Building Our Family

2010

2010-01-14T15:49:00.001-08:00

maybe 2010 will be a year of new posts, organizing photos, making the kids' lifebooks. But for now, just a video!

Captured when we were making this Christmas Card:

Butterfly Show

2009-05-16T17:50:00.001-07:00

An outing with Silas...

Kissing Kids

2009-04-30T05:25:00.000-07:00

I guess Silas is just affectionate. A three year old can get away with such things.

Zoo Tunes and Blooms

2009-04-19T04:58:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday in the month of April, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden stays open late, and has free admission after 5 pm, for a concert in the tulips! The kids and I have enjoyed this for a few years now. It is always a great photo opportunity. Something about tulips makes Silas want to kiss his sister, but she is usually a bit resistant!

Playing at the park

2008-10-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

Our favorite thing to do is go to a playground. Here are two photos our neighbors took. They have a boy who is about 18 months old.

Silas Goes to Preschool

2008-09-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtmtK0lzP-8

Photos from our babysitter!

2008-05-20T12:06:00.001-07:00

We have a few wonderful babysitters from God's Bible School, which is located at the top of our neighborhood hill. The kids really enjoy these girls. They are all very experienced either from larger families, or have been nannies. A neighbor recommended Esther to us a few years ago, and since then, Esther has recommended Rachel, Rhoda, Theresa, and others. Last night, Theresa was watching the kids while we had rehearsal, and she took some cute photos of typical things the kids do together - tackle!

Smiles

2008-05-19T21:23:00.001-07:00

I wish I had made a note of when Silas began to smile for a camera. When kids are very young, they have no concept of smiling for a camera, at least with my experience. Then, when they realized you want them to smile, and they are around 2 years old and beginning to assert their own will, they perhaps will not smile when you ask, but rather, scowl (again, my experience!) At some point in the last months, Silas began to smile for a camera when asked. It has proven to be very entertaining! This look is different from just catching him laughing on camera. Observe:

Funny kids

2008-05-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

The kids are getting more and more funny, and fighting less. Maya seesm to take Silas' abuse in stride, and even laughs when he tackles her. At church this past Sunday, he tackled her from behind, with a running start. An elder commented on how it was a particular type of tackle. If I knew football, it would probably have stuck with me. Anyway, she laughed and laughed!

Here are a few photos of how they are getting along.

Tulips

2008-04-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

Melissa's maternity leave ended mid-February, so Damon has been home with the kids for over two months. The kids are getting along very well as of late! Silas is starting to understand that Maya is not a toy to toss around at will. He is actually enjoying her company, and Damon is enjoying them both immensely!

They go to the zoo, Museum Center, bookstores, and shopping a lot. Here are photos of them at the Zoo Blooms Tulip show - over a million tulips grace our zoo every April.

Article

2008-04-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

Check out our online article in Soapboxmedia.com.
http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/11meldamgray.aspx

One day, we will add more to this blog!!!

Maya is doing well

2008-02-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

Maya has been home for a few months, and things are going along well. I am not sure how much more we will post, as life has become busy, and I just want to work on her lifebook and babybook, etc.

Silas is settling into enjoying having a sister. Our favorite things to do are the Museum Center, the public Library, and go to parks whenever it breaks 50 degrees!

Here is a photo of them at the Cincinnati Nature Center on a beautiful day in early January.

Silas Meets Maya

2007-12-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

We returned late on Wednesday night to a welcoming committee at the Cincinnati Airport! What a sight for sore eyes.

Below is a video of Silas meeting Maya.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1mJNdOeQik

Departure Day

2007-11-28T08:12:00.000-08:00

Not much to report, except we are very excited to leave this beautiful hotel today! It has been wonderful, but there is no place like home. Here is a photo of Maya and Papa enjoying time poolside.

Yes, that is a beer bottle in the foreground! Damon discovered Moza beer this week, a dark, tasty beer.

See everyone soon!

Tuesday

2007-11-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

We are just waiting for the visa today, and we depart tomorrow. Maya is doing well. We hear wonderful reports from the Grays in Cincinnati. Grandma and Grandpa report that Silas used the potty today!! He is also singing lots of new songs, and eating Deweys pizza, probably!

Video of Maya crawling on Monday, November 26

http://www.youtube.com/user/siguyvideos

Video of Maya in a walker

2007-11-26T15:36:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqmb_n8okVw

Embassy Day

2007-11-26T09:33:00.001-08:00

Embassy Day

2007-11-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we didn't have access to a computer, so we will put up some pictures soon. Melissa and Maya are napping after our long wait at the US embassy to finish up the process and apply for her visa. All went well and we will get the visa tomorrow afternoon and be on a plane Wednesday. Yesterday was fun...we spent the day getting to know our girl better. She is making more sounds and is starting to like to play with her Papa. She sleeps very well once she is asleep. Getting her to go to sleep has proven to be a bit challenging as we get to know what she expects. Melissa remarked today that her personality reminds her of Silas, and I do agree. She is mostly upbeat and likes to be around people. We miss everyone and can't wait for all to meet Maya. Melissa will post pictures soon and maybe a video of her in a walker.....she's fast. Maybe its because of the motorcyle rides. Did we mention that yet? If not, more later.
damon

Guatemala visit HH on Saturday

2007-11-24T13:33:00.000-08:00

Today we had the unbelievable privilige to visit our friend´s baby. She is just a few months old, and is in a wonderful orphanage. I am posting photos and video here so they can see their little girl.

Saturday in Guatemala

2007-11-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

Maya slept very well last night. This morning, we are seeing much more of her personality. She has taken well to Mama and seems to rely on her for feeding, comfort, etc. When Melissa walks away, her eyes look for her. She is definitely warming up to Papa, but a bit more slowly. She likes it when Damon rocks her to sleep.

She likes fruit, like her brother, Silas! Also, she eats scrambled eggs, bread, and chicken cooked in carrots for lunch, though we haven't tried that yet!

Friday in Guatemala

2007-11-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

We are here! We met Maya at 4 pm. Just before that, Damon noticed a woman who looked exactly like the foster mother hop off a motorcycle with a baby. Another man was driving, but she had the baby in a snuggly, and Damon said he thought that was her. Sure enough, it was! So, Maya rode in on a cycle!

We had some adjustments, but after an hour or so, she seems very happy. We showed her photos of Silas, and I think she will love meeting him!

It has been a long day, but we will post more tomorrow.

PINK!

2007-11-16T15:05:00.000-08:00

We adopted Silas in March of 2006. In February of 2007, we received word that his birthsister was being placed for adoption.

Fast forward to 9 months later (hmm, the length of a pregancy!!) and we are traveling to Guatemala in exactly one week to pick her up!

Pink is the color of the official document from the US Embassy in Guatemala with the appointment date. We received our Pink document today, the same day we received in the mail our Polaroid photo of Maya at her second DNA appointment, verifying she is the same child that was placed in February.

We opened a bottle of champagne and all three toasted to Maya's soon homecoming (Silas had a sippy cup with water!) We took photos of Silas with the Polaroid! What a resemblance!