Dear Maya,

Two years ago today we climbed on a big plane and made our way across thousands of miles to bring you home. Little did I know how much our lives would change in that one instant as your caregivers at Chung Yi brought you through that door and placed you in my arms. My goodness how beautiful you were in person. I fell in love with you the second I saw your referral pictures, but to hold you and feel you and see your sweet face for the first time in person took my breath away. That day they placed you in my arms for the very first time, but I realized something at that moment, you have always been in my heart-even when I did not know you were there.

Two years later I look at you and you can still take my breath away. I cannot believe how incredibly blessed we are to call you our own. I look at you with all of your little quirks and determination to rule the world and smile (most of the time). You are simply my wish come true when it comes to my little girl.

I love how you love your brothers, it can turn a very bad day into an okay one when I see you running to catch up with "your boys". And then to see them scoop you up and love you back makes my heart swell. Not many little girls can command 4 boys to have tea parties you know- but they love you so much and will do most anything to make you happy.

Your Daddy is your biggest play thing, I love how when he comes home from work the world stops and your drop everything and run to his car. I love to watch him scoop you up and hug you tight while you say "Daddy! You home! I miss you so much." And to see your daddy with you is amazing, I have always known he was a great father, but you baby girl bring out a whole new side of him.

And as for me, I am so happy we are "best fwends". I love to spend my days with you-even when you are so mischievous I want to pull my hair out. I love that you just crawl up on my lap and cuddle or ask to "hold you mommy" when you are sad. I love your tight squeezes best of all.

On this day I can't help but think of another family who loves you just like we do. There is a mother who only sees your smile and the way you are growing up in pictures. I know how I longed to hold you and touch you when all I had were pictures of you and it makes my heart hurt for her. I have told her over and over again how grateful we are for her selfless love, but thank you will never ever be enough.

Two years ago today they placed you in my arms baby girl, but you have ALWAYS been in my heart.

I love you little miss,

Mommy

*note: please see post below and let me know if you want an invite-

Going Private...

Well. it is time to make this blog a private one. I am not sure who is reading this little blog, but I do know that it is a lot more than comment. I get 50-100 hits some days and quite frankly that kind of freaks me out. While I choose to believe that most of you are family, friends, and adoptive parents, I worry that some creepy person/people are looking in on my little piece of this world and worry even more that they could be looking at my kids. If you would like to keep reading about the Smith Fab Five and thier very tired parents shoot me an email at jansboys4@yahoo.com with Blog Invite in the subject line and I will hook you up.

We'll be making this a private party after the first couple weeks of September.
Thanks for reading!
Janalee

And he'll live another day...



So today was one of those days, the kind where every time someone cried, or hollered, or even winced it had one certain young man's name written all over it. The kind of day that a mom (with five kids) hates, the kind where everyone is getting along except that one kid who just can't resist stirring the pot, who can't stand to see everyone happy, the kid who seems to make it his life's goal to drive me CRAZY- and yes mom, if you are reading this I know. I know if you put pigtails on him he is a mini me at that age. I get it. I learned my lesson, but I still blame you because you kept telling me you hoped I got a child that acted just like me-see it IS your fault!
Anyway, the kid does nothing but drive everyone insane all day and just when I had had enough, I go outside and see this-





My fourteen year old son playing "neighbors" with his little sister. Eating the "maconi and cheese" she is cooking for him and shaking her hand and asking "How do you do?" out the little windows. So sweet! So, I guess he will make it through the rest of the day, but I am not promising anything for tomorrow!



On a funny note, when I made them come in, Little miss Attitude was not happy with me and said "Mommy I not you nieghbor no more!!"


Side note: Thanks big Maya, Booke, Lise and Budder Jones for the sweet new house, Little Maya LOVES it! But, WE MISS YOU!

Keeping busy...

Been too busy to blog lately, our summer has been crazy busy. Since my last post I went to Utah alone for a weekend visit, came home and drove out back to Utah with the kids (all by myself!)the very next weekend, drove the youngest three and my nephew Josh back to Cali a week later and welcomed my sister and her family a couple days after we got home...yeah, crazy busy-but in a really fun sort of way!

We are having fun, enjoying the last weeks of summer and getting ready for school.

Oh yeah, and while his family has been traipsing about here and there, Davey has been hard at work on his "shed." Uh- it is 20x30' people, not a shed in most people's eyes but it might be a great "doghouse" for him to visit!

This month is our Gotcha Day month so I have been working on a care package for Maya's birth family and I am so overwhelmed with emotion this past few weeks as I have watched such deserving people become parents to amazing Taiwanese children. It just brings it all back...more on that soon, I promise!