Surprise pictures!

Alia's loves to wrap up in her blanket after
bathtime.

Alia's first day in her pool. She won't sit down.

In big pools, she's a manic. She thinks she can

swim.

Alia's first gymnastics medal. She had so much

fun. I think we'll do it again in the fall.

Hey all! Sorry it's been a while since my last post. I tried to post one night but after waiting forever for my photos to post, the site errored. I hate that...

So, some of the above pictures are photos that Alia and I took for Brad for Father's Day. We went to the park and although she wasn't super patient with me, we came out with these and I was so excited. They came out great. We surprised daddy, gampy, and Papa with desk calendars for Father's Day presents and they loved them.

Happy Easter!

Wow! I wish I could even begin to express how much this day means...

What an amazing thing Christ did for us on that cross when He died for us. I'm not sure that even if I knew that giving up my life would save one more person (even thousands or millions of people) I would be able to do it. (Jesus said)"I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die..." John 11:25-26

Although... as I look into my daughter's eyes...It's different...I do think that I would die if I knew that I could save her. I think that must be what God sees when He looks at us... His children. He sees past the things that we've done and loves us.

Anyway, there is so much more that I want to say, but I'm not sure that its coming out like I planned... I'm really tired, so maybe I better put some pics out here and call it quits for tonight.
Love you all! Steph

"Alia talk"

So, I decided that I need to make a list of some
of the words as Alia says them. She takes a
word and makes it her own... here's some
examples...
Please = pikah (peek-ah and she usually says it 2x)
Movie = moonah
grandpa = gampie (she just started this)
foot = oot
Dog = bobo (this is because our dog's name is Bogie)
snow = NO! (a very excited no)
Leigh = eee (also very excited)
Pacifier = patti (sounds very similar to potty)
pocket = pock-ket
monkey = ooo ooo ah ah
tiger =roar (as a slight whisper)
sheep = very exaggerated clearing of the throat
popcorn = pop cmmm

Ok, well that's the ones that come to mind right now.
Hopefully you enjoyed ...

Oh, and sorry about the video from the last post. It
never loaded. I'll try again soon. Also, sorry that my
posts don't always line up correctly... blogspot isn't quite
cooperating with me lately. I'm sure you can figure
out which line goes with which picture. :)
Steph

Alia's birthday party at Incredible Pizza. She
loves the merry-go-round.














Eating some ice cream... or as she says, "ice".

















She loved the bounce house.















Alia's first real fun in the snow, aka NO! She
didn't like to sit down in it.

Happy Valentine's Day! Here's some pictures
of our 2 year old. I can't believe that she is 2
already. I hope you enjoy the photos. I've also
attached a video of one of her gymnastics moves.

As I think about valentine's day... and what this
day means... I realize just how much I love this
little girl. She has been such a blessing to our
lives. Even tho she has only been here for a
little more than a year, I can't imagine life
without her.

So, then I started thinking about how hard it
must have been for God to send His only son to
earth to die a horrible death so that He could
prepare a way for us to be with Him someday.
The ultimate sacrifice... taking the punishment
for all of our sins. Amazing love.

To all of our friends... Love, the Davis family

My sassy valentine...



























My sweet valentine...




























Alia and Landon... stoller talk at the mall




























Chocoholic... daddy, I need some ice cream.


























Mommy's little valentine... I love her kisses.

Time flies when you are having fun...

Wow! I can't believe it has been so long since

I posted anything on here. Sorry... I guess

time really got away from me. To start...

here are some pictures for you.

Alia joined a gymnastics group and LOVES it!
She isn't afraid to try anything. She likes to
follow around a little boy who is 3. He's been
going for a while and tries all kinds of stunts.
Alia is right behind him and ready for the
challenge. I love it too because it is a great
way for her to burn off some of that energy
that she has.
















One day... all was quiet in the house (which is
usually a bad sign). I went looking for Alia and
found her in the rocking chair reading her little
children's Bible to her baby doll. That is her
most favorite book to read. The last time all
was quiet... I found her eating Vicks Vapo Rub.















Alia has a really close friend who is also from
Kazakhstan. Hope lives close enough that our
families are able to get together about once a
month or so. This is a picture of the girls at
the Magic House. They are actually from the
same baby house (Hope came home about 2
months before Alia). What a blessing!



















Alia loves bubbles... need I say more?


















So, we are nearing the 2nd birthday (Feb 11).
I can't believe it. Just in the last few weeks I
have noticed big changes in Alia. She is really
starting to talk, be independent (yet... she still
loves her mommy), look less like a baby, and
more like a little girl.
She is a healthy, happy little girl ... quite an
energetic little girl. She is staying pretty
skinny (although, still healthy weight) because
she NEVER stops moving. Even in her sleep she
doesn't stop moving.
She never ceases to amaze me at how much she
knows and notices.
Well, I guess the next time I post, there will be 2
year old pics. If you still read this... thanks for
sticking with us. I'll really try and not wait so long
to post again.
Lots of Love!
Steph

Happy Thanksgiving Day... what are you thankful for?

I am SO thankful for this little girl! I'm so thankful for my family! I'm so thankful for my church family! I'm so thankful for my friends! I'm thankful for time... each day that God gives us is a gift! I'm so thankful for a God who loved me (and all of you) enough to make a way for us to be with Him someday. There's so much to be thankful for... there's just a few. Enjoy the pics.

Here is her Thanksgiving Day look. :) She was
ready for some food.


















Fun at the Magic House... she did have fun...
just couldn't quite figure out the hair thing.

















Bringing daddy pizza at the Magic House play
kitchen... she loved it.

















Playing in the water at the Magic House with
Mekelle.

















The Curious George exhibit.

















Fun with headphones and music.

















Do dogs love acorns? Bogie does.

Eating Thanksgiving dinner...

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving day! Love, the Davis family

One year ago today we picked Alia up at the airport in New York and brought her to her new home in the US... here with her family. :) What a year! One year ago, she clung to me because she didn't know what was going on as the baby house director handed her to me, but she seemed to remember me at least a little (it had been a month since we'd seen her). Later, she looked at all who had come to meet us at the airport when we landed in St. Louis with confusion in her eyes.
Today, as we celebrated with family, she ran to meet and hug each one who came in. No more confusion, she understands what it means to be loved... to be... family... and maybe even a little spoiled. :) Too bad every child in the world can't experience that... but I thank God that He brought Alia here and let her (and us) experience "family".
I remember as I put her in HER bed that night one year ago... I sat down on the floor next to her bed (where I had made a little place for me to sleep for a while as she adjusted), I just stared. How was it possible that God could use someone else to bring her into this world, but use Brad and I to be her parents? How was it possible that I could love her so much already? I hardly knew her! But God knew her and He knew Brad and He knew me. I know that even while she was in her birth mother's tummy, God knew who her parents would be. He kept her safe for the first 9 months of her life (and still does). He prepared her for us... and us for her. I believe that with all of my heart.
I'm going to put some more pictures up here soon... check back! Love you all!
Steph