Papa is 60!

Highlights from our birthday celebration with Papa Tom!

Uh-oh

You'll never guess what kind of trouble these boyz got in to!

State Fair Fun

Here are some highlights from our evening at the Fair. Until Hey Yo and Russ were arrested by the Fuzz...

Visit with Hey Yo & Kimmi

Uncle Billy AKA "Hey Yo" and aunt Kimmi came down for a visit this weekend. We had fun playing around the house and going to the State Fair!

These were taken by my dear friend Lindsay, an amazing photographer!

Maya is 9 months old!

So much has happened developmentally since we brought Maya home a few weeks ago. She can sit up on her own, she is crawling and she her bottom 2 front teeth are coming in at the same time! She is 9 months old this week and talking up a storm. Da da da da...ma ma ma ma...ggghh...gghhh...thh...thh...thh. We are having so much fun with her. Jack continues to be a trooper and patient big brother. He loves playing on the floor with Maya and showing her how to do things. She is totally enamored with him in return.

Our good friends Catherine and Jane (from Ireland) sent Maya the most adorable bib and the cutest pink leather shoes. The picture was taking during lunch time yesterday. On the Maya menu - pureed mango mixed with rice cereal. This girl loves tropical fruits!

Pictures at Home

We've had many visitors over the past week and here are a few pictures. The first is Maya with her Grandma Gina; next is Maya with aunt Julie and the third is our long time friend Cathy with Maya.

More pictures from the day we met Maya. The first is Jack, Maya and Dina (Jack's best friend in Guatemala!) The second is Maya's first spin in her new stroller!

Johnson Family Visit

Maya met her grandpa and grandma Johnson, cousin Cody, aunt Julie and uncle Gabe this week! Here we are enjoying French Dip Sandwiches (one of my all time favorites)! We had a fun visit with the family and can't wait to do it again. Maya also took her first dip in the pool. She was tentative, but did okay. We took her in again today and she liked it a little better. This picture is courtesy of Gabe and his new, awesome camera!

Grandpa Bruce & Maya

More fun

Our first week at home

Maya is a true character just like Jack! They bring so much light and laughter to our life. It feels as if Maya has been in our family forever. Jack has been such a trooper and loves playing with his sister and helping me out with her. Aside from being really tired, I can't complain. Life is good :)

Saturday Adventure

On Saturday, we ventured out to the Central Park in Guatemala City. We walked around the inside of the Catholic Cathedral and it was literally a few city blocks long and wide. A wedding was about to start and the bride was in traditional Mayan clothing with a white veil. Her skirt and blouse were colorful and beautiful. We then ventured to the Central Mercado to do some shopping. The unique thing about this mercado is that it is underground. Nice and cool when it was warm and muggy on the street. The first picture is the front of our hotel, the second is all of us in front of the fountain in the park and the last one is a vendor we purchased Maya's hat from!

Jack and Maya

Russell's Point of View!

Russ is such a better writer and observer, so I thought I'd share what he has to say!

We are now getting acquainted with Maya. She is actually sleeping with Debbie in one bed now as she woke up earlier,and Jack got stuck with me in another. I am up early drinking caffee con leche (coffee with warm milk), and it is yummy.

Maya threw a major fit the first night (so did Jack!) but she is so well adjusted I can't believe it. For the most part she just goes with the flow--trying to talk, giggling, and even shaking her head NO at times! She likes to be bundled and does not like the cold; she also needs to sleep with a light on so that is an adjustment for us.

Our meeting with Maya the first day did not go smoothly at all because the translator never showed up but Maya did thankfully with the foster mother. We waited practically all day for the translator but in the end it seemed really not necessary. It is amazing how with a little spanish (Thankfully Debbie has retained a lot), a little english and lots of gestures two people can communicate. I kept throwing french in just to confuse the whole matter (not intentionally). Jack played all day with the highly spirited Dina, the foster mother's daughter. Our embassy appointment yesterday went well--actually we were in and out in less than 2 hours which amazed us from what we've heard from others in the past.

Feel free to send this email/or Debbie's link to anyone in the sphere of friends/family. Can't wait for you all to meet Maya. Jack is doing quite well and is happy to have a sister. That said, it is to be expected that Maya bugs Jack by touching his face all the time! Wait till she gets home and gets to his toys. He's had very minor regression during all this and will be a great older brother. Perhaps he's upset that he is charge of changing diapers. :o) (I jest). He really does love to play with her though.

The Day

I'm sorry we didn't get to post anything yesterday, but that is because our day was full of all things wonderful...meeting Maya! I can't even put into words the feelings as I met her in person for the very first time. She is every bit as wonderful as we could have ever imagined. Calm, happy, fiesty all at the same time! There was a mix-up with the translator who was supposed to help Vivian (the foster mom) and I communicate - in other words, the translator didn't show! Vivian and I worked hard and spent all day...my rusty Spanish...but we managed to learn the important stuff about Maya and her needs. Vivian is a special person and her daughter Dina (6 years old) was full of life and Jack spent the day playing with Dina and proving that with kids, language doesn't matter.

I will let these pictures tell the story of our day. I will try to post more tomorrow :)

Remembering Aunt BJ

Aunt BJ passed away Friday night and last night the whole family went to dinner together to celebrate uncle Howard's birthday and the life our aunt BJ. Aunt BJ was our link to my mom's mother who passed away when I was 8 months old. She was more than just my great aunt, she was like a mother to my own mom and she shared her love and attention with all of us California Smith's. We love and miss aunt BJ and I'm sure she and uncle Norm are doing the after-life up right and enjoying their evening oobley together! RIP

Almost 8 months old!

Thanks to Kelly Jo from our agency, I received a personal update on Maya today. Kelly Jo visited Maya and her foster mom on June 19th and we learned that Maya weighs 13 lbs 8 oz. She eats solid foods, mainly vegetable purees, chicken and fruit. Apple and papaya are her favorite. She sleeps through the night in her own crib. She is happy and content and Vivian says she is a very calm little girl. She likes to be tickled and loves to be sung to.