Loving Life

Mara has been enjoying all of the wonderful birthday presents that her new friends and family gave her.  We are still enjoying the helium balloons, most especially Dora!  She loves Dora, kissing it and taking it with her everywhere (including the potty).  Even better:  her Nona gave her a backpack that she wears while walking with Dora and all of us singing the Dora "backpack" song. 

Opening presents is almost as fun as the presents themselves.  She rips through the paper and says "ahhhh" when she sees every gift.  

Even with her love of Dora (thank god for the TV DVR), she hasn't forgotten her love for Elmo.  Thanks Auntie Janelle for her tickle-me Elmo!!

She sure does love her Elmo.

Showing off her new Minnie Mouse PJ's and tutu - thanks Auntie Denise! 

She is going through different growing phases quickly.  This past week she has been very loving, asking for kisses and hugs constantly, which we think shows how attached she is becoming to us (a good thing!)  On the flipside, she also does not want to be alone, crying when we leave the room, making bedtime a little challenging.  The other night she cried and screamed so loud that she lost her voice!  We received some advice from our social workers and friends to put pictures up of us in her crib and to patiently reinforce that we aren't going anywhere.  That seems to be helping a bit (or maybe her voice is just tired).   That said, she said to expect attachment challenges all of her life. 

Here wearing her new glasses and mod dress while driving in the car to her first play date!  She is giving her Mom a run for her money on fashion trends.

Here playing with her new friend Alessia.  The playdate was a fun and interesting experience.  It's clear that she did not really play with other kids in the foster home since it doesn't seem to come naturally for her.  We hope that preschool (which starts on Oct 3rd) will help he with socialization.

Alessia is four, so you can see how much Mara has to catch up in growing! Both girls seemed to enjoy the visit and their Mommies are planning another visit.

Here wearing her new hello kitty rain jacket and umbrella that her Nona gave her for her birthday.  Now if only the rain would come!?

And here trying on a warm winter coat, also from her Nona.  Uh, is she sending us a subliminal message to come visit her in Detroit?

And last but not least, Mara visiting the beach in Santa Cruz.  Visiting the beach and running her fingers through the sand is quickly becoming one of her past times.  We take it as a sign to plan our inaugural trip to Hawaii! 

Birthday Girl

Mara turned five on September 10th!  Our little girl is growing up before our eyes.  It was an incredible experience to spend her "first" birthday together.  We are not sure if she even knew what the concept was, but she quickly caught on.  It is beyond adorable to listen to her say "birthday" and "five" when you ask her how old she is.

The morning of her birthday she got to pick out her own outfit.  This girl can rock the headband hello kitty look?!

We spent the day together and took Mara to her first visit to the beach.  Despite Ocean Beach's fog and wind, Mara had a grand time.  At first she was a little hesitant to take off her shoes, but she quickly decided that she liked the sand between her toes.  She was fascinated with the waves.

And also playing in the sand.

This past weekend we hosted Mara's first birthday celebration - a princess themed party in her beloved Rose Garden.  We cooked tex mex, including Nick's 24 hour smoked, pulled pork, homemade lemonade, a princess entertainer and Dora the Explorer cupcakes. 

Here the birthday girl putting on her princess hat.

 

 Mara making bubbles with her Granny.

The princess playing the parachute game with the kids. We were thrilled to have many of our friends come with their kids, including Clare's friends from elementary school! Watching our kids play together is such an incredible way to reconnect with old friends!!

We couldn't have done it without the help of Auntie Janelle and John - they planned all kinds of great games for the kids:  cornhole bean bag toss, pinatas and cookie decorating! Fun for everyone!!

What's a girl to do with so much pinata candy??

What beautiful kids!!

Watching balloon twisting - is neon pink in or what?!!

Now that's a cake! When Mara saw Dora, she said "wow"!

Singing Happy Birthday and blowing out the candles on the cupcakes (except that the wind blew them out for her).

Let's end it with a kiss, shall we?

Road Trip

Over the Holiday weekend, we took Mara on her first real road trip, down to Paso Robles.  As with everything she does, she embraced it with her signature inquisitive and adventuresome spirit.  She was a doll in the car (aside from the "potty" stops), watching Dora and playing with her puzzles.  We had a great afternoon visiting our favorite wineries:  Le Cuvier, Booker, a new place Dusi and Bodegas.  The vintners loved her - offering her grapes, cheese and snacks.  The flat floors of the wineries (without rugs or furniture) were a perfect venue for her to continue practicing walking.  (She still is a little scared walking on her own, but is taking more & more steps independently).

The hit of the weekend (aside from another stellar dinner at our favorite Artisan restaurant) was the pool at the hotel.  She jumped right in and wouldn't get out.  As Clare had predicted she is a water baby - here comes the swimming lessons!

(And yes Clare did crazy things to her hair - much darker and shorter.  Still getting used to it!)

At home Mara is walking up a storm. Using a chair as balance, she walks from room to room (many times to admire herself in the mirror, loving all of the new clothes that she is still working through).

She also likes to drive her plasma car which is helping to build her leg strength.  After somewhat ruining our beautiful re-done hardwood floors, we have now banned it to only for outside use.

With all of her growth, she has outgrown her shoes.  She is now a size seven!  We have been informed by other "trusted advisor" Mommy friends to not skimp on shoes or else run the risk of collapsed arches so we splurged at Nordstroms.  Clare and her Auntie Denise did the honors of treating her to her first shopping experience.  By her expression, we will let you be the judge on if she liked it....

Mara showing off one pair of her new shoes (which she picked out herself).  We are also proud to announce that the other pair are sandals which is wearing sens socks (a weird fetish she must have picked up at the foster home).

She's growing!

Mara had her second pediatrician visit and we were thrilled to learn that she has grown 1 3/4" inches and has gained 6 pounds since her last visit 50 days ago!  She even showed off to the doctor by walking to her unaided, asking to sit on her lap and to give her a kiss.  She rattled off words, pointing to and reciting numbers in the examination room.  We are so happy and proud of our little girl!!  She received about 4 more vaccinations but was quickly appeased when she learned how to really enjoy a lollipop.

With her new found ability to walk, she has become quite the explorer (modeling after her new favorite Dora).  Here she is trying to climb into the shower.  (Not quite ready to take one but sits and watches us as we take them.  She is also quite the helper in wiping down the walls!)

Here she is rocking her signature headband and new green shoes (which she picked out by saying "green shoes"!)

Her first haircut, compliments of granny.  Her hair is still long enough to put up into a pony tail!

That devilish grin (and laugh) always means she is up to something.

Clare has finally got her fashion design groove and inspiration back - little girls clothes!  And it's a family affair:  Nick picked out the material and Mara helped to cut.  She was so excited to see it finished!

Mara's first visit to the SF zoo.  Her favorite were the giraffes, penguins and flamingos.  With the mild weather (almost misting!), it was quite the contrast to Mara's first visit to the zoo in Tbilisi, with its blistering heat!!!

Mara's signature point - which means "let's go there"!! We have to admit, she is a very determined little girl and knows what she wants in life!   Our visit to SF also included Clare & Nick's first date night out at one of our favorite restaurants, Frances.  Mara got to visit her Auntie Janelle and from what we can tell was an angel.  All of the excitement wore her out and she fell asleep within 5 minutes of getting into the car to drive home.

Last but not least, Mara modeling in the mirror with her beloved new tutu (an early birthday present which we accidentally opened) from her cousins Ilona and Joe.  She sashays around, wiggling her hips - if only she could wear it into her bubble bath??  What to do with our little princessa???

Mara on the Go!

Mara visiting our local Happy Hollow zoo and amusement park.  At first, she wasn't quite sure about petting the goats.

But then quickly gained some confidence and was intrigued.

  

She also liked the turtles, merkats and riding on the Dragon train.  Later she passed out at home - this girl can sleep! She takes 2-3 hour naps and is out to the world.  Maybe its from all of her growing (she now weighs 29 pounds and has outgrown her shoes) or absorbing so much?!

Next off the Monterey Bay Aquarium, our first 'road trip'.  She was great in the car - singing the entire time in the backseat and reciting her A-B-C's.  She was right at home in our hotel room and had no problem sleeping in the hotel provided crib.  We think she may have liked having her Mommy & Daddy sleeping right next to her.

The jellyfish exhibit was spectacular.  The Aquarium did an incredible job with lighting and display (with a little fancy camera work by Nick).

 

Mara was fascinated with all of the marine life and exhibits and was quite the walker throughout the aquarium.  Everything was laid out really well and at just the right height for Mara to explore (and to hold onto since she is still a little wobbly on her own).

She wouldn't leave the wave exhibit - at first a little scared and then giggling with delight.

A lobster with an eel.  Mara was very good about learning the new words for marine life.

One of Mara's favorites - the penguins!

Monterey's spectacular coastline and sea lions and Mara's first exposure to the ocean!

Another favorite was the sea horse exhibit.  The hotel gave Mara a stuffed one which we named "Charlie".  It's almost as cute as hearing Mara say sea horse.

Mara walking and posing with a life-sized sea horse

 

Lunch at Cannery Row, where she tried her first sushi and loved it!  We had a grand time sitting outside and enjoying the fresh air, followed a walk back to our hotel.  It was a great first trip together!

A big girl

Mara's giardia medicine is working!  She seems to be feeling better, regaining her appetite and has also gained a few pounds.  Thank goodness for the teaspoon compound the doctor prescribed for her (Mara is a girl of strong will & opinion.  She will try anything but if she doesn't like it, then adamantly rejects it.  The teaspoon size was just enough.  It must have tasted pretty awful though since her whole body shook afterwards.)

Now with what we hope an eradicated parasite from her intestine, she is off to bigger & better things.

Here, swinging on her own (graduating from a week ago of sitting on someone's lap) at our very own Rose Garden Library playground.  She also visited the library to look at all of the books and pointed out her favorite Olivia the pig series.

Her first dress-up and boy does she have a wardrobe to chose from: 4 different princessa dresses including one hand picked from her cousin Joe!

She constantly tries on things and looks in the mirror - here a birthday hat from Janelle's b-day party the weekend before.  And it's not just Mara - she insisted that Mommy and Daddy try it on too.  Such a happy, festive kid!!

Today she took her first steps alone!  She walked a little bit on her own at the foster home in Georgia but hasn't since we've been back.  Clare attributes it to her learning her environment and learning to trust us that we won't let her fall.  At first she was scared, requiring us to bribe her with cookies but after she tried it once and gained her confidence, there was no stopping her.  Then, later at the park she walked around for about an hour and insisted on pushing her own stroller.  What a big girl!!

And adventurous little girl, she came home to ask to ride on her new bike.  She has to learn how to use the pedals but was delighted with the movement.  What a big day!!

She is learning more & more English and has the cutest little voice when speaking, especially when she says "Biko", "love you", "good morning" (when we greet her in the morning) and "please" and "thank you" (a welcomed change from "hey").  She has also learned all of the body parts and door, window, table and chair.  She is counting to 10 and singing her A-B-C's. She is like a sponge!!