One year ago today...

David and I sat in front of our computer and saw her face for the very first time. As soon as we saw her we knew she was meant to be our little girl. One year ago I went PINK shopping and for the first time I got to keep it all and not give it away! One year ago we began the long wait to bring her home and though there were times we thought we would not survive, we did.

Looking back at the past year I marvel at how time really does go so quickly. Now it did not seem like it when we were waiting for her to come home, but we have had her for almost 6 months now and I do not know where the time has gone! It seems as if she has always been here with us, but thinking about it, I guess she always has been here, she has always had a place in our hearts and I know she has always had a place in this family. We are so blessed to know that there was a plan for her to be with us all along, and no matter how long it took for us to find each other and no matter what we had to go through, she was always meant to be here with us. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for His precious gift to us in this little girl, and for the precious gifts that each one of our boys are. We are blessed indeed.

Together again!

A Maya and Emi Reunion!

Maya and Emi in Taiwan waiting to get on the plane that would finally take them home.

Maya and Emi re-united 4 months later. Look how they have grown!

It was so fun to watch them react to each other when we got together with the Gray Family for dinner while we were in Utah. When Emi saw Maya she let out a squeal of delight and instantly reached for Maya. Maya just looked at Emi with her big brown eyes. They have a special bond these two. They will be friends for life. We are so excited that we live close enough for them to see each other a couple times a year, and it does not hurt that Emi has two of the coolest parents around--when we found out we would travel with them to pick our babies up, I have to admit I was pretty nervous about it, what if they were wierd? What if they were hard to talk to? Well, after some great phone conversasions and in the first five minutes of meeting them I knew we would be fine and we made lifelong friends on that trip of a lifetime. Seeing them again was is if we had never been apart, and our kids all got along great. We love you Grays!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!

Maya turns one!

Been thinking a lot about how Maya's birth mother is doing today. It is December 24th in Taiwan. I wonder about her all of the time. I looked at her picture the other day and it all came back to me. I wonder if she is hurting. I wonder if she is trying to go about her day trying to forget the unforgetable. I wonder. I hope she is okay. I hope she can feel peace in her decision. I hope she knows through our post adoption updates that Maya is thriving and that she is a happy, curious and very busy little girl. I hope that she knows how much Maya is loved. I hope she knows that Maya will know her someday. I hope.

So Happy Birthday little one. What a gift you are.

LOOK WHO'S WALKING!!

Maya is eleven months old...all of the boys did not walk until 13-14 months old. She is a live wire and has started acting like the princess she is. She arches her back and does this fake cry when you take something away that she should not have in the first place. Funny thing is that she stops and looks at you after she does it to see how you'll react. The picture below cracks me up...she has it down that is for sure, now all she needs is her daddy's credit card!

Here she is playing with the Fisher Price Nativity set, she loves it. After trying to decorate a bit for Christmas this week, I am ready to put everything but this toy away and call it good. I can't even imagine what our tree will look like this year with our busy little woman...she loves to rearrange!

More pictures from the Tahoe trip

Maya in Coloma at the Wan Hop chinese store...very cool chinese history here.

Below: looking out over the American River at Natomas Fish HatcherySalmon trying to jump the gate...the ladder was closed that day and there were literally hundreds of fish waiting to climb. Jake thought it was awesome.

A quick trip to Tahoe...

We were able to squeeze in a quick trip to Tahoe this past week and we had a lot of fun.
We got a two bedroom condo for the week, but only stayed Sunday-Wednesday...we have not vacationed with a little one in a long time!! Packing the baby gear alone was quite the accomplishment! We stayed in South Shore and it was gorgeous. We hoped that there would be snow, but it was still up to high. Oh well, maybe there will be snow in Utah when we go home for Christmas.

We played on the shores of Tahoe, drove into Carson City, Nevada and explored a railroad museum there, hot tubbed on the roof of the condo's over looking Carson Valley, explored Coloma (sight where gold was found in CA) on the way home and stopped at Apple Hill for some of the best apples around (brought home the most heavenly apple and pumpkin cream cheese pies for turkey day) and we stopped at the Natomas Fish Hatchery to watch the salmon climb the ladder. Lots of family time spent together doing things we never do around this awesome place that we live in.

Maya did great but taking an almost one year old who explores everything on vacation was harder than I remember! She walks all over now, so I just chase her all day long. She found that pounding on the glass coffee table in the condo was the most fun, but wondered why she was told "NO!" so much! Needless to say, we cut the trip short a couple days to get her back to the enviorment that she knows and she was so happy to be home.

Thanksgiving was nice, I am 36 and I cooked my first ever turkey this year...lame I know, but hey we have managed to always be the guests until now!!! So dinner was nice, but with my brood of boys? 5 hours plus in the kitchen only to watch my boys clean their plates in 15 minutes!! Taking pictures of the family and meal took longer than dinner did. Atleast Maya took her own sweet time and enjoyed her food...ok it was everywhere but in her mouth, but she enjoyed it--especially the pumkin pie and ice cream. YUMMY!

We have a lot to be thankful for this year, and we are so happy there is a holiday that lets you make the time to remember just how blessed we really are.

Just For fun...

Maya and the boys were all outside enjoying a beautiful fall day and I had to grab my camera and capture some of the fun.

Above: Spencer and Maya

Below: Maya giving Jake kisses

Tanner and Maya

Matthew and Maya

The little things

Funny how it is the little things in life that can make you the happiest, take laundry for an example...I HATE LAUNDRY (!!!!), but I find myself loving the fact that I am washing and folding little girl things, I open up the dryer to a whole load of yummy smelling tiny little girl clothes in assorted girl colors and it somehow make all of those jeans and tshirts that I am so accustomed to washing and folding a little bit more fun. Bathtime is another example...it can be quite a pain to wrangle four young men into and out of the shower/bathtub without a trail of dirty clothes all over the house and without all of the water (which is now filthy because boys are dirt magnets) ending up everywhere but the bathtub itself, but take miss Maya wrapped up in a pink towel and smelling pretty darn yummy herself and bathtime takes on a whole new perspective!

Some of the other little things that make me happy:

- Maya dressed in her lady bug halloween costume
- four big brothers who absolutly adore Maya
- waking up really early to a little one calling "mama" from her bed
- Maya standing at the window waving "HI" when Dave is coming in from a days work
- Jake trying so hard to remember that Maya is not a rag doll
- Maya flapping her arms and getting so excited when the kids come home from school
- morning naps so I can shower
- baby girl shoes (How can you stop at one or two pair?)
- me starting to feel like my old normal self again after this wild ride called adoption
- the fact that everything is starting to fall into place and Maya is thriving

So that is a little of what I have been thinking about lately, we are still trying to settle into our new roll as parents and big brothers to this amazing little girl, and she is still trying to settle into being our daughter and little sister to four big brothers, but we are doing well. She has made some major progress just in the last three weeks and seems so much more comfortable in her new life. We are so happy and so blessed to have these five kids....sure life is crazy busy, but we would not change it for anything.

Oh.. and by the way, my 10 month old baby girl takes 4-6 steps on her own now. A bitter sweet thing for me. She is not supposed to grow up so quickly, but this is one of the first milestones we got to witness that was not in an update or a picture.



Maya and her Cabbabge Patch Doll

Jake thinking it is easier to wrangle a snake than a ladybug!

What a month!

We can't believe we have had our sweet girl for a month now. It feels like she has always been here...okay, okay, not the sleepless night part of it, but in every other way! Maya is doing great. She is adjusting perfectly. We have had our share of bumps along the way, but she is doing better than we ever expected her to be considering what she has been through this month. She is liking her dad more each day, which makes us all much happier. She adores her big brothers who dote on her and play with her non-stop. She is a momma's girl all the way, and aside from my aching sholder and back, I love it! She plays peek a boo, tells her daddy "no" by shaking her head when he tries to pick her up, gets into things she knows are a "no no" and shakes her head "no" the whole time she is doing it, she blows kisses and gives very slobbery wet open mouth kisses, she crawls all over, stands up and cruises around furniture, stands by herself for a few seconds at a time, and will be walking before I know it (oh my!).

It was a year ago this October that we decided to jump into the adoption world with both feet. Wow, a year ago I did not even have a clue about the way my life would change during the journey of adoption. A year ago I could not have even imagined how much you can love someone half a world away from you and know in your heart that she is part of you regardless of the circumstances of the way she came to you. A year ago I knew she was out there, but I could have never imagined how perfect she was for our family. We are blessed.

We're Home and Adjusting Well

After a very long flight home with a very restless baby, we made it to Sacramento and Maya was welcomed by her four smitten big brothers at the airport. It was sweet to see them just looking at her and talking to her. She is one loved and doted on little princess!!

We are adjusting well, not much sleeping is going on right now, but we are hanging in. Maya seems more and more comfortable with her new surroundings each day. She has definetely attached to me, which makes her dad a tad bit sad, but we are pleased she attached to one of us and turns to me when she is overwhelmed or getting scared.

We already can't imagine life with out her, she is constantly on the move and turns circles in your arms to see the world around her. It is great to see her viewing the world for the first time, everything is just new and exciting for her. She loves little children which comes from her up-bringing at Chung Yi where they let the older children interact with the babies. She is facinated with faces and will reach out to touch almost anyone's face. She is laughing and smiling more and more each day. She is just perfect!

Above: Everyone seeing her for the first time...check out Grandma!

Jake with his sister "who is not just in a picture anymore"

Grandma and Maya

Last post from Taiwan

Today we started out at the Dr.'s office. Maya has a fever and is coughing pretty hard, so we wanted her checked out before we put her on an airplane tomorrow. She just has a cold, nothing to serious, so that is a good thing. Despite being sick, she has been pretty good. We took her to the Handicraft Market today, it is a great place to see all the fun items that you can get here under one roof. The prices are not as good as you can find at the night markets, but I liked the quiet, non crowded, shopping compared to the people everywhere shopping. The night markets are a definete must if you are coming, you get a true feel for Taiwan at the night markets.

We also went to Taipei 101, and the Chiang Kai-Shek Memeorial Hall. Both were incredible.

It has been another great day getting to know our fiesty little girl, She definetely knows what she wants and when she wants it!! On the way back to the hotel, we threw the diaper bag in the trunk of the taxi, well 3 minute into the ride she decided she was hungry. Let's just say the cab driver was plugging his ear with one hand and driving in rush hour traffic with the other!! Rush hour traffic by the way is scary...nothing a driver should be navigating one handed!!! Have I mentioned the scooter riders? Hundreds of them everywhere, coming at you from all directions, and very gutsy!!

David has already fed Maya her first ice cream cone and that went over very well, She would not let it out of her sight!

We have had an amazing time here in Taiwan, but we are so ready to come home. This is our last post until we are back in the states. Thank you so much for all the sweet comments from everyone, it has helped us so much to know that we have so many of you supporting us.

Boys, get ready, she's coming home! We can't wait to see you at the airport. LOVE YOU!!!

Janalee, David and Maya Xiao-Pin

Getting to know Maya

Well, lets just say she is a busy little thing! She is a mover, always on the go. She knows what she wants and when she wants it and there is a high (very high) pitched scream if you don't believe her. She does not give us much of a warning when she is hungry, so we end up with her screaming while we are trying to make a bottle. Mom and Dad need to watch for the signs better before the screams. She seems to be prefering me but she will still go to David anytime, she just wants me when she is tired. She has a cute little personality, but we still do not get many smiles from her. She is a very pleasant baby and pretty much goes with the flow which will be good when she gets home to four brothers who will smother her in hugs and kisses. She is a good little sleeper- 8:30pm- 6am this morning and we woke her up to go to AIT.

Speaking of AIT we passed with flying colors, we get her Visa tomorrow!!!!

The family we are traveling with is just awesome, we have a lot in common and their little one Emi is just so cute. Emi is sick though, so that has not been fun for them, they have been to the doctor a couple times for breathing treatments since they got her. We are building a life long friendship, and we are so happy they live where we can see them once in awhile. I will post some pictures of the two of them when Emi feels a bit better.

So aside from the extreme humidity, Taiwan could not be better. Even though I enjoy the busy city here in Taipei, I wish we could get away from the big city to see the true Taiwan. I can tell from the mountain sides that is beautiful (think Kauai) but you can't see much past the highrises and apartmant buildings. Someday I will return with Maya and I will see it then.

We love this whole experience, being here still feels like a dream, especially when Xiao-Pin reaches out to touch my face or pats me on the sholder saying "mama", or when she is using her daddy as a jungle gym and he is just eating it up. He keeps looking at me and grinning. I am seeing a whole new side of my husband--he has always been a great father to the boys, but there is something different about a daddy and his little girl.

D and J

Boys:
It always makes my happier when I get to talk to you, I am so excited to get back home so we can all be together again. We love you guys so much and we are so thankful you are our boys.
Thanks for helping aunt Jennie, and for being good for her. Hope school is going ok for everyone, Way to go Tanner Man!!! Mateo, I hope Mr. T is as cool as ever, Jake- Do you like 1st grade? I sure hope so! Spencer, no worries, I know you are doing your best. Love you all!

Jen:
You are the best, but if you send me another email that starts like the last one, I will hurt you badly! Thanks again for everything, I have no worries about them while you are there.
Love ya!


Ok Ok...here's some new pix!

Sound asleep

First Bath for us

Baba and Xiao-Pin

What a cutie!

Happy girl

It’s our beautiful little Mei Mei!
What an amazing day! Words just can not explain how we both feel. We arrived at our orphanage and were introduced to the director and a few of the office people and then they took us to a room to go over the babies schedules. I was really not prepared for what happened next. The door opened and then the world just kind of stopped as I watched my baby come into the room. I could only sit there with my hand over my mouth and tears streaming down my face. The care giver who had Xiao-Pin handed her to me and that was that...I fell completely and totally in love with our baby girl. She is so sweet and she is not a serious little girl like all of her picture make her out to be. This one is a live wire!!! She came to both David and I very easily and the care givers kept telling her who we were-Mama and Baba. Se looked at us both with curious big brown eyes as if to say "I know you, Where have you been?" Her care givers told us she loves the toy with our picture in it and that they told her who we were everyday. She recognized us! She also looks at the boys pictures very intently.
She has yet to cry, but screams a very high pitched scream when hungry! She is very curious and looks at everything around her. She is crawling and pulling herself up to things. As we speak (type) David and Xiao- Pin are having a raspberry war on the bed and she is winning!
It is truly amazing to me to know beyond a shadow of doubt that this little girl was meant to be part of our family, She is an amazing little spirit and I have so much gratitude for my Father in Heaven.
The birth parent meeting was one of the hardest things I have been through in my life. It was also one of the most amazing experiences I have had in my life. David had a really hard time, and I would have but our birth mother was trying so hard to save face as Asian people do and she was not wanting us to see the hurt in her eyes, so I forced myself to be strong for her. We said our goodbyes and then I lost it when she walked out the door.
So people, I know you are here for the pictures, so here they are. Boys, your little sister is so cute and fun, I can’t wait to bring her home for you to meet her. You guys will love her!
Janalee and David
Mama and Baba