HOME with Maile FOREVER - 6 MOS. ago TODAY!!!

Here's a precious moment of Maile cheering up "Ba"(Daddy) in the airport. She finally warmed up to him after 2 weeks in VIETNAM of clinging to my side or on my hip. It was here that we said farewell to our AWESOME traveling family, the Willis, whom we treasured & were blessed enough to travel with. Don missed saying, "See you later" to his buddy, Rocco & Don has been heartbroken ever since!
Here's Maile (thrilled as you can see) getting ready to land at DFW airport...after traveling about 24 hrs. - 3 time zones, 3 countries & 1 ocean later...We could NOT believe we were finally landing HOME with our baby girl!!!

Here's Mommy & Maile HAPPY as can be (BEFORE the TANGERINE STORY...see blog entry March 29!!!) We were ready to see our family and friends, both relieved and excited to be on USA soil!!!!

We had Aunt Chelle & her family, my mom, and even ANNA from Ninh Thuan (Maile's former playmate in the orphanage) and Mandy & her mom welcome us HOME!!!! It was such a special time, SOOOOOO happy to finally be HOME!!!!

I will write more later, but I THANK YOU all for your prayers, support, love & joy in celebrating our daughter, Maile Noel Thuy Trang Carlson...who is a light, blessing and gift into our family!!! THANK YOU GOD for this amazing littl' life now in our hands! (Jer. 29:11)

6 MOS ago - our "FOREVER OURS" Date!!!!

Heather & I could hardly believe WED March 14, 2007 our babies were going to officially, legally & physically be "FOREVER OURS!!!" We were like two girls on Christmas getting the BEST presents we could ever anticipate and pray for, our babies! We were given a calendar with MARCH 14, 2007 on it to keep and cherish forever!!!!! My dear friend, Michelle's B-day was March 14th, so she is OFFICIALLY 29 1/2 Years Old Today as well!!!! :)
(p.s. CANNOT wait to celebrate the big 3-0 with you in 6 mos. girlfriend!!!)

After Thuy Trang had cried hysterically with "Ba" (Daddy) trying to hold her, I got the opportunity again to sweep her "off her feet" and get ready for the G&R (giving and receiving) ceremony. Here's our last photo with the loving caregivers who generously worked feverishly to love on our babies until it was time for them to go "HOME!"
Language was a struggle to communicate with them our heartfelt joy & gratitude, but the SMILE on our faces & hearts that day hopefully reassured the workers our babies would remain in GOOD HANDS, LOVING HOMES & have a PROSPEROUS FUTURE! I pray the workers as well as our babies' BIRTH parents have peace in their hearts knowing we love our Ninh Thuan babies SO MUCH!
Maile (Thuy Trang) could NOT stay awake for her own G&R ceremony...sweet baby girl. She fell asleep on my shoulder, sweating, snoring and just as sweet as can be!!! Thankfully we have video footage of it for her someday. What a BLESSING and HONOR it was to share this incredible journey & experience with our travel buddies, the Willis family. We were privileged enough to share in the JOY & DREAM come true in them getting their first born son, Rocco!!!!! Boy, we sure do miss them - they now live in GA!!!!
At the end of the day, we had 10 extra littl' fingers and toes to account for. It's still hard to believe Maile is NOW forever and always OUR REAL DAUGHTER...she is blossoming, thriving, talking more & more English, loving & growing up here in TX!!!! When I get home from DANCE she yelps: "Yeah!!! Mommy HOME!!!" then in her sweet, littl' needs-reassuring voice asks me, "No Mommy Bye-Bye!!!???" I reassure her, hug her & pick her up - "NO!! Mommy Bye-Bye....Mommy HOME!!!" I continue to sing her a littl' Vietnamese song at bedtime as we rock & dream of the next day's events and reassure her over & over again, "Ma yeu cong!!!" (Mommy LOVES you Little One!!!) I am blessed. THANK YOU Lord for this child that we prayed for and the plans you have for our lives! - Jer. 29:11

6 MOS. ago TODAY - SEPT 13...

It's been an AMAZING journey the past few months and years to get our daughter. Without going into detail because my heart cannot take it right now to share, but 3 years ago TODAY, I had a HUGE medical scare...that almost took my life. But, by God's grace & plan...He knew there was a greater purpose for me - now I believe #1) to be here to serve Him through my family #2) use my passion for DANCE as a ministry to Him through my new dance studio: Encore Centre for DANCE #3) to get our daughter that I would meet, exactly 2.5 years later from Sept. 13, 2004. Wow, with bittersweet memories of joy and pain, I say, "AMAZING GRACE" indeed today!
"FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD..." -Jer. 29:11


MARCH 13, 2007...our lives would change FOREVER as we would get to meet our daughter Thuy Trang for the FIRST TIME after 5 mos. of anticipation and photos and 2 years of paperwork!!! Heather took this picture of Don & I as we eagerly anticipated our arrival to Ninh Thuan after our 7 hrs. bus ride from Saigon to the coast of the South China Sea, hometown area of our daughter!!!!!

As we pulled up to the Ninh Thuan orphanage, there these littl' faces glared at us wondering what we were doing intruding on their territory. After months of praying and waiting, the time had FINALLY come to meet Maile (Thuy Trang) in the yellow shorts & white shirt - at the top of the stairs. My heart was racing, my tears were streaming and dreams were coming true...right at that moment - March 13, 2007 at 3pm - VIETNAM time!!!!!

As we approach the top of the steps, there she is, being WISKED into my arms...I took this picture right before I held her for the first time and her BIG DARK BROWN ORPHAN eyes met my BIG DARK BROWN ORPHAN eyes!!!!!! Time had stood still and I was looking in a mirror of my past, present and future....it was surreal!!!!

This amazing splice of time allowed us to enjoy "getting to know each other" & smell her, look at her tiny features and just hold her tight and repeat over and over again, "Ma yeu cong" (Mommy loves you!) I will never forget the brisk, warm breeze blowing through our hair on the balcony top of the orphanage....

HAPPY Birthday to ME!!!!!

Here's my baby girl, Maile & her FOREVER Mommy hangin' out!!!!! Love cuddlin' with her!!!

Here's Michelle and I - we are 2 peas in a pod....finishing each other's sentences, picking up where the other leaves off...she is my rock, my friend, my dancin' pal...my Sister in Christ!!!!

Here's the Solomon Girls hangin' with us...we have fun being SILLY, SASSY and SUPER-rock STARS!!!

Look how tall my boys are!!! They are almost as tall as ME!!! YIKES....I LOVE my 3 boys & baby girl!!!!

Another Orphan Born...

31 Aug 2007
"Another Orphan Born"
The Night before my birthday and piercing all through my heart… Wondering if my birth mother now misses me when my birth day starts?
Does she regret at all giving me away? Does she wonder how my life is now to this day?
My birthday, it’s just another day to me, no big deal… Not a day of celebration or anything real.
Sometimes I struggle fitting in this world I see, wanting to be accepted for just being "me."
Finding peace and happiness at times really tough, Society's standards make it hard to feel, "good enough."
Praying to God for strength and healing from above, And to find true friendships and His true love…


Both of these photos taken in VIETNAM over 25 years apart. I know I have come a LONG way from the orphan in Vietnam to the life I have here in AMERICA, "Land of the Free and the Brave!" It's overwhelming and humbling to imagine God's gifts He has given me within my life. I am grateful, don't get me wrong...I LOVE my family, my 3 boys and new baby girl...my DANCE studio, etc.. However, at the end of the day, in moments of silence, it's hard not to wonder how my birth mother is, does she think of me? Does she know I'm alive...is SHE alive? The older I get and especially now having adopted our daughter, a flood of questions and emotions come to me from the past, present and future....

Forever in my heart, Ms. Saigon

I love LOVE...

HERE'S to Ramon & Cessilye Smith!!!!!
We had the distinct honor and blessing in sharing it the LOVE and JOY of the union in marriage of Ms. Cessilye Spencer and Mr. Ramon Smith. WOW, what a sight to see...2 persons so IN LOVE, so OVERJOYED, so COMMITTED - now ONE flesh. From the vibrant orange, red, burgandy and gold rose petals aisle way, to the stunning bride & wedding party to the exquisit and elaborate dinner at the Gaylord Texan Resort & heartfelt toasts from lifelong family and friends - it was ALL AMAZING!!!!!
Ms. Nestle (whom I have affectionately nicknamed her) warmed our hearts and soul to know we have shared in this chapter of her new life and we anxiously await to welcome her back to Encore after their 2 week HONEYMOON!!!! I know now more than ever her commitment and dedication to Encore's vision, work ethic, serving spirit and kind heart will transcend her being as it has all through her younger years through her adult working life too. It was an honor to hear her KINDERGARTEN TEACHER talk about her caring spirit even as a young student. Ramon's Father shared how his son could have given into the ways of the world to be a D-O-G, but instead eagerly sought to serve G-O-D!!!!!! Wow!!!!! What a testimony!
It was all a blessing, with tears, laughter, joy and love in our hearts, we salute you Mr. and Mrs. Ramon Smith to your NEW journey in life as ONE family, ONE body, ONE spirit...all for Him!!!!


Here's Michelle and I at the DANCE table for our reception dinner awaiting: Lobster bisque, mixed fields of greens with white truffle vinagrette, filet mignon topped with a spinach & porcini mushroom demi-glaze accompanied with asparagus & carrots and fingerlette potatoes and of course, WEDDING cake!!!! The whole evening was sooooo FUN!!!




Here's our first TRIPLE Date, at the Spencer-Smith Wedding, SAT. 25 Aug. 2007!!!! A day we will never forget...

from L-R: Dan & Michelle, Cessilye & Ramon, Kim-Lan & Don :)


The Gaylord Texan is a HUGE resort with Spa, shopping, convention & rooms. I wish we would have had time to eat at the simulated San Antonio "Riverwalk" Cafe. Don & I had not been to the real Riverwalk in over 10 years when celebrating his friend's, TOM's Wedding!!!! wow....It was so cool to feel like you are OUTSIDE but your are NOT. Gotta LOVE the 75 degree weather indoors. The resort is under a glass atrium where the sun can bask in but humidity is low :) - now that's what I'm talking about!!!

A rush from the PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE...

Here is Pastor (Uncle) Kelly praying for Maile and our family as we dedicate Maile Noel Thuy Trang Carlson to the Mighty God that hand-picked her for our family. We are blessed and honored to have her finally HOME with us in our CRAZY, imperfect, but love her so much FAMILY.

"Train up a child in the way they should go, so when they are old, they will not depart from it..." Prov. 22:6


She is NOT just "ours", she belongs to ALL of us who know and love her to raise her up as a child of God's. We are humbled God would weave His plan to allow us to share in and celebrate her littl' life.... THANK YOU God for your plans that you orchestrate even tho' we cannot always see the big picture or purpose! "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord..." Jer. 29.11



Oh what fun!!!

Here's the Brown, Carlson & Modesto BOYS & "Maile in the middle!!" Here's the line up from L-R: Jeremy, Julian, Miles, Maile, Matthew, Samuel & Joseph

Here I am between my 2 best girls from MICHIGAN & TEXAS!!!! I was thrilled my best friend (that I've known since i was 10) from MICHIGAN came down to meet Maile & my friends here in TX!! It's always bittersweet to link ties from the past and share in our families' lives for a moment in time. Then the reality of how far apart we are rushed back like wind hitting the back door when it was time to say "see you later."

It's been over a month since Sybil left and while we always pick up where we left off, my heart is sad in not knowing when I will see her again. I am sad to see her boys grow up only through pictures, not experience each other b-day parties, family picnics, dance recitals, play dates, girls' night outs, etc... I just cannot believe sometimes we LIVE in TEXAS, still after 4 years now. I have done quite a bit since moving here, did God bring me to TEXAS to get out of my comfort zone? to work in Real Estate? adopt our daughter? open MY first DANCE studio??? I don't know...I rack my brain sometimes, WHY GOD - Texas? why God now??? I have so many questions to ask God when I meet Him someday....

Good night, signing off for now....Ms. Saigon

Ninh Thuan DANCIN' Girls - Maile & Anna

Look who got a hold of Mommy's lipstick to dress up before BALLET class!??? Oh Miss Maile, what are we going to do with you!??? You crack us up on how GIRLY girl you are, I LOVE that you LOVE glitter, pink, to put on my lotion, lipstick, shoes, everything...you are so funny, tender, motherly, halarious, you LIGHT up our hearts, life and world...











Some of my littl' Encore DANCERS waiting their turn to go across the floor! Anna & Maile on far right, from Ninh Thuan's orphanage to FRISCO, TEXAS - together at Encore Centre for DANCE...wow, how GREAT is our God to unite these sweet babies again!!! They are not quite diggin' the DANCE thing on their first day together, but they followed directions very well considering Ms. Kim-Lan was the teacher!!! :) Great fun, I am honored and humbled to LOVE my "job" so much in ministering to my DANCERS at Encore!!!! I am blessed!



After DANCE, Ms. Mandy (Anna's mom) got her weight lifting in for the day, lifting both Anna & Maile (probably around 22# each side)!!! They LOVED being LOVED on, what a gift it is to see their hearts light up, their eyes DANCE & spirits soar now that they are HOME forever!!! This was the first time, Maile let Ms. Mandy pick her up!!! Maile has REALLY come into her own, recognizing faces, who's who in the family, getting settled, etc... she yells as she runs to me when I come home: "Yeah...Mommy "ome"!!!! (meaning, yeah, Mommy HOME!) She still calls Don (daddy) - "Ba!" but with such a cheerful heart now, it's WONDERFUL...we hear all the time, "Ba? Ba! Ba..."


Remember the days of "SIT-n-SPIN?" Here's the adorable NT girls, sitting and spinning together...and getting dizzy together!!! What a treat to see them laugh, DANCE and play together. We are so thrilled to have Anna & Maile as friends and so close together from half way around the world. From DALLAS to FRISCO, it's a heartbeat away, when you compare the states, countries, counties, time zones, etc...that they traveled to come HOME. It's truly a GIFT!


**MORE Maile Moments include: ***
- Maile loves on her baby doll, feeding it juice/ milk and holding and loving on it (and squeezing the dolls poor littl' neck so tight!)
- Maile says, ""Aunt Shell" (short for Aunt Michelle), Jo-kah" (Joseph), "Amuel" (Samuel), "Ba" (daddy), "Na-nom" (Grandma) and "Mommy" for MOMMY!!!! :)
- Maile LOVES to be rocked for NAPS & BED by Grandma Lizzy or Mommy especially :), the BEST feeling in the world to hold her littl' body and watch her fall asleep as she trusts the arms that hold her!!!
-Maile LOVES to eat, and has learned sign language for "more," "eat" "please" - & "thank you"...and "sorry" (but doesn't like to say/ do that one often!) She is eating yogurt, cottage cheese, mixed vegetables now (Yahoo!!!), chicken, turkey, bread, cheerios, raisins, dried apricots, rice cakes, etc...she will TRY ANYTHING...such a CARLSON or what??
- Maile LOVES baths now...yeah...NOW she wants me to get in the LUKE warm/ cool water that goes up to my big toe! She yells infatically, "Mommy, neigh!!!" and points behind her for me to get IN the tub!!! If/ when I finally cave in & get in behind her (NOT a comfortable temperature for me at all), she tries to wash me with bubbles and soap, too precious for words!!! Again, that sweet littl' motherly spirit in her coming out!!!! Wow...
-Maile LOVES to get wipes ONE by ONE and throw them away for me, without being used at all... If it's time to change her, she'll run and get a diaper for me (love that :)) and lay down and say, "No Boop" (No Poop!)

She continues to crack us up, so determine, energetic, sweet, funny and full of LIFE!!! We will NEVER be the same now having our sweet baby girl home FOREVER!!! Thank you God for the 3 littl' miracles that sleep "snug as a bug, in a rug" in their beds tonight!!!

Forever changed, forever blessed...Kim-Lan & crew

Oh what FUN!!!!

We've had a FUN & BUSY June and now it's already JULY!!! We were blessed enough to get together with 2 other families that live in TEXAS that brought home their daughters from Ninh Thuan, VN (from the SAME orphanage & adoption agency) as our Maile (My-lee)!!!! From L-R: Erin got Selah: Aug. 2006 (now age 2); Mandy got Anna came Dec. 2006 (now age 2.5) and we got Maile Mar. 2007 (now age 2.5)!
I KNOW what a special gift this is for our girls, as orphans and friends, since I have no idea what happened to the other orphans from my orphanage when Saigon was falling, the war was ending and our new lives were beginning!!! I always wondered what happened to them...
How sweet is this picture of (L-R) Anna, Maile & Selah holding hands as they walk down the sidewalk together...way too precious for words! How GREAT is our God!!! I pray our girls are able to keep in touch even tho' Erin & her family are moving the CANADA this fall :(. Mandy and I live in the DALLAS area so it's easier to keep in touch, what a blessing!!!!
Happy 4th of JULY!!!! May we truly celebrate the FREEDOM we have as Americans in this blessed and rich nation. We have an awesome gift of freedom to worship our God freely and boldly here in the USA. I am forever changed & humbled by the spirit of the Vietnamese people, they are so raw, genuine and peaceful. They have NOTHING, yet they are so HAPPY. We have the resources to have EVERYTHING and yet we are NOT HAPPY. Our thought process is so backwards...

Many people have told us how "lucky" Maile is to have us, when truly WE ARE THE BLESSED ones to have God entrust her littl' life into our (crazy) family!!! We can offer her so many things to use her potentials & succeed, yet we are the ones with the DAILY gift to see her grow up, learn and thrive. We all love her with every fiber of our being and cannot imagine our lives without her!

Since the DANCE concert, we had our mini-adoption reunion, 4-day DANCE convention, then my best friend from MI & her "3 boys" visited us and Maile's dedication!!! Like I said, it's been a FUN & BUSY June...I have MORE pictures to share later, but exhaustion consumes me again...time for bed!

Thank you for sharing in our love and joy of this littl' miracle, Maile & our family's journey!
God be with you, Kim-Lan and crew
Michelle's verse that I love: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord..." Jer. 29:11

Wow, Encore DANCE's first season over!!!

I cannot believe it's over, we did it...Encore DANCE's First Annual Student Concert!!! Overall, it was a huge success, 2 shows - right at 2 hrs. each, no one got lost or fell off the stage!!! We didn't have any BIG criers on stage, not even myself - I thought I'd be a crying mess, but I didn't, I think mainly because I was stunned that it was over! Here's some highlights from the weekend, it was so much work...but SO MUCH FUN and worth it all to see those HAPPY DANCERS on stage!

Look at these handsome young gentlemen: Samuel, Joseph & Matthew...back stage and ready to go & TAP!!!

The littlest Bumblebee & understudy, Maile, wishing she knew the DANCE since there was an extra costume!

Encore's Company DANCERS doing the Jordan lift in "I Can Only Imagine," Wow...it was a special production piece. We debuted this DANCE at the State Capitol in Austin this past March!!! God is so good...

Ms. Kim-Lan & her "Ballerina Girls" - they are so precious, I am so proud of ALL the DANCERS!!! What an amazing ending to an AMAZING first year!

There were so many things I could have said/ did differently when it was actually show time, but all in all, I think everyone had a great time, relatively seamless in accounting for the dancers & getting them to/ from stage...show went by so quickly. Wow, I am deeply humbled how even through some personal "storms" and struggles this past year, God has BLESSED Encore Centre for DANCE and helped me bring home my daughter from Vietnam. I know He was glorified at the concert and I pray He will continue to bless and allow me to serve Him through the passion & ministries in DANCE!!!

Huge Kudos & THANKS to the mighty God we serve, my family, friends, staff and my dancers, parents & volunteers that made Encore DANCE a dream come true!!!!!

Signing off again as exhaustion continues to consume my body, praying for GOOD sleep SOON!!! Ms. Saigon & family

ONE Year ago---TODAY: June 12, 2007

One Year ago TODAY, I had decided to pursue the calling God placed on my heart to open MY first DANCE studio!!! We were already 9 mos. into our "adoption pregnancy" with paperwork, payments, homestudies, etc...and yet, the burden on my heart was so great to listen to God's direction for what is now called: Encore Centre for DANCE!!!! Amazing to see God at work in bringing the DANCERS to our studio especially as we celebrate our FIRST Student Concert this weekend!!! Wow...

It was also One Year ago TODAY, that our daughter's Birthmother decided to take her to the orphanage to "let her go." I'm sure the decision to offer her a better life was not overnight nor light-hearted. Oh how my heart aches for Ms. Nguyen today, especially knowing that my daughter was taken one day before she turned 18 mos. old. What were the events that led her to the final decision THAT day? How long had she been struggling to keep her baby alive and could barely do it? What did her family think - did they play a role in her decision? Will Maile's birthmother ever know in her heart that "Thuy Trang" is OK now and safely HOME forever!?? My heart is so sad for Maile's birthmother, yet overjoyed for us to have her with us...It's a bittersweet day, full of emotions and questions that will never get answers...

Maile has come such a long way since meeting her just 3 mos. ago tomorrow (June 13.) She has really settled into our household and grateful each day she is more and more comfortable with our "crazy crew." She now says in English (& sign language at times) - "EAT", "more please," "Thank you" & "I lub you" (with her littl' pinky up to say "I love you.") She is so sweet and amazing....and so sassy too!!! She continues to grunt, yell, slap & stare to communicate her true feelings. She is much better with "Ba" & loves Joseph, still getting aquainted with Samuel and "Grandma Lizzy" (my mom.) Thankfully, she still prefers ME :) and loves for me to nap with her, put her to bed and RUNS to me when I come home from DANCE and exclaims, "Mommy!!!" I am STILL in awe and almost in denial at times to realize SHE IS REALLY OURS!!!??? How can it be true, after 2 years of waiting, praying and paperwork, that we have the littl' girl in the pictures we stared at for EVERYDAY for 5 mos. before getting her!???

I pray her birthmother knows, truly in her heart, that Maile Noel (Thuy Trang) is OK and so well loved and cared for. Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning and we will celebrate tomorrow, JUNE 13, Maile's "half birthday" - now turning 2.5 years old!!!! She doesn't know it yet, but we'll have some of her Princess Cake at the DANCE studio to celebrate her littl' life! I cannot wait until this weekend's concert to honor Maile's arrival and all those who have been touched by the gift of ADOPTION. It truly is a gift and story of re-birth!!!

Thank you Grandma for adopting my mom, Thank you mom for adopting me...now here's to Maile, the 3rd generation of God's gift of love & faithfulness through ADOPTION.

Forever humbled, forever changed...Ms. Saigon

You're right Michelle - from His words: "For I know the plans I have for you...to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE..." Jer. 29:11

Happy Memorial Day!!!

28 May 2007

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!
To my husband, my Sister-in-Law, Brother-in-Law, my late Father-in-Law, and ALL the men and women who have gone before (and those who continue) to SERVE OUR GREAT country, we THANK YOU. The amazing gift of living in the "Land of the Free" is often overlooked as so MANY Americans do not realize what a blessed nation we are!!!

I think I took all the RICH resources and blessings we have as Americans for granted until going back to VIETNAM. I do not know how someone cannot changed after visiting a 3rd world country. It really is life changing and humbling beyond words. We live in such a "ME" society here and "WHAT'S in it for ME???" status, that it's overwhelming to think we cannot just HELP someone without wondering the REWARD that will result for our actions... Our prayer and hope for our children are to be HEALTHY, HOLY, HAPPY & HUMBLE (4-H club) and it's a struggle with all the peer pressure and "cool" tech-no stuff out there!!! It's disheartening to know what our boys know already from school (I don't think I want to REALLY know) but I pray they are NOT sucked so much into peer pressure and being accepted that they are doing things behind our backs that we do NOT know about!!!?? ugh.

I remember a friend in Michigan once saying that our kids REALLY need us HOME when they get home from school, more in Middle School than any other time. I have realized more and more how fast time flies by and our babies are only littl' once. Another school year has ended and I'm so sad about that. I pray I do NOT screw it up for Maile and truly enjoy her "baby years" with us. She is REALLY coming out of her shell, laughing, dancing, singing and even yelling around the house!!! Boy, she can hold her own in telling her BIG brothers if something is not right and she is irritated!!!

I will close for now, but just had to share the FIRST :) Happy photo of our 3 sweet babies smiling together. They are each such amazing blessings and to watch their individual spirits and personality shine is the true gift of freedom!!! Thank you God for allowing me to have these littl' lives in our hands and house for short time to "train them up in the way they should go, so when they are old...they will NOT depart from it."

Again, a big heartful thanks for the GENEROUS service men and women who help us live in FREEDOM day to day!!! God bless you!

Love, Ms. Saigon

HAPPY Mother's Day!!!

Here's a slideshow of the passage of time within my family's 3rd GENERATION Adoption that began over 100 years ago!!!! I am deeply humbled particularly this Mother's Day in realizing the joy, excitement and gratitude of adopting our daughter, as it was for my GRANDMA (adopting my mom), then my MOM adopting me! Wow, it's pretty surreal to have our daughter finally HOME with us after 2 years of starting the Adoption journey!

Happy Mother's Day to all those Mommies who have the joy and honor of being a Mommy!!! I remember going to church last year saying "I hope we have our baby girl this time next year..." And, look it, by God's AMAZING Grace, we DO!!!! I cannot believe it was 2 months ago TODAY that we met our daughter for the first time!!! Maile is now 29 months old TODAY as well and while we know we did not have the first 27 months of her life with her, we are thrilled to now a LIFETIME together.

Maile is REALLY coming out of her shell, she has taken to "Ba" (Daddy) - what a blessing!!! I have a feeling she WILL be a "Daddy's girl" in no time...THIS MORNING we were both there to greet her out of her crib and she REACHED for Daddy to get her out!!! Step over Mommy, here comes Daddy! Wow, it was bittersweet...happy for Daddy and sad for me, just a twinge of sadness of the realization I'm NOT her EVERYTHING any more. Thankfully, though, she has found refuge, safety and gaining trust in Daddy to love her and take care of her too as we are ALL so willing to do!

More Maile Moments
**Maile is FINALLY enjoying baths more, loves to pour the big cup of water all over her belly and watch the bubbles cascade like a waterfall. She has NOT quite learn, it's better to keep her MOUTH CLOSED during this event!

**Maile is warming up to SAMUEL, still grunts NO when her big brothers get into her personal space, but has quickly learned to grab the nearest hand near by to drag to the pantry! I think she is still in awe of our "grocery store of food!" She eats ALL the time, still such a littl' peanut.

**Maile LOVES Tofu!!! She ate 9-10 pieces of TOFU for LUNCH the other day, I'm talking 9-10 squares that were 1.5" x 1.5" BIG!!!! Maile does NOT like cottage cheese, there is NO way of hiding it, sneaking it, mashing it, etc...she gets whiplash telling us "NO WAY" when she KNOWS there is any hint of cottage cheese anywhere!

Time to sign off...God bless you and HAPPY Mother's Day!