011-12-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

This year Zaela will have her first opportunity to strut her stuff on stage as a mouse in the Nutcracker Ballet! It has already been a demanding schedule for her star role for both Zaela and mom & dad. Wow, we had NO idea what we were getting into!!! She seems to love it so its all worth it!

Today we went to get a picture with Santa,,, her first one : ) She is only smiling because Santa didn't ask her if she has been Naughty or Nice!!!!

Starring Zaela Rose as Baby Mouse!

"4" and Fabulous!!!

2011-11-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Wow,,, our little girl is the big "4!" Such a fun age and growing up so fast! The good news is that she still wants to marry daddy because he is her favorite boy!!!! Let's keep it that way Miss Z!!

This year little Miss Z was quite demanding in the birthday party arena. Her wish list was: pretty plates, pretty napkins, pretty cups, a banner inside and a banner outside, a caterpillar cake, bug cupcakes, yummy food, balloons, and last but not least, a pinata!!!! Needless to say, she got her wish list and had a great time with all of her friends. We may have a future Events Coordinator/Party Planner on our hands! Of course, she wouldn't be our Miss Z if she didn't remind us a few days later that we should have gotten her a jumper??!?!!!*#%

In addition to her birthday party, she got to go to the San Diego Zoo and have a celebration with all of her friends at pre-school....the party kept going!

Halloween was especially fun this year too...she LOVES Halloween! This year she was Jesse so of course daddy had to be Woody! We were the Toy Story family,,,,Nikko & Matt will be proud ; )

Zaela's first bike.. one cute beach cruiser!

Zaela's big brother and Kelly!

Friends and presents,,,, life is GOOOD!

The biggest Cupcake Pinata ever!!!

The "BUG" cupcakes!

Mommy's best attempt at a caterpillar cake.

Just one cute pic of the little girl who LOVES to wear rain gear!

My little Ballerina!

2011-08-28T14:22:00.000-07:00

Zaela started taking ballet and tap dance lessons last week! I have to say that one of the sweetest things in the world is dressing your little girl up in a tutu and watching her learn how to dance....priceless : ))

The OC Fair

2011-08-06T06:50:00.001-07:00

Little Miss Z had a ball at her first visit to the OC Fair! As you can see she looooves Rollercoasters! That smile says it all! She also enjoyed the pony ride and her favorite Clydesdale horse named "Sammy," not to mention the deep fried brownies! It was a great day at the fair!!!

My first pet!!!

2011-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

OK, so not exactly what one would expect....Introducing "Cowie!" Zaela has a pet cow (balloon that is!) She loves it and takes it everywhere she goes! LOL! Mom even had to chase it down the street yesterday when the the string leash broke...quite the sight as I am chasing a cow balloon down the middle of the street with Zaela screaming,,, but "We saved Cowie!" It was a Wonderpets episode right here on our own block!

Zaela also wrote her name for the first time on her etch-a-sketch! Here are a few photos to catch you up!

"Officially" Family

2011-05-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

On April 29, 2011, I got to marry my "Mr. Fabulous!" Admittedly, I didn't think the day would come, but it was soooo worth the wait!!! Here are a few of my favorites!

The Sassiest Little Flower Girl!

Ok, keep it movin',, your fans can wait!!!

Grammie, grammie, grammie!

Sweet kisses for daddy!

The girls!!! Meggs, Lorie, and LuLu!!

My FAVORITE pic!!!

My handsome husband!

Happy "half" Birthday!!!

2011-04-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

April 18, 2011.... We couldn't forget to celebrate Zaela's half way to "4" with a half a cake complete with 3.5 candles!! Her birthday wish was...(because we all know Zaela can't keep a secret) that mommy and daddy get to stay home EVERYDAY with her!!! Ahhhhhhhhh we wish we could my little sunshine girl!!!

Christmas Cookie Time!

2010-12-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Zaela looooooooves making cookies almost as much as she likes eating them!!!

A pic from Halloween!

Zaela's first purchase all on her own.... a gravy shaker and a storage box!!!???!

Look Who's THREE!!!!

2010-10-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

So much going on here,,,just no time to BLOG these days! We were on vacation most of September and were able to visit family and friends in both Georgia and Wisconsin. We went back to work on October 5th and Zaela started Pre-school!!! Here is our proud little girl on her first day : )) Complete with the paint stains!!! Hi and bye to the fishies every morning and afternoon!

Zaela's Third Birthday Party !!!! Eli was never far away from the Birthday girl!
Proud daddy....

Proud mommy....

Yay,,,, complete with a Buzz and Woody cake!

Summer Highlights!

2010-08-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

Fun with Sammy and the boys!

Grandpa always buys me ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday kisses for Sammy!

Swinging with mama!

Newport Dunes Beach : )

"Gotcha Day II"... 2years with my "Little Sunshine Girl!"

Playdates with my awesome adoptive moms group! Here I am with Qwali and Jasmine~

More beach time with gramie!

Look out Bo Derek!

My new little friend "Jackson" arrived!

I can finally ride my tricycle!

...and more beach!

That's it for now!!!

Zaela 2009 at OneTrueMedia.com

2010-07-23T14:00:00.001-07:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Love it OR Hate it!

2010-06-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

Loves getting her fingers and toes polished! ..but hates it when her toes "accidently" touch before they are dry!!

Lovin' her first pony ride! ......and then of course Hating it!

BUT, she ALWAYS loves her popcorn!

..but still HATES the backfloat!

Loves the new glasses!

Loves getting dirty in the sand with Sammy!

AND Looooves Rylee Bona!

A picture is worth a thousand words....

2010-05-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

How lucky are we??!!??!

My Big Girl

2010-05-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Well, here she is modeling her "Big Girl Panties!!" Yes, she is officially potty trained : )) Believe it or not she is no longer a Paci Addict either! She traded in her pacis for her favorite Backyardigans stuffed animals!!! Some huge milestones these past few months, she is growing up soooo fast!

We also had some fun at a local produce farm and she started swimming lessons last week! Hopefully the crying will end SOON : (( Well, here are some new pics!

One of my many new pairs of big girl panties : ) My favorite are the Ni Ho Kai Lan ones! My new horsie "Butterscotch!" I'm going to grandma's house!!

Front yard fun with Sammy!

Swimming with Lyra! One moment of fun and NO crying!

Mooommy,,,,mommmy,,, mommmy,,,maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmeee..

Now what???

Picking my own Strawberries at Tanaka Farms

An even trade,,, pacis for Pablo and Austin!

Pics, pics, and more pics!

2010-04-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

Look who is sooo HAPPY,,, grandma and grandpa are here!

A day at Legoland!

The Three Philosophers!

The ET Gang

"Seriously???"

Cute : )

Poor Rylee! lol

True confessions of a Paci addict

2010-03-06T18:38:00.001-08:00

Who Let the Dogs Out....etc..

2010-02-22T16:29:00.000-08:00

Never a dull moment with Miss Z around!!! I have gotten a few "Where are you guys???" emails so I thought I better make the time for a post! We just had a wonderful time with my friends (and Zaela's Godparents!) from Wisconsin who came to visit us,,, wish they could have stayed longer! Thanks for coming Jay, Kel, and Kasey!!!! And here are some of our highlights since the last post.....

Today we went to the LA Zoo and checked out some animals!! She is a climber!!! The park is a little stressful for mom now!!!!!!!

Took a tumbling class at My Little Gym.... not sure if they want us back after she tore the place up on her first visit! lol

Jay and Shands enjoying Zaela's Tea Party!

Zaela's first Valentine's Rose compliments of Shands!

Hangin' out with Olivia and Jasmine at Lyra's Birthday party,,, boy does she love a good Juice Box!!

A playdate with Pat's sweetie Melat! I think someone was jealous : )

My thoughts exactly,,, potty training... sigh........

Playing dress up,,, "I'm a princess!!!"

"Who Let the Dogs Out," by Zaela Rose !!!!

We are HERE!

2010-01-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

Here we are !!! For many reasons I just haven't had the time to blog and really have no idea how you "good" bloggers keep up! The holidays were so busy and flew by way too fast. Zaela had a great time this year talking about Santa and the 16' Nutcracker displayed down the street! We are still hearing about the Nutcracker EVERYDAY!!!! In usual Zaela form, she was the center of attention and loved having grandma and grandpa here for 2 weeks!

She is back in daycare now and adjusting well. We have a Dr. appt on the 18th to try to find out why she favors her right eye so much... other than that..... all good and weighing in just shy of 37lbs these days!

So here are some pics and a little video....

Using her new vaccuum!

Nap time with Grandpa

My new chairs that Grandpa built!!!

The infamous "Nutcracker!!!!"

Lovin' my new kitchen!

They won't miss this one cookie!!!

Stirrin' up the batter!

Helping Grandma??? Hmmmm....

Zaela and E-I.... what can we say,,, the Santa line was too long so we opted for the Poinsettia!

Squeezin' oranges!

PB&J Break with E-I

Feeding my new dolly!

Help,,,, I'm stuck in the chair mama!!!!!!!!!

The "Hokey Pokey"

Fall Fun!

2009-11-19T14:10:00.000-08:00

As usual there never seems to be enough time in the day to get that blog post in!! Well, I made the time today because I know grandma and grandpa are patiently waiting for some new pics! Zaela is still talking about her trip to the pumpkin patch,,,she had soooo much fun! She took her first official plane ride in her very own seat and we spent Halloween with Nikko, Matt, and Fiori! Here are some highlights.....

THE Pumpkin Patch!!!
Yay, my own window seat!

Off we go!

Hmmm, where do I want to run off to?

The butterfly and the bumble bee + Frosting!

Jumpie Jump!

Bath time,, look at that hair!!!

Baking cookies!

I love this new Chanel lip gloss! At least she put it on her lips instead of the wall!!!

My first pee-pee!

Happy Birthday Baby

2009-10-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

My little girl turned "2" on the 18th and woke up saying "NO!" Yup, right on schedule for the terrible 2's!!! lol! We had a fun Birthday Party complete with neighbors and friends. Little girl even blew out her candles.... twice! Yes, she loved the birthday song and blowing out the candles so much that we had to do a replay : )

She is learning something new everyday and it is hard to keep up with her. She can count, sing her ABC's, and knows her colors. She also started full time daycare on Oct. 6th. I am so fortunate to have found a wonderful in home daycare near my home! The first week there was some crying, but everything has fallen into place and she is having a great time with Laura and the other kids!

First day at Daycare!

2 Year Check-up and stuff!

2009-09-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

There simply is not enough time in the day! Things have been quite busy indeed here at the Wedekind residence! Grandpa is here for a visit and is leaving with grandma tomorrow : ((( Zaela and I have been soooo lucky to have grandma here to take care of us since February. So we are going to have a big transition with daycare, as our official start date is Oct. 6th. Fortunately, I get to spend a week with Zaela at home until daycare starts!!

Well, most of you know that one of the other reasons I have been so busy (and a terrible blogger) is because I met my Mr. Fabulous back in July. Yes, I am here to say that there are a few good men still out there ladies ; )) More news to come on that!!! : )))))

Zaela also had her two year check up! She weighed in at 33.2 lbs and 36 inches. She is healthy and happy (other than when she got her shots!) The doctor actually put her on 2% milk.. lol! My only wish now is that I could have another 6 months off with her.... but... I guess you just can't have it all!! In the meantime,,,, life is good!

Grandpa and Zaela

Already HATING that d*** scale!!!!!!!!!!

"Time Out" corner,,, she actually sits there!!!???!!

Fun at "Pretend City" in Irvine....

Lounging at the pool!

More Summer Fun!

2009-08-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

Raking with grandma! Playtime!

Walking my baby!

Splish Splash!

It's a Perfect "10" for the Swan DIVE!

Sportin' the Roxy Bikini

2009-08-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

Gotta love those hand-me-downs...Compliments of Christy's sister, Michelle!

Zaela can't seem to get enough of the water! She loves the big pool and seems to have no fear! She kept jumping off the ledge lastnight into the pool; so I let her go under the water! She loved it! I guess it's time for some swimming lessons for my little "water bug!"

To my little sweetheart,

2009-08-19T19:19:00.000-07:00

We have had one amazing year together! It seems like forever since I was off work and able to spend everyday with you going for stroller walks and just enjoying each other. We have been so fortunate that you were able to spend the last 6 months with grandma after my return to work! You have become quite the grandma's girl and had so much fun together! As a matter of fact, we have both been spoiled by grandma!!!

I can't wait to come home everyday and chase you down for my hugs and kisses : ))) You have brought so much joy to so many and I look forward to every precious year I am given with you!

It is sometime still hard to believe how miraculous adoption is.... I am forever grateful for the priceless gift I was given to be able to call you my daughter.

I love You,,,,, Mama

July 18, 2008

July 18, 2009

Going PRIVATE!!!!

2009-08-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of my loyal "Angel Baby" followers! I have decided to make my blog private in the near future, so please email me privately or leave your email address on this post and I will see that you get the password to read on!!!!

As for an update,,, I can not believe how fast Zaela is growing up! Our "Gotcha Day" is just around the corner and all I can think of is how fast the year has passed us by!

Wow,,, what an amazing year it has been!!!! Thank you baby girl : ))) I WUV YOU!!!

Zaela and Mikey playing!

Zaela and Sammy today on his birthday!!!

Don't look Eli!!!

Zaela's new big bed and tree!

Ready for Combat!

2009-08-06T20:17:00.001-07:00

Summer FUN!

2009-08-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Little girl is now talking up a storm and growing like crazy! She is putting words together and understands more and more! She is adjusting to her new "big bed" and loves jumping on it:-)) Here are a few pics and one funny video....poor E-I!!!!

Zaela in her Speed Boat!

Swimming with Aunt Silvie!

Sleeping in my BIG BED!

My new hobby!

Yummm sand!

I have a BLOG???!??!

2009-07-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

I seriously don't know how people do it with more than one kid! I have been so busy that someone had to remind me that I even have a blog! Life is hectic, but could not be better in our little corner of the world.....ok except for a few more teeth coming in;-)

We have been on the move with birthday parties, local beach trips with some fellow AP's, and recently returned from Dallas where we attended a reuion for my adoption agency! WOW,,, it was CRAZY but so much fun meeting everyone!

Today was spent mattress shopping because someone can now leap out of her crib in a single bound! Yup, Zaela is going to have her own "Big Bed!!!" Growing up waaaaaaay to fast!

Zaela and "E-I"
Auntie D on the 4th!!!! Great view at Gina's :-))

Gina, Z, and CUTIE PiE "Taj"

Thelma and Louise!!!! LOL

Z, Ava, and Ana in Dallas

Our first trip to the Big pool!.... everything is bigger in Dallas!

Too much partying with the Pruitt sisters!

So cute,,, Zaela's new BFF

The party room.....E-I, Addis, Lalu, and Miranda!

"The girls of Hope"....thanks for the pose Mir! lol

Jordon's Birthday Party!

ABC and 1,2,3

2009-06-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

So it seems little Zaela is learning her numbers and letters! Unfortunately, whenever I turn on the video she gets distracted so these are not even her best performances! I could hardly believe it when I heard her! My favorite is the end of the alphabet.. "Now I know my..." Sooooo cute!

Sunday FUNday!

2009-06-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend we had! It started Saturday with a stroller walk to Macy's. Zaela fell asleep which gave mom the window of opportunity to spend lots of money on new clothes. Not that I had a whole lot of extra money lining my pockets, but.... she was sleeping and there was a sale!!! I had to seize the opportunity,,, right?? LOL

Today we headed to church. Much to my suprise Zaela played for well over an hour in the daycare room! Just one little fussy moment that apparently a grahm cracker quickly solved! Grandma watched her today during her naptime and I was able to join 3 other single AP's for a nice lunch and conversation!!! Yes, it was nice to actually complete a thought and sentences without tending to my little munchkin and send off my friend Mona http://monaplusone.blogspot.com/ , who is leaving next week to get her Janissa!!!! YaY!!

This afternoon Zaela got her water time in!!! She can't get enough of wah-wah and "side"! She didn't even need a swimming suit earlier in the week to join in the neighborhood festivities (check out the pics!) :-)

Unfortunately I do have some bad news to report. It would appear that I am now having first hand experience of the "Terrible 2's" phenomenon that seems to strike at about this time. Zaela now uses the word "NO" frequently and with conviction! She also had her first "let's throw myself on the ground and throw a fit" when I don't get my way episode. Yikes,,,, where did my sweet baby go???? OK, she still has some sugar in her, but WOW am I going to have my hands full!!!

In her Sunday dress!

Who need a swimsuit for a Slip and Slide??? Not Zaela!

Pics from today!

"ZALES"

2009-06-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

Auntie D is our resident expert in nicknames and once again she picked a winner,,, "Zales!" Little Zales is learning new things at a rapid pace these days. She knows her body parts, animals and their sounds, and is putting words together like, "What happened, Ice cream truck (suprise, suprise!), and "I love you!" She is still a busy body and loves to be outside and in any water she can find! It amazes me everyday how fast they seem to grow and learn,,, it just goes way too fast!
Now for pics,, A day in the life of "Zales" with Auntie D and her other Uncle Greg:-)

Who is that coool chick???

Hangin' wth Grandpa

Yes, I am sleeping here!

Yes, I am sleeping here too!!!!!!!

Shake it, shake it!!! Our local weekly Children's Concert:-))

A pic without Zales...LOL! A fresh look for the summer! I always wanted a red door!

I LOVE YOU video!

I like that BOOM BOOM CHOW...

2009-05-31T12:31:00.000-07:00

MEIN that is!!!! WoW,,, need I say a word?? Front yard fun with Mikey and Eli!

My silly girl!

Hard at work in Auntie "Salsa's" office!

First trampoline jump!

The big dipper and the little dipper!

Coo-kie Coo-kie Coo-kie

2009-05-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

Seriously!! I must hear the word cooo-kie a thousand times a day!!! Zaela definitely knew the word cooo-kie, however after our visit to see Gina and Taj, she has become a coo-kie addict! The crazy thing is that is was a vegan chocolate chip cookie that sent her on this downward spiral! I have to admit they were awfully good:-)))

I have been on vacation the last few weeks and we have been having a blast together! I absolutely love this age and wish I could just make time stand still. There is nothing better than spending my days at home with her, but it is back to work next Tuesday:-(( The good news is that grandma and grandpa will be here Saturday to spoil her rotten!

Coo-kie girl in action!!!!
Practicing YOGA??!?!

It was a fun time in the bath tonight!!

Playtime:-)

Headlines, Pics, and One CUTE Video!

2009-05-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

This morning Zaela Rose became an official citizen of the U.S.A.!!!!

Enjoying a day at Venice Beach! I think the swings are more fun here:-)))))

Helping mama water the flowers:-))

Our new friends Gina and Taj!!!

Zaela's daily conversation with Grandpa!!!! LOL!

Yes, a NEW POST!!!!

2009-04-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know,,, "Bad Blogger!" Lot's has been going on so here is what we have been up to! Zaela had her 18 month check up last week! She is doing great and weighed in at 29.8lbs! She is in the 97% for both height and weight so at least her height has caught up to her weight:-)

She is keeping Grandma quite busy during the day and seems to be napping less and waking up earlier and earlier! She is a very independent and social little girl and just does not seem to want to miss ANYTHING! A few of her favorite things are shoes, sunglasses, yogurt, being outside, and cruising Costco for those fabulous food samples!!!

We have also been able to squeeze in a few playdates with our local adoptive mom's group and I even had the honor of hosting a "Ladies Night In" at my place Sunday!!!

Oh,, and....I received the "Sisterhood" blog award from Malia's Mom:-) So, I get to tag 3 more lucky bloggers that have been soooo supportive and kept me sane during my... well... rollercoaster of an adoption journey.

1) Christy... http://ethiopianking.blogspot.com She is not only my fellow blogger and single mama, but become a treasured local friend!!! Thanks again for everything including your wine and cake therapy:-)

2) Rebecca... http://rejotoblog.blogspot.com Hello girl.. You always knew when to give me a call to get me through! I feel like I have known you forever,,, thanks for "getting it!!"

3) Chris.... http://journeytolayla.blogspot.com Thanks for being my voice of reason,,, You are the best!!!

Zaela in her favorite heels!

Ah yes, the many moods of my little girl! From this...

To this within seconds! LOL

Trying to move the scale to the left!

My fellow local AP's!!!!

My buddy Eli:-)

All smiles:-))))

An Easter EGGstravaganza!!!

2009-04-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

Adoption,,,,, a wonderful gift that fills your life with so much joy!!! What I didn't realize is how many great friends I would also meet along the way with the common bond of adoption. This week I got to plan our trip to Texas for my agency reunion in July and enjoy my first annual Easter Eggstravaganza with a local group of adoptive parents! I feel so lucky to have met such a great group of supportive friends and look forward to seeing our children grow up together! I'm so happy Christy and Mona joined the group and thank-you Mona for helping out with Zaela!!!

Also a huge thank-you to Auntie D.D.D. for the beautiful pictures and Jamie who gave Zaela the most beautiful Easter dress (see pic below!) The other big news is that grandma purchased a potty chair for Zaela's Easter present! She hasn't quite figured out how to use it yet, but sure likes checking it out!!!

Zaela and the Easter Bunny in her new dress!

Zaela and her new friends!!!!

Look mama,, I found an egg!!

I love all my friends!

Especially Eli:-))

Hangin' out on my new potty with my bunny ears!

What's your name???

2009-03-20T19:29:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Zaela have been having some fun days! Unfortunately they often start anywhere from 4 - 5:30AM! I love to be able to say good-bye to her in the morning, but it sure does take longer to get out of the house and I'm sure grandma would appreciate a little more sleep! As you will see in the video little girl LOVES shoes, the park, and saying her name! Yup, grandma has been doing some home schooling and taught her how to say "Zay-ya!"

Hangin' with grandma.....

"Momma at wwooork"

2009-03-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately Zaela's new word is,,,"wwooork!" It's so different not being able to spend all of my time with her now that I am back to work, but Grandma is having so much fun with her and I am met at the door with smiles and hugs:-)

Z is growing like crazy and jabbers non-stop! She enjoyed her last bottle a week ago and has not looked back so I guess she is officially a "big" girl now! I'm kind of sad about that!

We have been keeping so busy lately that it's tough to find the time to post! We have had a few highlights like meeting our new friends Beth and Dori! Zaela's friends Mikey and Eli also turned "1" in February so we have been hitting the party circuit!

My new friend Dori came all the way to Honey Beach to see me!!

I really was happy here at Eli's birthday party!!

Sharing my favorite cupboard with my buddy "Eli"!

Legally Zaela Rose...

2009-02-15T10:51:00.000-08:00

It was a busy week.... back to work, taxes, post-placement visit, party time at Auntie D.'s, and Zaela's RE-ADOPTION! Yay,,, she is legally Zaela Rose as of February 11th! I sooo missed being at home with her, but having grandma here has certainly made it easier to return to work (and get things like my taxes done!)

Auntie D. gave us a preview pic of our latest photo session.... I LOVE the latest pic of my little Ethio-American Girl!!!! Auntie D. takes thee BEST photos!!!! THANK-YOU girlie:-))))

YaY,,, grandma is here!

Feb 11th,,, Re-Adoption Day!

Auntie D. showed me how to mix "Lemonade"!!! She's so smart!!!

Dear Zaela

2009-02-09T18:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Zaela,

My life has been a dream since the day I first held you in my arms. We have spent everyday and night together since and it has simply been the best days of my life. I love waking up to your baby babble and coming into your room to see your sweet face. Our days have been filled with stroller walks, playing at the park, and sometimes just enjoying days at home. I have cherished watching you experience your milestones, while growing and developing quite the personality!

Every night I have rocked you to sleep with your lullabies and reflected on our time together as I try to etch the memory of each day on my heart. I am so grateful for you and the precious time I was given to be at home with you. Tomorrow as I return to work, I want you to know my heart will break and I will be missing you every minute! My hope for you is that one day you too will experience the pure joy of motherhood and comprehend how much you mean to me and the joy you brought to my life.

Love,
mama

Life is GOOD!

2009-02-04T20:38:00.000-08:00

If there is such thing as a perfect day,,,, today was it! There is nothing better than beautiful weather, the sound of the ocean on a desolate beach, and watching my little girl smile and play in the sand! It just doesn't get any better!!!!

Here are a few pics from today and some other highlights of my last week (so far) home with little Z! We also did another photo shoot with Auntie D. on Monday!!! Yayyyyyyy,,, more fabulous pics to come:-)))

Today's fun in the sun,,, hard at work playing and sporting her sunglasses!!

Monday we went to a kids concert,, guess who was right in the middle of things dancing away??

Ahhhh, that's right, help mama dust! That;s my girl!

Playdate with friends:-)

Keepsakes

2009-02-03T15:10:00.000-08:00

But yet another special gift Zaela recieved was from her Godparent's son, Kasey! Kasey handed down his first Bible to little Zaela! How nice!! THANK Kasey, Kel, and Jay for enduring the bitter cold and terrible driving conditions to be a part of Zaela's baptism!!!

Proud grandma and grandpa!

2009-01-30T07:48:00.000-08:00

A picture is worth a thousand words!!!!!!!!! Sooooo sweet!

The Adoption Creed

2009-01-27T11:37:00.001-08:00

Zaela was so spoiled by everyone at Christmas time! I wanted to share two sentimental gifts from the holiday! My Aunt Mary received this plaque of the Adoption Creed some 20+ years ago and decided to pass it down to me now that her children are grown! What a wonderful gift and I look forward to passing it along one day to someone special as well!

I also received this beautiful embroidered blanket from my Aunt Donna!!! THANKS Again:-)

What's been happening

2009-01-27T09:20:00.001-08:00

As February soon appoaches I realize that my time home with Zaela is coming to an end. I'm already starting to miss her and its still 2 weeks away! More about that later,,,, on to more fun things! I was a bit distracted by the rabbit attack and haven't had much of a chance to post the highlights of our January!

My darling cousin Lorie flew back from Wisconsin with us on the 2nd! It was a great visit and can't wait for her to come back soon:-))) She was here to celebrate mine and my friend Christy's birthdays!!! Thanks again for a wonderful Birthday dinner Christy....definitely different from any other:-)

Zaela also had her 15 month check up! She is saying several words now (I can't get enough of mama!) She has 8 teeth and her molars are coming in as well. She is 31" and weighed in at 26.9 lbs!!!!! She is in the 70% for height and 92% for weight!

We have had some fun playdates with our old friends Mikey and Eli and also met up with some new friends and AP's at the Rainforest Cafe for a fun time!

And the pics.....

Lorie enjoying here time in "warm" weather!

YaY,,,, Swinging!!!

My little buddy "Eli" chillin' in my Boon!

Vrrrooom,,, hang on Mikey!!!!!!!

Hangin' with the New Pres!

Waiting for the Doctor!

My new friend Sabah!!

My new playground... Pottery Barn Kids!!!!

Indoor fun!

Dancing Girl!

2009-01-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

Yup, two posts in one day! This is some video I took while little Z was watching Jack's Big Music Show on Noggin! Check her out!!!

Rabbit Attack!!

2009-01-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

Zaela took her first trip to urgent care Saturday the 17th! It started out as a nice trip to her favorite park until we went to feed the animals at the neighboring farm. Little girl put her finger up to the fence and before I knew it, one of the rabbits decided to nibble on it! Fortunately there were no stitches required and Z is expected to make a full recovery! Here are some before and after pics:-) Stupid rabbits!!

Our first Christmas & Zaela update

2009-01-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

Where do I start? Zaela and I had a wonderful Christmas with our family in a VERY snowy Wisconsin.... a record setting month of the most snowfall ever recorded! "How did Zaela like the snow?" Well, let's just say its a good thing she lives in a warm climate!

Little Miss Z is walking, talking, and dancing like crazy! She is definitely a handful at times, but was quite the entertainer for grandma and grandpa! Most importantly, she can finally say MAMA!!!!!!!!!!! Yes FINALLY!!!! Her other words are car, good girl, grandpa(ma). She can also sign for milk, juice, more, and all done. I thought this would be helpful, however, she tends to sign for more milk and juice a little too frequently!!!! She can also make some funny faces and loves to throw in a fake cough or sneeze every now and then!

Zaela was baptized on December 21st at the church I attended when I lived in Wisconsin. The same pastor that confirmed me into the church is still there so it was extra special. The -12 degree weather didn't stop several of my family members from being a part of her special day!

Zaela's favorite shows are Jack's Big Music Show and Sesame Street (especially Elmo!) She also LOVES to have her teeth brushed! When she sees me with my electric tooth brush she opens her mouth, says ahhhhhh, and puts her finger in her mouth until I brush her teeth!

Another highlight of our holiday was meeting Carole and Sam Phillipson! Carole is just a sweetheart and little Sam is just a spunky little guy and getting around so well!

It was a really special Christmas! The only minor snag was that our Christmas card I had my heart set on had some printing issues :-(( I thought I would just use it as my header.... and send New Years cards instead!

Hope you enjoy some of my favorite pics in the slideshow!

Holiday Wishes

2008-12-12T20:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-06T07:15:00.001-08:00

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...

2008-11-29T19:58:00.001-08:00

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

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

PLAYTIME at the Park today!

I'm Walking!!!

2008-11-24T16:42:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-19T20:56:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-10T15:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-10-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

Zaela the Butterfly:-)

Fall Festivities

2008-10-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-10-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

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....

2008-10-27T08:01:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-10-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

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

Your last day of before "1"

2008-10-17T23:19:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-15T09:12:00.001-07:00

The Adventures of Zaela

2008-10-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

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!

Tagged Twice

2008-10-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

OK so I have been tagged by Malia's mom and Celeste so I guess I can't put it off anymore!

6 Random things about me:

1) I want to be an interior designer when I grow up.
2) I can't stand it when a fan or breeze is blowing on me when I am eating! Hmmm, maybe I should put a ceiling fan over my dining table so I eat less! lol
3) I still can't believe I got Zaela home and I love being her mommy!! :-)
4) I grew up in rural Wisconsin.
5) I am a bit of a neat freak.
6) I love french fries dipped in chocolate shake!

There you have it... now I get to tag 5 people and I have no idea how to link everybody so I will let you all know! Here is my list!

Christy,,,, who will hopefully be getting good news soon:-)
Miranda... cause I know she will come up with some great "random" things!
Chris... Because she is so good at blogging and will actually do it! lol
Rebecca....Again, will come up with wacky random things!
Rhonda,,, she is a NEW blogger! YaY

STOP the Clock!

2008-10-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe Zaela has been home for over 6 weeks already! I am just trying to take in every minute I can as I watch her grow and learn something new every day! Most days are spent pretty close to home and seem to disappear so quickly... and we haven't been anywhere but the front porch and around the block for a stroller ride! Most of our days are not very eventful, but yet each of them is priceless and so appreciated.

I did attempt to take her to the daycare at my gym twice now. She made it about 30 minutes both times before I was paged. I just think it is her way of telling me I look fabulous even with those few extra pounds :-)

So enough from me, here's what you really want,,, some pics and video!

Oh no mommy, I wasn't touching ANY buttons!

My new friend "Mikey!"

Yummy! My Permanent Resident card tastes Great!:-)

Look...I can stand UP!

2008-09-30T21:47:00.000-07:00

So much for keeping my baby a baby! Today in the blistering heat, cranky from teething, she stood up on her own...several times! She even had a cheering section complete with Auntie D. and Auntie Christy! Grandma and grandpa are anxiously awaiting the video so here it is! Oh, and it really was hot here so excuse the outfit, or lack there of :-)

The Zaela Chronicles

2008-09-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

One of the main reasons for my Blog is to be able to document Zaela's first years of her life and then to be able to give it to her as her own keepsake one day! So this post will be dedicated to her little personality and what she is doing at 11 month young!
Also, Grandma and Grandpa bought us a Flip Video recorder so I am going to try my luck at uploading Z's first video!! Yay,, thanks Grandma and Grandpa:-)

So here is what little Z Rose is up to:

1. In the morning I can hear her soft baby babble as she plays in her crib. When I go to get her
she is usually jumping up and down with a big smile on her face to greet me!

2. She loves Sesame Street and the Baby Noah-Einstein Video!

3. She is not too fond of diaper or clothing changes. Her latest way to pass the time is to
throw everything she can get her hands on behind the dresser/changing table!

4. She wanted nothing to do with pacifiers: UNTIL I gave her the First Years Soothie! Now I
have created a monster!

5. She now picks out the Graduates from the Cheerios and eats them first!

6. She can cry and giggle in the same moment when she is tired!

7. She eats anything!

8. She loves her musical toys...especially her Learn-n-Groove!

9. She loves being outside. She spends a lot of time pointing at the trees and babbling. She also
likes watching all the kids and cars during school drop off and pick up.

10. She has been crawling and pulling herself up pretty much since we got home. She crawls on
her feet and hands and looks like a crab!

11. She weighed 23 lbs. and was 28 1/2 inches at her first doctors appointment! A week later
at her second appointment she weighed 21.5 lbs, putting her in the 75% range for height and
weight.

12. She is a great napper and has started sleeping through the night:-)

13. She loves to wave and patty cake! She often starts waving while I am feeding her!

14. On that note, she will also cry in between spoonfuls if I am not feeding her fast enough!!

15. She does great at restaurants! The only problem was at a restaurant on a pier...she did not
like the pigeons and seaguls flying close to her head! But really, WHO does??

16. She plays good on her own and overall is a wonderful little girl :-)

Now for some video!!! This is the "Z Crawl!"

Video Montage

2008-09-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

It took a few nights of little to no sleep, but here it is! My last hurdle was trying to download music (so be prepared Karen!) LOL! Zaela even celebrated its completion with me by letting me sleep the ENTIRE night! YaY,,, With any luck there are more of those to come :-) I hope you enjoy the video of our journey!

Happiness is...

2008-09-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

spending my days with Zaela!!! I really could not feel more blessed with my sweet daughter! Although you try to capture all of those special moments,,,,even with all of the technology these days...some moments are only meant to be etched on your heart forever! I was baking cookies and felt a little tug on my pant leg...only to look down and see her smiling face. No picture, no video, just us in the kitchen with me wondering how I could be so lucky to be able to pick her up and squeeze her. Life is good :-)

Some moments I did capture....here are some of my favorites...
A smiling face to greet me EVERY morning :-)

Another front yard pool day :-)

Proud Grandpa!

Her first Ethiopian Celebration in "Little Ethiopia LA"!

Hanging out in front of our house!

Eating by herself....hmmmm where are my rice crispies???

Making new friends!

My first swing ride! YaY

Zaela's Announcement

2008-09-15T22:09:00.001-07:00

It was a wonderful feeling to be sending out Zaela's announcements! I still look at her and can't believe she is actually home!! She has such a personality already, the perfect mixture of serious, silly, and yes of course... sassy! Unfortunately, grandma and grandpa had to go home to Wisconsin so us girls are on our own. So far so good and I will post some pics soon to show you what we have been up to!

A special thank you to my friend and professional photographer who took such beautiful pictures to memorialize Zaela's homecoming announcement!... So well, in fact that the card company asked permission to use the photos! THANKS D. and if anyone wants gorgeous pictures,,, I can not recommend her enough...the photos speak for themselves:-)

Zaela meets Grandpa!

2008-09-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

Little Z got to meet grandpa on Wednesday! Now she gets to be spoiled by grandpa and grandma!!! She is doing really good, just some teething issues which are causing some sleep problems at night :-( Still having fun outside on the porch and in the pool! Lovin' all the attention!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun in the SUN!!!!!

2008-09-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

I seriously wonder what I did BZ (Before Zaela!) Well it was a fun day out in the front yard again! Playing in the pool while grandma did the gardening and my neighbors admired my little cutie pie in her pool :-))

Hanging out on the porch....

Does this bikini make me look fat??? LOL

Serious girl!

Still serious about pool time!

... And here is me NOW!!!

Here's what we have been doing....

2008-09-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

Zaela's first stoll on the beach.... it seemed to have a calming affect!

She LOVES playing under the trees in the front yard!

PLAYING hard with her pots and pans.... I may have a chef or a drummer on my hands!

Not liking the prickly grass!!!!

My first shopping cart ride at VONS Supermarket! WOW sooo much to look at!

Look who has taken over my HB pad!?!!!

2008-08-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that we have not even been home for a week! Zaela is settling into her new home quite well. That's right,,, all 23 lbs and 28 inches of her is letting me know who the Princess of the Palace is!!! This is what we have been up to the last few days.... :-)

Zaela's custom new chair!!! THANKS PAM!!!

Heeeeyy.... Give me a call... Let's chat!

Lovin' the Jumperoo!!!

Ready to walk so I can really tear up this place!!?!!!

My first Bob Stroller ride!

My first mail!!! THANKS Auntie Christy and Rebecca!

My first ride in my new car seat!

Definitely not digging the whole Dr. thing! ENOUGH already!!!

AAhhhh.... my favorite nap spot outside on the porch! Night Night!

We're HOME!

2008-08-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

Where do I start??? We arrived home lastnight around 10 PM. Zaela is quite the little girl! She is a sweet snuggle bunny with quite the personality already. She knows exactly what she wants and well...you pretty much better go along with it or else! Hmmmm,,, sounds hauntingly familiar! She took to us easily and overall is doing quite well with all of the travel and changes she has experienced in the last few days.

Speaking of travel... for a multitude of reasons it was almost unbearable. It was a difficult trek both ways but of course worth it all in the end. Nikko and her mother-in-law were with us during the majority of the travel and in country stay. It was great to have the extra help and support during the hectic and sometimes stressful stay in Ethiopia. We also got to spend time with the Mott's, Tim, Theresa, and another great family from another agency. It really did make the experience all the sweeter with such great company!!!!

So this is what I know so far... Zaela loves being outside! She seems to be captivated with everything going on and does not want to miss a thing. Day one I have also found that she LOVES her jumperoo and bathtime! As a matter of fact, bathtime was so engaging that I also got one:-)

It was hard to narrow it down, but here are a few pictures. I will eventually do a slide show,,but when I will have time....who knows?? LOL Oh, and check out the pics to see who welcomed Zaela and Fiori into America!!! SWEET! Just wanted to let everyone know we are home safe and Zaela is doing great! I will post more later, but as you can imagine I am still tired and a bit distracted with my sweet girlie!

GOTCHA 08/18/08!!!!

SWEET girl :-)

Sleepy time!

At her first doctor's visit in Addis Ababa!

Sound asleep at the New Flower!

All dressed up for grandma!!!

Am I cute or am I CUTE??

Making friends in the bassinet section of the aircraft!

The next two supermodels meeting Brooke Shields at JFK!

HOME SWEET HOME and playing at 3 AM!!!!

Lovin' my bathtime!!!

Here we come Zaela!!!!

2008-08-14T08:28:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe my turn has finally come!!! It is strange to think that when I return home life as I know it will be over! I am looking forward to a new chapter with little Zaela and just can not wait to get her in my arms and home forever. I will be leaving from LAX at 1045 tomorrow (Friday) and meeting my mom in NYC.......... I will try to post from Ethiopia but the computer usage is limited and the internet connection slow at best! See you all when WE get HOME:-)))
Here is the rest of my itinerary on Emirites Airlines.....

NYC-Dubai 11:00 PM - 7:45 PM (Aug 16)
Dubai - Addis 8:25 AM (Aug 17) - 11:30 AM

RETURN
Addis - Dubai 7:35 PM (Aug 22) - 12:45 AM (Aug 23)
Dubai - NYC 2:00 AM - 7:45 AM (Emirites Flight 203)
NYC - LAX 11:30 AM - 2:31 PM (United Flight 87)

If all goes well we will be home Saturday the 23rd at 2:31 PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YaY :-))))))))

More Zaela!!

2008-08-10T08:19:00.001-07:00

Purchases, Packing, & Update!

2008-08-07T09:07:00.001-07:00

This Beco Carrier is my latest purchase! I plan on using my Lucky Sling (thanks Rebecca!) while in Ethiopia, but just in case she is too big,,, I will have my Beco!

The packing is coming along! I have Zaela all packed and ready, now I just have to get myself packed. I have quite the long "to do" list for the weekend, but I will be more than ready to leave by next Friday.

Many waiting families also received an update from Jaclyn this morning! HERE was mine on Zaela (Hermela):

Hermela- A DOLL of course! She is so cute! I think she is wearing about 12 months Lisa. 6-9 month may fit but not for long. I have that size for Theo and I am going to leave them here because they won't fit when I come back. The caregivers say "Hermela and Theo are so big!" The are the biggest in the room.

Thanks Jaclyn!! The countdown is on!!!!

Ethiopia BLOG Union 2008

2008-08-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

It was fun in the sun at the first BLOG Union hosted by Drew and Carey in Hermosa Beach! Families that have met through blogging from all over the U.S. finally got to meet each other and their beautiful children. I was able to meet my Blog friend Jocelyn and her little girl Pacey....what an absolute doll! It was a great weekend and I met so many wonderful folks. The only thing missing..... ZAELA!!

Holy smokes, You're finally coming to get ME???

2008-07-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

Yep that's right,, little Z Rose,, I'm coming to get you!!!! We (grandma and I) are leaving August 15th - 22nd. We are traveling on Emirates Airlines and stay one night in Dubai on the way there,,, I can't wait to catch a glimpse of the great skyline of Dubai!! I am also thrilled to be traveling with Chris, Nikko, and Theresa! We have become pretty close though our ups and downs and look forward to meeting each other and spending some time together in Ethiopia with our children.

Introducing Zaela Rose...

2008-07-24T02:06:00.000-07:00

I received the call at 1:37 AM... She is legally mine!!! It is so long awaited that it will probably take a few days to sink in. Today I will make travel plans for Ethiopia and without a doubt breathe a deep sigh of relief that I finally made it over this hurdle. Thanks again to my parents, friends, and fellow Hopesters for pushing me to the finish line!

The Wait for Hermie Continues

2008-07-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately my case along with the 3 others filed with mine were not heard today. The courts are overwhelmed and two weeks away from their yearly 2 month court closure. Since they did not have time to get to them today, we were told that they will be reviewed early next week.

So another disappointment in the long trail of disappointments. Not much I can do but march on and hope next week Hermela will officially be the newest addition to the Wedekind family:)

Thanks again to my friends, family, and fellow Hopesters for the phone calls, emails, and endless support. You all truly make the blows of disappointment seem a little less painful. I hope next week will bring me, Chris, Theresa, and Nikko the news we have been patiently waiting for!!!

A Wonderful Shower Day!

2008-07-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

I don't even know where to start,,,except to say it was a perfect day! My friends Tina, Diana, Christy, Greg, & Kim really out did themselves!!! The house was beautifully decorated with gorgeous framed pictures of Hermela and two picture collages! We also had balloons, streamers, and huge color copies of the little girl holding the U.S.A. and Ethiopian flags that was on my invitation!
The food was soooo yummy! Tina also brought beautiful cake and the cutest cupcakes!! Needless to say, there were no leftovers!!!
The festivities started at 1:00 and I still had a house full of people at 8PM, with my last friends leaving around 10PM!!!!
It really was a wonderful day being surrounded by my little girls pictures and such a great group of supportive and caring friends that can NOT wait to meet her in person! A heartfelt thank-you to all of my family and friends that made it such a memorable day!
Here are a few pics....

2008-07-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Countdown to my shower!

2008-07-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my "Adoption Celebration"! One advantages of working in LA is the LA Flowermart. There are millions of flowers in warehouse after warehouse and it is a bit overwhelming to have to pick amongst so many! Well, I was feeling orchids for some reason and made a few arrangements lastnight for tomorrows festivities,,here are a few pics of the larger arrangements!

What's in a Name???

2008-07-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

I still have not decided on what to name my cute litte girl?? It is such an important decision and of course I want her to love her name! It is quite possible I am going to wait until I get to Ethiopia and get to see her in person before I make a decision. So, don't get too used of Hermela,, although I don't think she will ever lose the nickname "Hermie"! Poor girl!! LOL

Baby Girls first Baby Doll!

2008-07-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

This cute little doll is a creation by my Aunt Gail. She found the doll, which is like new, at a garage sale in Wisconsin. Then added some of my cousin's little girl's preemie clothes and now here she is making her Blog Debut and impatiently waiting for Hermie to get home and play with her!!! Thanks Gail!!!!

Update on Hermela!

2008-07-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

My friend Kim just returned from Ethiopia with her beautiful daughter Nettie!!! Welcome Home Kim... it has been a long journey for you! Congratulations:))

Kim was kind enough to give me an update on Hermela... "She is adorable. she is huge. I mean fat. she is so healthy and she stands out. She is a chunky monkey. I tried to get a pictre of her smiling but as soon as the pressure was on to preform she decided she wasn't going to. The care giver holding her tried to get her to smile at the strange white face and beaming blue eyes but I am sure i looked crazy to her. She has gorgeous soft hair with beatiful curls. She did smile a lot just not for the camera."

Looks like I better get off the computer and into the gym so I will be able to carry my little chunkster around:))

Happy to Wait for Hermie!

2008-07-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

I was reminded by my mom that little "Hermie" is worth the wait! Very true,,, she is just so darn cute and I am sure that once I actually get her, the last thing I will be thinking about is the little extra time I had to wait to get her! For sure, the wait is hard but I am in good company with the ladies who are in the same court grouping,,,Chris, Nikko, and Theresa. To have their support and understanding makes the situation we are all in seem more tolerable. We are all hoping the 2nd time around will be a charm so we can all travel together and spend some happy time together in Ethiopia:))

Seriously!?!$!*#

2008-07-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

Four of us had court dates today with my agency - none of us made it through. Unfortunately, court is as unpredictable and inconsistent as the rest of the entire adoption process. Apparently the governing body (MOWA) asked for additional information and paperwork on each of our cases from our Agency. I don't have any additional information and probably never will know exactly what the issues are. I believe our next court date is scheduled for July 18th. In the big scheme of thing another 2 weeks is not a big deal. The wait and constant disappointment is just getting old. In the meantime, a little good 'ol Mickey D's is always good for the soul and if anyone sees a Superhero in their neighborhood, apparently I may need him to complete this adoption process!!!!

Thanks to Nikko, Chris, and Theresa and everyone who checked in lastnight and this morning:))))

Distration Gardening!

2008-06-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

Yup that's right! Just 2 days until court so I needed to keep myself busy somehow! This is the view out of Hermela's room. It may not look like much, but the before shot would NOT be pretty! I decided to clean up the side of the house and add some flowers so I could actually open the blind without cringing!
I am hoping to pass court on Wednesday with my fellow Hopesters... Nikko, Chris, and Theresa. We are all anxiously awaiting! The court process is a bit unpredictable and many people do not get through the first try. There can be a variety of issues like missing paperwork, new requirements, or given the current status of Ethiopia,,,no electricity! So we are all hoping and praying for the best. With any luck we will be successful and my next post will include a picture of Hermela!!!

To my Non-Blogger Family & Friends

2008-06-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are not in the Blogging world and would like to leave comments on my Blog....it's quite easy. Just click on the small "comments" underneath the post. On the next page, right hand side toward the bottom you will see; sign up here. Just click on that, enter your e-mail address and create a Blogger Google account! Then just type in your comment and it will be published! It is a great way to stay connected,,, look forward to hearing from you:-)))

A good day!

2008-06-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

As the evening comes to a end....just 6 more days until court! I can hardly believe that I am starting to think about travel plans and packing!!??!! Lots of excitement right now with several people from my agency currently in Ethiopia getting their children. I am especially excited for my fellow "old timers" Kim B. and Karen!!! Their daughters are absolutely darling and I can't wait to hear all about them:-)) Also in Ethiopia is my friend Grace and her daughters Miranda and Addis. Their new addition to the family is the Amazing Anteneh!! Grace was also kind enough to send updates to several of us still waiting to pick up our children. Here is what she had to say about my little girl.......... "Hermela- oh lisa, shes perfect, so sweet and happy, was just smiling the whole time and playing with a tamburine." Gotta love that!

Thanks Grace:-))))))))))))))

Adoption Celebration!

2008-06-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

YaY,,, two of my dearest friends are going to hostess a shower for me!!! I just had to see if I could find Ethiopian adoption specific invitations...with the click of a mouse I was able to find the cutest invites at http://www.mandysmoon.com/ I am looking forward to a wonderful day to honor little Hermela and her highly anticipated arrival to Huntington Beach:-))

Baby Stuff...

2008-06-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

Who knew there could be so many things needed for such a small little girl!!! This weekend I had a crash course in Jumperoos, pack-n-plays, bottles, car seats, strollers, and ,,,,,,!!! Thanks to all the folks who helped school me this weekend! This happened to be my favorite find of the weekend (thanks Grace!) I never thought I could like a high chair so much!!! Hopefully little Hermy will be sitting in it making a mess,,, very SOON!

17 Days Until COURT!

2008-06-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

OK~ It's the countdown to court! In the meantime I have received some great pictures from traveling families! Thanks to all of the Hope folks for capturing little Hermela....the pics are very much appreciated!!!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT WHEN:

2008-06-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

1.The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.
2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.
3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.
4. The fact that, if 7% of the population adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convincing to you.
5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.
6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about your adopted child's "real" parents.
7. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.
8. You have never taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.
9. You believe God's heart is for adoption.
10. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.
11. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!
12. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.
13. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.
-Author Unknown (Thanks Mendy!)

COULD IT BE????

2008-06-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

A COURT DATE!!!!!!

JULY 2nd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!