7 months later...

Ready to go to her first St. Louis Cardinal game.
She's got her cheerleading outfit on that Nana
got her for Spring Training earlier this year.




Go Albert!




A big girl.



What is this thing on my head?




Family fun at great grandma's house.




Determined to catch some bubbles.



At the bottom of the slide... need to figure out
where mommy is and make sure she isn't far
away.


So, here we are. We have had Alia home with us now for 7 months. As I look back on the road that we travelled... I would do it all again in a heartbeat! Brad and I can't believe how much joy she has brought into our lives and the lives of those around us.



Alia's first play day at the park.


Alia on the scale at the hospital the
day cousin Landon was born. I could
only get her to hold still by putting the
hand foam on her hands. She loves that
stuff.

The other day Alia and I were looking at pictures and videos from the time that we spent with her in the baby house. I just can't even believe that she is the same girl. She has changed so much. She is growing (very well), talking, walking, very animated and fun. I remember that little girl that could barely sit up at 7 months and was very cautious about who she shared a smile with and when.



Daddy and Alia at great-grandma's house. Alia
really wanted to play in the sprinkler (we forgot
to take a swimming suit), but did NOT want her
feet to touch the grass. She even held her feet up
sitting in his lap so that no grass would touch her.

Anyway, what a wonderful 7 months! Again, thanks for sharing this time with us.

Another very cool story...

So, we all know that drama, events, craziness, ups, downs, heartaches, joy, etc. that Brad and I went through to reach this point and have our daughter here with us. Each step of the way, God has shown us how much He loves us and provides for us. We can look back now and see how perfect His plan was for our lives. Every day I thank Him for the miracle of Alia and being able to hold her in my arms each day and hear her call me momma.

My sister had a baby today and he was another miracle. There were some pretty tough problems that caused her to be on bedrest for most of her pregnancy. The doctors were unsure that he would be fully ready to come out and meet the world today. However, once again... God provided. My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces (which is MUCH bigger than everyone thought he would be)! Mom, dad and baby are doing well. Alia loves her little cousin and even very softly (which isn't quite normal for her) gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Intoducing... Landon!


Alia and Evalyn - waiting to meet their new cousin
(someone is NOT stepping on Alia's hand even
though it looks like it)


Alia really liked to be close to him and look at
him. She even wanted to hold him, which I
thought was pretty interesting that she even
cared. She loves babies. (oh, and... there is
nothing wrong with his cheeks, the light was
hitting his face funny through the blinds). :)


Amazing... yet again, God is SO good. Just when you start to wonder what in the world is going on, you look in the face of a beautiful baby and are so thankful that you aren't the one in charge... and that the ONE who is... has it all under control.

With that, I'm going to bed... love you all!
Steph

Fun with Alia...

So far... I'm loving being off more with Alia. She certainly keeps me busy, but... what fun. I have already seen a big change in her ... just in this past week. She is starting to chatter like crazy! She is more willing to go to others because she isn't afraid that I'm going to leave every time she turns around. It just seems that she is doing really well.

Here's some pics of our time this week... I just can't believe how much she is growing!

We went to the zoo with some of my family...
including Alia's cousin. Both girls liked the animals,
but decided that the most fun was at the
fountains... go figure.


Along the walkway...


Mommy, Alia, and the elephant rear... great
picture! Have I mentioned how much I LOVE
the pigtails?! :)


Alia jumping on a little trampline that grandpa
got for her...


Alia singing with our Play Station Karaoke...
she is a pro... go figure. :)


More soon... love you all! By the way... I still read
comments and would love to know if you still check our
site! Hint, hint!!!!!
Steph

more pics

Alia loves to "borrow" purses and
carry them around. This is Grandma
Ginnie's purse... one of her favorites.
Grandma Ginnie got her a purse of her
own, but she still likes to carry the
real thing. :)

Here is Alia with her Nana and cousin

She likes to wear grandpa's hats.

I LOVE this picture! Her hair is just now getting

long enough to be able to pull up cute (although,

she won't leave it in for long). We were at a friend's

house and she just plopped down on the floor with

her pizza.

This coming week is my first week of part time working and more Alia time. I should have more fun pics for you soon.

Love you all! Steph

Changes, changes, changes...

Alia's 1st Easter... she caught on pretty fast.
She liked to stick her fingernail through the
shell and get egg on her... ewww! I haven't
loaded the pics from my other camera yet, so
there will be better ones later...


Alia was the flower girl in my "little"
sis' (who happens to be taller than me)
wedding. She thought she was
a princess for sure! She did really
well too!

She pretty much pulled Aunt Julie down the
isle. I was so surprised at how well she did...

So cute!

At first... she didn't quite get it.
She had it all figured out in time for
the reception. :)

"If You're Happy and You Know It"
...always gets a clap out of her.

My WHOLE family... crazy, isn't it? It's actually
really fun. My sis fthat currently lives "in a land far away
even surprised us by coming home for the wedding.

Hello from the Davis house! Sorry it's been a while... quite a bit going on around here.

Alia is doing great! We've had her home for over 5 months now. It's crazy how time flies! We are having a ton of fun! She has changed so much. She's walking all over the place now. Her hair is starting to curl up really cute. She's developing quite the little attitude. ;) I still think it's so funny that we went across the world and came home with a baby just like us... (wonderful and sweet of course).

Here's the really great news... I've been really stuggling ever since I went back to work. I feel like I am missing so much of her growing up. It's been great that her grandma, grandpa, aunts and uncles have been able to watch her for us, but... it's just not the same. So, after much prayer and some time to work things out... God has provided a way for me to go to part time work and be able to stay home with Alia the rest of the week. My last day of full time work (at least for a while) is May 15th! I am SO excited to have more time with Alia.

I can't wait to take her to the park, go to the zoo (and practice our animal noises), learn our colors, have playdates with other friends who are able to stay home, clean up our house, etc...

I have big plans for us... :)

It will be a big time adjustment period for me... I've worked a full time job ever since I was 16, but I'm sure she's going to keep me very busy.

Funny how each time my pride starts to kick in to high gear... all I have to do is look at that totally beautiful little girl that God has placed in my life... the words to Steven Curtis Chapmans' song "Cinderella" come to mind and I KNOW that this is totally what I need and want to do right now. " I will dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms. I know something the prince never knew. So, I will dance with Cinderella, I don't want to miss even one song. 'Cause all to soon, the clock will strike midnight.... and she'll be gone". She is already little miss "I can do it myself", but she still loves her mommy and loves to be held. I have to enjoy every minute of this... and I'm about to have that chance. I'm just so totally in awe of God's provision and I know that He will continue to provide as I honor the call to be a mommy.

Ok.... I've posted some pics... hope you enjoy(ed)! Hopefully I'll keep up the blog a bit better when I have a little more time at home. We love you all! Brad, Steph, and Alia.

Do we really have to come home???

So, I realized as I was packing for our trip to Florida...
the last time I traveled (not counting the quick trip to
N.Y. to pick Alia up and bring her home)... I couldn't
wait to come home! Oh the difference! The weather
here in Florida has been AWESOME! The time with
Alia has been even more AWESOME! Her nana and papa
have enjoyed every minute that we've been here and are
amazed at how well she has done and happy she is. Brad
and I have just really enjoyed having so much time with
her every day.

Alia has been able to play out in the sun, go to her first
Cardinal ballgame, go to the beach, eat some very yummy
fish (she'll never want fish sticks again),and swim in a pool for
the very first time. She likes the games alright (Papa tries
to teach her how the game works... actually holds her
attention for probably a couple of minutes. Her favorite
thing at the ballpark is the Dippin' Dots. She loves her
ice cream! :)

Anway, we only have a couple of days left before it's back
to the real world... we've had such a great trip. Here's some
pictures for you to enjoy!


At first, she didn't know what to think about the
beach. She decided that as long as no one tried
to put her feet in the cold water, it was a pretty
fun place to be.

Some beach time with daddy.

Sportin' her Cardinal's hat.

Some beach time with mommy.

Alia's little "spot" on the beach...

More soon... hope you enjoy these and the 1
year old pictures too!
Steph

Picture fun!!!

I finally put her on the ground and
just started tickling her... we got a
couple of smiles that way.

She looks like a little angel... :)

... and of course, for the family
picture when we could hold her...
she wanted down to play.

This one wasn't planned, but I love it!

Now, there is a smile.

She's been learning how to make
noises with her mouth...

It only looks like she is smelling it...
she is really licking it. :)

"If you're happy and you know it"
That song always gets her
clapping.

She decided that she didn't like
the headband.

Nana and Papa hooked us all up with some
Cardinal gear... (by the way... we are currently
in Florida ... basking in the sun... and rooting for
the Cardinals at Spring Training)


Hey everyone! So, we took Alia for her year old pictures... I was so excited. I had all the outfits picked out and ready to go. When we got there... Alia was SO crabby! She did NOT want to smile or play. She wanted me to hold her. Luckily, we had her new wagon with us and it was her first time to play with it. She did smile some for thoes pictures. When we left, Brad and I were completely worn out and figured that the pictures were not going to be that good at all. 3 days later, we received ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE pictures of her. Props to our photographer! Too fun. So, we hope you enjoyed viewing a few of them.. Enjoy.