Exploring

Mara got into special ed! She starts her pre-K program on Monday at Galarza school in Willow Glen.  We were thrilled to have built a customized development plan for her with the team of experts who tested her.  We visited the school where Mara met her teacher and made herself at home with the Minni laying on the floor, calling out shapes, colors and numbers.

Mara got into the special ed program since some of her paperwork from Georgia diagnosed her with cerebral palsy.  However, her testing was quite promising - many of the areas being well beyond her years including her ability to identify colors, numbers and her comprehension.  The specialists also commented on how quickly she caught onto things!

Talk about picking up new things - here's Mara finally drinking out of a straw during a visit to Willow Glen with her friend Alessia.

Her arm and leg strength is improving, thanks to her daily walks, outdoor activity and visits to our neighborhood school Trace.  Here Mara hanging from the monkey bars - way to go Mara!!

Opening a present from her Auntie Dianya - a minnie mouse jewelry box!  It now holds her barrettes that her Mommy loves to put in her hair (but which comes off in minutes after she leaves).

Mara practicing off one of her important life skills - looking good in jeans. (Yes she does have exotropia and is wearing an eye patch every night to help correct.  Tomorrow we have an appointment with an opthamologist (no, not her Papa from Pensacola) for a full exam and to check up on her eyes). 

Shopping and having a good time with Mommy and Auntie Denise.  She is wearing one of Mommy's creations (custom designed since she absolutely adores hearts).

Mara never loses interest in looking at herself in the mirror, usually saying "Hi, I'm Mara".  Here admiring her new neon hoodie.

Even though she's growing up quickly, she hasn't forgotten her love for her pillow (or for her Momma which Clare loves).

Our recent discovery is the San Jose Discovery Museum.  We bought a family membership which provides unlimited education and entertainment for Mara. Here playing in the volcano water exhibit (stock with water bib to keep her from getting soaked).

Here practicing her motor skills (which clearly appears to be helping since she is starting to form shapes, spell her name and of course holding the pencil/brush the right way!) Mara is ambidextrous.

Riding the dragon. We would also like to note that Mara is making tremendous progress on potty training!  This is thanks to what Clare calls a genius Mommy at work (Karen) who suggested we buy Dora underwear and say "Mara you can't poop on Dora".  Aside from a few accidents, she is doing really well!  Mara, you are such a big girl!

What's with the constant fascination with water and washing hands?  During a recent visit to the pediatric podiatrist, he confirmed that Mara's legs and feet were developing nicely.  He did not want to prescribe any orthodics for her shoes, but asked us to only get shoes with good arch support.  No more flats or sandals - hello Marshall's shoe department for Osh Kosh and Merrill sneakers!  What's wrong with a sporty dress look??

There's only thing Mara likes more than washing her hands, or Dora and that's RAINBOWS!!!

All that playing makes a girl thirsty.  Here trying chocolate milk for the first time.  Dad, you created a monster! Thank goodness for the pro-DHA fortified organic variety!

Mara has also learned that she has a captive audience with fellow museum goers.  Here her showing off singing.

Singing while playing with bubbles.

Trace

Mara is making such progress across all fronts.  She is talking up a storm, sometimes too fast to understand but very enthusiastic in pointing things out and expressing herself.  And the potty training!  She is down to nearly only one diaper a day - telling us when she has to go.  What a relief!

Even better is that the county and state are assessing her for special education.  They are running a battery of tests on her - vision, hearing, cognitive, orthopedic, etc.  She is assigned to Trace elementary, an elementary school right down the street from us which was just built about two years ago.  It's a beautiful facility and has state-of-the-art facilities (and thus, teachers are clamoring to teach there). 

The assessments so far have been quite positive and have come to the conclusion that in some ways Mara is at the same level (or further advanced) as other 5 years olds since she knows her A-B-C's and 1-2-3's.  They would like to enroll her in the pre-K full time program and she can start immediately!  We are so excited to provide this opportunity to Mara since she loves to learn and be challenged. 

Here's Mara in her favorite sweatshirt that her Aunt Mimi gave her as a post Christmas present (since her Momma fell in love with it after she saw her other niece receive it).

Mara loves the ocean and beach - she's quite the water baby!

A close-up in her fishie dress and Momma's hat.

Mara with her Granny and Aunt Mimi at her Momma's birthday party at Granny's house.  The dress is special since it was custom made after the dress on her shower invite - compliments of her Grandpa from Pensacola and Step-Grand Mom.  Don't mind the Ugg boots - they are the only thing that fit her since she continues to grow so quickly out of her shoes & clothes!

Momma and Mara in Napa for Clare's birthday celebration.  Mara first said Clare turned "four", then "ninety-four".  She now says emphatically "Forty-Four"!!  We had a wonderful weekend, staying the night and enjoying meals at Redd and Ad Hoc.

Spending the holidays together as a Family

Clare's Dad recently came to visit, to meet Mara and see the family.

Proud Mama holding her baby girl.  Clare is still on cloud nine and can still hardly believe that Mara is now a part of our family.

Mara opening up her presents from Grandpa and Michael from Pensacola - a dress just like the one from her shower invitation!  Mara the Fashionista hugged it and wanted to try it on immediately.

Out to dinner with the entire family.  While at dinner at the Los Altos Bar & Grill, Mara got to meet John Chambers (the CEO of Cisco) who kept saying how beautiful she was and wouldn't put her down!!

Mara was so proud to recite the alphabet and numbers to her Grandpa from Pensacola.  Even he was impressed at how smart she was and how quickly she is learning English!

Recently we were invited to visit a fish farm up in Sacramento.  As part of our tour we got to see how they sustainably farmed their fish (sturgeon and trout) and got to see their farm.  Mara had a ball, feeding the donkeys and goats and saying "hee hah".  Here her feeding DeeDee the donkey.

As part of the tour they provided us with a meal made by a local chef - including their sturgeon and caviar, of which Mara gobbled right up! (It must be the Georgian in her....)

Then came Clare's Mom's yearly Christmas sing along party.   Mara spent nearly the entire time sitting on her Granny's lap playing the piano and singing along.  She's just like her Granny! It was really special to attend the party this year, since last year it was a combo Xmas party and Mara shower.  The guests loved to finally get to meet Mara!

She also took a fancy to a young boy named Devon.  She kept coming up to him and trying to kiss him!

What's a visit to Granny's house without visiting her chickens? Here walking down the steps with Auntie Amy wearing her fancy party dress and leopard print jacket - so stylish!

On Christmas Eve, Mara put out cookies, milk and her list for Santa.  As you can see, she also helped herself to the cookies.

There's nothing like the morning of Christmas to discover that Santa has made a visit!

A

And Mara checking out all of her gifts.

Since Mara loves music, she asked Santa for different instruments.  Here Mara playing with her new electric piano.

And her bongos.

And her new dollhouse that her Auntie Linda gave her (and Nick spent three house assembling!)

But by far her favorite was the Dora guitar her cousin Max gave her.  We just wish it came with ear plugs.

Later on Christmas day, we packed up to go visit Granny.  Here Mara dressed up in her fancy Xmas dress (compliments of Anne-Sophie!).  She kept twirling around in it and saying "princess".  How could you not feel like a princess it?

Not only was this Mara's first with us as a family, it was Mara's first Christmas ever!  She also got to meet more cousins and 2nd cousins (Clare's sister's kids). 

To hell with an electric piano, it's always much better playing Christmas carols on Granny's baby grand on her lap! 

Season's Blessings

Mara enjoyed her first lighted boat parade in Santa Cruz, preceded by a party at Clare's friend Celeste's house.  Here riding in the car on the way - is someone excited about the party or what?!

A happy girl!

As always, Mara was the life of the party, making new friends and talking with everyone.

Mara continues to eat everything in sight.  When we got to the party, she plopped down in front of the table to munch! (And yes, the dress is a new Clare creation!)

Here shopping with Auntie Denise.  Mara likes talking about shopping more than doing it.

Mara is always styling:  yes her Mommy helps assemble her outfits but she definitely has a mind of her own of what she wants to wear.  Here with her cute cape and Doc McStuffins stethoscope.

Here wearing a custom knitted sweater that one of Clare's colleagues made for her.  So soft & fuzzy and a perfect fit!

Mara continues to be fascinated with puzzles.  Her junior preschool is definitely helping her to develop her brain.  Not only is her vocabulary developing, she is really starting to express herself!

This is not only Mara's first Christmas with us, but her first Christmas ever!  Let's just say she is quickly catching on - singing Jingle Bells and talking about Santa.

Mara playing with the best White Elephant ever:  a nutcracker music box theater!!

Sitting on Santa's lap.

All dolled up for our Christmas photo.

Taking a family photo for our Christmas card proved more difficult than we thought.  Here Mara running off from the camera.

Having fun on the holiday merry go round.

Always styling with her Daddy.

Making a gingerbread house with her friend Alessia.

This past week Mara came to Clare's work for a holiday Christmas party with the kids. 

At the party we discovered that Mara loves Karaoke - we practically had to pull her away!

Mara continues to be obsessed with Dora (we think she actually thinks she IS Dora).  One of Clare's colleagues gave Mara a hand-me-down Dora backpack filled with goodies at the party, which practically blew her mind.  Since the party, she walks up to you and turns around, patting her back to say "backpack".