"May I buy one baby? PLEASE?!?!"

Pam ~ Maya K and I spent about an hour at my sister Debbi's house this afternoon. My parents are coming to visit in about a week and we needed to talk about who was feeding them and what days. Debbi has twin 4-year-old boys and does part-time childcare for twin 5-month-old baby boys.

Debbi and I chatted about our food plans for next week while we each held a baby and Maya K played with her cousins Ben and Joseph. As Maya K and I were getting ready to leave, Maya K started playing with the babies.

When it was time to go, Maya K said goodbye to her Aunt Debbi and cousins, and then she said goodbye to the babies.

As she touched the foot of the baby her Aunt Debbi was holding, Maya K said "May I buy one baby? PLEASE?!?!"

My sister and I both did something of a double take and I said, "What did you ask, Maya K?"

"May we buy one baby, please??????? I want a baby, Mommy!!!!!"

Oh dear.

Debbi quickly told Maya K that these babies had a mommy that was at work and would be coming to take them home soon. Then Maya K and I left.

Here is a summary of our conversation in the car.

Maya K: "I want to buy a baby. Why can't we buy a baby?"

Me: "We can't just buy a baby, Honey. God sometimes puts a baby in a mommy's tummy, and God has not put a baby in your mommy's tummy. Or sometimes a mommy and daddy will adopt a baby or an older kid who need a mommy and daddy. That is what we did with you, Maya K. We adopted you because you needed a mommy and daddy."

Maya K: (sad voice) "But I really want a baby."

Me: "Daddy and I have already told you that we would like to adopt another kid sometime in a long, long time (we say it this way so that she doesn't think it will happen tomorrow!!!!), but you have to wait for a while. It takes a long time to adopt."

Maya K: "Will you adopt a baby, please???? A brown baby. Brown like me. PLEASE???!!!!"

Me: "Maybe it will be a baby. Or maybe it will be an older kid, like you were older. God will tell us when it is time and it will be very exciting."

Maya K: "Okay, Mommy. Maybe a baby!!!!!!"

FB Friday

April 20, 2013 ~ Sometimes it's the small things. I clipped Maya K's toenails today and they looked like NORMAL toenails!!! Almost seven months of good nutrition is paying off!!!

April 22, 2013 ~ Maya K's first time rollerblading was a HUGE success!!! She went from hanging on tight to her daddy to moving freely around the garage on her own; falling and getting up by herself, walking on the wheels, and rolling around the garage in just 30 minutes!!! I bought these used roller blades for Maya K off a FB swap site last week and they were definitely worth the money spent!!!

April 23, 2013 ~ How cold is too cold to layer up the three kids I am watching today (that includes Maya K) and go for a walk? The morning is not off to a good start and I kind of wonder if a good walk in the cold air might settle some bad moods. What do you think???

The 30 minute walk out in the cold was GREAT!!! Hopefully the worst is behind us and we all continue through the day in better spirits!!!

April 24, 2013 ~ I'm pretty sure she's  been awake since 6 a.m. Oh dear.

April 25, 2013 ~ We had our 6-month social worker post-placement visit last night and it went very well!! Now we have a 6 month "break" from visits until it's time for our 12-month report :-).

I just had to explain the entirety of "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" to Maya K. She now knows about wool, shearing a sheep, and how the wool makes clothes :-).

Nathan and Maya K are outside rollerblading :-). Video coming later tonight!!!!

April 26, 2013 ~ "I use lot a tissue because I have lot of bless you in my nose." ~ Maya K

Maya K and I enjoyed spending time with my VCA "family" at the Bike-a-Thon today. Maya K got to ride and ride and ride her bike, I got lots of hugs from my kids, and I got to visit with a lot of friends/parents!!!

I put her down for a late quiet time when we got home. The monitor has been quiet for a few minutes and I just went to check on her. She was almost asleep!!! I think the day wore her out!!! I had to tell her that she can't sleep today :-(. She said, "Why, Mommy??? I'm tired!!! I WANT to sleep." Poor girl!!!

Nathan and Maya K are out rollerblading again tonight :-). She ended up falling asleep for 10 minutes this afternoon (I woke her up) and then her daddy gave her some chocolate pudding after dinner. We decided that rollerblading would be a good help to her going to sleep tonight :-).

Rollerblading Princess

FB Friday

April 13, 2013 ~ Maya K slept until 7:30 a.m.!!!! What a blessing to get to sleep in on a Saturday morning!!!

Nice evening for a walk :-). Maya K ran!!!!

April 15, 2013 ~ I didn't get Maya K's hair done this morning before we needed to leave for the store, so I put a hat on her. We got even MORE attention at the store than on days without the hat!!! (She looks pretty cute in the hat!!)

Maya K has decided that "Fairy movie is my FAVORITE!! I sooooo escited!!!!" We have avoided Barbie thus far, but Tinkerbell and her fairy friends are now dearly loved!!!

I know that she is enjoying her quiet time when I go to get her up and she asks me to first read her a book and then she wants to keep playing :-). It's rare that she will stay up in her room and play by herself so I am encouraging her to have fun!!!!

Maya K: "Why do people have heads?"
Daddy: "Because otherwise they couldn't be a silly head!!"
It's no wonder my daughter gets confused!!!

April 16, 2013 ~ I haven't slept well since Maya K came home almost seven months ago. I finally started having some good, solid nights of sleep a few weeks ago, but now the past week I haven't been sleeping again. I'm tired and am praying that I will learn how to SLEEP again!!!!

April 17, 2013 ~ Maya K is pretending that my pony tail is a cow's udder. She is getting milk from it :-). This is VERY strange!!!!

Maya K gets to go try gymnastics tonight!!! If she enjoy sit, she will probably start in a couple of weeks. "Mommy, I soooooooooooo escited!!! VERY escited!!!!"

Maya K LOVED gymnastics!!! The coach said that she is VERY strong, a good runner, and a hurdler :-). Maya K's favorite things were the trampoline and hula hoop. We go back in two weeks for her to "officially" start!!!

April 18, 2013 ~ Oh dear!!! Maya K just ate a hot dog (with bread) and TWO brats (one with bread)!!! She tried to eat ANOTHER hot dog (I said "no more food") and when I put it away she asked for what other food she could eat!!! Where does she PUT IT???

April 19, 2013 ~ "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31. I'm reminding myself of this truth today and it's been a good morning!!!

This........should not be happening on April 19th. Just sayin'.

FB Friday

April 6, 2013 ~ "We always compare the worst of what we know about ourselves to the best assumptions we make about others." - Joshua Becker

April 8, 2013 ~ Maya K told someone at church yesterday that her name is Maya K Joy Maxwell :-). That was the first time she has said her full name by herself (well, almost her full name; we're struggling to get her to change the "K" to Kisanet when she says her full name.)!!!!

We got to play outside today WITHOUT a coat!!!

Does anyone else need a triple dose of numbing agent when they get a filling at the dentist?? I almost always do and then I get VERY sick to my stomach :-(. (And I actually have a pretty high pain tolerance; pain killers/numbing stuff just doesn't work well for me.) Nathan had a root canal this afternoon and then I got three fillings tonight. Poor Maya K!!! Both her parents are a little "out of it" tonight!!!

April 9, 2013 ~ Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed and is having a very grumpy day. That someone ISN'T me, but is seriously making me desire some Mt. Dew caffeine!!! Maybe a quick trip to the store is in order!!!

April 10, 2013 ~ I love staying home with Maya K (and her friend "K"). However, I have found a disadvantage. I am burning up my candles at an alarming rate. What am I going to do when I don't have any more?!?!?!

The first time I put ponies in Maya K's hair was on November 7th. I put them in her hair again today and enjoyed seeing the growth over the past 5 months!!!

April 11, 2013 ~ I just got to explain what a s'more is to Maya K :-). She is "escited!!!!" Now we just have to make sure we make them this summer!!!!

Maya K had a "rough" afternoon and then couldn't stop moving for ANYTHING during dinner and right after. So, what do we do on a rainy day when we can't take her outside to run off all that energy and orneriness???? We send her to the garage with toys. She is as happy as can be and we have a little quiet in the house :-) :-).

April 12, 2013 ~ "May I be squeezed, please?" There are some things Maya K says that I don't really want to correct!!! (Translation: "May I be excused, please?")

FB Friday

March 30, 2013 ~ We went to the Blank Park Zoo this morning for their Eggstravaganza. Maya K got to pick up some Easter eggs for the first time :-).

March 31, 2013 ~ Happy Easter!! He is risen!!

April 1, 2013 ~ I have begun strongly disliking going to the dentist in my "old age" :-(.

April 2, 2013 ~ Maya K's name is all over our house :-). On the fridge, on the bedroom doors, on the bathroom doors, and on her closet door. It's about time she starts to recognize her name!!

April 3, 2013 ~ New hair style today :-).

April 4, 2013 ~ I decided to ignore my kitchen last night and this morning. Kind of wishing I hadn't done that.

April 5, 2013 ~ Maya K: "Mommy, why some people eat cow tongue? Why they cut tongue? Why people do that to cow? Not nice. Why they kill cow? How do they cut cow? Why cut cow? Is it mean cow? Why we not eat cat tongue? Too small?? We only eat BIG animals?" Another day, another lunch conversation at the Maxwell house :-). (Btw - we were NOT eating cow tongue. She saw one at the grocery store a few months ago.) It continued. "Mommy, when people cut cow, what inside? Bleed?? How clean the blood off? Gross?? Why bleed? Hurt cow?" "Why pizza have sauce? How do seahorses swim? They have tail? Why God give them tail?"

What do we do when Daddy is gone for a guys' night? We watch Curious George and eat kettle corn :-).

FB Friday

March 23, 2013 ~ Today marks 6 months that Maya Kisanet has been in our arms for forever!! This picture was taken moments after she ran around the building and jumped into my arms!! I told her I would never let her go again!!

Maya K gets to go bowling today for the first time!! So we just finished watching a YouTube video on bowling :-). I have been on YouTube more these past 6 months than I ever thought possible!!

We had fun bowling today!!

March 26, 2013 ~ I don't like it when Nathan isn't feeling well enough to go to work (nothing major, just an upset stomach that makes him struggle to focus), but there was a benefit to it this morning :-). He went to pick up a red box movie to watch while he is resting and he brought me home a Mt. Dew!! Happy Tuesday to me!!!

March 28, 2013 ~ Nathan took over after dinner so that I could go spend an hour at Half Price Bookstore :-). I like the store and I LOVE my husband!!!

March 29, 2013 ~ Our morning science lesson / learning experience involved lighting a Bday candle during breakfast. She thought the candles melted because the cake made them melt :-). So we got to learn about wax and fire!!!

It's such a blessing when God gives us the desires of our heart. Long story short (I'll try). We haven't had the money for me to go buy Maya K an "Easter" dress. She has plenty of dresses that have been given to her, but not a truly EASTER dress. I have felt very sad about this silly desire of mine, but this week, someone gave us a dress that is the PERFECT Easter dress and in her size :-). And then today, I'm going through a box of clothes and find a perfect sweater to go with that Easter dress!! God is so good!!!!

Six Months Home (+ Homecoming Photos from 6 Months Ago)

Pam ~ It is crazy hard to believe that Maya K has been home for SIX MONTHS!!!!! Where has the time gone?!?! It's gone to learning English, trying new/strange foods, doctor visits, family visits, trips to the library, reading books, dancing, collecting rocks, going to Sunday School, eating chocolate, watching Curious George, sleeping, cuddles, time outs, building with blocks, making new friends, smiling. It's gone slowly. It's gone fast. It's done everything in between. It's been amazing.

Favorite Foods. strawberries. hot dogs. chocolate. corn on the cob. chicken. chocolate chip pancakes. pizza. mushrooms. crackers. black olives. bread. pineapple. gum

Favorite TV. curious george. daniel tiger's neighborhood. finding nemo. angelina ballerina.

Favorite Books. the three billy goats gruff. the gingerbread man.

Favorite Colors. pink. white. black.

Favorite Things To Do. dress up clothes. dance. tickle. books. watching tv. blocks. run.

Desires. swim. read. play in the sand.

Dislikes. tomato sauce. ham. soggy oatmeal. sitting on the stool. not talking.

Homecoming Photos
I have not yet shared any photos from our airport homecoming and I think it's about time I do that. I'm tearing up just looking at them and remembering how tired, emotionally spent, happy, and overwhelmed we were. Our trip home was not an easy one (I should write a post about that sometime) and I was very near tears getting off the plane. As soon as I saw my sister Debbi's face, I broke down and cried. She just kept telling me that it would be okay and that things would get easier and that it was so good to see us home.

Looking at this picture, I can't believe how much Maya K has grown!!!! She looks so tiny!!!! 

My sister Debbi and I crying together as she tells me that everything will be okay. I get tears in my eyes EVERY time I look at this picture!!!!

We spent our growing up years playing mommies together and it meant the world to me to have her at the airport to be the first person I got to hug and "introduce" my daughter to!!!!

This is Michelle. Over the years that I taught her three children how to read, she became a friend. I love seeing her daughter "M"'s hand on Maya K's leg :-). So gentle and protective!!!!

So tired and so thankful to finally have her HOME!!!!

We asked that people who came to the airport to greet us not stay around for very long and everyone was so very careful to respect our wishes. These are some of our closest friends/family who stayed until we were loaded into our car.

My sisters :-)

Maya K finally started waking up as we were leaving the airport. Her expression in this photo speaks to how all of us were feeling.

We are HOME!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

FB Friday

March 16, 2013 ~ We are heading up to MN for a quick weekend trip!! Maya K gets to meet her 93-year-old Great-Grandpa Munsen and her great aunts and uncles for the first time!! Now we just need to actually pack :-). It would help if "someone" didn't decide that TODAY was the day to sleep in!!

March 17, 2013 ~ We are enjoying time with family in MN today!!

Maya K got to meet her Great Grandpa Munsen this weekend!!

March 18, 2013 ~ We got home from our trip to MN around 9:45ish last night. It was the first time that Maya K truly fell asleep in the car!! She slept for the last hour of the trip, we carried her inside, and got her put to bed in her clothes and she stayed sleeping and slept until 7:30 a.m.!!!! When I went into her room this morning I asked her why she wasn't wearing her pajamas. She looked down, got a very shocked look on her face, and said "Oh no!! I forgot jammies!!" She then looked at me and said "BRUSH TEETH??? I forgot brush teeth!! AND lotion!! Why mommy no do lotion??!!"

"The goal of life is not to be better than 50% of the other people on the planet. The goal of life is to be the best you that you can possibly be." - Becoming Minimalist website

March 22, 2013 ~ Morning entertainment - Watching Maya K rush around to pick up all the cat food she spilled on the carpet before Oreo eats it all!!

We had a mini photo shoot (just Maya K and I) this morning in anticipation of her 6-months home anniversary next week. Here is a little "gem" that makes me smile!!