Summer with Maya

Sorry blog followers for the six week lapse in posts! Don't think for a second that it's because nothing has been going on with our girl, because believe me-she never stops moving.

Maya has been growing faster than the weeds in our overgrown yard. She is daily mistaken for a 4- or 5-year-old and weighs so much that I can hardly carry her anymore. Her recent favorite pasttimes all involve the outdoors: riding her red trike 'round and 'round the neighborhood, swimming in the blow-up pool in the backyard, playing "pink ball", digging in the sand, visiting every park in the area, swimming at any pool that invites us, etc. "Wild Water Wednesday" was a huge hit at child care last week, where she got to try out a slip and slide! She is happiest when active and lately we've been outside so much that she's deliriously chipper.

She went to her first parade on the 4th and continued to be amazed at each new piece of the procession, saying, "More parade? Really?!?" Very surreal to see her waving an American flag in each hand, remembering that one year ago we were still stranded in Port-au-Prince.

Remembering where we were one year ago has been interesting these past weeks. It was June 16, 2009 that we left here with a one week plane ticket and hopes to inch the progress along by showing our faces at the Embassy. Four weeks later, on July 15 we arrived home with our girl in tow. I have been struck many times in the past weeks with the stark contrast of her life then and now. A week ago we had a major storm and the three of us sat on the porch with the door open a crack, watching the rain come down sideways, giggling and laughing. A year ago Maya and her birth family had to endure many hurricanes in a structure that was not stable enough to do so and the roof there collapsed. The things we take for granted...

I know that people enjoyed the Maya quotes in May, so here are a few more:

Me: I think we need a new rug in our kitchen.
Maya: Uh, mom, IKEA!

Maya: Today at naptime I couldn't get to sleep so I asked God to help me.
Me: Then what happened?
Maya: I fell asleep. God's my favorite.

We went to a restaurant where kids got a bowl of ice cream and then got to go with the waitress up to a sundae bar, where they loaded the ice cream up with goodies. After taking one bite of her sundae, Maya sighed and said, "This restaurant is BEAUTIFUL!"

Happy Summer!

Artichokes

At only her first attempt at steamed artichokes, Maya realizes the real reason we eat them...for the butter.

Mother's Day

After all these years of dreading this holiday, avoiding church with its inevitable mention of mothers and restaurants with their banners and such, I AM A MOTHER on Mother's Day!

Last year I was legally a mother. Maya had the last name "Breininger" and the adoption was finalized, but it still stung to be wished "Happy Mother's Day!" as being a mom on paper doesn't count.

The last eleven months of motherhood have been everything but boring. We've slept very little, laughed more than ever, softened in so many ways, become multi-tasking attempters, lost a bunch of battles to a three-year-old, spent countless hours rocking, both to sleep and to any kind of music that's on, frequented family-friendly chain restaurants that were previously at the bottom of our list, lapped our block following a little red trike dozens of times and much much much more.

One of the things that has consumed most of our time, conversations and reading has been trying to get our girl to sleep. As if on cue, she slept in her own room all through the night for the very first time last night. Happy Mother's Day to me!!! We can only hope that this is the start of a long-lasting pattern.

To show the joy and humor that our girl has brought into our lives, here are a few of her recent quotes. Enjoy and Happy Mother's Day!

Me: What would you like for breakfast today?
Maya: Ice cream.
Me: We don't eat ice cream for breakfast.
Maya: Then I'd like lunch, please.


Maya: I'm trying to see what you're thinking.
Me: You can't see what I'm thinking, just like I can't see what you're thinking.
Maya: Yeah, my forehead's in the way.

Maya to a man whose name I won't mention: You have a beard in your nose!

Me: Maya, look at the clock and tell me what time it is please.
Maya: Seven oh-ty three. (7:03)

5k Success

Maya has been counting down the days to "Running Day" and woke up this morning talking about how today is the day that the police officers will say, "Sorry cars. You don't get to go on the streets today. Only friends."

She was right. The streets were blocked off and the morning began with a 1/4 mile kid run, which she whole heartedly participated in (photos at left). Then she hopped into the jogging stroller and we strolled the 5k. The weather was perfect, the turnout was great and thanks to a last minute donor I ended up in third place for fundraising, winning me a prize!

The exact total isn't in yet, but it's estimated that more than $15,000 was raised for Friends of the Orphans. Thanks for your support!

Countdown to 5k

Hello friends,

In just 3 days Maya and I will be participating in the Friends of the Orphans 5k, Maya in the Kid Run and me pushing her in the stroller for the walk/run. I'm currently 48% of the way towards my fundraising goal of $1,000 and need your help.

Friends of the Orphans is the organization that Sean works for that supports orphan homes in Latin America and the Carribbean, including Haiti. Sean has visited four of the homes and we both went to the Haiti home last summer. We have seen firsthand the powerful and life-changing work that they do, believe strongly in the mission, and try to support them in every way that we can.

The picture below is of our visit to the Haiti home, where we got to meet Herby and Deristin, the boys that we and Sean's brother sponsor.



If you live nearby, I'd love for you to join Maya and me as we walk through beautiful Highland Park this Sunday. If you're interested in supporting Friends of the Orphans by walking or running, please click on the link below for more info:

http://www.friendsoftheorphans.org/s/769/inner.aspx?sid=769&pgid=880&gid=1&cid=1890&ecid=1890

If you're able to donate to the work of Friends of the Orphans, please use the link below to do so online quickly & securely. I thank you in advance for your support, and really appreciate your generosity!!

http://www.active.com/donate/FOTO5K2010/abreininger

Thanks very much and watch for pictures from the event in the next few days!

Add another "sport" to the list...

In our week of illness, which continues on, we've watched the four episodes of the Backyardigans countless times. One features pom pons, which, of course, prompted Maya to wish for a pair of her very own. When her life-saver of an aunt, Amanda, came to babysit for a few hours pom pons were created out of mere paper towels, tape, and glitter glue. Which led to this...

Egg Hunt

Who knew finding plastic eggs could bring this kind of joy?