Here comes 2009!!

My happy little baby! She is always smiling now & she's started cooing.

Makayla pushing Maegan out of her photo shoot!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Maegan dressed herself to go outside to play! It was finally nice enough Christmas Eve for her to go play outside on the swingset.

Maegan cranky before Christmas Eve Mass. What an experience that was!! First, I apologize to all those that sat around us! We packed snacks for Maegan to keep her half way quiet for the hour service. She would not sit with us, she preferred the floor. She kept talking and singing the songs she wanted too. She was making faces at the people behind us when I was holding her. She kept telling Joel she had to go potty. He was ignoring her, then she started to pass the nastiest gas ever & she finally loudly announced she had to POOP!! He took her to the bathroom, false alarm. Then I had to run out with Makayla because she started whaling for no reason like I had just dropped her. Calmed her down & she feel asleep, so it was safe for us to go back in. Then Maegan had to potty again, so I took her, another false alarm. Came back and she dropped all of her M&Ms & had to potty again. I told Joel we'd just wait outside for them.

After Mass

Our two beauties!

Taste testing Santa's milk

Mom, I'm car sick!

Maegan doing her beauty queen wave.

Sisters cruising the house

Maegan insisted we put Makayla in her new crib. The yellow duckie is blocking her expression of joy!!

Makayla liked this for about 30 seconds, then she went..........

Maegan loves doing cheers, so she was so excited that she got a cheerleader outfit!

We are so blessed this Christmas! We would've never thought last year that we would have a beautiful baby girl this Christmas. We were still saddened with our chances of adopting from Guatemala diminishing. We are so blessed that Joel has been given a job that allows me to stay home with Makayla & Maegan when she is sick or daycare is closed. (Maegan wouldn't miss a day at Rhonda's for anything!! She loves it!) We have two beautiful baby girls, a loving family and our health! These things are better than any gift I could EVER ask for! I hope that you all had a great holiday too!

Another party & my cool b-day gift!

Maegan with Mallory's puppy. He is so cute & cuddly! Friday was Maegan's Christmas party at daycare. It was the first party of hers I was able to go to & I had a blast! The kids are hilarious!

Maegan & Texas Santa!

Maegan opening her gift.

Santa & Baby Kaden

West Texas sunset

My friend Mindy got me these for my birthday!! They are wall hangings & just happen to have the name of our blog on them!! They are so pretty! She is the bomb!

Christmas Parties!

Averi & Maegan(with a pound of lip gloss!)

Makayla sleeps through it all!

Chow time!

The kids waiting for Santa

Santa & Makayla

Maegan fibing to Santa about how nice she has been!

Kaden army crawling to the pretty, shiny ornament

Score!

Maegan & I cooking goodies for her Christmas party at Rhonda's.

She wanted to pick the chocolate chips out

M&Ms are a must with Maegan!

Making a silly face at Wayland

Her job was to sprinkle the pretzels

Sprinkle crazy!! We laughed so hard at her concentrating on shaking the bottle. Some had more than others. (the one in the middle) They were yummy!

On our first Christmas without my sister Melinda, my friend sent me this poem.

I see the countless Christmas trees, around the world below,
With tiny lights, like heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.
This sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,
For I am spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs, that people hold so dear,
But the sound of music can’t compare
with the Christmas choir up here.
For I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it’s beyond description to hear an angel sing.
I know how much you miss me,
I see the pain inside your heart,
But I am not so far away, we are really not apart. So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear,
And be glad I’m spending Christmas,
with Jesus Christ this year.
I send you each a special gift,
from my heavenly home above,
I send you each a memory, of my undying love.
For after all “Love” is the gift, more precious than pure gold,
It was always most important, in the stories Jesus told.
So please love and help each other, as my Father said to do,
For I cannot count the blessings, or the love He has for you.
So have a Merry Christmas, and wipe away that tear,
For I am spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.
I can’t tell you of the splendor,
or the peace here in this place,
Can you imagine Christmas, with our Savior, face to face?
I’ll ask Him to lift your spirit, as I tell Him of your love,
So then pray for one another, as you lift your eyes above.
So please let your hearts be joyful, and let your spirits sing,
For I am spending Christmas in heaven,
and I’m walking with the King!

I love Christmas!

Maegan loves looking at Christmas light & Christmas decorations.

And watching Christmas cartoons REALLY close to the T.V.!

She has the habit of throwing herself on the floor, kicking and screaming. She is "That kid" that people talk about in public. The ones Joel & I would whisper about at restaurants and stores. You know, our kid will never do that....Fun times!

Finally a smile! We have the domino effect going. Maegan lets out a blood curdling scream for whatever reason, then Makayla follows. Then Maegan stops and goes about her business and Makayla continues to cry for about 15 minutes.

Prayers needed

In the adoption community, you come to know many wonderful families and even though you don't know them personally you have something in common, adoption. You cheer them on as they complete different steps in thier process. This morning I found out some horrible news, this wonderful family, the Azhderian's whom had just got their sweet and beautiful 5 year old daughter's birth certificate a few days ago, found out Friday night she was killed in a horrible way during a home invasion in Guatemala. Josi was visiting her foster mother's sister, brother-in-law and their children whom were murdered also. They were not notified in time of her funeral ,which was today, to participate.They were just weeks away from bringing her home, please lift the Azhderian family up to God along with Josie's birth mother and the foster family as well whom are all grieving this horrible loss and just pray He wraps His arms around them during this very difficult time......Please visit the Azhderian family's blog and let them know you are praying for them.
http://azhderianfamily.blogspot.com/

Catch-Up Post

I just realized I didn't post Thanksgiving pictures! We all went to Joel's parents for lunch. Here is Nanny reading to Maegan, she loves to be read to!

Yep, turkey does make you sleepy!

In every picture I have so far of Makayla she has this serious look on her face! One day maybe she'll smile for us on camera. She smiles and coos now when you talk to her. If you say, "Oooo" she'll say it! It's so cute. Looks like her belly is full of turkey too!

She looks terrified in this one?

Maegan so proud of the smiley face she made!

Daddy & Maegan at the Christmas parade petting Denise's horse.

Helping me fix Makayla's hair after her bath.

End result...a mohawk!

We were lazy today and watched Christmas shows on the Hallmark channel. Makayla enjoyed them too!