Two at the Zoo

Everything is more fun with a friend and so we trekked over to the other zoo in our metropolitan area to see how it stacked up. We planned our trip with her Rubiness and her sweet, sweet mama.  It was a very spontaneous trip(yay for us mama's) and oh I am so glad we decided to go.  It was a beautiful day outside,  the zoo was not too crowded, and the girls had a BLAST!!!(us mama's didn't have a shabby time either)  Such a nice zoo and would tell anyone visiting our city that they should go. 
We fed giraffes, goats, GIANT koi, chickens.  We ate lunch watching the pride of lions have their lunch while they also seem to be longingly looking at our girls as tasty morsels thru the 6 inch glass(LOL, true) We watched an elephant give it self the biggest mud bath ever and the tiniest little chimp go somersaulting down the hill. 

We absolutely loved our day at the zoo and loved spending the day with our wonderful friends!!!

Her Rubiness in all of her glory and confidence

This little girl is my hero!!

Two BFF's(with matching hairdo's) feeding the goats together....oh how I love these two sweet girls

Riding the monorail and Ruby was actually waving.

lunch with the lions

I think this lion would prefer something other than the giant meatballs they left out for her.

We could have been in Africa looking at this shot:)

Hands down this was probably the BEST part!!  All 4 of us were in awe to be this close to the giraffes.  They have the most amazing eyes and eyelashes.  I would have fed them all day!!

Awesome experience!

they were playing a little hide and seek I think.....look at that grin on Ruby's face.

What a happy little girl, and the two of them together just make for the most amount of silliness:)

Look at her....heaven!!

I love you with a thousand hearts Hayden Magee

Two of our most favorite girls

Royal Wedding watcher.....

Hayden and I watched the Royal Wedding together after we woke up this morning and we did it in all of our royal finery:) 

I was a teenager when Princess Diana married and I watched EVERY single second of that Royal Wedding.  I have been SO excited to watch this wedding with hopes Hayden would be the least bit interested.  Well all I had to say is that there would be a princess and horses....and she was IN!!!  We fast forwarded through a lot, but I will go back and watch it all later.  You can see she loved that we both actually wore hats!!

A few favorite quotes from Hayden as we watched: "mommy is she wearing shoes??" me: yes, Hayden: I wish we could see them.....will they show us her shoes mommy?  me: no honey I am sorry, I know how much you love shoes.

"Oh mommy she is a beautiful princess"

"her daddy looks like a nice daddy"

"can I go put my flower girl dress on?" Hayden is going to be a flower girl in a wedding next month and is very excited about the finery she thinks she is wearing.

"mommy are you sure that is a hat" as I froze the screen on princess' Eugenie and Beatrice(wow, hat FAIL)

"mommy I think I would like riding in a carriage"

I had a blast watching with Hayden.  I LOVED Kate's dress and the tiara she chose.  I had hoped she would wear the one Diana married in, but after seeing her dress I knew why she hadn't chose it.  I loved seeing all of the hats.  I adored her sister's dress....she looked stunning.  I watched wondering what must have been going through Kate's mind, or even her family's mind.  While I suppose so many little girls dream of marrying their prince.....who actually gets to live that dream??  When they walked out on the balcony and you could see Kate's lips utter the word WOW.....how overwhelming it must have been and she handled it with such Grace(which that is who she reminds me of....Princess Grace) 

Wish them much love and happiness in their life together.

Happy Easter

We hope everyone enjoyed a great Easter weekend.  We certainly did and have to say I am not so sure about Easter falling this late in April......Memorial day is just around the corner!! 

I still need to load the pics of Hayden in her Easter dress.  They are on a different camera and will do that this week.  Easter services did not go so well.  Waaaay too many people and WAAAAAY too many men for our little bunny!!  Hopefully with age and experience this stranger anxiety will improve.  I must agree there were WAAAAYYYY too many people:(

Hayden loved the Rapunzel and the lip gloss the bunny brought, although she has determined that the lip gloss does not taste as good as she would like and so she announced that she would be giving it to all of the babies, and then I told her I don't think babies wear lip gloss and so she decided she would give them all to Ruby.  So there you have it.....the candy, slinky and the Rapunzel will stay:)  She did tell me it was the BEST Easter ever(out of the 2 she has celebrated)

Anyway, enjoy the pics

Ready to begin

Daddy getting in on the dying action

She took her time and made sure there was always an egg in each cup(sometimes two)

Hey look at this blue one!

Hayden LOVED dying the eggs, we had to cook more so she could color some more:)  good thing we love egg salad!

Marbled eggs

sugar bunny:)

ohhhh the bunny dropped some of her candy on the way out!!

10 tubes of lip gloss....how did the bunny know I LOVED lip gloss she asked

Rapunzel look at your hair!!

Coming down the stairs and seeing the first spotting's of the bunny

Forever a family

My goodness  I sit here and can't believe based on the time change(9:43 a.m. in Taiwan) that 2 years ago  David, Taylor and I rode in a car while it was pouring down rain(me praying the entire way that I had made it this far....please don't let us be in a car accident-ha) en route to Taichung to pick up Hayden Magee. In those 3 hours on the road  I had moments of pure panic and tears, there were moments of it all just being surreal....we had waited so long and had times of such uncertainty; but the journey to Hayden was ending and beginning all at the same time.  I kept thinking of everyone at home that was thinking of us at this very moment and sending us all of their good wishes and prayers.  I was trying to wish peaceful thoughts to Hayden for a smooth transition(we know that didn't really work out:) It is an experience and time that is so hard to describe, so hard to explain until you have walked this special journey.

 I can't believe it has only been two years and I can't believe it has already been two years.  I actually have very  little recollection of my life before Hayden.    I have heard it said so often when people walk this journey that they couldn't explain how they could fall in love with a picture of a child thousands of miles away.  Well for me I fell in love with Hayden years before I ever saw her picture.  Adoption has always been in my heart and I think I always knew if I were to become a mother it would be through the blessing of adoption.  I can honestly say that once we finished our paperwork in August 2006 that I had already begun to fall in love with this little person that wasn't even a glimmer in someones eye, I had already begun to dream about her, to make plans for us, to care about her, to let her weave her soul through mine.  I knew this was the journey to our daughter and I knew it was going to be SPECIAL and I knew she was going to be SPECIAL!!! Boy I was not wrong:)  When I saw her picture for the first time, it was as though I had seen it a million times before.  My heart felt a peace like......oh there you are you sweet girl; I have been waiting for you:)

I will NEVER forget the actual moment I saw Hayden for the first time in person.  When we pulled up to Mrs. Chen's house and it was drizzling out and they stood on the front porch area waiting for us.  Hayden was dressed in a sleeper we had sent around Christmas time, she was so tiny and so beautiful.  Obviously we knew what she looked like before we arrived....we had just received updates right before we left.  But as we are told every time we meet anyone new that has only seen H in pictures....."she is much tinier than she looks in pictures, and she is so pretty"  well that is exactly what struck me the moment I locked onto her.  In true Hayden fashion she began to cry hysterically as we stepped onto the porch and pretty much didn't stop for about 2- 2 1/2 hours....she doesn't cry quite as long, but strangers are a source of contention for her and certainly a source of anxiety(we are working through that stress) Her eye lids still get red and swollen when she cries like she did that day, she doesn't growl like a dragon anymore.....but certainly doesn't hold back on her emotions, Hayden always wears her heart on her sleeve(just like her mama)

We have come a long way in 2 years.  A list of firsts that is too long to list, a giant personality that has grown and continues to grow. We went from being physically attached to me to being a very self confident and self reliant little girl(as long as there are not any strangers especially with beards)She is remarkably bright, extremely happy, full of non-stop energy, questions, and desire for snacks!!!  She has grown 7 1/2 inches, but only gained 6 lbs, she went from that beautiful bald head that I had to find the smallest hair clips ever made to this beautiful thick head of hair that sports the biggest bow her head will support currently. We have started school, potty trained, become a huge lover of her gymnastics class, has a list of great friends(both real and pretend)  She loves music and has a sincere desire to learn to play multiple instruments.  She has a style of her own, LOVES shoes, and REALLY loves her hair accessories.....if I don't put it in, she will ask or put something in herself.  She has the imagination of 4 children put together.  Her heart is full of love, kindness, and forgiveness.  She is such a good friend, she take turns, she gets upset if her friends are upset.  Her DEEP love for her daddy is deeper than words could ever explain, she thinks her brother and sister and Shiyu was pretty awesome too.  Her affection for animals especially dogs is true love. Hayden LOVES deep and passionately, she pretty much does everything BIG and LOUD!!!

I have often been asked if I wished that we had found the Taiwan program earlier instead of doing our paperwork and waiting in the China line.  ABSOLUTELY not!!  This was the journey that led us to the daughter that was always meant to be ours.....If there is anything I know to be true in my life it is that we were always meant to be together.  For those who know me well I don't say those words lightly.  I am a very black and white person, very literal.  But again for those who know me well and know Hayden Magee....they will agree that we were destined to be mother and daughter and I think it it was always our story.   I do believe that when you take this special journey you really do come home with the child that is meant for you.  Had we not done China first there is a long list of friends that I would not have made along the way that hold such an important place in my heart, we probably would not have hosted Shiyu who is now just as important as any of the kids in our house, and her family has become an extension of our family....they are all so important to us.
Adoption really is a journey and a blessing all rolled into one.

730 days have passed since I held our daughter for the first time, and every day since then has been a bigger blessing.  There have been challenges, there have been amazing memories, many firsts, illness', grieving, sleepless nights, the happiest of the happy, and the lowest of the lows.  I have tried to live EVERY moment including the good, the bad and the ugly.  I do know that with each day that passes I never forget to look at that beautiful, kind and sweet girl of ours and say THANK YOU and remind myself what a lucky mama I am:)

Hayden Magee you are AMAZING and your daddy and I love you with a thousand hearts.  You are our heart and my soul. You make everyday an adventure, you have taught us patience and to laugh at ourselves(and you) you make everyone you meet smile, and you have touched so many....some you have not even met.  Thank you for letting us be your mommy and daddy:)

A week in review and special visitors

Another week down.....man where does the time go??  I can't believe it is almost May:)  Our weather has continued to be amazing.  We experienced our first trip to urgent care and first round of antibiotics......yes Hayden had strep and an ear infection.  10 days of antibiotics and I kept thinking "I wonder if an illness can actually change your personality"??  Well I have now been schooled that it was the antibiotics.  Hayden was a hot atlanta mess and all I can say is I am SO relieved that she is basically back to her old happy self.  This pre-school thing is not for the weak, man we are making up for lost time on the illness front.  Hopefully this means when she starts kindergarten she will have all the immunities she needs and hopefully will never be sick.  2 times in 3 weeks.....cooked and done is what this mama is:)

We went to a very fun and girly tea party.  Hayden did great for it being something new and we didn't know a soul there....she was very brave and sat right down, let them put make-up on her and she enjoyed her raspberry tea and cupcake(well the icing that is) and lucky enough there was another little girl at our table that is celiac and so her mom had brought her gluten free cupcakes and so kindly offered one up to me:)    We had a wonderful time together at the tea party and hope it is the first of many. 

self-portrait

Ahhhhh make-up just the thing I needed to get this party started:)

Then we had visitors come all the way from Missouri to visit.  These are very special people to me and have been a part of my life since jr.high and continue to be very special to our whole family.  We don't get to see them often, but that does not stop them from spoiling a certain little girl.  We were excited to see them and were sorry it was such a SHORT visit. We packed a lot in 36 hours:)  But don't think that a certain little girl didn't get her fill of surprises.  She woke from her nap to say...."now what do I get to open"??  LOL   

Here daddy this is for you:)

Waiting to eat at Babes and playing pretty ponies

Daddy and Steve....taken by Hayden(not so bad for a 2 yr old)

We went to Art in the Square and there were dogs galore....Hayden petted every single one that she was allowed to pet.  She is so great now about asking the owners if she can pet their dog and what their dog's name is! 

Another self portrait.  She is obsessed with my camera

Spring time in the south

When we have spring(more than a week) it is GLORIOUS!!!! and I can say that our weather and spring has been absolutely GLORIOUS!!!  We have been spending as much time as possible outside enjoying the weather, getting our yard in order, pool is back to sparkling clean, garden and some flowers have been planted.   You saw we have had a great bluebonnet season and we will enjoy a big outdoor art show this weekend with our VERY important visitors who are driving to visit us:) 

Hayden enjoyed a giant petting farm that came to school today.  Her teachers said she was waaaaay  EXCITED about the animals and getting to pet them.  I would guess it was a little tough to get her back inside as well.  That's my little animal lover!!!!  We have parent teacher conferences tomorrow....teehee we are going just to see what could they possibly say about being in pre-school and being 2 1/2:) LOL 
Teacher conference was GREAT....glowing report:) She wrote in Hayden's report card that they are blessed to have her in their class and that she brings immense joy to their class....awwww.  They checked that she has mastered everything that she is suppose to have at this point.  To be fair....Hayden is the oldest in her class.  She misses the cut off by 6 days here, and so she will always be the oldest(very happy about that little tidbit) so she is ahead of her class based on age:) 
But seriously....The greatest teachers!!  they are a blessing!!

We are ALMOST potty trained.  We have been very laid back about it.  I have planted potty chairs and small sized toilet seats all over the house and in every bathroom, I keep a potty chair in my car(she is not really into the public toilet thing quite yet) At home she wears 'tiny, tiny" panties, and when we go out she mostly wears pull ups. At school she wears a pull up, but always goes on they potty.  I had to laugh when her teacher said that 8 out of the 9 kids in her class are potty training.....nice of us to all decide to do it at the same time:) Some mornings we even have a dry diaper and she will ask to go potty as soon as she gets up.
stickers and Easter eggs are the reward.....everyone swears she will stop asking for them, but at this point it does not seem likely!!!    So I must say after the first day or two of explaining the whole potty thing to her....she has taken it from there.  Now I must say when it comes to #2.....well she comes and ask for a diaper, and then she goes and hides to take care of business.  That's is totally okay with me, and when she is ready for that switch we will work on it!!!

Okay like I said we have special guest coming this weekend to visit.  We are very excited to see them.  Hayden will get a little spoiling I think....okay maybe a lot!!!  So it will be a weekend of a lot of food and fun and BEAUTIFUL weather!!!  Not sure there will be pictures; they are terribly private, but might have some of Hayden.

Summer is going to be BUSY; REALLY BUSY!!!!

Photos are of course from the talented

YLK photography

Texas Bluebonnets

Okay so for everyone that doesn't know.....The spring in Texas brings our state treasure and state flower; The Bluebonnet.  As you drive down our highways they are graced with the lovely little periwinkle blue and white flowers.  You also see everyone stopped along side the roadways taking their annual bluebonnet pictures....especially if you have children.  I have waited 20 years since moving here to take my daughter's picture in a pretty dress in a field of bluebonnets.  Last year it was a really wet spring and so it never really dried up enough or stopped raining long enough to take Miss H for her picture.  But let me tell you the 20 years I have waited....it was worth every single minute of waiting with what was captured tonight.  As always our amazing friend Miss Yony came through when she asked us to come out and play with her for a few minutes before she had to shoot.....and I am showing you what my silly point and shoot captured, but all I can say is I can't wait to see what Yony captured because well she is fabulous and has an amazing eye and an amazing camera and well she is amazing at capturing Hayden in the purest, happiest way.  We scrolled through and saw some of what she shot and she and I were both nearly jumping up and down as we viewed the moments in time she captured.  I know I go on and on about her and I also have Hayden's picture taken endlessly, but well this time of her life will go so quickly and I want to capture every single precious minute, and I am so blessed to have such a talented friend who loves to take pictures of our child:)  So bear with me as I am sure in another few years Hayden will refuse to have her picture taken and it will be okay because I have a few thousand from the first few years of her life!!!  LOL

Okay so are you ready??  BTW Hayden is actually wearing some handmedowns from Yony's beautiful daughter.....oh how I love both of these dresses!!!

Okay so these two are from Yony and I am just DYING over them!!!  The one of H and I were was so unplanned and she caught such an amazing moment!!!

Then I swear look at the one with the chair.....EVERY single time Yony nails it!!!

She is SO silly!!!!

Okay I will share what I get from Yony, but don't forget these are from my point and shoot and my lack of photography skills are apparent