Mia's First Birthday Party!

Mia had a huge day. First, her inaugural visit to church. I heard she was typical p.k. - crawling around like she owned the place. Then, her big birthday bash. Nanna and Poppy, J-Bug, Mei Mei, B & E, Aunt J, Mamma K, her cousins and all of her other special friends came - some from hours away! Mia loved her gifts and cards but didn't quite know what to make of the Bunny Cake. She picked at it delicately but she never quite got into the full thrashing that we hoped for. But, never fail, daddy stepped up and showed her the ropes.

Sisters...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIA GRACE!!!

Mia, if you only knew how much we love you...how much joy you have brought...how much richer our lives are because of you. Since our "gotcha day" less than 2 months ago , you have captured our hearts to their core and it's hard to remember what life was like before. In the least, it wasn't nearly as fun nor as full.

happy birthday our sweet,

mom and dad

little reminders...

{Above: Bri and Mi try out their new side-by-side stroller, which is far more fun b/c they can kick and hit one another}

Musings: It's amazing how many reminders of our "new life" follow me wherever I go. For example, I was at Panera the other day for a meeting. It was a bit cold that morning so I had thrown on a hooded sweatshirt on my way out. As I stood in line to order, I absentmindedly put my hands into the sweatshirt's pouch - only to feel something that I was not expecting.


Now, it's not unusual for me to find leftover tidbits in my pockets. A few bucks maybe, or a golf tee, or dice - you know, the usual. But, no, those were the old days b/c on this particular morning I found a diaper. I pulled it slowly, sheeplishly out and studied it. oh yeah. It was a Pampers....size 2...had a little blue Grover smiling back at me.

thankfully, it was clean.

bono beware

Mia received some early birthday presents from kind friends in California. Among their showering of gifts were these rockstar shades.

some girls were just born for shades...

Mia's Goes Home From the Hospital

2 exhausted parents, one brave girl.

we're home (again)!

Some of you may have heard that we had to admit Mia into Children's Mercy on Monday due to a staff infection in her ear. Originally they feared that she may have developed mastoiditis - which would've been an even bigger deal. Fortunately, a C.T. Scan showed no such thing. They did have to perform a small surgery to drain the ear canal, keep her on an I.V., and coup her up in room #329 for 3 days. But we are now home and have one happy little girl back!

more to come.