17 months!

Mariah turned 17 months old on Friday! SO hard to believe! Here are her current faves, etc.:

Favorite Book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?
Favorite Songs: Jesus Loves Me, Read Your Bible and Pray Every Day, The Wheels on the Bus, ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle
Favorite song to dance to: Pants on the Ground!!
Favorite activities: Ring Around the Rosies, spinning in circles, "running", dancing and climbing, bath time
Favorite foods: Grilled cheese, smoothies, crackers, yogurt, applesauce, beans and rice

She is getting so big and so much fun! I love how she pretty much understands everything I say and I love her sense of humor! She is busy, fun and hilarious! 7 months until 2 years...YIKES!!



I'm hoping to take some time and blog her adoption day/Gotcha party pics taken by Chiara Davidson very soon!! They turned out great!!!

City on a Hill

This morning I took Mariah for a breakfast date at Panera with some friends. Just a few minutes after sitting down, a curious man (probably in his 30s) cut straight to the chase and asked if Mariah was adopted. I told him she was and then just turned my attention back to my friends and our conversations. A few moments later, he started asking me about the adoption process and if she was adopted domestically, etc. It was actually the first time I've been asked point blank if Mariah was adopted, without her daddy being there, so that was odd. I usually assume that people just think her daddy is African American or something. If he had been, that would have been a really awkward conversation today!!!

Anyway, I wasn't offended, but just kind of shocked, actually. In the 16 months we've had her, I've only been asked by other adoptive moms if she was adopted and never right off the bat! I am always happy to share our story, in part. It is nothing that we hide or keep private. Of course, there are parts of Mariah's story that are just for her and our family, but as for the basics of how we got her, I'm an open book! It did get me thinking today, though about how we will handle it as she becomes more aware. Right now Mariah doesn't know if someone asks about her relationship to me. But, in a few years, she will! I don't want her to have to think about it or for it to be an issue at all. So, in that respect, I was a little concerned. I really pray that people will be sensitive enough as she gets older.

Take a few minutes to read this post: http://urbanservant.blogspot.com/2009/03/we-are-city-on-hill-when-we-adopt.html . It is wonderfully written and she shares my sentiment, but I'll pass on the 11 kids!!

New Year's Eve 2009

Sweet Grandma Lucy rang in the New Year in style in Elk City! I just had to post this pic of her because it's just precious!
Daddy and Mariah...I'm SO thankful for these two!! I'm so blessed to be called wife and mother by these amazing ones!

Me, Haley and Mariah....a few of my biggest blessings this year!! These girls are such precious friends!
Little Mariah in her 2010 shirt (thanks to Haley for the the great idea!!)
Our little family
Our little ones dressed in their cute 2010 shirts!!(Haley's 3 boys on the left and Mariah's little boy on the right)

We were able to ring in the New Year with two precious families last night! We enjoyed (too much) food, talking, game playing and watching our little ones play! These two girls (and their darling families) have been such a blessing to me this year!!!

We have had such an incredibly blessed year! God has been so good to us and many of His plans for our family have come to fruition this year! His plans are always so amazing! We look forward to 2010!