Unwrapping gifts and wrapping up the year

What a whirlwind of a year it has been! Almost one year ago to the day, Tor and I made the decision to pursue an adoption and now we have a little girl that I can't imagine not ever having in our lives...and another on the way :)  It has been a year of changes, in which I have learned a lot about myself and just about life in general.  I am so proud of us, especially of Zeia in her adjustment to her new life here with us.  She is a vivacious little girl full of love and bubbling energy.  I can never get enough of her smile, as it lets me know she is happy too.

Christmas Joy!!

2013 promises to be another year of change, and we are bracing ourselves for Baby T as best we can.  I think Zeia will be a great big sister, although I am prepared for her to need patience and time for her own adjustment to the new baby.  It will be interesting to say the least...

Happy Holiday Hugs

We are so fortunate to have such great support from our family and friends.  We are surrounded by love, and wonderful grandparents :)
This year we hosted Christmas dinner at our house, and Nick provided the ultimate spread!  Our exchange student was here with his wife who is visiting from Brazil, and Momoe came through towards the end of the night as well.  It was a great feast, with laughs and love all around.  I think Zeia truly enjoyed her very first Christmas...even if we didn't have a tree.

Some of my favorite Christmas photos

Gingerbread Girl 

1st and only candy cane

Making brown people for the gingerbread house

Gingerbread cottage complete...ignore the falling tree

Its a Birthday...and a Baby

Last Saturday we celebrated Zeia's 1st birthday with a few close girlfriends.  We also celebrated the new life getting ready to join us....Baby T!  It was an amazing day, hosted by 2 of my favorite people Amber and Vysh :)

I am so grateful for amazing friends and the wonderful support they bring.  Zeia had a great time, and had no idea she was having to share her birthday party...as long as the cupcake was all hers.

My sister even came by!  Simone met Zeia for the very first time, and it was very special to me.  We havn't seen her in months, and it was great to catch up with her and see that she is doing okay.

Princess Zeia is wearing dress that we brought back from Ethiopia, it is the first of 18 Ethiopian birthday gifts that we have for her.  She was be-a-u-ti-ful!   Pardon the nose scrape, someone took their first (and only) fall from the bed earlier this week.

Zeia and her baby cousins Lance and Aya...these 3 steal the show!

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Presents for a special little girl...and boy ;)

 I can't believe what a big girl Zeia is becoming!  She looks like a true toddler now...no more baby :)

Guess who is 1 today?!