February 12, 2008 - 2010

Another two year anniversary. This day, two years ago, I got to spend my first hour with Maia at the baby house. I was with her from 11-12 that day. She did a lot of looking at me that day, and feeling my face... I remember that well!

I just re-watched the video that my sister made for me with those first precious pictures, as well as our homecoming in April. I cry every.single.time. i watch it... and I'm not typically a crier! (Although the older I get, the easier it seems to be!) :) It brings back such memories, on so many levels.

Here are a few pictures from that first visit:

She kept staring at me, and had a very tight grip on me, as you can see in this last picture where she is holding my sweater and would not let go.

Now this is Maia today... two years later.

CHEESE:

Opening her Valentine's from school (they made Bee card holders...) She was proud!

Lastly tonight, she didn't want to go to bed... so she pretended to fall asleep in the chair:

And lastly, the video my sister made that I just have to share again... :P Great memories! Just listen to the lyrics to this first song... amazing. So true - so hard.

Lastly, as I watch this again... I am thinking of my sister and her family as they wait for the news to go bring their newest baby(ies) home! Many friends are also in that time of waiting - which is SO SO hard. Years later, this song talking which talks about waiting, and waiting still makes me remember how hard those days and nights were waiting for my Maia!! I thank God for bringing home so many children so far, and pray even harder for those still waiting to meet and bring home their children forever! Hug those home all the harder for those still waiting!

One last video of my sister's family tonight as they got snow in the deep south!! I'm tired of the blizzards here, we'll have snow until April, but look at the pure joy on these precious children's faces and listen to the excitement in their voices! How cool!

Two

Two years ago today - I left my son, Matthew, (for eight weeks), and my home in Virginia, got on a plane and flew half way around the world, to Kazakhstan, to meet my future daughter, my precious little girl, Maia Caroline.

I am in awe that is has already been two years. Time flies and I am not ready for my baby to be as big as she is.

Today, two years later, we are expecting two feet of snow (or more). Thank goodness this didn't happen two years ago! Instead, I am stuck inside with both my children, and my parents, and can enjoy the family time! At this time we already have 7 inches or so, and the worst is definitely yet to come.

I will post more soon - pictures, perhaps from Christmas!! and definitely more from this historic snow (our second blizzard this season! unprecedented!)

Two is definitely the lucky number today. Two years ago my life was changing forever! And today, two feet of snow are a'comin'!!

Here are just a couple of pictures of the beautiful landscape tonight.

This picture is of the front yard and cars in the driveway. It's already more than I want to shovel!


This is from the front door.

This is of the deck. I didn't use a flash because it's so pretty at night - but I had to hold still for at least 10 seconds... and I failed... twice! This is the best I could do. It is pitch black on the deck, so the camera did pretty well, without a flash, giving it some light.