Walk to Africa

Today, my Daddy went to the Dogromat to "wash" Mystic and Camille. Since the Dogromat was closed, he went to another mutt washing place on Lincoln called Barks and Bubbles. While there, Dr. Hamilton (my pediatrician) walked in to pass out some fliers about a "Walk to Africa" scheduled for next month. Dr. Hamilton is behind Lighthouse Medical Missions (www.lighthousemedicalmissions.com) which has been providing medical care to people in Africa since 1998. He has personally led missions several times, including at least once since I was born. He has an incredible heart which is why I am glad he is my doctor.

The Walk to Africa (www.walktoafrica.com) is taking place in Santa Monica and Mommy and I are going to participate. There is the "Adult Walk" (8 miles) or the "Children's Walk"(2 miles). I am thinking that I am good for 8 miles, but we are still deciding whether we should just go as children instead of adults. Dr. Hamilton and his team are hoping to have 1,000 people raise $100 each so that we can "walk the 8,000 miles to Africa" in one day. Mama and I are going to do our part. What's funny is Mama was just talking to Aunt Barbara this morning about walking the Breast Cancer 3 Day this morning, maybe next year again. Mama last did the walk in 2002 (and in 1999 before that). I guess instead of 60 miles, we will start with 8 (or maybe 2). Have to start somewhere, no?

Our day...

My Mother's Day morning fashion statement...

Shortly after we woke up, Mama opened cards from me, Daddy and Mystic and Camille and this gift from me and Nanny G (it is hard to see how beautiful and heartfelt this gift is from the picture, but you get the idea?)

After a little coffee, Mama and I built a city from blocks.

And, I proved to her that I can count in English, not just Spanish.




Here is a self-portrait of Mama (well part of her). She is showing you the necklace Daddy bought her for Mother's Day. Pretty, isn't it?

On the way to Malibu, I got some much needed rest...

And, this would be why I needed rest. We hiked up a mountain to see this beautiful view.

Here we are last Mother's Day....Mama is wearing the same outfit!

And, half way up, we stopped for an avocado and orange snack. Can you see the green all over my face?

I shared some avocado with the squirrel...we also saw a lot of lizzards and a bunny!

The view down below from above

Some flowers we saw along the way...

Whoa....that's a long way down. When we got all the way down to the beach, I had no interest in getting out of my cozy backpack and insisted we turn around and go right back up!

So, we got in the car and headed over to Paradise Cove. Daddy was very tricky. We almost had to turn around because they wanted us to park in a lot far from the beach, but Daddy went down to the lot that supposedly had no spaces and we parked in the front row, 2 steps from the beach, 10 feet from this sign :)

We enjoyed some peanuts before our lunch came....I actually like sucking the shells and even gnawed on them a little.

I played catch with Enzo

And, he tried to win my heart by sharing his chocolate bundt cake with me

What a fun day! Happy Mother's Day, Mama!

Thinking of my friends....

(Mama has hijacked the thread for a very important message....)

Today is a very special day for me because I waited for so long for Gabrielle.....but today is also a day when I have great sadness for a few of my friends who are waiting to become Moms (or to become Moms for a second time) and have been waiting for far too long. I have some old friends (not age, Julie!, Christine and Grisel) and new friends (Rana) and some friends I have never met IRL (Jenny). The one thing they all have in common is that they are in the wait. Sure, Grisel has her Connor and Christine has her Manny, but they have been waiting and longing for a second child for a LONG time.

Julie and Steven are on my mind in a big way today....not only have they been waiting for almost TEN years to be parents (they celebrate their tenth anniversary just 2 weeks after us in September 2009), but they have been dealt some other difficult life circumstances while they have been waiting. Today, not only are their arms empty without the two missing someones who belong there, but Steven doesn't have his Mom here. And, Lummi will not meet his human siblings. And, there is worry about Teddy's health. I wish I could take all of Steven's and Julie's pain and bring them their proposal NOW. They are the most deserving parents-to-be....more words for them are escaping me. So for now, I will send hugs and love.

Jenny in Pennsylvania is someone who I have "known" since we longed for our children together on an internet bulletin board. She has waited since March 2006 for her daughter to come home from China....more than THREE years. She is on the home stretch and will hopefully have her Mia at home before 2009 closes. Jenny has also had to suffer during her wait.....her Mom passed away from cancer recently. Jenny, I am thinking about you as you think about your Mom today and miss her and miss the Mia that WILL be with you celebrating next Mother's Day.

Grisel is another sweet friend who I met because we both went to the same fertility doctor. She had success, but the birth of her sweet Connor was bittersweet because at the same time, she gave birth and shortly thereafter, she lost Connor's twin, David. Grisel also lost her mother over 20 years ago. I know that, although Grisel celebrates Mother's Day today with Connor, she continues to miss her Mom and David and still has a hole in her heart for the daughter who she thought would be home at least a year and a half ago. Come on China, bring her home!

Christine and I also met on an internet bulletin board and then we met in real life in New York about three years ago when I went out to visit Leigh's Sonia when she first came home from China. Christine's sweet Manny just turned 4...she is waiting for her daughter from Ethiopia. We hope her wait will not be long ...

Rana is a new friend (friend of Julie). She is also waiting to become a Mom through Ethiopian adoption. I just met her and her sweet husband, Svan, a few weeks ago when they were here visiting from Canada. They have been waiting for over a year and a half and hopefully, we will be able to celebrate a referral soon.

Waiting to be a parent is one of the most difficult things in life. Those that didn't have to wait don't get it. Waiting for ten years is unfair...any amount of time is painful and difficult. Please let 2009 be the year for many of my above friends to put the wait behind them and move on to the joy of motherhood (and fatherhood!)

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, Mama!

And Mema (Dada's Mama) and Grandma (Mama's Mama). I love you all!


Here are some pictures of me with my Mama since I came into this world in September 2007.

On my birthday!

In my sling at about a month old...

New Year's Day 2008

At the beach with Safia in February 2008

My 6 month birthday!

With Julie and Steven at a Cuban restaurant

The poppies in April 2008...

With Mema and Pepa at the Farmers Market

In the backyard relaxing on Camille's bed

On my 1st birthday at the LA Zoo

At the Farmer's Market petting zoo!

Halloween 2008!

My first haircut in December 2008

Steven's 40th birthday celebration (January 2009 a little late)

My 18 month birthday cupcake eating

At Aliya's birthday party at the park

Wordy Wednesday

Words and phrases from the last month. Mommy's favorite is the first one!

I love you
Lemon
Can I have it?
hand
peach
Watermelon
strawberry
tortilla
spoon
Stop it (talking to barking dog in the 'hood)
owl
Elmo Loves You (referring to the book with that title)
Quack
Oink
Again
I want to come up
I funny
it’s chilly
doctor
popcorn
Fly (“butterfly”)
boo boo
Bless You (after Mama sneezed)
coffee
Zoe
Michael
puzzle
bunny
pizza
turkey
thanks
magazine
Can I hold it please? (referring to my baby as we walk along the canals on the way back from Cinco de Mayo celebration and I dropped baby every time Mama gave her to me

Breakfast and the Beach

We had a very relaxing, low key weekend. So low key that Mommy didn't take ONE picture on Saturday. A funny story. Mommy and I were playing ball in the front yard on Saturday afternoon. She stood in one place and I ran and chased the ball. Eventually, I got tired and went to sit on the steps. When Mommy asked who was going to play with her, first I told her "Nyla" and then "Zoe" and then I shrugged my shoulders. I guess if she wants a long-term playmate, she needs to move a little, too.

In these first two pictures, we are at The Cow, our favorite local yocal coffee place. Of course, the coffee is for Mommy and Daddy....I have a bagel, usually.

After coffee, we played in the sand....

And, then started practicing for my potential future as a gymnast. Watch carefully ... I was keeping Mommy on her toes and testing her to make sure she was paying attention.

Eating Breakfast Al Fresco

Daddy took me to Noah's this morning and instead of my typical blueberry bagel breakfast, I opted for the fresh fruit cup. I couldn't wait to eat it and sat down on my neighbor's step to enjoy.

Zoe turns 3!

We were the first guests to arrive at Zoe's party...I tried to have Zoe spirit with my butterfly wings (Zoe LOVES dress up), but they didn't last long.

Zoe is playing with this Travel Memory Game we gave her (from Melissa and Doug). What a cool game.

Hugging Sophia...

Birdie, the entertainment

Sliders and fries....I traded mine in for a rib and some chicken (the adult food)

James, tearing into a rib (and to think the family was vegetarian less than a year ago!)

Cake time!

Cracking open the pinata....

My loot...and Rebecca sharing hers with me

What a fun birthday party.....Thanks, Michael and Lisa!