4 months later...

I cant believe I have not done a blog entry this year until now.  But then again - I can, because it has been a CRAZY first quarter!  (See below)

Mommy, Tyce, Zeia, Cow

The biggest news of course is that Zeia is now a big sister as we have welcomed Tyce Griffin Unsworth into the world on Feb. 15th.  Another happy baby in the family!!

Zeia loves being a big sis so far.  Every time she sees him, she kisses him on his face and then points to his hair and his nose.  I assume these are her favorite features.

(Personally I love his chunky thighs!)

Zeia continues to be her happy, bubbly, social self and we continue to LOVE her personality.  She has grown so much and so quickly, that I am glad we have so much great technology so that we can share these memories and keep track of them.

Holding on to Auntie Vysh 

Swimming with Auntie Emma

Reading with Grandpapa

Playing the Hat game with 'Ama'

The L.A. Aunties came to visit!

We are so lucky to have friends with children the same age as Zeia, as it is so fun to watch them grow up together.  She and her 'cousins' get together at least once a week and have a blast!  Some of our adventures this year include:

• Oakland Museum Family Friday Night
• City of Oakland First Friday
• Little Farm
• Alameda Beach
• San Pablo and Willard park
• Pool day at Donovan and Betsy's
• MANY Sunday dinners in the back yard!

The Crew

Bathtime Mohawks

The Strawberry Shortcake Queens

                                                That's all for now...We're Outta Here!!

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?!

Sunday is a great day for blogging

It's been a busy Fall season full of love, fun, family, friends, and pumpkin costumes.  I haven't had much time to write, but it has all been for good reasons.  Zeia is a happy girl, growing up so fast right before our eyes.  Her first birthday will be here shortly, and I just want to make sure I capture some of the time leading up to it.  Her favorite thing to do is clap her hands (besides eating) and make noise!  Lots of noise!  Her favorite words are "Dada, mama, nana (banana), and that".  She has a smile that is contagious and her big curious eyes are always exploring the world around her.

Don't worry, we dont let her drink wine :)  We have family-style dinner at the Batten-Bowman residence about once a month, and it is one of our favorite nights.  We learn so many helpful tricks from Auntie Emma - like giving the kids the wine cork to suck on...works like a charm.

Halloween was another fun night, here is Zeia with her buddies Aya and Enzo.  Of course - they stole the show, who can resist such cuteness!!

We spent Thanksgiving at grandma and grandpa's house and it was so much fun!  Can you tell how happy Cal is :)  Nick and Toni made another excellent spread.  Mommy's tummy was just too full of baby to really eat as much as I wanted...but I nibbled all night long.  This has definitely been a year to be grateful and thankful for so many things...our wonderful family and friends, bringing Zeia into our lives, and of course the new life growing with us everyday.

Fun in the sunshine with mommy on a lazy afternoon

I love this photo, she's "reading" a book and looks like a little teenager.  You can't tell, but she was kicking her legs.

Here she is on the very first day of 'school' or daycare in her case.  She attends Kidsland in Berkeley and she loves it!  The first few days were a challenge, but her caretaker Ana is warm and caring.  Now, Zeia actually reaches out to her sometimes and we can tell she is learning a lot in daycare while we are at work.  She is becoming more independent and content with keeping herself busy.  She plays really well with other kids, and is very good with meeting new people.  Yet and still, her attachment to us is very secure and she checks in with us all the time during play and when she is in the arms of other people.  The doctor has reassured us this is a very good sign.

The Many Faces of Zeia...silly girl posing for the camera

Oh...and did I mention she LOVES to eat?!  She is only in the 40th percentile for height, but the 70th percentile for weight!!  Looks are deceiving and everyone who picks her up learns quickly that she packs a lot in that small frame.  As grandma says, she is made of pure solid gold!

Well that's all folks!  Mommy will try to do a better job of keeping up the writing...she promises ;)